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RAMMB-CIRA Administrative Quarterly Report


4th Quarter: July, August, September 2016

Publications

To Accepted and Submitted Publications  To Presentations and Posters To Awards

Published:

  • Refereed

Goni, G. J, J. A. Knaff, and I – I. Lin, 2016: [The Tropics] Tropical Cyclone Heat Content [in NOAA “State of the Climate in 2015”]. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 97(7), S120-S123. DOI:10.1175/2016BAMSStateoftheClimate.1 file:///C:/Users/fryer/Downloads/StateoftheClimate2015_lowres.pdf

  • Nonrefereed

See Presentations and Posters.

Accepted:

  • Refereed

Boukabara, S., et. al. (including D. T. Lindsey and L. D. Grasso), 2016: S4: An O2R/R2O Infrastructure of Optimizing Satellite Data Utilization in NOAA Numerical Modeling Systems. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Grasso, L. D., D. T. Lindsey, K. -S. Lim, A. Clark, D. E. Bikos, 2016: Evaluation of and Suggested Improvements to the WSM6 Microphysics in WRF-ARW Using Synthetic and Observed GOES-13 Imagery. Mon.Wea.Rev.

Kliewer, A. J., S. J. Fletcher, A. S. Jones and J. M. Forsythe, 2016:  Comparison of Gaussian, logarithmic transform and mixed Gaussian-lognormal distribution-based 1DVAR microwave temperature-water vapor mixing ratio retrievals.  Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, doi:10.1002/qj.2651.

Lang, T. J., S. A. Rutledge, B. Dolan, P. Krehbiel, W. Rison, D. T. Lindsey, 2016: Lightning in Wildfire Smoke Plumes Observed in Colorado during Summer 2012. Mon.Wea.Rev.

Sampson, C. R., J. Hansen, P. Wittman, J. A. Knaff, and A. B. Schumacher, 2016: Wave probabilities consistent with official tropical cyclone forecasts. Weather and Forecasting. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/WAF-D-15-0093.1

Wu, T. -C.. M. Zupanski, L. D. Grasso, P. Brown, C. Kummerow, and J. A. Knaff, 2016: The GSI capability to assimilate TRMM and GPM hydrometeor retrievals in HWRF. Quarterly Journal of The Royal Meteorological Society. DOI: 10.1002/qj.2867.

  • Nonrefereed

Submitted:

  • Refereed 

Grasso, L. D., D. W. Hillger, M. Sengupta, 2016:  Demonstrating the Utility of the GOES-R 2.25 µm band for Fire Retrieval. Geophysical Research Letters.

Knaff, J. A., C. Sampson, G. Chirokova, 2016: A Global Statistical-Dynamical Tropical Cyclone Wind Radii Forecast Scheme. Wea. Forecasting.

Noh, Y. – J., J. M. Forsythe, S. D. Miller, C. J. Seaman, Y. Li, A. K. Heidinger, D. T. Lindsey, M. Rogers, and P. Partain: Cloud Base Height Estimation from VIIRS. Part II: A Statistical Algorithm Based on A-Train Satellite Data. J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech.

Rivoire, L., T. Birner, and J. A. Knaff, 2016: Evolution of the Upper-level Thermal Structure in Tropical Cyclones. Geophysical Research Letters.

Seaman, C. J., Y. – J. Noh, S. D. Miller, A. K. Heidinger and D. T. Lindsey: Cloud Base Height Estimation from VIIRS. Part I: Operational Algorithm Validation Against CloudSat. J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech.

Taraphdar, S., L. R. Leung, S. Hagos, K. Balaguru, and J. A. Knaff, 2016: A New Mechanism for the Recent U.S. Landfalling Major Hurricane Drought. Nature Geoscience.

