NOUS41 KNHC 011258
PNSNHC

Public Information Statement
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
900 AM EDT Tue Oct 1 2024
 
To:        Subscribers:
           -NOAA Weather Wire Service
           -Emergency Managers Weather Information Network
           -NOAAPort
           -Other NWS Partners and NWS Employees
           
From:      Daniel Brown, Branch Chief
           Hurricane Specialist Unit 
           National Hurricane Center
        
Subject:   Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) Data from
           NOAA Aircraft Unavailable for the Remainder of the 2024
           Hurricane Season
 
The Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) instrument on 
NOAA's P-3 hurricane hunter aircraft measures surface brightness 
temperature and applies an algorithm to generate a real-time 
measure of surface wind speed and rain rate in tropical cyclones
and disturbances. During regular data quality checks in the first
half of the 2024 hurricane season, NOAA scientists determined the
SFMR data integrity on the NOAA aircraft was degraded and deemed to
be unreliable. To ensure data quality, NOAA will cease real-time
transmission of the SFMR data for the remainder of the 2024
hurricane season. NOAA Aircraft SFMR data will not be transmitted
for operational use at NOAA's National Hurricane Center and Central
Pacific Hurricane Center, or for use in data assimilation, but it
will still be collected for research and calibration efforts.

When available, SFMR data from NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft are 
found under the following AWIPS Product Identifiers (PIL) and World 
Meteorological Organization (WMO) Identifiers (ID):

Text Product                         AWIPS PIL        WMO ID
------------                         ---------        ------
High Density Observations (NOAA/AOC)  AHONT1        URNT15 KWBC   
Atlantic Basin

High Density Observations (NOAA/AOC)  AHOPN1        URPN15 KWBC    
Eastern and Central North Pacific Basins

The NOAA Aircraft Operations Center is conducting data calibration
and validation flights with NOAA scientists to determine the issue
and restore SFMR data quality. An update on the availability of 
real-time SFMR data on NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft for the 2025 
hurricanes season will be provided at a later date. 

For more information, please contact:
 
Daniel Brown
Branch Chief 
Hurricane Specialist Unit
NOAA/NWS National Hurricane Center
Daniel.P.Brown@noaa.gov