1. Community Educational Outreach 20 th CIMSS Student Workshop held in Madison CIMSS held the 20 th CIMSS Student Workshop on Atmospheric, Satellite, and Earth Sciences on the University of Wisconsin- Madison (UW) campus from 24 to 28 June 2012, for eight science-oriented high school students. Numerous CIMSS and UW staff presented a variety of talks, demonstrations, and activity sessions for the students on topics of meteorology and forecasting (including satellite applications), geology, earth remote sensing, and astronomy. Fields trips included visits to a major local television station, a major local private vendor and developer of meteorological products and displays, the Aldo Leopold Nature Center (promoting conservation and sustainability), the local NWS office (in Sullivan, WI), the UW Geology Museum, the UW Washburn Observatory, and a particularly geologically interesting state park (Devil’s Lake). McIDAS)-V was explained, demonstrated, and used (hands-on by the students) to analyze and discuss meteorological data (with emphasis on that available from NOAA and other satellites); student pairs presented mini-case studies after working closely on McIDAS-V, one-on-one, with UW/CIMSS scientists. For more details: see http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/studentworkshop/. http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/studentworkshop/ Grandparents University at UW - Meteorology Major University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison alumni and their grandchildren spent two days at the Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences (AOSS) building attending "Grandparents University“ on 26-27 July 2012, a novel program developed at the UW-Madison that serves as a pipeline for students interested in science as well as a venue to showcase the university, and its research. And AOSS did not disappoint. Meteorology activities were led by Patrick Rowley, Jean Phillips, Gary S. Wade, Kaba Bah, Erik Olson, Lee Wellhouse, Joey Snarski, and Margaret Mooney. (Yes, it takes a village!) Support for this short but powerful experience was provided by AOS (UW Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences), AMRC (UW Antarctic Meteorological Research Center), NOAA/NESDIS/STAR, CIMSS, and SSEC. Even Ball Aerospace contributed this year by shipping models of the new Suomi NPP (National Polar-orbiting Partnership) Satellite for assembly! ASPB supporting the NOAA Cross-Cutting Priority for Environmental Literacy, Outreach, and Education. GSW 2012-08-30

2. Keeping our foot on the gas – for GOES soundings TPW (mm)MeanRMSE STD GFS (guess)-0.033.27 Li algo-0.213.293.28 GOES-R algo-0.123.06 GOES-13 Sounder TPW comparisons with RAOB TPW over Eastern US (Feb 2011 – Jan 2012) ASPB supporting the NOAA Mission Goal to serve society's needs for weather and water information, and the NOAA Cross-Cutting Priority for sound, reliable state-of-the-art research. TPW (mm)MeanRMSE STD GFS (guess)0.653.133.06 Ma algo2.405.354.78 Li algo1.723.543.09 GOES-13 Sounder TPW comparisons with GPS TPW over Eastern US (01-29 Aug 2012) Retrieval algorithm  “User” 1) “Ma” algo ----------------------- OSPO (NWS) 2) “Li” algo ----------------- OPDB (ProvGrnd) 3) “GOES-R” algo --- CIMSS Collaborating with OAR ESRL (Birkenheuer, Gutman, Holub) CIMSS development by J.Li, Z.Li, Y-K.Lee The Li version easily betters the Ma version, but struggles to better the guess. The GOES-R version bests both guess and the Li version (by ~6-7%). GFS first-guess Li algo TPW GOES-R algo TPW Examine current Li and Ma versions for GOES-13 at: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/realtime/eus/begin-eus.html GSW 2012-08-30 Promoting improvements …

3. Keeping our foot on the gas – for GOES soundings TPW (mm)MeanRMSE STD GFS (guess)0.371.981.95 Li Algo0.471.901.85 GOES-R Algo0.101.66 Li algo TPW GOES-13 Sounder TPW comparisons with MWR TPW over ARM Cart Site (Apr 2010 – Mar 2011) ASPB supporting the NOAA Mission Goal to serve society's needs for weather and water information, and the NOAA Cross-Cutting Priority for sound, reliable state-of-the-art research. TPW (mm)MeanRMSE STD GFS (guess)0.371.981.95 Ma Algo0.471.901.85 Li Algo0.101.66 GOES-13 Sounder TPW comparisons with GPS TPW over Eastern US (01-29 Aug 2012) GFS first-guess GOES-R algo TPW Retrieval algorithm  ”User” 1) “Ma” algo ----------------------- OSPO (NWS) 2) “Li” algo ----------------- OPDB (ProvGrnd) 3) “GOES-R” algo --- CIMSS Collaborating with OAR ESRL (Birkenheuer, Gutman, Holub) CIMSS development by J.Li, Z.Li, Kung The Li version easily betters the Ma version, but struggles to better the guess. The GOES-R version bests both guess and the Li version (though only slightly).