Vaisala Capabilities in Hydrometeorology Nicholas W S Demetriades

Vaisala Capabilities in Hydrometeorology Nicholas W. S. Demetriades and Ronald L. Holle Vaisala, Inc. Tucson, Arizona Fourth Symposium On Southwest Hydrometeorology 20 -21 September 2007

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Products and Services

Vaisala Tucson Operations ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 5

Thunderstorm Data Digital Imagery© copyright 2001 Photo. Disc, Inc.

North American Lightning Detection Network (NALDN) Operational Overview • • Sensors detect an event Data transferred to satellite Satellite forwards data to hub Dedicated data link from Hub to central analyzer • Lightning data forwarded to real-time users via terrestrial and satellite link ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 7

National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) Network Control Center - Tucson ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 8

Extended Range Coverage Region ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 9

LF NLDN Cloud-Cloud Detection ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 10

Thunderstorm Systems Custom Weather Photo by Jeffrey Logan

Overview of lightning detection technology LF cloud-to-ground ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 12

Overview of lightning detection technology VLF long-range cloud-to-ground ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 13

Overview of lightning detection technology VHF cloud ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 14

Thunderstorm System Configuration DETECTION NETWORK Modular Lightning Sensors LS 7000 - 8000 Remote support from Vaisala NETWORK CENTER USER TERMINALS ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 15 CP 8000 CP 7000 Communication networks Links with Neighboring systems

Single Point Sensor Stand alone or with display EFM 550 ALARM Software ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 16

Automatic sounding systems Vaisala automatic sounding systems allow upper-air observations to be fully automated, allowing greater scope for site selection and more flexible observation scheduling. ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 17

Radiosondes Vaisala sounding systems use balloon-borne radiosondes to measure upper-air temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed and wind direction. Data transmitted by radiosonde is received by the sounding system on the ground. The system processes the data and produces weather messages used forecasting and climate monitoring. ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 18

Dropsonde The detection, monitoring and prediction of hurricanes has become increasingly important, with efforts to give early warning of impending emergencies and hazards. To do this, meteorologists need accurate and reliable detection and forecasting data. Vaisala dropsondes are used to gather this data. They are sondes launched from an airplane into an ongoing hurricane. ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 19

Wind profilers Vaisala wind profilers are used in meteorological and climatological research, aviation, air quality monitoring and research, defense and land resource management. Vaisala wind profilers are also used at airports to detect vertical wind shear. ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 20

Radars measure the quantity and quality of precipitation in the atmosphere. Radars are key instruments in nowcasting and short term forecasting. Vaisala's dual and single polarization Cband product family was launched in 2007. ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 21

Radar Sigmet is the world leader in weather radar signal and data processing systems as well as application software. Sigmet products are used in operational radar systems and networks, wind shear detection, dual polarization, hydrology and research. Sigmet is part of the Vaisala Group. ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 22

Wind measurement instruments The Vaisala WINDCAP® Ultrasonic Wind Sensor WS 425 uses ultrasound to determine horizontal wind speed and direction. ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 23

Weather multi-sensor The Vaisala Weather Transmitter WXT 510 is a compact and lightweight multi-sensor instrument that measures the most essential weather parameters: • • • wind speed and direction liquid precipitation barometric pressure temperature relative humidity ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 24

Research and development

R & D - Partnerships in research programs and product development National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration • Vaisala and NOAA have a long-standing cooperative research and development program for transferring and enhancing wind profiler technology and applications • Wind profiler R&D National Center for Atmospheric Research NCAR • COSMIC program – a new satellite program to measure atmospheric profiles • Dropsonde R&D University of Oklahoma • designing and implementing improved mesoscale observing and forecasting systems ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 26

R & D - Partnerships in research projects Helsinki Testbed • An advanced mesoscale weather observation network in Southern Finland. • To promote the measurement and understanding of fine-scale weather phenomena, i. e. local weather. • five measurement campaigns: nowcasting, precipitation type, inversions, sea breeze, convection • Joint project with the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), Vaisala and Tekes Technology Agency of Finland • Phase II started in 2007 ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 27

R & D - Partnerships in research projects THORPEX - A Global Atmospheric Research Programme • 10 -year research program for observation systems and predictability established in 2003 • Objective is to improve global forecasts on 1 - to 14 -day time scale • Carried out in cooperation with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). • Vaisala sponsors four cooperative post-doctoral fellowships • Observing systems working group co-chaired by Vaisala’s scientist ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 28

R & D - Partnerships in research projects Thunderstorm Data and Thunderstorm Systems Field programs • North American Monsoon Experiment (NAME) • Cumulus Photogrammetric, In-Situ and Doppler Observations (Cu. PIDO) VLF long range lightning applications • • National Hurricane Center University of Washington University of Hawaii University of Arizona LF cloud-to-ground lightning applications and validation • University of Arizona • University of Florida VHF total (cloud plus cloud-to-ground) lightning mapping applications • National Weather Service (Dallas-Fort Worth, Tucson) • Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) ©Vaisala | date | Ref. code | Page 29