Transcript Document 7665850

Science Mission Directorate
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA’s Short-term Prediction and Research
Transition (SPoRT) Center
Overview and Accomplishments
Dr. Gary Jedlovec, NASA/MSFC
Earth Science Office
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
http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/sport
Presentation at Joint NASA / NWS SPoRT SOO Workshop -- July 11-13, 2006
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies
Science Mission Directorate
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
How We do Business
Plan strategic objectives at the agency / organization level
Match data to end user needs
• foster research leading to operational applications
• link data / products to forecast problems
• development and testing of new
products for operations
• integrate capabilities into operational
decision support systems and verify /
validate performance
• develop / conduct training
• user feedback / interaction
Collaborative Research Area
• benchmark products and applications
Problem
Data
Solutions
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies
Science Mission Directorate
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Unique NASA Data to Operations
EOS satellite data provided in near real-time to 6 WFOs (HTX since
2/2003) to address specific forecast issues
convective initiation, morning minimum temperatures, fog and low cloud
detection, sea/land breeze convection/temperatures, off-coast precipitation
mapping, and coastal processes
o MODIS high resolution visible/infrared imagery – derived products
• 4 times / day – 15-30 minutes latency, full resolution
• 8-10 channels available simulating NPOESS and GOES-R capabilities
• TPW, LST/SST, cloud and fog products, composite imagery for smoke/haze
detection, surface vegetation patterns and snow cover
o AMSR-E products to coastal offices (Miami and Mobile)
• 15-20 minute latency, rain rate – off-shore precipitation mapping
Nowcasting products
• convective initiation products for thunderstorm development
• flash density of total lightning (LMA) – relation to severe weather
Unique GOES aviation products in advance of AWIPS builds
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies
Science Mission Directorate
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Unique Modeling / Assimilation to Operations
Transitioned regional model products to WFOs
• twice daily WRF runs provide supplemental information to NWS at
12km with focus over Southeastern US – 0-48hr suite of products
• Initialized with MODIS 1km composite SSTs since Fall 2005
• benchmarked performance in several WFOs – positive impact of
QPF as supplemental product
Future transitional activities
• testing assimilation of AIRS profiles of temperature and humidity
within ADAS / WRF – impact of data in void regions on forecast
• conducting high resolution simulations to assess impact of MODIS
SST composites – Project Columbia / MAP06

coastal circulations

oceanic clouds and precipitation

hurricane forecasts – near real-time as part of MAP06
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies
Science Mission Directorate
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Interactions with WFOs
Huntsville (HTX) - development and transition hub, all MODIS, AMSR-E,
and LMA data / products, WRF, and CI products, training, and product
assessments
Nashville (OHX) - all MODIS and LMA data / products
Morristown (MRX) – operational WRF
Birmingham (BMX) – all MODIS data
Miami (AMX) - all MODIS data and
AMSR-E products
Mobile (MOB) – all MODIS data,
AMSR-E products, operational WRF –
product evaluation and case studies
Great Falls (TFX) – all MODIS products,
high resolution snow cover
map and assessment
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies
Science Mission Directorate
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
SPoRT Accomplishments
Developed a working paradigm for a research-to-operations (R2O)
capability in support of NASA’s weather focus area
Enhanced scientific understanding –
• developed/refined EOS data assimilation strategies for regional forecast models
• demonstrated synergistic value of total lightning measurements to serve weather
forecasting
Transition to operations –
• integrated state of the art observing, modeling, and nowcasting capabilities into
forecast operations
• refine and documented procedures to bring outside data and products into
AWIPS to support needs of WFOs
Outreach –
• enhanced collaborations between research and operations communities
• developed a variety of training modules for the NWS forecaster community
Other –
• leveraged SPoRT developed capabilities to enhance NASA spaceflight activities
• LMA extension to additional WFOs and metro DC area
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies
Science Mission Directorate
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Next Steps for WFO Interactions?
A workshop outcome is to identify weather forecast areas of
common interest and establish methodologies to effectively
transition results of NASA Earth science research associated with
advanced observing, modeling, and data assimilation capabilities
to NWS Forecast Offices and associated decision makers
• Broaden dissemination data and model output
• Forecast problems / issues ??
• WFOs in ever-broadening mission – air quality,
marine forecasts, etc.
• WFO – SPoRT partnerships in topical areas
transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies