Case Study - 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season

• This project will deliver a new generation case study that incorporates learning modules from COMET and other external sources, and a full suite of atmospheric data delivered via THREDDS catalogs utilizing OPeNDAP and ADDE server technologies and visualized in the Unidata IDV.
• We plan to open the case study for community contributions via the THREDDS Data Repository (in development stage). This will allow users to view the case study as it was originally developed AND allow them to explore other variables within the datasets AND contribute their perspectives on the case as well as other (ancillary) data sets.
• Scientific expertise provided by Dr. Brian Etherton UNC-Charlotte
• http://personal.uncc.edu/betherto/
• http://personal.uncc.edu/betherto/grad2.htm
• Incorporating efforts of Dr. Etherton's grad students, we are funding one (Shelley Holmberg) specifically for this project
• Shelley presented to the Symposium on Education at the 2007 AMS

Abstract

Instead of just looking at data sets, what if students could interact with them? Three such interactive, educational modules are being built using the Integrated Data Viewer (IDV): (1) the "2005 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Season" module - the most active in history; (2) Hurricane Katrina - the costliest storm in US History; and (3) Hurricane Wilma - the most intense Hurricane in Atlantic history. Each module offers a unique perspective into the broad spectrum of unprecedented features of the season. Through IDV, the "2005 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Season" module illustrates which climatological processes were present to force the unusually active and violent season. The Hurricane Katrina module will show what factors contributed to the vast magnitude of societal impacts and resultant catastrophe on the Gulf Coast. The final module of Hurricane Wilma utilizes the predominant, and relevant, meteorological and oceanographic features to illustrate the formation of the most intense hurricane on record. IDV is a unique program that allows students to gain a three-dimensional perspective of the atmosphere, and thus processes, with the ability to probe the data and take cross sections. Data access via THREDDS (Thematic Realtime Environmental Distributed Data Services) catalogs, OPeNDAP (Open-source Project for a Network Data Access Protocol) and ADDE (Application Development for the Distributed Enterprise) servers provide data in IDV supported formats, to allow for a variety of disparate data sets to be incorporated into one view using the IDV client. The students are able to use this interchangeable variety of data set overlays to illustrate atmospheric processes of interest. The use of multi-media COMET (Co-operative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and Training) modules enhances the educational aspect of these case studies and make for a richer learning experience. These module capabilities enable educators to reach a wide range of students with the unprecedented "2005 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Season", Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Wilma modules.

Powerpoint Presentation

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/committees/polcom/2007spring/reports/AMSRelVort.ppt

The "2005 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Season" module offers a climatic perspective on the extremely active season by using IDV overlays of certain climatological parameters and synoptic features. With this module, the student has an opportunity to explore, and determine, the amount of forcing exerted by the anomalous environment on the frequency and severity of Atlantic tropical cyclones in 2005. When used as an educational tool, the "2005 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Season" module will lead to a better understanding of the climate forcing mechanisms present in that unprecedented season, especially the Atlantic Multi-Decadal Oscillation. The student can then apply the knowledge gained while navigating this module to current tropical systems. The "2005 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Season" enables the student to understand and recognize climate patterns (similar to those present in 2005), and their implications in tropical cyclogenesis and maintenance.

Currently available COMET modules being incorporated into the case study

http://meted.ucar.edu/hurrican/lobjects/

Six (6) other modules are being developed for this project, they are:

• Thermo-Haline Circulation
• Saharan Air Layer
• Ocean Heat Content
• Loop Current
• Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough (TUTT)
• African Easterly Jet



UNC-Charlotte is providing a class on hurricane Katrina. This class is being "team taught" and will incorporate both the meteorological aspects of the event and the human and societal impacts. This will be taught using the IDV and some of the COMET modules and incorporate GIS data from the event.



• Timeline for completion is to have the majority of it completed by the AMS (January 2007) for presentation, and fully completed and documented by end of November 2007.
• The case studies and learning objects are all complete and in place, we are still hopeful for a more complete research paper including the bundles to be published by Dr. Brian Etherton UNC-Charlotte, but that is on a schedule of its own.
• The case study project has decided to move forward with the RAMADDA DB technology instead of the TDR for various reasons. The RAMADDA will be up and running on Unidata's public server by mid-April. This would be a great time for some User Committee members to get logins and passwords and begin exploring the application. Volunteers to "beta-test" this application should contact Jeff Weber or Mohan, and we will get you access.
• The RAMADDA will also be tested at the Data Access workshop in Portland April 30 -> May 3.