Gatlin, Patrick

Hunzinger, Alexis

Marks, David

Pabla, Charanjit

Petersen, Walt

Pippitt, Jason

Tokay, Ali

Wingo, Stephanie M.

Wolff, David

NASA Technical Reports Server

A Column-based Multi-platform 
Assessment of Atmospheric River Events 
Observed in Complex Terrain During the 
NASA GPM OLYMPEX Field Campaign
Stephanie M. Wingo
NASA Postdoctoral Program/USRA
Stephanie.M.Wingo@nasa.gov
Walt Petersen and Patrick Gatlin
NASA MSFC
And Colleagues: 
Alexis Hunzinger2,  Jason Pippitt3, Charanjit Pabla4, David Marks4,
David Wolff5, and Ali Tokay6
2PNNL, 3SSAI/GSFC, 4SSAI/WFF, 5NASA WFF, 6UMBC/GSFC
American Geophysical Union • 2018 Fall Meeting • Washington, D.C. • H52C-02
Image: Steven Sander
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20190001211 2019-08-30T10:55:34+00:00Z
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov
GPM/GV Field Efforts:
Platform Diversity
2
• GPM Core Observatory
• Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR)
Ka-/Ku-band (35.5/13.6 GHz, 125/245 km swaths)
• GPM Microwave Imager (GMI)
13-channels 10-183 GHz (885 km swath)
• Constellation Partners (JAXA, NOAA, 
DOD, EUMETSAT, CNES, ISRO)
• Multi-agency Field Campaigns
• Meteorology/geography/topography
+ other 
partner 
observing 
networks
• Research need: single, integrative
framework to “build” the atmospheric 
column with targeted, multi-sensor data
Hou et al. 2014, Skofronick-Jackson et al. 2017, Schwaller & Morris 2011, Wolff et al. 2015
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 3
System for Integrating Multi-platform data to 
Build the Atmospheric column (SIMBA)
Define Column: grid center location, 
horizontal and vertical extent, spacing
Platform-specific Modules: read in native 
data formats, process gridding and/or 
interpolation as needed to set coincident 
observations into single, 3D column grid
SIMBA Column Data File:  Write all 
available observations to a common 3D 
grid in NetCDF format.  Attributes 
maintain key properties of original data 
(exact locations, operation modes, 
algorithm versions, etc.)
SIMBA enables more efficient 
precipitation science by fusing 
GPM GV data to a common grid
• Synthesizes concomitant GPM GV 
precipitation observations to single 3-D grid
• Modules support various data platforms 
and format types
• Ground-based scanning,
profiling radars
• NPOL, 88D, D3R, DOW, MRR
• Point measurements:
gauges, disdrometers
• Tipping bucket, Pluvio,
Parsivel, 2DVD
• GPM Satellite (DPR, GMI)
• Soundings
• MRMS QPE
• Attributes preserve info
from native files
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov
• Synthesizes concomitant GPM GV 
precipitation observations to single 3-D grid
• Modules support various data platforms 
and format types
• Ground-based scanning,
profiling radars
• NPOL, 88D, D3R, DOW, MRR
• Point measurements:
gauges, disdrometers
• Tipping bucket, Pluvio,
Parsivel, 2DVD
• GPM Satellite (DPR, GMI)
• Soundings
• MRMS QPE
• Attributes preserve info
from native files
4
System for Integrating Multi-platform data to 
Build the Atmospheric column (SIMBA)
Define Column: grid center location, 
horizontal and vertical extent, spacing
Platform-specific Modules: read in native 
data formats, process gridding and/or 
interpolation as needed to set coincident 
observations into single, 3D column grid
SIMBA Column Data File:  Write all 
available observations to a common 3D 
grid in NetCDF format.  Attributes 
maintain key properties of original data 
(exact locations, operation modes, 
algorithm versions, etc.)
SIMBA enables more efficient 
precipitation science by fusing 
GPM GV data to a common grid
SIMBA Development & Initial 
Applications published 
earlier this year in the 
Journal of Atmospheric and 
Oceanic Technology,
as part of AMS’s GPM 
Special Collection
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov
Olympic Mountains Experiment (OLYMPEX)
5
• Land & topographic influence on Pacific 
frontal system precipitation evolution
