EAGER: Observations of Falling and Lofted Snow in Windy Environments

EAGER：在大风环境中观察落雪和飘雪

• 批准号: 1834748
• 负责人: Aaron Kennedy
• 金额: $ 16.66万
• 依托单位: University of North Dakota Main Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2018-06-01 至 2021-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1834748&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: EAGER; Observations; Falling; Lofted; Snow

Snowflake size and shape are important considerations for numerical modeling of snowfall and real-time detection by weather radars. One of the lesser-understood factors that influences snowflake structures, densities and number concentrations is wind. Traditional methods to make ground or near-ground observations of falling or lofted snow in high wind conditions are difficult. Newer instruments, such as those used for airborne research, are expensive or have other limitations. In this project, the research team will deploy a new balloon-borne instrument to make measurements of snowflakes from the surface to the top of the precipitation layer. A set of additional instrumentation will also be deployed to complement those measurements in a field campaign that will involve students from elementary school to graduate level. The first order impact of the award will be to test a new, inexpensive technology for making measurements of snow. The larger potential impact of the work would be to improve model representation of snow for improved weather forecasts. The award also includes a significant education and public outreach component, leading to improved public understanding of science and training of the next generation of researchers.The main goal of this award is to improve observational knowledge of the microphysical aspects of snow during windy conditions. It is difficult to make ground or near-ground observations of falling or lofted snow using traditional techniques due to blurring of the images, flow around instruments, and the lack of ability to vertically profile. In addition, advanced instruments for snowflake classification are either expensive or unavailable for small deployments. In this project, the research team will make use of a combination of instruments, featuring the Particle Size, Image, and Velocity (PASIV) probes developed at the National Severe Storms Lab. The PASIV can be attached to a balloon for a vertical profile of particle counts and number concentration estimation. At the ground level, the research team will make use of a camera-strobe light setup where the focal plane of the camera is 1-2m from any potential flow disruption. Additional instruments will include a cloud particle imager and disdrometer. The field site is within view of the operational WSR-88D radar and the UND C-band radar. Overall, the design of the field experiment is set to answer two main questions: 1) How do microphysical properties of ice-phase hydrometeors vary over horizontal and vertical scales of 100m to 10km within falling and lofted snow events, and 2) How well do varying instrument designs function in windy environments? The intended broader impacts include a significant outreach and education plan associated with the field campaign. A graduate student will be funded by the project and approximately 20 undergraduate and graduate students will participate in the planning, teaching, forecasting, and collection of data for the field campaign. K-12 outreach will include snowfall and visibility measurements made by students during winter events, the development of a winter-weather curricula, and teaching of the unit to tribal groups through partnership with an existing EPSCoR award. Outreach via media and tours will also be conducted.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

雪花的大小和形状是降雪数值模拟和气象雷达实时探测的重要考虑因素。 影响雪花结构、密度和数量集中的一个鲜为人知的因素是风。 传统的方法，使地面或近地面观测的下降或积雪在大风条件下是困难的。 较新的仪器，如用于空中研究的仪器，价格昂贵或有其他限制。 在这个项目中，研究小组将部署一个新的球载仪器，对从表面到降水层顶部的雪花进行测量。 还将部署一套额外的仪器，以补充实地活动中的这些测量，该活动将涉及从小学到研究生的学生。 该奖项的首要影响将是测试一种新的、廉价的雪测量技术。 这项工作的更大潜在影响将是改善雪的模型表示，以改善天气预报。 该奖项还包括一个重要的教育和公共宣传部分，导致提高公众对科学的理解和下一代研究人员的培训。该奖项的主要目标是提高在大风条件下雪的微物理方面的观测知识。 由于图像模糊、仪器周围的流动以及缺乏垂直剖面的能力，使用传统技术很难对降雪或积雪进行地面或近地面观测。 此外，用于雪花分类的先进仪器要么昂贵，要么不适用于小型部署。 在这个项目中，研究小组将利用一系列仪器，其中包括在国家严重风暴实验室开发的粒子大小，图像和速度（PASIV）探测器。 PASIV可以连接到气球上，用于颗粒计数和数量浓度估计的垂直分布。 在地面，研究小组将利用相机闪光灯设置，相机的焦平面距离任何潜在的流动中断1- 2米。 其他仪器将包括云粒子成像仪和散射计。 现场位于WSR-88 D雷达和UND C波段雷达的视野范围内。 总的来说，现场实验的设计是为了回答两个主要问题：1）冰相水凝物的微物理特性如何在降雪和积雪事件中在100米至10公里的水平和垂直尺度上变化，以及2）不同的仪器设计在有风环境中的功能如何？ 预期的更广泛影响包括与实地运动有关的重要外联和教育计划。 该项目将资助一名研究生，约20名本科生和研究生将参与实地活动的规划、教学、预测和数据收集。 K-12的推广将包括降雪和能见度测量由学生在冬季活动，冬季天气课程的开发，并通过与现有的EPSCoR奖的伙伴关系，该单位的教学部落群体。 该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

项目成果

Bringing Microphysics to the Masses: The Blowing Snow Observations at the University of North Dakota: Education through Research (BLOWN-UNDER) Campaign

将微观物理学带给大众：北达科他大学的吹雪观测：通过研究进行教育 (BLOWN-UNDER) 活动

• DOI: 10.1175/bams-d-20-0199.1
• 发表时间: 2021
• 期刊: Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
• 影响因子: 8
• 作者: Kennedy, Aaron;Scott, Aaron;Loeb, Nicole;Sczepanski, Alec;Lucke, Kaela;Marquis, Jared;Waugh, Sean
• 通讯作者: Waugh, Sean