Real-time Weather Information Research Articles

Savannah River National Laboratory Emergency Response Capability for Atmospheric Contaminant Releases

ABSTRACT Emergency response to an atmospheric release of chemical or radiological contamination is enhanced when plume predictions, field measurements, and real-time weather information are integrated into a geospatial framework. The Weather Information and Display (WIND) System at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) utilizes such an integrated framework. The rapid availability of predictions from a suite of atmospheric transport models within this geospatial framework has proven to be of great value to decision makers during an emergency involving an atmospheric contaminant release.

The Experimental MJO Prediction Project

Weather prediction is typically concerned with lead times of hours to days, while seasonal-to-interannual climate prediction is concerned with lead times of months to seasons. Recently, there has been growing interest in 'subseasonal' forecasts---those that have lead times on the order of weeks (e.g., Schubert et al. 2002; Waliser et al. 2003; Waliser et al. 2005). The basis for developing and exploiting subseasonal predictions largely resides with phenomena such as the Pacific North American (PNA) pattern, the North Atlantic oscillation (NAO), the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), mid-latitude blocking, and the memory associated with soil moisture, as well as modeling techniques that rely on both initial conditions and slowly varying boundary conditions (e.g., tropical Pacific SST). An outgrowth of this interest has been the development of an Experimental MJO Prediction Project (EMPP). Th project provides real-time weather and climate information and predictions for a variety of applications, broadly encompassing the subseasonal weather-climate connection. Th focus is on the MJO because it represents a repeatable, low-frequency phenomenon. MJO's importance among the subseasonal phenomena is very similar to that of El Nino-Southern Oscillation(ENSO) among the interannual phenomena. This note describes the history and objectives of EMPP, its status,capabilities, and plans.

Implementing Metcast in Scheme

This paper describes the experience of implementing a core component of an operationally deployed large distributed system in Scheme. Metcast is a request-reply and subscription system for the dissemination of real-time weather information. The system stores vast amounts of weather observation reports, forecasts, gridded data produced by weather models, and satellite imagery. A Metcast server delivers a subset of these data in response to a query formulated in a domain-specific declarative language. Decoders of World Meteorological Organization's data feed, the Metcast application server, XML encoders and decoders, auxiliary and monitoring CGI scripts are all written in a mostly pure functional subset of Scheme. This paper describes three examples that demonstrate the benefits of our choice of the implementation language: parsing of the data feed; XML transformations and Web services; a modular interpreter for the extensible and expressive request language. We also discuss general-purpose extensions to Scheme developed in the project.

FORECASTING PESTS IN FIELD CROPS USING REAL-TIME WEATHER INFORMATION: THE CIPRA NETWORK IN QUEBEC

ISHS III International Symposium on Applications of Modelling as an Innovative Technology in the Agri-Food Chain; MODEL-IT FORECASTING PESTS IN FIELD CROPS USING REAL-TIME WEATHER INFORMATION: THE CIPRA NETWORK IN QUEBEC

Integrated pest management (IPM) and Internet-based information delivery systems

The Internet enables collaboration and information sharing on an unprecedented scale. It has become a prime medium for research and extension communication. The World Wide Web (WWW) makes it possible to combine information from many different sites in a seamless fashion. The potential for using the web to integrate all types of static and interactive (dynamic) information is unique and unprecedented. The web provides excellent interfaces for all kinds of interactive network databases, and many kinds of online analyses and data processing. Web-based models and decision support systems (DSS) are becoming popular because little or no client software is required, thus reducing software management and distribution costs. No other medium offers such ability as simultaneous real-time weather information, multimedia, analytical processing and multi-way discussion and feedback. IPM is an information-intensive system. Both IPM research and implementation require the reliable supply of timely information. The Internet provides the means to establish communication links between IPM researchers and extension professionals and their clientele to expedite multi-way exchange of information and technology transfer. The Internet particularly the WWW, has opened up a rich array of data resources for IPM research, extension, teaching, and learning that was not as readily accessible before the advent of the Internet. The future of IPM delivery systems through the Internet is promising; internet-based information exchange is quickly becoming an absolute requirement for local, regional/areawide, and international implementation of IPM systems.

