Pilot Field Experiment Research Articles

Enhancing patient well-being in oncology waiting rooms: a pilot field experiment on the emotional impact of virtual forest therapy.

This study explores the emotional impact of virtual forest therapy delivered through audio-visual recordings shown to patients in the oncology waiting rooms, focusing on whether simulated forest walks can positively influence patients' emotional states compared to traditional waiting room stimuli. The study involved 117 participants from a diverse group of oncology patients in the outpatient clinic waiting room at the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute. Using a partially randomized controlled trial design, the study assessed basic emotional dimensions-valence and arousal-as well as specific psychological states such as thought control, sadness, anxiety, and pain. This assessment used the Self-Assessment Manikin and the modified Emotional Thermometer before and after participants watched three video types (forest, sea, news). Baseline stress levels were measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Participants exposed to forest and sea videos reported significant improvements in emotional valence and reduced arousal, suggesting a calming and uplifting effect. No significant changes were observed in the control and news groups. Secondary outcomes related to anxiety, sadness, and pain showed no significant interaction effects, though small but significant main effects of time on these variables were noted. The findings suggest that videos of forest and sea can be a beneficial intervention in the oncology waiting rooms by enhancing patients' emotional well-being. This pilot study underscores the potential for integrating virtual mental health support elements into healthcare settings to improve patient care experience.

A case study – The occurrence of pests in stands of newly introduced energy crops in large-scale pilot experiments in conditions of Central Europe

Abstract The objective of this paper is to document the occurrence of pests recorded in a large-scale pilot field experiment, where a unique set of newly-introduced herbaceous energy crops was tested under conditions of eastern Slovakia. The set consisted of Elymus elongatus, Secale cereanum, Silphium perfoliatum, Galega orientalis, Sida hermaphrodita, Panicum virgatum, Amaranthus spp., Panicum miliaceum, Sorghum sudanense, and Sorghum bicolor. A total of 14 cultivars were tested on 4 sites during 4 crop years (2016 – 2020). At least 17 species of pests were recorded in total, as some of the species may represent the identity of the couple or several relative ones, which was rare only as usually a fower common species. The occurred pests list consists of Anisoplia lata Erichson, Agriotes lineatus L., Capreolus capreolus L., Deroceras agreste L., Oulema gallaeciana Heyden, Lepisma saccharinum L., Lepus europaeus Pallas, Meloe proscarabaeus L., Metcalfa pruinosa Say, Microtus arvalis Pallas, Philaenus spumarius L., Psylliodes chrysocephala L., Rhopalosiphum padi L., stemborers as any insect larva or arthropod boring into plant stem, Sus scrofa L., Aleyrodes proletella L., Tettigonia viridissima L., and Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood. Overall, the occurrence of pests was regular and scattered, and damages caused by them were negligible usually, but a total destruction of the crop stand even cultivar-specific was recorded too. Most of the meaningful pests are primarily field hunting animals and only secondarily commonly occurring insect species, which for further observations are desirable in order to capture the tendency of important pests’ overpopulation, confirming respectively. Although even rare finding of the single caterpillar of Xylena exsoleta exsoleta L. was recorded in a buffer zone, within the experiment no newly introduced pest species was recorded.

Weather information and agricultural outcomes: Evidence from a pilot field experiment in Benin

Weather conditions are an important determinant of agricultural factor input, particularly labor allocation. The availability of weather forecasts can therefore lead to efficiency gains in the form of cost decreases and productivity increases. We test the practical feasibility, the uptake, and the effect of providing basic weather forecasts in the rainy season on the labor productivity of smallholder farmers. For this purpose, we conducted a Randomized Controlled Trial as a pilot with monthly data collections involving 331 farmers across six villages in northern Benin. We find that most farmers subscribe to the intervention and report satisfaction with the service. The impact estimates indicate positive and economically significant intention-to-treat and local average treatment effects in terms of reduced relative labor costs, increased yield and, in turn, increased labor productivity for maize and cotton cultivation. These benefits come at relatively low cost, suggesting that weather-related information via mobile phone outreach holds promise for helping smallholder farmers to better adapt to changing weather.

