The severe hazards analysis and verification experiment

Abstract

SHAVE presents a framework for conducting highresolution remote verification of severe storms. The data collected during SHAVE provide a unique dataset that contribute to current research, to more accurately and confidently (as a result of the high resolution) relate radar data to ground truth. The dataset is unique, not only for its spatial accuracy and resolution, but also for the types of reports contained within the dataset because a majority of the reports are "no hail/ wind/flood" (Table 2). Also, some of the data obtained through SHAVE surveys has uses beyond meteorological uses, such as the economical results of flash flooding due to the hail sizes to well-known objects (such as coins or frequency and effects of the flooding, golf balls) instead of the true hail size (as revealed The project is unique in the fact that, except for through measurements) could also be performed the building ofthe project's infrastructure and initial using SHAVE data. Flash-flood data are currently being applied to evaluate differences between legacy, county-based FFG and new GFFG (Erlingis et al. 2009). An envisioned outcome from this study will be a simple table reporting the ratios of QPE/FFG and QPE/GFFG for 1-, 3-, and 6-h durations that result in the greatest training, the project is largely student led and run. Opportunities to learn about severe storm forecasting, radar interrogation of storms, and severe storm hazards provide the students with an extraordinary learning experience and potential research topics for course work. Further, the students must apply critical thinking and teamwork during the verification process; combined with invaluable face time with project scientists, the project also provides participating students with great professional development experience. The project Web site-which includes the project plan, facilities summary, example cases, and a data archive-is available online (http://ewp.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/shave/). SHAVK is expected to continue beyond 2009, with a focus on dual-polarization radar data and a possible expansion into winter weather verification. © 2009 American Meteorological Society.