In the past year, the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) has been conducting an operational demonstration of the polarimetric utility on the KOUN WSR-88D radar. This demonstration project, referred to as the Joint Polarization Experiment (JPOLE), seeks to evaluate the engineering design of a polarimetric WSR-88D radar, demonstrate the utility and feasibility of the radar data and products to operational users, and to collect data and information that will allow for a cost/benefit analysis to be performed. In the spring and early summer of 2003, JPOLE data collection will culminate in an intense observation period that will focus on the real-time delivery of polarimetric radar data and products to operational users at the Norman, OK NWS Weather Forecast Office (WFO) and Tulsa, OK River Forecast Center (RFC). At the end of the JPOLE intense observation period, operational user evaluations will be combined with the results of an ongoing data analysis to produce a report on the cost effectiveness and benefits of a polarimetric WSR-88D radar. This report, in turn, will be used to support a decision briefing to the NEXRAD Program Management Committee (NPMC) in the mid-November 2003 timeframe.

In this paper, we list overall goals of the project, provide examples of the polarimetric data and products, and present initial impressions of the utility of the polarimetric upgrade to the WSR-88D radar.