Vaisala DA10-DIAL

Waiver Rationale Summary

The NSSL conducts extensive research into atmospheric boundary layer processes in an effort to better understand and predict severe storms. The NSSL and the University of Oklahoma (OU) have begun to fill this observation gap through the development of the Collaborative Lower Atmosphere Mobile Profiling System (CLAMPS), that includes a microwave radiometer and an atmospheric emitted radiance interferometer (AERI) for profiling temperature & moisture, as well as a scanning Doppler lidar (DL) for measuring the winds, plus radiosonde capabilities. The DA10-DIAL is needed to support the CLAMPS network and allow more complete and accurate measurements. The DA10-DIAL provides the only method to advance remote sensing capability to measure moisture in the low levels of the atmosphere, where elusive storm processes and primers are present. Information from this layer is required to advance the NSSL’s understanding of rapidly evolving processes ahead of severe storms. Moisture is also one of the most impactful variables that boundary layer profilers can provide to data assimilation efforts. Improving these observations is also essential to continue improving severe storm prediction.