PSU-DROPS 2014

PSU-DROPS 2014

PSUDROPS_logo


 In the Fall 2014 semester, Drs. Matt Kumjian and Yvette Richardson brought a Doppler on Wheels (DOW) radar to PSU’s Department of Meteorology as part of their METEO 434 (Radar Meteorology) and METEO 414 (Mesoscale Meteorology) courses. Students in these courses were able to design their own scanning strategies, sit behind the controls of the DOW, and collect their own datasets in a variety of storms in the State College, PA area. In addition to the educational component, PSU-DROPS had a strong outreach component, bringing the DOW to various events and organizations throughout the community, with a special focus on bringing the excitement of meteorology and the atmospheric sciences to K-12 students.

PSU Meteorology students pose in front of the DOW before their data collection shift. From left to right: Zhiyuan Jiang, Ashley Ellis, Helen Guza, and Emily Huang.

PSU Meteorology students pose in front of the DOW before their data collection shift. From left to right: Zhiyuan Jiang, Ashley Ellis, Helen Guza, and Emily Huang. Photo credit: Ashley Ellis.

 Educational Activities

Leading to the arrival of DOW7, students in both METEO 434 and METEO 414 learned the fundamentals of radar technology and about different radar scanning strategies. They were tasked with developing an experimental design for use during their deployments. Once the DOW arrived in State College, students broke into smaller groups and received training sessions from the Center for Severe Weather Research (CSWR) technician, Traeger Meyer.

Map of the DOW deployment site (red pin) relative to the PSU campus.

Map of the DOW deployment site (red pin) relative to the PSU campus.

Students deployed for two-hour shifts in teams of about 4-5. The teams worked together to implement scanning strategies that optimized the data collection for the specific type of meteorological phenomenon of interest. There were three intensive observations periods (IOPs) during PSU-DROPS: 30 September 2014, 3 October 2014, and 6 October 2014. For each deployment, the DOW was located on the Penn State Agricultural Research site about 10.2 km southwest of campus.

IOP1 sampled a series of convective storms as they moved through central Pennsylvania in association with a cold front. Some of the storms were marginally severe, with reports of small hail accumulations in nearby towns. The data collected by the students includes features such as three-body scattering signatures, differential reflectivity (ZDR) columns, depolarization streaks, large amounts of attenuation and differential attenuation, and the development of a ZDR arc associated with the rapid intensification of a low-level circulation. Some of these examples are shown in the figures below.

DOW data collected during IOP1. Features of interest are annotated.

DOW data collected during IOP1. Features of interest are annotated. Fields shown are the reflectivity factor at horizontal polarization (ZH; top left), Doppler velocity (Vr; top right), correlation coefficient (CC; bottom left), and ZDR x -1 (bottom right).

Data collected during IOP1, as prepared by graduate student Robert Schrom.

DOW data collected during IOP1, as prepared by graduate student Robert Schrom. These data show a vertical cross section through a convective storm. Top panel: ZH, bottom panel: specific differential phase KDP.

These examples and many others were used in METEO 434 and METEO 414 classes to demonstrate various principles of radar polarimetry and mesoscale meteorology. Students in METEO 434 analyzed the data they collected during the IOPs to investigate a topic of their choosing, culminating in a research paper and presentation at the end of the semester.

Outreach Activities

In addition to the educational and research activities, Drs. Kumjian and Richardson used the DOW’s visit for numerous community outreach activities. In all, nearly 800 people directly experienced the DOW while it was visiting Penn State! This includes visits to local K-12 schools, tours for PSU classes and student organizations, a visit to a local Boy Scout troop, the State College Fall Festival community event, and local media coverage. Some photographs from these events are shown below.

DOW_outreach DOW_FallFestLocal media coverage included television broadcasts on WTAJ News (based in Altoona); WGAL News (based in Harrisburg); a story in the local newspaper, the Centre Daily Times; a segment on the PSU-student-run show, Weather or Not; and a long-form video piece on a science blog.

Together, these various media outlets reached a far greater audience than could realistically see/experience the DOW in person. These media stories help to reinforce the importance of science and technology, and radar and mesoscale meteorology in particular.

Concluding Thoughts

Overall, the PSU-DROPS project was a great opportunity for the students in PSU Meteorology classes, as well as members of the State College community. We are grateful to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Center for Severe Weather Research (CSWR) for making this visit possible. In particular, we’d like to thank Traeger Meyer (CSWR) for his expertise and enthusiasm, which helped make the project successful.

Drs. Matt Kumjian and Yvette Richardson stand next to the DOW7 as students inside prepare for operations during the first IOP.

Drs. Matt Kumjian and Yvette Richardson stand next to the DOW7 as students inside prepare for operations during the first IOP.