The Use of AWIPS to Display and Analyze Satellite Data

The NWS is now completing its modernization. Two important parts of that modernization are AWIPS and the new GOES/POES satellites. This paper will show how the new GOES/POES data can be displayed and analyzed using AWIPS.

AWIPS receives its operational satellite feed from the AWIPS Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN). This data feed includes the 5 channels available on the GOES imager. Currently, no GOES derived products, GOES sounding products, or POES images or products are sent over the SBN. The Western Region of the NWS is using the LDAD (Local Data Assimilation and Dissemination) portion of AWIPS to ingest and display the GOES derived products, GOES sounding products, and POES images and products.

These GOES/POES images and products are collected in McIDAS format from NESDIS servers by a McIDAS server in WRH. The McIDAS files are then converted into AWIPS compatible netCDF files. LDM is then used to pass the files from the McIDAS server to the LDAD server at each WR forecast office. LDAD is then used to pass the data into the AWIPS database. Configuration files on AWIPS are modified to allow the storage and display of these new GOES/POES images and products.

Several examples of the products that are being ingested and displayed on AWIPS will be presented. It will also be shown how these new GOES/POES images and products can be combined with other AWIPS data to aid in the forecast process in a WFO.