ASPB and CIMSS Weekly Report [ Archive ]

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CliC Science Steering Group Meeting: The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) project held its 6th meeting of the Science Steering Group (SSG) in Valdivia, Chile, February 6-9, 2010. The meeting was hosted by the Centro de Estudios Cientificos (http://www.cecs.cl). J. Key is the chair of the CliC Observation Products Panel; he was invited to give status reports on the Integrated Global Observing Strategy Cryosphere Theme transition to the Global Earth Observing System of Systems framework, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Global Cryosphere Watch initiative, the WMO Space Task Group for the International Polar Year, the WMO Panel of Experts on Polar Observations, Research, and Services, and the WCRP Observations and Assimilation Panel. (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jkey@ssec.wisc.edu)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

CIMSS Compares GOES-13 to IASI: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-13 is currently located at 105W and was brought out of storage on January 27, 2010. GOES-13 is scheduled to replace GOES-12 as the GOES-East operational spacecraft on April 14, 2010. Researchers at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) compared GOES-13 Imager infrared data to polar-orbiting Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) high spectral resolution data. The GOES-13 Imager infrared bands appear to be as well calibrated (within +/- 0.3 K of IASI) after coming out of storage as they were before GOES-13 was put in storage. (M. Gunshor, CIMSS, 608-263-1146, T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov)

Satellite Monitoring of Soufriere Hills Volcanic Ash Clouds: The Soufriere Hills volcano, located on the West Indies Island of Montserrat, erupted several times during the week of February 7, 2010, with a large eruption occurring on February 11, 2010. Several of the ash clouds, both thick and thin, were detected and characterized by the automated Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) volcanic ash detection and retrieval system developed at NESDIS/STAR and the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Studies (CIMSS). In addition, the CIMSS Satellite Blog (http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/archives/4513) was updated with Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS), and AVHRR imagery showing the evolution of the Soufriere Hills ash cloud produced by the large eruption on February 11, 2010. (M. Pavolonis, E/RA2, 608-263-9597, Mike.Pavolonis@noaa.gov, S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263-3958, J. Sieglaff, CIMSS, 608-265-5357).

Figure caption: Results from the automated Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) volcanic ash detection and retrieval system are shown for ash clouds produced by eruptions of Soufriere Hills on February 8, 2010 (left) and February 11, 2010 (right). For each case, a false color image is shown in the upper left panel, the ash mass loading in the upper right panel, the ash cloud height in the lower left panel, and the ash cloud effective particle radius in the lower right panel. The outline of the ash clouds detected by the automated algorithm is contoured in white on the false color images.

Proposal for IDEA-International Submitted to GEO Secretariat: A proposal to develop an open source version of Infusing satellite Data into Environmental air quality Applications (IDEA) called IDEA-International (IDEA-I) was submitted to the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) secretariat call for Earth Observations in Decision Support Projects. IDEA-I addresses the GEO Human Health Societal Benefit Area by developing a satellite based aerosol forecasting, visualization, and data synthesis tool for use by the international air quality forecasting community. Initial demonstration of IDEA-I will be conducted this spring in partnership with the Korea Meteorological Administration’s Asian Dust Research Laboratory. (R.B. Pierce, E/RA2, 608-890-1892, brad.pierce@noaa.gov)

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