CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report [ Archive ]

IN THE PRESS:

In the News: Eclipse from Above: National Public Radio (NPR) posted the March 9, 2016 solar eclipse video created by Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) visiting scientist, Yasuhiko Sumida, of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The video, constructed using four of the JMA Himawari-8 Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) bands to build true color images (http://go.wisc.edu/oxiie0), was first featured on the CIMSS Satellite Blog (http://go.wisc.edu/ohlzf2). Additional media mentions are available at http://go.wisc.edu/i5w0x7. On-line comments included “So cool!" and "AWESOME!”. (J. Phillips, SSEC, 608-262-8164, Yasuhiko Sumida,608-263-9363, S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263-3958, Scott Lindstrom, 608-263-4425; T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov) 

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ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

Manuscript on Real-Time Simulation of the GOES-R ABI Published: A manuscript titled “Real-time simulation of the GOES-R ABI for user readiness and product evaluation”, by T. J. Greenwald, R. B. Pierce, T. Schaack, J. Otkin, M. Rogal, K. Bah, A. Lenzen, J. Nelson, J. Li, and H.-L. Huang, was published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS) on March 14, 2016. The article highlights an advanced modeling system developed at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) to generate proxy Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) datasets in real time for assessing ABI algorithms, testing ground systems and preparing National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters and other users through Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R series (GOES-R) Proving Ground activities. Selected products produced by the system, such as true-color imagery, red-green-blue (RGB) air mass, convective available potential energy (CAPE), and cloud top pressure, were evaluated for three high impact events: the 2014 Pacific Northwest fires, the 2013 Moore, Oklahoma, tornado, and Hurricane Sandy, using GOES-13 sounder data. The evaluation showed that realistic proxy ABI imagery and high quality derived products were produced by the system. (T. Greenwald, CIMSS, tomg@ssec.wisc.edu, R.B. Pierce, E/RA2, 608-890-1892, brad.pierce@noaa.gov, J. Otkin, M. Rogal, K. Bah, A. Lenzen, J. Nelson, J. Li, and H.-L. Huang, CIMSS) 

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Figure caption: Simulated (a) ABI- and (b) GOES-13-observed RGB airmass imagery for Hurricane Sandy at 1200 UTC 26 Oct 2012. (c),(d) As in (a),(b), but for 2000 UTC 29 Oct 2012. 

Manuscript Published on Arctic Cloud-Sea Ice Interactions: A paper titled "The Influence of Winter Cloud on Summer Sea Ice in the Arctic, 1983-2013" by Aaron Letterly, Jeff Key, and Yinghui Liu, was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres (JGR, 2016, 121, doi:10.1002/2015JD024316). The results quantify the linkage between winter clouds and summer sea ice in the 2007 sea ice minimum as well as the relationship in a climatological context. Over 30 years of modeled and remotely-sensed Arctic cloud data were combined to show that wintertime clouds can help predict summer sea ice conditions. (A. Letterly, CIMSS, 608-890-1981, J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jkey@ssec.wisc.edu, Y. Liu, CIMSS, 608-265-8620) 

GOES-14 1-minute imagery wins UW Cool Science Images: A Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-14 animation was one of the winners of the Cool Science Images 2016 contest at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The animation was submitted by S. Bachmeier. One-minute interval Super Rapid Scan Operations for GOES-R (SRSO-R) visible images from the GOES-14 satellite showed the development and rapid intensification of a massive storm system off the East Coast of the U.S. on February 7, 2016. The storm produced moderate to heavy rainfall across eastern North Carolina along with light to moderate snow in places. The one-minute images revealed the rapid motion of low-altitude clouds when gaps in the high-altitude clouds were present. Strong winds were produced by the storm and a large Royal Caribbean cruise ship experienced damage due to the winds, forcing a canceled voyage and return to port. See more at http://news.wisc.edu/cool-science-images-2016/#&gid=1&pid=11. (S. Ackerman, CIMSS, 608-263-3647) 

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

Operational Readiness Review for Arctic Composite Imagery: An Operational Readiness Review (ORR) for the Arctic Composite Imagery project was held on March 16, 2015. The product provides an hourly mosaic of geostationary and polar-orbiting satellite data over the Arctic region, which can be used to examine the evolution of weather phenomena through time series of images animations. It will be operational in the coming months. (M. Lazzara, SSEC; J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jkey@ssec.wisc.edu) 

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Figure caption: An example of the Arctic composite imagery product. 

Presentations at the 2016 Tropical Cyclone Operations and Research Forum: Tony Wimmers (Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, CIMSS) and Chris Rozoff (CIMSS) presented at the 2016 Tropical Cyclone Operations and Research Forum (TCORF)/70th Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference (IHC) in Miami, FL. Both talks provided updates on NOAA Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT) projects led by the presenters. These projects are dedicated to developing and testing forecasting tools for potential operational implementation at the National Hurricane Center. Tony Wimmers presented on "Improved Eyewall Replacement Cycle Forecasting Using a Modified Microwave-Based Algorithm (ARCHER)", a JHT project being carried out by Wimmers, Jim Kossin (NOAA/NCEI/CWC), and Derrick Herndon (CIMSS). Chris Rozoff presented a talk entitled "Probabilistic Prediction of Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification Using Satellite Passive Microwave Imagery", a JHT project being conducted by Rozoff and Chris Velden (CIMSS). (C. Rozoff, CIMSS, 608-512-5099; T. Wimmers, CIMSS; J. Kossin, NOAA/NCEI/CWC)

BAMS Article Accepted on True Color Imagery from AHI: A manuscript has been accepted to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS), the title of which is "A Sight for Sore Eyes—The Return of True Color to Geostationary Satellites". The authors are: S. Miller, T. Schmit, C. Seaman, D. Lindsey, M. Gunshor, R. Kohrs, Y. Sumida, and D. Hillger. Two algorithms for generating true color imagery from Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) are discussed (Hybrid, Atmospherically Corrected and Simple Hybrid Contrast Stretch). More information regarding this early release version can be found at http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/BAMS-D-15-00154.1. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291,tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov; S. Miller, CIRA, D. Lindsey, RAMMB, M. Gunshor, CIMSS, 608-263-1146; Y. Sumida, visiting scientist from JMA; D. Hillger, RAMMB)

VISITORS:

Yasuhiko Sumida Finishes Year-Long Visit: Yasuhiko Sumida, from Meteorological Satellite Center of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), finished his year-long visit to Madison, Wisconsin, at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS). Mr. Sumida worked on several projects and visited several locations in the United States. His projects included the use of rapid-scan satellite data for studying severe weather via identifying convective cells and the development and improvement of true color imagery (including being a co-author on an accepted manuscript). Visits to related groups and meetings included the NOAA Satellite Conference (NSC), the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) in Fort Collins, Colorado, and the annual American Meteorological Society (AMS) conference in New Orleans. This visit was arranged by NESDIS International Affairs and coordinated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov; Y. Sumida, JMA) 

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Figure caption: Yasuhiko Sumida, Abe Lincoln, and Tim Schmit on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. 

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