CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report
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ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7, 2005

IN THE PRESS:

Arctic Sea Ice Reduction in the Press: Recently published results by X. Wang (Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies; CIMSS) and J. Key (NESDIS) were cited in an article titled "Arctic ice shrinking as it feels the heat" published in the October 8, 2005 issue of New Scientist magazine (http://newscientist.com, subscription required.  The article is available at http://stratus.ssec.wisc.edu/misc/newscientist_ice_100805.gif).  The National Snow and Ice Data Center recently reported that sea ice extent in the Arctic was at a record low this past summer. Even so, results by Wang and Key show that increased summertime cloud cover over the last decade may actually be moderating the higher temperatures responsible for the record minimum ice extent. (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jeff.key@noaa.gov)

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR

International Direct Readout Meeting: The International EOS/NPP Direct Readout Meeting 2005 was held in Benevento, Italy October 3-6, hosted by the Mediterranean Agency for Remote Sensing and Environmental Control (MARSec).  The meeting focussed on three primary areas relevant to the Earth Observing System (EOS) satellite and the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP):  direct readout application algorithms, direct readout systems, and upcoming continuity missions.  It is sponsored by NASA, the Integrated Program Office, NOAA, MARSec, the University of Wisconsin, and the Province of Benevento.  J. Key (NESDIS), L. Gumley, K. Strabala, A. Huang, D. Santek, and T. Achtor (Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, CIMSS) attended and gave presentations.  L. Gumley was a co-organizer of the meeting. (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jeff.key@noaa.gov)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP

Jun Li Visits EUMETSAT: Under support of Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) program, Jun Li (Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, CIMSS) visited the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) from September 26 to October 7. J. Li collaborated with EUMETSAT scientists on geostationary satellite advanced IR sounder spectral coverage using both a retrieval simulation method and information content analysis.  He gave a talk on the subject, and attended the MTG review meeting held at the EUMETSAT Headquarters, October 6-7.  He also gave a presentation entitled "CIMSS instrument study of Hyperspectral Environmental Suite (HES) on GOES-R" where he discussed Hyperspectral Environmental Suite (HES) spectral resolution, spatial resolution, temporal resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, spectral coverage, detector optical ensquared energy (DOEE), etc. This activity is part of the NOAA/NESDIS ongoing scientific collaboration with the Met Division of EUMETSAT. (J. Li, CIMSS, 608-262-3755)

AVHRR Calibration Verification Results Provided to NASA: Bill Rossow of NASA recently extended the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) past 2001.  This extension required a switch from using the NOAA-14 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) to the NOAA-16 AVHRR as the reference satellite.  He and his colleagues noticed that the ISCCP cloud amounts increased when the switch from NOAA-14 to NOAA-16 was made and it was suggested that a calibration difference between NOAA-14 and NOAA-16 was the source of the suspicious increase. Because NOAA-14 and NOAA-16 data exist concurrently in 2001, it was possible to study data from simultaneous nadir overpasses (SNO). This analysis  indicated that the two satellites observations were in agreement and therefore ruled out a calibration error as the source of the ISCCP discrepancy.  (A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757. Andrew.Heidinger@noaa.gov, M. Pavolonis, E/RA2, 608-263-9597, mpav@ssec.wisc.edu)

New Technique Used to Identify Santa Ana, El Salvador Volcanic Cloud:  The October 1, 2005 eruption of the Santa Ana volcano in El Salvador was successfully identified in GOES-12 imagery by a new automated four channel technique developed at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS).  The volcanic cloud and neighboring thunderstorms appeared very similar in the visible and infrared imagery. Under these difficult conditions, the four channel volcanic ash mask would be useful for real-time volcanic hazard assessments. (M. Pavolonis, E/RA2, 608-263-9597, mike.pavolonis@noaa.gov)

 (Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: An example of a new four channel volcanic ash mask, which is shown in red and overlaid on a GOES-12 infrared image, capturing the October 1, 2005 eruption of Santa Ana, El Salvador.

Seminar by Visiting Scientist on Korean Meteorological Administration Geostationary Satellite Program: O-Ung Kwon, a visiting scientist from the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA), gave a presentation in Madison, Wisconsin on "The KMA and Geostationary satellite series  COMS." COMS (Communication, Ocean & Meteorological Satellite) and will have many uses.  It will carry the world’s first geostationary ocean color sensor. The satellite is slated for launch in the end of 2008. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov)

Other Meetings and Telecons:
(None)

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