Introducing Multispectral Imagery to the Tropical Cyclone Analysis Process at the National Hurricane Center in 2017

The GOES-R Proving Ground Program was conceived to demonstrate and familiarize forecasters with the next generation geostationary satellite products and capabilities that will be incorporated into National Weather Service (NWS) and National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information (NESDIS) operations. Prior to the launch of GOES-R (now GOES-16), the Hurricane Center (NHC) and Satellite Proving Ground for Marine, Precipitation, and Satellite Analysis focused on demonstrating and evaluating proxy products in operations. On 1 March 2017, the first GOES-16 images started flowing in a beta test phase, allowing forecasters in the MPS to get some first looks in AWIPS II and N-AWIPS displays.

As GOES-16 Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) channels were being introduced to forecasters, the Satellite Enhancement Team was preparing an assortment of multispectral imagery or Red Green Blue (RGB) products that would be available to forecasters through AWIPS II. With assistance from the NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center (SPoRT), the NHC was able to use some of these RGBs during the active 2017 Hurricane season with products like the Night-time Microphysics Advanced RGB getting mentions in tropical cyclone discussions. This presentation will highlight some of the RGB usage during the 2017 hurricane season and also demonstrate when using RGBs in lieu of single channels is appropriate.