Using the Satellite Information Familiarization Tool (SIFT) to Train on New Multi-Spectral Geostationary Satellite Sensors

The Satellite Information Familiarization Tool (SIFT) is freely-available software from the University of Wisconsin Space Science and Engineering Center that runs on all major computer operating systems. Originally developed for multi-spectral satellite training offered to operational meteorologists at the United States National Weather Service (NWS), it is also a powerful tool for near-real time examination of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-Series (GOES-R/16) imagery available from the Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS) archive. SIFT has been used on multiple occasions in the past year to train both forecasters and students. This presentation will introduce SIFT and describe prospective applications. GOES-16 training activities that have used SIFT will also be detailed.

NWS Science and Operations Officers (SOOs) attended a series of GOES-16 workshops at the NWS Training Center in Kansas City, and SIFT was an important part of that three-day training. After receiving instruction on the capabilities of the different bands, the SOOs used SIFT to investigate visual and statistical relationships between GOES-16 bands, thereby deepening their understanding of imagery from the GOES-16 Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI). SIFT has also been incorporated into ongoing training at NWS forecast offices, wherein forecasters are led through labs that highlight the capabilities of the GOES-16 ABI (and Himawari-8). Finally, SIFT has been used to introduce students to the capabilities of GOES-16 at conferences in concert with GOES-16 data and short explanatory lectures.