1. GOES-R Proving Ground Activities at SPoRT
Dr. Gary Jedlovec
SPoRT Principal Investigator
NASA / MSFC
Huntsville, Alabama
A presentation at the 6th GOES Users Conference,
November 3-5, 2009, Madison, Wisconsin
SPoRT – Short-term Prediction Research and Transition

2. Infusing NASA Technology Into Weather Forecasting
The SPoRT Center
Infusing NASA Technology Into Weather Forecasting
Mission of the SPoRT Center: Apply NASA measurement systems and unique Earth science research to improve the accuracy of short-term (0-24 hr) weather prediction at the regional and local scale
conduct focused research
evaluate in “testbed” mode
transition priority products to WFOs / end user decision support systems / tools
Keys to success
link data / products to forecast problems
Integrate capabilities into AWIPS / other DSS
Provide training / forecaster interaction & feedback
External Partners
NWS (SR, HQs), NESDIS (STAR, NDE), NCEP, JCSDA, JPL, GSFC/GMAO, Universities
End users:
15 WFOs (13 inSR), other Govt organizations, and numerous private sector weather partners
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

3. Research Products Transitioned to Operations
INSTRUMENT / PRODUCT
RESOLUTION
END USER
DSS
FORMAT
MODIS
Ch. imagery (vis, 3.9, 6.7, 11 µm)
4 km, 1 km, 500 m (state), 250 m (WFO scale)
Selected WFOs
AWIPS, AWIPSII
netCDF, McIDAS
Multispectral composite images - natural and false color
4 km (CONUS), 1km (regional), 500m (state)
Derived image products
clouds (mask, CTP, phase)
4 km (CONUS)
fog / low cloud (11 – 3.9 µm )
4 km (CONUS), 1 km (regional)
LST, SST, LI, TPW
Temporal composite images
SST, chlorophyll
4 km, 2 km, 1 km
HWT, WFOs
AWIPS, II, others
netCDF, GRiB
Non-image data
fire and burn areas
CONUS
WFOs
AWIPS II
shape file
AMSR-E
Rain rate, convective fraction, cloud water
5 km (CONUS); 21 km
SSTs
38 km (CONUS)
Total lightning data
NALMA/DCLMA total
lightning source densities
2 km / 2 minutes
1 km/ 1 minute

4. Research Products Transitioned to Operations
INSTRUMENT / PRODUCT
RESOLUTION
END USER
DSS
FORMAT
Combined Instrument products
MODIS/AMSR-E SST
composite
1 km (NA coastal regions)
Coastal WFOs
AWIPS, AWIPSII
netCDF, McIDAS
POES/GOES SSTs
9 km (NH)
TWC / WFOs
Blended TPW (from CIRA)
16 km (NH)
Selected WFOs
MIMIC TPW
(from U. Wisconsin)
10 (NH)
The Weather Channel
---
GeoTIFF
GOES
Channel imagery (vis, IR, WV)
1 km, 4 km
Aviation products (fog depth, icing, cloud base -NESDIS)
4 km (CONUS)
GOES-R
GLM proxy extent density
10 km / 2 minutes
SPoRT
AWIPSII
GRiB
ABI proxy imagery (vis, IR, WV)
500 m, 1 km
McIDAS
Miscellaneous
WRF LIS daily forecasts w/ MODIS SSTs (NSSL/HWT)
Surface analysis (T, Td, RH, wind, SSTs) – SPoRT ADAS
2 km

5. SPoRT GOES-R Proving Ground Activities
Collaborate with Algorithm Working Groups (AWGs) and Proving Ground (PG) teams to prepare forecasters for unique data and products coming from GOES-R sensors by:
transitioning proxy and simulated products to the operational environment linking products to forecast problems
develop appropriate product training for end user education
conduct assessments of utility of products on improved forecast capabilities
SPoRT emphasis on:
high resolution proxy ABI products and multichannel combinations of image data – situational awareness
pseudo GLM products – lightning warning and severe weather
WRF-based lightning forecasts – lightning threat forecasts
Examples presented in following charts
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

6. Proxy ABI Imagery From MODIS
Use MODIS channels to emulate spatial resolution of ABI and replace GOES imagery with higher resolution MODIS when available
GOES (only)
MODIS
GOES
GOES/MODIS Hybrid Product
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations
11/19/2018

7. Proxy ABI Imagery From Hybrid GOES / MODIS
Loops of hybrid product to simulate ABI provides forecasters temporal continuity and advanced spatial resolution.
GOES IR 4km – Z, Oct 12
Hybrid IR 1km – 1515Z-2115Z, Oct 12
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations
11/19/2018

8. Proxy ABI Imagery From Hybrid GOES / MODIS
1445Z – 2045 Hybrid with bowtie correction
Near real-time product being produced half- hourly
common channels and products
GOES with MODIS natural and false color
ABI resolution
Develop similar capabilities for PG case study data sets – product training and evaluation
Demonstrate these capabilities in AWIPS II
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations
11/19/2018

9. SPoRT Pseudo GLM Product
Provide forecaster exposure to GLM data, differences from LMA, applicability to severe weather forecasting – benefits transition of full AWG proxy when available
Pseudo GLM Flash Extent
LMA Source Densities
Flash Extent Density derived from LMA data at GLM resolution
different from AWG proxy - no optical data
forecaster demonstration and education
applicable to other total lightning networks
focus on AWIPS II development with user feedback
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

10. SPoRT Pseudo GLM Product in AWIPS II
Pseudo GLM Flash Extent
AWIPS II
AWIPS II will allow for a more versatile ingest and display of total lightning data
point data and imagery (as in AWIPS)
Better control of display / values
allow for the development of 3D displays
greater interaction with other data sets
Radar reflectivity combined with pseudo GLM flash extent product in the AWIPS II environment
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

11. WRF-based Lightning Forecasts
Improve guidance on lightning threat (1-24h) using high resolution WRF runs that adequately represent storm microphysics
use two proxy fields from explicitly simulated convection:
- graupel flux near -15 C (captures LTG time variability)
- vertically integrated ice (captures LTG threat area)
simulate flash rate density and calibrated to match LMA observations
each threat calibrated to yield accurate quantitative peak flash rate densities
both threat fields are highly correlated in space – can combine the two
ABI imagery and GLM data will provide unique observations for nowcasting and lightning warning. WRF-based lightning forecasts provide guidance on precursor favorable regions for lightning activity.
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

12. Example threat product from McCaul et al. (2009)
Blended Threat 3; dBZ: Z
WRF simulated reflectivity and lightning threat
Radar reflectivity and lightning flash rate from LMA
Need to know how algorithm performs on other meshes, with other microphysics choices
Using CAPS member ensembles (4-km) to look at these sensitivities
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

13. Summary
SPoRT is working collaboratively with AWGs and PG teams to prepare forecasters for unique data and products coming from GOES-R sensors
ABI proxy imagery and products and pseudo GLM data will be disseminated to selected WFOs (early 2010) and to the PG testbed as part of the Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) and 2010 NSSL Spring Program
focus on displays in AWIPS II where products can be better displayed
preliminary product list focuses on current forecast problems
Forecast Problem
Proxy Data
Product(s)
Diagnosing changing weather
ABI
High resolution imagery and derived products
Diagnosing low clouds and fog
Enhanced channel difference imagery
Local temperature forecasts
Land surface temperature
Visibility reductions due to smoke and fire weather support
Color composites, active fires and burn areas
Lead time for severe weather
GLM
Total lightning products, WRF lightning threat
Sea breeze impact
Local model forecasts initialized with surface parameters and SSTs
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations