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17 March 2018

Following 10 days of quiescent weather, the final IOP of PurRad 2018 occurred on 17 March, the last day of the educational deployment. As a surface low (Fig. 19) passed over southern Illinois, cold Canadian air spilled into Indiana from the north and northwest, dropping surface temperatures to 0 °C across the Lafayette area (Fig. 20). In the North American Mesoscale model, a broad warm nose (not shown), centered around 850 mb, was forecast to persist for several hours after the surface frontal passage. Because of this forecast sandwiching of a relatively warm layer of air between two sub-freezing layers within the precipitation band, a widespread and long-duration freezing rain event was forecast, with the probability of freezing rain greater than 0.1 inch at ACRE greater than 50% (Fig. 21). Based upon this forecast, IOP 4 was conducted overnight as a refreezing signature hunt. From 0200 to 0900 UTC, deep volumes (0.5 to 20°) were collected, interspersed with RHI scans perpendicular to precipitation motion and a sequence of five birdbath scans at the end of each volume. An additional RHI was collected over a disdrometer deployed at the PI’s residence.

EAPS 52300 student M. Sharma generated QVPs from the 6° DOW PPIs (Fig. 19), revealing fluctuations of up to 500 m in the top and bottom heights of the melting layer over the ACRE site. Although ice glaze accumulated on the DOW and on the other instruments, no sleet was observed at ACRE, nor was a refreezing signature (Kumjian et al. 2013) conclusively identified in the QVPs. Attenuation and differential attenuation were observed above the melting layer during the heaviest precipitation at 0630 UTC (Fig. 22b).

Mr. Steven Smith, EAPS outreach coordinator, facilitated multiple public outreach events during this deployment, during which more than 500 people came in contact with the DOW. Unfortunately, owing to statewide mandatory standardized testing during Week 2 of the deployment and spring break during Week 3, no public schools accepted our offer of an on-site demonstration of the DOW. Instead, most of the public outreach effort was concentrated in a single, day-long event at a local science museum, described in the next section.

GLOBE Citizen Science Day at Imagination Station, Lafayette, Indiana

Mr. Smith, the regional representative of the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program, arranged for a public demonstration of the DOW at Imagination Station, a science museum in Lafayette, Indiana targeting elementary school-age children. The DOW was the headlining attraction at a GLOBE-themed event entitled, “Disasters Happen: Are You Ready?” (Fig. 25). This event was promoted publicly on Imagination Station’s social media accounts and through flyers distributed in day care centers and public schools.

The DOW, situated in the parking lot at Imagination Station (Fig. 26), served as a first stop for many of the visitors arriving for the event. One CSWR staff member (A. Gilliland), an EAPS graduate student (D. Reano), and the PI allowed members of the public to climb inside the DOW, answered their questions, and distributed DOW stickers and bookmarks. Imagination Station board president P. Cardella reported that 468 people attended “Disasters Happen,” and the PI estimates at least 150 of these visitors climbed inside the DOW in groups of three to five. Many visitors arrived in family groups, with visitors ranging in age from infant to 87 years old. One family reported having driven more than 70 miles just to see the DOW.

Media coverage

The EAPS department promoted the educational deployment and outreach events associated with it, including an internet news story (Fig. 28) and video interview with the PI. The PI and the EAPS department used their respective Twitter accounts (@tornatrix and @PurdueEAPS) to keep followers up to date on any scheduling changes to the demonstration times and locations.

A local TV news channel, WLFI-18 in West Lafayette, Indiana, broadcast a one-minute segment about the “Disasters Happen” event at Imagination station on 10 March 2018. The DOW can be seen prominently throughout the piece, and the transcript makes mention of the NSF-sponsored educational deployment.

Individual tours

The CSWR staff facilitated a private tour of the DOW for a high school student who contacted the PI saying he could not attend the Imagination Station event owing to college entrance examinations the



same day. This student and a family member traveled across the state to meet with CSWR staff and one of the Radar Meteorology students on 3 March 2018. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity.

Concluding remarks

Overall, we regard this DOW educational deployment as a success, with approximately 100 Purdue students impacted, and more than 500 individual contacts with the DOW. The EAPS 52300 students all gained valuable hands-on experience designing and carrying out a scientific observing mission using the DOW, and analyzing the data afterward. Dr. Karen Kosiba’s visit to EAPS made a clear positive impression on many female students. Students’ reactions to the DOW were overwhelmingly positive. EAPS reaffirmed its close relationships with the Department of Agronomy and Imagination Station through this project. The PI, a junior faculty member at an R1 institution, gained valuable teaching experience and positive media exposure as a result of this deployment.

