{"id":3300,"date":"2006-08-12T11:19:57","date_gmt":"2006-08-12T16:19:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/?p=3300"},"modified":"2013-06-18T15:20:26","modified_gmt":"2013-06-18T20:20:26","slug":"monthly-news-summary-august-2006","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/articles\/3300","title":{"rendered":"Monthly News Summary – August 2006"},"content":{"rendered":"

Downpour causes flash flooding<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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\"august2006_rain4\"<\/a>image courtesy of Gordy Stephenson<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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SSEC\u2019s home in the Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences Building received approximately four inches of rain on July 27. Above shows the rain pouring off of the mobile weather lab, the AERIbago, parked behind the building.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

During the early afternoon of July 27, a sudden downpour set cars adrift and caused damage to several facilities on the UW-Madison campus. According to National Weather Service estimates, the area received somewhere between three to five inches in only a couple of hours.<\/p>\n

Due to damage from the storms the previous week, researchers at the Space Science and Engineering Center were unable to measure the amount of precipitation using the rain gauge on the\u00a0roof of the Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences building<\/a>. However, SSEC researcher\u00a0Scott Lindstrom<\/strong>\u00a0reported 4.15\u201d at his home about a mile from the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"august2006_rain1\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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This unofficial Dane County rain map for July 27 shows two areas of heavy rain fall\u2013one that is directly above the UW-Madison campus.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

According to\u00a0Scott Bachmeier<\/strong>, a research meteorologist at SSEC, Madison has only received more that four inches of rain in one day three other times since the city began maintaining weather records in 1869. Using Lindstrom\u2019s measurement, July 27 takes its place as one of the top four rainiest days on record in Madison.<\/p>\n

Bachmeier reported that the rainfall came from two narrow bands of clouds that extended from east to west. The bands formed quickly, but then proceeded to move very slowly over the Madison area. Bachmeier said that the storm\u2019s structure resulted in \u201ca very impressive rainfall gradient.\u201d While Madison received around four inches of rain, Middleton, located just west of Madison, received less than an inch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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The storm drainage facilities couldn’t handle the downpour and flash flooding resulted.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Madison\u2019s downtown and campus areas received the most rain. These areas have a dense population of buildings, paved roads and other non-absorbent surfaces. The storm drainage facilities could not handle the downpour on July 27 and\u00a0flash flooding<\/a>resulted. According to\u00a0a UW news release<\/a>, 68 sites on campus reported water problems and several people observed cars adrift in campus parking lots.<\/p>\n

When the rain let up, the UW Police Department called on SSEC to see if Madison would experience any more exciting weather that day.\u00a0Tom Achtor\u00a0<\/strong>helped a lieutenant from UWPD interpret satellite and radar data. The Police Department knew to contact SSEC because the center provides point forecasts for Camp Randall Stadium during home football games.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Data and Imagery<\/strong><\/p>\n

Data from the roof on Weather Underground<\/strong>\u2014Weather Underground, an online weather repository, now features data from the instruments on the roof of the Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences building<\/a>.\u00a0Tom Whittaker<\/strong>\u00a0(SSEC) created a \u201cweather station\u201d account that uses measurements from SSEC\u2019s Rooftop Instrument Group (RIG) and updates every five minutes. The RIG provides the site with information about pressure, temperature, dew point, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, wind gusts, rain rate, and daily rain accumulation.<\/p>\n

Direct broadcast to Milwaukee\/Sullivan<\/strong>\u2014In July, the\u00a0National Weather Service station in Milwaukee\/Sullivan<\/a>\u00a0began receiving data from SSEC\u2019s direct broadcast facility. SSEC\u2019s\u00a0direct broadcast system<\/a>\u00a0obtains data in real time from the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), an imaging instrument aboard two polar-orbiting research satellites. SSEC generates images using this data and then delivers the images to Milwaukee\/Sullivan. The\u00a0NWS station in Riverton, WY<\/a>\u00a0also began using MODIS data from SSEC\u2019s direct broadcast facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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A team from SSEC went to Taiwan to help the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau with processing and visualizing satellite and other meterological data.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Traveling to Taiwan<\/strong>\u2014A handful of SSEC researchers and computer experts traveled to Taiwan in early July to help theTaiwan Central Weather Bureau<\/a>\u00a0(CWB) improve its capacity to process and visualize satellite and other meteorological data. The group consisted of\u00a0Kathy Strabala<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS),Jerry Robaidek<\/strong>(SSEC),\u00a0Allen Huang<\/strong>(CIMSS),\u00a0Tom Rink<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS), and\u00a0Steve Dutcher<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS). Using relevant data, the group demonstrated\u00a0McIDAS<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0IDV<\/a>. Developed at SSEC in the 1970s, McIDAS is a software package that handles remote sensing data. IDV is a java-based application used for visualizing and analyzing data. Personnel at CWB particularly appreciated IDV\u2019s 3-D visualization capacity, and the data fusion and display capabilities of McIDAS. The demonstrations so impressed those at CWB that they purchased a license to operate McIDAS.<\/p>\n

