# Presentation: 893589

## High Resolution Radar ImageryIn AWIPS

**High Resolution Radar Imagery****In AWIPS**

*Evan M. Bookbinder*
*WFO Springfield, Missouri*
*David L. Andra, Jr.*
*WFO Norman, Oklahoma*

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

## Background

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Background**

- ORPG and AWIPS 5.2.1
- Known as “8-bit” Products
- 8 bit  28 = 256 data levels
- Like WSR-88D Level II
- DZ – 8 Bit Reflectivity
- DV – 8 Bit Velocity
- 8 Bit SRM Available in AWIPS OB1

## DZ - 8 Bit Reflectivity

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**DZ - 8 Bit Reflectivity**

- VCP mode invariant
- Scaled Range of     < -32 to >90 dBZ (0.5 dBZ resolution)
- .54 nm res thru 248 nm
- Available at all VCP angles
- Factor of 5 larger file size than “Level IV” Z

## DV – 8 Bit Velocity

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**DV – 8 Bit Velocity**

- Ground relative (default)
- SRM computed from AWIPS distance/speed tool or WARNGEN derived motion vector
- Range >  123 kts (1 kt res)
- 	(Values indefinite on SRM)
- .13 nm res to 124 nm
- Available at all VCP angles
- Factor of 10 larger file size than “Level IV” Velocity

## Strengths

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Strengths**

- Best resolutions from radar
- Very high detail spatially and in data magnitudes
- TVS
- Mesocyclones
- Microbursts
- Convective storm structures
- Gust front winds
- Rainfall rate assessment
- Boundaries
- Data artifact identification
- Algorithm validation / QC

## Strengths

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Strengths**

- Radar mode invariant
- Seamless transition at precipitation  detection
- High reflectivities displayed in clear air mode
- Winter / bright band events
- No longer need to “force” clear air mode (except for VCP31 long pulse techniques)
- Convection

## Limitations

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Limitations**

- Large files sizes
- Narrowband loadshed threat
- LAN-to-LAN connection O.K.
- Cannot do image pairing and maintain data resolution on HP workstations, Linux O.K.!
- With Linux, use image combine feature of D2D to develop high resolution Z/V and Z/SRM four panels.
- Load these with procedures

## Limitations

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Limitations**

- Not delivered with suitable color tables
- Generation of 8-Bit SRM cumbersome with storm motion derived from either “Distance/Speed tool” or latest WarnGen motion vector.
-  Default motion not taken from RPG 		(to be fixed in AWIPS OB2)
- “8-bit” nomenclature confusing
-  May want to change menu labels to 		“Hi-Res” or the like
- High detail, especially in DV, may be confusing when viewing storms close to RDA

## Case Examples

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Case Examples**

*WFO Davenport, Iowa*
*Aug 21, 2002*
*WFO Springfield, Missouri*
*Aug 13, 2002*
*May 4, 2003*

**Image capture credits: Ray Wolf (DVN), Evan Bookbinder (SGF)**

## Muscatine County IA – 21 Aug 2002

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Muscatine County IA – 21 Aug 2002**

- F1 Tornado
- 1.6 mile path
- Damage to farm, trees
- 8 bit velocity key to warning

## Muscatine County IA – 21 Aug 2002

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Muscatine County IA – 21 Aug 2002**

- Z

- SRM

- DV

## Ozark County, MO – 13 Aug 2002

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Ozark County, MO – 13 Aug 2002**

- Only 6 tornadoes in August on record in SGF CWA prior.
- 2 F1 tornadoes & large “RFD” swath
- Damage to farm, trees, silos
- 8 bit velocity again paramount to detection of tornadoes and gust front

## Wasola, MO – 13 Aug 2002

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Wasola, MO – 13 Aug 2002**

## Wasola, MO – 13 Aug 2002

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Wasola, MO – 13 Aug 2002**

**Close-up**

## Wasola, MO – 13 Aug 2002

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Wasola, MO – 13 Aug 2002**

## Wasola, MO – 13 Aug 2002

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Wasola, MO – 13 Aug 2002**

## May 4, 2003 Tornado Outbreak

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**May 4, 2003 Tornado Outbreak**

**Pierce City, MO**

**Girard, KS**
**Courtesy Chuck Robertson **

## May 4, 2003 Tornado Outbreak

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**May 4, 2003 Tornado Outbreak**

- 14 tornadoes
- 15-80 mile path lengths
- 24 deaths
- Damage in hundreds of millions.

