Following FOPEX and A-GAME: CRD Interests

and Contributions to UNSTABLE

Craig SmithClimate Processes SectionClimate Research DivisionSaskatoon, SK

www.ec.gc.ca

Page 2

FOPEX

FFoothillsoothills

OOrographicrographic

PPrecipitation recipitation

EXEXperimentperiment

Page 3

1070

1280

1440

1640

1950

2120

masl

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

b) All Cold Months

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

AB1 Precip (mm)

PL

R (

mm

/100

0m)

r = 0.94Avg rPE = 0.62

d) All Warm Months

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

AB1 Precip (mm)

PL

R (

mm

/100

0m)

r = 0.09Avg rPE = 0.53

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A-GAMEUpper-Air

GPS

AAlberta lberta GGPS PS AAtmospheric tmospheric MMoisture oisture EEvaluationvaluation

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a) Airdrie/Calgary

5

10

15

20

25

30

5 10 15 20 25 30

Radiosonde IPWV (mm)

GP

S IP

WV

(m

m)

2003 2004 1:1 line

b) Olds

5

10

15

20

25

30

5 10 15 20 25 30

Radiosonde IPWV (mm)

GP

S IP

WV

(m

m)

2003 2004 1:1 line

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202

DOY

PW

(m

m)

Airdrie UofC EF4 GEM Prog GEM Anal

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202

DOY

PW

(m

m)

Olds Sundre EA3 GEM Prog GEM Anal

2004 2004

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• Cold region climate processes– Precipitation-Elevation relationships – Processes and prediction of severe

precipitation events (high/low) related to orography

– Model evaluation (QPF, PWV)– Surface processes leading to severe

weather (e.g. evapotranspiration, soil moisture, etc)

CRD Interests in UNSTABLE

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• 3 FOPEX sites: hourly data transmission and access to data archives, site maintenance

• 1 mobile/static and 1 static upper-air system• ~50 RS-92G sondes and associated

expendables• 1 mobile/remote GPS for IPWV • Manpower: 1 researcher, 1 technician, 1+

co-op students, potentially 1+ support staff

CRD Contributions to UNSTABLE

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Airdrie, AB Caribou Creek, SK