ASPB and CIMSS Weekly Report [ Archive ]

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ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

Visit to JMA: Mike Pavolonis (STAR) visited the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) on February 24 –28, 2014. The primary purpose of the visit was to assist in the installation of the volcanic ash software, developed by NOAA/NESDIS/STAR in preparation for the next generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R), on JMA hardware and conduct volcanic ash product training lectures for JMA forecasters and scientific researchers. JMA will evaluate the NOAA/NESDIS/STAR volcanic ash products, in addition to volcanic ash products developed by EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites) and JMA, in operations at their Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Tokyo. The results of their evaluation will be presented at a subsequent Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) meeting in response to a formal CGMS action. Collaboration with JMA on GOES-R related issues benefits NOAA, as JMA’s next generation geostationary weather satellite, Himawari-8, will have a very similar imaging capability as GOES-R, and Himawari-8 is scheduled to be launched in late summer or early autumn in 2014, which is prior to the scheduled GOES-R launch. Issues regarding Himawari 8/9 data format and dissemination were also discussed. (M. Pavolonis, E/RA2, 608-263-9597, Mike.Pavolonis@noaa.gov) 

Significance: JMA's Himawari 8/9 data represents a critical data source for NOAA. It will provide ABI-like data years before GOES-R is launched. Ongoing collaboration with JMA is therefore important in furthering the goals of the GOES-R program. 

Mission Goals: Serve Society's Needs for Weather and Water Information; Understand Climate Variability and Change; Support the Nation's Commerce NOAA 

Cross-Cutting Priorities: Sound, Reliable State-of-the-Art Research; Integrating Global Environmental Observations and Data Management 

WMO Polar Observations, Research, and Services Panel Meeting: The fifth meeting of the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) Executive Council Panel of Experts on Polar Observations, Research, and Services (EC-PORS) was held in Wellington, New Zealand, 25-28 February 2014. The Victoria University of Wellington and the New Zealand MetService sponsored and hosted the meeting. The Panel provides guidance in the development of the WMO Strategic Plan, facilitates the acquisition, exchange, and archiving of observational data, and makes recommendations on research and operations related to the polar regions. The Panel has representatives from 17 countries; Jeff Key (NESDIS/STAR) is one of three U.S. representatives. This meeting focused on the recent progress in the implementation of the Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) and the development of the Global Integrated Polar Prediction System (GIPPS). (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jkey@ssec.wisc.edu) 

Significance: The Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) is a relatively new WMO program. NESDIS/STAR (J. Key) is leading its development and implementation. GCW is a component of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) and a contribution to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). 

NOAA Mission Goals: Serve Society's Needs for Weather and Water Information; Understand Climate Variability and Change; Support the Nation's Commerce NOAA 

Cross-Cutting Priorities: Sound, Reliable State-of-the-Art Research; Integrating Global Environmental Observations and Data Management 

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

Paper on the use of COSMIC GPS for Validation of Operational Sounder Temperature Products: A manuscript was published online in the Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres detailing the uncertainties in the comparison of COSMIC (Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate) GPS (global positioning system) radio occultation profiles used in the validation of microwave/infrared soundings from current and future operational platforms. Lead author Michelle Feltz is a Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) graduate student supported under the JPSS cal/val task of H. Revercomb and R. Knuteson. The paper citation is "Feltz, M. L., R. O. Knuteson, H. E. Revercomb, and D. C. Tobin (2014), A methodology for the validation of temperature profiles from hyperspectral infrared sounders using GPS radio occultation: Experience with AIRS and COSMIC, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 119, doi:10.1002/2013JD020853". The paper describes a methodology for the comparison of GPS RO profiles of dry temperature from AMSU/AIRS sounder products that minimizes error in the horizontal, vertical, and temporal dimensions. (R. Knuteson, CIMSS/SSEC, 608-263-7974) 

  (Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: The 19 October 2007 locations of AIRS granule bounding boxes matched to COSMIC profiles within 1 h depicted as black squares. COSMIC profiles matched to AIRS granules within 1 h are shown with red stars indicating their perigee point at occultation point. COSMIC RO profiles that do not meet the time and space criteria are indicated by blue dots. 

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