Written feedback from EAPS 52300 students:

"The DOW7 tutorial is of great help for understanding and analyzing the radar observations, as we can be aware of the potential errors exhibit in the algorithms or scans. Through processing the data collected by DOW during the PurRad 2018 IoPs, I am getting familiar with the Python- based software for radar data. I learned the approaches to identify melting layer and refreezing features, and how to increase the accuracy of HCA. The radar class with DOW benefits my future research on Hurricane landfall where radar data could provide us insight information on hurricane wind fields.” -- J. Chen, EAPS graduate student

“Regarding my experience with DOW: I believe I was fortunate enough to have worked with DOW radar just when I am starting with my research on severe storms. A radar meteorology class would have been incomplete if I would not have got a chance to do hands-on work with actual radar and analyzing the data. The whole learning experience was enlightening and helped in grasping the intricate technical details related to radar operations. I am highly thankful to my instructor, Dr. Robin Tanamachi and the CSWR folks to have made this educational deployment possible.” -- M. Sharma, EAPS graduate student

“Since I have operated mobile radar before and have the experience, it may have impacted me a little less than somebody operating a mobile radar for the first time. However, working with the radar definitely helps to see how different scanning strategies allows us to see how it impacts observations in real time. It allows us to apply concepts that we learn in class out in the field which is extremely beneficial to those are learn best with hands-on activities.” -- P. Saunders, EAPS graduate student

Lessons learned

Fast data turnaround: It was extremely beneficial to have the IOP data turned around to the PI within about 24 hours of collection, as she was able to quickly integrate it into EAPS 52300 labs. The CSWR staff who accompanied the DOW were highly competent at quick deployment, as well as processing and organizing the data, which made the PI’s job of incorporating it into lessons much easier. We strongly encourage NSF to provide support for CSWR staff members to accompany the DOW on each educational deployment to provide these services.

Deployment timing: As mentioned in the outreach section, the timing of the deployment (early March) negatively impacted our ability to make local school visits, as it conflicted with Indiana standardized testing, as well as spring break at many primary and secondary schools. Any future repeats of the PurRad deployment will likely be requested 1-2 weeks later in the semester relative to spring break in order to avoid similar scheduling issues.

Accessibility: During the “Disasters Happen” event, at least one physically disabled person was not able to climb into the DOW, and therefore missed out on part of the experience. At future public outreach events, it is suggested that accommodations be made (perhaps in the form of a temporary set of stairs or elevator) for those who may have difficulty physically getting into and out of the DOW.

Assessment: Personal contacts and anecdotal written remarks were our principal metric for assessing this deployment. Future repeats of PurRad will incorporate more formal assessment to quantify knowledge gained and the educational impact of the deployment. Additional written feedback will also be gathered from Purdue students enrolled in EAPS courses other than Radar Meteorology.

Soundings: It was highly beneficial to have coordinated local soundings from Purdue during each IOP, as the nearest operational sounding site is 230 km from Purdue and often not representative of conditions at Purdue. Representative soundings are critical to the accuracy of the hydrometeor classification algorithm, particularly in cases of phase change. The PI will work to ensure that the EAPS sounding equipment is functioning and available during future PurRad deployments, and that all students are appropriately trained on its safe operation.

Additional analysis of the PurRad IOPs is planned, and a manuscript about PurRad observations is currently in preparation for a refereed journal, with the PI as lead author and all four Radar Meteorology students as coauthors, enhancing their respective careers. The PI also plans to include her lessons learned from this deployment in several professional presentations. The PI plans to request another educational deployment when EAPS 52300 is taught again at Purdue University in Spring 2020.

Acknowledgments

The PI gratefully acknowledges the energetic assistance of CSWR staff members Alycia Gilliland and Maiana Hanshaw during this deployment. Ms. Gilliland, in particular, played a critical role in the success of our four IOPs, driving the DOW to the deployment site, leveling the truck, configuring the computer array, and instructing the students on the safe operation of the radar.

Purdue University’s College of Science and Spirit EMS sponsored the “Disasters Happen” event, providing free admission to the Imagination Station visitors. Steven Smith (EAPS) coordinated EAPS departmental participation. Phil Cardella organized the event and tracked the number of visitors.



We gratefully acknowledge James Beatty, ACRE superintendent, and Jason Burns, director of the ICSC, for allowing the DOW to park in the ICSC high bay during this educational deployment, and arranging access to the facility for the participants.

