Presentation Content: SPoRT Program Data dissemination / display −AWIPS II applications −Web mapping services Local forecasting advances −Cloud services

Presentation Content:• SPoRT Program

• Data dissemination / display− AWIPS II applications− Web mapping services

• Local forecasting advances− Cloud services− NU-WRF

• UAVs and instruments for disasters and tropical weather

Infusing NASA Technologies into the NWS Weather Forecast Process

Dr. Gary Jedlovec, NASA / Marshall Space Flight Center

NASA’s Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Project

SPoRT is focused on transition of unique observations and research capabilities to the operational weather community, to improve 0-48 hour forecasts on the regional and local scale

• Activities began in 2002, with first NASA products in AWIPS in Feb 2003• Close collaborations with NWS and selected WFOs• Match forecast problems to capabilities / data, demonstrate in a “test

bed”, transition to operational system, and provide user training• Feedback from end user on utility of NASA products• End user involvement throughout the entire process

Testbed community

collaborators

end users

Impact, assessment

training

Transition

forecast problems

data, models

Research transition teams

collaborators

end users

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies

Partners Receiving DataSPoRT Partner WFOsNWS Regional HQsDirect Broadcast sites

SPoRT Partners and Collaborators


Partner with NOAA / OST, NESDIS, NWS Regions, Universities and WFOsCollaborate with WFOs and various National Centers

•In-depth collaborations with 14 WFOs, provide a suite of over 30 unique products, regular interactions and product assessments

•Close collaborations with NWS and selected WFOs• Science Advisory Committee suggest SPoRT consider expansion to other

regions – endorsed by NWS Science Services Division Chiefs−strategic, project focused, involve a few new WFOs in each Region−example – lake effect precipitation processes using MODIS / AMSR-E Great Lakes

water temperatures in forecast models

Use of NASA research data in the operational environment has immediate impact on NOAA mission and prepares forecasters for use of similar data / products from future NOAA operational measurements / products – JPSS, GOES-R

SPoRT Product Suite / NWS Forecast Challenges

Product Suite•Satellite – MODIS, AMSR-E, GOES

− high resolution imagery (vis, IR, WV)− spectral difference and RGB composites− moisture and cloud products− rain rate, blended TPW and high resol. SSTs− land surface products

Remote Sensing •Total lightning observationsSpecial analysis•Local mesonet data•NASA Land Information System

Forecast Challenges• timing and location of precipitation and severe

weather events• local temperatures and moisture variations• detection and monitoring of fog, smoke, fires• coastal weather processes • development / movement of off-shore precipitation

processes and tropical systems• gap filler in data void regions – atmospheric rivers

of moisture


Operational Uses of Total Lightning Data

Unique NASA Contributions• help develop and deploy several ground-

based total lightning networks• incorporation of total lightning data

within AWIPS/AWIPS 2 for overlay with traditional radar and other analyses

• develop training and product assessment• translate total lightning trends into

severe weather precursors• working with NOAA GOES-R Proving

Ground to demonstrate future capabilities from space


Pseudo GLM Flash Extent

LMA SourceDensities

Relevance to NWS Forecasters• Demonstrating application of ground-based total lightning networks in advance of future NOAA operational capabilities

(GOES-R GLM)• Most ground based systems do not effectively detect total lighting

Sea / Lake Surface Temperature Composites

Relevance to weather forecasting and coastal applications

• provide high resolution detail for coastal and marine forecasts

Unique SPoRT/NASA Contributions• high resolution (1km) MODIS and

AMSR-E composites – 4x daily• provides coverage throughout North

America and the tropics, depicts coastal and Gulf Stream gradients

• unique application over the Great Lakes that includes lake ice analyses from the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)

Forecast impact• cloud and precipitation processes in

sensitive to SST changes and spatial variations in coastal regions

−lake effect precipitation−coastal weather including tropical storm

impact

NOAA/GLERL Ice Mask


Future Direction

Continue to demonstrate utility of current and future NASA observations

Decision support systems• AWIPS / AWIPS2• Google Earth

JPSS (NPP / NPOESS)• VIIRS and CrIMSS data and products to WFOs

GOES-R•ABI and GLM applications

Expand partners and end users• Work more collaboratively with regional centers and other test beds• Expand to WFOs in other regions







Visible with Fire and Smoke Detections

AWIPS / AWIPS IIOne of the keys to successful transition is the availability of data / products in user decision support systems – AWIPS / AWIPS II

•SPoRT has developed procedures to ingest unique NASA data into AWIPS and shared these capabilities with community

• Developing unique plug-ins for AWIPS II environment−Ingest of unique research data into database, preserving highest resolution and

precision of the data (AWIPS – 8 bit; AWIPS II – 16 bit data storage)−Enhanced visualization – RGB channel composites, 3D displays, new product

integration•Partnered with private sector to explore collaboration tools which utilize

