Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

CIMMS / University of Oklahoma

NWS Meteorological Development Laboratory Decision Assistance Branch

Location: National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, OK

Gregory J. Stumpf

Four-dimensional Stormcell Investigator (FSI):

OB8.2, here it comes!

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

To increase warning skill and lead time, and therefore improve public service, 3D/4D visualization will allow forecasters to

better analyze the signatures which are useful in diagnosis of severe and tornadic storms.

discover new clues and signatures not easily observed using traditional 2D analysis methods.

Four-Dimensional Stormcell Investigator (FSI)

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

Why three (and four) dimensions?

Because the atmosphere is four-dimensional!

Storm researchers have used 3D/4D displays for years to facilitate their understanding of signatures related to severe weather.

How can operational forecasters utilize 3D/4D visualization in an effective, and rapid manner?

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

The Lemon Technique (1977)

Original storm structure analysis methods infer vertical structure from horizontal slices at different elevation angles

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

AWIPS users must infer vertical storm structure using 2D representations of radar data.

All Tilts or 4-panels: a series of 2D “horizontal” cross-sectionsBut PPIs are not horizontal – elevation angles are slanted.

AWIPS Vertical Cross-sections (OB7.1)Not easy to useOnly complete during short period at end of volume scanData are remapped to Cartesian spaceNot dynamic (must re-draw to get new cross-section)

Warning decision making demands quick and rapid assessment of the 3D structure of storms.

AWIPS 3D storm interrogation shortcomings

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

Solution:Four-Dimensional Stormcell

Investigator (FSI)Integrate National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Warning Decision Support System – Integrated Information (WDSSII) 3D/4D display technology into AWIPS

Uses Open GL hardware acceleration on the NVIDIA 3D graphics card on the new LX workstation

FSI will be launched via a D2D extension.

Once extension is loaded, mouse click will open FSI application centered on storm of interest

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

RequirementsProvide for quick and easy access to the data (15-30 seconds per storm)

Provide linkages between 2D representations and 3D dataStill difficult for users to overcome tendency to view in traditional 2D manner

Radar data must be “native” 8-bit resolution polar gridsZ, V, SRM, SW

4D: Animation while slicing and dicing

Keyboard shortcuts

Processes must be stable and cause minimal impact to AWIPS system resources

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

FSI Configuration

PPIPlan Position Indicator

VDXVertical DynamicX-Section

CAPPIConstantAltitudePPI

3D FlierThree-DimensionalFlier

FSIalpha will have a linked 4-panel design:

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

Summary of Benefits of FSI

Improved vertical cross-sectionsDynamic placement and re-position of a cross-section reference line showing real-time updates to the cross-section data. Cross-sections are no longer a one-time requested RPG product, and are instead generated on-the-fly using 8-bit data.

Constant Altitude cross-sections (CAPPIs)8-bit radar data plotted at constant altitude eliminates the need to sample elevation scan data for altitude or reset elevation angle choices in four-panel displays. Cross-section control is also dynamic, showing real-time updates to the cross-section data.

3D visualization8-bit radar data from elevation scans, vertical cross-sections, and CAPPIs are plotted as 2D textures in 3D space. A forecaster can then zoom, pan, pitch, yaw, and fly about the data in 3D.

Virtual VolumesNo volume scan is incomplete. As new elevation scans are updated, they replace the old elevation scans in the virtual volume one-by-one. This means that there are full volumes of data available at all times for cross-sections and data perusal.

Access to a much larger data inventoryAn “All-Tilts” product only allows the forecaster to peruse a sequential order of elevation scan frames. For a 64 frame limit in VCP12, that only comprises 5 volume scans. The FSI allows the user to access any elevation scan in the radar data inventory RPS list, for up 2 hours of 8-bit data for all elevation scans.

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

FSI Operational Considerations

Training on the understanding of storm signatures in 3D representations to be developed by WDTB in concert with MDL.

Workload management/human factorsPartnering with Klein Associates, a leading decision science company, to conduct Cognitive Task Analysis.

3D visualization is reaching WFOs via other applications

3D experience is gaining in the field.

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

FSI Alpha TestFSI will be alpha tested on AWIPS OB7.2 with new LX in 2007, and OB8.1:

SR: Melbourne FL (April-)SR: Huntsville, AL (July-)CR: Omaha, NE (May-)

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

FSI Alpha TestObjectives

To determine the stability of the FSI software during real-time operational warning situations.

To gain feedback from operational warning meteorologists on the utility and effectiveness of the FSI display and to suggest improvements before it is deployed into AWIPS.

To develop subject-matter expertise within WFO meteorologists that could help guide the development of the training on the concept of operations using 3D radar analysis.

Assess the operational impact of advanced radar analysis tools on NWS performance measures.

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

FSI Operational releaseFSI 1.0 operational release: AWIPS OB8.2 (prior to Spring 2008)

Resources did not permit all features to be included in FSI1.0:No Data samplingSuper-resolution data not supportedTDWR data not supportedStorm-motion for SRM must be changed via D2D and FSI relaunchNo colormap editor

FSI 2.0 (tentative – OB8.3):Super-resolution data; Polarimetric variablesData Sampling (multi-parameter)Improved texture drawing (faster, less memory)Other suggestions from alpha test

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

FSI Operational releaseBeyond:

3D volume rendering and isosurfaces Data advection (to remove drift)Display of single radars from multiple locations concurrently3D grids of mosaicked multiple-radar dataIntegration with near-storm environment data from numerical models

Add Temperature contours to vertical cross sections Constant Temperature PPIs (CTPPIs).

Next-generation AWIPS (AWIPS2):Common AWIPS Visualization Environment (CAVE) should require fully-integrated support for 3D visualization.

Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/NWS/MDL10 July 2007 2nd SvrWXTech Workshop

Questions?Greg.Stumpf@noaa.govCell phone: 405-826-8644

Tom.Filiaggi@noaa.gov

NWS Meteorological Development LaboratoryDecision Assistance Branch

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/mdl/dab/decisionassistbr.htm

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/mdl/dab/FSI_index.htm