ASPB and CIMSS Weekly Report
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ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 4, 2010

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

Manuscript on Land Surface Emissivity Evaluation Published: A manuscript entitled "An objective methodology for infrared land surface emissivity evaluation" has been published in the Journal of Geophysical Research (115, D22308, doi:10.1029/2010JD014249). Co-authors are Zhenglong Li, Jun Li, Xin Jin (CIMSS), Tim Schmit (STAR), Eva Borbas (CIMSS) and Mitch Goldberg (STAR). (Zhenglong Li, 608-890-1982, Zhenglong.Li@ssec.wisc.edu; and Jun Li, 608-262-3755, Jun.Li@ssec.wisc.edu)

All Direct Broadcast MODIS Winds Now Available on EUMETCast: All polar winds that are currently generated at direct broadcast (direct readout) sites in the Arctic and Antarctic are now provided to, and distributed via, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) EUMETCast system. Previously EUMETCast was distributing Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) winds generated at Tromsø, Norway, and McMurdo, Antarctica. MODIS winds from Sodankylä, Finland and Fairbanks, Alaska, along with Advanced Very High Resolution (AVHRR) direct readout winds from Barrow, Alaska and Rothera, Antarctica, are now also being distributed. EUMETCast is a broadcast system for environmental data that uses commercial telecommunication geostationary satellites to multicast files (data and products) to a wide user community. EUMETCast is primarily intended for the distribution of image data and products from EUMETSAT's own satellites, but also provides access to data from some external sources, such as NESDIS. To obtain EUMETCast data, users must have a EUMETCast reception station. For more information see http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/Main/What_We_Do/EUMETCast/index.htm?l=en. (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jkey@ssec.wisc.edu)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

International Volcanic Ash Task Force Planning Meeting: Mike Pavolonis (NOAA/NESDIS/STAR) participated in a planning meeting led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for an upcoming meeting of the International Volcanic Ash Task Force (IVATF). The planning meeting was held at the Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) in Vancouver, WA from 11/30/2010 – 12/1/2010. The IVATF is a multi-disciplinary global group and a focal point and coordinating body of all work related to volcanic ash being carried out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at the global and regional levels. The focus of the planning meeting was to determine how to address the growing demand for information on volcanic ash concentration information and probabilistic ash dispersion forecasts. M. Pavolonis is a member of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Science Advisory Group that supports the IVATF. M. Pavolonis also gave a seminar on volcanic ash remote sensing while at CVO. (M. Pavolonis, E/RA2, 608-263-9597, Mike.Pavolonis@noaa.gov)

JCSDA Workshop on Hurricane Data Assimilation: The Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation and the NOAA Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project hosted a Workshop on Satellite Data Assimilation for Hurricane Forecasting in Miami December 2-3. The aim was to review the state of the art of using satellite data to help generate initial conditions for numerical prediction of hurricanes, and to develop recommendations for future activities that will lead to improvements in the quality of these predictions. C. Velden and H. Berger, Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), participated in the workshop. (C. Velden, CIMSS, 608-262-9168 and H. Berger, CIMSS)

Combined Federal Campaign completed at ASPB: The annual Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) was completed at the Advanced Satellite Products Branch (ASPB) on 2 December 2010. All ASPB members participated as did a NOAA Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR) member who splits duty time in Madison, WI and Norman, OK. Despite the generally trying and uncertain times of late, this year’s contribution to help others was the largest yet and a 14% increase over last year. (G. S. Wade, E/RA2, 608-263-4743, gary.s.wade@noaa.gov)

VISITORS:

CREST Student Seminar: Sionel Arocho, an undergraduate student from University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez who is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison Engineering for a year, gave a presentation on his participation with the CASA (Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere) program at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. The compact and low cost radars in the CASA program provide very high-resolution rainfall information. The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) is exploring options for obtaining one of these calibrated marine radars for research and education. (S. Ackerman, CIMSS, 608-263-3647)

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