Weather Surveillance Radar 1988 Doppler, better known as the WSR-88D

As program leader, my duties include:

• Responsible for maintaining the WSR-88D program at NWSO Wakefield (1/96 to present) which includes:

-assisting in loading new software builds and updating reference material.

-ensuring that archived data is sent to the proper authorities.

-maintain integrity of the system and ensure that staff is properly trained and informed of the latest radar-related issues.

-provide assistance to associated users when necessary.

-Radar product administration on AWIPS

• As WSR-88D Focal Point, I participated in an assessment of the Graphical User Interface (GUI), which is to replace the User Control Position of the WSR-88D in the future. I provided valuable input and summarized my experiences for Eastern Region Headquarters and the Staff of NWSO Wakefield, VA. I was commended by the Operational Support facility and Eastern Region Headquarters for my valuable input. (7/97)

 
• As WSR-88D Focal Point, I was the Office Point of Contact for the Build 10.0 Beta Test period, before Build 10.0 was distributed to the field.  I ensured proper installation of Build 10.0 for our 5 associated users and provided input to the Operational Support Facility, based on our radar experiences during the test period. (9/98)

• I have written formal journal articles related to the WSR-88D

-Stuart, Neil A., 1997: The WSR-88D Depiction of the 6 September, 1994 Split Cell Thunderstorm in Southern Virginia. Nat. Wea. Dig., Vol. 21, No.2, 18-30.

*Just accepted for publication in the National Weather Digest*

-"Assessment of the Performance of the Wakefield, VA and Dover, DE WSR-88Ds during the Convective Flooding Event of 11 August, 1994 in Northern Virginia."
 

• I have written many informal papers related to the WSR-88D for various AMS conferences

-Stuart, Neil A., 1996: The Wakefield, Virginia WSR-88D Depiction of Mesolows Associated with Two Severe Squall Lines in Virginia and North Carolina. Preprints, 15^th Conference on Weather and Forecasting, Norfolk, Virginia, American Meteorological Society, 15, 378-382.

-Stuart, Neil A., and Hugh D. Cobb, 1997: An Assessment of the Performance of the WSR-88D Mesocyclone Detection Algorithm During Tropical Storm Bertha -12-13 July 1996. Preprints, 22^nd Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Fort Collins, Colorado, American Meteorological Society, 22, 672-674.

-Stuart, Neil A., Hugh D. Cobb and Gregory J. Stumpf, 1997: A Comparison of the Storm-Scale Vortex Detection Capability, Between the WSR-88D Mesocyclone Detection Algorithm and the National Severe Storms Laboratory Mesocyclone Detection Algorithm During Tropical Storm Bertha. Preprints, 28^th Conference on Radar Meteorology, Austin, Texas, American Meteorological Society, 28, 361-363.

-Stuart, Neil A., Hugh D. Cobb, Wayne F. Albright, A. Todd Anderson and James Browder, 1998:  Correlating Thunderstorm Lightning Patterns with WSR-88D Signatures and Resultant Benefits for Utility Companies:  A Preliminary Investigation of the Hampton Roads "Hot Spot". Preprints, 19^th Conference on Severe Local Storms, Minneapolis, Minnesota, American Meteorological Society, 19, 424-427.

-Cobb, Hugh D., and Neil A. Stuart, 1998:  Characteristics of Tornadic Mesocyclones Associated with Tropical Cyclones in the Middle Atlantic Region as a Guide to Developing a Strategy for Warning Decision Using the WSR-88D. Preprints, 19^th Conference on Severe Local Storms, Minneapolis, Minnesota, American Meteorological Society, 19, 124-127.

-Stuart, Neil A., 1995: WSR-88D Depiction of a Split Cell Thunderstorm in Southern Virginia. Training Symposium for Operational Forecasters in the Carolinas and Virginia.

-Stuart, Neil A., and Hugh D. Cobb, 1997: An Assessment of the Performance of the WSR-88D Mesocyclone Detection Algorithm During Tropical Storm Bertha, 12-13 July 1996. NEXRAD/OSF Tropical Weather Workshop, TC Mesocyclones and Tornadoes, 1.

*Under review for Geophysical Research Letters

-"Inland reintensification of Tropical Storm Danny", written with North Carolina State University, NWSFO Raleigh, NC, NWSFO Columbia, SC, and NWSO Greenville- Spartanburg, SC
 

• I have given numerous oral and poster presentations, related to WSR-88D studies, at national and regional conferences/workshops

Training Symposium for Operational Meteorologists in the Carolinas and Virginia, which took place in Raleigh, NC (11/95). Wrote meeting summary, which was published in the 12/96 issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

*Oral Presentation - WSR-88D Depiction of a Split Cell Thunderstorm in Southern Virginia.

*Oral Presentation - An Assessment of the Performance of the Wakefield, Virginia WSR-88D During Convective Flooding in Northern Virginia.

*Oral Presentation - The Wakefield WSR-88D Depiction of Mesolows Associated with Two Severe Squall Events in Virginia and North Carolina.

15^th Conference on Weather Analysis and Forecasting, which took place in Norfolk, VA (8/96).

*Oral Presentation - The Wakefield, Virginia WSR-88D Depiction of Mesolows Associated with Two Severe Squall Lines in Virginia and North Carolina.

5^th National Heavy Precipitation Workshop, which took place at State College, PA (9/96).

*Oral Presentation - Why did the Wakefield, Virginia WSR-88D Significantly Underestimate Rainfall During the Convective Flooding Event of August 11, 1994 in Northern Virginia?

NEXRAD/OSF Tropical Weather Workshop, which took place in Norman, OK (1/97).

*Oral Presentation - An Assessment of the Performance of the WSR-88D Mesocyclone Detection Algorithm During Tropical Storm Bertha, 12-13 July 1996.
Accepted for oral presentation at the 22^nd Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, but could not attend due to NWS budget constraints (5/97).
*Oral Presentation Topic - An Assessment of the Performance of the WSR-88D Mesocyclone Detection Algorithm During Tropical Storm Bertha - 12-13 July 1996.
20^th National Hurricane Conference in Norfolk, VA (4/98).
*Oral Presentation - Mesoscale and WSR-88D aspects of the Regeneration of Danny '97.
19^th Conference on Severe Local Storms in Minneapolis, MN (9/98).
*Oral Presentation - Correlating Thunderstorm Patterns with WSR-88D Signatures and Resultant Benefits for Utility Companies: A Preliminary Investigation of the Hampton Roads "Hot Spot".

• Review of WSR-88D papers

Was Selected by Gary Carter, Chief of Scientific Services at Eastern Region Headquarters and Chief Editor of the AMS publication Weather and Forecasting, to be responsible for editorial review of a research paper intended for publication in the National Weather Digest. The paper is entitled, "An analysis of a left-moving HP Supercell", by Stu Ireland at NWSO Wilmington, NC.
 

• Goals
• Continue to conduct research and present it at conferences, symposiums and workshops
• Learn how to optimize each radar product and algorithm
• Promote and assist in training for the WSR-88D
• Assist outside agencies through coordination and Unit Radar Committe Meetings