SHRMC Description

     The mission of the consortium is to develop research and operational applications of modern atmospheric technologies, specifically mesoscale numerical seather prediction, in the southern region. The consortium consists of several phases with Phase 1 beginning in 2001.

Phase 1

• Provide fiber optic connection to USFS FSL-Athens and to satellite dish "farm" on the UGA Geography-Geology Building.
• Provide high speed network connectivity to USFS FSL-Athens through ATM connection to UGA network backbone.
• Provide high speed private fiber optic network between satellite dish "farm" and USFS computing resources in UGA Geography.
• Demonstrate capability for reception, decoding, storage and transmission of real-time meteorological data (surface and upper-air observations, satellite imagery, radar imagery, numerical model output, NWS forecasts and outlooks).
• Develop initial web site sharing information on consortium membership.
• Create list of potential products for distribution to interested parties and potential consortium members.
• Create initial list of contacts of potential consortium members interested in operational MM5 output.

Phase 2

• Provide first real-time operational runs of the MM5 model for use by USFS FSL-Athens and consortium members.
• Develop potential consortium members through meetings and hosted events at UGA.
• Begin initial testing of MM5 on consortium computers.
• Distribute real-time meteorological data via local data manager (LDM) interface to USFS FSL-Athens.
• Create priority list of real-time data and derived products for limited archival.
• Create priority list of real-time graphical products for web-based distribution.

Phase 3

• Provide first real-time operational runs of the MM5 model for use by USFS FSL-Athens and consortium members.
• Distribute limited real-time meteorological data via LDM interface to other interested consortium members as needed.
• Begin initial distribution of MM5 operational run raw data to USFS FSL-Athens via LDM interface.
• Undertake development of web-based distribution of MM5 operational run graphical products.
• Initiate research projects into atmospheric-related forest hazards/disturbances and climatic feedbacks from forest changes that can be addressed using SHRMC resources.