Natural SciencesEarth SciencesMeteorologyAtmospheric SciencePhysical MeteorologyRadar MeteorologyPrecipitationRadar InstrumentationRadar ReflectivityThermodynamic Factors
ITWS builds on the traditional use of radar reflectivity for terminal‑area storm detection by integrating additional meteorological variables such as temperature, humidity, winds, and microphysical processes to provide a more comprehensive hazard assessment. ITWS seeks to reduce airport delays by producing integrated weather products that synthesize multiple sensor data into actionable information for FAA supervisors and traffic managers. ITWS achieves this by fusing data from FAA and National Weather Service sensor networks into a unified platform that generates operationally relevant weather products.
VOLUME 7, NUMBER 2, 1994 THE LINCOLN LABORATORY JOURNAL 449 opment Program, will provide such improved weather information by integrating data from various FAA and National Weather Service (NWS) sensor and weather information systems. Figure 1 shows the major data sources for ITWS and some of the system’s principal users. Figure 1 emphasizes one of the important technological features of ITWS—the combining of knowledge from various sources to provide a suite of informational products on operationally significant weather in the airport terminal area. Historically, radar reflectivity from precipitation has been the principal source of information on storms in the terminal area, with information on airport surface winds, temperature, and humidity appearing on separate alphanumeric displays. However, thermodynamic factors (i.e., temperature and humidity), winds, and storm microphysical processes (e.g., the formation of ice crystals) are as important as radar reflectivity in determining the hazard level and time evolution of weather. Using the various data sources in a scientifically sound manner, ITWS can address the deficiencies discussed above by creating informational products that cannot be derived from the sensors individually. ITWS will meet its primary objective, to reduce delays, in two ways: directly, by providing information to FAA supervisors and traffic managers so that they can work more actively to achieve an efficient The Integrated Terminal Weather System (ITWS)
4
Automated microburst wind-shear prediction
Marilyn M. Wolfson, Richard L. Delanoy, Barbara E. Forman et al. · 1995 · 35 citations