Molenar, Connell, Dostalek, Gosden, Hillger, Watson

Several improvements to the tropical RAMSDIS unit at CIRA were implemented.  Included were:  1) improvements in the software that generates the “floater” loops, 2) an update to the image archive process, 3) changes in the software that creates the storm relative loops, 4) changes in the plotting of ship and surface data onto satellite images, 5) a new routine for automatically plotting data onto satellite imagery, 6) the creation of a program which utilizes model output to calculate the vertical profile of the mean wind over a user defined area and outputs relevant information to the screen (see Figure 1), and 7) improvements to a program which computes cloud top temperature asymmetries in tropical cyclones/hurricanes.
 

Figure 1.  Vertical profile of the mean wind over Hurricane Juliette calculated from model output.  Click on image to enlarge.

RAMMT system upgrades - Upgrades on RAMMT systems have continued this quarter.  Systems are being upgraded from older Windows NT/Windows 98 to Windows 2000.  Also some older hardware has been upgraded including RAM, disk space, and tape drives.

RAMSDIS has been made available to several countries via CD's.  Italy, India, Mexico, Australia, Costa Rica, and Barbados have requested the software.  The software is being distributed via a complete system image containing Windows 2000 and McIDAS 7.8.  This allows the software to be loaded with pre-configured settings.

Support for the NWS Field RAMSDIS units was formally terminated on August 1.  Efforts are underway to determine requirements for conversion of existing NESDIS Field systems to RAMSDIS-W2K.

Significant improvements to Tropical RAMSDIS were implemented with CIRA staff support.   All image products are now being saved to CD.  A new more efficient image archive program was installed.  A new product for combined visible/ Channel 2 animation was implemented for both the large scale and the 4km resolution sectors.  The storm relative program for 1 km visible and IR average imaging was improved.  The program to move floating sectors was modified to reload displayed images to the new location, for better looping continuity.  Scatterometer, satellite winds, and several objective analyses are also being saved for future research projects.  The reliability of this year's Tropical RAMSDIS with respect to outages, both due to NESDIS server and local PC problems, has improved a great deal.