The CWB also requested assistance improving its Web site. SSEC\u2019s Webmaster\u00a0Bill Bellon<\/strong>\u00a0reviewed their site and suggested improvements. He recently sent a reformatted version of the site to CWB. This included a page featuring numerical weather prediction loops created using McIDAS andsoftware developed by\u00a0Tom Whittaker<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(CIMSS). Robaidek showed personnel at CWB how to create their own real-time automated loops. This successful trip was the first phase of collaboration between SSEC and CWB. Despite high temperatures and humidity, the group from SSEC enjoyed their experience. \u201cOne of the hardest things I had to figure out was the subway system,\u201d Dutcher, an associate instrument technician, said.<\/p>\n

Simulated dataset to test GOES-R science algorithms<\/a><\/strong>\u2014CIMSS researchers used the Weather Research Forecast (WRF) model to generate a simulated atmospheric profile dataset. The dataset provided the necessary input to run the Geostationary Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) forward radiative transfer model. Using this model, CIMSS researchers generated top of atmosphere radiances that will be used to test several science algorithms that will process the data from instruments aboard future generations of geostationary satellites, specifically GOES-R. CIMSS researcher\u00a0Jason Otkin<\/strong>\u00a0reported that the simulated data matched well with actual satellite data depicting a variety of weather conditions. \u201cTo see [simulated] images like these definitely made me smile,\u201d Otkin said during a presentation about the project.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Meetings and Field Experiments<\/strong><\/p>\n

Comparing cloud climatologies<\/strong>\u2014CIMSS hosted a workshop from July 6-7 that focused on assessing cloud properties<\/a>.\u00a0Bryan Baum<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS) co-organized this event. The main goal of the workshop was to assess the state of current cloud climatologies and to determine the major causes of differences among them.\u00a0Paul Menzel<\/strong>\u00a0(NOAA at SSEC) was the chair for a session on long-term cloud datasets, which included discussions of cloud properties derived from satellite data and the utility of such properties in climate studies.\u00a0Andy Heidinger<\/strong>\u00a0(NOAA at SSEC) reported on the status of\u00a0PATMOS-X<\/a>\u00a0and gave an overview of how it compares with other climatolgoies. Also during this session,\u00a0Don Wylie<\/strong>\u00a0(SSEC) explained how diurnal cycles and sensor scan angles affect cloud observations from satellites.\u00a0Steve Ackerman\u00a0<\/strong>(CIMSS) was the chair for a later session centered on techniques for identifying likely artifacts in cloud data from satellites and trends in cloud types established using surface observations.Richard Frey<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS),\u00a0Brent\u00a0<\/strong>Maddux<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS),\u00a0Amato Evan<\/strong>(CIMSS),\u00a0Liam Gumley\u00a0<\/strong>(CIMSS),\u00a0Iliana Genkova<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS),\u00a0Bob Holz<\/strong>(CIMSS),\u00a0Jeff Key<\/strong>\u00a0(NOAA at SSEC),\u00a0Mike Pavolonis\u00a0<\/strong>(NOAA at SSEC),\u00a0Dave Tobin<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS),\u00a0Dave Turner<\/strong>\u00a0(SSEC), and\u00a0Xunaji Wang<\/strong>(CIMSS) also participated.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Engineering Feats<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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\"august2006_disccrew\"<\/a>image courtesy of ICDS<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Members of ICDS have been in Greenland testing the DISC Drill.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u201cDISCussion\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014Members of SSEC\u2019sIce Coring and Drilling Services<\/a>\u00a0(ICDS) have been in Greenland testing the\u00a0Deep Ice Sheet Coring (DISC) drill<\/a>\u00a0since April.\u00a0A newsletter published for July 2006 by VECO Polar Resources<\/a>, the National Science Foundation\u2019s Arctic logistics coordinator, recently featured an interview with ICDS\u2019s operations manager,\u00a0Jay Johnson<\/strong>. Johnson reported that the season has gone well so far. He attributes their success to \u201cthe exceptional talent and dedication of everyone on the crew [in Greenland] and our technical support from back home.\u201d The field test will give ICDS the opportunity to make any necessary modifications to the DISC drill before it goes to Antarctica for theWest Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) divide ice core project<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>PAWPrints<\/strong><\/p>\n

This month,\u00a0Russ Dengel<\/strong>\u00a0(SSEC), creator of the\u00a0PDA Animated Weather online service called the PAW<\/a>, changed the data source for\u00a0accumulated precipitation<\/a>\u00a0to provide more frequent updates. Prior to the switch, the product updated every hour. Now, the precipitation totals update every 15 minutes using data from the\u00a0National Severe Storms Laboratory<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also in July, two more Web sites added links to the PAW site.AbbreviationZ<\/a>\u00a0added PAW as an Academic and Science\u2013Meteorology link.WxNation<\/a>\u00a0added PAW to its PDA\/Mobile page.<\/p>\n

