CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report
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ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 23, 2004

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

New Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) Theme on Cryosphere Proposed: In May of this year, a concept paper was presented to the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) Partners proposing an IGOS Theme on Cryosphere.  The proposal was prepared by the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) Project in collaboration with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).  The IGOS Partners endorsed the proposal and approved the development of a full-fledged Cryosphere Theme document.  J. Key (NESDIS/ORA) assisted with the preparation of the proposal and, as chair of the CliC Observation Products Panel (OPP), will chair the writing team for the Cryosphere Theme document.  (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605)

Significance:  Participation in this effort will demonstrate NOAA's commitment to the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) and will showcase NESDIS' research and operational activities in observing the cryosphere.  The importance of observing the cryosphere was noted at the Earth Observation Summit (July 2003).  Requirements for cryospheric observations are included in World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Statements of Guidance regarding how well satellite capabilities meet WMO user requirements, and all elements of the cryosphere are included as important climate variables in the Second Report on the Adequacy of the Global Observing Systems for Climate in support of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Supports the following NOAA Mission Goals:
- Understand climate variability and change to enhance society’s ability to plan and respond.
- Serve society's needs for weather and water information.
- Support the Nation's commerce with information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation.

Supports the following NOAA Cross-Cutting Priorities:
- Integrated Global Environmental Observation and Data Management System
- International Cooperation and Collaboration

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, ORA:

International Remote Sensing Workshop: The WSEAS International Workshop on Remote Sensing,  "Design, Performance and Data Processing for Spaceborne Environmental Remote Sensing Systems" was held in Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece, July 12-15, 2004. Bormin Huang (Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, CIMSS) was the organizer. The workshop was the largest session under the 8th International Multiconferences of the World Scientific and Engineering Academic and Society (WSEAS).  Hal Bloom of NOAA gave a plenary lecture on "The NPOESS spacecraft and payload suite - A next generation low earth orbit observation platform". A paper titled "Investigation of predictor-based schemes for lossless compression of 3D hyperspectral sounder data" was presented. The paper was coauthored by Bormin Huang (CIMSS), Alok Ahuja (CIMSS), Hung-Lung Huang (CIMSS), Timothy Schmit (ORA), and Roger Heymann (OSD). Another paper titled "A new scheme for MODIS cloud classification" was also presented. The paper was coauthored by Bormin Huang (CIMSS), Hao Chen (CIMSS), Steven Ackerman (CIMSS), and W. Paul Menzel (NOAA). (B. Huang, CIMSS, 608-265-2231)

Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training (VISIT) Workshops: During the week of 12 July, T. Whittaker presented two workshops on creating collaborations and teletraining using the VISITview software package developed at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), to the international community at the bi-annual CALMet (Computer Aided Learning in Meteorology) conference held this year in Boulder, Colorado.   A. Mostek (COMET) and T. Whittaker presented a paper at the same conference on the effectiveness of the VISIT (Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training) program's distance learning activities using the VISITview software.  (T. Whittaker, CIMSS, 608-262-2759)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, ARAD

Product System Development and Implementation Annual Reviews: ASPT gave summaries of polar and geostationary projects at the Office of Systems Development Product System Development and Implementation (PSDI) annual reviews on July 8 and 21. The topics were Clouds from AVHRR (CLAVR), intercalibration, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) fires, GOES winds, Spectral Response Functions, GOES-12 Imager clouds and the GOES-N check-out.  (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605)

Abstract on the ABI submitted to the IIPS conference for the annual AMS meeting: An abstract was submitted to the International Conference on Interactive Information and Processing Systems (IIPS) meeting at the annual American Meteorological Society (AMS). It is entitled "The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)-R". The authors are Timothy, J. Schmit, James Gurka, Mathew M. Gunshor, W. Paul Menzel, and Jun Li. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291)

Extended Abstract on Detection of Upper Level SO2 via the GOES Sounder Submitted for the AMS 13th Satellite Applications Conference. A manuscript entitled "Can Upper-Level SO2 Be Monitored Using The GOES Sounder?" was submitted for inclusion to the American Meteorological Society's (AMS) 13th Satellite Applications and Oceanography. The co-authors are Anthony J. Schreiner, Timothy J. Schmit, Gary P. Ellrod, and Fred Prata. The presentation will be made in poster format.  (T. Schreiner, CIMSS, 608-263-6754, T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291)

VISITORS:

International volcanic ash detection experts visit CIMSS: Dr. William Rose (Michigan Technological University) and Dr. Fred Prata (CSIRO Australia) visited the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC)/Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) on Tuesday July 20th.  Both are experts in volcanic ash research and detection, specifically with regard to aviation hazard avoidance. Their visit included discussions of collaboration with the CIMSS Advanced  Satellite Aviation-weather Products (ASAP) team lead by W. Feltz.  Inclusion of their approach to ash detection from AVHRR into the CLAVR-X algorithm was also discussed with A. Heidinger. Two seminars on the topics of  ice in volcanic clouds and  the detection & quantification of volcanic ash & gases in the atmosphere from satellites & from the ground using IR imaging radiometry where given by the visitors.  Other topics of discussion included aviation safely research, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Sounder research, GOES-R ash detection capabilities, MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)/Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) and direct broadcast options. (W. Feltz, CIMSS, 608-265-6283)

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