NASA

1
NASAs 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
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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
• benchmark products and applications

3
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
• 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
• 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

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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

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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

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SPoRT Accomplishments

• Developed a working paradigm for a
  research-to-operations (R2O) capability in
  support of NASAs 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

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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