Collaborative Research: Targeted Observation by Radars and UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) of Supercells (TORUS)

风暴产生的边界是龙卷风形成的焦点。因此，需要更全面地了解超级单体中的边界和阵风锋结构，以促进对支持或阻碍近地面旋转集中的过程的理解。 雷达和无人机对超级单体的有针对性的观测（TORUS）旨在通过解释风暴产生的边界和风暴外流内的相干结构与近地面旋转的产生/放大的关系来改进超级单体的概念模型。新的洞察力将通过新的和建立的遥感和原位仪器的协调和紧密集中的部署，任务是收集热力学和运动学观测都在高空和在surface.Intellectual优点：假设机制龙卷风发生超越了只是典型的后翼和前翼阵风锋的重点，也解决了最近发现的超级单体龙卷风的观测和数值分析的边界和相干结构的作用。准确识别这些角色将推进知识的前沿，并改变超级细胞的概念模型。 主要目的是：1）揭示这些边界和相干结构的4D特征，2）将这些边界和相干结构的4D特征与超级单体外流的热力学和运动学联系起来，3）将边界和相干结构特征与低层中气旋下近地面垂直涡度的随后收缩或失败收缩联系起来，以及4）并将这些特征与风暴所处的环境条件相关联。TORUS现场活动将在两个春季（2019年5月至6月和2020年）的42天部署中执行，覆盖美国中部约1，300，000平方公里的运营领域。 TORUS涉及的观测平台包括四个无人驾驶飞机系统、两个移动的Ka波段雷达、七个移动的介子网、一个移动的X波段雷达和一个移动的探测系统。更广泛的影响：TORUS将通过让约40名学生参与该项目的实地部署来促进教学、培训和学习。至少有三名研究生将使用TORUS现场部署期间收集的数据进行论文研究。本科生也将有机会使用TORUS数据进行指导研究项目。TORUS数据将被整合到PI教授的本科和研究生课程中。TORUS研究还将为学生提供参加和出席大气科学和航空航天工程国家会议的机会。TORUS将加强研究和教育的基础设施，通过编纂内布拉斯加大学林肯分校，德克萨斯理工大学，国家严重风暴实验室和科罗拉多大学博尔德分校之间的合作，并通过支持尖端仪器的改进。将广泛传播TORUS的结果，以努力提高科学和技术认识。这将包括在同行评审的期刊上发表文章，向地方和区域团体介绍情况（例如，K-12学校、博物馆等），以及在参与机构和其他地方举办的研讨会。还将寻求与业务预报界的直接互动（例如，通过当地的国家气象局预报办公室），以便这些结果可以方便和有效地传播给业务预报员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得支持的，通过评估使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

Storm-generated boundaries are the focal point for tornadogenesis. As such, a more complete understanding of boundary and gust front structure in supercells is required to advance understanding of the processes responsible for supporting or obstructing the concentration of near-surface rotation. Targeted Observation by Radars and UAS of Supercells (TORUS) aims to improve the conceptual model of supercells by explicating the relationship of storm-generated boundaries and coherent structures within storm outflow to the generation/amplification of near-surface rotation. New insight will be enabled through coordinated and tightly-focused deployments of new and established remote-sensing and in-situ instruments tasked to collect thermodynamic and kinematic observations both aloft and at the surface.Intellectual Merit:Hypothesized mechanisms for tornadogenesis move beyond a focus on just the canonical rear-flank and forward-flank gust fronts and also address the role of boundaries and coherent structures recently revealed in observational and numerical analyses of supercell tornadoes. Accurate identification of these roles will advance the frontiers of knowledge and transform the conceptual model of supercells. Overarching objectives are to 1) expose the 4D character of these boundaries and coherent structures, 2) relate the 4D character of these boundaries and coherent structures to the thermodynamics and kinematics of supercell outflow, 3) associate boundary and coherent structure characteristics to ensuing contraction or failed contraction of near-surface vertical vorticity beneath low-level mesocyclones, and 4) and relate these characteristics to the ambient conditions within which storms reside. The TORUS field campaign will be executed across 42 days of deployments spanning two spring seasons (May-June 2019 and 2020) over an operations domain covering ~1,300,000 km2 of the central US. Observing platforms involved in TORUS include four unmanned aircraft systems, two mobile Ka-band radars, seven mobile mesonets, one mobile X-band radar, and one mobile sounding systems. Assets will be deployed to focus data collection in different parts of storms.Broader Impacts:TORUS will promote teaching, training, and learning by involving ~40 students in the project's field deployments. At least three graduate students will use the data collected during the TORUS field deployments for their thesis research. Undergraduate students will also have opportunities to use TORUS data for mentored research projects. TORUS data will be integrated into undergraduate and graduate courses taught by the PIs. TORUS research will also provide students the opportunity to attend and present at national conferences in atmospheric science and aerospace engineering. TORUS will enhance infrastructure for research and education by codifying collaborations between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Texas Tech University, the National Severe Storms Laboratory, and the University of Colorado-Boulder and by supporting the refinement of cutting-edge instrumentation. Results from TORUS will be broadly disseminated in an effort to enhance scientific and technological understanding. This will include publication in peer-reviewed journals, presentations to local and regional groups (e.g., K-12 schools, museums, etc.), and seminars at participating institutions and elsewhere. Direct interaction with the operational forecasting community will also be sought (e.g., via local National Weather Service Forecast Offices) so that these results can be expediently and effectively disseminated to operational forecasters.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.