Uniqueness of JPSS products for NWS decision support activities

The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is the US's next generation polar-orbiting operational satellite system that will provide significant technological and scientific improvements in environmental monitoring. JPPS will provide satellite imagery and products that will improve weather forecasting capabilities for National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters. The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) is a prototype for the upcoming JPSS series of satellites (JPSS1-JPSS4), with JPSS1 scheduled to launch in January 2017. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Instrument on Suomi NPP has 22 distinct channels ranging from visible to infrared wavelengths. These include 16 moderate resolution bands with 0.74 km spatial resolution, 5 imaging bands expressing a finer resolution of 0.37 km and the Day/Night Band (DNB) of 0.74 km. Forecasting applications range from detecting water and ice clouds, snow, sea surface temperatures, fog, fire, severe weather, vegetation health, and aerosols over the ocean. An additional application to note is the DNB, which senses reflected lunar light and emitted natural and anthropogenic light at night. DNB applications have been valuable for severe/winter storm, identifying sea ice in the arctic, and hurricane forecasting, with more applications to be seen in the near future. Many of the products are now sent through the Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN) and are viewable on the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System-II (AWIPS-II) that NWS forecasters use on a daily basis to analyze meteorological data. In addition to VIIRS, there are four more instruments on Suomi NPP that provide products for forecasters: the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) and the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES). The presentation will highlight the variety of JPSS imagery, products, and applications while demonstrating their utility in the forecast process.