New technology has always been exciting to me. As a teenager, I enjoyed reading through "Crutchfield" magazines to keep up with the latest and greatest in home entertainment systems. As a Meteorologist, I enjoy reading through journal articles to keep up with the latest and greatest in weather research. Some research catches on quick...others not so much. At the height of my home entertainment days, anything with "DTS" slapped on it got my attention. Dolby Digital...cool. DTS? Watch out! For surround sound, it was the best thing since sliced bread (in my mind). You could put DTS on an entertainment center and suddenly I'd be hooked.
The thing about a DTS label on an entertainment center is that it probably doesn't enhance the sound experience in any way. That's not to diminish the quality of DTS, or the quality of the entertainment center, it's just not the most appropriate application. On a similar note, only having Dolby Digital doesn't make a receiver bad, nor does having DTS make a receiver great. Is DTS the only way to go for sound? Nope. Had you talked to me about 20 years ago, though, I probably would have said yes.
The "DTS" of weather for me encompasses many new tools and technology, including GR, GOES 16/17, Dual Pol, and BUFKIT (yes, I realize all of those aren't brand, spanking new). High up on my list is Dual Pol. One of the forecaster's at my office often talks about the "story" weather data tells us. Dual Pol tells many...and I'm not convinced we've heard them all. What I find most fascinating about Dual Pol is the ability to help diagnose what storms are producing and how they are evolving, and the additional information this provides compared to legacy data, alone. Does it make legacy data bad or out-dated? Nope. But, I do believe it provides some additional clues that can improve our warning service at times.
A key to finding the best application of new research and tools seems to be rooted in how we view them. New tools are exciting and different, some of which truly are the best thing since sliced bread. An important differentiation is knowing which ones are proven and which ones have potential, but are not yet highly correlated, verified, etc. Personally, I'm guilty of 100% latching onto a new theory or tool at times, quickly trying to sell others on it. It's the next best thing...what are we waiting for?!
In reality, it may very well be the next best thing. But, until something is more solidly proven, we run the risk of an unhealthy view of the proven, yet not-as-new, methods. Ultimately, this could have unintended consequences. Successful warnings, for example, have come from legacy radar data, alone, but have also come from using a legacy and Dual Pol combination.
Having Dual Pol data is great, but it doesn't work perfectly in every situation. Like DTS, know when it can, and can't, be used. For me, I've found that figuring out when starts with admitting that it MIGHT not be the best thing since sliced bread. For those out there who are all-things-Dual-Pol like myself, don't let me lose you here. The point I'm hoping to drive home is to watch out for another case of Meteorological tunnel vision (something I am prone to).
I'm scheduled to present at my office's spring workshop this year, and I was ready to bust down the doors with ZDR Arcs and KDP foots. While research may yet reveal this to be true, I have had to slow my roll and realize that the data isn't 100% there yet to bust down any doors. When you bust down doors, you sometimes end up knocking people over in the process.
With new, or still-being-researched, tools, awareness (as opposed to selling) seems to be a better first step. And think about it...increased awareness can spark additional interest and research that may help in determining the needed viability of a tool. Sometimes we all just need to know a tool exists and how to test it. My hope at the workshop is simply to enhance awareness and let the research sell itself if, indeed, it is a better option. My hope is that I will be more intentional about checking, but not diminishing, my excitement for new research, and knowing when to sell something vs simply raising awareness.
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