HMT-West 2008 basin scale map
HMT-West 2008 Basin Scale Map
December 3, 2007

Deployment of HMT-West 2008

On December 3, 2007, the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) will begin field operations for the 2008 Western Hydrometeorological Testbed (HMT-West 2008). HMT-West is located in the Sierra Mountains east of Sacramento, CA. One of the most significant enhancements to HMT-West 2008 instrumentation, compared to previous seasons, is the addition of several new precipitation and soil moisture measurement sites at high elevation, providing the most comprehensive coverage of the American River Basin to date. A new site for the ESRL scanning, polarimetric, Döppler radar at Blue Canyon will provide polarimetric coverage of the entire basin of the North Fork of the American River for the first time. Polarimetric radars can provide more accurate quantitative precipitation estimates. State-of-the-art forecasting techniques, new tools to distribute information to the operational offices, and efforts to synthesize and integrate information (such as QPE), complete these efforts.

HMT is a NOAA demonstration program designed to aid flood forecasting by accelerating the infusion of new technologies, forecast models, and scientific results from the research community into daily operations of the National Weather Service, including Weather Forecast Offices, River Forecast Centers and the National enters for Environmental Prediction. HMT-West, which will be underway through mid-March, 2008, is beginning its third full year, with at least one more year planned in the West.

NOAA's Weather and Water Mission includes goals for improving the predictability of floods to better protect the public from losses of life and property. HMT is a concept designed to accelerate and enhance the testing and infusion of new technologies, models, and scientific results from the research community into daily forecasting operations of the National Weather Service, including NCEP, WFOs and River Forecast Centers.

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