Operational Experience with Weather Products Generated through Joint Use of FAA and NWS Weather Radar Sensors

In this paper, we describe current joint use of FAA and NWS radar sensors which has been very successfully in providing operational weather decision support for the FAA and the air carriers. The capabilities that have been demonstrated include fully automatic data editing and short term "nowcast" product generation algorithms, direct product distribution to operational decision makers without any intervening meteorologist input, and collaborative decision making between the various parties. This paradigm facilitates highly adaptive, opportunistic decision making in real time at many locations simultaneously without the high personnel costs that would be required to achieve the same weather product generation capability manually through interpretation by experienced radar meteorologist/forecasters.

These joint use capabilities have been operationally demonstrated using the Integrated Terminal Weather System (ITWS) demonstration systems which has been used to provide operational service at four major terminal areas (Dallas, Memphis, Orlando, New York) since 1994. Specific capabilities to be discussed include:

1. addressing radar data quality issues such as rain attenuation and AP induced ground clutter contamination

2. high update rates for detection of rapidly changing weather while also obtaining 3D information on storms

3. estimation of 3D winds, and

4. reducing the phenomena detection limitations that arise from the fact that the radars can only directly sense radial velocity.

The paper will conclude with some suggestions for NWS and USAF joint use of FAA and NWS radar sensors.