The Joint Polarization Experiment (JPOLE) science project planning meeting was held in the NSSL main conference room on Wednesday, October 3, 2001. The agenda followed at the science project meeting is listed at http://cimms.ou.edu/~schuur/jpole/agenda.html Meeting participants are listed at http://cimms.ou.edu/~schuur/jpole/attend2.html

Terry Schuur opened the meeting by providing an overview of the previous days JPOLE Operational Demonstration meeting, presenting proposed science objectives (submitted since the first JPOLE planning meeting in July of 2000), summarizing discussions from the recent 30^th International Radar Conference (hereafter referred to as IRC, held in Munich Germany in July of 2001), and discussing proposed field facilities. The presentation can be found at http://cimms.ou.edu/~schuur/jpole/show/overview.html In summary, the overview called for a multi-seasonal project that consists of two phases: a multi-seasonal test and evaluation period that uses local facilities for the collection of verification data sets (to begin in the spring of 2002), and an intense observation period that uses both local and community-wide facilities for the collection of verification data sets (to begin in the spring of 2003). In the overview, the intense observational period was presented as a science experiment that would consist of both a cold season (February-March) and warm season (April-June) component. Proposed instrumentation deployment for each component were also presented. They are listed at http://cimms.ou.edu/~schuur/jpole/show/Slide9.GIF

The JPOLE operational demonstration objectives and requirements were broken down into two broad categories: 1) evaluating the engineering design and data quality of a polarimetric WSR-88D radar, and 2) examining the benefits of polarimetric radar data to operational meteorologist, hydrologists, and aviation users. Action items from the previous days JPOLE Operational Demonstration meeting were presented. Minutes from the JPOLE Operational Demonstration meeting, along with a list of action items, are listed at http://cimms.ou.edu/~schuur/jpole/minutes1.htm The engineering and operational user benefits are also summarized in http://cimms.ou.edu/~schuur/jpole/IIPS18.pdf

As at the previous days meeting, Dusan Zrnic provided an update of the progress of the KOUN open systems development and polarimetric upgrade work. After a short discussion period that covered the JPOLE overview and KOUN radar upgrade, Terry Schuur then presented an example of the polarimetric hydrometeor classification algorithm that NSSL has been supplying to the Norman, OK NWS office since the spring of 2001. He also described forecaster interactions and plans for the future algorithm development.

An opportunity was then provided for tri-agency (DOC, DOT, and DOD) representatives to discuss each agencies goals and objectives for the experiment. Rich Fulton gave a presentation that highlighted NWS objectives for JPOLE. In summary, those objectives included a demonstration of engineering and data quality assurance and a demonstration of the operational utility of several meteorological and hydrological precipitation products. Those objectives are summarized in detail at http://cimms.ou.edu/~schuur/jpole/nwsobj/nwsobj.html On behalf of the FAA, Kim Elmore then provided a brief description of aviation user objectives for the project. In short, FAA needs focus on hydrometeor identification and quantification products, including hail identification and size information, winter storm hydrometeor type and precipitation rate estimation, and investigations into the potential use of polarimetric weather radar data to identify aircraft icing conditions. The location of bird strike hazards are also of interest to some aviation users. While a representative from DOD attended the JPOLE science project meeting, no report on USAF JPOLE objectives was given.

After a short break, brief presentations were given by V. Chandrasekar on the operational and scientific benefits of the CSU CHILL S-band polarimetric radar, Jeff Keeler on the operational and scientific benefits of the NCAR S-POL S-band polarimetric radar, and Brooks Martner on the benefits and availability of the ETL Ka-band and X-band polarimetric radars. Terry Schuur added that Environment Canada has expressed interest in participating in JPOLE with their X-band polarimetric radar. The discussion that followed these presentations focused on JPOLE radar requirements and funding. In the discussion that ensued, Bob Elvander noted that it would be desirable to have verification of polarimetric WSR-88D radar data with another radar and beneficial to have an additional year of research. Paul Smith noted that, if NSF support is sought, it is beneficial to keep the total deployment facility request below 500K (any amount above this level requires the preparation and review of an overview document). Some discussion took place on the merits of requesting one or two radars from the deployment pool. Given that JPOLE will likely also request an aircraft, Terry Schuur stressed that it would probably be in JPOLE?s best interest to request a single radar or be prepared to offer scientific justification for a request of both radars (a request for two radars and an aircraft would put the total deployment pool request over 500K). Doug Forsyth added that a competing, international field project will likely request a radar for the same time period. V. Chandrasekar expressed his concern that some level of NOAA support will be required to secure deployment of a radar from the deployment pool. Possible options for obtaining NOAA funding were briefly discussed. They will be followed up by NOAA PIs.

Discussion was also held on the length of radar and aircraft deployment for JPOLE and possible participation of additional (Ka-band and X-band, neither part of the deployment pool) polarimetric radars. Dusan Zrnic noted the merits of winter storm deployment as part of JPOLE. Terry Schuur added that that possibility had been discussed at the IRC. Also following discussions at the IRC, Brooks Martner said that the most likely additional radar to be deployed during JPOLE would be the ETL Ka-band polarimetric radar. Terry Schuur noted that a Ka-band radar deployment during the winter precipitation (February-March) period of JPOLE would fit nicely with the proposed participation of the UND Citation aircraft since, 1) data collection by both facilities could focus on FAA hydrometeor classification objectives, and 2) the groups have a history of collaborating on field projects. Possible funding sources for the deployment of both of these facilities were discussed. Both facilities have some history of obtaining FAA support. The possibility of obtaining NOAA funding will also be investigated for the deployment of the ETL Ka-band radar and of obtaining NSF funding for the deployment of the UND Citation aircraft. Terry Schuur added that, if the Environment Canada X-band polarimetric radar were to participate in JPOLE, it could be easily deployed to a location close to the ARS rain gauge micronetwork during the warm season (April-June) period of JPOLE (to facilitate a detailed comparison of X- and S-band rainfall estimation during light precipitation events).

