Transcript Slide 1
Oceanic Weather and Volcanic Ash Cathy Kessinger NCAR/RAL Weather in the Cockpit Workshop Boulder, CO 8-10 August 2006 Augustine, 12 Jan 2006 M.L.Coombs, USGS-AVO Oceanic Weather PDT Primary mission: To improve aviation safety and efficiency within remote oceanic regions through the detection and forecasting of hazardous weather conditions. Oceanic Flight Information Regions • • Long flight times of oceanic flights means pre-flight weather information becomes quite old Weather into the cockpit is beneficial Scientific Areas • • • • • • Cockpit Display of Weather Products – Gary Blackburn Volcanic Ash – Paul Herzegh Improved Inflight Winds – Ted Tsui Turbulence (CAT and CIT) – Bob Sharman Convection Diagnosis and Nowcasting – Cathy Kessinger Icing (FIP and CIP) – Marcia Politovich • Domains: – – – – Pacific North Pacific Gulf of Mexico North Atlantic - later Cockpit Uplink of Weather Products A little history… • NASA AvSP/AWRP Oceanic Convective Nowcasting Demonstration (OCND) Project – Purpose: demonstrate delivery of weather information in graphical form into the cockpit – ~1999-2001 – Workshops, user interactions and feedback to determine needs • AWRP Oceanic Weather PDT formed 2001 – OCND experience was basis CTOP on Experimental ADDS • Experimental ADDS – Satellite page of Mexico –Gulf http:weather.aero Pacific North Pacific Cockpit Display of CTOP • Collaboration with United Airlines and ARINC – Aircraft-relative display of cloud top altitude • Ascii format via thermal printer • ‘/’ = 30kft – 39kft and ‘C’ = >40kft • • • Pilot receives a “heads up” for approaching Wx. Dispatcher also receives cockpit display – Common situational awareness UAL testing on limited US-Aus flights Future Positions – Favorable feedback, esp. unsolicited information Cloud Top Height (CTOP) Current Position UAL 839 Web-based Pilot Feedback Form • Pilot feedback form… Volcanic Ash Detection and Forecasting OW Volcanic Ash Plans • Goal: Provide detection/warning/forecast capability of volcanic ash and gas plumes to aviation community • Requested by Users: – Five minute span from detectability to warning – Graphic of ash plume/cloud showing horizontal and vertical extent with frequent updates (inc. in the cockpit) – Current conditions & forecast (1 to 24h and beyond) Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) • Once eruption is reported (PIREP, Volcano Observatory, satellite), VAACs issue advisory to Met Watch Offices Meteorological Watch Offices issue VA SIGMET - AAWU, AWC, Guam, Hawaii - Dispatch, Airlines Oceanic Weather Volcanic Ash Product • Build an expert system using: – – – – Satellite remote detection – GOES, POES A few NEXRADs near volcanoes Seismic information Dispersion models • Products: Detection and Forecast • Volcanic Ash Coordination Tool is path to operations – AF PDT Development – Gives VAAC, AAWU, CWSU, Volcano Observatory common situational awareness to generate time-critical ash SIGMETS/forecasts – Anchorage first; Washington later (VACT) Getting a VA Product into the Cockpit… • After Advisory/SIGMET is ready for dissemination, then – Select specific aircraft that may intercept the ash cloud – Send graphical information directly to the aircraft via uplink • Human first, automation later • Within VACT • Do this within 5 minutes of receiving the advisory Soufriere Hills Eruption – 20 May 2006 • ~1100 eruption occurred – Stratospheric ash cloud • 1115 eruption cloud is visible on satellite • 1140 first Volcanic Ash Advisory (VAA) issued by Washington VAAC with few details • 1201 PIREP of ash to FL550, moving west • 1215 second VAA issued with details Soufriere Hills Eruption, 20 May 2006, 1045-1445 Volcanic Ash Detection Visible Cloud Top Height Infrared Washington VAAC Advisory Uplinked Product • Create graphical product to uplink to at-risk aircraft Other Possible Uplinked Products for Oceanic Flights • • • • • Flight level winds from numerical model Flight level temperature (fuel gel) from numerical model Turbulence, both CAT and CIT sources Hazardous convection and nowcasts Icing