ASPB and CIMSS Weekly Report
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ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 2, 2007

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

The Effective Cloud Amount DPI from GOES Sounder now part of the AWIPS Suite of Products: The Effective Cloud Amount (ECA) Derived Product Image (DPI) based on the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Sounder is now part of the Automated Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) suite of products. The ECA DPI was officially incorporated into the AWIPS on 5 March 2007 following a request by the National Weather Service. This GOES Sounder derived product can be used for comparisons with the numerical model forecast of Sky Cover or as a potential aide in assisting in max/min temperature forecasts. (J. Daniels, E/RA2, 301-763-8204, Jaime.Daniels@noaa.gov, J. Gerth, CIMSS, 608-263-4942, S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263-3958, T. Schreiner, CIMSS, 608-263-6754)

(Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: This figure shows a comparison of GOES Sounder DPI of Effective Cloud Amount (upper left in Per Cent) and Cloud Top Pressure (upper right in feet/100 above MSL). GOES Imager IR Window (lower left in Degrees Celsius) and Visible (lower right) are also shown for 15 March 2007 at 1700 UTC over the Upper Midwest. The yellow color in the ECA image (upper left) represents 100% or overcast.

Great Alaska Weather Modeling Symposium: R. Aune gave a presentation titled " Modeling Arctic Clouds and Precipitation using MODIS" at the first Great Alaska Weather Modeling Symposium (GAWMS) in Fairbanks, Alaska. He illustrated how forecast satellite imagery, generated from forecast model output, can be used to validate and tune model physics and dynamics. Forecast imagery from the CIMSS Regional Assimilation System (CRAS), Arctic forecast domain, was compared to 11 micron and 6.7 micron imagery from the Moderate Resolution Infrared Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to assess the accuracy of the forecast. It was also demonstrated how MODIS cloud and water vapor products can be used to initialize a local mesoscale forecast model. (R. Aune, E/RA2, 608-263-1071, robert.aune@noaa.gov)

OSDPD Hosts CLAVR-x Products On-line: The NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (OSDPD) recently made public a web-site (http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/CLAVRXGRIDCELL/) showing real-time products from the Clouds from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer Extended (CLAVR-x) system. The website is based on the site running at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) and represents the first public display of CLAVR-x results by OSDPD. Plans are underway for OSDPD to host high resolution cloud product images. (A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757, andrew.heidinger@noaa.gov)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

Satellite Applications Meeting at La Crosse NWS Office: Following a January 2007 meeting at the Milwaukee/Sullivan(WI) National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office, where recent provision of varied experimental satellite products from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) into the NWS Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) environment at the Sullivan office were discusssed, the CIMSS/ASPB team (of R. Aune, S. Bachmeier, W. Feltz, J. Gerth, K. Strabala, and G. S. Wade) continued the collaborative effort to promote increased use of satellite data and products, visiting the La Crosse (WI) NWS Forecast Office on Tuesday (06 Mar 2007). Educational presentations were given on a number of CIMSS satellite products, including imagery and/or other data from (1) the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), (2) the CIMSS Regional Assimilation System (CRAS) forecast model, (3) the Satellite-based Nowcasting and Aviation Application Program (SNAAP), and (4) the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Sounder; both CRAS and SNAAP products include input data from GOES. From office staff feedback, several satellite focus topics will be pursued, including but not limited to: MODIS vegetative index (for fire weather); model forecast imagery, and its validation; and assessment of very high density mesoscale satellite tracked winds. (G. S. Wade, E/RA2, 608-263-4743; D. A. Baumgardt, NWS-ARX(La Crosse), 608-784-8275)

AMS Satellite Conference Abstract Review: As members of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) satellite committee, T. Schmit, C. Velden, and W. Feltz report that all the abstracts were reviewed for the September 2007 AMS Satellite conference. A total of over 500 abstracts were reviewed. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov, C. Velden, CIMSS, 608-262-9168, W. Feltz, CIMSS, 608-265-6283)

Paper Accepted by JTECH on Detecting Low Level Clouds: A paper titled "A Multi-Spectral Technique for Detecting Low Level Cloudiness Near Sunrise", was accepted as a note by the Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology (JTECH). This note is co-authored by Anthony J. Schreiner, Steven A. Ackerman, Bryan A. Baum, and Andrew K. Heidinger. The scope of the research focuses on utilizing a combination of the 4.0 and 11.0 micrometer bands to identify low level clouds and fog just after sunrise. The visible band frequently does not detect these low clouds and fog during the time periods immediately following sunrise. (T. Schreiner, CIMSS, 608-263-6754, S. Ackerman, CIMSS, 608-263-3647, B. Baum, CIMSS, 608-263-3898, A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757, andrew.heidinger@noaa.gov)

K-4 Science Fair in Oregon, WI: On March 20th, T. Schmit participated in the Prairie View Elementary School annual science fair in the Oregon, WI. The title of the presentation was entitled “Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) - Looking at the Sea, Sky and Sun” and includes images of Sea Surface Temperature, clouds, hurricanes, Mount Saint Helens, fires, and the Sun. Near realtime GOES images were also shown. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov)

AVHRR Reprocessing Project Briefed to WMO: A. Heidinger created a presentation highlighting the accomplishments of the NESIS/STAR Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Reprocessing Project. This presentation will be given at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Workshop on "Detailing a Concept for a Global Network of Regional Specialised Satellite Centres on Climate Monitoring (RSSC-CM). The presentation will be given by Dr. Changyong Cao in Darmstadt, Germany this week. The information provides the lessons learned from STAR's effort to acquire, host and process the roughly 20 terabytes of AVHRR data. (A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757, andrew.heidinger@noaa.gov)

Cloud Climatology Proposal Submitted to NASA: A. Heidinger submitted a proposal to NASA for a new cloud climatology. The proposed climatology would be derived from the past 30 years of data from NOAA's Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). The goal of the research is to make an AVHRR climatology that was physically consistent with that from NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The collaborators on this effort are Dr. Steve Platnick from NASA and Professor Ralf Bennartz from the University of Wisconsin. (A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757, andrew.heidinger@noaa.gov)

Other Meetings and Telecons:

None.

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