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An experimental product for providing objective tropical cyclone watch and warning guidance based on Monte Carlo wind speed probabilities was developed. The product uses the algorithms presented at the AMS Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology in Tucson, AZ, May 10-14 2010. The automated product provided tropical storm and hurricane watch and warning guidance for Atlantic Hurricanes Alex and Earl and Tropical Storm Hermine in 2010. A qualitative analysis suggests the product-generated watches and warnings were comparable in timing and location to those issued by NHC. Further adjustments to the algorithm and the real time scripting will be conducted prior to the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. (A. Schumacher, M. DeMaria, J. Knaff)
Figure. The Experimental Automated TC Watch/Warning Product guidance (left) and NHC issued watches and warnings (right) for Hurricane Earl on 1 Sep 2010 at 5pm AST. Note that the product guidance was issued 36 hours prior to the NHC watches and warnings. Red = hurricane warning, pink = hurricane watch, blue = tropical storm warning and yellow = tropical storm watch.
Documentation for the Multi-platform Tropical Cyclone Surface Wind Analysis (MTCSWA) was provided to OSDPD. These include the required User Manual, Operations Manual & Interface Control Document, and the System Description Document and System Maintenance Manual. A manuscript describing this product has been prepared for the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology and will be submitted next quarter. (J. Knaff)
A manuscript entitled “A Deterministic Rapid Intensification Aid,” written by B. Sampson (NRLMRY), J. Kaplan (HRD), J. Knaff, M. DeMaria, and C. Sisko (NHC), was submitted to Weather and Forecasting. The paper shows how the Rapid Intensification Index can be used as a deterministic aid in a consensus intensity forecast system. (J. Knaff, M. DeMaria)
J. Knaff provided inputs to J. Kaplan that contained total precipitable water (TPW) and GOES infrared principle components (PCs) associated with tropical cyclones in the Atlantic and East Pacific basins and which contained updated 2009 data for continued JHT research/development. Related to this same JHT project, a real-time capability to calculate GOES IR PCs has been created at CIRA. The demonstration of an experimental version of the Rapid Intensity Index (RII) that includes TPW and GOES IR PCs was begun in mid-September. Output of these experimental forecasts can be found at ftp://rammftp.cira.colostate.edu/DeMaria/NHCPG/. This web page also shows an experimental version of the RII with lightning input. (J. Knaff, M. DeMaria)
Software written at CIRA has been running on the NCEP IBM to process AMSU data in BUFR format for use in tropical cyclone intensity fixes and structure analysis. The software currently processes data from the AMSU instruments aboard NOAA-15, -16, and -18. The preliminary code updating the processing to include AMSU data from NOAA-19, MetOp-2, and Aqua has been completed. The code wil
RAMMB is currently participating in the GOES-R Proving Ground Demonstration at NHC by producing three real-time products. These include an experimental version of the Rapid Intensification Index (RII) and two Red Green Blue (RGB) image products generated from Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) imagery. The former text product (see Figure 1) is hosted locally at ftp://rammftp.cira.colostate.edu/DeMaria/NHCPG/ and the later is served via a secure web link. The RGB imagery is displayed using Google Earth and allows for automated updating and selection of differing temporal scales (Figure 2). CIMSS Saharan Dust Layer (SAL) product is also hosted at this secure site. (J. Knaff, K. Micke)
Figure 1. Example of the experimental RII output produced for the GOES-R Proving Ground Demonstration at NHC for Hurricane Earl 29 August at 18UTC.
Figure 2. View of the options NHC forecasters have when viewing the experimental RGB Proving Ground products.
During the last week GOES-15 data were used to demonstrate continuous hurricane monitoring with 5-minute and 1-minute geostationary satellite data. NHC was able to view the 5-minute data and 1-minute imagery on their operational NMAP (NAWIPS) image display platform. Displayed below are examples of the operational display of 5-minute data on 2 September NHC and the 1-minute SRSO data over Hurricane EARL on 3 September. (J. Knaff)
Figure 3: Examples of the operational display of GOES-15 5-minute data (top) and 1-minute data (bottom) covering Hurricane Earl.
A manuscript describing the keynote topic 3 for the International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones (IWTC) – 7 was provided to J. Kepert (BoM, Chair of IWTC-7). The 37-page keynote was written by J. Knaff and B. Harper (Systems Engineering Australia) and is entitled “Tropical Cyclone Surface Wind Structure and Wind-Pressure Relationships.” The highlights of the manuscript, as well as resulting recommendations, will be presented at the IWTC-7 meeting that will be held in La Reunion, France 15-20 November. (J. Knaff)
Due to a land communications problem between Europe and the U.S., Meteosat data was not available to U.S. users for several hours. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) relies heavily on Meteosat imagery for tropical cyclone analysis and forecasting in the eastern Atlantic, and there was a developing tropical cyclone in this region during the outage. At the request of NHC, RAMMB set up real-time visible and IR imagery from polar satellites on their tropical cyclone real-time page. Ed Rappaport, the NHC Deputy Director, sent the following message of thanks.
“All, when METEOSAT imagery became unavailable to use a few days ago I asked Mark DeMaria if he and colleagues could help us obtain NOAA polar orbiter visible and IR imagery to fill the void in the eastern Atlantic. They quickly built up such a capability. You might want to check this out now to become familiar with it in case of a future outage (or for supplemental views now), and maybe add to our Intranet pages. My thanks to John and Mark.” – Ed Rappaport, Deputy Director of NHC. (J. Knaff)
The digital data files associated with the MTCSWA were provided to G. Kingston (Risk Management Systems, Inc.) for all western North Pacific tropical cyclones 2007-present. Data will be used for tropical cyclone risk modeling activities. (J. Knaff)
Highlights from research publications discussing the forecast and diagnosis of tropical cyclone structure and intensity change that had been published in the last four years (i.e., since the last IWTC) were provided to A. Burton (BoM), topic chair. The report provided information concerning the most important findings of 12 refereed and five non-refereed publications that involved CIRA/RAMMB personnel in the four year time period. (J. Knaff)
A subsection contribution to “State of the Climate in 2009” that discussed tropical cyclone heat potential was published as a supplement to the June issue the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. (J. Knaff)
The joint project with Dudley Chelton of CIOSS examining the Gulf Stream’s affects on the overlying atmosphere has continued. Part of CIRA’s contribution is to run software which uses temperature profiles derived from AMSU data to compute various atmospheric parameters of interest (relative vorticity, divergence, vertical velocity). For comparison, temperatures from the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) will also be run in the code. Work on using the NARR data has begun. In particular, a Gaussian smoother is being set up to use on the data, as the NARR data are known to contain noise. (J. Dostalek)
As part of the GOES-R Risk Reduction program, a tropopause wind product is being developed. Combining measurements from radiosondes, COSMIC, GOES, and OMI, the nondivergent wind field can be estimated at the tropopause (i.e. jet-stream level). The basis of the technique is the relationship between lower-stratospheric ozone and the vorticity at the tropopause derived by Vaughn and Price (1991). The date of the case currently being studied is 9 March 2009. The initial run of the technique produced reasonable results. As refinements were sought to improve the program, irregularities appeared in the ozone profiles derived from measurements taken by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), which flies on the Aura spacecraft (Figure 1). During the investigation, it was found that on 25 June 2007 the first of several row anomalies occurred which affect the ozone profiles. Until the problem is resolved the bad data points from 9 March 2009 must be removed, or a new case chosen. (J. Dostalek)
Figure 1. OMI retrieval locations and contours of total ozone. Blue lines show gaps in the retrieval which the contouring routine appears to have filled correctly. Red lines show gaps in data for which the contours indicate a problem in the data. Although still under investigation, the data problems along the red lines are thought to be due to the row anomaly in the OMI instrument.
