Preparing for VORTEX2 using TWOLF with phased array radar

D. Emmitt and H. BluesteinWG-SBLW Meeting

February 3, 2010

VORTEX2

• 2010 NSF/NOAA field program (1 May – 15 June) with participation by other agencies and institutions.

• VORTEX2 is fully nomadic with no home base. Scientists will roam from state to state following severe weather outbreaks through the Plains.

• NPS (CIRPAS) is participating by providing a vehicle with a radar and Doppler wind lidar

• P3DWL goal is to investigate the PBL circulations prior to and during tornado development.

Science Questions

• How, when, and why do tornadoes form? Why some are violent and long lasting while others are weak and short lived?

• What is the structure of tornadoes? How strong are the winds near the ground? How exactly do they do damage?

• How can we learn to forecast tornadoes better?

Current warnings have an only 13 minute average lead time and a 70% false alarm rate.

TWOLF

• Truck (or Tornado) Wind Observing Lidar Facility

• Using much of the TODWL system with exceptions:– Hemispherical scanner borrowed from ARL (Dave

Ligon)– Modified software for +- 125m/s wind

measurements

CIRPAS Mobile Weather Radar- X-band phased array

TWOLF

X band Phased-array

Bob Bluth