  • Nonrefereed 

Knaff, J. A., C. Sampson, B Strahl, 2016: A consensus approach to operationally estimate and forecast tropical cyclone wind radii. International workshop on measuring high-wind speeds over the ocean. 15-17 November, Meteorological Office, Exeter, UK (oral presentation)

Knaff, J. A., 2016: Synthetic hurricane wind fields based on modeled winds and infrared imagery: Method, results, and potential applications. International workshop on measuring high-wind speeds over the ocean. 15-17 November, Meteorological Office, Exeter, UK (poster presentation)

Musgrave, K. D., 2016: Synthetic hurricane wind fields based on modeled winds and infrared imagery: Method, results, and potential applications. International workshop on measuring high-wind speeds over the ocean. 15-17 November, Meteorological Office, Exeter, UK (poster presentation)

Noh, Y. J., S. D. Miller, C. J. Seaman, J. Forsythe, D. T. Lindsey, A. Heidinger and Y. Li, 2016: Improvement of Satellite Cloud Base Height and Cloud Cover/Layer Products. Australia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite User’s Conference (AOMSUC), held jointly with the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) Satellite User’s Conference, 24-27 October, Incheon, South Korea.

Seaman, C. J., S. D. Miller, D. T. Lindsey and D. W. Hillger, 2016: Multi-spectral Imagery for the New Generation Geostationary Satellites: Applications for AHI, ABI and AMI. Australia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite User’s Conference (AOMSUC), held jointly with the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) Satellite User’s Conference, 24-27 October, Incheon, South Korea.

Solbrig, J., S. D. Miller, R. Holz, J. Jiang, J. Wang, S. van den Heever, S. Kriedenweis, M. Zupanski, S. Albers, M. Oo, A. Klewer, A. Igel, and S. Atwood, 2016: Use of Advanced Meteorological Sensors in gaining a Holistic Understanding of Aerosols in the Littoral Zone. Australia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite User’s Conference (AOMSUC), held jointly with the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) User’s Conference, 24-27 October, Incheon, South Korea.

Presentations and Posters:

Brummer, R. L., S. D. Miller, D. T. Lindsey, C. J. Seaman, E. J. Szoke, A. B. Schumacher, J. Torres, 2016: GOES-R and JPSS Satellite Proving Ground Activities at CIRA. 2016 EUMETSAT – Meteorological Satellite Conference. September 26-30, Darmstadt, Germany. (poster presentation by R. L. Brummer and S. D. Miller)

Chirokova, G., 2016: ATMS-MIRS Retrievals in Tropical Cyclone Environments: Evaluation and Applications. STAR JPSS Annual Science Team Meeting. 8-12 August, College Park, MD.

Dostalek, J. F., 2016: Using NUCAPS Retrievals to Diagnose Pre-Convective Environments over the United States. Joint 21st AMS Satellite Meteorology, Oceanography, and Climatology Conference, August15-18, Madison, WI.

Dostalek, J. F., 2016: Using Polar-Orbiting Satellites to Monitor the Upper Atmosphere for Cold Air Pockets that are Potentially Dangerous to Passenger Aircraft. (poster), Joint 21st AMS Satellite Meteorology, Oceanography, and Climatology Conference, August15-18, Madison, WI.

Dostalek, J. F., 2016: Using Polar-orbiting Satellites to Monitor the Upper Atmosphere for Cold Air Pockets that are Potentially Dangerous for Passenger Aircraft. National Weather Association (NWA) 41st Annual Meeting, September 11-16, Norfolk, VA.

Forsythe, J., 2016: A Multi-satellite Layered Water Vapor Product for Forecasters. National Weather Association (NWA) Annual Meeting. September 10-15, Norfolk, VA.

Forsythe, J., 2016: Stability and Interconsistency of Passive Microwave Products for the Weather and Climate Users. STAR JPSS Annual Science Team Meeting. 8-12 August, College Park, MD.

Forsythe, J., 2016: Using JPSS Retrievals to Implement a Multisensor, Synoptic, Layered Water Vapor Product for Forecasters. (poster), STAR JPSS Annual Science Team Meeting. 8-12 August, College Park, MD.

Hillger, D. W., 2016: Preparing for VIIRS Imagery from JPSS-1. Joint 21st AMS Satellite Meteorology, Oceanography, and Climatology Conference, August15-18, Madison, WI.

Hillger, D. W., 2016: VIIRS EDR Overview, STAR JPSS Annual Science Team Meeting. August 8-12, College Park, MD.

Miller, S. D., 2016: Advances in Day/Night Band Science and Applications: Making Good on Promises of the Moon. Joint 21st AMS Satellite Meteorology, Oceanography, and Climatology Conference, August15-18, Madison, WI.

