NASA’s SPoRT PROGRAM

1. Collaborative Research Area Problem Data Solutions NASA’s SPoRT PROGRAM Mission: 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 • Test bed for transitioning products to operations (NWS and private sector) • data dissemination • product development and testing • training • product assessment • impact analysis • Focus Areas • EOS satellite observations • Modeling and data assimilation • Nowcasting and lightning

2.  G&A adj.  begin full cost staff turnover  SPoRT PROGRAM RESOURCES • sixth year • stable funding • in-house technical experts in the field • broad base of collaborators • fourth SAC meeting • meeting needs of end user community http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/sport

3. SPoRT PROGRAM STAFF Dr. William M. Lapenta - Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Gary J. Jedlovec - Co-Principal Investigator Melody C. Herrmann - Project Manager Additional NASA Scientists Dr. Richard J. Blakeslee Dr. Shih-Hung Chou Paul Meyer UAH Research Associates Dennis E. Buechler - Senior Research Associate Stephanie L. Haines - Research Associate Katherine M. LaCasse - Research Associate Dr. John R. Mecikalski – Professor/research staff Bradley T. Zavodsky - Research Associate Other Will McCarty - Graduate Research Assistant Andrew L. Molthan - Graduate Research Assistant Dr. Bob Atkinson & Scott Dembek - consultants Jason Burks NWS ITO Jonathan L. Case - Senior Scientist / Meteorologist Chris B. Darden - Science and Operations Officer John M. Hall – lightning and information technology Frank J. LaFontaine - Research Associate Eugene W. McCaul - Research Scientist Erik R. Reimers - Student Research Assistant • sixth year • stable funding • in-house technical experts in the field • broad base of collaborators • fourth SAC meeting • meeting needs of end user community

4. SPoRT PROGRAM COLLABORATORS • SPoRT University, Government, and Other Partners • NOAA/NESDIS/STAR • Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA) • National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) • NWS Southern Region Headquarters & local WFOs • University or Wisconsin • University of Alabama - Huntsville • University of South Florida • Florida State University • • New Mexico Tech • • University of Oklahoma • Jet Propulsion Laboratory • • Vaisala, Inc • WorldWinds, Inc. • sixth year • stable funding • in-house technical experts in the field • broad base of collaborators • fourth SAC meeting • meeting needs of end user community

5. Role SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAC) • Membership • drawn from a community of research scientists and forecasters • represent the spectrum of government, university, and commercial organizations involved in short-term weather forecasting and the transition of emerging satellite and modeling technologies into the operational environment • SAC activities • serve as a knowledge resource on short-term weather prediction, satellite data and derived products, mesoscale modeling, and data assimilation issues • provide guidance and direction on SPoRT research and transitional activities • SPoRT SAC last met in November 2005

6. SPoRT has followed and implemented the majority of the recommendations from the 2005 SAC review! Key administrative items: hold meetings every 1.5-2 years, rotate members and maintain diversity continue to emphasize unique areas and strengths – expanded work with MODIS (products) and LMA (DC area), including AIRS products and data assimilation work to maintain clear path of products to operations – expanded dissemination opportunities, work collaboratively with NESDIS/NWS and AWIPS team(s) on transition opportunities sponsor workshops which focus on SPoRT transitional activities – SPoRT Science and Operations Office (SOO) workshop summer 2006 coordinate with instrument science teams – expanded involvement with AIRS team and collaborate with CloudSat team disseminate information on SPoRT to a broader community – started SPoRT quarterly newsletter and produced a webcast describing SPoRT 2005 SAC RECOMENDATIONS

7. AIRS data: evaluate value of AIRS data as well as impact- version 5 retrievals focus on AIRS assimilation cases studies over U.S. land regions – new case studies and near real-time approach consider direct use of profiles by forecasters – real-time profiles from UW direct broadcast to WFOs planned for version 5 retrievals work with JCSDA on assimilation of AIRS radiances in GSI – extended stay by Will McCarty at JCSDA, assimilation work being done with GSI on JCSDA computers MODIS data and products: use additional data to enhance utility of SST composite for tropical cyclone applications – began studies adding AMSR-E, contributed product to MAP06 for NAMMA (summer 2006) continue dissemination of MODIS products to other WFOS – establishing new dissemination paradigm for wider dissemination and training 2005 SAC RECOMENDATIONS

8. WRF: work more closely with NOAA land-surface staff to include remotely sensed observations of the surface – acquired expertise to focus on use of coupled WRF/LIS in collaboration with GSFC expand case studies for thunderstorm forecasts – we have conducted more case study evaluations Convective initiation studies: transition CI product to operations – CI product now in AWIPS and ready for evaluation and assessment with forecasters 2005 SAC RECOMENDATIONS

