10/25/2005ND GIS Users Conference 2005 An Introduction to Basic Concepts of Weather RADAR for Use...

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10/25/2005 ND GIS Users Conference 2005

An Introduction to Basic Concepts of Weather RADAR

for Use Within a GIS

Scott Kroeber

RGIS – Great PlainsRegional Weather Information Center

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

10/25/2005 ND GIS Users Conference 2005

The National Consortium for RuralGeospatial Innovations in America

(RGIS)

Consists of eight sites across the United States

Chesapeake, Pennsylvania State UniversityChesapeake, Wilkes University

Great Lakes, University of Wisconsin-MadisonGreat Plains, University of North Dakota

Mid-South, University of ArkansasPacific Northwest, Central Washington University

South Georgia, South Georgia Regional Development CenterTribal Technical Center, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute

Web Sitehttp://www.ruralgis.org

RGIS Sites:

Heavy Rain Eventin Eastern ND

NDAWN Automated Station

ARBCON

Wedge Rain Gauge

Tipping bucketTru-Chek by Edwards Mfg, Co

SURFACE STATIONS

10/25/2005 ND GIS Users Conference 2005

Density of Precipitation Recording Stations in North Dakota

(NDAWN, NWS CO-OP)

“NEXRAD” = “WSR-88D”

(NEXRAD) – Next Generation Weather Radar

Is the same thing as…

(WSR-88D) - Weather Surveillance Radars”, which came about in 1988 and were Doppler-ized*

---------------------------

*Doppler effect is the ability of the radar to measure the change in frequency returned and equate that to a speed “towards” or “away” from the radar

Precipitation Estimation using the

Z-R Relationship

R = aZb

where

R = Rain Estimation

a = 300

Z = Radar Reflectivity

b = 1.5

The equation used forthe Z-R relationship can be changed to produce different outputs. Private

companies or researchers may use

a different Z-R relationship for

different geographical regions or climatic

zones

10/25/2005 ND GIS Users Conference 2005

WSR-88D (NEXRAD) Radar Locations

WSR-88D Coverage with124 Nautical Mile Range

Coverage showing maximum distance for a

radar’s “base reflectivity” to display precipitation

Height of Radar Beam

Height formula taken from Radar for Meteorologists by Ronald E. Rinehart

Altitude vs. Range

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 124

Range (NMi)

MS

L A

ltit

ud

e (

NM

i)

0.5

1.5

2.4

3.4

4.3

5.3

6.2

7.5

8.7

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.7

19.5

Requesting Radar Data From

NCDC

Using The Hierarchical DataStorage System (HDSS)

Level II & III Radar Data Viewing Software

•Skyview 95 and SkyVision – UNISYS (http://www.unisys.com/transportation/solutions/weather__information__services/index.htm)

•WSR-88D Efficient Data Format and Visualization Browser – K2 Tech. L.L.C. (http://www.k2tech.net)

•GRW88Level3 – GibsonRidgeSoftware (http://www.gibsonridgesoftware.com/grw88level3/)

•Interactive Radar Analysis System (IRAS) – Funded by Environmental Services Data and Information Management Program

•WSR-88D Algorithm Testing And Display System (WATADS) – National Severe Storms Laboratory NO LONGER SUPPORTED! (http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/teams/watads/public_html/)

Most Current Viewers Do Not Export a Data Set Which Is

Easily Viewed in a GIS

Radar Grids vs. Geographic Points

Program written to convert level II data to geographic points

Local Applications:Park River Basin

Location of Park River Basin within the Red River of the North Drainage Basin

Park River Basin

Grafton , ND

Park River Basis with Elevation Contours

Sub-basin delineated

Basin Polygon converted to 2km Grid

RADAR Precipitation Estimate June 8 – 11, 2002

2 km Resolution

Precipitation Estimate using (NDAWN)

overlaid onto the RADAR background

Reporting in Real-Time

NDAWN Stations

Precipitation Estimate using (COOP) overlaid

onto the RADAR background

Reporting on a Monthly Basis with some Stations

Polled Within 24 Hours

COOP Stations

Precipitation Estimate using (NDARB)

overlaid onto the RADAR background

Reporting on a

Monthly Basis

NDARB Stations

RADAR Estimated Precipitation NDAWN Interpolated

COOP InterpolatedNDARB Interpolated

Precipitation Volume Estimation Park River Basin, ND

Acre Feet (% difference from radar estimation)

95,838

108,281 (+13%)

135,040 (+ 41%)

181,814 (+ 90%)

-- Different patterns are a result of station location and “NOT” quality of data.

-- Differences in recorded amount verses radar estimates are caused by many factors such as…

Evaporation of Rain below cloud base

Wind speed and direction below cloud base

Radar algorithm used (Z-R Relationship)

Radar beam elevation above surface reporting station

Regional Applications:Central Washington

“Topographic Issues to Consider”

Area of the Naches basin located in Central Washington

Naches

WSR-88D Radar Locations

Spokane Cross-Section

Spokane Cross-Section

Pendleton Cross-Section

Pendleton Cross-Section

Portland Cross-Section

Portland Cross-Section

Seattle Cross-Section

Seattle Cross-Section

Spokane RadarPrecipitation Estimate

Pendleton Radar Precipitation Estimate

Portland RadarPrecipitation Estimate

Seattle RadarPrecipitation Estimate

Regional Applications Pennsylvania

Precipitation greater than 1”

May 1, 2003 (24 hour total)

Precipitation greater than 2”

May 1, 2003 (24 hour total)

Precipitation greater than 3”

May 1, 2003 (24 hour total)

Precipitation greater than 5”

May 1, 2003 (24 hour total)

LAT LON PRCP CU_FT ACRE_FT41.9536 -76.3862 4.51 16181746 37141.9536 -76.3683 4.31 15464152 35541.9356 -76.4761 2.1 7534738 17341.9356 -76.4401 2.53 9077565 20841.9356 -76.4222 1.85 6637745 15241.9356 -76.4042 1.39 4987279 11441.9356 -76.3862 3.72 13347250 30641.9356 -76.3683 4.48 16074107 36941.9356 -76.3503 4.47 16038227 368

……

BASIN TOTAL 10452511092 239986

Upper Susquehanna - Tunkhannock

Volume Estimates

Please Check the RGIS Web Site This Summer For Information on the Education Module’s

http://www.ruralgis.org/

USDA – Cooperative State, Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)

University of North Dakota (Regional Weather Information Center)

Scott Kroeber

scottk@rwic.und.eduRGIS – Great Plains

Regional Weather Information Center

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Thank You!

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