ASPB and CIMSS Weekly Report
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ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING JUNE 7, 2008

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

Satellite Workshop at NWS in Kansas City: On 29 May 2008 at the National Weather Service (NWS) Central Region Headquarters (CRH) in Kansas City, MO, six Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) and Advanced Satellite Products Branch (ASPB) scientists (R. Aune, S. Bachmeier, W. Feltz, J. Gerth, R. Petersen, and G. S. Wade) presented five talks and led discussions on new satellite applications, developed at CIMSS/ASPB, and provided to NWS via the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS). Satellite topics included MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) applications, updates on Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Sounder products, special aviation weather satellite products, forecast imagery from the CIMSS Regional Assimilation System (CRAS), and a dynamic "nearcasting" system. There were a dozen participants on-site from CRH, the NWS Aviation Weather Center (AWC), and the two nearest NWS Forecast Offices (FOs; Topeka, KS and Pleasant Hill, MO), while about ten other NWS FOs participated remotely via web broadcast. On the morning of 30 May 2008, before their return, the visiting CIMSS team were able to tour the AWC and continue their discussions with more forecasters. (G. S. Wade, E/RA2, 608-263-4743, gary.s.wade@noaa.gov; P. Browning, NWS/CRH/MSD, 816-268-3110, peter.browning@noaa.gov)

CEOS Calibration Workshop: Andrew Heidinger attended a workshop sponsored by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) that dealt with the measurement consistency of satellite imagers with spatial resolutions of 1-5 km. The meeting was held June 4-6 at the Canada Center for Remote Sensing (CCRS) in Ottawa, Canada. Andrew Heidinger presented results from his project concerned with comparing the various methods of deriving historical reflectance calibration data for NOAA's Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). (A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757, andrew.heidinger@noaa.gov)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

Elementary School Presentation on Weather Satellites: S. Bachmeier gave a presentation on "Weather Satellites" to all three second grade classes at Sauk Trail Elementary School in Middleton, Wisconsin on June 4, 2008. The presentation showed examples of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) visible, infrared, water vapor, and "true color" images used to identify and characterize phenomena such as hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, wildfires, blowing dust, and snow cover, as well as land surface changes across Wisconsin during the four seasons. (S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263-3958)

CIMSS VISIT Activities: The Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training (VISIT) distance learning lessons "Water Vapor Imagery and Potential Vorticity Analysis" (http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/visit/wv_pv.html) and "Mesoscale Convective Vorticies" (http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/visit/mcv.html) were offered by staff from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) on June 3 and June 6, 2008. Forecasters from the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast offices at Boise, Idaho, North Webster, Indiana, and the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center at Camp Springs, Maryland participated in the two VISIT lessons. (S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263-3958, S. Lindstrom, CIMSS, 608-263-4425)

Other Meetings and Telecons:

None.

VISITORS:

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