NWS / SPoRTCoordination Call

24 March, 2011

March 2011, Coordination Call

Data Availability

March 2011, Coordination Call

Spring Assessments

March 2011, Coordination Call

Low Intensity EvaluationFocus on Spring / Summer seasonEmphasize uses for total lightningo Severe weathero Incident supporto Additional training

What can improve these data?

Existing Training

March 2011, Coordination Call

Focus on Source Densitieso Basic product in AWIPS

Background on total lightningPart of the NOAA Learning Management System

http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/sport/training/

Upcoming Training

March 2011, Coordination Call

Operational ExamplesMore than jumps and severe weathero First cloud-to-ground strikeso Spatial extent / lightning safetyo When total lightning is not useful

Cases come from forecaster feedback

Want a Trend in Real-Time

2042

2044

2046

2048

2050

2052

2054

2056

2058

2100

2102

2104

2106

2108

2110

2112

2114

2116

2118

2120

0

50

100

150

200

250

Source Density Time Series

Time (UTC)

Sour

ce D

ensi

ty (2

km2 /

2min

)

Maximum Density (MD)

Similar to source/flash densityo Grid basedo MD shows max grid value

Can vary time Test with 10 / 30 min

o Show a rough trendo “Density Track”o Observe many cells at onceo Available later this spring

60 minMax Density

March 2011, Coordination Call

Using Maximum Density

Compare MD to 2 min source densityo Observe evolutiono What has changed?o Increase / decrease?

10 minMax Density

30 minMax Density

2 minSource Density

2320 - 2330

2300 - 2330 2332

March 2011, Coordination Call

Questions?

March 2011, Coordination Call

SPoRT objective is to expand utility of total lightning data and prepare for GOES-RHow can we do this?o More training?o New products / visualizations?o Change to a flash density as opposed to source density

product?o Incorporate SMG’s Vertically Integrated Ice work?o Work with WFO Melbourne on their lightning activities?