CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report [ Archive ]

ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 8, 2017

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

New website featuring News and Resources related to NOx Tiger Team project: A new website featuring News and Resources related to a 1-year NASA Health and Air Quality ‘Tiger-Team’ project launched this week. The project, led by NOAA scientist Brad Pierce, seeks to demonstrate how improved estimates of National Emissions Inventory (NEI) NOx emissions can lead to improved National Weather Service (NWS) air quality forecasts, among other benefits. The new website documents multi-agency efforts to raise public awareness around the use of satellite, ground based, and aircraft measurements for the benefit of society. View the collection at http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/education/gl/ttnox. (M. Mooney, CIMSS, (608) 265-2123; J. Phillips, SSEC, (608) 262-8164; B. Pierce, NOAA, (608)890-1892)

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Australian Bureau of Meteorology Visit: Mike Pavolonis (NOAA/NESDIS/STAR) visited the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (ABOM) in Melbourne, Australia from November 26 – December 6, 2017. At the invitation of the ABOM, Pavolonis gave a keynote presentation on transforming satellite data to products in the era of “big data” at the ABOM’s Annual Research Workshop. A primary theme of the workshop was the increasing need for developing machine learning techniques that distill large data sets into useful information. Following the workshop, numerous meetings with ABOM scientists were conducted to discuss collaboration on a variety of issues of mutual interest to NOAA and the ABOM, including the development of products for volcanic cloud, severe weather, and fog/low cloud applications. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), operated by the ABOM, was also visited. The ABOM VAAC routinely utilizes the volcanic cloud products from NOAA’s VOLcanic Cloud Analysis Toolkit (VOLCAT). The VAAC forecasters provided valuable feedback on the VOLCAT products. NOAA/ABOM collaboration helps to accelerate the development of multi-sensor cutting edge products for operational decision-making. (M. Pavolonis, E/RA2, 608-263-9597, Mike.Pavolonis@noaa.gov)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

Satellite Imagery of Southern California Wildfires: The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) Satellite Blog was updated with Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-15, Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images showing satellite signatures of wildfires in Southern California during the December 5-8 2017 period (http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/archives/26255). The extreme wildfire behavior was driven by very strong Santa Ana winds. (S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263, 3958, W. Straka, CIMSS, R. Dengel, CIMSS)

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Figure caption: Aqua MODIS true-color image showing smoke plumes from the Thomas, Rye and Creek Fires that began burning in the Los Angeles, California area on December 5, 2017. 

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