NOAA Real-Time Network of Direct Broadcast Receiving Stations: Access to Real-time Advanced Sounder Data for NWP

NOAA/JPSS has funded the deployment and operation of a network of polar satellite receiving stations in order to acquire, process, and deliver low latency advanced sounder data to NOAA/NWS/NCEP for data assimilation in rapid refresh models. At present, NOAA stations are operating in Honolulu HI, Madison WI, Fairbanks AK, Monterey CA, Miami FL, and Mayaguez PR, providing excellent coverage of North America and the northwestern Pacific. A new station in Guam will come online in early 2017. Sounder data from the Suomi NPP, Metop, and Aqua satellites are acquired in real time at each station, and delivered to a central processing system at CIMSS/SSEC/UW-Madison. The primary sensors for this project are CrIS and ATMS on Suomi NPP, and IASI on Metop-A and Metop-B (microwave sounder data are also acquired and processed). The data are calibrated and geolocated in real time, normally within 15 minutes measured from the start of the satellite overpass. The resulting Level 1 sensor data are then converted to WMO BUFR formats and delivered to NOAA/NWS/NCEP for data assimilation. By the end of 2017, the BUFR formatted data will also be delivered to EUMETSAT for dissemination via the EARS network, under an agreement between EUMETSAT and NOAA/NESDIS. The presentation will describe the status of the network, the data processing, and the delivery and usage of the BUFR products.