CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report
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ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2003

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, ORA:

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, ARAD:

National Academies of Science Meeting. The National Academies of Science held a meeting chaired by A. Huang of CIMSS.  The meeting was comprised of the Commitee on Environmental Satellite Data Utilization, Space Studies Board, the Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate and the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board.  (A. Huang, CIMSS, 608-263-5283)

New Infrared Sea Surface Emissivity Model Delivered to GDAS. A new infrared sea surface emissivity model was delivered to National Center for Environmental Prediction's (NCEP's) Global Data Assimilation System  (GDAS). The model is based upon fits to sea surface emissivities computed using the Wu-Smith model. Initial tests on parallel assimilation runs are showing more IR data passing quality control tests and better agreement between simulated and observed infrared brightnesstemperatures - both positive indicators. The supported instruments include all the current operational imagers and sounders. (P. van Delst, CIMSS, 301-763-8000)

Paper submitted on the daytime detection of overlapping clouds from satellite imagery. Algorithms for the detection of overlapping clouds applicable to the current Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and the future Visible and Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) have been developed, implemented and validated. Detection of cloud overlap is critical due to its impact on the derived cloud properties and is currently not a standard product from NOAA. Cloud overlap in this study is confined to semitransparent cirrus situated over lower cloud. With the additional spectral information available on VIIRS, the VIIRS algorithm is able to detect more cloud overlap for optically thicker cirrus clouds than the AVHRR algorithm. (M. Pavolonis, UW/CIMSS; A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757)

cloud overlap demonstration

VISITORS:

NEXT WEEK:

Regis Borde and Johannes Schmetz will be visiting from EUMETSAT.

LOOKING AHEAD:

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