Logan Judy (EAPS) handled media outreach and supplied several of the photographs in this report. EAPS professors Ernie Agee, Mike Baldwin, Dan Dawson, Dan Chavas, and Harshvardan created activities for their respective classes that were centered on the DOW.

Many of the figures in this report were created using the open source software Py-ART (Helmus and Collis 2016). Scott Collis, Zach Sherman, Robert Jackson, and Mike Picel supported the EAPS 52300 participants in its use.

Last, but not least, we thank the students of Purdue for their enthusiastic participation in this educational deployment. Boiler up!

Many atmospheric scientists from universities and National Laboratories across the U.S. are involved with WE-CAN including the Colorado State University, the University of Colorado at Boulder, the University of Montana, the University of Washington, the University of Wyoming, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). 

In addition to the complex project logistics that need to be arranged and the aircraft maintenance and operation, the NSF/NCAR C-130 has a suite of over 25 specialized research instruments on board specifically selected for WE-CAN. Each instrument required its own team to operate, calibrate, and maintain it for the duration of the project.

Below is a list of PI teams responsible for the instruments on board the C-130 during WE-CAN.

AEROSOL and CLOUD PARTICLE INSTRUMENTATION

Two-Dimensional Optical Array Cloud Probe [10 μm] (2DC-10)

NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory

EOL standard instrumentation

Two-Dimensional Optical Array Cloud Probe [25 μm] (2DC-25)

NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory

EOL standard instrumentation

Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) Counter

Colorado State University

Paul DeMott, PI

Sonia Kreidenweis, Co-PI

Ezra Levin

Kevin Barry

Cloud Droplet Probe (CDP)

NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory

EOL standard instrumentation

Continuous Flow Diffusion Chambers (CFDC)

Colorado State University

Paul DeMott, PI

Ezra Levin

Kevin Barry

Kathryn Moore

Counterflow Virtual Impactor (CVI)

University of Colorado - Boulder

Darin Toohey, PI

Cindy Twohy, Co-PI

Stephanie Redfern

Bryan Rainwater

High-Resolution Time of Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS)

Colorado State University

Delphine Farmer, PI

Sonia Kreidenweis, Co-PI

Lauren Garafalo

Matson Pothier

Ice Spectrometer (IS, with CFDC)

Colorado State University

Paul DeMott, PI

Thomas Hill

Ezra Levin

Kevin Barry

Kathryn Moore

Passive Cavity Aerosol Spectrometer Probe (PCASP)

NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory

EOL standard instrumentation

Particle into Liquid Sampler (PILS2)

Colorado State University

Amy Sullivan, co-PI

Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS)

NCAR Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling

John Ortega (ACOM)

Paul DeMott, PI

Ezra Levin

Kevin Barry

Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2)

Colorado State University

Paul DeMott , PI

Sonia Kreidenweis, Co-PI

Delphine Farmer, PI

Ezra Levin

Ultraviolet Absorption Hygrometer (UVH)

NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory

EOL standard instrumentation

Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS)

NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory

EOL standard instrumentation

Wyoming Cloud Lidar (WCL)

University of Wyoming

Min Deng

TRACE GAS INSTRUMENTATION

Advanced Whole Air Sampler (AWAS)

Colorado State University

Amy Sullivan

I-Ting Ku

Yong Zhou

CCD Actinic Flux Spectroradiometers (CAFS)

NCAR Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling 

Sam Hall

Kirk Ullmann

Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (CIMS)

University of Washington

Joel Thornton, PI

Brett Palm

Ben Lee

Qiaoyun Peng

CO₂ / CH₄ Picarro

NCAR Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling 

Teresa Campos

Andy Weinheimer

NH₃

Colorado State University

Emily Fischer, PI

Ilana Pollack

Jakob Lindaas

NO-NO₂

NCAR Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling

Teresa Campos

Andy Weinheimer

Deedee Montzka

Geoff Tyndall

PAN Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (CIMS)

NCAR Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling

Frank Flocke

Proton Transfer Reaction Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS)

University of Montana

Lu Hu, PI

Wade Permer

Catie Wielgasz

Qian Wang

Trace Organic Gas Analyzer (TOGA)

NCAR Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling/University of California at Irvine

Eric Apel (ACOM)

Becky Hornbrook (ACOM)

Alan Hills (ACOM)

Alex Jarnot (CU)

Nicola Blake (CU)

RADIATION INSTRUMENTATION

HIAPER Airborne Radiation Package (HARP)

NCAR Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling 

Sam Hall

Photoacoustic Absorption Spectrometer/Cavity Attenuated Phase Shift (PAS/CAPS)

University of Wyoming

Shane Murphy

Rudra Pokhrel