UNLOCKING THE TREASURE CHEST OF LEVEL-II RADAR DATA: LESSONS IN TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER POLICY FOR THE ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES

The national network of 158 NEXRAD WSR-88D weather radars provides constant, detailed surveillance of nearly every corner of the atmosphere over the United States, and is perhaps the cornerstone of the modern weather-monitoring infrastructure. The government completed the installation of these radars in the early 1990s, yet it was not until the late 1990s when new technologies and organizational motivation coalesced into an opportunity to openly disseminate the Level-II radar data in real time. Level-II radar data is the highest resolution data produced by the government's radar network.

This paper explores the development and outcomes of the current Level-II radar data dissemination system and draws three primary conclusions: Level-II users and providers must use quantitative and qualitative metrics to track the program's success and direct priorities for improvement; The use of University-based Top-Tier sites to distribute the data equates to a reliable and scalable architecture with a high level of service for clients, and; The National Weather Service should create internal data and service requirements that also meet the needs of academic and private sector users, since these two sectors are the major clients of NWS data and products.