• Impacts of terrain (and precip behavior in 
terrain) on satellite measurements
• Remote sensing & in-situ observations
• Ground-based:
• NPOL, D3R, DOW, MRRs, 88Ds
• Disdrometers, gauges, particle imaging
• Aircraft-based:
• NASA DC-8, ER-2: dropsondes, GPM Core analog
• UND Citation: microphysics probes
• Aerosol Clouds Ecosystems (ACE) Radar Definition 
Experiment (RADEX)
• Satellite-based:
• 2nd post-launch field campaign for DPR/GMI
Petersen et al. 2016, Houze et al. 2017
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 6
Atmospheric Rivers
• Moisture plume, copious 
precipitation totals
• > 2x fresh water as Amazon River
• Warm sector, flow orientation
• Unblocked flow at terrain
• Orographic precipitation process 
modification
• Seeder-feeder mechanism
• Warm (non-brightband) rain
• Riming via supercooled water
• Several ARs during OLYMPEX
• Event totals: hundreds of mm
Zhu & Newell 1998, Yuter & Houze 2003, White et al. 2003, Ralph et al 2004, Martner et al. 2008, 
Minder et al. 2008, Ralph et al. 2018, Zagrodnik et al. 2018, Hunzinger 2018
Total accumulation
Oct–April (~8-16 feet)
(Zagrodnik et al. 2018)
Horizontal & vertical AR structure 
schematics (Ralph et al. 2018)
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 7
Atmospheric Rivers
• Moisture plume, copious 
precipitation totals
• > 2x fresh water as Amazon River
• Warm sector, flow orientation
• Unblocked flow at terrain
• Orographic precipitation process 
modification
• Seeder-feeder mechanism
• Warm (non-brightband) rain
• Riming via supercooled water
• Several ARs during OLYMPEX
• Event totals: hundreds of mm
Horizontal & vertical AR structure 
schematics (Ralph et al. 2018)
Land & topography impact ice/liquid precipitation 
processes – most pronounced in unblocked/large 
Froude and warm sector flow regimes
(Petersen, Hunzinger, Gatlin 2018;
Poster H43F-2493)Zhu & Newell 1998, Yuter & Houze 2003, White et al. 2003, Ralph et al 2004, Martner et al. 2008, 
Minder et al. 2008, Ralph et al. 2018, Zagrodnik et al. 2018, Hunzinger 2018
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov
Integrating GV Obs in SIMBA for OLYMPEX ARs
8
• SIMBA column files generated for 5 locations up
terrain for OLYMPEX AR events:
• 13 Nov 03-00 UTC (20%)
• 17 Nov 10-21UTC (10%)
• 3 Dec 14-00 UTC (10%)
• 6-7 Dec 00-02 UTC (25%)
• 8-9 Dec 13-10 UTC (20%)
• 17 Dec 08-00 UTC (15%)
• Column sites:
• 20 km SW of NPOL (O)
• 12.5 km NE of NPOL (A)
• Fishery (B), Neilton (C), Bishop (D)
• MRR field sites
• NPOL RHI compositing: Z, DM, RR (Chen et al. 2017)
• GPM V05A: GPROF, GMI, 2ADPR, 2BCMB
• Column grids: 
• 10 x 10 x 8 km extent
• 5 km means
• 500 x 500 x 250 m spacing
• 5 min centered on NPOL
8 GPM OPs
2 with DPR
WS / Fr>1.3
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov
Integrating GV Obs in SIMBA for OLYMPEX ARs
9
• Column grids: 
• 10 x 10 x 8 km extent
• 5 km means
• 500 x 500 x 250 m spacing
• 5 min centered on NPOL
Complex terrain introduces 
complex challenges to 
observations, especially 
space-based
• SIMBA column files generated for 5 locations up
terrain for OLYMPEX AR events:
• 13 Nov 03-00 UTC (20%)
• 17 Nov 10-21UTC (10%)
• 3 Dec 14-00 UTC (10%)
• 6-7 Dec 00-02 UTC (25%)
• 8-9 Dec 13-10 UTC (20%)
• 17 Dec 08-00 UTC (15%)
• Column sites:
• 20 km SW of NPOL (O)
• 12.5 km NE of NPOL (A)
• Fishery (B), Neilton (C), Bishop (D)
• MRR field sites
• NPOL RHI compositing: Z, DM, RR (Chen et al. 2017)
• GPM V05A: GPROF, GMI, 2ADPR, 2BCMB
17 Nov 2001 UTC DPR HS LCFB
3 Dec 1522 UTC DPR HS LCFB
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 10
ARs Composite: Reflectivity
• Large spread –
multiple events
• As approach 
terrain barrier:
• DPR vs. CMB
more 
different 
• GPM vs. 
ground obs
Site DSite CSite A Site B
O
Site O
NPOL
MRR
2DVD
APU
DPR NS
DPR HS
DPR MS
CMB NS
CMB MS
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 11
ARs Composite: DM
O
Site DSite CSite A Site BSite O
NPOL
MRR
2DVD
APU
DPR NS
DPR HS
DPR MS
CMB NS
