[nws-changes] 20110805: WSR-88D testing Fwd: ADMIN NOTICE NOUS41 KWBC

• To: nws-changes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: [nws-changes] 20110805: WSR-88D testing Fwd: ADMIN NOTICE NOUS41 KWBC
• From: Linda Miller <lmiller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:22:08 -0600

-------- Original Message --------

254
NOUS41 KWBC 051845
PNSWSH

Technical Implementation Notice 11-38
National Weather Service Headquarters Washington DC
245 PM EDT Fri Aug 5 2011

To:         Subscribers
            -Family of Services
            -NOAA Weather Wire Service
            -Emergency Managers Weather Information Network
            -NOAAPORT
            -Other NWS Partners and Employees

From:       Richard J. Vogt
            Director, WSR-88D Radar Operations Center

Subject:    NWS Field Test Using New WSR-88D in Grays Harbor
            County, WA

Reference:  SCN11-23 Sent June 17 2011, New WSR-88D
            Installation Information effective no later than
            September 30, 2011

A new Weather Surveillance Radar-1988, Doppler (WSR-88D) in
Grays Harbor County, WA, is expected to be operational by
September 30, 2011.  The NWS is planning a 1-year field test of
an additional scanning angle less than 0.5 degree elevation
(initially 0.176 degree) on the new radar to determine the
operational benefit(s) of having a lower scan angle. The test is
scheduled to begin November 1, 2011.

To reduce impacts on users, Level III products will not include
data from the lower scanning angle.  Thus, the product formats
and contents will not change during the field test.  Users will
notice volume coverage pattern (VCP) durations increase by
30 to 150 seconds when the experimental lower scanning angle
is in use.

To support the real-time and post-analysis of the impacts of the
lower scan angle data, the Level II data stream will include the
data from the experimental lower scan angle when in use.  The
Seattle Weather Forecast Office will be able to turn the lower
elevation scan on and off. Details of Level II data changes when
the additional test scan angle is being used are as follows:

1. Experimental VCP numbers will increase by two, i.e., VCP11
   will be VCP13
2. Lower scan data will be the first radial data in a Level II
   file
3. The lower scan will be a "Split Cut"

Additional information is available at:

  http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrh/washington_coast_doppler_radar/

If you have questions or comments, please contact:

  Tim Crum
  WSR-88D Radar Operations Center
  Tim.D.Crum@xxxxxxxx

National Technical Implementation Notices are online at:

  http://www.weather.gov/os/notif.htm

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