ASPB and CIMSS Weekly Report
[ Archive ]
ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 21, 2012

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

The CIMSS iPad Library and the ESIP Teacher Workshop: With support from NOAA, the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) organized a teacher workshop at the summer meeting of the Federation of Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) in Madison, Wisconsin, July 17-18. The workshop themes were climate literacy and technology. Participating middle and high school science teachers were the first to borrow one of thirty iPads from the new CIMSS iPad Library, an innovative program where educators can borrow iPads like books for an entire school year! Several climate-related apps were presented and shared at the workshop but the favorite by far was SatCam where users make observations of local cloud and surface conditions coordinated with polar orbiting satellites. Coincidentally, the first observation the teachers made with their new iPads involved the Suomi-NPP satellite. (M. Mooney, CIMSS, 608-265-2123, P. Rowley, CIMSS, 608-263-1336, N. Jackson, NESDIS,301-713-2089 x 112)

  (Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: Teachers with iPads and the resulting SatCam observation.

Unidata Triennial Workshop: Tom Whittaker, the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) was the co-chair of the 2012 Unidata Triennial Workshop, "Navigating Earth System Science Data", held in Boulder, CO, from 9-13 July, 2012. Over 100 registrants participated in the workshop; presentations were given by experts from the academic and research communities, as well as government agencies. Notable presentations were given by Greg Mandt (NOAA/NESDIS, Director of the GOES-R Program), Cliff Jacobs (National Science Foundation), Sandy MacDonald (Director of the Earth System Research Laboratories and Deputy Administrator in charge of NOAA Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes), Michelle Mainelli (Chief, Systems Integration Branch of National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Central Operations at NOAA National Weather Service (NWS)), and Brent Gordon (NOAA/NWS NCEP Space Weather Prediction Center). In all there were twenty-five presentations, covering many aspects of the creation, use and distribution of data and products for education and research. (T. Whittaker, CIMSS)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

CIMSS VISIT Activities: The Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training (VISIT) lessons "Basic Satellite Principles" and "Interpreting Satellite Signatures" were led by S. Lindstrom on July 19, 2012. Staff from the National Weather Service forecast office at Eureka, California participated in the two training sessions. In addition, the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) Satellite Blog (http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/) was updated with new posts covering topics which included a mesovortex over Lake Michigan, wildfire smoke being blown southward across the Gulf of Alaska, city lights shining through clouds, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-13) sounder filter wheel anomalies, Saharan dust moving across the Atlantic Ocean, and the aurora borealis signature seen on Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band imagery. (S. Lindstrom, CIMSS, 608-263-4425, S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263-3958

  (Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: An example of GOES-13 sounder total precipitable water derived product imagery being degraded by sounder filter wheel anomalies.

Draft GOES-R AWG Validation Tool Plans Developed: Three Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Routine Validation Tool Description Documents were developed and supplied to the Algorithm Working Group (AWG). These include the Cloud Mask, Cloud and Moisture Imagery Product (CMIP) and Legacy Atmospheric Temperature Profiles, Legacy Atmospheric Moisture Profiles, Total Precipitable Water and Derived Atmospheric Stability Indices. These plans cover planned ‘routine’ validation tools. (A. Heidinger, E/RA2, andrew.heidinger@noaa.gov; T. Schmit, E/RA2, Timothy.J.Schmit@noaa.gov)

VISITORS:

Visitor from White House Office of Science and Technology Policy: Johannes Loschnigg, a Senior Policy Analyst with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, visited the Space Science and Engineering Center/Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (SSEC/CIMSS) on July 20, 2012. He was accompanied by Rhonda Norsetter from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor's Office. Dr. Loschnigg, who was on vacation, engaged in informal discussions with SSEC, CIMSS, and NOAA scientists on a variety of satellite policy issues. (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jkey@ssec.wisc.edu)

NEXT WEEK:

LOOKING AHEAD:


Archived Weeklies Page Submit a report item