KML data structures in Google Earth

SPoRT Data

AWIPS IIDatabase

EDEX Plug-ins

CAVE Plug-ins

Enhanced IngestMcIDAS AREA

Point dataShape files

Enhanced DisplaysRGB imagery3D displays

Standard IngestSBN, NOAAPort

Other

GINIGRiB2 Roam / zoom

Web Mapping Services

Large data volumes from high resolution multispectral / multi-temporal satellites (JPSS, GOES-R) and limited data bandwidth into WFOs and some National Centers

•Limits access to unique data in real-time or coverage regions• All WFOs do not need same data streams•NASA SBIR with GST to demonstrate application of web mapping services

−forecasters can initiate a request to search unique high resolution data applicable to current weather situation

−data delivered automatically into AWIPS II

Forecaster thought process: “GOES data seems to indicate

fog developing over TN Valley. Can VIIRS data better diagnose this?”

Forecaster:− Initiates search command

looking to available WMS for data

− WMS subsets and formats data for AWIPS

− Initiate secure transfer to LDM for ingest into AWIPS II

WMS Schematic for VIIRS Data on NPP / JPSS






NASA Cloud Service

Capability to provide rapidly deployable infrastructure (CPUs, memory, etc.) to address research and near real-time Earth science needs

•Networked facilities at GSFC and Ames (and other Centers in the future)•Resources for data storage and dissemination, repeated execution of complex

algorithms and models−Resources could be used for real-time dissemination of NASA satellite data to the

operational weather community (could support WMS for dissemination to AWIPS II)−Used to run multiple configurations of complex models (such as NU-WRF)

demonstrating impact of NASA data on regional and local weather forecasts forecasts

Data Dissemination Schematic for Large Data Sets

NASA Unified Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model

MSFC Collaborators with GSFC (PI: Christa Peters-Lidard)

NASA Unified-WRF (NU-WRF) Model•Enable better use of NASA high-resolution satellite

data for short-term weather research•Reduce redundancy in major WRF development•Prolong the serviceable life span of the WRF

NU-WRF Components•Based on Advanced Research WRF dynamical core•NASA Components and Contributions

−GSFC microphysics and short/longwave radiation physics

−GSFC Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport physics

−Satellite Data Simulator Unit−Land Information System (LIS)−NSSL/SPoRT severe convection and lightning

diagnostics

Annual Aerosol-Rainfall Monsoon Cycle over India

Co-variability of absorbing aerosols and rainfall over Indian subcontinent suggests that aerosolsmay interact with clouds and rain in this region.

Science questions – Operational impacts•Hurricane/typhoon simulations with aerosols/dust •Coupled land surface/aerosols/satellite assimilation experiments•California heavy snow and severe weather cases in the U.S.






Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD)

Joint technology development between NASA / MSFC, NOAA / HRD, and University Community (Michigan, Central Florida, UAHuntsville)

• Microwave radiometer designed to measure strong ocean surface winds, rain rate and SSTs

• Extends measurements of the Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) to wide swath with detailed spatial resolution

• C-band – 4,5,6,6.6 GHz• Real aperture along track, synthetic aperture across track (no moving parts)• Successful participation in 2010 GRIP hurricane experiment on WB-57

Future integration on Global Hawk – Venture Class airborne mission with GSFC (2012-2014)

Spacecraft instrument would extend scatterometer measurements to strong winds (up to 85 m/s) through heavy rain with improved spatial resolution

Note that brightness temperature agreement is to be expected only at HIRAD nadir.

HIRAD Example from GRIPJoint SFMR and HIRAD brightness temperature comparisons for Hurricane Earl, September 1, 2010

The Real Time Mission Monitor (RTMM) is an interactive visualization application that provides situational awareness and field asset management to enable adaptive and strategic decision making during airborne field experiments – potential for operational weather and disaster applications

Real Time Mission Monitor (RTMM)

•Integrates satellite, airborne, and surface data sets into a single real-time display system

•Tracks airborne vehicle state information

•Displays model and forecast parameter fields

•Utilizes distributed Web-based architecture

Used in a variety of field campaigns supporting NASA and NOAA missions

RTMM User Base

• Research Scientists• Program and Project Managers• Pilots and Flight Engineers• Educators and Students• Media and Public Affairs• Science Attentive Public

Integrating science and airborne weather applications

John Molinari and Jeff Halverson use RTMM on the DC-8 during GRIP

RTMM enables:• Real time interactions and

collaborations• Post-flight mission review and

case study developmentRTMM used in the cockpit of the DC-RTMM used in the cockpit of the DC-8 during GRIP on September 6, 2010.8 during GRIP on September 6, 2010. demo

Summary:• SPoRT Program





Documents

Presentation Content: SPoRT Program Data dissemination / display −AWIPS II applications −Web mapping services Local forecasting advances −Cloud services