HYDROMETEOROLOGY RESEARCH

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The HMRG group is engaged in efforts to deploy multisensor precipitation algorithms that can be used for monitoring and prediction of flash floods and debris flows, and for agricultural and water resources management, worldwide.

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Recent Hydrometeorology Research Group (HMRG) Publications

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Vasiloff, S. V., K. Howard, 2009: Investigation of a severe downburst storm near Phoenix, Arizona, as seen by a mobile Dopper radar and the KIWA WSR-88D. Weather and Forecasting, 24, 856-867.

Zhang, J., K. Howard, S. Vasiloff, C. Langston, B. Kaney, A. Arthur, S. Van Cooten, K. Kelleher, D. Kitzmiller, F. Ding, D. J. Seo, M. Mullusky, E. Wells, T. Schneider, C. Dempsey, 2009: National Mosaic and multi-sensor QPE (NMQ) system: description, results and future plans. Preprints, The 34th Conference on Radar meteorology, Williamsburg, VA, USA, American Meteorological Society, 7A.1.

Zhang, J., Y. Qi, 2009: Correction of bright band effects in radar observations from plain areas. Preprints, The 34th Conf. on Radar Meteorology, Williamsburg, VA, USA, American Meteorological Society, P14.5.

Zhang, J., K. Howard, X. Xu, 2008: A warm season radar QPE algorithm using adaptive Z-R relationships. Proc. World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008, Honolulu, HI, USA, Amer. Soc. Civil Engineers, CD-ROM, 420.pdf.

Zhang, J., C. Langston, K. Howard, 2008: Three-dimensional radar mosaic integrating WSR-88Ds and Canadian radar network. Preprints, The 13th Conf. on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology, New Orleans, LA, USA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., CD-ROM, P4.4.

Zhang, J., C. Langston, K. Howard, 2008: Bright Band Identification Based On Vertical Profiles of Reflectivity from the WSR-88D. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 25, 1859-1872.

Zhang, J., K. Howard, P. L. Chang, P. T. Chiu, C. R. Chen, C. Langston, W. Xia, B. Kaney, P. F. Lin, 2008: High-Resolution QPE System for Taiwan. Data Assimilation for Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Hydrologic Applications, S. K. Park, L. Xu, Ed(s)., Springer-Verlag, 145-160.

Langston, C., J. Zhang, K. Howard, 2007: Four-Dimensional Dynamic Radar Mosaic. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 24, 776-790.

Vasiloff, S. V., K. H. Howard, 2007: Investigation of a severe microburst near Phoenix, Arizona as seen by a mobile Doppler radar and the KIWA WSR-88D. Extended Abstracts, 13th Conference on Aviation, Range and Aerospace Meteorology, New Orleans, LA, USA, AMS, p4.7.

Vasiloff, S. V., B. Kaney, C. Langston, W. Xia, 2007: The National Severe Storms Laboratory QPE verification system. Extended Abstracts, 24th Conference on IIPS, New Orleans, LA, USA, AMS, 6B.12.

Vasiloff, S. V., D. J. Seo, K. W. Howard, J. Zhang, D. H. Kitzmiller, M. G. Mullusky, W. F. Krajewski, E. A. Brandes, R. M. Rabin, D. S. Berkowitz, H. E. Brooks, J. A. McGinley, R. J. Kuligowski, B. G. Brown, 2007: Improving QPE and Very Short Term QPF: An Initiative for a Community-Wide Integrated Approach. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 88, 1899-1911.

Accurate quantitative precipitation estimates (QPE) and very short term quantitative precipitation forecasts (VSTQPF) are critical to accurate monitoring and prediction of water-related hazards and water resources. While tremendous progress has been made in the last quarter-century in many areas of QPE and VSTQPF, significant gaps continue to exist in both knowledge and capabilities that are necessary to produce accurate high-resolution precipitation estimates at the national scale for a wide spectrum of users. Toward this goal, a national next-generation QPE and VSTQPF (Q2) workshop was held in Norman, Oklahoma, on 28–30 June 2005. Scientists, operational forecasters, water managers, and stakeholders from public and private sectors, including academia, presented and discussed a broad range of precipitation and forecasting topics and issues, and developed a list of science focus areas. To meet the nation's needs for the precipitation information effectively, the authors herein propose a community-wide integrated approach for precipitation information that fully capitalizes on recent advances in science and technology, and leverages the wide range of expertise and experience that exists in the research and operational communities. The concepts and recommendations from the workshop form the Q2 science plan and a suggested path to operations. Implementation of these concepts is expected to improve river forecasts and flood and flash flood watches and warnings, and to enhance various hydrologic and hydrometeorological services for a wide range of users and customers. In support of this initiative, the National Mosaic and Q2 (NMQ) system is being developed at the National Severe Storms Laboratory to serve as a community test bed for QPE and VSTQPF research and to facilitate the transition to operations of research applications. The NMQ system provides a real-time, around-the-clock data infusion and applications development and evaluation environment, and thus offers a community-wide platform for development and testing of advances in the focus areas.

Zhang, J., C. Langston, K. Howard, 2007: Brightband identification from vertical profile of reflectivity. Preprints, The 33rd International Conf. on Radar Meteorology, Cairns, Australia, Amer. Meteor. Soc., P8A.13.

Vasiloff, S. V., 2006: Comparison of 2 hour forecasts based on persistence and a cross-correlation technique. Preprints, 12th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology, Atlanta, GA, USA, AMS, CD-ROM, 3.10. [Available from steven.vasiloff@noaa.gov, National Weather Center, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK, USA, 73072.]

The NCAR Weather Support to Deicing Decision Making System (WSDDM) uses a cross-correlation technique to produce radar echo motion vectors. These vectors are then used to forecast snow water equivalent precipitation based on future echo positions with the focus on airports. It has been shown that WSDDM 30 min forecasts have large skill compared to persistence forecasts (a persistence forecast assumes that the current state will continue). This paper carries this type of comparative analysis out to two hours. Data from winter storms in the upper Midwest are evaluated and point forecasts near Chicago and Minneapolis are determined for both methods. Various echo configurations are used for the tests and include rain/snow bands, echoes from different sectors of synoptic cyclones and echoes with various reflectivity intensities.

Zhang, J., S. Wang, 2006: An Automated 2D Multipass Doppler Radar Volocity Dealiasing Scheme. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 23, 1239-1248.

Zhang, J., C. Langston, K. Howard, 2006: Vertical profiles of reflectivity for different precipitation regimes. Proc. The 4th European Conference on Radar in Meteorology and Hydrology, Barcelona, Spain, Servei Meteorologic de Catalunya, 225-228.

Zhang, J., K. Howard, S. Wang, 2006: Single radar Cartesian grid and adaptive radar mosaic system. Preprints, The 12th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorolog, Atlanta, GA, USA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 1.8.

Zhang, J., C. Langston, K. Howard, B. Clarke, 2006: Gap-filling in 3D radar mosaic analysis using vertical profile of reflectivity. Preprints, The 12th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology, Atlanta, GA, USA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., CD-ROM, P1.9.

Arthur, A. T., G. M. Cox, N. R. Kuhnert, D. L. Slayter, K. W. Howard, 2005: The National Basin Delineation Project. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 86, 1443-1452.

Zhang, J., K. Howard, J. J. Gourley, 2005: Constructing three-dimensional multiple radar reflectivity mosaics: examples of convective storms and stratiform rain echoes. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 22, 30-42.

Langston, C., J. Zhang, K. Howard, 2004: Four-dimensional dynamic radar mosaic. Preprints, 11th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology, Hyannis, MA, USA, American Meteorological Society, CD-ROM, P5.11.

Langston, C., J. Zhang, 2004: An automated algorithm for radar beam occultation. Preprints, 11th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology, Hyannis, MA, USA, American Meteorological Society, CD-ROM, P5.16.

Zhang, J., K. Howard, W. Xia, C. Langston, S. Wang, Y. Qin, 2004: Three-dimensional high-resolution national radar mosaic. Preprints, 11th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology, Hyannis, MA, USA, American Meteorological Society, CD-ROM, 3.5.

Zhang, J., S. Wang, 2004: An automated 2-D multi-pass velocity dealiasing scheme. Preprints, 11th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology, Hyannis, MA, USA, American Meteorological Society, CD-ROM, 5.5.

Zhang, J., S. Wang, B. Clarke, 2004: WSR-88D reflectivity quality control using horizontal and vertical reflectivity structure. Preprints, 11th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology, Hyannis, MA, USA, American Meteorological Society, CD-ROM, P5.4.

Zhang, J., K. Howard, W. Xia, C. langston, S. Wang, Y. Qin, 2004: Three- and Four-Dimensional High-Resolution National Radar Mosaic. ERAD Publ. Ser., 2, 105-108.

Zhang, J., K. Howard, W. Xia, J. J. Gourley, 2003: Comparison of Objective Analysis Schemes for the WSR-88D Radar Data. Preprints, 31st International Conference on Radar Meteorology, Seattle, WA, USA, American Meteorological Society, 907-910.