CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report [ Archive ]

CIMSS-NOAA WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 3, 2026

DATA, INFORMATION, AND USE-INSPIRED SCIENCE:

Metop-SGA1 server and sample data progress for Arctic Composite Imagery project: The Arctic Composite Imagery (ACI) project creates satellite composite imagery over the Arctic region using geostationary and polar orbiting satellites. An important part of this project is updating the software with the new satellite data, when available. Project participants at the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) have been working on development of a python server for Metop-SGA1 METimage sample data, with the end goal of including Metop-SGA1 satellite data into ACI processing. Attached is a sample image of six swaths of Metop-SGA1 Band 12 (3.74 µm) sample data stitched together in McIDAS-X. (B. Schaffer, SSEC, T. Jasmin, SSEC, J. Beavers, SSEC, D. Santek, SSEC, D. Mikolajczyk, SSEC)

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Figure: Metop-SGA1 Band 12 (3.74 µm), six swaths of sample data stitched together in McIDAS-X.

PEOPLE, AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

TRAVEL AND MEETINGS:

CIMSS Participation in the Third GEO-Ring Workshop: The GEO-Ring project combines measurements from GOES, Himawari, and Meteosat satellites, covering most of the globe excluding the poles. The test data set includes ABI (GOES 16-19), AHI (Himawari 8-9), and SEVIRI (Meteosat 8-11) data covering 2019-2024. The data is combined and placed into a reduced-resolution (~5 km) HEALPix grid (Hierarchical Equal Area isoLatitude Pixelation of a sphere). The goal is to produce a global dataset extending back to the late 1970s. NOAA and CIMSS have remapped most of the GVAR record (GOES 8-13, 15) onto a fixed grid projection and made this prototype dataset publicly available. Recently, the SSEC Data Center produced a dataset with improved GVAR navigation. A new remapping of the GVAR data is now underway, modifying the navigation block prior to the fixed-grid step. Participants at the 3rd GEO-Ring Workshop, hosted by EUMETSAT, were briefed on this ongoing work. The navigation corrections generated interest in applying the same approach to non-GOES sensors. (A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757, andrew.heidinger@noaa.gov, S. Wanzong, CIMSS, J. Robaidek, SSEC, D. Santek, CIMSS, J. Feltz, CIMSS).

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Figure: Participants of the 3rd GEO-Ring Workshop.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION:

MEDIA INTERACTIONS AND REQUESTS:

SOCIAL MEDIA AND BLOG Posts:

CIMSS Satellite Blog Updates: The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) Satellite Blog was updated with the following posts: "3 firefighters killed, two injured while responding to wildfires in far western Colorado" (Jun. 27), "Mesoscale convective system produces strong winds, large hail and a few tornadoes across Nebraska and South Dakota" (Jun. 29) and "Aspen Acres Fire forces evacuation orders in southeastern Colorado" (Jun. 29). (S. Bachmeier, CIMSS)

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Figure: GOES-18 GeoColor RGB image with an overlay of Next Generation Fire System (NGFS) Fire Detection polygons at 2222 UTC on June 29, 2026 -- showing the thermal signature and smoke plume associated with the Aspen Acres Fire that was burning southwest of Pueblo, Colorado.

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Figure: GOES-19 Infrared Window image with plots of SPC Storm Reports at 1106 UTC on June 29, 2026 -- showing a Mesoscale Convective System around the time that it was producing wind gusts as high as 131 mph in central South Dakota.

PUBLICATIONS:

OTHER: