# Presentation: 478888

## The NOAA Hydrometeorological Testbed Program: Overview and Progress to Date

- David Kingsmill
- University of Colorado / CIRES
- and
- NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory
- Boulder, CO

## STIP Integrated Planning Team for Hydrologic Services(September 2002)

**Quantitative Precipitation Information (QPE & QPF)**
**      ****Unbiased Precipitation Estimates with Reliability Information**
**      ****Reliable 0-6 Hour Precip. Nowcasts**
**      ****Longer-term, Unbiased Model QPFs**
**Hydrologic Forecasting**
**	****High-resolution Flash Flood Forecasts & Warnings**
**	****Probabilistic River Forecasts Using 0-3 day QPF and Seasonal Precipitation Forecasts**

***Key Information Gaps***

## STIP IPT for Hydrologic ServicesOutstanding R&D Needs

*Develop QPE Techniques That Optimally Blend Next-generation Radar, Satellite (e.g, GPM), and Rain Gauge Data*
*Improve Short-Term Radar-Satellite Precipitation Nowcasting Techniques Blended with NWP Forecasts*
*Develop High Resolution Hydrologic Forecast Models of Water Excess-Deficit at Ungauged Locations*
*Develop Ensemble NWP and Hydrologic Model Forecasts with Associated Reliability Information*
*Improve NWP Model Physics and Increase Assimilation of Existing Observational Datasets*
*Implement Hydrometeorological Testbeds to Demonstrate & Evaluate Next-Generation Datasets, Forecast Techniques, & Models*

## Developing a Testbed Concept for Hydrometeorology in NOAAJointly organized by NWS (Rich Fulton of OHD) and OAR (Marty Ralph of ETL) 20 November 2002

**Background**
- The testbed concept is gaining momentum within NOAA as a vehicle for accelerating transitions from research to operations and for fostering technology infusion to the National Weather Service.  This is evidenced by the inclusion of  testbeds as elements in a number of recent NOAA planning documents and programs, such as the NWS Science Technology Infusion Program (STIP).  Most of these elements are associated with precipitation, water cycle and hydrology.  Thus, the time for implementing a Hydro-Meteorology Testbed (HMT) may be approaching.

## R&D and Operational Perspectives:Observing Systems

- R&D

- Operations

- Testbed Domain

_*Operational Priorities*_
-  Reliability
-  Cost Effectiveness
-  COTS (plug n’ play)
-  Continuity

_*R&D Priorities*_
-  Exploratory
-  Higher Resolution
-  Multi-Sensor
-  New Variables
-  Publication

- Basic R&D

- Improved User Decisions

## Test bed concept

## Hydrometeorology TestbedPrimary Goals

- Systematically evaluate promising new methods that can influence both NWP and nowcasting using the man-machine mix forecasting paradigm.
- Assess their value in terms of improved regional performance on Flood/Flash Flood Warning and QPF GPRA measures.
- Use these results as an objective basis for decisions on transitions to operations both in the test region and nationally.

## Hydrometeorology TestbedA Broad Approach Is Required*

- Better numerical model guidance (i.e., QPF)
- Better observations for forecaster use and model assimilation and verification (i.e., QPE)
- Better physical understanding for parameterizations and conceptual models
- Better knowledge of capabilities and limitation of key tools

***i.e., There is no “Silver Bullet”**

## METHODS

**METHODS**
**Physical Process Studies**
**Observing System Tests**
**Forecasting Applications**

## HMT-2004

- BBY = Bodega Bay
- BSC = Big Sulfur Creek
- CVD = Cloverdale
- CZC = Cazadero
- FRS = Fort Ross
- GRK = Goat Rock

_**HMT-2004**_
**A Hydrometeorological Testbed (HMT)  for the Russian River Watershed**

- HBG = Healdsburg
- HLD = Hopland
- LSN = Lake Sonoma
- ROD = Rio Dell
- SPT = Salt Point

## Coastal Gap-Filling X-band Radar vs. WSR-88D

- X-band

- 0        5       10     15      20      25     30
- Reflectivity (dBZ) at 0.5 deg elevation

- WSR-88D radar at KMUX
- 0102 UTC 14 Jan 03

- KMUX

- 10

- 20

- 30

- 40

- 50

- 60 km

- NOAA/ETL X-band radar at FRS
- 0059 UTC 14 Jan 03

- Reflectivity (dBZ) at 1.0 deg elevation

- 0          10           20          30          40         50

**Coastal Gap-Filling X-band Radar vs. WSR-88D**

**Nearest NEXRAD radar sees no significant echoes approaching flood-prone watershed**

**NOAA/ETL’s Coastal X-band radar fills NEXRAD gap**

*Matrosov et al (2005), J. Hydromet*.

**QPE**

- HMT WEST - Cool Season

- HMT EAST –          All Season, including Hurricane Landfall

- HMT CENTRAL – Warm Season

**Regional Implementation Strategy**

- Mean annual precipitation (inches)

**The national Hydrometeorological Testbed program will be implemented incrementally in different regions of the U.S.**

## HMT-WEST:  American River Basin 2005-2009 

- HMT-WEST:  American River Basin 2005-2009

- XPOL

- KDAX

## KDAX

- XPOL

## Slide 16

## New VCP

## NOAA Hydrometeorology Testbed Program

- NOAA Partners Include:
- ETL, NSSL, OHD, FSL, Region HQ’s, FO’s, RFC’s, HPC, NOHRSC, CDC, STAR, AOML, EMC
- _[http://hmt.noaa.gov](http://hmt.noaa.gov/)_
- _[David.Kingsmill@noaa.gov](mailto:David.Kingsmill@noaa.gov)_

## Testbed Definition

- “A testbed is a working relationship in a quasi-operational framework among measurement specialists, forecasters, researchers, the private sector, and government agencies aimed at solving operational and practical regional ____________________ problems with a strong connection to the end users. Outcomes from a testbed are more effective observing systems, better use of data in forecasts, improved services, products, and economic/public safety benefits. Testbeds accelerate the translation of R&D findings into better operations, services, and decision-making. A successful testbed requires physical assets as well as long-term commitments and partnerships.”

- hydrometeorological

- Hydrometeorological

*USWRP Mesoscale Observing Workshop, December 2003*

## Winter Storm Warning Issued Based on PACJET-2002 Melting-Level Data

- Newport, OR profiler detected a lower snow level than had been expected (2700 ft vs 4000 ft).
- This caused Portland NWS to change from a Snow Advisory to a Winter Storm Warning.

- Expected
- snow level

- White et al. (2002),
*J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech.*

## CALJET to PACJET to HMT

**Level of field activity**

- High

- Med

- Low

- 97  98  99  00  01  02  03  04  05  06  07  08  09  10  11  12

**Year**

- None

**Hydrometeorological Testbed **
**Provides Continuous Backbone Effort **
**To facilitate operational tests and transitions**

**Major new field studies********* leverage**
**backbone provided by HMT and **
**accelerate transitions to operations**

*******Future PACJETs **
**And/Or Other Projects**

**HMT**

**Sporadic traditional field studies**

## Possible HMT Management Structure

**Management Council**

**STI**

**HYD**

**HMT Advisory Panel**

**LFW**

**EM, CEO?, CLIM?**

**ETL**

**NSSL**

**FSL**

**HPC**

**OHD**

**NWS Regions (WFO’s, RFC’s**

**NOHRSC**

**EMC**

**CDC**

**STAR**

**AOML**

**Others?**

**Possible HMT Management Structure**

- Design and Implementation Role

**(CPC)**

**OCWWS**