The GOES-R Proving Ground 2012 Summer Experiment at the Aviation Weather Center

For the first time, the 2012 Summer Experiment at NOAA's Aviation Weather Center (AWC) included a desk dedicated to the demonstration and evaluation of GOES-R products. Featured in the 2 week experiment were convective initiation products from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, GOES IR radiances and NSSL WRF lightning threat data from the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Satellite Convection and Tracking from the University of Alabama – Huntsville, and Pseudo Geostationary Lightning Mapper data from NASA's Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center.

The traffic flow management (TFM) desk demonstration and experimental issuance of the Aviation Weather Statement (AWS) was the main focus of the event, and the participants at the GOES-R desk were able to assist in this venture, utilizing GOES-R products in an attempt to forecast for potential impacts to major flight routes and terminals. Through this hands-on experience, the forecasters were given an early glance into what the next generation GOES satellite will have to offer. Scheduled to launch in the fall of 2015, the initial exposure of this new data in a setting familiar to those forecasters who will be using it will be vital for a smooth transition of the new satellite into operations. The following presentation will outline the day to day logistics of the experiment, the products evaluated, and the forecaster feedback and comments as noted through various significant weather events.