# Presentation: 702702

## Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT)2009 UpdateTransition from Research to Operations

**Jiann-Gwo Jiing****Chief, Technical Support Branch, NHC****JHT Director**

**Chris Landsea**
**NHC**

**Shirley Murillo**
**NOAA/HRD**

- 63rd  Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference
- St. Petersburg, FL
- March 5, 2009

## Outline

- Summary of JHT projects 2001-2008
- Major 2008-2009 activities at JHT & NHC
- Challenges ahead

## Summary of JHT projects 2001-2008

**1) ****Number of projects supported: 50 **
**41 completed, 30 accepted for operational implementation**
**Number of projects rejected: 5**
**Number of projects completed but pending further investigation (decisions deferred): 5**
**Number of projects in process: 9 **
**2) ****Implementation **
**Number of projects implemented: 26.5**
**Number of numerical modeling related projects implemented by EMC/NCO: 10 **
**Number of projects implemented by NHC: 16.5 **
**Number of projects accepted but not yet fully implemented by NHC: 3.5 **
- Note:
- 1) Implementation is defined when a project is completed, accepted, and the technique installed on NCEP/NCO or NHC operational systems and runs on operational time frame.
- Some techniques were “implemented” on JHT platform for testing.

## 2008-present Major Activities

**Completion of 15 third round (2005-2007) projects**
- Completed in August 2007
- Final evaluation (NHC/EMC POCs & JHT)
- September-December 2007
- Decision on acceptance for implementation (NHC and EMC Directors)
- Decisions made January 2008
- 4 criteria for acceptance
- 12 projects accepted
- 3 projects deferred pending further evaluation
- Implementaton
- 11 implemented: 4 by EMC/NCO & 7 by NHC

## 2008-present Major Activities

**Factors Considered in Decisions on Acceptance/Operational Implementation**
**Forecast or Analysis Benefit:**** expected improvement in operational forecast and/or analysis accuracy**
**Efficiency:****  adherence to forecaster time constraints and ease of use needs**
**Compatibility:****  IT compatibility with operational hardware, software, data, communications, etc.**
**Sustainability:****  availability of resources to operate, upgrade, and/or provide support**

*Cont.*

## 2008-present Major Activities  

** ****Implementation (NHC)**
**Some relative easy**
**Some very complicated**
**NHC contributes ****≥ ****0.5 FTE/yr on implementation**
**JHT IT facilitator assists in the process**
**NCEP/EMC and NCO also contributed**** **

**Operational Centers are not funded for this task**

*Cont.*

## Highlights of 3rd Round Implemented Projects

- Highlights of 3rd Round Implemented Projects

**Topographic Wind Effects - Miller**

**HWRF – Tuleya, Powell**

**VORTRAC – Lee/Bell/Harasti**

**GFDL – Bender**

**OLD GFDL (2)**
**NEW GFDL (4)**
**OLD GFS  (1)**
**NEW GFS (3)**

## Highlights of 3rd Round Implemented Projects

- Highlights of 3rd Round Implemented Projects

**Corrected Consensus Track Forecasts - Goerss**

**Wind Radii Decay Model - Kaplan**

**Inclusion of Dropsonde Moisture into GFS – Aberson/Dunion**

**Revised SHIPS intensity forecast scheme – DeMaria/Knaff**

## Highlights of 3rd Round Implemented Projects

**Wind Radii Decay Model - Kaplan**

**Improvements to ATCF operating system - Sampson**

**Enhancements to Wind Probability Products – Knaff/DeMaria**

**SFMR **
**- Carswell/Black**

## 2008-present Major Activities

- Second year funding renewal for 4th round projects – April - June 2008
- Testing of 4th round projects
- Collaboration with PI
- Programming
- Establishing data flow
- Generating output for forecaster use/evaluation

*Cont.*

## Slide 11

## C3: New and/or improved observational technologies 

- B2: Model development/improvements
- B3: Physical processes in models on track,
-       intensity and structure, and precipitation
- B6: Advanced, probabilistic guidance;
-       optimal ensemble construction and configuration;
- C1: Observing strategies/capabilities
- C2: Observations to support model diagnostics
-      and verification
- C3: New and/or improved observational technologies

