Significance of Helsinki Testbed in research

1
Significance of Helsinki Testbed in research

• Overall themes
• Mesoscale atmospheric research
• Forecast models development and verification
• Dispersion models development and verification
• Data distribution, open data policy
• Distinct four-season environment

12.2.2007 / Jani Poutiainen, FMI
2
A definition for testbed (Dabberdt et al. 2004)
A testbed is a working relationship in a
quasi-operational framework among measurement
specialists, forecasters, researchers,
private-sector, and government agencies aimed at
solving operational and practical regional
insert phenomenon or forecast challenge
problems with a strong connection to the
end-users. Outcomes from a testbed are more
effective observing systems, better use of data
in forecasts, improved services, products, and
economic/public safety benefits. Testbeds
accelerate the translation of RD findings into
better operations, services, and decision-making.
A successful testbed requires physical assets as
well as long-term commitments and partnerships.
3
Mesoscale terminology Space scale Time scale
Meso-a 200-2000 km 6 h 2 d
Meso-ß 20-200 km 30 min 6 h
Meso-? 2-20 km 3-30 min
Orlanski (1975)
4

• Benefits Testbed provides
• Exceptionally dense mesoscale observing network
• sets grounds for internationally significant
  innovation environment.
• Support for the anticipated future emphasis in
  analysis and forecasting of highly localized
  meteorological phenomena.
• Large mesoscale research data set is building
  up, which e.g.
• contains unique data and opportunities for
  surface layer studies and high resolution models.
• brings together various new and old observation
  sources (WXT, ceilos, weighing gauges, profiler,
  sounding, radars, etc.)
• Networking of academic, government, industrial
  interest groups
• brings together multi-faceted communities (see
  definition of testbed)
• exceeding of critical mass strengthens all
  Finnish atmospheric interest groups and attracts
  top researchers
• enables improved research funding opportunities

5
Such a big effort gives strong internationally
advantageous position to anyone having interest
in the area of small scale atmospheric research
(Dabberdt et al. 2004)
6
Initially specific HTB project research areas
Air quality modeling
Meteorological pre-processing model development Operative air quality forecast model development Air quality model validation

NWP models
Modeling of measurement campaigns Study of atmospheric processes Mesoscale data-assimilation Model verification

7
Remote sensing
E.g. all these themes would be good topics for
study reports, considering in situ and/or remote
sensing methods

• Precipitation type
• Mesoscale fog 2D-diagnostics and verification
• Temperature inversion strength and height
• Sea breeze occurrence, coverage and strength
• Convection and nowcasting

Road weather modeling
Development of surface temperature forecasting Improvement of road weather type interpretation

8
Original measurement periods and themes
Snowing on Nov 20th 2004, Helsinki

• August 2005
• Nowcasting by extrapolation, web-site
• World Championships in Athletics
• November 2005
• Precipitation type
• January-February 2006
• Stable boundary layer
• and inversions
• May 2006
• Sea breeze, fog
• August 2006
• Convection

Convection on Jul 5th 2003, Helsinki