Simulation-based evaluation of the effectiveness of fiber-optic sensing in monitoring and optimizing water circulation in next-generation enhanced geothermal systems

The success of multi-stage hydraulic fracturing technology in unconventional oil and gas reservoir development has attracted much attention from the geothermal community. Some pilot field experiments have been conducted to investigate the multi-stage hydraulic stimulation along horizontal or high-deviated wellbores in geothermal reservoirs (denoted as next-generation enhanced geothermal systems). One common output of such stimulation is that the created hydraulic fractures show various conductive capabilities, which could potentially lead to undesirable flow localization, early thermal breakthrough, and low cold water sweep efficiency. Monitoring the water circulation between horizontal wellbores connected through hydraulic fractures becomes important in avoiding early severe producing temperature reduction in practical operations. In this study, we investigate the effectiveness of distributed temperature sensing (DTS) and distributed strain sensing (DSS) in identifying dominant flow paths in geothermal reservoirs with multi-stage hydraulic stimulation and horizontal well completion designs. A coupled thermo-poro-elastic model for general-purpose geothermal reservoir simulation is developed and solved using a combined finite volume/finite element method, together with a fully implicit sequential coupling scheme. The temperature and strain responses along horizontal production wells are simulated and analyzed during water circulation. Reservoir temperature reduces in the area that is close to the water flow paths, which induces thermal contraction. These thermoelastic characteristics can be monitored by fiber-optic sensing, forming distinct signatures for flow-localization identification. DTS data may be dominantly influenced by the fractures with higher conductivity, ‘masking’ the signals related to fractures in the downstream, but DSS data can provide additional information for accurate identification of high conductive fractures. Successful mitigation strategies, for example plugging the dominant fractures illustrated in this study, could substantially increase the producing fluid temperature. The analyses in this study show that fiber-optic sensing is an effective technology to monitor and optimize water circulation in next-generation enhanced geothermal systems.

Ligno-Cellulose Quality and Calorific Value ofElymus elongatusL. and the NovelSecale cereanumTested Under Central European Conditions

AbstractThe objective of the paper is to determine ligno-cellulose quality and calorific value of tall wheatgrass Szarvasi-1 and Alkar, as well as perennial rye Kriszta and Gergő cultivars, tested within a huge pilot field experiment. The experiment was established in the autumn of 2016 and was carried out until 2020, while four trial sites with marginal soil and three nutrition treatments (intensive, semi-intensive and untreated control) were included as well. The impact of the nutrition, years, sites, and cultivars on quality was statistically evaluated as the main effects, with two complete data set points of acid-detergent fibre (ADF), acid-detergent lignin (ADL), crude cellulose (CE), hemicellulose (HEM), neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) and high heating value (HHV), primarily in terms of quality content and a secondarily in terms of quality yield. In terms of quality content, the impact decreased in alternating order: of sites, years, and cultivars, each of them over the least important nutrition, while in terms of quality yield nutrition has been confirmed as the most important factor followed by sites, then by years, and finally by cultivars with the least impact. Average ADF content according to cultivars sequence Szarvasi-1 – Alkar – Kriszta – Gergő was 45.95 – 45.65 – 42.25 – 42.97%, ADL 8.67 – 8.24 – 8.51 – 8.37%, CE 37.27 – 37.41 – 33.74 – 34.60%, HEM 24.14 – 24.78 – 25.46 – 25.00%, NDF 70.03 – 70.43 – 67.71 – 67.71% and HHV 16.86 – 16.89 – 17.21 – 17.17 MJ/kg, respectively. The maximum yield values of ADF yield according to the order were 6.373 – 6.180 – 6.112 – 4.983 t/ha, ADL 1.340 – 1.374 – 1.261 – 1.027 t/ha, CE 5.253 – 5.111 – 4.851 – 3.997 t/ha, HEM 3.000 – 3.097 – 3.052 – 2.655 t/ha, NDF 9.285 – 9.133 – 9.164 – 7.626 t/ha and HHV 225.3 – 221.1 – 228.9 – 185.7 GJ/ha, respectively.

