JPSS-1 launched on 18 November 2017 and has been designated NOAA-20. The National Weather Service (NWS) Satellite Foundational Course for JPSS (SatFC-J) is now available and contains 13 short training modules to bring forecasters, the scientific community, and others up-to-date on the capabilities of the JPSS/NOAA-20 satellite. The SatFC-J course was designed by the National Weather Service satellite training advisory team (STAT) which consists of science operations officers from five regions, satellite liaisons, and representatives from the NWS Office of the Chief Learning Officer (OCLO). Training developers included the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), COMET, the Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center (SPoRT),and OCLO.
The JPSS satellite series introduces a variety of new and improved capabilities compared to previous NOAA satellites. The objective of this course is to address training needs associated with this next generation satellite. Specifically, topics will include an introduction to microwave remote sensing as well as improvements in the infrared imagers and sounders that address a broad range of applications. Highlights include improved precipitation applications and atmospheric temperature and moisture retrievals for real time applications and input to numerical models. The intended audience is forecasters but anyone is welcome to participate.
If you are a NOAA employee, register for this course via the NOAA/NWS Commerce Learn Center.
For non-NOAA users taking the SHyMet version, register for the course by sending an email containing your name to: nws.oaa.clo.shymet AT noaa.gov
Be sure to indicate you are registering for the SatFC-J course.
After you’ve registered via email, we will reply to you with setup instructions on how to complete the course. After taking all of the lessons you will need to pass a quiz for each course section. The expected completion time of taking the entire course (which includes all the modules, quiz completion and orientation) is 6 to 8 hours.
SatFC-J course orientation (expected completion time 30 minutes)
A series of proof of concept videos are available for this course. These are not training modules for the course, rather, they serve as optional supplemental information to the SatFC-J course with the intent of demonstrating the utility of JPSS data and products in operational forecasting.
Click the column heading at the top to reorder the columns – double click to switch ascending titles to descending.
| Title | Topic | Instructor | Developed | Updated | Length (min) | WMO Sat Skill(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Microwave Remote Sensing | Sat FC-J |
|
2018 | 25 | ||
| Oxygen and Water Vapor Absorption Bands | Sat FC-J |
|
2018 | 30 | ||
| Microwave Surface Emissivity | Sat FC-J |
|
2018 | 25 | ||
| Influence of Clouds and Precipitation | Sat FC-J |
|
2018 | 25 | ||
| Orbits and Data Availability |
|
2018 | 20 | |||
| The VIIRS Imager |
|
2018 | 35 | |||
| The CrIS and ATMS Sounders |
|
2018 | 45 | |||
| The AMSR2 Microwave Imager |
|
2018 | 30 | |||
| NASA GPM Overview | Sat FC-J |
|
2018 | 25 | ||
| Uses of VIIRS Imagery | Sat FC-J |
|
2018 | 25 | ||
| The VIIRS Day / Night Band |
|
2018 | 25 | |||
| NUCAPS Soundings | Sat FC-J |
|
2018 | 20 | ||
| Impact of Satellite Observations on NWP |
|
2017 | 30 |
The JPSS satellite series will introduce a variety of new and improved capabilities compared to previous NOAA satellites. The objective of this course is to address training needs associated with this next generation of polar orbiting satellites. Specifically, topics will include an introduction to JPSS highlighting improved spatial and temporal resolution and additional new channels that will be available followed by products and imagery that address a broad range of applications. The intended audience is forecasters but anyone is welcome to participate. Since the training content is entirely web-based, the student may take the training whenever they wish.
1. Provide a general introduction to microwave remote sensing.
2. Learn about the importance of oxygen and water vapor absorption regions in the microwave spectrum as related to obtaining temperature and moisture profiles.
3. Learn about microwave surface emissivity and how it relates to characterization of different surfaces across the Earth.
4. Understand how microwave sensors provide moisture, cloud properties and precipitation information against different surface backgrounds.
5. Describe relative orbits of various low earth orbiting satellites and understand the implications on product coverage and availability.
6. Describe relative orbits of various low earth orbiting satellites and understand the implications on product coverage and availability.
7. Understand some aspects of the VIIRS imager, including imaging strategy, resolution, spectral bands and key applications.
8. Understand the capabilities of the CrIS and ATMS Sounder instruments and identify key products.
9. Understand the capabilities of the AMSR2 microwave imager instrument and identify key products.
10. Describe key features of the GPM mission and its data products and explain their potential impact on forecast operations.
11. Explore a variety of VIIRS imagery applications.
12. Describe the utility of the Day Night Band and derived Near-Constant Contrast products
13. Understand how NUCAPS soundings are obtained, data coverage, availability and forecasting applications
14. Describe the impact of satellite observatoins on NWP analyses and forecasts
NOAA employees should take the SatFC-J course via the NOAA Commerce Learn Center (CLC) so that they receive training credit on the CLC.
Yes. The orientation module should be taken first. After the orientation, the Introduction to Microwave Remote Sensing section modules should be taken in order before any of the other modules since they serve as background material.
Yes. However, you will not receive credit for completion of the SHyMet: SatFC-J course. We are unable to provide training credit for an individual module / lesson.
Around 6 to 8 hours. This includes additional time beyond just the length of the video associated with each module to include time for comprehension, time to complete the quizzes and time to take the course orientation. This estimate does not include time to view the optional proof of concept videos.
Unless otherwise noted, all content on the CIRA RAMMB: VISIT, SHyMet and VLab webpages are released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.