CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report [ Archive ]

CIMSS AND ASPB WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2020

PRODUCTS AND APPLICATIONS:

CIMSS provides compressed VIIRS SDR data to GEONETCast Americas: On September 9, 2020, the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS)/Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) started uploading compressed S-NPP and NOAA-20 Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor data record (SDR) data for dissemination on the NOAA GEONETCast Americas (GNC-A) service. Data are acquired via HRD from antennas at Cuiaba and Cachoeira Paulista BR (INPE); Monterery CA (NOAA/NWS); Madison WI and Mayaguez PR (CIMSS/SSEC). Raw data record (RDR) files are uploaded to CIMSS/SSEC and are processed centrally with the Community Satellite Processing Package (CSPP) SDR v3.2. VIIRS SDR granules are converted to EUMETSAT CVIIRS compressed format (the same format is used for VIIRS SDR data on EUMETCAST). CVIIRS granules are de-duplicated and uploaded to NOAA for rebroadcast on GNC-A. Latency is typically < 25 minutes relative to start of overpass. All M-bands, I-bands, and DNB are included (previously GNC-A only included I5 and DNB). Compressed SDR files have been received and verified via GNC-A at CIMSS/SSEC. NOAA is expected to announce the new service soon. (Contributors: L. Gumley, CIMSS, 608-265-5358)

Pre-operational ABI Ice Product Checkout: In preparation for the upcoming transition of GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) ice products to operations, probably before the end of 2020, the GOES-R Product Readiness and Operations (PRO) Product Algorithm Science Support (PASS) Team posted two days of sample ice products for evaluation by the Cryosphere Team. Some minor issues are being investigated. An example of the ice motion product in the sample data is shown below, with a qualitative comparison to the surface wind field. Note: the movement of ice is always at an angle to the surface wind, known as the “turning angle”. (A. Letterly, CIMSS, 608-890-1981; X. Wang, CIMSS, 608-261-1390; J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jeff.key@noaa.gov) 

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Figure: Ice motion near Antarctic in ABI pre-operational test data. 

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

PUBLICATIONS:

WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES, AND MEETINGS:

CIMSS Training Presentation at IGARSS 2020: The International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) 2020 Meeting occurred in a virtual sense during the week starting 28 September 2020. Scott Lindstrom, CIMSS, gave a presentation "Tailoring National Weather Service Training to Serve the Pacific’s Most Remote Locations" in a JPSS-centric session ("MO2.R7: Global Satellite Capability is Key to Effective Response to All Scales of Natural Disasters") on Monday 28 September. The five-minute recorded presentation was followed by a short question and answer period. (S. Lindstrom, CIMSS, 608 263 4425)

Participation in the Community Meeting on NOAA Satellites: Several scientists from UW-Madison CIMSS and ASPB participated in the Community Meeting on NOAA Satellites that was held September 29 to October 2, 2020. Topics included: current activities and future plans for the Geostationary and Extended Orbits (GEO-XO), low-Earth orbit (LEO), and Space Weather programs, plus the plans of NOAA's international partners. In addition to attending the virtual meeting, roles of CIMSS and ASPB scientists included being session moderators and presenters at the "lean in" sessions. More information can be found at https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sat-community-2020. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov, A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757, andrew.heidinger@noaa.gov)

TRAINING AND EDUCATION:

VISIT Training on TROWALs: Scott Lindstrom from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) gave two Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training (VISIT) sessions: (1) Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) Probability fields. These fields have recently begun flowing into National Weather Service Forecast Offices over the Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN). This live training event was to a Central Weather Service Unit (CWSU) Forecaster in Memphis (ZME). (2) Troughs of Warm Air Aloft (TROWALs) to the Science and Operations Officers (SOO) at the Sterling VA National Weather Service forecast office (WFO LWX). TROWALs are features of occluded extratropical cyclones that can force precipitation for extended periods of time. The VISIT session serves as a reminder about their impacts. (S. Lindstrom, CIMSS, 608 263 4425)

MEDIA AND OUTREACH:

SSEC and CIMSS Scientists in the News: Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) and the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) provide expert interviews, imagery and case studies to promote science. This week: 1) CIMSS Director Tristan L'Ecuyer was selected to receive the 2020 American Geophysical Union's Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Award, an honor that recognizes exceptional mid-career scientists for their research and leadership. Read more: https://www.ssec.wisc.edu/news/articles/13190. 2) NOAA NCEI scientist Jim Kossin was interviewed for a CBS News story on the increase in ocean stratification that makes more energy available for storms. Read more: https://go.wisc.edu/20a7aj. 3) CIMSS Satellite Blog contributor Scott Bachmeier published a case study on "Wildfire smoke in Colorado" (Oct. 1). Read more: https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/archives/38484. (J. Phillips, SSEC, 608-262-8164, T. L'Ecuyer, CIMSS, J. Kossin, NOAA NCEI, CIMSS, S. Bachmeier, CIMSS)

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Figure: CIMSS Director and Professor of Atmospheric Science Tristan L’Ecuyer has been selected to receive the 2020 American Geophysical Union’s Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Award. Credit: Eric Verbeten, SSEC. 

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Figure: This GOES-16 animation from the CIMSS Satellite Blog shows smoke plumes drifting across parts of Colorado on Sept. 30, 2020. The most prominent plume originated from the Mullen Fire in Southern Wyoming which also produced a pyroCb cloud on Sept. 19, 2020. Credit: Geo2Grid, CIMSS. 

OTHER: