JPSS Products, Applications, and Training Resources

The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is a new generation of U.S. weather satellites to assist in environmental monitoring around the globe. The satellite constellation consists of the Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-20 (NOAA-20, formerly known as JPSS-1, and recently became operational), and the upcoming JPSS 2-4 satellites that will be launched within the next decade. Each satellite features identical instrumentation: Visible/Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite (OMPS) and the Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES). Forecasting applications include detecting and characterizing the properties of water and ice clouds, snow, sea surface temperatures, fog, fire, severe weather, vegetation health, and aerosols. A novel component of VIIRS is the Day/Night Band (DNB), which senses reflected lunar light and emitted natural and anthropogenic light at night. DNB applications have proven valuable for severe/winter storms, identifying sea ice in the Arctic, and hurricane forecasting, with more applications anticipated as users become more familiar with the new low-light capabilities. Products are made available to National Weather Service (NWS) users within the forecasting and analysis software package, known as the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System – II (AWIPS-II). Accompanying satellite training has been developed and delivered to both NWS and non-AWIPS users. An important part of this training is the Satellite Foundational Course for JPSS (SatFC-J), comprised of modules that address the important focus areas: microwave remote sensing, satellite constellations and instrumentation, and forecast applications. In addition to the SatFC-J, there is a separate ‘JPSS Product Application’ section that incorporates product reference materials for users, such as ‘Quick Guides’ (1-2 page documents), ’Quick Briefs’ (3-5 minute videos), and ‘Job Aids’ (product exercises). SatFC-J and product reference materials will be available in fall 2018 and can be viewed in the NOAA Commerce Learning Center (NOAA CLC) and the Satellite Training and Operations Resources (STOR) within the NOAA Virtual Lab (NOAA VLab) for NWS users. For non-AWIPS users, training materials can be accessed via Virtual Institute of Satellite Integration Training (VISIT) webpages. This presentation will highlight these efforts and illustrate the positive impacts that JPSS is making on the forecast community.