The policy and political consequences of the B-Mincome pilot project

The idea of universal basic income is recieving increasing attention in the political, media and public agendas. This policy proposal constitutes a radical departure from the orthodox welfare rationale of giving to those in need, or attaching conditions to welfare support. Given the permutation that a UBI presents, many pilot projects and field experiments are being carried out globally to test the effects of this novel policy idea. Key questions arise from these developments: are the lessons learned from these experiments being fed back into the policy process? Are the pilot project results guiding and informing policymakers? Overall, can we observe any political effects of such scientific efforts? I address these questions through a qualitative case study analysis of the B-Mincome project. Through an in-depth analysis of this pilot, some of the key factors influencing the (limited) policy and political effects of the pilot project have been identified. The B-Mincome case study shows that the barriers to policy change were in place well before the pilot, and evidently, remained unaltered by it. The political landscape in Barcelona's City Council, its economic powers and institutional context were unchanged by the pilot, and in fact shaped the pilot design, moving it away from the UBI proposal. The B-Mincome experience illustrates the need to accommodate the pilot design to the politics and economics of the experiment, and shows the unintended consequences that such an adaptation of the pilot design may have in relation to its original objectives. In the case of Barcelona, this has meant a move away from a UBI-style pilot design, resulting in very limited effects on the debate or policy design of cash transfers, having a greater policy impact on active polices instead. However, by taking a broader look at Spanish and Catalan politics, our analysis has shown that unexpected factors may end up triggering a debate much more effectively than a pilot project.

From laboratory to in-situ 3D measurements of complex pollution states in the city: Introducing a general concept using compact multisensory assemblies on UAVs

In the city, it is still a challenge to implement a mobile measurement device to accurately monitor its complex pollution state. Current research proposes new technological developments and many studies implement an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based platforms. However, many questions arise on the representativeness of such measurements and on the UAV impact on data quality. Here, UAV is used to link between sparsely located ground monitoring sites and lidar station measuring pollution, the latter of which are at heights of typically >200 m. Information at intermediate heights are missing but needed for health studies and also for lidar validation algorithms. In this regard, we propose and demonstrate a UAV-based platform aimed at measuring meteorological and air quality parameters, namely, air temperature (Tair), relative humidity (RH) and PM2.5 (Particulate matter pollution with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm) on both compact and large UAV integrations. Each integration was separately investigated both numerically and experimentally in terms of the possible set of instruments used in the setup. In particular, custom-made meteorological shelters were constructed and tested in the laboratory under different propeller conditions. The best placement locations on the UAVs were verified using numerical airflow simulations employing real UAV geometries. Next, we compared between different sensors for Tair on a diurnal cycle and deduced the best work time corresponding to minimal impact of the outside conditions (mainly due to direct sun exposure). The influence of propeller rotation on measured parameters has been studied in detail. In addition, a pilot field experiment was conducted in the urban domain using our platform and these measurements were compared to all available data sources. Our field experiment indicated a mixed local pollution layer up to 300 m. Finally, we suggest a practical guideline for carrying out field experiments employing both UAVs. We have also considered the fact that wide use of UAV technologies in crowded cities in the context presented in this paper is currently restricted by regulations and privacy that vary among different countries.

Construction of a Novel Female Sterility System for Hybrid Rice.

The main constraints of current hybrid rice technology using male sterility (MS) are the low yield and high labor costs of hybrid rice seed (HRS) production. Therefore, there is an urgent need for innovative new hybrid rice technology. Fortunately, we discovered a unique spontaneous sporophytic female-sterile rice mutant controlled by a single recessive locus in the nucleus. Because female-sterile mutant lines cannot produce any selfed-seeds but their pollen has totally normal functions, female sterility (FS) lines may be considered ideal pollen donors to replace the female-fertile pollen donor parent lines currently used in the HRS production. In this study, a genetically engineered FS-based system was constructed to propagate a pure transgene-free FS line using a bentazon herbicide screening. Additionally, the ability of the FS + MS (FM)-line system, with mixed plantings of FS and MS lines, to produce HRS was tested. The pilot field experiment results showed that HRS of the FM-line system was more efficient compared with the conventional FS to MS strip planting control mode. Thus, this study provides new insights into genetic engineering technology and a promising strategy for the utilization of FS in hybrid rice.

What motivates smart meter adoption? Evidence from an experimental advertising campaign in Germany

Motivating individuals to engage in transformative behaviors aimed to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change seizes to be a large challenge of environmental social science. In particular, in remains unclear how to best promote the uptake of novel, digital technologies when it comes to efficient energy management. To contribute to this challenge, the present Perspective investigates factors associated with energy customers’ interest in smart meters, based on an exploratory pilot field experiment in Germany (n = 4,147 clients of a German energy firm). Specifically, we set up an online field experiment and vary the arguments emphasized towards its actual customers (medium to large customers) that speak in favor of using a smart meter in an advertising campaign initiated by the firm. We find that customers are particularly interested in the technology when they learn that it may enable them to realize savings (as compared to environmental, technological or legal reasons). This result crucially adds to contrary results emphasizing moral (i.e., environmental) motives, suggesting that it may be detrimental to shift focus away from financial motives when promoting digital technologies in the energy market, particular among medium to large consumers of energy.

8 - The Impact of Short Message Services (SMS) Weather Forecasts on Cost, Yield and Income in Maize Production: Evidence from a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial in Bembèrèkè, North Benin

In this study we analyse the impact of weather forecasts provided to smallholder maize farmers through mobile phone short message service on self-reported labour costs, crop yield and income. We conducted a pilot field experiment, involving 331 randomly selected eligible farmers in six villages. Randomisation was done at the village level. We used three regression specifications to estimate the impacts: Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE) with a small sample correction and Randomisation Inference (RI). We found that the treatment and control groups were well balanced. Farmers in the treatment group recorded lower labour costs but higher crop yield and income levels. Both the direction and the magnitude of the impact estimates were consistent across the three regression specifications, but significant with the RI model only (for labour costs and yield) or the RI and GEE models (for income). Weather forecasts can have an impact on smallholder farmers’ labour, yield and income. These findings are strong evidence of the possibility of using weather-related information and mobile phones to build smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate variability. Yet more research is required to build a solid evidence base to inform agricultural policies. Rosaine N. Yegbemey, Laboratoire d’Analyse et de Recherches sur les Dynamiques Economiques et Sociales (LARDES), Faculté d’Agronomie, Université de Parakou, Bénin. Email: ynerice@gmail.com; rosaine.yegbemey@fa-up.bj Aline M. Aloukoutou, Bureau de Recherche et de Développement en Agriculture (Breda-ONG). Email: alma_aline@yahoo.com Ghislain B. D. Aïhounton, Laboratoire d’Analyseet de Recherches sur les Dynamiques Economiques et Sociales (LARDES), Faculté d’Agronomie, Université de Parakou, Bénin. Email: aihountong@gmail.com

Onshore biological sampling of landings by species and size category within auction sites can be more efficient than trip-based concurrent sampling