Work on the“Kyrill” case is complete. A manuscript entitled, “Assimilating synthetic GOES-R radiances in cloudy conditions using an ensemble-based method” is currently in press. (Zupanski, D., M. Zupanski, L. Grasso, R. Brummer, I. Jankov, D. Lindsey, M. Sengupta, and M. DeMaria)
Work on the 27 June 2005 thunderstorm case is complete. A manuscript entitled, “An Example of the use of Synthetic 3.9 µm GOES-12 Imagery for Two-Moment Microphysical Evaluation” is currently in press. (D. Lindsey, L. Grasso)
Collaboration has begun with Shobha Kondragunta (NOAA/NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research). We have begun converting synthetic GOES-R imagery into McIDAS format. The figure below is an example of a 3.9 µm image valid at 1800 UTC 24 August 2006. (L. Grasso, D. Lindsey, D. Hillger)
Figure: Synthetic GOES-R 3.9 µm image valid at 1800 UTC 24 August 2006. This is based on a 4 km WRF-chem simulation.
Collaboration continues between CIRA in Fort Collins and Boulder. Efforts continue with the production of synthetic GOES-R ABI imagery from the WRF model. Isidora Jankov is leading this effort. Results from this work are discussed in a recently prepared manuscript entitled, “An Evaluation of Five WRF-ARW Microphysics Schemes Using Synthetic GOES Imagery for an Atmospheric River Event Affecting the California Coast.” This manuscript was accepted with revision. (I. Jankov, L. Grasso, M. Sengupta, P J. Neiman, D. Zupanski, M. Zupanski, D. Lindsey, and R. Brummer)
Collaboration with Martin Setvak of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute proved successful. A paper was written discussing “cold ring” thunderstorms. RAMS was run with different temperature structures at the tropopause to offer a possible explanation of satellite observed cold ring thunderstorms. The manuscript is in press. (D. Lindsey, L. Grasso)
Collaboration with Wayne MacKenzie at the University of Alabama-Huntsville continues as a result of the Aviation AWG work. Together we are working on boundary layer moisture depth estimation through the use of channel differences and convective initiation. Additionally, we have acquired a second year of AWG funds to provide additional synthetic GOES-R data to Wayne and his group. (L. Grasso and D. Lindsey)
As part of the Spring Experiment at the Storm Prediction Center, we made real time synthetic GOES-R imagery. This imagery was made from the NSSL 4km WRF-ARW real time runs. We have been making such imagery at CIRA since May 2010. The figure below is an example 10.35 µm image valid at 00Z on 24 April 2010 (a 24-hour forecast). (L. Grasso, D. Lindsey, Bob Rabin (NSSL/CIMSS), Scott Dembeck (NASA), Jack Kain (NSSL), Chris Siewert (SPC))
Figure. Synthetic 10.35 µm GOES-R ABI image valid at 00 UTC on 24 April 2010 based on a 24-hour forecast from SPC’s 4-km WRF-ARW simulation.
Selected images of smoke from the Shultz fire outside of Flagstaff, Arizona were collected when it was realized that the smoke plume was greatly affecting the skies in northeastern Colorado. The attached 4-panel image shows the smoke plume as seen in various image products. See the figure caption for an explanation of each of the four panels. (D. Hillger)
Figure 1: Images at 1315 UTC of the Schultz fire outside of Flagstaff AZ on 21 June 2010. Upper-left panel shows the smoke over the state of Colorado as seen by GOES-west at 1 km through forward-scattering. Upper-right panel shows the smoke over Colorado as seen much less clearly by GOES-east at 1 km through backward scattering. Lower-left panel shows a lower resolution (4 km) image of the smoke extending from its origin near Flagstaff AZ, with the plume extending northward over much of eastern Utah and then eastward over northern Colorado, and extending yet further across Nebraska. Lower-right panel is a 3-color image product, with the smoke in red over a dark background. This last image was created from a visible-albedo product, a shortwave-albedo product, and a longwave-IR image, as the Red, Green, and Blue components, respectively.