OK-FIRST: An Example of Successful Collaboration between the Meteorological and Emergency Response Communities on 3 May 1999

Abstract The Oklahoma Climatological Survey began an initiative known as Oklahoma's First-Response Information System using Telecommunications (OK-FIRST) in 1996 to support local public-safety agencies (fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and emergency management). OK-FIRST provides participant agencies with a wealth of real-time weather information and instruction for these users on the interpretation and application of the data in their operations. The 3 May 1999 tornado outbreak was a critical test for the OK-FIRST system. Users of OK-FIRST prevented the tragedy from becoming worse by making informed decisions that protected life and property.

Enhanced Environments: Large-Scale, Real-Time Ecosystems

This research proposes a new method for using real-time information to support large-scale, climatic virtual environments that exhibit natural eco-behavioral conditions. The purpose of this research is to support a real-time virtual ecosystem created by live weather information and GIS terrain data, and delivered through a common multimedia PC/Internet network. For this research experiment, we customized available GIS satellite, terrain, and photography data to construct a highly accurate, large-scale, virtual environment. Next, a Web-based climatic collection system was developed to persistently collect real-time weather information for the physical area being modeled. Finally, an enhanced environment module was created and added to a popular game engine to support a “living” virtual ecosystem with real-time climatic conditions. This type of enhanced environment lays the foundation for creating emergent, dynamic environments that integrate the behavioral patterns of climate, artificial life, user interactions, and their complex interrelationships within a dynamic virtual world. In the sections that follow, the issues and problems of constructing, supporting, and maintaining a new style of virtual environment are explored, discussed, and analyzed. Finally, a conclusion is presented, including future uses and potentials of this research.

Forecast Issues in the Urban Zone: Report of the 10th Prospectus Development Team of the U.S. Weather Research Program

The 10th Prospectus Development Team (PDT-10) of the U.S. Weather Research Program was charged with identifying research needs and opportunities related to the short-term prediction of weather and air quality in urban forecast zones. Weather has special and significant impacts on large numbers of the U.S. population who live in major urban areas. It is recognized that urban users have different weather information needs than do their rural counterparts. Further, large urban areas can impact local weather and hydrologic processes in various ways. The recommendations of the team emphasize that human life and well-being in urban areas can be protected and enjoyed to a significantly greater degree. In particular, PDT-10 supports the need for 1) improved access to real-time weather information, 2) improved tailoring of weather data to the specific needs of individual user groups, and 3) more user-specific forecasts of weather and air quality. Specific recommendations fall within nine thematic areas: 1) development of a user-oriented weather database; 2) focused research on the impacts of visibility and icing on transportation; 3) improved understanding and forecasting of winter storms; 4) improved understanding and forecasting of convective storms; 5) improved forecasting of intense/severe lightning; 6) further research into the impacts of large urban areas on the location and intensity of urban convection; 7) focused research on the application of mesoscale forecasting in support of emergency response and air quality; 8) quantification and reduction of uncertainty in hydrological, meteorological, and air quality modeling; and 9) the need for improved observing systems. An overarching recommendation of PDT-10 is that research into understanding and predicting weather impacts in urban areas should receive increased emphasis by the atmospheric science community at large, and that urban weather should be a focal point of the U.S. Weather Research Program.

Report on the Fifth International Conference on School and Popular Meteorological and Oceanographic Education (EWOC99)

The Fifth International Conference on School and Popular Meteorological and Oceanographic Education was held 5–9 July 1999 in Ballarat and Melbourne, Australia. Conference delegates included 105 teacher educators, meteorologists, oceanographers, and science communicators representing 13 nations. Principal themes of the conference were weather and ocean studies in the primary and secondary school classroom (K–12), professional development programs for teachers in meteorology and oceanography, using the Internet for schools and public education, and communicating environmental issues to the public. Oral presentations, workshops, poster sessions, and hands-on demonstrations provided information on programs for teacher enhancement, computer-aided instruction, and access to real-time weather information.

Report on the Fourth International Conference on School and Popular Meteorological and Oceanographic Education

The Fourth International Conference on School and Popular Meteorological and Oceanographic Education was held 22–26 July 1996 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Conference attendees included 125 educators, meteorologists, oceanographers, and government officials representing 19 nations. The themes of the conference were the roles of meteorology and oceanography in science education and the benefits derived from improved environmental awareness and scientific literacy, particularly weather awareness, meteorological literacy, and understanding of the ocean. Formal presentations, workshops, poster sessions, and demonstrations provided information on programs for teacher enhancement, computer-aided instruction, and classroom access to real-time weather information through the World Wide Web.