RadarBased Aviation Weather Services Mark Weber MIT Lincoln

Radar-Based Aviation Weather Services Mark Weber MIT Lincoln Laboratory 8 October 2003 Radar-Based AWS-1 M. Weber 10/8/03

Outline • Improved Measurements – ASR-9 Weather Systems Processor – TDWR Processor Modernization • Improved Nowcast/Forecast Services – Medium Intensity Airport Weather System – Corridor Integrated Weather System Radar-Based AWS-2 M. Weber 10/8/03 MIT Lincoln Laboratory

ASR-9 Weather Systems Processor Site Status Radar-Based AWS-3 M. Weber 10/8/03 MIT Lincoln Laboratory

TDWR Measurement Enhancements (Exploit New Radar Data Acquisition Processor) Suppression of Range-Overlaid Weather Echoes Range Overlaid Echoes Current Processing Enhanced Algorithms Atmospheric Moisture Fields using “Radar Refractivity” technique Radar-Based AWS-4 M. Weber 10/8/03 MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Medium Intensity Airport Weather System (MIAWS) Sites Tower/TRACON Supervisor Display SD Pull-Down Menus Runway Arenas Storm Motion Vector Radar-Based AWS-5 M. Weber 10/8/03 Storm Position 10 & 20 Minute Extrapolation MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Corridor Integrated Weather System CIWS Benefits – 2003 Summer Storm Season FAA Facilities with CIWS Prototype ARTCC TRACON Command Center Regional Office CIWS Products Include: 0 – 2 hr Storm Forecast (looping 15 min increments or contour overlay) User-Identified CIWS Benefits: Projected Times/Year • Jet routes kept open/reopened earlier > 800 • Proactive, efficient reroutes > 300 • Identification of storm over flight opportunities > 200 • Improved handling of storm impacts on ARTCC/TRACON interface > 100 • Better use of Ground Stop/Ground Delay Programs TBD • Greater departures during SWAP TBD • Reduced MIT restrictions TBD • Improved interfacility coordination NEXRAD/ASR-9 Precip; Storm Motion Information • Reduced user workload (traffic manager/controllers) Individual CIWS Delay Reduction Event: 10 July 2003 Echo Tops; Lightning Radar-Based AWS-6 M. Weber 10/8/03 Satellite Data; Storm Growth/Decay Trends • PHL westbound routes blocked by storms • Using CIWS Echo Tops Product – 9 hr storm over flight reroute for PHL/NYC traffic • Delay Savings ~ $ 2. 1 M MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Summary • Ongoing progress in enhancing weather measurement capabilities of U. S. operational radar networks • FAA fielding systems that exploit these radar networks to provide high-benefit nowcast and forecast products Radar-Based AWS-7 M. Weber 10/8/03 MIT Lincoln Laboratory