CMB MS
• MRR - below 
0°C, drop size 
enhancement
• DPR vs. CMB
as approach 
terrain barrier
• MRR vs. NPOL
at inland sites
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 12
OLYMPEX AR Event: 17 November 2015
00 UTC 17 Nov 12 UTC 17 Nov
UW WRF+GFS Analyses:  10 m winds & SLP
NPOL 1.5° Z
12 UTC 17 Nov GOES WV
• Westerly flow, banner atmospheric river event
• Prominent stratiform, some embedded cells
• 200+ mm/24 h in QRV (up to 60 mm leeward)
• GPM DPR OP @ 2001
• Later: FROPA/NCFR, into elongated sections as 
passed over land
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 13
17 November: 10-21 UTC Composite Z
O
• Distinct 
preferred 
regions of 
enhancement 
ahead of terrain 
barrier
• DPR & CMB
profiles more 
different in 
valley
• MRR vs. NPOL
Site ASite O Site DSite CSite B
NPOL
MRR
2DVD
APU
DPR NS
DPR HS
DPR MS
CMB NS
CMB MS
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 14
17 November: 10-21 UTC Composite DM
O
• Distinct 
preferred 
regions of 
enhancement 
• Satellite profiles 
more different in 
valley-DPR, CMB 
overestimate
• MRR vs. NPOL
Site DSite CSite A Site BSite O
NPOL
MRR
2DVD
APU
DPR NS
DPR HS
DPR MS
CMB NS
CMB MS
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 15
17 November: 10-21 UTC Composite RR
O
• Initial inland 
enhancement
region most 
prominent (Z)
• Satellite, MRR 
issues in valley
• MRR vs. NPOL, 
MRR + disdos.
• GPROF
underestimates
Site DSite CSite A Site BSite O
NPOL
MRR
2DVD
APU
DPR NS
DPR HS
DPR MS
CMB NS
CMB MS
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 16
OLYMPEX AR Event: 3 December 2015
• Evolving system with shortwave trough
• Southerly component to flow
• Early: Widespread stratiform, variability
• GPM Core OP @ 1523
• Ideal triple aircraft coordination
• Later: front-like shallow echo line with wind shift
UW WRF+GFS Analyses:  10 m winds & SLP
00 UTC 03 Dec 12 UTC 03 Dec 00 UTC 04 Dec
NPOL 1.5° Z
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 17
3 December: 14-00 UTC Composite Z
Site DSite CSite A Site BSite O
O
NPOL
MRR
2DVD
APU
DPR NS
DPR HS
DPR MS
CMB NS
CMB MS
• Enhancement 
region locations
– begin offshore
• MRR vs. NPOL –
less discrepancy 
inland than for 
17 Nov. 
composites
• Flow 
orientation…
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 18
3 December: 14-00 UTC Composite DM
Site DSite CSite A Site BSite O
O
NPOL
MRR
2DVD
APU
DPR NS
DPR HS
DPR MS
CMB NS
CMB MS
• DPR & CMB
exceed ground-
based IQR at all 
sites
• MRR trend 
opposite that of 
NPOL & nearer 
sfc ob values
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 19
3 December: 14-00 UTC Composite RR
Site DSite CSite A Site BSite O
O
NPOL
MRR
2DVD
APU
DPR NS
DPR HS
DPR MS
CMB NS
CMB MS
• Composite rates 
generally more 
modest, still 
prefer regions
• Initial inland 
peak largest
• GPROF & DPR
sfc values 
underestimate 
as move inland
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov 20
Additional perspective: 
Airborne Observations
• Continuing work:
• Integrating airborne data
• Ground-based HID + in situ
• GPM Core + airborne “analogs”
• 12-13 Nov: Citation, DC-8
• Legs across valley, GMI OP, NCFR
• Variations in LWC aloft
• 3 Dec: Citation, DC-8, ER-2
• Stacked legs/DPR OP, valley legs
• Liquid water (including -20C)
• 8-9 Dec: DC-8, ER-2
• Valley, GMI OP, offshore
• Dropsondes - cross-AR structure
12 Nov
DC-8
UND 13 Nov
DC-8
UND
ER-2
DC-8
UND3 Dec
8 Dec
ER-2
DC-8
ER-2
DC-8
UND3 Dec
8 Dec
ER-2
DC-8
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov
Summary & Continuing Work
21
This work is supported by an appointment to the NASA Postdoctoral Program at Marshall Space Flight 
Center, administered by Universities Space Research Association through a contract with NASA.
• OLYMPEX Atmospheric Rivers: GPM overpasses, Warm Sector / Fr > 1.3 
• 6 events, over 100+h of obs, 8 GMI/2DPR Ops, 5 SIMBA sites
• All Cases: 
• Large variation of precipitation parameters 
• Enhancement at coast & as approach terrain barrier clear, but somewhat gradual
