The guidance provided here has been updated for the 17.1.1 release of AWIPS.
Warning Decision Training Division
Office of Chief Learning Officer
In theory, you would be using VCP 12/212 and 11/211 for similar situations: convective events. In practice, VCPs 12/212 will normally be your goto during convective weather because of its better sampling of the lower-levels of the atmosphere. VCPs 11/211 can still be useful at sampling deep convection because of its slightly better sampling of the midlevels at certain ranges. RPS lists between the two will be similar since they are used in similar situations. Besides their different elevation angles, the most important difference between these VCPs is 12/212 incorporates SAILS tilts. For simplicity, only a sample list for VCP 12/212 angles are provided as an example below. A VCP 11 RPS list would look similar to the one below, but the corresponding elevation angles would be different, and there is no need for the duplicate base product entries for the SAILS tilts.
Because these VCPs are generally run during severe convective events, offices must balance two concerns. Forecasters normally want every product they can get to meet their needs during the worst, high-end convective events. However, some narrowband connections (e.g., FAA primary, supplemental, and temporary backup) may not be suitable to meet this approach. The list below represents the "everything and the kitchen sink" list that should work for most NWS and DoD primary AWIPS connections. RPS lists for other connections will need to prioritize based on your needs.
We provide a detailed list below of recommend products. This list may not work for everyone. Here are some important details to keep in mind when looking over this lis:
Products NOT included: 4-bit (16 level) SRM is not included because with a LAN-LAN connection there is no reason not to use 8-bit SRM after receiving the 8-bit Velocity products. 8-bit SRM is in every way superior to 4-bit SRM. Nevertheless, the lowest 4 tilts in VCP 11/211 and the 0.5, 1.3, 2.4, and 3.1 tilts (and 6 tilts in VCP 12/212: 0.5, 0.9, 1.3, 1.8, 2.4, and 3.1) will still be available since they are added via the National RPS list. Snowfall products are not included but could be if needed.
The list below contains 138 Products, and combined with the national set a total of 212 products would be requested.
ID |
Code |
Elevation Angles |
Product Description | Reason to Include |
---|---|---|---|---|
28 |
SW |
1.8, 2.4, 3.1, 4.0, 5.1, 6.4, 8.0, 10.0, 12.5, 16.8, 19.5 |
8 Level 0.25 km (0.13 nm) Base Spectrum Width (range to 32 nm) | More base data. Included all elevation angles since the products are small and you never know when you may need a SW product close to the radar but at a high altitude. |
30 |
SW |
1.8, 2.4, 3.1, 4.0, 5.1 |
8 Level 1 km (0.54 nm) Base Spectrum Width (range to 124 nm) | Included these for further range capabilities. Dropped off a few more elevation angles because they would be very high at 64 nm. As with product 28, 0.5 is already included in the National RPS list. |
33 |
HSR |
Hybrid Scan Product |
16 Level, 1 km (0.54 nm) Hybrid Scan Reflectivity | Consistency check to see what's getting into precip products. |
79 |
THP |
Hybrid Scan Product |
16 Level, 1 km (0.54 nm) Surface Rainfall Accumulation, 3 Hour Duration | Longer duration product. |
99 |
V |
All Tilts |
256 Level, 0.25 km (0.13 nm) Base Velocity |
|
143 | TRU |
0.5, 0.9, 1.3, 1.8, 2.4, 3.1, 4.0, 5.1, 6.4, 8.0, 10.0, 12.5, 16.8, 19.5 |
Tornado Detection Rapid Update Product (Graphic Output) | Available every elevation angle. Small products so won't hurt having every elevation angle, especially if severe convection exists very close to the radar. |
149 | DMD |
0.5, 0.9, 1.3, 1.8, 2.4, 3.1, 4.0, 5.1, 6.4, 8.0, 10.0, 12.5, 16.8, 19.5 |
Mesocyclone Detection Data Array Product (Graphic Output) | The newest version of the MDA that is available at the complete of each elevation angle scan. Also, SCAN DMD uses these products. |
153 | HZ |
All Tilts |
Super Resolution Reflectivity | You want the highest resolution base data you can get during severe weather operations. |
153 | HZ |
0.5 for SAILS |
Super Resolution Reflectivity | You want the highest resolution base data you can get during severe weather operations. |
154 | HV |
0.5, 0.9, 1.3 |
Super Resolution Velocity | You want the highest resolution base data you can get during severe weather operations. |
154 | HV |
0.5 for SAILS |
Super Resolution Velocity | You want the highest resolution base data you can get during severe weather operations. |
155 | SW |
All Tilts |
Super Resolution Spectrum Width | You want the highest resolution base data you can get during severe weather operations. |
155 | SW |
0.5 for SAILS |
Super Resolution Velocity | You want the highest resolution base data you can get during severe weather operations. |
159 | ZDR |
4.0, 5.1, 6.4, 8.0, 10.0, 12.5, 16.8, 19.5 |
256 Level, 0.25 km (0.13 nm) Differential Reflectivity | Supplements the dual-pol base data from the national RPS list. |
161 | CC |
4.0, 5.1, 6.4, 8.0, 10.0, 12.5, 16.8, 19.5 |
256 Level, 0.25 km (0.13 nm) Correlation Coefficient | Supplements the dual-pol base data from the national RPS list. |
163 | KDP |
4.0, 5.1, 6.4, 8.0, 10.0, 12.5, 16.8, 19.5 |
256 Level 0.25 km (0.13 nm) Specific Differential Phase | Supplements the dual-pol base data from the national RPS list. |
165 | HC |
4.0, 5.1, 6.4, 8.0, 10.0, 12.5, 16.8, 19.5 |
256 Level 0.25 km (0.13 nm) Hydrometeor Classification | Supplements the dual-pol products from the national RPS list. |
166 | ML |
4.0, 5.1, 6.4, 8.0, 10.0, 12.5, 16.8, 19.5 |
Melting Layer (Graphic Output) | Supplements the dual-pol products from the national RPS list. |
167 | SDC (Raw CC) |
0.5, 0.9, 1.3, 1.8 |
256 Level Non-Filtered Correlation Coefficient | May help some forecasters spot a TDS more quickly, but the data is VERY noisy |
167 | SDC (Raw CC) |
0.5 for SAILS |
256 Level Non-Filtered Correlation Coefficient | May help some forecasters spot a TDS more quickly, but the data is VERY noisy |