A set of advanced real-time radar mosaic generation algorithms is being developed for the FAA WARP program. The ARTCC WARP systems generate a set of base reflectivity and composite reflectivity radar mosaic products to support en-route air traffic control operations. The mosaic products are generated in real time using inputs from up to 40 WSR-88D radars. The average latency between radar product arrival and incorporation into the WARP mosaic products is less than 5 seconds.

WSR-88D radar products are frequently contaminated by non-meteorological returns that can significantly degrade the quality of the WARP mosaic products. The algorithms being developed for the WARP program are based on product-specific radar coverage maps computed from terrain elevation data. In regions covered by multiple radars, the algorithms utilize a set of coverage-based rules for comparing returns from different radars in order to identify and suppress non-meteorological returns.

Performance evaluation of the algorithms being developed uses a set of test case data sets collected for a variety of synoptic weather scenarios in different regions of the continental US. Each test case data set includes radar product data from approximately 40 radars with overlapping coverage areas. The test case data sets are being used during the algorithm design phase of the effort to evaluate and refine the mosaic generation algorithms. The results of the evaluation to date have demonstrated that the algorithms will be effective in identifying and suppressing non-meteorological returns in the mosaic products without significantly affecting either the areal extent or amplitude of the weather returns.

This paper to be delivered in January will describe the primary features of the algorithms used for generating the WARP mosaic products. The performance characteristics of the algorithms will also be reviewed.