Storm Tracker

1
Storm Tracker a Web-Based Tool for Working with
the Automated Tracking of Thunderstorm Clusters

• Bob Rabin
• NOAA / NSSL / CIMSS
• Tom Whittaker
• Space Science Engineering Center / CIMSS
• University of Wisconsin-Madison

2
Goals of the Project

• Make the results of on-going research at NSSL
  available to others
• Provide a web-based portal and appropriate tools
• Augment use of GOES data with other sources
• Radar
• RUC analysis
• Lightning
• Explore using THREDDS cataloging for data access
  and VisAD data model for manipulation

3
Research community needs

• Rapid access to archived data
• Simplified conversion of data formats
• Tailoring the manipulation and visualization of
  multidimensional data to specific needs
• For example integrating and overlaying data from
  multiple sources in Lagrangian reference
  systems.
• Remote access to slices of data

4
Proposed solution

• Expand on the ideas of radar tracking algorithms
• Operate on larger storms (e.g., MCS, tropical)
• Include multi-sensor data
• Radars
• Satellite
• Lightning
• Model analyses forecasts
• Build a prototype that operates on realtime and
  archived data
• Background collection and staging of data
• User interactive selection, displays, manipulation

5
Considerations in Gathering of Data

• At NSSL, acquire and stage
• GOES data (McIDAS)
• Radar data images (McIDAS)
• Lightning data
• From NCDC, acquire and stage
• RUC data (via NOMADS/THREDDS catalog)
• Stage data by
• Common projection for 'background' images
• VisAD Data model for co-locating RUC in space and
  time
• Server needs to serve many clients simultaneously

6
Data Flow
Radar
Tracking Algorithm
Lightning
Web Server
GOES
THREDDS
RUC model analysis
7
Example session
8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
(No Transcript)
12
(No Transcript)
13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
(No Transcript)
16
(No Transcript)
17
(No Transcript)
18
(No Transcript)
19
(No Transcript)
20
(No Transcript)
21
Measuring success

• Successful implementation of the Web-based storm
  analysis application with ability to access
  real-time or archived data sets from NCDC and
  other sites via the commodity Internet plus
  Abilene (Internet2)
• Demonstration of the successful use of THREDDS
  and NOMADS leading to the development of future
  applications using this technology
• Use of the system for storm research at NOAA labs
  and universities, and by the SPC and other
  forecast centers

22
Whats next?

• Early reviews by forecasters at NSSL are
  promising
• Need more feedback to evolve tools
• Switch to using 20km RUC
• Higher resolution would be better
• Add low-level / boundary wind vector display to
  time-sections
• Seek additional funding