The algorithm/program used by B. Hughes to create shortwave albedo images failed when GOES-13 replaced GOES-12 as GOES-east. D. Hillger provided revised/updated software for use at the NESDIS/OSDPD Satellite Services Division. (D. Hillger)
The cloud climatology based on marine stratus depth work with Joe Clark and Mel Nordquist from the Eureka, CA National Weather Service (NWS) office, and Becca Mazur with Cheyenne, WY NWS office is continuing. There have been two teleconferences between CIRA, Eureka, and Cheyenne this quarter to discuss progress and project needs. (C. Combs)
The marine stratus depth climatologies for all four periods (May 15-Jun15, Jun16-Jul15, Jul16-Aug15, Aug16-Sep15) have been transferred to Eureka. Mel Nordquist is currently validating the climatologies with ground observations and satellite data from summer 2010. Future plans include creating cloud templates that will be used in the Graphical Forecast Editor (GFE) as first guess in sky cover forecasts. (C. Combs)
A poster on the Eureka project was presented at the American Meteorology Society (AMS) 17th Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography on September 30, 2010. A conference paper on this poster will be produced next quarter. (C. Combs)
The long-term solar prediction work is continuing. A sector covering Colorado has been taken from GOES West data for every daylight hour during May-September 1999-2009 for imager channels 1-5. Cloud/no cloud images were produced using a visible background/threshold method. These can be used to produce cloud climatologies over our potential test sites of Christman field and Boulder, CO. (C. Combs)
A method to identify solar regimes using ground solar irradiance measurements is currently in development and shows promise. The results from this classification will be used to determine pre-cursor meteorological patterns and develop regimes for the climatologies. (C. Combs)
Steve Miller, Duli Chand, Renate Brummer and Cindy Combs prepared a power point presentation on the solar project and rehearsed it several times. Duli Chand and I presented it for GIMPAP review on August 3. (C. Combs)
C. Combs attended the CoRP symposium on August 10-11. Duli Chand and I presented our work on the solar project August 11 at the symposium. On August 12, I talked with several visiting students, including Brent Maddux from CIMSS and Zulamet Vega-Martinez (CREST), about their projects and interests. On August 31, I met with Yinghui Liu, a visiting student from CIMSS, to discuss climatologies. (C. Combs)
A proposal for 2011-2013 funding from the GOES-R Risk Reduction program was prepared. The proposed research would focus on satellite applications to nowcasting heavy snow events, in particular those associated with the comma head of midlatitude cyclones, as well as lake-effect snows. The study would be a joint effort among CIRA, CIMSS, University of Alabama in Huntsville, and the National Weather Service. (J. Dostalek)
A proposal was submitted for GOES-R Risk Reduction entitled “Convective Storm Forecasting 1-6 Hours Prior to Initiation.” It is a joint proposal with participants from CIRA, CIMSS, Alabama-Huntsville, NSSL, and CREST. (D. Lindsey, L. Grasso)
A multivariate linear regression scheme has been coded for generating the ABI Green band from the ABI Red, Near-IR, and Blue bands. This effort explores a parallel path to the Green Look Up Table (LUT) method that has already proven to be successful at generating Green band reflectances (and resulting RGB imagery). Both methods use the reflectances from the same three input bands. Figure 1 contains examples of RGB images with the Green component computed various ways. In the upper-left panel, the Green band reflectances were directly simulated (using a numerical model) along with the Red, Near-IR, and Blue bands. This can be a form of ground-truth imagery. In the upper-right panel, the Green band was synthesized using the Look Up Table (LUT) method, the “standard” method for generating the Green band in most of the previous work in this area. In the lower-left panel, the Green band was obtained through regression, with training on MODIS imagery over a single colorful ocean scene. In the lower-right panel, the Green band was obtained through regression, but with training on MODIS imagery over land and for the same date and time as this case. Note that the regression method produces RGB images with different shades of green depending on the training data that was used. In both cases, the training set was limited to MODIS data from one date and time. Much larger training datasets are needed to create a more stable and more robust set of regression coefficients. (D. Hillger)
Figure 1: Examples of RGB images from various methods for generating the ABI Green band. None of these images are Rayleigh-corrected.
D. Hillger provided extensive technical editing to the Cloud and Moisture Imagery Product (CMIP) Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD). The document contains a large amount of detail on the seemingly “simple” task of producing standardized imagery from the GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI). (D. Hillger)
A paper entitled “The Untold Story of Pyrocumulonimbus,” by M. Fromm, D. Lindsey, R. Servranckx, G. Yue, T. Trickl, R. Sica, P. Doucet, and S. G.-B. appears in the September edition of the Bulletin of the AMS. The paper is featured on the cover (see the figure below). (D. Lindsey)
Figure. Cover of the Sep. 2010 edition of the Bulletin of the AMS featuring a paper on pyroCbs.
Training metrics for the quarter:
19 VISIT teletraining sessions have been delivered. There were 29 teletraining signups, 95 students participated.
Registrations: 245
Completions: 176
LMS totals from January 2005 through September 21, 2010:
Registrations: 3328
Completions: 1955
Definitions used in LMS metrics:
Registrations: The number of students who either clicked on the course, or actually took the course, but did not complete the quiz or achieve a passing grade upon taking the quiz. A student may have registered for multiple courses.
Completions: The number of students that achieved a passing grade on a quiz for a course. A student may have completed multiple courses this way.
New training sessions:
Note: The eTRaP and two NHC sessions are also included in the Tropical SHyMet course which debuted this quarter, more details in section III B.
Ongoing development of new VISIT training sessions:
Research:
Collaboration:
J. Braun currently (continuing) collaborating with the NWS Alaskan Region Environmental and Scientific Services Division (ESSD) as well as the NWS Alaskan Aviation Unit and NWS Center Weather Service Unit for the production of a two part session (series) to be used in the VISIT and SHyMet programs that addresses Volcanoes and Volcanic Ash. Final version of Volcanic Ash Part 1 will enter LMS by first week in October. Part 2 will enter LMS in November.
D. Bikos collaborated with the Warning Decision Training Branch (WDTB) in Norman, OK and Jonathan Finch (NWS Dodge City, KS) to assist in the development of an AWOC winter weather course on shallow cold air masses. The training will be delivered to NWS forecast offices. A journal article is also planned from this research.
J. Braun and D. Bikos will be collaborating with many different training offices (including COMET) and local, regional and national operational offices of the National Weather Service.
VISIT Meteorological Interpretation Blog – (http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/visit/blog/) – (J. Braun) Continue to build and administer the VISIT Blog – a web-log program intended to initiate increased communication between the operational, academic, and training worlds. The blog is now averaging 250 views per week.
