ASPB and CIMSS Weekly Report
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ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2010

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

GOES-R 4km SEVIRI Aerosol Proxy Simulation Initiated: The first three hours of a planned 30 hour, 4km Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) simulation over the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) domain has been completed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) Cobalt computer in Champaign, IL. This simulation includes heavy smoke and dust aerosols over the African continent for use in GOES-R Proxy data studies. The simulation requires special system administration approval due to its large use of NCSA resources. The 3-hour simulation utilized 50% (256 processors) of the Cobalt computer for a total of 33 hours of wall clock time. (R.B. Pierce, E/RA2, 608-890-1892, brad.pierce@noaa.gov)

(Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: WRF-CHEM simulated Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and Cloud Optical Thickness (COT) and SEVIRI 13.4 micron CO2 channel radiances at 03Z on August 16, 2006.

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

MODIS Science Team Presentations: Mike Pavolonis and Andrew Heidinger attended the meeting of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Atmospheres Science Team this week in Washington D.C. Pavolonis and Heidinger presented two posters that highlight their work on using the MODIS infrared observations for studying ice cloud physics. Heidinger also spoke during a breakout session on new concepts for generating climate records from MODIS. (M. Pavolonis, E/RA2, 608-263-9597, mpav@ssec.wisc.edu, A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757, andrew.heidinger@noaa.gov)

Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) Visit: Wayne Feltz (CIMSS) visited AFWA to provide an overview of GOES-R Proving Ground activities and tour center on January 15, 2010. Lt Col Kurt Brueske hosted the visit and provided an AFWA perspective on ground and aviation decision support needs from satellite. AFWA staff presented organizational responsibilities and possible areas of collaboration with the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), including providing a near real-time convective initiation decision support feed. A follow-up visit by Lt Col Brueske to CIMSS is expected in the summer of 2010. (W. Feltz, CIMSS, 608-265-6283)

Sample GOES-13 Imager and Sounder images: After the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-13 satellite was brought out of on-orbit storage on 27 January 2010, both imager and sounder images were displayed. Even though the satellite is still in testing, qualitative comparisons look fine (http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/archives/4436). The data were ingested by the Space Science and Engineering (SSEC) data center. (S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263-3958; T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov)

(Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: The GOES-13 imager 5 channels (1 visible and 4 Infrared) at 18:15 UTC on 27 January 2010.

VISITORS:

Dr. Valliappa Lakshmanan of University of Oklahoma Visits CIMMS: Dr. Valliappa Lakshmanan visited the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) and met with Wayne Feltz, Justin Seiglaff, Lee Cronce, and Kristopher Bedka (SSAI NASA LaRC), to discuss common approaches for object tracking satellite data using the Warning Decision Support System - Integrated Information (WDSS-II). The research goal is to apply radar centric advanced object tracking methodology onto satellite-derived cloud properties such as top of atmosphere emissivity. Both cooperative institutes are funded by a common NOAA GIMPAP grant to validate and improve convective initiation detection. Wayne Feltz will be visiting Norman, Oklahoma in February and March to continue collaboration. (W. Feltz, CIMSS, 608-265-6283)

(Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: Example of WDSS-II object tracking of GOES-12 top of atmosphere emissivity between image times 2030-2045 with unique ID numbers. Shading corresponds to minimum brightness temperature.

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