CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report
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ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 3, 2004

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

Satellite Imagery and Derived Products Aid Analysis of Hurricane Frances: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-12) Rapid Scan Operations (RSO - 5 minute interval) and Super Rapid Scan Operations (SRSO - 1 minute interval) imagery and animations during three separate days during the life cycle of Hurricane Frances were posted to the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) GOES Gallery <http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/misc/040831/040831.html>. Also included are examples of 1 kilometer resolution Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite (POES) InfraRed (IR) images from the NOAA-12, NOAA-17, and the Aqua Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), which show greater detail in the cloud top temperature fields. The Tropical Prediction Center forecasters in Miami acknowledged CIMSS satellite products in their diagnostic forecast discussions on numerous occasions. In regards to public outreach, the CIMSS hurricane web page <http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic>, which features GOES and POES products, had over 3 million hits per day during the peak of the storm. (S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263-3958, C.Velden, CIMSS, 608-262-9168)

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, ORA

Final Raymond Article on Satellite Data Assimilation Published:  In the August 2004 issue of the Journal of Applied Meteorology (JAM), research begun by the late Dr. W. H. Raymond of the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) was published under the title:  “Assimilating GOES Brightness Temperatures.  Part II: Assigning Water Vapor Wind Heights Directly from Weighting Functions”, by W. H. Raymond, G. S. Wade, and T. H. Zapotocny.  This paper presented an extension of the method, originally described as Part I in the January 2004 issue of JAM by the same authors, to use the vertical weighting function for the water vapor channel of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Imager to proportionally partition changes to an initial forecast model moisture field (in physical, not radiance, space), following numerical optimization of the differences between observed GOES brightness temperatures and calculated brightness temperatures from the model.  In Part II, the determination of the difference fields from both observed (moisture tracked) winds as well as those from a forecast model, made comparable as weighted averages following application of the above method, was presented as a potential means to “correct” the model wind fields per the patterns measured from GOES.  (G.S. Wade, E/RA2, 608-263-4743,  T.H. Zapotocny, CIMSS, 608-262-0800)

Sulfur Dioxide Derived Image Technique Shared with NOAA Operational Group: A simple  technique to identify upper level Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) from volcanic eruptions using the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Sounder was given to Gregg Gallina of the NOAA Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (W-VAAC).  The method, which looks at diffences between the 7.4 micrometer band (Band 10) and the 13.3 micrometer band (Band 5), has been used in case studies to delineate areas of high, upper level SO2 concentrations.  Gallina and colleagues will test the technique for its applicability to the operational detection of Sulfur Dioxide.  (T. Schreiner, CIMSS, 608-263-6754, T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291)

VIIRS Operational Algorithm Team Meeting:  Andrew Heidinger chaired the Visible and Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Operational Algorithm Team (VOAT) meeting held in Aurora, Colorado on August 26.  The meeting included presentations from the NPOESS contractor on the status of the instrument and the processing system.  The engineering model of VIIRS is beginning its testing and many of the VIIRS algorithms have been finalized.  In addition, several VOAT members gave briefings on the their particular activities. (A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, ARAD

GOES-R Telecons: On September 1, T. Schmit participated in two teleconferences regarding the  Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-R. The first was a regularly scheduled AOL (Atmosphere, Ocean, Land) TAP (Technical Advisory Panel) meeting. One of the topics was the interpretation of the current co-registration requirement for the sounder. The second meeting dealt with potential formats of the GOES ReBroadcast (GRB) and was a kick-off meeting lead by the Office of Systems Development (OSD) and Lincoln Laboratory.  Several CIMSS colleagues also participated. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291)

Heidinger Visits Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere: Andrew Heidinger visited the  Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) and members of the Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch (RAMMB).  Based on this visit, A. Heidinger will collaborate with members of CIRA by providing algorithms for the retrieval of cloud particle size from severe storms.  A. Heidinger also gave a seminar on his cloud climatology work at the Colorado State University Department of Atmospheric Science. (A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757)

Annual GIMPAP Review: Tom Achtor, Jun Li, and Steve Ackerman of the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) attended the GOES Improved Measurements and Products Assurance Plan (GIMPAP) annual review meeting in Camp Springs on August 31, 2004.  Jeff Key also attended the meeting and served on the GIMPAP Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).  (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605)

Manuscript Review: R. Aune completed a review of a manuscript, submitted to the American Meteorological Society journal Monthly Weather Review, on assimilating cloud and moisture observations from the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) in a numerical prediction model over the Arctic.  (R. Aune, E/RA2, 608-262-1071) VISITORS:

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