The Evolution of Joint Polar Satellite System: How Polar Satellites Transformed Weather Forecasting

The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is a collaborative program between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that represents the Nation’s most advanced fleet of operational polar-orbiting meteorological satellites. NOAA-20, the first of the JPSS constellation, launched into space on November 18, 2017. NOAA-20 capitalizes on the success of, and features similar instruments as, its predecessor the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite. Suomi-NPP, a joint research mission between NOAA and NASA, was designed to bridge legacy NOAA polar-orbits and the future JPSS constellation. Prior to NOAA-20, Suomi NPP served as the primary polar-orbiting spacecraft supporting NOAA’s most critical missions. The sequential launches of JPSS-2,-3, and 4, the remaining satellites in the JPSS constellation, will provide NOAA the critical JPSS capabilities to 2040. JPSS satellites provide sophisticated global observations of atmospheric, oceanic and land parameters for short-term, seasonal and long-term monitoring and forecasting. The instrument payload includes the Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS); Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS); Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS); Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS); and Clouds and the Earth Radiant Energy System (CERES).

The JPSS Proving Ground and Risk Reduction (PGRR) Program was created in 2011 to facilitate Operations to Operations (O2O) through demonstrations of operational products from the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) – derived from JPSS – in NOAA Line Offices (LOs) and partner agencies. The Program focuses on maximizing the benefits and performance of data, algorithms, and products derived from Suomi NPP and JPSS for downstream operational and research users. This presentation will provide an overview of eight initiatives: Sounding, Fire and Smoke, Arctic, River Ice and Flooding, Hydrology, Oceans and Coastal, Severe Weather, and Aviation. The JPSS PGRR Program was created in 2011 to facilitate the transition of operationally generated satellite products from JPSS to critical services within NOAA and other agencies. The Program focuses on maximizing the benefits and performance of data, algorithms, and products derived from Suomi NPP and JPSS for downstream operational and research users. In late 2017, there was a new call for proposals to support the JPSS PGRR activities. A total of 45 continuing and new projects were selected and were mapped to these initiatives. Significantly improved services have been realized over the past year through 1) routine delivery of flood maps to the National Weather Service (NWS) river forecast centers and FEMA – which was proven to be extremely important for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, 2) routine delivery of power outage maps – especially important for Puerto Rico, 3) smoke forecasts (out to 36 hours) from wild fires used by NWS forecast offices to providing warnings related to air quality and visibility, 3) higher resolution sea ice concentration, temperature and thickness maps for Alaska region to support safe navigation, 4) the delivery of ocean color products for marine stock assessments and coastal water quality assessments, 5) multi-satellite blended layered atmospheric water vapor for improving rainfall estimates from atmospheric rivers, 6) the use of vegetation fraction for improved weather forecasts, and 7, the use of JPSS soundings for nowcasting of convective initiation prior to severe storms.