Scientific Theme: Advanced Modeling and Observing Systems

Scientific Theme: Regional Processes
MILESTONE PSD11.2:
Develop and test an attenuation-based method to retrieve vertical profiles of rainfall rate from
vertically pointing Ka-band radars.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR PSD11.2:
A method to retrieve vertical profiles of rain rates was developed for application with the ARM vertically pointing
Ka-band radars. Unlike traditional radar approaches, this method is based on reflectivity vertical gradient
measurements and utilizes a linear relation between rain rate and the attenuation coefficient. Applications of the
method to a number of rain events observed at the ARM instrumented sites indicated its robustness for rain rates
greater than about 4 mm/h.
PSD12: Air-Sea Interaction
RP-02: Surface/Atmosphere Exchange
GOAL:
Perform cutting-edge micrometeorological and climatological research over the open ocean aboard research
vessels, sea-based towers, and buoys.
MILESTONE PSD12.1:
Process Eastern Pacific Investigations of Climate (EPIC) and the North American Monsoon
Experiment (NAME) data sets, provide a detailed analysis of these air-sea interaction data
products, and make the final data set publicly available. Deployment on new excursions within the
EPIC STRATUS region is imminent, as is a cruise in African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses
(AMMA) region.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR PSD12.1:
CIRES scientists participated in STRATUS 2006 and AMMA 2007 cruises. Data from 25 cruises are now on the
ESRL/PSD archive (ftp://ftp.etl.noaa.gov/et6/archive).
MILESTONE PSD12.2:
Parameterization of sea spray will continue as part of the NOAA hurricane studies.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR PSD12.2:
The sea-spray parameterization work was re-invigorated with a grant from the Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT). A
new version was developed that uses inputs for kinetic energy lost to wave breaking, friction velocity, wave height,
and wave period. This version was tuned to the University of Miami MM5 coupled ocean-atmosphere-wave model
and UM has done some preliminary hurricane simulations. CIRES scientists are now collaborating with the
University of Rhode Island on a similar approach using the GFDL wave model planned for the HWRF. A new
version of the sea-spray parameterization was developed. This model uses inputs for kinetic energy lost to wave
breaking, friction velocity, wave height, and wave period.
MILESTONE PSD12.3:
Further quantify the air-sea transfer of gases and use a detailed physical analysis of data
obtained from the Post-GasEx surface processes experiments to evaluate and improve gastransfer
parameterizations. Participate in the 2006 TexAQS Air Quality Study in Houston and
deploy a ship-based system for ozone flux measurements.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR PSD12.3:
Work continued with parameterizations for CO2, ozone and DMS. Ozone data from the TexAQS and STRATUS
2006 cruises will be used to evaluate the ozone parameterization.
MILESTONE PSD12.4:
Develop a robust ship-based system for routine ship-based CO2 flux measurements that will be
integrated into the existing ESRL-PSD ship-based turbulent flux measurement system.
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