127 Multisensor Agile Adaptive Sampling (MAAS): a methodology to collect radar observations of convective cell life cycle

Thursday, 31 August 2023
Boundary Waters (Hyatt Regency Minneapolis)
Katia Lamer, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY; and P. Kollias, E. Luke, B. P. Treserras, M. Oue, and B. Dolan

The Multisensor Agile Adaptive Sampling (MAAS) smart sensing methodology was adapted to document the lifecycle of isolated convective cells using weather radars in the context of large field experiments in Houston TX. This new iteration includes a finessed cell tracking and advection module as well as two edge-computing modules tailored to two mechanically scanning C-band polarimetric radars (CSAPR2 and CHIVO).

Between June 01 and September 30, 2022, the MAAS framework leveraged surveillance data from the NEXRAD and the GOES geostationary lightning mapper to guide the C-band radars to sample the life cycles of 1,337 isolated convective cells. For 546 hours, this was achieved automatically via the analysis of NEXRAD data to isolate, identify, characterize, and track all convective cells forming in the Houston domain. Predefined rules were used to select and nowcast the location of a “selected cell”. Alternatively, to satisfy interests in sampling storm clusters and large anvils, supervised input by a super-user was used to identify a “selected cell” during 133 hours of operation.

In less than 2-minutes, each “selected cell” was sampled by the CSAPR2 through 3 Plan Position Indicator (PPI) and 4-6 Range Height Indicator (RHI) scans, and by the CHIVO through 3-4 Range Height Indicator (RHI) scans with each scan aiming at different regions of interest within the "selected cell”. Rapid sequences of these targeted scan bundles were collected by each radar, thus providing unprecedented views through convective systems: 1- comprehensive high-resolution gap-free views of their vertical structure; 2- views of their spatial variability; and 3- views of their temporal evolution
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