1. CIRA / SPoRT Update 10/31/12 1 Update: “A Multisensor 4-D Blended Water Vapor Product for Weather Forecasting” Stan Kidder John Forsythe Andy Jones

2. Proposal We propose to work with SPoRT to –Ingest water vapor retrievals from NASA research satellites such as Aqua and eventually NPP. The AIRS data, could be especially valuable due to the high vertical resolution. –Blend the research and operational moisture retrievals on an hourly basis into a product with layers. Currently we envision precipitable water in four layers: surface-700 hPa, 700-500 hPa, 500-300 hPa, and <300 hPa. We will also consider other layers and other moisture variables, such as relative humidity and mixing ratio. This will be a truly 4-D product: three spatial dimensions and time. –Distribute the products to forecasters in AWIPS format, train them how to use the products, and evaluate the products based on user feedback. 2

3. Results So Far http://cat.cira.colostate.edu/SPoRT/Layered/global/ Products produced each 6 hours and made available to SPoRT via FTP: ftp://ftp.cira.colostate.edu/ftp/Kidder/SPoRT ftp://ftp.cira.colostate.edu/ftp/Kidder/SPoRT Also, http://cat.cira.colostate.edu/SPoRT/Layeredhttp://cat.cira.colostate.edu/SPoRT/Layered 3

4. Next Steps Work with SPoRT to get the products in AWIPS format and get them to forecasters Add Metop data to the current AIRS-adjusted NOAA 19 data Work on new display possibilities (see next slide) Prepare training materials Get and analyze forecaster feedback Prepare publication 4

5. CIRA / SPoRT Update 10/31/12 Prototype α-channel blending product (500-300 and 850-700 RH overlaid on GOES 11 µm). Allows visualization of connections of clouds to moisture Forecaster comments welcome Could pursue more rigourous time matching Dry over moist here 10/29/12 15 UTC

6. Immediate Forsythe $504 travel credit, must be ticketed by Nov. 17: Possible uses: -Record training video at SPoRT for the layered water vapor product? -Travel to a west coast WFO? “Quick Guide” completed in September, any feedback? [Anita LeRoy POC] 6

7. BACKUP SLIDES 7

8. CIRA / SPoRT Update 10/31/12 8 TROPICAL STORM ISAAC DISCUSSION NUMBER NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 500 AM AST THU AUG 23 2012 …UPPER-AIR DATA FROM ST. MAARTEN AT 00Z CONFIRMS THE DRY AIR IN THE MID-LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE BETWEEN 600 AND 300 MB AS ALLUDED TO IN PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS. THIS LAYER OF VERY DRY AIR HAS BEENHINDERING CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHEASTERN QUADRANT FORTHE PAST 3-4 DAYS... TROPICAL STORM ISAAC DISCUSSION NUMBER 6 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL092012 1100 AM AST WED AUG 22 2012 …WATER VAPOR IMAGERY AND MICROWAVE TOTAL PRECIPITABLE WATER DATA SHOW DRY AIR TO THE NORTHEAST OF ISAAC...AND A LACK OF CONVECTION IN THIS AREA SUGGESTS SOME OF THIS AIR IS ENTRAINING INTO THE CYCLONE… 00 UTC sonde used in 09 UTC discussion Sondes, TPW and GOES WV imagery the standard now for characterizing vertical moisture Evidence of the need for this product

9. CIRA / SPoRT Update 10/31/12 9

10. 10 Baseline Design: Composite Results every six hours, overlaying most recent data. AIRS at 0130 / 1330 LST, very close to NOAA-18/19 MIRS. Will have a data dense data period and a data sparse period.

11. CIRA / SPoRT Update 10/31/12 11 New alpha-weighted GOES / MIRS imagery Main project website

12. CIRA / SPoRT Update 10/31/12 12 Per Kevin: “Medford, Eureka, and Monterey have finished doing an evaluation of the WindSat instrument with SPoRT. We will likely approach them about this product. May consider adding WFOs such as Albuquerque, Great Falls, Boulder, or Cheyenne to the list, but unsure at this time.”

13. CIRA / SPoRT Update 10/31/12 13 CIRA Progress: 1.Add NOAA-18, Metop-A MIRS retrievals to product to increase spatial coverage. Should work with existing code / scripts. 2.Move production code to new 64 bit machine. 3.McIDAS files working per Frank LaFontaine. 4.“Quick Guide” completed in September, any feedback? [Anita LeRoy POC] Forsythe $504 travel credit, must be ticketed by Nov. 17: Possible uses: -Record training video at SPoRT for the layered water vapor product? -Travel to a west coast WFO?

14. CIRA / SPoRT Update 10/31/12 14 Ingest MIRS, AIRS and GOES retrievals in NRT. Possibly IASI also (source?). Remap to global (or CONUS?) grid. ~ 3 hour latency. Perform blending on 4 layers Create gridded HDFEOS / McIDAS file () Create animations on CIRA web page. SPoRT blog entries. Stage files for SPoRT to pull as with current CIRA TPW Delivery formats: HDFEOS McIDAS* single layer / file * McIDAS files will likely not have the “calibration block” Automated pull of CIRA McIDAS files Convert to desired output format (AWIPS-II?) Process monitoring as with current CIRA TPW November 2011 Graphics available on AWIPS or AWIPS-II Data: Format and Flow Baseline Design: SPoRT pulls 9 McIDAS files 4x / day.