Miller, S. D., 2016: Anticipating GOES-R ABI Multi-Spectral Imagery Capabilities via Himawari-8 AHI. 2016 EUMETSAT – Meteorological Satellite Conference. September 26-30, Darmstadt, Germany. (poster presentation)

Miller, S. D., 2016: Himawari-8 AHI Proves ‘Instrumental’ in Preparations for Enhanced GOES-R ABI Imagery Applications. Joint 21st AMS Satellite Meteorology, Oceanography, and Climatology Conference, August15-18, Madison, WI.

Miller, S. D. C. J. Seaman, D. T. Lindsey, 2016: Anticipating GOES-R ABI Multi-Spectral Value-Added Imagery Capabilities via Himawari-8 AHI. 2016 EUMETSAT – Meteorological Satellite Conference. September 26-30, Darmstadt, Germany. (oral presentation by S. D. Miller)

Noh, Y. – J., 2016: Activities of the Hydrology Initiative of the JPSS PGRR Program. STAR JPSS Annual Science Team Meeting. August 8-12, College Park, MD.

Seaman, C. J., S. D. Miller, W. Straka, 2016: Illuminating the Capabilities of the VIIRS Day/Night Band in the High Latitudes. 2016 EUMETSAT – Meteorological Satellite Conference. September 26-30, Darmstadt, Germany. (oral presentation by C. J. Seaman)

Seaman, C. J., S. D. Miller, 2016: Dynamic Scaling for the Optimized Display of VIIRS Day/Night Band Imagery. 2016 EUMETSAT – Meteorological Satellite Conference. September 26-30, Darmstadt, Germany. (poster presentation by C. J. Seaman)

Seaman, C. J., 2016: Tropical Cyclone uses of VIIRS. STAR JPSS Annual Science Team Meeting. August 8-12, College Park, MD.

Szoke, E. J., 2016: CIRA’s Current and Future Contributions to the GOES-R Proving Ground as we approach the Launch of GOES-R. (poster) STAR JPSS Annual Science Team Meeting. August 8-12, College Park, MD.

Torres, J., 2016: The Newly Operational VIIRS Cloud Base and CCL. STAR JPSS Annual Science Team Meeting. August 8-12, College Park, MD.

Awards:

Notes:  

Steve Miller at the 2016 EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference

Figure: Steve Miller giving his presentation about “Anticipating GOES-R ABI Multi-Spectral Value-Added Imagery
Capabilities via Himawari-8 AHI” at the 2016 EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference.

Travel

PurposeEUMETSAT Satellite Conference
DestinationDarmstadt, Germany
ParticipantsR. Brummer, S. Miller, C. Seaman
DatesSeptember 26-30
PurposeMcIDAS Installation
DestinationCollege Park, MD
ParticipantD. Molenar
DatesSeptember 12-14
PurposeNational Weather Association (NWA) Annual Meeting
DestinationNorfolk, VA
ParticipantsD. Bikos, J. Dostalek, J. Forsthye, E. Szoke, J. Torres
DatesSeptember 10-15
PurposeSOO Development Course
DestinationNorman, OK
ParticipantJ. Torres
DatesAugust 21-23
PurposeAviation Weather Center Testbed
DestinationKansas City, MO
ParticipantE. Szoke
DatesAugust 17-21
PurposeJoint 21st AMS Satellite Meteorology, Oceanography, and Climatology Conference
DestinationMadison, WI
ParticipantsB. Connell, J. Dostalek, D. Hillger, S. Miller, J. Solbrig, E. Szoke, J. Torres
DatesAugust 15-19
PurposeSTAR JPSS Annual Science Team Meeting
DestinationCollege Park, MD
ParticipantsG. Chirokova, D. Hillger, Y.-J. Noh, E. Szoke, J. Torres
DatesAugust 8-12