• DPR aligns with ground-based observations best over ocean
• 17 Nov - Westerly flow case:
• Larger MRR vs NPOL discrepancy
• More intense precipitation rates
• Enhancement regions most prominent over land
• 3 Dec - Southerly component case:
• MRR & NPOL means better align
• Generally lower precipitation rates
• Enhancement regions initiate offshore
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov
Summary & Continuing Work
22
This work is supported by an appointment to the NASA Postdoctoral Program at Marshall Space Flight 
Center, administered by Universities Space Research Association through a contract with NASA.
• OLYMPEX Atmospheric Rivers: GPM overpasses, Warm Sector / Fr > 1.3 
• 6 events, over 100+h of obs, 8 GMI/2DPR Ops, 5 SIMBA sites
• All Cases: 
• Large variation of precipitation parameters 
• Enhancement at coast & as approach terrain barrier clear, but somewhat gradual
• DPR aligns with ground-based observations best over ocean
• 17 Nov - Westerly flow case:
• Larger MRR vs NPOL discrepancy
• More intense precipitation rates
• Enhancement regions most prominent over land
• 3 Dec - Southerly component case:
• MRR & NPOL means better align
• Generally lower precipitation rates
• Enhancement regions initiate offshore
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov
Summary & Continuing Work
23
This work is supported by an appointment to the NASA Postdoctoral Program at Marshall Space Flight 
Center, administered by Universities Space Research Association through a contract with NASA.
• OLYMPEX Atmospheric Rivers: GPM overpasses, Warm Sector / Fr > 1.3 
• 6 events, over 100+h of obs, 8 GMI/2DPR Ops, 5 SIMBA sites
• All Cases: 
• Large variation of precipitation parameters 
• Enhancement at coast & as approach terrain barrier clear, but somewhat gradual
• DPR aligns with ground-based observations best over ocean
• 17 Nov - Westerly flow case:
• Larger MRR vs NPOL discrepancy
• More intense precipitation rates
• Enhancement regions most prominent over land
• 3 Dec - Southerly component case:
• MRR & NPOL means better align
• Generally lower precipitation rates
• Enhancement regions initiate offshore
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov
Summary & Continuing Work
24
• Processes, satellite-based observations 
involve more than below 0°C level
• ICE vs LIQ, incorporating airborne data 
will improve analysis
• Compositing with "analog" instruments
• PMW & CMB algorithm products –
impacts of ice and transition to higher 
terrain
This work is supported by an appointment to the NASA Postdoctoral Program at Marshall Space Flight 
Center, administered by Universities Space Research Association through a contract with NASA.
• OLYMPEX Atmospheric Rivers: GPM overpasses, Warm Sector / Fr > 1.3 
• 6 events, over 100+h of obs, 8 GMI/2DPR Ops, 5 SIMBA sites
• All Cases: 
• Large variation of precipitation parameters 
• Enhancement at coast & as approach terrain barrier clear, but somewhat gradual
• DPR aligns with ground-based observations best over ocean
• 17 Nov - Westerly flow case:
• Larger MRR vs NPOL discrepancy
• More intense precipitation rates
• Enhancement regions most prominent over land
• 3 Dec - Southerly component case:
• MRR & NPOL means better align
• Generally lower precipitation rates
• Enhancement regions initiate offshore
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov
Related Projects/
Ancillary Applications
• Long-term validation at WPRF
• Poster H43F-2470 (Thurs)
• Visualization for Integrated Satellite, Airborne, 
and Ground-based data Exploration (VISAGE)
• NASA AIST collaboration of UAH ITSC & 
MSFC/GHRC DAAC
• Poster IN51D-0609 (Fri)
• Improving DPR spatial resolution via Machine 
Learning
• Testing application of deep learning image 
resolution technology to satellite radar data
• Poster T31E-0363 (Wed)
Pabla et al. 2018; Conover et al. 2017,2018; Collins et al. 2017, Beck et al. 2018
VISAGE concept schematic
