The Cost-Effectiveness of an Adaptive Radiosonde

Observing Strategy for the United States

Lauryn Gonzalez, Leah Kos and Sara LavasMentor: Dr. Michael Douglas, NSSL

Dr. Michael Douglas

•PhD from Florida State University in 1987. (Monsoon depressions)

•Worked at WPL in Boulder from 1987-1992 on polar lows and oceanic winter storms

•NOAA Research meteorologist for the NSSL since 1992.

•Conducts research in mesoscale and tropical meteorology.

• Recent work on satellite cloud climatology and adaptive sounding systems

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What we want to accomplish…

Evaluate current radiosonde network

Research and develop plans for possible adaptive variant strategies

Compare current network with the adaptive variants

Evaluate the usefulness of NWS special soundings

Determine costs and benefits of adaptive variants and suggest best options under different budget scenarios

ProcedureResearch current radiosonde network through

scholarly sources

Contact key NOAA staff for information on the network’s operation, performance and financing.

Research possible variants and compare to current network

Evaluate special soundings by determining their additional cost and how often they are used

Draw conclusions from collected information and determine the most cost effective strategy

Relevance to SocietyImpacts all parts of society as they are a unique

source of the upper air climate

Gives archive data

Data is of better quality than from a satellite

Improves long range forecasts

Opportunity for a more flexible network

Budget cuts

References Haimberger,2007: Homogenization of Radiosonde Temperature Time Series

Using Innovation Statistics. Journal of Climate. 20, 1377-1403, doi: 10.1175/JCLI4050.1

Douglas, M. W., Mejia, J.F., 2009: Requirements for developing an adaptive radiosonde network for improved regional weather forecasting over southwestern North America. Extended Abstracts, Fifth Symposium on Southwest Hydrometeorology, Albuquerque, NM, USA, National Weather Service, University of New Mexico, ppt file.

AMMA/NAMMA and NSSL, cited 2006: African Monsoon Activities: Who are we?. [Available online at: http://www.ametsoc.org/pubs/journals/author_reference_guide.pdf]

Texas A&M Atmospheric Sciences, cited 2011: March 10 Seminar: Dr. Michael Douglas. [Available online at: http://atmo.tamu.edu/seminars/seminars-spring-2011/713-march-10-seminar]

NSSL, cited 2011. Pan American Climate Studies: Who are we?. [Available online at: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/pacs/web/WHOAREWE/index.shtml]

Don Simonsen, cited 2010. Upper Air Soundings. [Available online at: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/ggw/newsletter/winter_10/UpperAir.pdf]