Abstract Since 1996, the European Union has required that fishery products of 35 fish species or groups of species, including crustaceans and cephalopods, be graded before being landed on the basis of commercial size-categories. A multi-stage sampling scheme to estimate catch-at-length and catch-at-age compositions of total annual landings has been conducted in Portuguese waters since 2009. All species and their size-categories are sampled concurrently from random trips within representatively selected site-days annually. In an effort to improve cost-efficiency of the biological catch sampling of commercial landings in Portugal, a size- category sampling scheme was tested during 2017, taking advantage of the stratification of horse mackerel landings, induced by the mandatory grading of landings by size-category. The total number of site-days (primary sampling units), fish boxes sampled, and specimens of horse mackerel sampled for length and age across strata during the pilot study were 30%, 57%, and 12% of the sampling carried out under the standard concurrent scheme, respectively. The assignment of horse mackerel length to the six commercial size-categories was highly consistent across site-days. Our study shows that the concurrent sampling, where trips are subsampled within site-days, could miss some size-categories by chance, resulting in poor estimates of catch-at-length especially for small fish present at the market during a site-day. The size-category sampling scheme ensured subsamples of fish from all size-categories within a site-day, and achieved data on catch-at-age that are fit-for purpose at 24% of the total cost for the standard concurrent sampling. The effect of sampling designs and sample sizes on horse mackerel stock assessment outputs showed that the onshore biological sampling to estimate catch-at-age compositions for stock assessment is optimized with the size-category sampling scheme. Pilot field experiments should be carried out for selected species that evidence consistent size grading among commercial categories.

Analysis on dynamic characteristics of polymer flooding and influencing factors of flooding effect in Daqing Oilfield

Polymer flooding technology after years of painstaking research, from the initial pilot field experiment, to the later industrial field experiment, now has entered the stage of industrialization. During this period, a series of technical applications in the field of polymer flooding were established, forming a supporting system for polymer flooding, laying a solid foundation for the large-scale application of polymer flooding, which is widely used in the oilfield. And polymer flooding technology has achieved remarkable results in Daqing Oilfield. This paper analyzes the dynamic characteristics of polymer flooding technology in Daqing Oilfield and the influencing factors of displacement effect.

Comparison of Chemical and Biological Strategies for the Cleanup of Diesel/Biodiesel Blend–Contaminated Groundwater

The widespread use of diesel/biodiesel blends as a transportation fuel can increase the risk of groundwater contamination, which requires remediation actions. Two pilot-field experiments were conducted to assess and compare their potential to treat groundwater contaminated with B20 (20% biodiesel and 80% diesel, v/v), using combined iron and sulfate biostimulation (CISB) and a modified Fenton system (MFS). A low-cost and sustainable product recovered from acid mine drainage was used to stimulate both iron- and sulfate-reducing conditions. The modified Fenton system was composed of magnesium peroxide to promote the slow release of hydrogen peroxide by magnesium peroxide decomposition. Fe2O3 recovered from acid mine drainage was used as catalyst for modified Fenton reaction. Both technologies demonstrated to efficiently degrade B20-blend aromatic hydrocarbons. However, the application of MFS maintained BTEX dissolved concentrations below the detection limit (1 μg L−1) over 22 months, while in CISB, the dissolved concentrations of BTEX compounds were > 50 μg L−1 after 8.4 months. Additionally, total PAH dissolved concentrations in MFS experiment were lower than those observed for the CISB plot. In MFS, microbial growth was inhibited as opposed to CISB in which microbial growth enhanced up to 3 orders of magnitude. Therefore, though MFS was more efficient to meet remediation goals relative to CISB approach, if the site requires complete restoration, less aggressive technologies such as CISB should be considered. This novel pilot study presents chemical and biological technologies that can potentially be applied to remediate diesel/biodiesel blends in groundwater.

