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:

Experimental Geostationary Convection Nowcasting Products at EUMETSAT: Kris Bedka (Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, CIMSS) recently participated in the the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) visiting scientist program for a two week period, where he worked closely with Marianne Koenig on convective cloud identification, mesoscale satellite cloud tracking, and convective initiation (CI) nowcasting. This visit relates to GOES-R risk reduction activities at CIMSS, where the potential impact of Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) data on convection nowcasting using Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infra-red Imager (SEVIRI) as a proxy dataset is being evaluated. Dr. Koenig and her staff were left with a functional set of experimental convection analysis software tools recently developed at CIMSS. A seminar titled "Geostationary Convective Storm Diagnostic and Nowcasting Products: Applications With GOES-12 and MSG" was also given to EUMETSAT scientists. (K. Bedka, CIMSS, 608-265-0854, W. Feltz, CIMSS, 608-265-6283)

(Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: Animation of convective cloud classification over Germany at 1 km resolution using broadband visible and multispectral IR imagery.

Validation of METEOSAT-9 Calibration Accuracy Using AIRS: The European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)'s METEOSAT-8, operating at 0 degrees longitude, will be replaced by METEOSAT-9 on April 11, 2007. Due to a brief malfunction in METEOSAT-8, METEOSAT-9 was the operational satellite from September 23 - October 10, 2006. Data were collected during this time for comparison to the polar-orbiting, high spectral resolution, Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS). Preliminary results, based on a relatively small sample size, showed that METEOSAT-9 compared well to AIRS and to METEOSAT-8 (vicariously through AIRS), which bodes well for the generation of products and the use of those data in numerical weather prediction (NWP) applications. These results were presented electronically as a slide show with the international Global Space-Based Inter-Calibration System (GSICS) committee and can be found here: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/intercal/METEOSAT-9_AIRS_Intercal_03Apr07.pdf (M. Gunshor, CIMSS, 608-263-1146, T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov)

Apparent Cold Bias in the GOES-13 Imager Band 6 (13.3 um): During the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-13 post-science test analysis, comparisons with high-spectral Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) data show that there appears to be a cold bias on the order of -2 K in the GOES-13 Imager band 6 (13.3 micrometer). This may be mitigated via the use of a bias correction. Preliminary work was also done regarding the shifting of the band Spectral Response Function (SRF) to reduce the apparent bias. A memo was circulated to various GOES calibration experts on this issue. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

GOES-R Algorithm Testbed Developed: The Geostationary Cloud Algorithm Testbed (GEOCAT) was developed to allow for robust testing and development of next generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) algorithms. GEOCAT provides a straightforward interface to ancillary data, radiative transfer model calculations, and observed radiances from the GOES-imager, Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI), or Multifunctional Transport Satellite (MTSAT)-imager. GEOCAT is being used extensively by the Cloud Application Team of the GOES-R Algorithm Working Group (AWG) for comparing and testing algorithms. GEOCAT-related collaborations with other AWG groups are underway.(M. Pavolonis, E/RA2, 608-263-9597, Mike.Pavolonis@noaa.gov, A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757, andrew.heidinger@noaa.gov)

VISIT Activities at CIMSS: The Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training (VISIT) distance learning lesson "The Enhanced-V: A Satellite Severe Storm Signature" was led by a Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) instructor on April 2, 2007, with two forecasters participating remotely from the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Caribou, Maine. The final version of a new VISIT lesson "Basic Satellite Principles" was completed and added to the VISIT training calendar; this new lesson will debut on April 30, 2007. (S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263-3958, S. Lindstrom, CIMSS, 608-263-4425)

Cooperative Institute Directors Telecon: Steve Ackerman participated in a NESDIS/OAR Cooperative Institute Directors telecon on experiences with the NOAA 5-year review and recompetition. (S. Ackerman, CIMSS, 608-263-3647)

Manuscript on Cloudy Sounding Submitted: A manuscript entitled "Cloudy sounding and cloud-top height retrieval from AIRS alone single field-of-view radiance measurements" has been submitted to Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) for publication. Co-authors are Elisabeth Weisz, Jun Li, Jinlong Li (CIMSS/UW-Madison), Daniel K. Zhou (LaRC/NASA), Hung-Lung Huang (CIMSS/UW-Madison), Mitchell D. Goldberg (STAR/NESDIS), and Ping Yang (Texas A&M University). (Jun Li, CIMSS, Jun.Li@ssec.wisc.edu, 608 / 262 - 3755)

Other Meetings and Telecons:

None.

VISITORS:

NEXT WEEK:

LOOKING AHEAD:

CIMSS Board Meeting Scheduled: The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for May 8, 2007 at CIMSS in Madison, WI. (S. Ackerman, CIMSS, 608-263-3647)

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