Observations From the Global AMDAR Program

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Observations From the Global AMDAR
Program Presentation to WMO TECO-2005 4-7 May
2005 by Jeff SticklandTechnical Coordinator,
WMO AMDAR Panel
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System Description

• Collects high quality upper air observations of
  wind speed and direction, temperature, and
  sometimes turbulence and humidity

• From many existing commercial aircraft

• In collaboration with national domestic and
  international airlines

• onboard avionics and communications hardware and
  software

• Airlines normally use the international
  communications system called Aircraft
  Communications and Reporting System (ACARS).
  Global services are provided by 2 companies
  ARINC and SITA.

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System Description (cont.)

• airline ground-based data processing systems

• No new hardware is required on the aircraft

• The only additional requirement to make AMDAR
  work is special AMDAR software installed in the
  aircraft avionics or communications hardware

• Humidity sensors are being developed and will be
  added in the future to SOME aircraft

TYPICAL AMDAR INSTALLATION
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Why is AMDAR Data Needed?

• To provide a cost effective source of upper
  air observations to support national, regional
  and global basic meteorological operations and
  research

• AMDAR data can be used in most meteorological
  applications that use upper air data obtained
  from conventional observing systems. Vertical
  profiles of temperature and wind are often the
  most valuable

• Examples in operational bench forecasting for
  the short to medium term include-
• Severe weather forecast and warning services
• Public weather forecast and warning services
• Aviation weather services (enroute and terminal
  area forecasts supporting airlines, air traffic
  control and airport operations
• Marine and industrial applications
• Environmental monitoring and warning
  applications
• Climate studies, etc.

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• To meet the NWP communitys requirement for
  greater quantities and improved coverage of
  relevant upper air data

• For forecast verification

• To help provide a more comprehensive assessment
  of the atmosphere for local modelling research,
  local forecasting, etc

• To provide data from data sparse areas around
  the world to improve local forecasts and
  to contribute to the WMO World Weather Watch
  Global Observing System

• Operational Cost compared to radiosonde is 1

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Data Requirements
Desirable Horizontal Spatial and Temporal
Density 1 profile on 250 km grid at 3 hourly
intervals
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Data Requirements (cont.)
Additional Data
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Mandatory and Optional Reported Elements
Element Mandatory/Optional Requires
Additional Onboard Processing Aircraft
identifier M Phase of flight M Latitude
M Longitude M Day time of
observation M Pressure altitude M Static
air temperature M Wind direction M Wind
speed M Maximum wind M Roll pitch angle
flag M Humidity O Turbulence
O Icing O
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24 Hour Global Coverage 13 April 2005
Courtesy NOAA FSL
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24 Hour AMDAR Profiles 13 April 2005
Courtesy NOAA FSL
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E-AMDAR Temperature Quality
Frequency distribution of the mean temperature
difference (OBSBackground) KNMI QEV Report -
April - June 2001
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E-AMDAR Wind Speed Quality
Frequency distribution of the mean wind speed
difference (OBSBackground) KNMI QEV Report -
April - June 2001
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WVSSII on N407 Versus Sonde at Mexico City,
1253, 28 March 2005
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LIT WVSS-2 vs. Raob Comparison
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SDF WVSS-2 Comparisons 31 MAR 05 Comparisons of 4
WVSS-2 aircraft on descent into SDF. Between 06z
and 08z the profiles changed markedly as a
line of thunderstorms approached and moved
through, along with cold front passage. 2
Ascents are also included. Things stabilized by
around 10z.
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