The following table shows a breakdown of the metrics for each VISIT teletraining session valid April 1999 – September 21, 2010. The participant count is collected after each teletraining session, the student is mailed a certificate of completion if they reply to an evaluation email with names. For a complete list and description of each VISIT session see this web-page:
| Sessions | Number of offices attending (signups) | Certificates Issued | Participants | |
| Total | 1521 | 6585 | 17726 | 23241 |
| Enhanced-V | 69 | 211 | 540 | 540 |
| Detecting Boundaries | 12 | 62 | 226 | 226 |
| Detecting LTO boundaries at night | 17 | 67 | 186 | 186 |
| CONUS CG Lightning Activity | 16 | 86 | 285 | 285 |
| Using GOES RSO | 26 | 83 | 263 | 263 |
| Tropical Satellite Imagery | 8 | 48 | 138 | 138 |
| GOES Enhancements in AWIPS | 9 | 47 | 109 | 109 |
| Diagnosing Mesoscale Ascent | 21 | 83 | 252 | 252 |
| Applying Mesoscale Tools | 5 | 54 | 202 | 202 |
| Diagnosing Surface Boundaries | 24 | 106 | 307 | 307 |
| QuikSCAT | 11 | 42 | 135 | 161 |
| Lake-Effect Snow | 15 | 64 | 210 | 262 |
| NDIC | 19 | 40 | 105 | 107 |
| Lightning Met 1 | 63 | 331 | 1129 | 1377 |
| Precip Type | 5 | 44 | 186 | 195 |
| Pattern Recognition to MRF | 10 | 70 | 277 | 277 |
| HPC Medium Range Forecasting | 15 | 101 | 335 | 335 |
| Ingredients based Approach | 36 | 198 | 626 | 626 |
| Model Initializations | 20 | 124 | 440 | 569 |
| NWP Top 10 Misconceptions | 27 | 148 | 532 | 681 |
| GOES Sounder | 29 | 122 | 262 | 350 |
| GOES High Density winds | 21 | 71 | 161 | 161 |
| Forecasting MCS’s | 12 | 84 | 232 | 287 |
| Mesoanalysis using RSO | 52 | 181 | 565 | 702 |
| Near-Storm data in WDM | 14 | 91 | 340 | 379 |
| POES | 6 | 27 | 63 | 84 |
| Lightning Met 2 | 43 | 261 | 731 | 941 |
| Ensemble Prediction Systems | 17 | 93 | 303 | 377 |
| Eta12 | 14 | 57 | 194 | 241 |
| Tornado Warning Guidance 2002 | 13 | 91 | 355 | 409 |
| Fog Detection | 11 | 80 | 264 | 331 |
| ACARS | 13 | 73 | 204 | 264 |
| Cyclogenesis | 74 | 317 | 1045 | 1242 |
| TRAP | 5 | 20 | 66 | 70 |
| Subtropical | 2 | 15 | 54 | 65 |
| Mesoscale Banding | 8 | 78 | 302 | 356 |
| Lake-Effect Snow II | 15 | 52 | 128 | 179 |
| TROWAL | 30 | 142 | 357 | 520 |
| Hydro-Estimator | 15 | 58 | 171 | 221 |
| GOES Fire Detection | 17 | 69 | 205 | 234 |
| GOES-12 | 21 | 76 | 248 | 299 |
| RSO 3 (Parts 1 AND 2) | 60 | 228 | 310 | 861 |
| Water Vapor Imagery | 52 | 219 | 475 | 699 |
| Mesoscale Convective Vortices | 40 | 166 | 435 | 564 |
| AWIPS Cloud Height / Sounder | 11 | 55 | 128 | 178 |
| QuikSCAT winds | 10 | 37 | 107 | 110 |
| Convective Downbursts | 60 | 212 | 460 | 756 |
| DGEX | 27 | 215 | 562 | 785 |
| Severe Parameters | 16 | 136 | 324 | 431 |
| Winter Weather (Parts 1 AND 2) | 48 | 246 | 264 | 888 |
| Predicting Supercell Motion | 9 | 103 | 197 | 274 |
| Monitoring Moisture Return | 14 | 49 | 127 | 190 |
| Pulse Thunderstorms | 3 | 48 | 116 | 190 |
| GOES 3.9 um Channel | 5 | 17 | 56 | 77 |
| Gridded MOS | 18 | 97 | 147 | 335 |
| MODIS Products in AWIPS | 40 | 81 | 213 | 240 |
| CRAS Forecast Imagery in AWIPS | 22 | 35 | 47 | 100 |
| Orographic Effects | 25 | 62 | 122 | 207 |
| NAM-WRF | 14 | 52 | 59 | 144 |
| Basic Satellite Principles | 21 | 34 | 61 | 83 |
| Warm Season Ensembles | 24 | 60 | 87 | 166 |
| Potential Vorticity + Water Vapor | 34 | 98 | 191 | 258 |
| Cold Season Ensembles | 20 | 64 | 129 | 233 |
| GOES Low Cloud Base Product | 14 | 36 | 57 | 109 |
| Coastal Effects | 8 | 15 | 46 | 53 |
| NHC Hurricane Models | 4 | 18 | 55 | 55 |
| Interpreting Satellite Signatures | 18 | 31 | 34 | 90 |
| Utility of GOES for Severe Wx | 20 | 46 | 84 | 144 |
| NHC Track Models | 4 | 15 | 28 | 55 |
| NHC Intensity Models | 4 | 12 | 31 | 48 |
| Basic Sat Interp in the Tropics | 3 | 4 | 9 | 11 |
| POES and AVHRR in AWIPS | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| UW Convective Initiation Product | 7 | 14 | 26 | 59 |
| Water Vapor imagery for severe wx | 3 | 6 | 3 | 18 |
Meetings and Calls
VISIT/SHyMet had conference calls on July 8 and August 18.
A member of the VISIT/SHyMet team from CIRA is now participating in the NWS Satellite Requirements and Solution Steering Team (SST) monthly tele-conference meetings as a subject matter expert.
A member of the VISIT/SHyMet team from CIRA participates in the COMET monthly satellite call to keep informed of training efforts there.
(D. Bikos, J. Braun)
*New* Tropical SHyMet training course. Released August 2010.
http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/shymet/tropical_intro.asp
Consists of 7 courses:
10 NOAA/NWS employees have registered for this course (as of September 27) with 1 completion.
SHyMet For Forecasters training course: released January 2010. It consists of 6 core courses.
http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/shymet/forecaster_intro.asp :
The new Development Plan includes 6 core modules plus two optional modules:
Optional modules
SHyMet For Forecasters Metrics: CIRA/VISIT Registered:
4 NOAA/NWS employees/participants have registered here at CIRA this quarter (July – Sept. 2010) for the SHyMet Forecasters Course Development Plan (24 total for January 2010 through Sept. 27, 2010) 1 Participant completed the course this quarter, with 9 having completed since its inception.
2 Non-NOAA participants (International) have registered at CIRA for the SHyMet Forecasters Course between January 2010 – Sept. 27, 2010. There were no completions this quarter.
SHyMet For Forecasters – NOAA-Learning Management System (LMS) Registered:
Overall NOAA LMS – SHyMet Forecasters individual class/session breakdown through Sept. 27, 2010 (for “online” training only).
Individual SHyMet Forecasters Session Metrics – Registered through LMS:
SHyMet Intern course (Development Plan)
The SHyMet Intern course continues to be offered online. It consists of 9 modules
(http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/shymet/intern_intro.asp ).
