ASPB and CIMSS Weekly Report
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ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 24, 2013

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

NWS Director Louis Uccellini: a Weather-Ready Nation Town Hall: Sponsored by the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) and the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS), National Weather Service (NWS) Director Louis Uccellini held a Weather-Ready Nation Town Hall on 22 August 2013 at UW-Madison. Along with the weather-ready nation message, Dr. Uccellini clearly referenced NOAA's reliance on, and longstanding partnership with, the UW, and the satellite and educational communities. More information is available at http://go.wisc.edu/qs04z4, http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/news/articles/5048, http://video.channel3000.com/watch.php?id=52523, and http://video.channel3000.com/watch.php?id=52538. (J. Phillips, SSEC, 608-262-8162)

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Figure caption: Dr. Uccellini presenting at the Weather-Ready Town Hall, UW-Madison. Credit: M. Hobson.

Recommendation 6 of NOAA SAB Report is a Bad One: Steve Ackerman participated in a telecon with the Cooperative Institute (CI) Executive Committee and Dr. Steven Fine regarding Recommendation 6 of the NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB) report In the Nation’s Best Interest: Making the Most of NOAA’s Science Enterprise. The recommendation stated (Recommendation 6): "The PRTF recommends that NOAA assess the Cooperative Institutes in terms of their scientific focus, funding and staffing levels to insure that the CIs have sufficient support to adequately leverage NOAA’s investment and that they are aligned with strategic priorities. The Cooperative Institutes are a uniquely valuable part of the NOAA portfolio. They provide the agency with access to graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty in the universities and contribute to the agility and flexibility of the total R&D portfolio. However, according to the information provided to the task force, NOAA’s current investment in CIs is inadequate for the number of Institutes being supported. Interviews with CI representatives, for example, revealed that budget reductions were undermining the original intent of these CIs to leverage NOAA’s resources. This suggests that, because the CIs are so valuable to NOAA, the agency should reexamine and adjust the total number of CIs so that it can provide adequate levels of support to those CIs that are retained and allow them to function efficiently and effectively. In making these decisions, the key principles should be alignment with the Next Generation Strategic Plan and the recognition that the greatest value of CIs is flexibility, leveraging external scientific talent, and connecting NOAA to the broader scientific community." This statement is a misrepresentation of the issue and needs to be corrected. The main issue regarding NOAA’s support of it’s CIs is associated with Task I funding, which supports education, outreach and administration costs. Support via Task I is also not an issue with all CIs, as some are funded adequately. There is an agreed upon mechanism now to support Task I funding which should be implemented in 2014. Task I issues are no justification to conclude that there is a need to reduce the number of CIs. The time to assess the need for a CI is during the recompetition and their 5-year review as documented in NOAA’s CI Handbook. (S. Ackerman, CIMSS, 608-263-3647)

Manuscript Examining Flash Drought Development Using GOES Infrared Imagery Published: A manuscript entitled “Examining Rapid Onset Drought Development using the Thermal Infrared-Based Evaporative Stress Index” by Otkin, et al. was published in the August issue of Journal of Hydrometeorology. The paper showed that standardized change anomalies in the GOES-based Evaporative Stress Index provide early warning of incipient drought impacts on agricultural and natural ecosystems sooner than many other drought indicators. (J. Otkin, CIMSS, 608-265-2476)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

CIMSS Participation in 2013 Aviation Weather Testbed Activities: The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) participated at the Summer 2013 NOAA Aviation Weather Testbed Experiment from August 12-23, 2013. During the 2013 AWT Summer Experiment, participants were working as teams to test and evaluate new and emerging aviation weather data sets and aviation weather decision support tools. The AWT experiment provided the GOES-R Proving Ground with a pre-operational environment in which to deploy and demonstrate algorithms associated with its next generation GOES-R geostationary satellite system. Amanda Terborg (GOES-R AWC satellite liaison), Justin Sieglaff, and Wayne Feltz collaborated with Federal Aviation Administration, Air Force, and National Weather Service personnel at Aviation Weather Center (AWC) desks responsible for issuing Convective Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET) advisories and global aviation forecasts. GOES-R proxy decision support products that were evaluated included: cloud height, cloud type, low cloud/fog, thermodynamic nearcasting, synthetic numerical weather prediction satellite radiances, convective overshooting tops, and convective cloud top cooling. More information and feedback can be found at following blog link: http://goesrawt.blogspot.com/. (W. Feltz, CIMSS, 608-265-6283 and Justin Sieglaff, CIMSS)

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Figure caption: The Aviation Weather Testbed (AWT) GOES-R proving ground briefing desk with Amanda Terborg working with FAA and NWS operational meteorologists.

EarthNow Presentations at Aldo Leopold Nature Center: As part of an ongoing partnership between the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) and the Aldo Leopold Nature Center (ALNC), Patrick Rowley from CIMSS conducted a climate change and health presentation on the center's NOAA Science On a Sphere (SOS) exhibit. The presentation showcased multiple data visualizations developed as part of a NOAA Office of Education (OED) grant: "Interpreting Real-time Weather and Climate Data for Spherical Displays" (EarthNow), including a recently released story on the effects and causes of tropical widening. The SOS presentation, in conjunction with a an evening lecture and museum tour, was well-attended. Dr. Jonathan Patz, Professor & Director of the Global Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discussed the global climate crisis, including risks and opportunities for public health during his lecture and also provided additional insight during the SOS presentation. (S. Ackerman, CIMSS, 608-263-3647, M. Mooney, CIMSS/SSEC, 608-265-2123, P. Rowley, CIMSS/SSEC, 608-263-1336)

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GOES-14 Imager Super Rapid Scan Imagery at 1-Minute Intervals: The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-14 imager was placed into Super Rapid Scan Operations for GOES-R (SRSOR) for several days this week. Images of fires, smoke, fog and rapidly-developing severe convection were captured, and a number of image animations were posted at http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/archives/category/goes-14 and http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/srsor2013/GOES-14_SRSOR.html. The following animation compares GOES-14 SRSOR to Rapid Scan Operations and standard 15-minute scanning: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/GOES14_SRSO_VIS_21AUG2013loop.gif. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov; S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263-3958; S. Lindstrom, CIMSS; J. Robaidek, SSEC, 608-262-6025, jerrold.robaidek@ssec.wisc.edu)

VIIRS Ice Surface Temperature Product Provisional Maturity Status: : The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Algorithm Engineering Review Board (AERB) was briefed on the "provisional" maturity status of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Ice Surface Temperature (IST) product at the NPP Environmental Data Record (EDR) Product Review meeting on August 22, 2013. The Cryosphere Team presented the extensive background materials that had been prepared for the declaration of provisional maturity status. Sean Helfrich, National Ice Center, gave a presentation on IST applications by the NIC and other users. (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jkey@ssec.wisc.edu)

VISITORS:

Visitor from Delta Airlines: Tom Fahey, meteorology department manager at Delta Airlines, visited the Advanced Satellite Products Branch (ASPB) on August 23, 2013. The main purpose of the visit was to discuss volcanic clouds, which are a major aviation hazard. Delta Airlines uses the NOAA/NESDIS/STAR volcanic ash products that are openly available on the web (http://volcano.ssec.wisc.edu/imagery/view/) for flight planning. Thus far, their feedback indicates that the products are very useful. Observations from Delta pilots flying within view of volcanic ash clouds will be used to help validate the NOAA/NESDIS/STAR volcanic ash products. (M. Pavolonis, E/RA2, 608-263-9597, Mike.Pavolonis@noaa.gov)

NEXT WEEK:

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