A Whirl-Wind Testbed Tour: First Stop, HMT

Testbeds have emerged as a critical mechanism linking weather research with forecasting operations and have become an integral part of the weather enterprise. They foster scientific and technical advances as well as transitions of innovative tools and tested methods to forecasting operations and forecast users. Based on the varying NOAA mission requirements for forecasting, on differences in the organizational structure and methods used to provide those services, and on differences in the state of the science related to those forecast challenges, testbeds have taken on differing characteristics, strategies, and priorities. In this paper, we present a general overview of current weather-focused testbed efforts, with a detailed presentation of the Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) objectives, tools, and a selection of major accomplishments. HMT conducts research on precipitation and weather conditions that can lead to flooding, fosters transition of scientific advances and new tools into forecasting operations, and supports the broad needs for 21st Century precipitation information for flood control, water management and other applications. Guided by NWS operational requirements, emerging scientific questions and new technologies, HMT directly engages forecasters and scientists in the research and development process. New ideas, technologies and predictive models are developed, demonstrated, evaluated and refined through the testbed before being transitioned to operations. In closing, an overarching concept of how Testbeds relate to the formal forecasting system and to core science and technology innovation centers will be described, along with a summary of some of the significant gaps that have become apparent.