After the lunch break, a session was held to investigate possible aircraft participation in JPOLE. Paul Smith gave a brief presentation on the instrumentation package and data collection of the SDSMT T-28 aircraft. Mark Askelson then gave a brief presentation on the instrumentation package and data collection of the UND Citation aircraft. Brief discussion was then held that more or less served as a follow up to that held in the morning during the radar deployment session. In short, it was felt that the UND Citation would fit nicely into a winter precipitation (February-March) season collaboration with the ETL Ka-band radar and that the T-28 would fit nicely into a warm precipitation (April-June) season collaboration with the S-band polarimetric radar deployment (with the possibility that S-band radar deployment might also be deployed for some winter precipitation season data collection). The need for the collection of ground-based verification data sets was also discussed during this session. In particular, Ed Brandes and Larry Carey expressed a need for hail location and sizing data.

JPOLE hydrological objectives were then addressed. Baxter Vieux gave a presentation on hydrologic objectives for JPOLE. In summary, polarimetric data collection during JPOLE can be used to address hydrologic needs by investigating how input data uncertainties influence flood prediction, the maximum time/space scales required to accurately simulate a flash flood, and the basin characteristics that are most important in transforming rainfall into runoff. While interest in study of the Blue River Basin (addressed at the first JPOLE planning meeting as the primary watershed of interest) remains, it was felt that hydrologic modeling studies could be conducted for several different watersheds in central Oklahoma. Alexander Ryzhkov then gave a brief presentation that updated meeting participants on the availability of rain gauge data from the Oklahoma Mesonet, ARS micronetwork, and EVAC piconet. He expressed particular support for continued funding of the EVAC piconet (currently installed near the Will Rogers airport in Oklahoma City) whose data, he felt, provided a unique opportunity for detailed analyses of urban flash flooding events. Examples of current research using data from the Oklahoma Mesonet and ARS micronetwork were also presented. Terry Schuur provided a brief update on the NSSL 2D-video-disdrometer availability for JPOLE, noting that an investigation of natural drop size distribution variability is of fundamental importance in the investigation of radar-based rain rate estimation algorithm sensitivity. He added that the Anton Kruger of the University of Iowa and Ali Tokay of the TRMM Program Office (NASA Goddard) are also interested in bringing 2D-video-disdrometers to the experiment. Anton Kruger added that the University of Iowa would also be interested in bringing their vertically pointing X-band radar as part of their 2D-video-disdrometer deployment. Ali Tokay then gave a brief presentation that detailed the many facilities that the TRMM Program Office (NASA Goddard) had available for potential deployment to JPOLE. It is likely that any deployment of the University of Iowa 2D-video-disdrometer and X-band radar would require NSF support. Providing that a sufficient JPOLE facility infrastructure can be developed, the deployment of any NASA facilities would be entirely supported by NASA.

As the meeting wrapped up, a JPOLE scientific committee was formed. Those appointed were:

JPOLE science project steering committee:
Terry Schuur (chair) - University of Oklahoma/CIMMS Norman, OK
V. Chandrasekar - Colorado State University/EE Fort Collins, CO
Mark Askelson - University of North Dakota/AS Grand Forks, ND
Ed Brandes - National Center for Atmospheric Research/RAP Boulder, CO
Larry Carey - North Carolina State University/MEAS Raleigh, NC
Rich Fulton - National Weather Service/OHD Silver Spring, MD
Brooks Martner - NOAA/Environmental Technology Laboratory Boulder, CO
Jerry Straka - University of Oklahoma/SOM Norman, OK
Baxter Vieux - University of Oklahoma/CEES Norman, OK
Andy White - National Weather Service/ROC Norman, OK

Continued discussion focused on JPOLE funding. Several outstanding problems remain. In particular, strong scientific justification must be offered in support of the deployment of a research polarimetric radar and aircraft to central Oklahoma for the JPOLE science project. Additional justification must be offered for other facility deployment. The primary arguments in support of facility deployment during the JPOLE science project include the availability of a program infrastructure, a strong hydrologic component to the project, and the frequency of events. The program infrastructure offered to the JPOLE science project includes several facilities that are already in place in central Oklahoma. These include the KOUN polarimetric radar, NSSL Cimarron polarimetric radar, Oklahoma mesonet, ARS micronetwork, NSSL 2D-video-disdrometer, and several instrumented watersheds. Logistical planning and forecasting support that will already be in place for the JPOLE Operational Demonstration will also be available to the JPOLE science project.

Several meeting participants feel that a NOAA monetary contribution is needed to secure radar deployment. Others feel that the NOAA infrastructure contribution is significant and sufficient. Options for securing additional NOAA money were discussed and will be investigated further. Since several participants had to catch early flights, the meeting adjourned at approximately 4 PM.

Meeting summary submitted by Terry Schuur.