Oceanic Weather and Volcanic AshOceanic Weather and Volcanic Ash

Cathy Kessinger NCAR/RALCathy Kessinger NCAR/RAL

Weather in the Cockpit WorkshopWeather in the Cockpit WorkshopBoulder, COBoulder, CO

8-10 August 20068-10 August 2006

Augustine, 12 Jan 2006M.L.Coombs, USGS-AVO

Oceanic Weather PDTOceanic Weather PDT

Primary mission: To improve aviation safety and efficiency within remote oceanic regions through the detection and forecasting of hazardous weather conditions.

• Long flight times of oceanic flights means pre-flight weather information becomes quite old

• Weather into the cockpit is beneficial

Oceanic Flight Information Regions

Scientific AreasScientific Areas

• Cockpit Display of Weather Products – Gary Blackburn • Volcanic Ash – Paul Herzegh• Improved Inflight Winds – Ted Tsui• Turbulence (CAT and CIT) – Bob Sharman• Convection Diagnosis and Nowcasting – Cathy Kessinger• Icing (FIP and CIP) – Marcia Politovich

• Domains:– Pacific– North Pacific– Gulf of Mexico– North Atlantic - later

Cockpit Uplink of Weather ProductsCockpit Uplink of Weather Products

A little history…A little history…

• NASA AvSP/AWRP Oceanic Convective Nowcasting Demonstration (OCND) Project– Purpose: demonstrate delivery of weather information in

graphical form into the cockpit – ~1999-2001– Workshops, user interactions and feedback to determine needs

• AWRP Oceanic Weather PDT formed 2001– OCND experience was basis

• Experimental ADDS– Satellite page– http:weather.aero

CTOP on Experimental ADDSCTOP on Experimental ADDS

Gulf of Mexico

Pacific

North Pacific

Cockpit Display of CTOPCockpit Display of CTOP• Collaboration with United Airlines and ARINC

– Aircraft-relative display of cloud top altitude• Ascii format via thermal printer

• ‘/’ = 30kft – 39kft and ‘C’ = >40kft

• Pilot receives a “heads up” for approaching Wx.

• Dispatcher also receives cockpit display

– Common situational awareness

• UAL testing on limited US-Aus flights– Favorable feedback, esp. unsolicited information

Current Position

FuturePositions

UAL 839

Cloud Top Height (CTOP)

Web-based Pilot Feedback FormWeb-based Pilot Feedback Form

• Pilot feedback form…

Volcanic Ash Detection and ForecastingVolcanic Ash Detection and Forecasting

OW Volcanic Ash PlansOW Volcanic Ash Plans

• Goal: Provide detection/warning/forecast capability of volcanic ash and gas plumes to aviation community

• Requested by Users:– Five minute span from detectability to warning– Graphic of ash plume/cloud showing horizontal and vertical

extent with frequent updates (inc. in the cockpit)– Current conditions & forecast (1 to 24h and beyond)

Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)

• Once eruption is reported (PIREP, Volcano Observatory, satellite), VAACs issue advisory to Met Watch Offices

Meteorological Watch Offices

issue VA SIGMET

- AAWU, AWC, Guam, Hawaii

- Dispatch, Airlines

Oceanic Weather Volcanic Ash Product Oceanic Weather Volcanic Ash Product

• Build an expert system using:– Satellite remote detection – GOES, POES– A few NEXRADs near volcanoes– Seismic information– Dispersion models

• Products: Detection and Forecast • Volcanic Ash Coordination Tool

(VACT) is path to operations– AF PDT Development– Gives VAAC, AAWU, CWSU,

Volcano Observatory common situational awareness to generate time-critical ash SIGMETS/forecasts

– Anchorage first; Washington later

Getting a VA Product into the Cockpit…Getting a VA Product into the Cockpit…

• After Advisory/SIGMET is ready for dissemination, then– Select specific aircraft that may intercept the ash cloud– Send graphical information directly to the aircraft via uplink

• Human first, automation later

• Within VACT

• Do this within 5 minutes of receiving the advisory

Soufriere Hills Eruption – 20 May 2006Soufriere Hills Eruption – 20 May 2006

• ~1100 eruption occurred – Stratospheric ash cloud

• 1115 eruption cloud is visible on satellite • 1140 first Volcanic Ash Advisory (VAA) issued by

Washington VAAC with few details• 1201 PIREP of ash to FL550, moving west• 1215 second VAA issued with details

Soufriere Hills Eruption, 20 May 2006, 1045-1445Soufriere Hills Eruption, 20 May 2006, 1045-1445

Volcanic Ash Detection

Cloud Top Height Infrared

Visible

Washington VAAC AdvisoryWashington VAAC Advisory

• Create graphical product to uplink to at-risk aircraftUplinked

Product

Other Possible Uplinked Products for Oceanic FlightsOther Possible Uplinked Products for Oceanic Flights

• Flight level winds from numerical model• Flight level temperature (fuel gel) from numerical model• Turbulence, both CAT and CIT sources• Hazardous convection and nowcasts• Icing