ASPB and CIMSS Weekly Report
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ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 2, 2008

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

High School Student Summer Workshop at CIMSS: The 16th annual Summer Workshop on Atmospheric, Earth, and Space Sciences was hosted by the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW), 27-31 July 2008. Eleven students (five out-of-state) were given presentations, exercises, and field trips by two UW Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS) professors, three NOAA/NESDIS meteorologists, seven UW scientists, four undergraduate students, and two outreach specialists. Among the local NOAA staff at CIMSS, T. Schmit presented a talk on the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program, R. Aune presented a talk on numerical modeling and satellite data assimilation, and G. S. Wade led the Man computer Interactive Data Access System (McIDAS) hands-on lab session as well as assisted on field trips to a local television weather channel, the local National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office (in Sullivan, WI), and a local state park geology expedition. (G.S. Wade, E/RA2, 608-263-4743, gary.s.wade@noaa.gov; J. Gerth, CIMSS, 608-263-4942, jordang@ssec.wisc.edu; M. Mooney, CIMSS, 608-265-2123, margaret.mooney@ssec.wisc.edu)

CIMSS Participation in the Alaska Environmental Satellite Workshop: S. Bachmeier and K. Strabala from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) participated in a multi-agency Alaska Environmental Satellite Workshop held at Fairbanks, Alaska, 29-31 July 2008. The purpose of the workshop was to establish an Alaska sector of the NOAA Satellite Proving Ground, where resources from within Alaska can be combined with those from external partners to facilitate an end-to-end capture, processing, testing, and evaluation of satellite products to support forecasting in Alaska and the Arctic. CIMSS presentations discussed the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) in Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) project, and the International MODIS / Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) Processing Package (IMAPP) software that MODIS direct broadcast ground stations located in Alaska can utilize to locally create a diverse suite of environmental satellite products. (S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263-3958, K. Strabala, CIMSS)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

Three First Version GOES-R ATBD’s Submitted: Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents (ATBD’s) for the volcanic ash, fog, and sulfur dioxide products were submitted to the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-R Algorithm Working Group (AWG). These first versions of the ATBD’s will continue to evolve towards full maturity over the course of the next year. (M. Pavolonis, E/RA2, 608-263-9597, Mike.Pavolonis@noaa.gov, C. Calvert, CIMSS, 608-262-1023, J. Sieglaff, CIMSS, 608-265-5357, H. Woolf, CIMSS, 608-262-0986).

AWIPS II at CIMSS: As part of an effort to keep current with the latest software employed in the operational weather forecasting environment and ensure that new and experimental products from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) continue to transition into operations, J. Gerth (CIMSS), received and installed Task Order 8 (TO8) of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System II (AWIPS II). In tests, the Java-based AWIPS II successfully ingested, stored, and displayed real-time Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) imagery currently distributed over the Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN), as well as gridded data and observational datasets. In addition, as a part of current collaborative activities in exchanging data and information with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Sullivan, Wisconsin, J. Gerth gave a brief demonstration of the next generation AWIPS to C. Backlund, C. Franks, S. Hentz, and K. Licitar (NOAA/NWS, 262-965-5061 x468), introducing the server architecture and user interface. AWIPS II is set to be deployed for use at NWS forecast offices in 2010 at the current schedule. (J. Gerth, CIMSS, 608-263-4942)

(Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: A visible satellite image from GOES is displayed in the Common AWIPS Visualization Environment (CAVE), the graphical user interface of AWIPS II.

NOAA International Affairs Council Polar Committee Meeting: The Polar Committee of the NOAA International Affairs Council (IAC) met on July 28. J. Key participated by phone. The committee was established to serve as a policy coordinating forum, to maintain awareness of NOAA’s work in the polar regions and, as appropriate, to address crosscutting program issues including review and oversight for PPBES purposes. Key is the NESDIS representative on the IAC Polar Committee. The NESDIS representative on the IAC is Brent Smith (NESDIS International and Interagency Affairs Office). (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jeff.key@noaa.gov)

Other Meetings and Telecons:

None.

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