JPSS and GOES-R Multispectral Imagery Applications and Product Development at CIRA

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite has been producing high-quality imagery since its launch in October 2011. The 22 bands on VIIRS include 5 high-resolution imagery channels (~375 m resolution at nadir), 16 moderate resolution channels (~750 m resolution), and the Day/Night Band (~742 m resolution), which collectively range in wavelength from 0.412 μm to 12.01 μm. In addition, the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) aboard the geostationary Himawari-8 satellite (launched in October 2014) has 16 channels covering a similar wavelength range (0.47 to 13.3 μm) and includes three infrared (IR) water vapor bands. The resolution of the AHI instrument ranges from 500 m (visible band 3) to 2 km (IR bands). These satellite instruments have provided a platform to prepare users on the capabilities of the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on GOES-R (currently scheduled for launch in November 2016).  This collection of bands, most of which are similar between the three instruments, offer a multitude of multispectral imagery products useful to operational users. For example, red-green-blue (RGB) composites of these channels are useful for detecting many hazards including: volcanic eruptions, dust storms, smog, fires, and floods. Other uses of multispectral imagery products include: monitoring vegetation health, snow and ice extent, ocean turbidity and other natural phenomena. Researchers at the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University (CSU) and the Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch (RAMMB) of NOAA/NESDIS have been developing new multispectral imagery products (including RGB composites) that are being applied to the new generation satellite platforms. These include: the Dynamic Enhanced Background Reduction Algorithm (DEBRA) for dust detection; Geocolor, which combines true color imagery during the day with a low cloud/fog product at night; the Fire Temperature RGB composite for monitoring fires; and the Snow/Cloud Discriminator product, which utilizes the VIIRS Day/Night Band to improve the discrimination of snow and clouds at night. In addition, an algorithm has been developed to create Synthetic True Color imagery for the GOES-R ABI, which lacks the green wavelength visible band. Examples of these and other RGB composites will be presented, and the numerous applications of these products will be discussed.