Separate Layer Fracturing Technology of Hybrid Fluid on Thick Tight Sandstone Reservoir, Case Study of Huaqing Oil Field

The tight and thick sandstone reservoir, which is represented by Huaqing oilfield, was stimulated by the separated layer fracturing technology in the early period which produces discharge multi-channel between the pay formation and wellbore. For the conventional refracturing technology, the combination of tubing and packers is employed to treat the target layers in sequence. Nevertheless, this conventional technology is confined by the size of the tubing so that the maximum pumping rate can only reach to 3 to 4m3/min. It can’t meet the requirement of high pumping rate of hybrid fluid SRV fracturing that the treatment effort is not optimum and the stimulation efficiency is very low. In this article, in order to resolve the refracturing problems above for old wells, we introduced a state-of-art downhole releasing separated layer volume fracturing technology and support tools. By applying the releasing tool assembly and exclusive fishing tools, some goals can be easily achieved: to realize the efficient isolation between target layers, to protect the casing while fracturing, to meet the pump rate requirement of SRV fracturing of 11m3/min. We deployed the pilot field experiment of Huaqing oilfield and realized the “separated layer multistage SRV fracturing” of tight and thick reservoir. The result shows that the initial production rate of trial wells increases by 2.42t/d. The field test indicates that this technology presents some advantages such as high pump rate, simple tool assembly, easy operation and low operation risk.

Adoption and Use of Low-Carbon Technologies: Lessons from 100 Finnish Pilot Studies, Field Experiments and Demonstrations

Experimentation is critical for the deployment of low-carbon technologies. New solutions need to be selected and adapted to their contexts of use, and users need to learn new skills. Society as a whole needs to create new modes of production, consumption and governance. We investigated how local pilot projects, demonstrations and trials of low-carbon technologies promote learning in Finnish society, where the government has made a commitment to a culture of experimentation. We drew on a database of 100 pilot projects and experiments and 15 detailed case studies. We identified several types of learning, beyond the formal evaluation of “what works where and when”: pilot projects served to inspire, to create commitment and to develop networks. We also investigated how lessons learned are transferred to other sites and into societal knowledge. We contribute by conceptualizing different forms of learning and transfer—particularly situated and embodied forms—alongside more techno-scientific ones. While highlighting this form of learning, we also note that it is not particularly strong in acknowledging challenges faced in experimentation. We argue that there is scope for more systematic evaluation, alongside more situated forms of learning and sharing. We also pinpoint tensions between these two forms of learning that need to be addressed.

Making ‘Smart Meters’ smarter? Insights from a behavioural economics pilot field experiment in Copenhagen, Denmark

This paper examines the relationship between loss aversion and consumer behaviour in a non-price policy intervention that followed the installation of smart meter (SM) technology. Drawing upon insights from behavioural economics, we propose that consumers underestimate potential gains and overestimate potential financial losses resulting from electricity use. To test the hypothesis, we carried out a pilot study involving the installation of SM technology in Copenhagen, Denmark. The analysis used two baselines, and the differential effects revealed that the provision of loss-framed, salient information reduced daily demand by 7–11%, compared to unframed information. Reductions in standby consumption were more pronounced, with a differential effect of 16–25%. Despite the limitations inherent in a pilot study, notably the small sample size, the findings suggest that policies that address SM technology need to consider not only the pure provision of information, but also how it is designed and presented to users. Several aspects for further research are identified.

The Carrot and the Stick: Evidence on Voluntary Tax Compliance from a Pilot Field Experiment in Rwanda

Large-scale field experiments on tax compliance have been a thriving field of research in many regions of the world. However, Africa is still lagging behind, as administrative data from anonymised returns is available only in a handful of countries. To the best of our knowledge, there is as yet no published evidence of a tax field experiment from Africa. This paper reports the results of a pilot experiment in Rwanda that served as a stepping stone for a larger experimental study on tax compliance. In this pilot, we test the process of messaging taxpayers to encourage them to comply voluntarily, by providing information on sanctions. The results indicate that communication strategies that aim to inform taxpayers may be effective in increasing tax compliance. However, these results are only indicative. They will be complemented by further evidence from the larger field experiment, where we test different types of messages and delivery methods. Nonetheless, this paper provides some initial insight into the use of tax experiments in Africa, both in terms of initial evidence and lessons learned for future efforts in this field.

