Warning related satellite products to be demonstrated in the GOES-R proving ground

A proving ground is a place where technologies and ideas are tested and evaluated before being finalized and incorporated into critical operations. The key mission of the GOES-R Proving Ground (PG) is to demonstrate new satellite observing data, products and capabilities in operational NOAA Offices. This key activity facilitates the transfer of new capabilities into NOAA operations in an efficient and reliable manner. This program directly addresses the concerns raised by various studies that identified the major challenges posed when trying to move new products into NOAA's operational programs, also known as trying to “Cross the Valley of Death”. In the GOES-R PG, developers at the Cooperative Institute of Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) in Madison Wisconsin, the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) in Fort Collins, Colorado, NASA's Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) program in Huntsville, AL, and National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters are testing and applying algorithms for new GOES-R-like satellite data and products. These products were generated using proxy and simulated data sets, including observations from new instruments (MODIS, AIRS, IASI, SEVIRI, NAST-I, NPP/VIIRS/CrIS, LIS), lightning networks, and computer simulated products. Ultimately, the Proving Ground provides end users the opportunity to directly evaluate and critique these products, resulting in a superior product.

The Proving Ground Executive Board and the NWS have jointly identified a set of twelve GOES-R products as “Warning Related” products, that directly contribute to the NWS warning mission to save lives and property. In 2010, the GOES-R Proving Ground as part of the activities in the Spring Experiment at NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) and Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) in Norman, OK, provided the GOES-R Program with opportunities to demonstrate four of these high priority pre-operational algorithms directly related to severe local storm detection and forecasting. These include 1) cloud and moisture imagery; 2) lightning detection; 3) convective initiation; and 4) enhanced “V”/ overshooting top detections.

This presentation will provide more details and samples of the demonstrated products and any product evaluation that is available. Future plans for the Proving Ground activities at SPC will also be presented.