SHyMet Intern Metrics: CIRA/VISIT Registered:
13 NOAA/NWS employees/participants have registered at CIRA this quarter (July 2010 – Sept. 2010) for the SHyMet Intern Course (253 total for April 2006 through Sept. 27, 2010) 10 Participants completed the course this quarter for a total of 119 registered completions.
1 Non-NOAA participants (International) have registered at CIRA this quarter for the SHyMet Intern Course. (30 total for April 2006 – Sept. 27, 2010) There were no completions this quarter.
SHyMet Intern – NOAA-Learning Management System (LMS) Registered:
Overall NOAA LMS – SHyMet Intern individual class/session breakdown through
Sept. 27, 2010 (for “online” training only).
Individual SHyMet Intern Session Metrics – Registered through LMS:
Progress on new SHyMet for Hydrologists training course:
The SHyMet Remote Sensing for Hydrology course is beginning to take shape.
As of the February 2010 meeting, the SHyMet team is looking at five areas of focus:
Background:
1) Satellite Applications of QPE/QPF
2) Summary of Hydrology needs with respect to Remote Sensing (including aspects of soil moisture, flooding, land use, vegetation coverage, and watershed characteristics
3) National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC) snow melt assessment process
Examples and Real time applications
4) Feature ID
5) Ice and Snow – How to detect it and use it in the hydrology process
Further work necessitates working closely with the Hydrologist at NOAA/ NWS/ OCWWS Training Division in Boulder, forecasters at the River Forecast Centers (RFC) and researchers at NOHRSC .
(B. Connell, D. Bikos, J. Braun)
Training was provided to National Hurricane Center (NHC) personnel on the GOES-R Proving Ground products being provided to NHC via webinar. Topics covered were Proving Ground overview, logistics, GOES-R overview, Red-Green-Blue Dust & Air Mass products, rapid intensification index with lightning, and Google Earth. Other participants were C. Velden (CIMSS) and J. Dunion (U. Miami, NOAA/HRD) who discussed the Hurricane Intensity Estimator (HIE) and the Saharan Dust Layer RGB product, respectively. (J. Knaff, R. Brummer, B.Connell)
Monthly International Weather Briefings The WMO Virtual Laboratory Regional Focus Group of the Americas and Caribbean conducted 2 monthly English and Spanish weather briefings (for August, and September 2010) through VISITview using GOES and POES satellite Imagery from CIRA (http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/rmtc/focusgroup.asp ) and voice via Yahoo Messenger. There were participants from the U.S.: CIRA, and the NWS Training Division, as well as outside the U.S.: Antigua, Argentina, Barbados, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guyana, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The participants included researchers and students as well as forecasters. The discussions were well attended with an average of 19 computer connections and multiple participants at many sites. Vilma Castro in Costa Rica led the discussion during August. Kathy-Ann Caesar in Barbados provided comments on the local indirect effects of tropical storm Danielle. Matias Bertolotti from Argentina pointed out the dry regions in South America and commented on fires and widespread smoke. This led to a broader discussion of la Niña conditions, how long they are expected to last and what countries also expect under el Niño conditions. During September, Kathy-Ann Caesar in Barbados provided comments on the tutt induced trough that formed the previous day and was producing heavy showers and thundershowers over the region from Trinidad to Dominica. This area of invest moved west in the Caribbean and became tropical storm Matthew. During both sessions, participants provided comments on local and regional current weather phenomena. (B. Connell)
During the last three months, Barbados has also been conducting bi-monthly briefings for the Eastern Caribbean to introduce forecasters in training to the operational forecasters from the region. CIRA has been assisting with the logistics of the sessions and providing imagery through the RAMMB server listed above. (B. Connell)
Sharing of Imagery and Products
Imagery for Central and South America and the Caribbean can now be viewed at one location through RAMSDIS Online – look for the new 2-week archive feature (thanks Kevin!): (http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/ramsdis/online/rmtc.asp).
Look for information on our activities on the Regional Training Center web page. http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/rmtc/
(B. Connell, D. Coleman, D. Watson, K. Micke)
GOES-15 Science Test Presentation: D. Hillger presented slides on behalf of himself and Tim Schmit (via teleconference) to a GOES-15 Science Test Plan Review on 28 July 2010. The Review was arranged by L. Cambardella of OSDPD. The slides covered the Science Test Plan and Test Schedules and preliminary results to date. The GOES-15 Science Test starts on 11 August and ends 15 September 2010. The GOES-15 Science Test website http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/projects/goes-p/ will contain the available test schedules, the schedules that will be called each day, and preliminary results of the Science Test. (D. Hillger)
GOES-15 Science Test Preparations: D. Hillger participated in two tele/web-conferences related to the GOES-15 Science Test. Both meetings were related to stray light issues for the GOES-15 Sounder. Discussions in one meeting surrounded the use of some of the Science Test time for special scans related to stray light issues, which are affecting the Sounder instrument operating temperature and the resulting noise and quality of the Sounder data. There was discussion of delaying the start, or extending the length, of the Science Test to accommodate these extra tests, but the solution is to allow for special stray-light sectors between 0400 and 0800 UTC daily whenever the GOES-east and GOES-west emulation schedules are called. In the meantime, a CONUS-sized hurricane sector has been added to the selection of Science Test schedules. The hurricane sector is needed to collect imagery to satisfy tropical cyclone field programs taking place during the Science Test. See the GOES-15 Science Test website http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/projects/goes-p/ for the available test schedules, the schedules that will be called each day, and preliminary results of the Science Test. (D. Hillger)
GOES-15 Data Archive Problem: In order to help with the GOES-15 stray light tests (mentioned above), CIRA is providing selected GOES-15 data to E. Kerby at ITT. Imager data for special GOES-15 scans were provided, but the requested Sounder data were unavailable due to a problem with the archive. The problem was discovered as a result of this request for data. D. Molenar is working on resolving this issue. (D. Hillger, D. Molenar)
The GOES-15 Science Test: The GOES-15 Science Test, which started on 11 August 2010 and will continue through at least 15 September 2010, is well into its data collection and analysis. Six of the eight different test schedules have been called to date, with the first hurricane data taken for Tropical Storm Danielle, via both a larger 5-minute sector and a much smaller sector of 1-minute rapid-scan imagery. See the GOES-15 Science Test website http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/projects/goes-p/ for the available test schedules, the schedules that are called each day, and preliminary results of the Science Test. Recent additions to the Science Test page include images of Tropical Storm Danielle, as also seen in the attached images. The Science Test is co-lead by D. Hillger (STAR/RAMMB) and T. Schmit (STAR/ASPB). (D. Hillger)
Figure 1: GOES-15 1 km visible and 4 km IR images of Tropical Storm Danielle on 24 August 2010 at 2002 UTC. These were the first 1-minute rapid-scan data collected during the GOES-15 Science Test. (Images courtesy of D. Lindsey, STAR/RAMMB.)
