Near-Real-Time Simulated ABI Imagery for User Readiness, Retrieval Algorithm Evaluation and Model Verification

The GOES-R Algorithm Working Group (AWG) Proxy Data teams at CIMSS have been producing Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) proxy imagery for the past five years. These data have been used extensively by a number of groups within the GOES-R Program, including Proving Ground, the Algorithm Integration Team (AIT), and the AWG Winds, Aviation, and Imagery/Visualization teams. Over the past year we provided simulated ABI data to the AIT for retrieval algorithm evaluation and have been supplying near-real-time simulated imagery to Proving Ground from WRF model forecasts (for 10 of the ABI bands over CONUS) to help prepare users of these data.

This research expands on our past efforts with the AIT and Proving Ground by providing near-real-time proxy ABI data from WRF-Chem model forecasts over CONUS using the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) for all 16 ABI bands as well as developing a proto-type system for verifying model simulated ABI radiances in near-real-time using GOES imager/sounder and other satellite data obtained from our direct broadcast data collection system. Nearly all simulated and observed imagery will be converted to the currently accepted Fixed Grid Format, which will be the format of the GOES-R Re-Broadcast Level 1b data.

We will describe the near-real-time systems we developed to generate and verify simulated ABI data, and provide examples of WRF-Chem model simulated ABI imagery and derived products, as well as model verification.