Bringing Advanced Scientific Imagery to the Studio: Options for Scientists and Broadcasters

Significant advances in the observation of critical Earth systems from space have been made in the past several years; along with these advances, remarkable advances in visualizing these new observations have been made as well. Tools such as the Satellite Loop Interactive Data Explorer in Real-Time (SLIDER) application have provided general audiences a fast and simple web-based tool to manipulate and observe many advanced satellite products and retrievals from the GOES-R (GOES 16 and 17), Himawari 8, and JPSS/Suomi NPP missions.

With this tool available, an equally number of new user groups have emerged. Fire weather experts and forecasters have used the tool informally for fast-tracked observations of wildfire from space, emergency management specialists have an increasing interest in low-light and real- time observations of unfolding natural disasters, and media user groups in particular have begun using web tools such as SLIDER for customizable graphics to present Earth systems observations to a wide, and largely unanticipated audience.

To a large extent, however, these real-time observations, and the valuable, intuitive products provided have not made the jump to the daily broadcast. This presentation seeks to find paths forward to bridging the gap between the continually growing online availability of advanced and user-friendly scientific products and the broadcast world, where such imagery could perhaps best be used. Particular focus on severe weather, tropical storms, and observations of wildfire in a real-time environment will be presented, as well as challenges, both technical and professional, to getting this imagery on-screen. Mechanisms to overcome those challenges will be explored to better arm the broadcast meteorologist with the high-quality imagery and information the growing online audience is used to, bringing the best of online resources to the broadcast booth.