The GOES-R Proving Ground 2010 Spring Experiment at NOAA's Hazardous Weather Testbed and Storm Prediction Center

The GOES-R Proving Ground 2010 Spring Experiment at NOAA's Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) and Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, OK provided a unique opportunity to interact with and study, in an operational framework, new products available from the next generation GOES-R satellite to be launched in 2015. The overall goal of the Proving Ground is to prepare forecasters by providing them with the knowledge, training and experience needed to effectively use the products in day to day operations once they become routinely available. This goal is met through constant forecaster and researcher interaction with the products in real-time forecasting situations in collaboration with the NSSL/SPC Experimental Forecast Program (http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/hwt/efp/) and the NSSL/NWS Experimental Warning Program (http://ewp.nssl.noaa.gov/). Constructive feedback given by the participants during the Spring Experiment and throughout the year in SPC operations is provided to product developers in order to facilitate required improvements to the products prior to operational implementation.

Observational products focusing on detecting and forecasting convective initiation, overshooting tops, enhanced-Vs, and total lightning, as well as simulated GOES-R IR radiances and total lightning from the NSSL-WRF were examined and evaluated in a broad range of forecasting strategies, from convective outlooks to real-time NWS warning exercises. The presentation will focus on the GOES-R Proving Ground activities at the HWT and SPC over the past year, findings from this past year's experiment, product improvements and case examples, forecaster interactions, and goals for the GOES-R Proving Ground activities at the HWT and SPC in years to come.

More information on the GOES-R Proving Ground can be found on the website: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes_r/proving-ground.html