CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report [ Archive ]

CIMSS AND ASPB WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 18, 2020

PRODUCTS AND APPLICATIONS:

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

PUBLICATIONS:

Journal article on the Satellite Information and Familiarization Tool (SIFT) published: The National Weather Association (NWA)’s Journal of Operational Meteorology (JOM) has published an article on the capabilities and uses of the Satellite Information and Familiarization Tool (SIFT), a flexible Python-based satellite display tool developed at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS). Originally developed for National Weather Service Himawari-8-based training for the forecast office on Guam, the tool now has users throughout the National Weather Service, in academia, and internationally. The paper is available at https://objects-us-east-1.dream.io/nwafiles/jom/articles/2020/2020-JOM10/2020_JOM10.pdf. (J. Gerth, NWS/OBS; T. Schmit, NOAA/NESDIS/STAR; D. Hoese, R. Garcia, S. Lindstrom, CIMSS 608 263 4425)

Paper on Spatial and Temporal Trace Gas Fusion Published: A paper titled “Approach to enhance trace gas determinations through multi-satellite data fusion” by Elisabeth Weisz and Paul Menzel (Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, CIMSS) has been recently published in the Journal of Applied Remote Sensing (JARS). The paper reports on the fusion of a high spatial resolution imager, such as the Visible Infrared Sounder (VIIRS) and the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI), and a high information content sounder or trace gas monitor, such as the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI), to construct trace gas concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) at high spatial resolution. Also, these products can be provided as a time series when a geostationary imager is used. Examples shown include SO2 emissions from volcano eruptions, NH3 dissemination from fires, and CO emissions from urban industrial and agricultural pollution sources. The article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/1.JRS.14.044519. (Elisabeth Weisz, CIMSS, 608-265-3954)

WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES, AND MEETINGS:

University of Wisconsin-Madison CIMSS and SSEC Participation at the 2020 AGU Fall Meeting: Representatives from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC), and the NOAA Advanced Satellite Products Branch (ASPB) participated in the annual American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting held the weeks of December 1-17, 2020 (convened online, instead of in San Francisco, CA). There were over 30 oral presentations and posters by CIMSS/SSEC staff, students, and associates in multiple sessions such as Atmospheric Sciences, Global Environmental Change, Biogeosciences, Hydrology, Planetary Sciences, Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, Cryosphere, Earth and Space Science Informatics, and more. Many participated as Conveners, Session Co-Chairs, and Invited Speakers, covering topics that included Cloud Detection, Cloud Properties, Lake-Effect Snow, Aerosol Detection, Air Quality, Trace Gas Determination, Ozone Measurements, Monitoring Carbon Flux, Earth's Energy Balance, Global Water Quality, Wild Fires, and Environmental Impacts of COVID-19; with studies that range from the small scale looking for molecules of carbon dioxide or characterizing snow flakes, on planetary scales measuring impacts on entire ecosystems, and even turning outward to look at the atmospheres of Neptune and Uranus. Many presentations highlighted the use of NOAA's operational geostationary (GOES-R ABI) and polar-orbiting instruments (JPSS VIIRS & CrIS). (Mat Gunshor, CIMSS, matg@ssec.wisc.edu, T. L’Ecuyer, CIMSS/SSEC, 608-890-2107, tlecuyer@wisc.edu, R.B. Pierce, SSEC, rbpierce@wisc.edu)

OPC-STAR User Engagement Workshop: Mike Pavolonis and Jeff Key, along with others from STAR, participated in a user engagement workshop with the National Weather Service (NWS) Ocean Prediction Center (OPC). The workshop was held virtually 14-17 December 2020. The workshop covered the following topics: Day 1 - Data Flows into AWIPS and NAWIPS; Utilization of Products into Operations; Day 2 - Sea Surface Temperature; Ocean Surface Currents; Lightning; Day 3 - Sea, Lake and Bay Ice; Wave height; OPC Training; Day 4 - Surface Visibility; Wind; MSLP & Cyclone Centers. Pavolonis gave a presentation on visibility; Key gave a presentation on sea and lake ice products. Both were involved in the extensive discussion sessions. (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jeff.key@noaa.gov; M. Pavolonis, E/RA2, 608-263-9597, mpav@ssec.wisc.edu)

TRAINING AND EDUCATION:

VISIT Training on TROWALs: Scott Lindstrom from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) gave a Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training (VISIT) presentation to forecasters at two offices: Marquette MI (WFO MQT) and Dodge City KS (WFO DDC). The training was on Troughs of Warm Air Aloft (TROWALs), features associated with extratropical cyclones that can lead to exceptional precipitation amounts. (S. Lindstrom, CIMSS, 608 263 4425)

Training for the National Weather Service Office in Pago Pago, American Samoa: Scott Lindstrom from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) provided three live (virtual, and recorded, for forecasters on different schedules) 1-hour training events on 15, 16 and 17 December 2020 for forecasters in Pago Pago, American Samoa (WSO PPG) at the request of National Weather Service Pacific Region Headquarters and the Meteorologist in Charge (MIC) at WSO PPG. The training focused on satellite imagery and products that are important for that office, including the 16 channels on GOES-17, the CIMSS-developed MIMIC Total Precipitable Water Product, ASCAT winds and Microwave information. Lecture presentations are available on NOAA's Google Drive, and recordings are available on YouTube. (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. 1) CIMSS Satellite Blog contributors Scott Lindstrom, Scott Bachmeier and Tim Schmit published case studies on "VIIRS views a winter storm" (Dec. 17), "Cyclone Yasa strengthens rapidly in the South Pacific" (Dec. 16), "Blowing dust in Texas" (Dec. 15), "Solar eclipse shadow moving across South America" (Dec. 14), and "Stereoscopic views of Cyclones Yasa and Zazu" (Dec. 14). Read more: https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/. (J. Phillips, SSEC, 608-262-8164, S. Lindstrom, CIMSS, S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291)

  (Click image to enlarge)

Figure: VIIRS image showing a storm that hit parts of northern Pennsylvania, upstate New York and New England on Dec. 16-17, 2020 dropping historic amounts of snow. Source: https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/archives/39301. Credit: CIMSS. 

  (Click image to enlarge)

Figure: Visible imagery from GOES-17 and Himawari-8 during the day on Dec. 16, 2020 show Cyclone Yasa as a well-developed storm with a clear eye. Source: https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/archives/39254. Credit: CIMSS, JMA. 

OTHER: