Successes in NEXRAD Algorithm Technology Transfer* Gabe Elkin 26 Aug 2015 *This work was sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration under Air Force Contract No. FA8721-05-C-0002. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the United States Government.
NEXRAD WSR-88D Next Generation Weather Surveillance Radar FAA NEXRAD Program Office funding Lincoln Laboratory s NEXRAD Algorithm Enhancements Program since 2001 Eight algorithms developed with seven operational products currently fielded 35+ algorithm enhancements as NEXRAD evolves NEXRAD Tech Transfer - 2
NEXRAD Enhancements Benefit FAA Systems 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 High Resolution VIL Machine Intelligent Gust Front Algorithm DQA Edited Reflectivity Microburst Detection Data Quality Assurance (DQA) Dual Pol Icing Hazard Levels Partial Beam Blockage Mitigation High Resolution Enhanced Echo Tops Dual Pol Hail Hazard Layers Dual Pol DQA Chaff, Sea Clutter FAA Systems RAPT NEXRAD Tech Transfer - 3 VIL = Vertically Integrated Liquid
NEXRAD Technology Development and Transfer Live feeds and archives (160 radars) Requirement identification (microbursts, icing detection, ) Production algorithms Prototype algorithms Lincoln Operational Radar Product Generator Network External acceptance test (Radar Operations Center) Analysis and verification testbed User community Pilot report database Surface and upper air observations In situ flight data collection Lincoln technology solution development Integration and deployment NEXRAD Tech Transfer - 4
Collaborative Tech Transfer Cycle Enabled by CODE* Environment ROC releases synched ORPG and CODE at 12-18 month intervals Functionality Solution LL supports ROC integration activities LL primary role ROC primary role LL designs and implements algorithm Upgrade Release Baseline Integration Implement Solution in CODE Integration Review ROC reviews integration readiness ROC reviews implementation Technical Advisory Committee reviews science Design Review Science Review NextGen Prototype Software Review New ORPG Capability Testing Evaluation LL and ROC add new functionality to CODE to support implementation Software Recommendation and Evaluation Committee reviews implementation LL exposes algorithm to weather in CODE testbed NEXRAD Tech Transfer - 5 ROC = Radar Operations Center *CODE = Common Operations and Development Environment
Recent Accomplishments Dual-pol hydrometeor classification and melting layer improvements Icing layer improvements deployed and operational Microburst detection algorithm deployment In-situ verification flight tests NEXRAD Tech Transfer - 6
Recent Tech Transfer Example Icing Hazard Level Detection Supercooled water (icing threat) causes riming Crystal habit microphysics identifies key region (blue) of icing hazard concern for aircraft Graupel particles represent distinct low hanging fruit for dual pol radar detection of icing hazard regions GRAUPEL NEXRAD Tech Transfer - 7
NEXRAD Icing Product Example Plan view Vertical profile Altitude (kft) NOAA RAP Vertical profile model interest (temperature, relative humidity) High icing potential Low icing potential Pittsburgh, PA (KPBZ) 24 February 2012 0509 UTC NEXRAD Tech Transfer - 8 IHL = Icing Hazard Levels Product
Verification and Shortfall Identification Surface and Upper Air Observations Pilot Reports of Icing (PIREPs) In Situ Measurements Particle Imager NEXRAD Tech Transfer - 9
Summary MIT Lincoln Laboratory has a 15 year history of delivering operational NEXRAD algorithm products Multiple FAA weather systems ingest the NEXRAD products to support operations in the NAS The dual polarization capability has given new opportunity to develop advanced radar-based hazard detection Anticipate additional detection capabilities through the next five years supporting launch of NextGen Weather Processor NEXRAD Tech Transfer - 10