To Accepted and Submitted Publications To Awards To Presentations
Published:
Finch, J., and D.Bikos, 2010: A long-lived tornadic supercell over Colorado and Wyoming 22 May 2008. Electronic J. Severe Storms Meteor., 5:5, 1-27.
Fromm, M., D.T. Lindsey, R. Servranckx, G. Yue, T. Trickl, R. Sica, P. Doucet, S. Godin-Beekmann, 2010: The Untold Story of Pyrocumulonimbus. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 91:9, 1193–1209. doi: 10.1175/2010BAMS3004.1
Goni, G.J., J.A. Knaff, and I-I Lin, 2010: TC heat potential (TCHP) [in “State of the Climate in 2009”]. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 91:6, S99-S100.
Hillger, D.W., and T.J. Schmit, 2010: The GOES-14 Science Test: Imager and Sounder Radiance and Product Validations. NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 131, 1-119.
Lindsey, D.T, S.D. Miller, L.D. Grasso, 2010: The impacts of the 9 April 2009 dust and smoke on convection. Bull. Amer. Met. Soc., 91:8, 991-995.
Setvak, M., D. T. Lindsey, P. Novak, P. K. Wang, M. Radova, J. Kerkmann, L. Grasso, S. Su, R. M. Rabin, J. Stastka, and Z. Charvat, 2010: Satellite-observed cold-ring-shaped features atop deep convective clouds. Atmos. Research, 97, July 2010, p. 80-96, doi: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2010.03.009.
Ardanuy, P.E., P.A. Arkin, M. DeMaria, W. Feltz, R.R. Ferraro, J. Gerth, S.J. Goodman, A. Huang, G.J. Jedlovec, D. Jones, G. Mandt, A. Nappi, and S.D. Miller, 2010: AWIPS II: platform of choice for next-generation satellite system-of-systems integration and operational use. 17th AMS Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography, Annapolis MD, September 27-October 1.
Finch, J.D., D. Bikos, 2010: A Long-Lived Tornadic Supercell over Colorado and Wyoming, 22 May 2008.AMS / NWA 14th High Plains Conference in Dodge City, KS, 11-13 August.
Connell, B.H., D. Bikos, J. Braun, A. Mostek, and M. DeMaria:, 2010: A Fifteen Year Perspective on National and International Training Directed Towards Forecasters. 17th AMS Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography, Annapolis MD, September 27-October 1.
Combs, C.L., R. Mazur, M. Nordquist, and D.A. Molenar, 2010: An effort to improve marine stratus forecasts using satellite cloud climatologies for the Eureka, CA region. 17th AMS Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography, Annapolis MD, September 27-October 1.
DeMaria, M., J.A., Knaff, R. DeMaria, J. Kaplan, and N. Demetriades, 2010: Application of Lightning Measurements to Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensity Change Forecasting. 17th AMS Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography, Annapolis MD, September 27-October 1.
Guch, I., and M. DeMaria, 2010: GOES-R Risk Reduction Program. 17th AMS Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography, Annapolis MD, September 27-October 1.
Gurka, J.J., S.J. Goodman, T.J. Schmit, C. Siewart, J.L. Bevin and M. DeMaria, 2010: GOES-R proving ground plans for the 2010 hurricane season at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) spring experiment. 17th AMS Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography, Annapolis MD, September 27-October 1.
Jankov, I., L.D. Grasso, M. Sengupta, P.J. Neiman, D. Zupanski, M. Zupanski, D.T. Lindsey, D.W. Hillger, D.L. Birkenheuer, R.L. Brummer and H. Yuan, 2010: An evaluation of five WRF-ARW microphysics schemes using synthetic GOES imagery for an atmospheric river event affecting the California coast, 17th AMS Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography, Annapolis MD, September 27-October 1.
Schmit, T.J., D.W. Hillger, A.S. Bachmeier, and M.M. Gunshor, 2010: NOAA Science Test Results from the GOES-14 and -15 Imager and Sounder, 17th AMS Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography, Annapolis MD, September 27-October 1.
Seybold, M., M. Turk, M. DeMaria, J.A. Knaff, A. Schumacher, C. Velden, T. Olander, E. Ebert, S.Q. Kidder, and R. Kuligowski, 2010: Operational Tropical Cyclone Satellite Products Available from NOAA/NESDIS/OSDPD. 17th AMS Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography, Annapolis MD, September 27-October 1.
Setvak, M., A. Sokol, D.T. Lindsey, K. Bedka, and J. Stastka, 2010: Study of convective storm top features using data from the A-Train satellites. EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference, 20-24 September, Cordoba, Spain..
Stastka, J., M. Setvak, M. Radova, D.T. Lindsey, and A. Sokol, 2010: Moisture detection above convective storms utilizing the method of brightness temperature differences between water vapour and IR window bands, based on 2008 MSG Rapid Scan Service data, EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference, 20-24 September, Cordoba, Spain..
Doesken, N.J., J.F. Weaver, and M. Osecky, 2010: Microscale aspects of rainfall patterns as measured by a local volunteer network. National Weather Digest.
Grasso, L.D., and D.T. Lindsey, 2010: An Example of the use of Synthetic 3.9 µm GOES-12 Imagery for Two-Moment Microphysical Evaluation. International Journal of Remote Sensing.
Knaff, J.A., D. P. Brown, J. Courtney, G. M. Gallina, J. L. Beven II, 2010: An Evaluation of Dvorak Technique-Based Tropical Cyclone Intensity Estimates. Weather and Forecasting.
Schumacher, R., D.T. Lindsey, A.Schumacher, S. Miller, J. Demuth, J. Braun, 2010: Meteorology, Climatology, and the Communication and Interpretation of Weather Information During the 22 May, 2008 Weld County Tornado. Weather and Forecasting.
Setvak, M., D.T. Lindsey, R.M. Rabin, P.K. Wang, and A. Demeterova, 2010: Possible moisture plume above a deep convective storm on 28 June 2005 in MSG-1 imagery. Weather Review .
