1. Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 STAR Science Support Science Support for VISIT and SHyMet Training Mark DeMaria 1 GOVERNMENT PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR), Dan Bikos 2, Jeff Braun 2, Bernadette Connell 2, and Laurel Kessler 2 1 NESDIS/STAR/CoRP, 2 CIRA Requirement: Weather and Water Goal: Serve societies need for weather and water information. Science: How can operational forecasters be kept up to date on the latest satellite data and products? Benefit: Increased understanding of satellite imagery in NWS operations will lead to improved forecasts and warnings, helping to meet NWS GPRA goals which will ultimately benefit the public. Science Challenges: Continue to adapt to new satellite technology that offers additional capabilities, thus more opportunities for training. Next Steps: Continue to offer training through VISIT and SHyMet so that more forecasters will be able to properly apply the skills learned to improve t Heir forecasts and warnings. Transition Path: Distance learning techniques will continue to be used to deliver the training to as many NOAA offices as possible on a 24/7 basis that fits into rotating shift work. Mission: Mission: Accelerate the transfer of research results into NWS operations via distance learning (teletraining and recorded web- based) Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training Current Participants: Current Participants: Mostly from NWS, others include DOD, foreign countries but also includes NESDIS, CIMSS, COMET and FDTB staff Statistics: Statistics: Since April 1999 82 courses offered 1419 teletraining sessions administered 18,806 certificates of completion issued VISIT Teletraining developed by RAMM team Satellite Hydrology and Meteorology (SHyMet) for Forecasters What is it? What is it? The Forecaster track of the Satellite Hydrology and Meteorology (SHyMet) Course will cover satellite imagery interpretation, including feature identification, water vapor channels and what to expect on GOES-R. There is a session on remote sensing applications for hydrometeorology that includes uses of remote sensing data for operational hydrology and there is also a session on aviation hazards. Other topics include an understanding of the Dvorak method in tropical cyclone analysis and the utility of cloud composites in forecasting. This course will be administered through web-based instruction and will be the equivalent of 9 hours core topics and 3 hours of optional topics. The course will be available this Fall 2009. STAR Science Support Primary Objective The primary objective of the SHyMet for forecasters course is to build upon previous basic building blocks offered in the SHyMet for interns course. The level of difficulty is generally greater than that for the SHyMet for interns course, also, there is a diverse set of training topics. Core Courses Offered: Introduction to Remote Sensing for Hydrology Interpreting Satellite Signatures Satellite Applications for Tropical Cyclones: Dvorak Technique Aviation Hazards Water Vapor Channels GOES-R 101 Introduces a variety of ways that remote sensing data can be used for hydrologic applications. First, satellite products useful in hydrology are identified. Then examples of using remote sensing data for monitoring cumulative precipitation, surface thermal properties, surface moisture, vegetation, water supply, snow, ice, flooding, and land use are presented. Offers examples of satellite-observed features that occur repeatedly. Includes information on the atmospheric conditions that support the observed satellite features, and how the increased knowledge of the atmosphere might be used in a forecast.. Focuses on the Dvorak Technique, which is used to assign tropical cyclone intensity, or how strong the winds are in a hurricane. It uses satellite images alone to determine the maximum wind speed of a tropical cyclone. The structure of aviation forecasting and the statistics of the hazards are presented first. Then, the primary categories of aviation hazards are addressed: wind, turbulence, icing, visibility/ceiling, convective/thunderstorm hazards, and terrain and aviation weather. Finally, new/future products are discussed. How to identify common signatures seen in the water vapor imagery. Understand the relationship between water vapor imagery and dynamical structures. Relate water vapor imagery features to potential vorticity features. How to use water vapor imagery to This session addresses “Why?”, “When?”, and “What Sensors?” will be on GOES-R, and presents examples of what to expect. If is a look at how we can start preparing for GOES-R now. A visual representation of the growing number of IST/VISIT Cumulative Teletraining Certificates Issued over the time span of several years Dan Bikos and Jeff Braun: Dan Bikos and Jeff Braun: VISIT staff at CIRA Collaborators: Collaborators: Bernie Connell and Mark DeMaria Some More About the VISIT Program Background: Background: VISIT was established in 1998 and funded by the NWS. Due to lack of funds for travel, distance learning techniques became the most effective way to deliver training to NWS forecasters. Forecasting Convective Downburst Potential Using GOES Sounder Derived Products (Pryor). GOES Low Cloud Base Product (Pryor). The Satellite Rainfall Hydro-Estimator (Kadin, Kuligowski, Borneman, Hanna, Scofield). Experimental Satellite Derived Tropical Rainfall Potential (TRaP) (Kusselson). VISIT teletraining developed by NESDIS (from Washington D.C. location) Since April 2006 Satellite Interpretation of Orographic Clouds / Effects Satellite Interpretation for various Coastal Effects The GOES 3.9 μm channel Tropical Cyclone Track and Intensity Guidance Models used by NHC Utility of GOES Imagery in Forecasting / Nowcasting Severe Weather. STAR contributes to VISIT and SHyMet by providing suject matter experts and provision of training material. STAR scientists also deliver training for some courses.