CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report [ Archive ]

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

METEOSAT-8 Data Received at SSEC: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-Wallops has begun test transmissions of real-time Meteosat-8 (Meteosat Second Generation)  data via the DOMSAT GE2 and these data are being received at the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) Data Center.  The data are being processed and evaluated using the Man computer Interactive Data Access System (McIDAS) system.  Sample images show the eleven spectral bands. The high-quality spectral data readily shows a number of features, such as snow, low versus high clouds, etc. A sample time period of a full disk image is available at http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/MSG/MSG_FullDisk_anim.html. (D. Wade, CIMSS, 608-263-0527)

Education Applets Nominated for Pixie Award: Education applets written by Tom Whittaker in collaboration with Steve Ackerman and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Why Files have been nominated for a Pixie Award "honoring achievement in online and broadband motion picture production."  Nominations for what is considered by some to be the Internet's equivalent of the Academy Awards were announced this week in Hollywood by the Directors Board of Broadband Motion Pixure Arts and Sciences. Pixies (http://www.pixieawards.org/) are among the top awards recognizing artistic endeavors that include animation, film and Web site design. The Why Files (http://whyfiles.org) was nominated in the "Web design incorporating motion" category for a series of interactive animations that allow users to play with lightning, build their own tornados, make snowflakes and hit a baseball. (S. Ackerman, CIMSS, 608-263-3647)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, ARAD

Monitoring Upper Level SO2 Plumes from the GOES Sounder: An upper level Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) plume from a volcanic eruption has been investigated. For the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano on the island of Montserrat in the eastern Caribbean, a series of images based on two bands from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) -12 Sounder, have been generated. Band 11 (central wavelength: 7.0 micrometer) was subtracted from Band 10 (central wavelength: 7.4 micrometer). The resulting image shows the SO2 plume. This plume agrees well with those derived from Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) and  the Total Ozone Mapping System (TOMS). Further development of this scheme may allow for temporal tracking of these phenomena. (T. Schreiner, CIMSS, 608-263-6754, T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291)

  (Click image to enlarge)

Discussions on Visible/Infrared Imager and Radiometer Suite Water Vapor Channel: Office of Research and Applications scientists W.P. Menzel, J. Key, and T. Schmit discussed the spectral band specification for a potential water vapor channel on the Visible/Infrared Imager and Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor with Northrop Grumman Space Technology (NGST) and Integrated Program Office (IPO) personnel.  The advantages and disadvantages of several spectral bands were evaluated.  (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605)

Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology Center Visit: Steve Ackerman, Director of the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), visited the City College of New York, home of Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology Center (CREST). He gave a lecture to Professor G. Ross’ computer science class. He is collaborating with Professor Ross and one of his students, Akinwale Olaleye, on methods to retrieve the atmospheric and land properties from MODIS observations.  (S. Ackerman, CIMSS, 608-263-3647)

Hyperspectral Environmental Suite Animations: Animations have been created to demonstrate the advantage of the future Hyperspectral Environmental Suite (HES) over the current Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Sounder.  Mesoscale Model 5 (MM5) data from THe Observing system Research and Prediction EXperiment (THORPEX) were used for study. Retrievals were performed from the simulated HES cloudy-sky radiances and the simulated GOES sounder clear sky radiances.  The animation shows the 900 hPa temperature and moisture images from the MM5 ("truth"), retrievals from simulated HES cloudy radiances and the current GOES sounder clear radiances.  Animations are available at http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~cyliu/hes_goes/loop/Q_900hPa_loop.gif (moisture) and http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~cyliu/hes_goes/loop/T_950hPa_loop.gif  (temperature). (J. Li, CIMSS, 608-262-3755, C. Liu, CIMSS)

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