CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report [ Archive ]

ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING JUNE 21, 2019

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

Cloud Optical Properties for GOES-17 Maturity Review: The Provisional Maturity Review was held for the GOES-17 cloud optical properties. The Daytime Cloud Optical and Microphysical Properties (DCOMP) Algorithm was briefed by Andi Walther, Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS). Pat Heck (CIMSS) presented on the status of the Nighttime Cloud Optical and Microphysical Properties (NCOMP). DCOMP passed without issue but NCOMP did not. The review board was concerned about the performance of NCOMP for ice clouds and requested more NCOMP analysis during nighttime periods unaffected by the loop heat pipe issue. Because NCOMP and DCOMP are provided in the same file, DCOMP will not be declared provisional until NCOMP is. The next NCOMP review is scheduled for July 29. (A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757, andrew.heidinger@noaa.gov)

CIMSS Inaugural Hollings Scholar: The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) is hosting a NOAA Hollings Scholar this summer for the first time. Daniel Hueholt from North Carolina State is updating data in the CIMSS Climate Data Portal under the mentorship of Tommy Jasmin and Andrew Heidinger. Daniel will also explore the use of TROPOMI data (TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument) to explore chemical attributes of the Aurora Borealis. (A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757, T. Jasmin, SSEC, M. Mooney, CIMSS)

  (Click image to enlarge)

Figure: Tommy Jasmin (left) introduces Daniel Hueholt (right) while Brad Pierce (center) welcomes visitors to CIMSS/SSEC. 

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

CIMSS Participation in the 47th Annual AMS Broadcasters' Meeting: Scott Lindstrom, CIMSS, and Jonathan Wynn Smith (University of Maryland) led 11 broadcasters through a GOES-R Applications Workshop on 11 June 2019, just before the 47th Annual American Meteorological Society (AMS) Broadcasters' Conference in San Diego. Lindstrom presented lectures and hands-on materials (some developed by Chris Schmidt, CIMSS) on the GOES-R Program, on the Advanced Baseline Imagery, on the Fire Detection and Characterization Algorithm (FDCA) and Derived Stability Indices (DSI) and on prediction and detection of moisture, convection and glaciation. This was in tandem with Smith's talks on the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM). All materials are archived online at http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/shortcourse/broadcasters2019/. During the conference itself, Schmidt gave a talk titled "Making Sense of GOES-16/-17 Fire Detection" that focused on giving Broadcasters ideas on how to present the product and on soliciting their feedback. (Scott Lindstrom, CIMSS, 608 263 4425; C Schmidt, CIMSS)

NCEP MAG Website Uses Animation Software by T. Whittaker: The National Center for Environmental Prediction's Model Analyses and Guidance (MAG) website recent update employs the latest version of the HAniS animation software (HTML5 version) which was originally developed at SSEC as a spin-off from the VISITview teletraining software that was used world-wide to support interactive, remote training of meteorologists in the use of satellite data. The MAG site update gave special thanks to Tom Whittaker, the developer of VISITview and the animation software, for assisting in the transition (https://mag.ncep.noaa.gov/version_updates.php). HAniS is the 3rd generation of this toolkit being adapted to ever-changing web standards. (T. Whittaker, UW/Emeritus)

Training on NOAA/CIMSS ProbSevere Product: Scott Lindstrom, Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), delivered a Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training (VISIT) training on the NOAA/CIMSS ProbSevere All Hazards product to seven forecasters in the Grand Forks, ND National Weather Service Forecast office on 20 June 2019. The half-hour session described the 3 products -- ProbWind, ProbHail and ProbTor -- outlined how they could be used in Warning Decision to boost confidence of warning issuance, and included several examples from 2018 and 2019. A similar training was created for the Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) at the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman OK and is available at https://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~scottl/ProbSevere2019/presentation_html5.html. (Scott Lindstrom, CIMSS, 608 263 4425)

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