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<br />-~ ../ <br /> <br />winter. Most of these storms were lake effect storms, but a few were general synoptic storms. All <br />gage chart readings have been double-checked and entered into a computer data base which has been <br />provided to the OSF. <br /> <br />Refine the SAA with the 1995-96 winter observations from the two areas specified in subsections <br />4.a.(4) and 4.a.(5) of the MOU, and expand it to include predictions of SD as specified in task 4.b.(I) <br />of the MOU. <br /> <br />Reclamation operated a limited network of Universal gages in the Denver area during the 1995-96 <br />winter, and hourly SWE and SD observations were manually made at three of the gage locations. <br />Similar SWE and SD observations were made by personnel at the Denver NWS WFO. In addition, <br />the Albany, NY, NWS WFO supplied Reclamation with hourly snow board measurements of SWE <br />and SD made by many volunteer observers. <br /> <br />Optimize the SAA for lake effect storms using the Cleveland area SWE observations collected during <br />the 1995-96 winter (task 2 of MOU Modification No.1). Special emphasis is to be placed on the <br />ability of the NEXRAD to detect and quantify snowfall as a function of range. <br /> <br />This task refers to the aforementioned Cleveland area gage data from the 1995-96 winter. In addition <br />to gage observations, manual measurements of SWE and SD were made beside each gage <br />approximately once per day. These measurements permitted calculations of fresh snow density. <br /> <br />One new task was incorporated, and one was deleted by memo dated October 2, 1996, which <br />accompanied MOU Modification No.2. <br /> <br />Task 4.b.2, which dealt with using real-time surface observations of SWE to adjust radar estimates, <br />was deleted. It now appears unlikely that an adequate number of real-time gage observations of SWE <br />accumulation, with sufficient accuracy, will be available in the foreseeable future. <br /> <br />The replacement task was to increase Reclamation's level of involvement in real-time testing of the <br />SAA during the 1996-97 winter. The prototype SAA was subsequently modified for real-time use. <br />Testing was done in Cleveland and Minneapolis NWS WFOs using the WDSS (Warning Decision <br />Support System) developed and maintained by the NSSL (National Severe Storms Laboratory). <br />These two particular WDSS's, owned by the OSF, are moved about to accommodate testing of <br />developing algorithms. <br /> <br />Investigate means of meaningfully partitioning Ze-S data, where S is the instantaneous snowfall rate, <br />and also SD data (MOU task 4.b.(3)). <br /> <br />It was originally anticipated that significantly different Ze -S relationships might be found for different <br />storm types or stages at a given location. It was also expected that the SD:SWE ratio may vary for <br />different storm types or stages. Work on these topics is discussed in this report. <br /> <br />Obtain observations of SWE and SD in five additional climatological areas with WSR-88D coverage <br />during the winter/spring of 1996-97 (MOU task 4.b.(4) as amended in modification No.2). <br /> <br />Arrangements were made to obtain 1996-97 winter SWE and SD observations within the view of five <br />different WSR-88D radars around the nation. The radars are located near Anchorage, AK, Beale Air <br />Force Base, CA, Grand Junction, CO, Minneapolis, MN, and Seattle, WA. <br /> <br />2 <br />