Transcript National Weather Service - NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory

NORTH AMERICAN MONSOON
EXPERIMENT (NAME)
An internationally coordinated,
joint US-Mexico process study
aimed at improving
warm season precipitation
prediction over North America.
Dr. Wayne Higgins
Lead Scientist for NAME and Principal Climate Scientist
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s
Climate Prediction Center
Camp Spring, Maryland
NAME Homepage:
http://www.joss.ucar.edu/name
WHO IS INVOLVED
IN NAME 2004?

The NAME 04 Field Campaign involves researchers from more than 30
universities, government laboratories and federal agencies in several countries
(United States, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica).

The NAME Forecast Operations Centers (Tucson, AZ & Mexico City, MX),
involve more than 40 forecasters (NWS, USAF, SMN, private, and retired).
There are at least 15 WFO’s and 4 NCEP Centers (CPC, HPC, SPC, TPC)
that are providing forecasters, forecast assistance and / or special launches.

The NAME Science Working Group (responsible for implementing NAME
science) involves 19 senior scientists from the US, Mexico and Central
America

The NAME Project Office (UCAR/JOSS, Boulder, CO)
provides scientific, technical and administrative support
services to NAME04.
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PARTICIPATING AGENCIES
AND INSTITUTES
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IMPLICATIONS FOR DROUGHT
MONITORING AND PREDICTION
 NAME will improve warm season precipitation forecasts
(short range, monthly, seasonal) over North America;
 Improved warm season precipitation forecasts are of tremendous value
(e.g. in areas where water is relatively scarce, such as the Desert Southwest);
 This year much of the western
United States is facing drought
conditions. NAME will deliver
models that are more capable
of anticipating droughts months
to seasons in advance.
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WHAT IS THE NAME 2004
FIELD CAMPAIGN?
The NAME 2004
Field Campaign is
an unprecedented
opportunity to
gather extensive
atmospheric,
oceanic, and landsurface observations
in the core region
of the North
American Monsoon
over NW Mexico,
SW United States,
and adjacent
oceanic areas.
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NAME 2004
INSTRUMENT PLATFORMS
The NAME 2004 Field Campaign will gather data from
more than 20 different types of instrument platforms, including:
•Surface Met Stations (84 in Mexico)
•Radars (SMN, NCAR S-POL)
•Wind Profilers (NCAR ISS’s and NOAA/ETL & AL)
•Radiosondes / PIBALS
•Rain gauge Networks (event logging; cooperative)
•Aircraft (NOAA P-3)
•Research Vessels (R/V Altair and R/V Francisco de Ulloa)
•Satellite Data (JCSDA)
•Soil Moisture Sensors & Remote Sensing
•GPS Precipitable Water
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NAME TEACHERS
IN THE FIELD
 NAME will have two “Teachers in the Field”
Rhonda Feher is an elementary school teacher from
Kayenta, Arizona. Her school is located on the
Navajo Nation reservation .
Selection of a teacher from Mexico is in progress
 NAME Teachers in the Field will participate in NAME
aircraft, ship and FOC activities, will do live broadcasts into
the classroom, and will help develop NAME teaching
materials.
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NAME EDUCATION MODULE
(K-12)
NAME is compiling an Education Module for K-12. The Module
will be completed by 31 August in time for FY05 school year.
The North American Monsoon
Table of Contents
•Why Predict the Monsoon?
•What is a Monsoon?
•A Case Study
•Monsoons and Climate
•Learning from the Past
•Winds, Precipitation, and Food
•When the Winds Reverse
•How the Land and Sea Affect the Monsoon
•Global Consequences of Monsoons
•Monsoon Prediction
•How Predictions are Used: An Example
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•Looking Ahead
U.S. Forecast Operations Center
Erik Pytlak, U.S. Forecast Operations Center
Science and Operations Officer
NOAA National Weather Service, Tucson
Dr. Robert Maddox
Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences
University of Arizona
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SCHEDULE
The NAME 2004 Field Campaign will occur during June-September 2004,
with Intensive Observing Periods (as conditions warrant) during
July 1 – August 15, 2004
Enhanced Observation Period (EOP): June 21- August 31
Tucson, AZ FOC Forecast Support Begins: June 6
Full Platform Deployment: July 1-August 15
Full FOC Forecast Support: July 1-August 19
Science Director Rotation: June 21 – August 31
Monitoring Director Rotation: June 6 – August 31
Intense Observing Periods (IOP’s): 20 days during EOP
Most likely to be concentrated in July
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SUMMARY
 NAME 2004 is a major field campaign scheduled during JuneSeptember 2004, with intensive observing periods during July 1 –
August 15, 2004
 NAME 2004 involves more than 30 universities, government labs
and federal agencies in the United States, Mexico, Belize and Costa
Rica.
 NAME will deliver:
• Observing system design for monitoring and predicting the North
American monsoon (includes sustained observations);
• More comprehensive understanding of North American summer climate
variability and predictability;
• Strengthened scientific collaboration across Pan-America;
• Measurably improved climate models that predict North American
summer precipitation months to seasons in advance.
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