ASPB and CIMSS Weekly Report
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ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 7, 2014

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

CREW Meeting: The Fourth Cloud Retrieval Evaluation Workshop (CREW-4) was held this week in Grainau, Germany. A. Heidinger and A. Walther attended and represented the operational NESDIS cloud algorithms. As was done in past CREW meetings, comparisons were done between the cloud products from the operational agencies and specific analysis was done on issues identified by the CREW participants. A. Walther gave a presentation about retrievals over snow and A. Heidinger presented on the performance of several algorithms applied to data from VIIRS (Visible/Infrared Imager and Radiometer Suite). All presentations are posted on-line at the CREW site. The next CREW meeting will be held in Lille, France in May 2016. (A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757, A. Walther, CIMSS) 

Invited Presentation Given at International Data Assimilation Symposium: Jason Otkin gave an invited presentation entitled “Exploring the impact of cloud-affected satellite observations in an ensemble Kalman filter assimilation system” at the 2014 International Data Assimilation Symposium held in Munich, Germany. He presented results from several recent ensemble data assimilation studies that explored the impact of assimilating both clear and cloudy-sky infrared brightness temperature observations on the analysis and forecast accuracy for several high impact weather events. Results show that assimilation of cloudy-sky and water vapor sensitive infrared observations improves model accuracy. (J. Otkin, CIMSS, 608-265-2476) 

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

Presentation Given as part of the Regional OSSE Project: Two presentations were given remotely on February 28, 2014 to the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) and the NOAA Advanced Satellite Planning and Technology assessment (ASPT) as part of a Regional Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSE) hurricane project. These presentations are entitled:  "Studies on advanced Infrared (IR) sounder for geostationary orbit – Part I: Geostationary IR radiance simulation and evaluation" and "Part II: Quick OSSE on Sandy case". The presentations are available upon request. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov; J. Li, CIMSS, 608-263-1555; J. Li, CIMSS, 608-262-3755)

Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference: The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) and NOAA/National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) were involved in four presentations at the 68th Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference in College Park, MD. All of these talks highlighted NOAA research being tested in an operational framework. One presentation, entitled "Optimized multi-sensor application in the ARCHER automated TC center-fixing algorithm", presented by Anthony Wimmers (CIMSS) and co-authored by Christopher Velden (CIMSS), described a Joint Hurricane Testbed project to objectively determine storm center locations using multiple satellite platforms. Another talk presented by John Bevin (NOAA/NHC) on "The 2013 satellite proving ground at the National Hurricane Center" featured work by Christopher Velden's research group. Finally, a couple of talks about tropical cyclone rapid intensification involved a number of CIMSS efforts, including the presentation "Multi lead-time statistical rapid intensification guidance" presented by John Kaplan and co-authored by CIMSS/NOAA researchers Christopher Rozoff, James Kossin, Christopher Velden, among other co-authors, and the talk "Real-time verification of a passive microwave imagery-based statistical model of tropical cyclone rapid intensification" presented by Christopher Rozoff and co-authored by CIMSS/NOAA researchers Christopher Velden, Anthony Wimmers, and James Kossin, and NOAA/AOML's John Kaplan. (C. Rozoff, CIMSS, 608-263-6733, chris.rozoff@ssec.wisc.edu)

Visit to the National Hurricane Center: Chris Velden and Tony Wimmers (CIMSS) visited the National Hurricane Center this week to discuss the implementation of a new objective algorithm to center-fix tropical cyclones from multi-spectral satellite data. The two-year effort is part of the NOAA Joint Hurricane Testbed project. (C. Velden, CIMSS, 608-262-9168)

GOES-13 Imager Optimization tests: The Advanced Satellite Products Branch (ASPB) and the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) participated in tests to determine the impact of augmented Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-13 imager coverage. The size or start time of certain sectors was changed by NOAA NESDIS and hence the need for the tests. For example, much improved coverage is possible in the optimized schedule over parts of Central and South America. On March 4 the routine schedule was tested, while on March 6 the Rapid Scan Operations (RSO) schedule was tested. More information is available at http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/archives/15068 and http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Operations/GOES/schedules_3col.html. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov; S. Lindstrom, SSEC, 608-263-4425)

  (Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: Comparison of the size of the Continental U.S. (CONUS) sector and the proposed CONUS extended coverage from the Imager on GOES-13. Note more coverage both south and east of the current operational sector.

VISITORS:

GOES-R/JPSS Satellite Liaisons Visit CIMSS: Satellite liaisons Amanda Terborg, Eric Stevens, Chad Gravelle, Lance Vanden Boogart, Michael Folmer, William Line attended a collaboration meeting at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) 5-6 March 2014 to discuss NOAA center testbed needs for the Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite (GOES) R-Series and Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) proving ground products with Tim Schmit (Advanced Satellite Products Branch, ASPB), Brad Pierce (ASPB), Mike Pavolonis (ASPB), Jordan Gerth, John Cintineo, Justin Sieglaff, Ralph Petersen, Scott Lindstrom, Steve Ackerman, and Wayne Feltz. To streamline the research to operations process, several action items were collected, including: support for the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), a restructing of the bi-monthly all hands calls, and investigating new possible CIMSS satellite decision support candidates for 2014-2015 proving ground activities. The liaisons were encouraged to investigate how their NOAA centers would obtain GOES-R data, publish papers, and advised to review the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Weather Event Simulator (WES) guide to reinforce their understanding of the GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/wf/ABI/). (W. Feltz, CIMSS, 608-836-1065, T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, J. Gerth, CIMSS) 

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