Weather visualizations for the Olympics:
A Prediction of NO Rain on the Closing Ceremonies
You can look at RAMS output at eight km resolution computed for August
4, 1996, the last day of the Olympics. This example is accompanied with
an in-line image. Click on the image to see a full-size 24-bit image of
the same data. There is an MPEG animation for this example, and a corresponding
VRML geometry and PanoramIX scene.
Three-dimensional cloud structure is shown via translucent, white isosurfaces
of cloud water density at 10-5 kg/kg. Translucent, cyan isosurfaces
are forecast radar reflectivities at a threshold of 25 dBz, approximating
rain shafts. These results are registered in a terrain-following, stereographic
grid with a topographic surface, color-coded by total precipitation, where
heavy rainfall is shown as blue "puddles". The surface is overlaid with
state (white) and coastline (black) maps and vector arrows of surface wind
velocity, color-coded by speed. The locations of Atlanta and Savannah are
indicated on the map. Output available at 10-minute time steps was animated
(or at higher resolution) for a dramatic display
for the media, and for practical application by forecasters.
The results were computed at eight km horizontal resolution and are
shown for the time during the Closing Ceremonies of the Games. The model,
as illustrated through three-dimensional visualization, correctly predicted
thunderstorm activity in the vicinity of Atlanta and the Closing Ceremonies,
but not over the city itself. This, along with tools developed by the National
Centers for Environmental Prediction, the National Severe Storms Laboratory,
the Techniques Development Laboratory, and others, allowed forecasters
to give Olympic officials an "all clear" for the Closing Ceremonies despite
thunderstorms in the area. A 144-frame MPEG animation
(or at higher resolution) will illustrate these
techniques and data. You can watch the formation of a cluster of thunderstorms
and its dissipation during a 24-hour prediction. Click on the image to
see a full-size 24-bit image of the same data. You can also download
a VRML model corresponding to the still image or a PanoramIX
scene.
Now you can look at the next set of examples.
You can see additional images and
learn more about this project, and the visualization work being done.
You can learn more the regional weather model and the parallelized
implementation on an IBM SP.
lloydt@watson.ibm.com
[ DX Home Page | Contact
DX ]
