Mesoscale Modeling Project at NWS Melbourne, Florida
EXAMPLE 3:  SPACE SHUTTLE LANDING ATTEMPT


24 July 2001 MLB ADAS data quantity text file for 0300-0600 UTCDATA INGEST

The table to the left illustrates a typical 'data availability' text file, with this one valid from 0300 to 0600 UTC on 24 July 2001 for the 2-km LDIS grid. Files such as this are generated daily and were designed to automatically append details concerning the quantity of ingested data following each analysis cycle. Routine ingestion of the following data sets were not performed at the time of this case: ACARS (ACR), satellite winds (SWN), PIREPS (PRP), rawinsondes (RAO), satellite soundings (SAT), and WSR-88D data from Miami (AMX), Key West (BYX), Jacksonville (JAX), Tampa Bay (TBW), and Tallahassee (TLH). Supplemental data types, including FAWN and APRS also were not ingested (and were not included within the table at this time). Data which were ingested included: surface METARS, buoys, and ship reports (SFC), NASA wind tower observations (TWR), NASA 50 MHZ and 915 MHz wind profilers (PRO), GOES-8 Infared (IR) and visible (VIS) satellite imagery, and KMLB WSR-88D reflectivity and radial velocity data (RADAR, MLB). Note: TWR, PRO, and RADAR data are obtained from multiple heights. The IR, VIS, and AMX, BYX, JAX, MLB, TBW, and TLH columns contain "flags" to indicate the presence (1) or absence (0) of data.

24 July 2001 0448 UTC KMLB WSR-88D base reflectivity image0448 UTC 24 July 2001

This KMLB WSR-88D reflectivity image was taken at the time of the "go / no-go" decision for the 24 July second landing opportunity at the Kennedy Space Center for the Space Shuttle "Atlantis" (STS-104). The observation of cloud ceilings and showers within 30 (nautical) miles of the landing site, along with a forecast of flight rule violations for the time of landing resulted in a "no-go" call by SMG. The series of LDIS cloud products below, for the inner (2-km resolution) grid, suggest that such analyses may be utilized to provide an improved visualization of cloud trends. When used together with other observational data and guidance, LDIS analyses will likely help improve short-term forecasts for critical events such as Space Shuttle missions. Eventually, ARPS cloud forecasts, using ADAS for initialization, are expected to add even greater utility.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

24 July 2001 0445 UTC Cloud Tops (feet) for MLB ADAS (2-km, inner grid)Cloud Tops (feet)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

24 July 2001 0445 UTC Cloud Cover (%) for MLB ADAS (2-km, inner grid)Cloud Cover (%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

24 July 2001 0445 UTC Cloud Ceilings (feet) for MLB ADAS (2-km, inner grid)Cloud Ceilings (feet)