transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to the NWS1

Stephanie L Haines and Frank LaFontaine

June 12, 2007

Compositing of MODIS Products

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to the NWS2

IntroductionIntroduction

Coastal NWS offices wanted high resolution SST product to address forecast Coastal NWS offices wanted high resolution SST product to address forecast

problemsproblems Weather associated with land/sea breezesWeather associated with land/sea breezes

Off shore weather such as clouds, precipitation, temperatures etc.Off shore weather such as clouds, precipitation, temperatures etc.

Single pass of MODIS provides limited coverageSingle pass of MODIS provides limited coverage

Simple composite generated from multiple passes of MODIS data provides Simple composite generated from multiple passes of MODIS data provides

spatially continuous cloud free coveragespatially continuous cloud free coverage Main assumption is that SST does not change significantly from one day to the nextMain assumption is that SST does not change significantly from one day to the next

High resolution (1 km), full coverage on a regional scaleHigh resolution (1 km), full coverage on a regional scale

Small scale features in SST gradients retainedSmall scale features in SST gradients retained

Alternative to the Real-Time Global (RTG) SST analysis and/or the OSTIA Alternative to the Real-Time Global (RTG) SST analysis and/or the OSTIA

analysis for model assimilation analysis for model assimilation

Can also composite additional MODIS ocean color products such as chlorophyllCan also composite additional MODIS ocean color products such as chlorophyll

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to the NWS3

MethodologyMethodology

Use the 1km SST MODIS product to produce a Use the 1km SST MODIS product to produce a

detailed and spatially continuous SST field while detailed and spatially continuous SST field while

minimizing cloud contamination and latency effectsminimizing cloud contamination and latency effects Obtain SST in real-time from University of South Obtain SST in real-time from University of South

Florida (USF)Florida (USF)

Generate a SPoRT MODIS cloud mask for the same Generate a SPoRT MODIS cloud mask for the same

passpass

Retain 5 clear (as determined by the cloud mask) Retain 5 clear (as determined by the cloud mask)

SST values for each pixel separately for day and SST values for each pixel separately for day and

nightnight

Average some of clear values to obtain a more Average some of clear values to obtain a more

consistent fieldconsistent field

Evaluating the use of AMSR-E SST to reduce latencyEvaluating the use of AMSR-E SST to reduce latency

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to the NWS4

SST ComparisonsSST Comparisons

MODIS SST composites generated 4 times daily at 1 km resolutionMODIS SST composites generated 4 times daily at 1 km resolution

RTG-SST once daily 0.5 degree or 1/12 degree resolutionRTG-SST once daily 0.5 degree or 1/12 degree resolution

OSTIA once daily 5 km resolutionOSTIA once daily 5 km resolution

Loops available online at Loops available online at http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/sport/sstAnimation/

Terra 04 UTC Aqua 19 UTCTerra 16 UTCAqua 07 UTC

RTG SST 0.5 degree

OSTIA SST5 km

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to the NWS5

Work Performed Since Last SACWork Performed Since Last SAC

Operational domain expanded to include Central America and composites being Operational domain expanded to include Central America and composites being

provided to the SERVIR groupprovided to the SERVIR group

SST composites provided in near real time in GRIB (gridded binary) format for SST composites provided in near real time in GRIB (gridded binary) format for

ease of use by modelers and additional users, used in several WRF modeling ease of use by modelers and additional users, used in several WRF modeling

studiesstudies

Composites also provided to Mobile and Miami NWS offices within AWIPSComposites also provided to Mobile and Miami NWS offices within AWIPS

Journal article describing the method and validation for the May 2004 case, Journal article describing the method and validation for the May 2004 case,

written and accepted for publication in the IEEE journal “Transactions on written and accepted for publication in the IEEE journal “Transactions on

Geoscience and Remote Sensing” Geoscience and Remote Sensing”

SST composites provided to WorldWinds Inc.SST composites provided to WorldWinds Inc.

Ocean color products obtained from USF and compositing work begunOcean color products obtained from USF and compositing work begun

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to the NWS6

Proprietary

MERGED ATLANTIC MODIS AND AVHRR

SST PRODUCT

MODIS composite SST serves as a data source for hybrid marine products.

WxWorx, Inc. products available to marine customers

MODIS SST data reaches over 8000 users in the marine community!

NASA Products Support Marine WeatherNASA Products Support Marine Weather

SPoRT provides WorldWinds Inc. MODIS SST composites for their analysis system

WorldWinds packages SST with other marine products for distribution by WxWorx Inc. (an

affiliate of Baron Services)

In conjunction with XM Satellite Radio Inc., WxWorx provides up to date weather

information for boat owners PC based display software hand-held applications

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to the NWS7

Ocean Color CompositesOcean Color Composites

Obtaining in real time from University of South Florida the following productsObtaining in real time from University of South Florida the following products ChlorophyllChlorophyll Total suspended matterTotal suspended matter Fluorescence line heightFluorescence line height

Started work on compositing these productsStarted work on compositing these products Of the two most recent values for each pixel, use the largest value in the compositeOf the two most recent values for each pixel, use the largest value in the composite

Composites and single passes put on web Composites and single passes put on web http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/sport/oceancolor/

Single Pass of Aqua CHL Aqua CHL Composite

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to the NWS8

Future WorkFuture Work

Continue to improve MODIS SST composites byContinue to improve MODIS SST composites by Improving latency by including AMSR-E SST in cloudy, non-coastal regionsImproving latency by including AMSR-E SST in cloudy, non-coastal regions

Improve the SPoRT MODIS cloud mask for ocean applicationsImprove the SPoRT MODIS cloud mask for ocean applications

Improve the ocean color compositesImprove the ocean color composites Learn about the products from USF expertsLearn about the products from USF experts

Adjust the compositing techniques Adjust the compositing techniques

Looking at generating West Coast composites (requested by WorldWinds). Requires near Looking at generating West Coast composites (requested by WorldWinds). Requires near

real time source of MODIS data – both SST and cloud maskreal time source of MODIS data – both SST and cloud mask

Provide ocean color composites to NWS offices, WorldWinds Inc.Provide ocean color composites to NWS offices, WorldWinds Inc.

Support field programs (ex. TCSP (summer 06), TC4 (summer 07)).Support field programs (ex. TCSP (summer 06), TC4 (summer 07)).

ProposalsProposals WRF linked with coastal ocean model into the North Carolina Forecast System - NASA provide SST WRF linked with coastal ocean model into the North Carolina Forecast System - NASA provide SST

data and other remote sensing expertise. ROSES 2007 – Disaster Management. PI: Adel Hanna data and other remote sensing expertise. ROSES 2007 – Disaster Management. PI: Adel Hanna

(UNC-Chapel Hill), Jedlovec and Haines Co-PIs(UNC-Chapel Hill), Jedlovec and Haines Co-PIs

Daily Chlorophyll Products for Ecosystem and Fishery Applications, Co-PIs: Elizabeth Valenti Daily Chlorophyll Products for Ecosystem and Fishery Applications, Co-PIs: Elizabeth Valenti

(WorldWinds, Inc.) and Gary Jedlovec (NASA/MSFC) – RPC Council, May 2007.(WorldWinds, Inc.) and Gary Jedlovec (NASA/MSFC) – RPC Council, May 2007.