Setvák, M., M. Radová, P. Novák, D.T. Lindsey, L. Grasso, P. K. Wang, Shih-Hao Su, R. M. Rabin, J. Kerkmann, J. Šťástka, Z. Charvát, and H. Kyznarová, 2010: Convective storms with a cold-ring shaped cloud top feature. Atmos. Research.
Sherman-Morris, K., A. Schumacher, S. Drobot and K. McNeal, 2010: Hurricane Preparedness and Response among Pet Care Providers along the Gulf Coast: An Investigation of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters.
Zupanski, D., M. Zupanski, L. Grasso, R. Brummer, I. Jankov, D. Lindsey, M. Sengupta and M. DeMaria, 2010: Assimilating synthetic GOES-R radiances in cloudy conditions using an ensemble-based method. International Journal of Remote Sensing. (Submitted revised).
Brennan, M.J., D.P. Brown and M. DeMaria, 2011: Verification of National Weather Service tropical cyclone intensity probabilities and future plans. AMS 24th Conference on Weather and Forecasting/20th Conference on Numerical Weather Prediction, 23-27 January, Seattle, WA.
Connell, B.H., D. Bikos, J. Braun, A. S. Bachmeier, S. S. Lindstrom, A. Mostek, M. DeMaria, and T. J. Schmit, 2011: Training for GOES-R directed towards forecasters. AMS Seventh Annual Symposium on Future Operational Environmental Satellite Systems, 23-27 January, Seattle, WA.
Connell, B.H., and L. Veeck, 2011: New forecaster training paradigm for GOES-R? AMS Seventh Annual Symposium on Future Operational Environmental Satellite Systems. 23-27 January, Seattle, WA.
DeMaria, M., J.A Knaff, M J. Brennan, J.L. Beven, R T. DeMaria, A B. Schumacher, J. Kaplan, and N.W.S. Demetriades, 2011: Tropical cyclone rapid intensity change forecasting using lightning data during the 2010 GOES-R Proving Ground at the National Hurricane Center. AMS Fifth Conference on the Meteorological Applications of Lightning Data, 23-27 January, Seattle, WA.
Gurka, J.J., S.J. Goodman, T.J. Schmit, A. Mostek, S.D. Miller, A.S. Bachmeier, M. DeMaria, and B. Reed, 2011: GOES-R proving ground: plans for 2011 and beyond.AMS Seventh Annual Symposium on Future Operational Environmental Satellite Systems. 23-27 January, Seattle, WA.
Hamill, T.M., B. Brown, M. DeMaria, Z. Toth, R.L. Gall, and E. Rappaport, 2011: New ensemble-based products for tropical cyclones AMS 24th Conference on Weather and Forecasting/20th Conference on Numerical Weather Prediction, 23-27 January, Seattle, WA.
Hansen, J., C. R. Sampson, P. A. Wittmann, M. DeMaria, and J.A. Knaff, 2011: Covarying TC-forced wind speed/wave height probabilities. AMS 24th Conference on Weather and Forecasting/20th Conference on Numerical Weather Prediction, 23-27 January, Seattle, WA.
Hillger, D.W., L.D..Grasso, R. Brummer, and R.T. DeMaria, 2011: GOES-R ABI true-color capability. AMS Seventh Annual Symposium on Future Operational Environmental Satellite Systems. 23-27 January, Seattle, WA.
Hillger, D.W., T.J. Schmit, A.S. Bachmeier, M.M. Gunshor, J.A. Knaff, and D.T. Lindsey, 2011: NOAA science test results from the GOES-14 and -15 imager and sounder. AMS Seventh Annual Symposium on Future Operational Environmental Satellite Systems. 23-27 January, Seattle, WA.
Jankov I., L.D Grasso, M. Sengupta, P.J. Neiman, D. Zupanski, M. Zupanski, D.T. Lindsey, and R.L. Brummer, 2009: An Evaluation of Five WRF-ARW Microphysics Schemes Using Synthetic GOES Imagery for an Atmospheric River Event Affecting the California Coast. Journal of Hydrometeorology.
Knaff, J.A., and B. Harper, 2010: Tropical Cyclone Surface Wind Structure and Wind-Pressure Relationships. International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones (IWTC-7) Meeting, La Reunion, France, 15-20 November.
Musgrave, K.D., M. DeMaria, B.D. McNoldy, and R.T. DeMaria, 2011: On the display of tropical cyclone model ensemble structure information. AMS Conference on More Effectively Communicating the Science of Tropical Climate and Tropical Cyclones. 23-27 January, Seattle, WA.
Reed, B., C. W. Siewert, R. S. Schneider, G. L. Hufford, B. Entwhistle, M. DeMaria, D. Reynolds, and M.J. Brennan, 2011: GOES-R Proving Ground—Demonstrating GOES-R products in 2010. AMS 24th Conference on Weather and Forecasting/20th Conference on Numerical Weather Prediction, 23-27 January, Seattle, WA.
Szoke,E.J., R.L. Brummer, H. Gosden, S.D. Miller, M. DeMaria, and D.A. Molenar, 2011: An overview of CIRA’s contribution to the GOES-R Proving Ground. AMS Seventh Annual Symposium on Future Operational Environmental Satellite Systems. 23-27 January, Seattle, WA.
Grasso, L.D., D.W. Hillger, M. Sengupta, 2010: Demonstrating the Utility of the GOES-R 2.25 µm band for Fire Retrieval. Geophysical Research Letters.
Knaff, J.A., and B. Harper, 2010: Tropical Cyclone Surface Wind Structure and Wind-Pressure Relationships. IWTC-7 Meeting that will be held in La Reunion, France 15-20 November
Lazzara, M.A., S.A. Ackerman, D.W. Hillger, 2010: Detecting Fog over Antarctia from Satellite. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology.
Rappaport, E.N., J.L. Franklin, A.B. Schumacher, M. DeMaria, L.K. Shay, E.J. Gibney, 2010: Tropical cyclone intensity change before U.S. Gulf coast landfall. Wea. and Forecasting
Sampson, C.R., J. Kaplan, J.A. Knaff, M. DeMaria, C.A. Sisko, 2010: A Deterministic Rapid Intensification Aid. Note in Wea. Forecasting.
Van Cleave, D., J.F. Dostalek, and T. Vonder Haar, 2010: The Dynamics and Snowfall Characteristics of Three Types of Extratropical Cyclone Comma Heads Categorized by Infrared Satellite Imagery. Weather and Forecasting.
Alaska Aviation and Volcanic Ash Workshop: 20-24, September 2010, Anchorage, AK. An oral presentation was given and entitled Volcanoes, Volcanic Ash,Training and Future GOES-R Products. Authors:J. Braun, L.D Grasso, D.W. Hillger.