Dengel also added a view of Jacksonville, Florida to the PAW in response to a user request. The user thanked Dengel for providing the service and for responding so quickly to his request. Another user, from East Lansing, MI, complemented the site: \u201cWow! Fabulous!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>Tropical Cylones<\/strong><\/p>\n

Research publicity<\/strong>\u2014A few articles published in late July included mention of a tropical cyclones study led by\u00a0Jim Kossin<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS). The study involves a reanalysis of hurricane trends using an improved satellite dataset. Some highly publicized recent studies indicate a connection between increased hurricane intensity and climate change. However, several researchers have expressed concerns about the quality and continuity of the satellite data record. Kossin has recreated the dataset to be more homogenous and will reanalyze the trends with this improved dataset.\u00a0A story on NPR on July 27<\/a>titled \u201cStorm Power Not Tied to Warming, Scientists Say\u201d refers to Kossin\u2019s study. \u201cThings may become clearer after a team at the University of Wisconsin re-analyzes satellite data from the 1980s,\u201d the report stated. \u201cThat result is a year or more away.\u201d A similar quote appeared on\u00a0National Geographic<\/a><\/em>\u2019s Web site<\/a>\u00a0on July 28 as well as in\u00a0Science<\/a><\/em>\u2019s Perspectives section<\/a>\u00a0also on July 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"august2006_daniel\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Two products from the CIMSS Tropical Cyclones research team contributed to National Hurricane Center discussion of Hurricane Daniel.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Adding to Hurricane Daniel discussions<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014CIMSS\u2019s\u00a0Tropical Cyclones research team<\/a>develops techniques that help forecasters study hurricanes using satellite data. Recently two such products contributed to National Hurricane Center (NHC) discussions of Hurricane Daniel. On July 19, the NHC report included the team\u2019s hurricane intensity estimates created using data from the\u00a0Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit\u00a0<\/a>(AMSU). NHC reported: \u201cA CIMSS AMSU estimate of 101 KT at 2100 UTC and ADT [provided] estimates of T5.7.\u201d The Advanced Dvorak Technique (ADT) is another tool to assess hurricane intensity. On July 24, the NHC discussion included mention of the team\u2019s ADT measurement. \u201cThe shear environment is currently not favorable for further development \u2026 based on UW-CIMSS guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>Weather Experts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Effects of climate change on Wisconsin<\/strong>\u2014An article on the front page of Madison\u2019s\u00a0Capital Times<\/em>\u00a0on July 3<\/a>\u00a0brought together several perspectives on the local effects of climate change. Reporter Anita Weier provided readers with a comprehensive picture of this debate. Weier quoted\u00a0Scott Bachmeier<\/strong>(SSEC) in article: \u201cThe short answer is, it\u2019s impossible to pin weather extremes on global warming.\u201d While Weier mentioned a few recent related studies that showed a link between extreme local weather and global warming, she also included evidence for Bachmeier\u2019s hesitation to support such a connection. \u201cThere is so much about the Earth and the atmosphere we don\u2019t understand,\u201d Bachmeier said in the article.\u00a0Sanjay Limaye\u00a0<\/strong>(SSEC) addressed some broader questions about the effects of global warming. In the article, Limaye explains that it is too early to say for certain that there is an increase in the strength and number of hurricanes and tornados. Weier also interviewed, among others, Ed Hopkins, the assistant state climatologist, and several individuals associated with the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. A picture of Bachmeier surrounded by computers displaying products from SSEC\u2019s Data Center accompanied the article.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Education and Outreach<\/strong><\/p>\n

Winners of the Verner E. Suomi Scholarship<\/strong>\u2014Each year CIMSS awards scholarships to a few high school seniors who have demonstrated outstanding abilities in the physical sciences. Winners of the\u00a0Verner E. Suomi Scholarship<\/a>\u00a0receive $1,000 towards their freshman year expenses as well as a certificate of recognition. Rebecca Gilsdorf from Sheboygan Falls High School and Matthew Duerst from Boyceville High School received the 2006 scholarships. Gilsdorf plans to attend UW-Madison this fall. She hopes to double major in Engineering Physics and Mathematics. Duerst also plans to attend UW-Madison. He intends to major in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.<\/p>\n

Recognized by NASA\u2014<\/strong>\u00a0NASA recently added CIMSS\u2019s\u00a0Satellite Observations in Science Education<\/a>\u00a0(SOSE) Web site to its\u00a0Earth Science Education Catalogue<\/a>. The SOSE Web site provides educational resources and data collection tools to educate post-secondary students about various principles of remote sensing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"august2006_student\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Fourteen high school students attend the CIMSS Summer Workshop on Atmospheric, Earth, and Space Sciences.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