Pushing Too Hard: Using Door-in-the-Face to Get Voters out the Door

Get-out-the-vote campaigns have utilized a variety of tools and techniques to encourage registered voters to participate on election day. This paper reports the results of a study that uses two randomized field experiments to test the viability of the door-in-the-face (DITF) technique developed by Cialdini et al. (1975) as a way to increase voter turnout. The first experiment was a small pilot conducted in November 2010 among registered voters who are students at a college in the western United States. The second, larger-scale experiment was conducted in November 2011 with registered voters in San Mateo County, California. Results from both the pilot and full field experiments suggest that DITF is not an effective tactic for increasing voter turnout. Voters receiving a simple get-out-the-vote script were more likely to vote than were those in the control group, but voters receiving the DITF script were no more likely to cast ballots.

Impact of data assimilation in simulation of thunderstorm (squall line) event over Bangladesh using WRF model, during SAARC–STORM Pilot Field Experiment 2011

A widespread thunderstorm (squall line or multicell line) occurred over Bangladesh on 11 May 2011 during 0300 UTC to 1300 UTC. A north–south oriented well-established squall line of 400 km length was noticed to the center of Bangladesh at 0530 UTC and the vertical extend of this system was about 16–18 km. An attempt has been made to study the impact of data assimilation in simulation of the selected thunderstorm event of 11 May 2011 using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The WRF model was run in STORM Phase-I domain at 9 km horizontal resolution using six hourly NCEP-FNL datasets from 0000 UTC of 11 May to 0000 UTC of 12 May 2011 as initial and boundary condition for control (CNTL) run. The 0300 UTC Synop, 0000 UTC Temp and 0300 UTC Khepupara DWR reflectivity and redial velocity of 11 May 2011 were assimilated in 3DVar with the first guess of WRF model for data assimilation (DA) run. Model outputs have been analyzed for CNTL and DA to compare and/or asses the model performance. It is found that the DA enhanced in the synoptic and environmental characteristics as compared to that of CNTL. The WRF model outputs with DA help to investigate the synoptic and environmental characteristics responsible for the occurring of this unusual event. The model products showed a cyclonic circulation over Gangetic West Bengal of India at 925 hPa and over Assam and adjoining areas of India at 500 hPa. Strong upward motion was noticed over Bangladesh. Significant moisture incursion was observed over center and southeast parts of Bangladesh at 925 and 850 hPa with southerly/southwesterly flow of 10–20 ms−1 (19–39 knots). Result showed that the WRF model with DA could capture thunderstorm event of 11 May 2011 in reasonably well though there are some spatial and temporal biases in the results.

The SAARC STORM: A Coordinated Field Experiment on Severe Thunderstorm Observations and Regional Modeling over the South Asian Region

This article describes a unique field experiment on Severe Thunderstorm Observations and Regional Modeling (STORM) jointly undertaken by eight South Asian countries. Several pilot field experiments have been conducted so far, and the results are analyzed. The field experiments will continue through 2016. The STORM program was originally conceived for understanding the severe thunderstorms known as nor'westers that affect West Bengal and the northeastern parts of India during the pre-monsoon season. The nor'westers cause loss of human lives and damage to properties worth millions of dollars annually. Since the neighboring South Asian countries are also affected by thunderstorms, the STORM program is expanded to cover the South Asian countries under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). It covers all the SAARC countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) in three phases. Some of the science plans (monitoring the life cycle of nor'westers/severe thunderstorms and their three-dimensional structure) designed to understand the interrelationship among dynamics, cloud microphysics, and electrical properties in the thunderstorm environment are new to severe weather research. This paper describes the general setting of the field experiment and discusses preliminary results based on the pilot field data. Typical lengths and the intensity of squall lines, the speed of movements, and cloud-top temperatures and their heights are discussed based on the pilot field data. The SAARC STORM program will complement the Severe Weather Forecast Demonstration Project (SWFDP) of the WMO. It should also generate large-scale interest for fueling research among the scientific community and broaden the perspectives of operational meteorologists and researchers.