Visitors

AOML/HRD Visitor: John Kaplan (AOML/HRD) visited CIRA/RAMMB The week of September 29 and gave a seminar on the Rapid Intensification Index that is run at the National Hurricane Center (NHC), ‘Statistical Rapid Intensity Prediction: Implications of Recent Model Results’. The purpose of the visit was to coordinate work on the recently started JHT project, “Improvements to Operational Statistical Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecast Models Using Wind Structure and Eye Predictors.” In addition, John met with members of the tropical cyclone team and participated in meetings on coordinating operational transitions, tropical cyclone forecast guidance, GOES-16, and product development efforts that are shared between CIRA/RAMMB, AOML/HRD and NHC (M. DeMaria). We now have a plan for the 2018 hurricane season. (G. Chirokova (host), K. Musgrave, A. Schumacher, J. Dostalek, R. DeMaria, H. Gosden, CIRA, J. Knaff, D. Molenar)

Bob Rabin: Bob Rabin, a scientist from the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, OK, visited D. Lindsey on September 19. D. Lindsey has collaborated with Dr. Rabin for a number of years on many projects, most involving satellite observations of severe storms. (D. Lindsey)

Mike Stringer Visit: Mike Stringer, Acting Director of the GOES-R Program Office, visited CIRA on 14 September 2017. RAMMB and CIRA scientists met with Mike and provided an overview of the ongoing GOES-R-related research currently being conducted. (D. Lindsey, D. Hillger, J. Knaff)

Former STAR Director visits RAMMB: Dr. James Purdom visited RAMMB/CIRA on 9 August 2017. Dr. Purdom is a former STAR Director and current Senior Scientist Emeritus at CIRA/CSU. Dr. Purdom is collaborating with D. Molenar, D. Lindsey, and D. Hillger to develop techniques to analyze imagery from next generation weather satellites. Initial results will be presented at the 8th Asia/Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users’ Conference (AOMSUC-8) in October 2017. The presentation is titled “New tools for analyzing the new generation of geostationary satellite data.” New software was developed at RAMMB/CIRA to assist with the image analysis. (D. Molenar, D. Lindsey, D. Hillger)

Dr. Stephan Smith (MDL, Chief of Decision Support Branch and Director of NOAA VLab) visited CIRA on 2 August 2017. D. Hillger, R. Brummer, D. Lindsey, D. Molenar, E. Szoke, J. Torres, and D. Bikos met with Steve to discuss how CIRA utilizes the NOAA VLab. The VLab is utilized by the training group at CIRA to host the satellite help desk and the Satellite Training and Operations Resources communities. The latter is designed to be a one-stop shop for GOES-16 related training where training currently under development by CIRA staff (among others) will be placed. Michael Giebler also joined in the meeting, he is involved with development of the VLab. (D. Hillger, D. Lindsey, D. Molenar, R. Brummer, E. Szoke, J. Torres, D. Bikos)

Professor Udaysankar Nair (U. Alabama, Huntsville) visited J. Knaff the week of July 10. We discussed tropical cyclones interacting with the Tehuantepec gap winds, and automated detection of transverse bands. We plan to develop some collaborations in the future. (J. Knaff)

Steve Goodman: GOES-R Chief Scientist Steve Goodman visited CIRA on Monday July 10. A group meeting with all CIRA and RAMMB scientists currently working on GOES-R-related projects was held, and Dr. Goodman provided valuable feedback on the work. (D. Lindsey, D. Hillger, J. Knaff, D. Molenar)

Ed Hyre: NRL scientist Ed Hyre visited CIRA on 13 July 2017 and gave an informal presentation on the use of satellite-detected fires to feed into aerosol models. The discussion mainly focussed on the detection of fires with the possibility of using new spectral bands and better spatial resolution from VIIRS and GOES-16 to aid the fire analysis that has so far been mainly based on old GOES and MODIS. (D. Hillger, J. Solbrig, L. Grasso, C. Seaman, M. Zupanski, C. Combs)

Tom Blackmore: Funded by a GOES-R Visiting Scientist Project, Tom Blackmore from the UK Met Office in Exeter visited CIRA the week of July 10-14. Tom works in their satellite group and specializes in creating simulated satellite imagery from model output in order to compare with observed imagery, similar to some work that D. Lindsey and L. Grasso have done over the last several years. Tom is very interested in lessons learned from GOES-16 since Meteosat Third Generation will be launched in a few years. He also provided some good suggestions for better ways to compare simulated and observed imagery. (D. Lindsey, L. Grasso)