NOAA Storm Prediction Center Receives Grant To Improve Severe Storm Data For Forecasters
A project to
improve the information used by forecasters at the NOAA Storm Prediction Center
in Norman, Okla., has been awarded a 2005 Pioneer Fund Grant from the U.S.
Department of Commerce. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The $42,000
project will test the use of the Warning Decision Support System-Integrated
Information (WDSS-II), a state-of-the-art radar analysis software tool, to
stitch together real-time, high-resolution weather radar data from across the
country into a digital mosaic. This new mosaic and software display system will
add significant value to the data severe weather forecasters use on a daily
basis to develop accurate storm predictions for the United States.
WDSS-II was
developed by researchers at the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory and the
Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies at the University of
Oklahoma.
According to
Jason Levit, Storm Prediction Center techniques development meteorologist, “Our
forecasters will not only benefit from the imagery displayed using the
high-resolution mosaic, the new system also applies advanced problem solving
techniques to help find certain structures within hazardous weather that could
lead to better predictions of severe storms and tornadoes.”
“This project
takes developed and proven technology and creates an innovative system that
will improve our national mission by testing the use of high-resolution radar
data for national severe storms forecasting,” said Joseph Schaefer, director of
the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
SPC is one of
11 chosen grant recipients from 58 applicants within the Department of Commerce
in this year’s Pioneer Fund competition. The program gives Commerce employees
an opportunity to develop, propose and implement innovative ideas to improve
the way their organizations fulfill their missions to best serve the public.
Commerce’s
Pioneer Fund provides investment capital for creative projects that turn a
relatively small investment of money into noteworthy, cost-effective
improvements in quality, productivity and customer service.
The NOAA
Storm Prediction Center issues forecasts and watches for severe thunderstorms
and tornadoes over the contiguous United States. The SPC also monitors heavy
rain, heavy snow and fire weather events across the U.S., and issues specific
national products for those hazards.
NOAA is dedicated
to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and
research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental
stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.
For more
information please contact:
Keli Pirtle
Tarp
Public Affairs Specialist
1313 Halley
Circle
Norman, OK
73069
(405) 366-0451
CELL (405)
203-4839
FAX (405)
366-0457
NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Storm
Prediction Center: http://www.spc.noaa.gov