Severe Weather Algorithm Development and Improvement Activities for the WSR-88D at NSSL/CIMMS Under the ROC Tech Transfer MOU

The NSSL/ROC Tech Transfer MOU—Severe Storms Section, allows staff at the ROC and NSSL/CIMMS to work together to develop new thunderstorm-related algorithms and improve existing algorithms for the WSR-88D network. The Tech Transfer MOU has been in existence since 1987, delivering the current suite of severe weather detection algorithms and velocity dealiasing techniques that are used operationally on the WSR-88D system. Currently, staff within the Severe Weather Applications and Technology Transfer group at NSSL/CIMMS are working on several new algorithms, including a new mesocyclone and a new tornado detection algorithm based on linear least-squares derivatives; a new, “grid”-based hail detection algorithm that may combine legacy, reflectivity integrations with polarimetric information in order to improve hail size estimates; and an evaluation of a four-dimensional velocity dealiasing algorithm is currently ongoing. An important aspect to the MOU is the iterative nature of the research-to-operations process taken by the ROC and NSSL/CIMMS in developing and delivering the algorithms. Examples of this iterative process, and its effect on the development the algorithms will be presented. This presentation will summarize all ongoing work, and the results of that work, in addition to presenting some potential new projects for the coming years.