Software development has continued over the past year. Primary emphasis has been on the incorporation of the legacy Build 10 algorithms, the development and refinement of GUI screens and supporting software used to control and monitor the ORPG, refinements in the supporting infrastructure, communications, and product distribution. The achievement of this milestone marks an important event in the ORPG Project. It marks the end of a very significant software development effort and signals the beginning of the next phase of the project where the system will undergo exhaustive testing. Completion of this milestone is expected to be achieved by the end of July 1999.
Final implementation is currently underway.
Following successful completion of this level of testing, NSSL will assist the OSF in performing the formal system, operational, and beta testing required before the system is officially sanctioned for fielding. Severe Thunderstorm Forecast and Warning Improvements Test in real time initial hydrometer classification algorithm on a dual polarized Doppler radar. The immediate goal is to test a procedure that uses polarimetric radar data to discriminate hydrometeor types. Proper classification is a prerequisite for correct estimation of precipitation amounts. Once the polarimetric QPE has been verified it will be transferred to the WSR-88D network.