14th annual workshop for high school students<\/strong>\u2014From July 23 to July 27, CIMSS hosted its 14th annualSummer Workshop on Atmospheric, Earth, and Space Sciences for High School Students<\/a>. Fourteen students from across Wisconsin to Connecticut to Iceland stayed in UW-Madison dorms, and participated in an exciting series of interactive lectures, activities and field trips. The group traveled to the Milwaukee\/Sullivan National Weather Service center where they learned about the facility and helped to prepare an imaginary severe weather alert. On the final day of the workshop, the students went to Devil\u2019s Lake to learn about geology. Although the storm that soaked Madison on July 27 was not nearly as strong in the Devil\u2019s Lake area, the group took the opportunity to discuss the threatening clouds that swept across the sky. Overall, the students gave the workshop a positive review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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\"august2006_student2\"<\/a>photo courtesy of Margaret Mooney<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Kathy Strabala helped workshop participants practice using McIDAS.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Margaret Mooney\u00a0<\/strong>orchestrated the workshop.\u00a0Gary Wade\u00a0<\/strong>(NOAA at SSEC),\u00a0Jason Brunner\u00a0<\/strong>(CIMSS),\u00a0Matthew Lazzara\u00a0<\/strong>(AMRC\/SSEC),\u00a0Steve Ackerman<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS),Tony Wimmers\u00a0<\/strong>(CIMSS),\u00a0Howard Berger<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS),\u00a0Alex Harrington\u00a0<\/strong>(CIMSS),Lynn Kjernes\u00a0<\/strong>(CIMSS),\u00a0Jen O\u2019Leary<\/strong>\u00a0(SSEC), and several McIDAS team members helped out by chaperoning field trips, and giving lectures and demonstrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Eleven grandparents accompanied 14 grandkids in the meteorology major for Grandparents University.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Grandparents University<\/strong>\u2014Each year UW provides the opportunity for UW alums to return to campus with their grandchildren. Participants inGrandparents University<\/a>can choose from a variety of \u201cmajors\u201d hosted by different departments within the university.\u00a0Margaret Mooney<\/strong>\u00a0organized an exciting program for meteorology majors that drew 25 participants\u201411 grandparents and 14 grandkids.\u00a0Matthew Lazzara<\/strong>\u00a0(AMRC\/SSEC),\u00a0Jean Phillips<\/strong>\u00a0(SSEC) and\u00a0Jen O\u2019Leary\u00a0<\/strong>(SSEC) assisted with the activities and lectures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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\"teachers\"photo courtesy of Margaret Mooney<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Several middle and high school teachers particpated in a workshop on satellite meteorolgy. These teachers came away with the tools to teach students about using satellite imagery to idenitfy environmental features and weather phenomena.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Educating educators<\/strong>\u2014From June 26-28, several middle and high school teachers attended a\u00a0workshop on satellite meteorology<\/a>\u2014one participant traveled to Madison from Micronesia.\u00a0Margaret Mooney<\/strong>\u00a0organized the workshop with hopes that the participants would gain the skills and tools necessary to help students learn how to use satellite imagery to identify environmental features and weather phenomena.\u00a0Scott Lindstrom\u00a0<\/strong>(SSEC),\u00a0Howard Berger<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS),\u00a0Tommy Jasmin<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS) and\u00a0Tom Whittaker<\/strong>(CIMSS) contributed by offering lectures on satellite capabilities, interpreting satellite observations, research and education applications for satellite data and imagers, and satellite data educational software developed at CIMSS. Next year, Mooney plans to offer a similar course in remote sensing and global climate change.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Accolades<\/strong><\/p>\n

Praise for outreach efforts<\/strong>\u2014 On the last Monday of every month,\u00a0Steve Ackerman<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS) and Jon Martin (AOS) answer questions about weather and climate as the\u00a0Weather Guys on Larry Meiller\u2019s show on Wisconsin Public Radio<\/a>. On July 31, Karyl Rosenberg, a Wisconsin teacher, called in to complement CIMSS outreach efforts that target educators. Rosenberg mentioned that she attended CIMSS\u2019s recent\u00a0satellite meteorology workshop<\/a>, which\u00a0Margaret Mooney<\/strong>\u00a0organizes, and found the material presented to be beneficial. She also praised the\u00a0Wisconsin Weather Stories<\/a>\u00a0project, which resulted in a curriculum that uses a collection of local weather stories and meteorological data to help students learn about the weather. CIMSS will continue to develop much-appreciated tools to help teachers teach students about using satellites to observe the Earth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the News – August 2006<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3308,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-monthly-summary"],"acf":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3300"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3473,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300\/revisions\/3473"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}