Applications and Training for Next-Generation Imagers

This paper will preview operational forecaster applications from two next-generation imagers, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) from the National Polar Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS), and the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) from the GOES-R satellite series. We will show examples that foresee the utility of the new sensors to address fundamental operational and research challenges.

The VIIRS instrument will contain 22 channels and share many of the capabilities of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), but with a number of improvements. VIIRS will have a 3000 km swath vs. 2330 km for MODIS, with better pixel resolution across the swath. Forecasters will notice significant improvements in pixel detail toward the edge of scan. VIIRS will have a low-light visible channel, called the Day/Night Band (DNB) not contained by MODIS. Compared to the nighttime visible channel aboard the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites, the DNB will be considerably improved with many more display levels, decreased noise and artifacts, higher spatial resolution, and full integration into the VIIRS radiometer suite. The DNB will provide forecasters a greater opportunity to monitor weather events in both day and night time conditions.

The ABI will have 16 channels compared to five channels for current GOES GVAR imagers. The visible band of the ABI will have significantly improved spatial resolution of one half km. The other remaining bands will be either at one or two km, a great improvement over the current GOES. There will be many new forecasting applications, and existing applications will be greatly enhanced.

The presenter will discuss available training modules for both the VIIRS and ABI imagers, as offered by the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and Training (COMET). In addition, demonstrations of VIIRS and ABI capabilities will be presented using heritage sensors via the Naval Research Laboratory 's Next Generation Satellite Training Testbed (NexSat).