Deep learning image resolution 
enhancement: input low, target high, 
output high res, output high res
AGU 2018 Fall Meeting • H52C-02 • stephanie.m.wingo@nasa.gov
Collins, C. B., and colleagues, 2017: Deep learning for multisensor image resolution enhancement. in Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning for Geographic Knowledge 
Discovery. ACM.
Conover, H., and colleagues, 2017: Introducing the VISAGE project- Visualization for Integrated Satellite, Airborne, and Groundbased data Exploration. 2017 Fall Meeting, New Orleans, LA, Amer. Geophys. 
Union.
Conover, H., T. Berendes, P. N. Gatlin, M. Maskey, A. Naeger, and S. M. Wingo, 2018: Preliminary results from the VISAGE project – Visualization for Integrated Satellite, Airborne, and Ground-based data 
Exploration. Amer. Met. Soc., 98th Annual Meeting, Austin, TX.
Chen, H., V. Chandrasekar, and R. Bechini, 2017: An improved dual-polarization radar rainfall algorithm (DROPS2.0): Application in NASA IFloodS field campaign. J. Hydromet. 18, 917-937.
Hou, A. Y., and colleagues, 2014: The Global Precipitation Measurement Mission. Bull.. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 95, 701-722.
Houze, R. A. Jr., and colleagues, 2017:  The Olympic Mountains Experiment (OLYMPEX). Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 98, 2167-2188.
Hunzinger, A. H., 2018: Orographic effects on ice and liquid-phase precipitation processes during the Olympic Mountains Experiment. MS thesis, Dept. of Atmospheric Science, University of Alabama in 
Huntsville, 139p.
Martner, B. E., and colleagues, 2008: Raindrop size distributions and rain characteristics in California coastal rainfall for periods with and without a radar bright band. J. Hydrometeor., 9, 408-425.
Minder, J. R., and colleagues, 2008: The climatology of small-scale orographic precipitation over the Olympic Mountains: Patterns and processes. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 134, 817-839.
Petersen, W. A., and colleagues, 2016: The Olympic Mountains Experiment. Met. Tech. Int., Sept 2016, 22-26.
Ralph, F. M., P. J. Neiman, and G. A. Wick, 2004: Satellite and CALJET aircraft observations of atmospheric rivers over the eastern North Pacific Ocean during the winter of 1997/98. Mon. Wea. Rev., 132, 
1721-1745.
Ralph, R. M, and colleagues, 2018: Defining “Atmospheric River:” How the Glossary of Meteorology helped resolve a debate. Bull. Amer. Met. Soc., 99, 837-839.
Schwaller, M. R., and K. R. Morris, 2011: A ground validation network for the global precipitation measurement mission. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 28, 301–319.
Skofronick-Jackson, G., and colleagues, 2017: The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission for Science and Society. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 98, 1679-1695.
Yuter, S. E. and R. A. Houze, 2003: Microphysical modes of precipitation growth determine by S-band vertically pointing radar in orographic precipitation during MAP. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 29, 455-476.
White, A. B., and colleagues, 2003: Coastal orographic rainfall processes observed by radar during the California Land-Falling Jets Experiment. J. Hydrometeorol., 4, 264-282.
Wolff, D. B, and colleagues, 2015: GPM radar studies at NASA’s Wallops Precipitation Research Facility. 37th Conf. on Radar Meteorology, Norman, OK, Amer. Meteor. Soc.
Zagrodnik, J. P., L. A. McMurdie, and R. A. Houze Jr., 2018: Stratiform precipitation processes in cyclones passing over a coastal mountain range. J. Atmos. Sci., 75, 983–1004.
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References


A Column-Based Multi-Platform Assessment of Atmospheric River Events Observed in Complex Terrain During the NASA GPM OLYMPEX Field Campaign

A Column-Based Multi-Platform Assessment of Atmospheric River Events Observed in Complex Terrain During the NASA GPM OLYMPEX Field Campaign

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