AMS/NWA High PlainsConference, Dodge City, KS. Two oral presentations on tornado cases from the spring of 2010 in collaboration with J. Finch (NWS Dodge City, KS), D. Bikos
CoRP 7th Annual Science Symposium, 10-12 August 2010, Fort Collins, CO. An oral presentation was given entitled A New Look at the Split-Window Difference for Diagnosing Low-Level Moisture Convergence. Authors: D.T. Lindsey, L.D. Grasso.
Grasso, L.D., D.W. Hillger R. Brummer, and R. DeMaria, 2010: Synthetic GOES-R Imagery of Agricultural Burning and Forest Wildfires. 29th AMS Conference on Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 2-6 August 2010, Keystone, CO.
Posters:
Lindsey, D.T., 2010: A Statistical Hail Prediction Product. 25th AMS Conference on Severe Local Storms. October 11-15, Denver, CO.
| Traveler Destination Purpose Funding Dates |
| L. Veeck | Beijing, PRC | WMO Workshop | WMO | 10-17 July |
| B. Connell | Beijing, PRC | WMO Workshop | WMO | 10-17 July |
| S. Kidder | Honolulu, HI | High Latitude Conference | Proving Ground | 26-31 July |
| M. DeMaria | Honolulu, HI | High Latitude Conference | GOES-R | 23-31 July |
| D. Chand | Keystone, CO | AMS Wind Conference | Proving Ground | 31 July-2 August |
| L. Grasso | Keystone, CO | AMS Agriculture and Forest Meteorology | GOES-R | 2-7 August |
| M. DeMaria | Washington, DC | GIMPAP Review | GIMPAP | 2-6 August |
| A. Schumacher | Fort Collins, CO | CoRP Science Symposium | CorP | 2-12 August |
| K. Howell | Asheville, NC | NCDC Visit | Student Exchange | 10-13 August |
| D. Bikos | Dodge City, KS | 14th High Plains Conference | VISIT | 11-13 August |
| D. Lindsey | Prague, CR | EUMETSAT Workshop | EUMETSAT | 13-21 August |
| K. Maclay | Fort Collins, CO | Dissertation work | HFIP | 16-20 August |
| K. Musgrave | Boulder, CO | NUOPC/NCAR | HFIP | 16-18 August |
| K. Musgrave | Boulder, CO | HFIP Meeting | HFIP | 1 September |
| M. DeMaria | Miami, FL | NHC and HRD Visits | HFIP | 7-14 September |
| J. Braun | Anchorage, AK | Aviation/Volcanic Ash Conference | VISIT | 19-24 September |
| D. Molenar | Boulder, CO | Fred Pryor Seminar | HFIP | 20-21 September |
| B. Connell | Annapolis, MD | AMS Satellite Meteorology Conference | SHyMet | 25-30 September |
| C. Combs | Annapolis, MD | AMS Satellite Meteorology Conference | GIMPAP | 26-30 September |
| M. DeMaria | Annapolis, MD | AMS Satellite Meteorology Conference | SHyMet | 26-30 September |
Return to the current RAMMB CIRA Quarterly Report
Dudley Chelton of the Cooperative Institute for Oceanographic Satellite Studies visited CIRA as part of his trip to Fort Collins to attend the 7th Annual CoRP Science Symposium held in August. He met with CIRA staff to discuss the joint project with CIRA researching the effect the Gulfstream has on the overlying atmosphere. (J. Dostalek)
Garry Toth, meteorologist with the Hydrometeorology and Arctic National Lab, Meteorological Service of Canada, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, presented an informal seminar at CIRA on 16 July 2010. The title of the seminar was “A Journey with the Meteorological Service of Canada,” outlining Toth’s long and varied meteorological career. The seminar outlined many aspects of the Meteorological Service of Canada, also known as Atmospheric Environment Service for many years. Toth has also collaborated with D. Hillger on numerous published articles relating to various aspects meteorological philately ranging from weather satellites and weather instruments, to climate and the history of meteorology and meteorologists on postage stamps. (D. Hillger)
M. Fiorino (NOAA/ESRL) visited CIRA the week of September 6th to collaborate on HFIP related work. He met with K. Musgrave and B. McNoldy to discuss model diagnostics and the development of a statistical TC intensity ensemble using output from the various global models. He also met with J. Knaff to discuss statistical intensity model development plans in the West Pacific and the testing of IR-base flight-level proxy winds as super-observations in experimental EKF initialization system at ESRL.
NASA/NOAA Joint GOES-15 Acceptance Press Release: Control of GOES-15 has been turned over from NASA to NOAA on 1 September 2010. The NASA and NOAA joint GOES-15 acceptance press release is found at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/GOES-P/news/goes-p-ready.html. The press release includes an image provided by NOAA/CIRA, as attached below. A NOAA news item found at http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100901_goes15.html tells a similar story, but with a full-disk image provided by CIMSS. (D. Hillger, D. Lindsey)
Figure: GOES-15 1 km full-disk visible image of Hurricane Danielle, Tropical Storm Earl, and a third tropical wave as seen on 27 August 2010 at 1800 UTC.
This image was specifically labeled for the NASA/NOAA press release.
The 2010 CoRP Science Symposium was hosted by CIRA and held August 10-11 in Fort Collins, CO. About forty participants took part, including students and researchers from Oregon, Wisconsin, New York, Puerto Rico, Virginia, Maryland, and Colorado. The theme of this year’s symposium was Satellite Applications to Mesoscale Meteorology and Oceanography, and we had a variety of talks and posters covering these topics. (D. Lindsey, A. Schumacher, K. Fryer)
Figure. Participants at the 2010 CoRP Science Symposium held in Ft. Collins, CO.
As co-chair of the Image, Cloud and Aerosol Product Oversight Panel (ICAPOP), D. Lindsey provided a briefing to the Satellite Product and Services Review Board (SPSRB). The primary purpose for the briefing was to bring up issues raised by STAR developers in the research to operations transition process, including the ESPC freeze, OSDPD hardware, Linux v/s AIX architecture, product quality assurance, etc. We hope to assist in resolving many of these problems frequently encountered by the product developers. (D. Lindsey)
The RAMMB watched “Broken Rainbow” about the plight of Navaho and Hopi peoples in their struggle with the US government in the 1970s and 1980s. This satisfies the diversity training of each branch member. (M. DeMaria, D. Hillger, D. Molenar, D. Lindsey, J. Knaff)