Near Real Time Operational Satellite Arctic Composite Imagery Products

Near real time (NRT) Arctic composite imagery satellite operation products are generated and distributed in NOAA GEO systems with 24x7 support, by using the product processing software that was developed by Arctic imagery team led by Dr. Matthew Lazzara^* in Wisonsin Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies. The Arctic composite imagery products contains imagery from geostationary satellites GOES-E, GOES-W, Meteosat-7, Meteosat-10, and Himawari-8, and from polar orbiting satellites NOAA-18, NOAA-19, Aqua/Terra, and METOP-A/B. The imagery is generated every hour, however, it has an approximate three-hour latency, due to the relay of the polar orbiting satellite imagery used in the composites.  The product is 4 kilometers nominal resolution at 60°N latitude and is orientated with a standard longitude orientation of 170°W, with the coverage of full Arctic ocean and adjacent coastline and continents (50°N-90°N). The products cover 5 bands: infrared, long wave infrared, shortwave infrared, visible and water vapor, each of which has three formats such as McIDAS AREA files, netCDF4, and gif. The imagery products (gif) are available in the OSPO website http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/imagery/arctic/index.html. The products of AREA and nc formats are  distributed in the OSPO GEO and DDS distribution systems. The products are expected to improve operational forecasting for the North Pacific and North Atlantic from 50°N to 90°N for maritime and aviation operations (Weather and Water, Local Forecast and Warning, Commerce and Transportation). Also, the products can aid in understanding weather patterns and phenomena, ultimately improving forecasts. Current users include but not limited to Ocean Prediction Center, Weather Prediction Center, National Weather Service AK, NOAA Ice Center, and NOAA Aircraft Operations Center.