Local Data Integration over East-Central Florida Using the ARPS Data Analysis System

Abstract

The Applied Meteorology Unit has configured the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) Data Analysis System (ADAS) to support operational short-range weather forecasting over east-central Florida, including the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The ADAS was modified to assimilate nationally and locally available in situ and remotely sensed observational data into a series of high-resolution gridded analyses every 15 min. The goal for running ADAS over east-central Florida is to generate real-time analysis products that may enhance weather nowcasts and short-range (<6 h) forecasts issued by the 45th Weather Squadron (45 WS), the Spaceflight Meteorology Group (SMG), and the National Weather Service (NWS) at Melbourne, Florida (MLB). The locally configured ADAS has the potential to provide added value because it ingests all operationally available data into a single grid analysis at high spatial and temporal resolutions. ADAS-generated grid analyses can provide forecasters with a tool to develop a more comprehensive understanding of evolving fine-scale weather features than could be obtained by individually examining the disparate data sources. The potential utility of this ADAS configuration to operational forecasters is demonstrated through a postanalysis case study of a thunderstorm outflow boundary that postponed an Atlas space launch mission, and a Florida cool-season squall line event. In the Atlas case study, a thunderstorm outflow boundary generated strong winds that exceeded the Atlas vehicle limits. A diagnosis of this event, using analysis products during the decaying phase of a Florida summer thunderstorm, illustrates the potential benefits that may be provided to forecasters supporting space launch and landing operations, and to NWS MLB meteorologists generating short-range forecast products. The evolution of analyzed cloud fields from the squall line event were used to track the areal coverage and tendencies of cloud ceiling and cloud-top heights that impact the evaluation of space operation weather constraints and NWS aviation products. These cases also illustrate how the analyses can provide guidance for nowcasts and short-range forecasts of Florida warm-season convection and fire-weather parameters. In addition, some of the sensitivities of the ADAS analyses to selected observational data sources are discussed. Recently, a real-time version of ADAS was implemented at both SMG and the NWS MLB forecast offices. Future plans of this ADAS configuration include incorporating additional observational datasets and designing visualization products for specific forecast tasks. Finally, the ultimate goal is to use these ADAS analyses to initialize a high-resolution numerical weather prediction model run locally at SMG and the NWS MLB, in order to develop a cycling scheme that preserves fine-scale features such as convective outflow boundaries in short-range numerical forecasts.