9. Develop advocacy at NOAA/NWS 2005 SAC RECOMENDATIONS Misc: • continue development of SPoRT strategic plan – mission statement and advice from SAC and NASA HQs provides guidance on our strategic direction --- looking to formulate plan in late 2007 • work with GSFC DA office and JCSDA on assimilation activities to maximize benefit to operational community – collaborate with GSFC on coupled WRF/LIS and GSI/WRF AIRS data assimilation • develop advocacy at NWS HQs – this has been a challenge! • we keep Kevin Schrab updated on SPoRT activities • Steve Goodman now with NESDIS/STAR to work R2O activities (briefed G. Mandt) • working with developers of next generation AWIPS to transition unique NPP products • document and transition process to get unique data into AWIPS – have done this with NESDIS / STAR, UW who now provides products to selective Western and Central Region WFOs, work with NRL and NESDIS / OSDPD on transition (N-AWIPS), and established new paradigm for data dissemination

10. SPoRT believes the Science Advisory Committee (SAC) is a very valuable asset to the program • it values their input • is responsive to their recommendations • SPoRT has achieved more than this!

11. ACCOMPLISHMENTS (since Nov. 2005) • General • hosted a NASA/NWS SPoRT / Science Operations Officer (SOO) workshop • began new collaborations with (WorldWinds, Inc.; NRL- Monterey; Sterling. Melbourne, & Billings WFOs; and NESDIS (NDE, STAR; OSDPD) • established new paradigm for data dissemination to WFOs • published / submitted 8 journal articles • submitted 7 new proposals (1 funded, 5 pending) that leverage off of SPoRT activities • is balancing manpower and needed skills to maintain an effective work force • revamped SPoRT web page • jointly developed a "white paper" with NESDIS on how SPoRT will collaborate with the NPOESS Data Exploitation (NDE) office Yellow –in direct response to SAC 2005 recommendation White -- additional accomplishment

12. ACCOMPLISHMENTS (since Nov. 2005) • AIRS • completed AIRS profile assimilation impact for new east coast case study –improvement in mid to upper-level temperature and moisture patterns in 36-48h forecasts • developed and demonstrated methodology to conduct near real-time profile assimilation with WRF • enhanced working relationship with AIRS science team to demonstrate utility of AIRS products in operational environment • obtaining AIRS L1B/L2 data from University of Wisconsin direct broadcast • developed a technique to identify uncontaminated AIRS spectral channels in cloudy scenes • applied GOES / MODIS cloud product approaches to AIRS data (CO2 height / cloud fraction) Yellow –in direct response to SAC 2005 recommendation White -- additional accomplishment

13. ACCOMPLISHMENTS (since Nov. 2005) • MODIS • published article (IEEE TGRS) on MODIS (SST) compositing technique • began real-time dissemination of MODIS SST composites in GRIB (gridded binary) format to community - SERVIR, WorldWind Inc., MAP06, NAMMA, WFO/WRF studies, etc. • adapted SST compositing technique to MODIS ocean color products • Other remote sensing • made NESDIS GOES Aviation Products available to WFOs in advance of AWIPS build – request from NESDIS • disseminated CIRA polar orbiting TWP products to WFOs (request from SOO workshop) • used CloudSat data to help validate GOES/MODIS/AIRS cloud detection and height assignment schemes • evaluated use of AMSR-E surface products for weather applications Yellow –in direct response to SAC 2005 recommendation White -- additional accomplishment

14. ACCOMPLISHMENTS (since Nov. 2005) • WRF • implemented a coupled WRF/LIS at NASA/MSFC/SPoRT – early results show improved 2m temperatures and low level circulation patterns • used CloudSat simulator (QuickBeam) to provide first comparisons between CloudSat observations of real clouds and the cloud systems simulated by WRF • collaborated with Mobile WFO on WRF (with MODIS SST data) case study demonstrating improved wind / temperature forecast in coastal regions • developed collaborative project with Miami WFO to conduct robust demonstration of use of high resolution MODIS SST fields on WRF forecasts • developed capability to run GSI/WRF at JCSDA for AIRS data assimilation studies • NSSL WRF forecasts to WFOs Yellow –in direct response to SAC 2005 recommendation White -- additional accomplishment

15. ACCOMPLISHMENTS (since Nov. 2005) • Nowcasting • transitioned convective initiation product output to AWIPS for evaluation and operational usage – training and survey • refined algorithms for dissemination and display of LMA data in AWIPS • assessment of LMA impact based on surveys / reports from forecasters • Data dissemination • began dissemination of products via Local Data Manager for reduction in latency and broader dissemination • Training modules and surveys • developed a SPoRT webcast on SPoRT activities • developed several new product training modules for use by WFO (GOES aviation products, ADAS fields in AWIPS, Convective Initiation (CI) products in AWIPS) • participated in NPOESS Training Development Workshop funded by IPO Yellow –in direct response to SAC 2005 recommendation White -- additional accomplishment

16. SPoRT has: made significant contributions to the transition of NASA data to operations over the last 18 months remains focused on its mission been responsive to SAC and NASA Headquarters direction received consistent funding and support from NASA HQs established new partners who bring their own resources SPoRT actively: seeks external funding and new collaborators disseminates the results of its work SPoRT is planning for the future by directing applications and efforts towards NPP/NPOESS data and its transition into the next generation AWIPS systems to be used by NWS forecasters SUMMARY