-      **Cities Affected:**** Pierce City, Stockton, Liberal, Aurora, Battlefield, Franklin KS, Humansville, Urbana, Carl Junction**

- 8-Bit Data allowed warning forecasters to assess magnitude of tornadoes and debris field!!

## May 4, 2003 Tornado Outbreak

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**May 4, 2003 Tornado Outbreak**

## May 4, 2003 Tornado Outbreak

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**May 4, 2003 Tornado Outbreak**

## May 4, 2003 Tornado Outbreak

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**May 4, 2003 Tornado Outbreak**

## May 4, 2003 Tornado Outbreak

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**May 4, 2003 Tornado Outbreak**

**Cyclic Supercell producing two violent tornadoes**

## Summary and Recommendations

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Summary and Recommendations**

- Develop color tables
- Target phenomena
- Boundaries, mesocyclones, gust fronts, rainfall rates, and so on
- Break points at important thresholds
-    (60 dBZ or 50 knots)
- Use “interpolate” capability to add range of color
*See attached example tables*

## Example 8-Bit Z Curve

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Example 8-Bit Z Curve**

- -32.5 dBZ (204,204,204) and 4.5 (96,96,96)....click interpolate
- 5 (32,96,128) and 19.5 (48, 208, 255) ... click interpolate
- 20 (0,255,0) to 39.5 (0,76,0)...click interpolate
- 40 (255, 230,0) to 49.5 (255,128,0) ....click interpolate
- 50 (255,0,0) to 59.5 (96,0,0)...click interpolate
- 60-64.5 (255,255,255)...fill
- 65-69.5 (255,32,255)...fill
- 70-74.5 (148,32,204)...fill
- 75-79.5 (255,0,128)...fill
- 80+ dBZ (0,255,150)...fill

**Example color  tables from Evan Bookbinder, WFO SGF**

## Example 8-Bit Vel Curve

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Example 8-Bit Vel Curve**

- Range Folding (far left color band) (128,0,208)
- -123.4 kts (255,0,128) to -90.5 (0,0,160) ... click interpolate
- -90.5 (0,0,160) to -70 (0,224,255)...click interpolate
- -69 to -60 (0,255,224)...click fill
- -59 to -50.5 (160,255,208)...click fill
- -49.5 (160,255,208) to -40 (0,255,0)... click interpolate
- -40 (0,255,0) to -10.5 (16,96,16)... click interpolate
- -10.5 (16,96,16) to -1 (112,128,112)...click interpolate
- 0 (144,128,144) to 10.5 (112,0,0)..click interpolate
- 10.5 (112,0,0) to 40 (255,0,0)...click interpolate
- 40 (255,0,0) to 48.6(255,0,128)...click interpolate
- 49.5 (255,0,144) to 69 (255,196,255)...click interpolate
- 70 kts (255,96,0) to 121.5 (255,255,0)...click interpolate

## Summary and Recommendations

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Summary and Recommendations**

- Develop AWIPS Procedures!
- Build appropriate color table and maps into procedure
- Examples:
- 4 panel to compare multiple angles of DZ, DV
- 4 panel to compare TDA to lowest 4 angles of DV
- 4 panel to compare Z, DZ (or DR) with rain rate color table, OHP, and STP

## Summary and Recommendations

- WDM Workshop Boulder, CO July 2003

**Summary and Recommendations**

- RPS List Recommendations
- VCP 11  65 products on LAN Connection
- Only lowest 4 tilts of Z/V/SRM are required for national collection and public consumption.
- Eliminate old 16 level products above 3.4 degrees. Since 8-bit SRM is generated on the fly and not in RPS list, all offices should have full VCP 11 tilt suite of 8-bit Z and V products.