CSTAR - Recent CSTAR Activities and Looking Forward

Jonathan BlaesOctober, 2010CSTAR Kickoff Workshop

Why are we here today and tomorrow?

Why are we here today and tomorrow?

The goal is to build relationships between PIs, students & WFOs and to develop more formal plans with dates, deliverables and actions items for the new CSTAR project.

In short, ensure that we engage in the best possible collaboration

What the next couple of days will cover

CSTAR background and recent activitiesRecent science success stories at WFOsUpdates on recent NCSU-NWS collaborative research projectsEvening collaborations Current CSTAR project – introduction and discussion

What is CSTAR?

The CSTAR Program represents an NOAA/NWS effort to create a cost-effective transition from basic and applied research to operations and services through collaborative research between operational forecasters and academic institutions which have expertise in the environmental sciences. These activities engage researchers and students in applied research of interest to the operational meteorological community and improve the accuracy of forecasts and warnings of environmental hazards by applying scientific knowledge and information to operational products and serviceshttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/ost/cstar.htm

What is CSTAR?

The CSTAR Program represents an NOAA/NWS effort to create a cost-effective transition from basic and applied research to operations and services through collaborative research between operational forecasters and academic institutions which have expertise in the environmental sciences. These activities engage researchers and students in applied research of interest to the operational meteorological community and improve the accuracy of forecasts and warnings of environmental hazards by applying scientific knowledge and information to operational products and serviceshttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/ost/cstar.htm

What is CSTAR?

The CSTAR Program represents an NOAA/NWS effort to create a cost-effective transition from basic and applied research to operations and services through collaborative research between operational forecasters and academic institutions which have expertise in the environmental sciences. These activities engage researchers and students in applied research of interest to the operational meteorological community and improve the accuracy of forecasts and warnings of environmental hazards by applying scientific knowledge and information to operational products and serviceshttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/ost/cstar.htm

How did we get here?

CSTAR grant announced on July 20, 2009Input was solicited from regional WFOs in August 2009During solicitations, 52 gaps, or needs were identified

Gaps Identified• Inland impact of tropical cyclone wind (RAH/AKQ/CHS/GSP/ILM/RNK) • Inland impact of tropical cyclone precipitation (RAH/AKQ/CHS/GSP/ILM) • Tropical cyclone tornadoes (GSP/RAH) • Improve quality and access to precipitation estimates including QPE

(RAH/CAE/GSP/ILM/RNK) • Mesoscale ensemble and high resolution models primarily for QPF needs

(AKQ/CAE/ILM/RNK) • Coastal fronts/decaying wedge fronts/boundaries and severe weather (RAH/RNK)• Severe weather in non-tropical high shear/low CAPE wnvironments (GSP/CHS)• Probabilistic forecasts (GSP/AKQ/ILM) • Examination of regional features which modulate convective initiation and evolution

including coastal fronts, sea breeze (RNK/AKQ)• Decision support (GSP/MHX) • Heavy rain induced landslides (GSP/RNK)• Cold air damming (GSP/RNK)• Appalachian lee trough and cold frontal passage studies • Effective methods of "hot-starting" models to improve QPF/simulated reflectivity

output. • Tidal impacts on rainfall runoff and associated flooding near the coast - especially in

urban areas. Charleston and Savannah are very vulnerable to this. • Use of Analogs

How did we get here?

CSTAR grant announced on July 20, 2009Input was solicited from regional WFOs in August 2009

During solicitations, 52 gaps, or needs were identifiedThemes emerged – tropical cyclones, precipitation, and HSLC convectionProposal submitted on October 16, 2009Proposal funding officially announced in spring 2010Kickoff call on August 4, 2010 Kickoff workshop on October 28 and 29, 2010

Support received from the NOAA Hydrometeorology Testbed

Result

Improving Understanding and Prediction of Hazardous Weather in the Southeastern United States: Landfalling Tropical Cyclones and Convective Storms

Three year project comprised of two 2 year project periodsParticipants from NCSU, RENCI, 10 WFOs, SERFC, 3 NCEP centers, GSD, HRD

What has been accomplished so far?

• Graduate students identified• Kickoff call• Research outline proposed (updated tomorrow)• Collaborative Investigators (CIs) recruited• CIMMSE blog launched• Web site team starting up

CIMMSE Blog

http://cimmse.wordpress.com/

Collaboration Web Page Revisions

http://www.meas.ncsu.edu/nws/