The NEXRAD Enhancements Product Development Team (NEPDT), funded by the Aviation Weather Research Program, consists of a cross-section of scientists and software engineers from NSSL, NCAR, MIT/LL, and Mitre working on several applied research projects and technology transfer involving the WSR-88D. The goal of the NEPDT is to provide nationwide products that reside on the WSR-88D which meet the needs of the aviation community.
The NEPDT is involved in a number of applied research and development areas that involve the WSR-88D. One area is the development of an algorithm that predicts and detects hazardous downbursts and other damaging surface winds. A second area is the development of an algorithm that uses radar polarization data to classify and map regions of differing hydrometeor (and non-hydrometeor) targets such as hail, potential icing areas, etc. Other areas of work include development of an algorithm for the detection of strong circulations, and software development to ease technology transfer to the WSD-88D system. Additionally the NEPDT is developing storm cell and precipitation area tracking algorithms and new WSR-88D Volume Coverage Patterns. A new exciting area of work is the integration of multiple WSR-88Ds and the integration of non-88D radars that already benefit the FAA with the WSR-88D radars.
The NEPDT presentation will provide a brief overview of the progress to date of each task along with a look into future plans and developments. The work of the NEPDT is very important in the aviation community as it addresses a broad range of problems associated with traffic management, meteorological decision support, and technology transfer.
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