ASPB and CIMSS Weekly Report
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ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 31, 2008

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

Paper Published on Coordinated Satellite Observations During IPY: A paper titled "Coordinated Satellite Observations during the International Polar Year: Towards achieving a polar constellation" was published in Space Research Today (no. 171, pp. 6-17). The authors are Mark Drinkwater (European Space Agency), Ken Jezek (Ohio State University), and Jeff Key (NESDIS/STAR). (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jkey@ssec.wisc.edu)

Aura MLS Non-coincident Validation Study Published: A manuscript titled "Noncoincident validation of Aura MLS observations using the Langley Research Center Lagrangian chemistry and transport model" by D.B. Considine, M. Natarajan, T. D. Fairlie, G. S. Lingenfelser, R. B. Pierce, L. Froidevaux, and A. Lambert was recently published in the Aura Validation Special Section of the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres. The paper presents results of an evaluation of Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) version 2.2 measurements of O3, HCl, and H2O with version 19 Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) observations using a trajectory based, noncoincident intercomparison technique. (R.B. Pierce, E/RA2, 608-890-1892, brad.pierce@noaa.gov)

  (Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: Coincident zonal mean comparisons of MLS and Lagrangian Chemical Transport Model O3 for 29 November 2004. 

GOES-10 Imager water vapor anomaly: The Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) Data Center noted an anomaly in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-10 band 3 (6.7 um) imagery. Given that the same areas of data outages were seen in images from Brazil’s Instituto de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE), it was thought that this anomaly was not due to a local ingest. The anomaly changes location and extent over the course of time, pointing to a possibility that it’s related to the remapping procedure and the growing satellite inclination. The Office of Satellite Operations was notified and at 18:45 UTC on May 30 implemented a change that greatly reduced the outages. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291)

  (Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: “Before” and “After” sample GOES-10 Imager ‘water vapor’ image that shows the anomaly (black lines of missing data). The image times are from 21:15 UTC on May 29 and 30, 2008.

UK Met Office Begins Using AVHRR Polar Winds in Operational Forecast Model: The Met Office (UK) began assimilating the  experimental Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) polar winds product in their operational weather forecast system on May 20. The product is generated at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) with AVHRR data from four NOAA satellites (NOAA-15, -16, -17, and -18). It will become a NESDIS operational product in the very near future. The Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA) will begin testing the AVHRR winds soon. (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jkey@ssec.wisc.edu; D. Santek, CIMSS, 608-263-7410; C. Velden, CIMSS, 608-262-9168)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

Air Quality Forecasts Utilizing OMI NO2 and GOES-GASP AOD Observations: Results from a collaborative Air Quality forecasting study utilizing OMI NO2 and GOES-GASP Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) observations conducted by researchers at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and NASA Langley Research Center was presented in the "A-Train: Measuring and Assessing Air Quality" session at the Joint Assembly Meeting of the American Geophysical Union in Fort Lauderdale, FL. (R.B. Pierce, E/RA2, 608-890-1892, brad.pierce@noaa.gov)

GOES-O Data Archive: A telecon was held with members from National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), Environmental Satellite Processing Center (ESPC) and the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) Data Center regarding populating the Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS) with post-launch, pre-operational Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-O data. Pre-operational GOES data have never been archived before in CLASS. It was agreed that the best course of action would be for GOES-10 GOES VARiable (GVAR) data to be archived and that the primary data stream should be supplied by ESPC. The SSEC Data Center would then act as a secondary (non realtime) data source. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov)

Information for a Briefing on the GOES-R benefits: Information was supplied for a Gutierrez briefiing on how to interpret the relative cost split between the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) and an advanced sounder in various Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-R benefit reports. For example, a value of $2.2B was being assumed for the ABI, yet this number did not include the more recent tropical storm analysis. In additional, it was point out that the $4.6B for the ABI was just the incremental benefit beyond the current system, not the total ‘worth’ of the ABI. Also noted was that the $4.6B ABI estimate becomes $6.1B, if a discount rate value of 5% (versus 7%) is used.  (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov)

Other Meetings and Telecons:

None.

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