CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report
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CIMSS AND ASPB WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 20, 2015

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, STAR:

David S. Johnson Award Received at Goddard Memorial Dinner: Michael Pavolonis received the NOAA David S. Johnson Award at the 58th Annual Goddard Memorial Dinner in Washington, D.C on March 13, 2015 (http://www.spaceclub.org/goddard-dinner.html). The NOAA-Johnson Award is named after the first assistant administrator of NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service and honors professional scientists, who create new uses for observational satellite data to better predict atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial conditions. The 2015 award was presented to M. Pavolonis for developing cutting-edge methods to convert satellite data into actionable information for mitigating hazards caused by volcanic eruptions and severe convection. These new remote sensing techniques improve the timeliness and accuracy of volcanic ash cloud advisories and severe weather warnings. (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, jkey@ssec.wisc.edu; M. Pavolonis, E/RA2, 608-263-9597, mpav@ssec.wisc.edu) 

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, CoRP:

Test of GOES-15 Rapid Scan for Alaska: On 17 March 2015, J. Gerth, Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) researcher, and T. Schmit assisted the NOAA NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO) during a test of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) 15 imager Rapid Scan Operations (RSO) sectors covering Alaska and the North Pacific. During the test, J. Gerth notified OSPO that the water vapor band and 13.3 micrometer infrared channel were not displayable in the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) used by the National Weather Service (NWS). J. Gerth also coordinated with users in NWS Alaska Region, who look forward to using more frequent imagery once a successful test is complete. More information is available at http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/archives/17882. (J. Gerth, CIMSS, 608-263-4942; T. Schmit, E/RA2 , 608-263-0291, tim.j.schmit@noaa.gov, and Scott Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263-3958)

Forecasting for NOAA SONGNEX Field Mission begins: Real-time Air Quality Modeling System (RAQMS) and Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with chemistry (WRF-Chem) forecasts are providing guidance on background chemical and aerosol concentrations during the 2015 NOAA Shale Oil and Natural Gas Nexus (SONGNEX) field mission. The primary goal of the SONGNEX field study is to quantify the emissions of trace gases and fine particles from several different tight oil and shale gas basins in the western U.S. However, SONGNEX science flights provide opportunities to obtain correlative data for validating combined Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) NOAA-Unique CrIS-ATMS Processing System (NUCAPS) trace gas retrievals. In addition to daily forecasts, Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) orbital predictions are being provided to the SONGNEX science team to facilitate these correlative measurement opportunities (R.B. Pierce, E/RA2, 608-890-1892, brad.pierce@noaa.gov)

  (Click image to enlarge)

Figure caption: Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) 8km WRF-Chem surface fine (<2.5 micron) particulate matter (PM2.5) 18hr forecast for 18Z March 19, 2015 predicts transport of smoke from agricultural burning in the southeastern US over southern Florida during the SONGNEX test flight. True Color Imagery from the NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) confirms the smoke plume forecast. The test flight plan included a spiral during the S-NPP overpass which occurred at 18:55Z which will provide opportunities to validate NUCAPS carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) retrievals within this smoke plume.


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