## 2008-present Major Activities

- Preparation for 5th round projects
- Draft Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) (March 08)
- Centers priorities
- Evaluation criteria
- FFO published early July
- SC Review of Pre-applications (September)
- PIs submitting full proposals (Oct 30)
- SC Review of full proposals (completed)

*Cont.*

## Challenges for 2009

**Fifth round funding processes**
**Rank and select proposals for funding (completed)**
**Work with Grants Office to fund selected projects**
**Find Point of contacts among NHC forecasters and support staff **
**Work with PIs to setup timelines for their projects**
**Test and evaluation (with NHC & EMC)**
**Prepare real-time testing & evaluation for 5****th**** round projects **
**Set up necessary software code and data flow.**
**Completion of 4****th**** round projects**
**Final reports for 4****th**** round projects**
**POC feedback**
**JHT final review/reports to NHC Director**
**Implement newly accepted projects (TPC)**

## Acknowledgements

**JHT Steering Committee**
**Shirley Murillo, JHT Admin. Asst.**
**Chris Landsea, JHT Admin. Asst.**
**Jose Salazar, JHT meteorologist/programmer**
**NHC and EMC forecaster and points of contact**
**NHC/Technical Support Branch staff**
**JHT principal investigators and other funded participants**
**John Gaynor (USWRP)**
**NHC  admin staff**

## JHT Website

- Go to www.nhc.noaa.gov

## Thank you

## Supplemental Slides

## 4th Round (FY07-08) Recommended Funding DistributionTotal $1.04M ($1.5M announced)

**Private Companies 24%**

**NOAA 20%**

**State and Private Universities 33%**

**Navy (NPS, NRL) 11%**

**NASA 12%**

**(0%)**

**(16%)**

**(36%)**

**(9%)**

**(39%)**

## Logistics
Dedicated physical space in operations, offices

Personnel
NHC dedicating about 1.5 FTE spread across ~12 people
0.5 FTE reimbursed by USWRP for quarter-time JHT Director and one quarter-time JHT administrative assistant 
NHC contributing 1.0 FTE, including NHC member on JHT Steering Committee, forecasters, and technical support staff
Forecaster and technical points of contact (POC)
Programming, system administration, and network support
Administrative support

Computing Resources
Network connectivity
Operational data flow

**Dedicated physical space in operations, offices**
***Personnel***
**NHC dedicating about 1.5 FTE spread across ~12 people**
**0.5 FTE reimbursed by USWRP for quarter-time JHT Director and one quarter-time JHT administrative assistant **
**NHC contributing 1.0 FTE, including NHC member on JHT Steering Committee, forecasters, and technical support staff**
**Forecaster and technical points of contact (POC)**
**Programming, system administration, and network support**
**Administrative support**
***Computing Resources***
**Network connectivity**
**Operational data flow**

**NHC Contributions to JHT**

## JHT Infrastructure

***Personnel ***
**Quarter-time Director (NOAA FTE)**
**7-member Steering Committee**
**Three from NOAA (one TPC), two from DOD, and two from the academic community**
**TPC member serves as co-Chair**
**Two quarter-time administrative assistants (NOAA FTE) **
**One IT Facilitator (meteorologist/programmer) **
***Computing Resources***
**Server and workstations**
**Software**

## Slide 22

## 2008-present Major Activities 4th Round Project Focus Areas

| Primary Area of Focus | # of Projects |
| --- | --- |
| Improvements to dynamical models (for track, intensity, and precipitation forecasts) | 5 |
| Statistical intensity forecast guidance | 1 |
| Enhancements to observed data, assimilation | 0 |
| Tropical cyclone structure/wind/wave distribution | 2 |
| Track forecast guidance | 1 |
| Enhancements to operational environment | 1 |
| Total | 10 |

**2008-present Major Activities**** ****4th Round Project Focus Areas**

*Cont.*

## Slide 24