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Satellite User Readiness Navigator (SATURN)

Preparing for the next generation of meteorological satellites

Satellites

EPS-SG Basics

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PDF_BR_PRGFS02_EN-1-1_tnEPS-SG is EUMETSAT’s next generation of polar-orbiting satellites, following on from earlier successful EUMETSAT Polar System programme (Metop). This next generation will secure the continuation of meteorological observations from polar orbit from 2025-2043.

The EPS-SG mission will have two series of spacecraft, Metop-SG A, the first of which was launched on 13 Aug 2025, and B, flying on the same mid-morning orbit, like the current Metop satellites. The orbit height is in the range 823-848 (dependent on latitudes). There will be three satellites each of Metop-SG A and Metop-SG B.

Metop-SG A is an atmospheric sounding and imaging mission. It has a suite of infrared, microwave, and imaging instruments for sounding temperature, moisture and trace gases in the atmosphere:

Metop-SG B is a microwave imaging mission, focused on radar observations of ocean-surface wind and soil moisture and all-weather microwave imagery of precipitation and ice clouds:

Both satellites are equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio-Occultation (RO) instrument for limb sounding of temperature and humidity at high vertical resolution.

Ground Segment

The EPS-SG Overall Ground Segment (OGS) will support the ground functions required to meet the EPS-SG Missions objectives.

Main functions of the OGS:

  • Acquiring, processing and disseminating EPS-SG global and regional data to the end users, as part of the EPS-SG Global and Regional missions.
  • Monitoring, controlling and operating the Metop-SG satellites in orbit.
  • Archiving EPS-SG global data and providing off-line retrieval from archive and user support services.
  • Perform calibration and validation of the products, routinely monitoring the Metop-SG instruments’ health, and product quality.

The ground segment consists of:

  • Mission Control and Operations (MCO) — The MCO block will ensure the end-to-end monitoring and control of the Metop-SG spacecraft, including Tracking, Telemetry and Control (TT&C).
  • Payload Data Acquisition and Processing (PDAP) — The PDAP block will ensure the end-to-end chain from data acquisition to the generation of level 1 and level 2 products.
  • EUMETSAT Multi Mission Elements (MMEs) — The Multi Mission Elements (MMEs) are EUMETSAT operational facilities and common infrastructure used by existing programmes. They are split in four groups: infrastructure, data centre, monitoring and dissemination. They will be used by EPS-SG after extension and upgrade.

Further information on the Metop-SG spacecraft, instruments and services can be found on Metop-SG section of the EUMETSAT User Portal.

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EPS-SG User Readiness Planning

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The EUMETSAT User Portal is now the one-stop-shop for all user information related to EPS-SG. The Metop-SG section includes an overview of the mission and data services (Global, Local, Regional); Metop-SG Data collection (post-launch, when closer to release); resources including user guides, related documents, software and code and service status updates, and Metop-SG data news and events.

In order for users to prepare for EPS-SG, format familiarisation test data packages are being released. A Product Format Specification document describing the content of each product is also released with each test data package. For more information on test data, see the Metop-SG test data user guide.

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EPS-SG Long-term Operations Plan

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EUMETSAT Polar System – Second Generation (EPS-SG) will see the launch of six new satellites, the first of which, Metop-SG A1, was launched on 13 August 2025. The EPS-SG programme should guarantee access to space-acquired meteorological data until at least the early 2040s.

Planned deployment of the satellites can be found in the Satellite service and history table in the Metop-SG section of the EUMETSAT User Portal.

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EPS-SG Data, Products and Applications

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All EPS-SG global and Regional Level 1 and L2 products generated at EUMETSAT headquarters will become available post-launch. A full list will be available in the data catalogue of the EUMETSAT User Portal.

While all the products will be generated centrally at EUMETSAT, some of them will be developed and validated within the SAF Network or by ESA.

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GOES-17 Post-Launch Testing, Science Product Validation, and Data Release

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GOES-S reached geostationary orbit on March 12, 2018, and was renamed GOES-17. The satellite then underwent post-launch checkout and testing at 89.5 degrees west longitude. Post-launch testing includes instrument calibration and trending and image navigation and registration system testing and validation.

The GOES-R Program encountered a performance issue with the cooling system of the GOES-17 Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instrument. The loop heat pipe (LHP) subsystem, which transfers heat from the ABI electronics to the radiator, is not operating at its designed capacity. This is preventing adequate cooling for some of the infrared (IR) channels on the instrument. The effect is worse during warm portions of orbit, near midnight when sun enters the ABI aperture, and during warm seasons around vernal and autumnal equinoxes. Under worst case conditions, local emission and dark current noise cause the longer wavelength channels saturate and become unusable for some hours.

Optimization techniques have been successful in recovering more than 97% of planned ABI data. GOES-17 is currently observing with more channels, at a higher resolution, and with more rapid refresh than what is available from the current GOES West satellite. NOAA is confident the GOES constellation will continue to meet the operational needs of the National Weather Service and forecasters across the nation.

GOES-17 was handed over from the GOES-R Program to NOAA’s Office of Satellite and Product Operations on October 22, 2018. The satellite then drifted from its checkout location at 89.5 degrees west longitude to its operational location at 137.2 degrees west, arriving on November 13, 2018.

Following two days of calibration activity, all instruments resumed data distribution on November 15, 2018. After additional operational testing at the 137.2 degrees west position, GOES-17 began operations as NOAA’s GOES West satellite on February 12, 2019.

GOES-15 will continue to operate alongside GOES-17 until at least July 2019 allow for assessment of the performance of GOES-17 as the GOES West operational satellite. GOES-15 drifted from its operational location at 135 degrees west longitude to 128 west to eliminate radio frequency interference with GOES-17 at 137.2 west.

A summary of the cooling system issue, latest status, estimated channel availability, impact to data products, information on data flow to users, and frequently asked questions can be found on the GOES-17 ABI Performance webpage.

 

Product Validation

Each GOES-17 data product goes through three levels of validation: Beta, Provisional and Full.

Beta: The product is made available to users to gain familiarity with data formats and parameters. The product has been minimally validated and may still contain significant errors and is not optimized for operational use.

Provisional: Product is ready for operational use but has documented known issues. Product analyses are sufficient to communicate product performance to users relative to expectations (performance baseline).

Full: Product is operational. All known product anomalies are resolved and/or documented and shared with the user community.

A Peer Stakeholder – Product Validation Review (PS-PVR) happens for each product at each level of maturity. The PS-PVR appraises the the status of product quality with respect to program definitions.

A schedule of GOES-17 product validation is below. Click to enlarge.

The Environmental Satellite Processing Center (ESPC) is the source for GOES-17 notifications. To subscribe, email ESPCOperations@noaa.gov. Between launch and operations handover (launch + 6 months), notifications will only occur for distribution turn-on milestones. After operations handover, nominal notifications commence.

The first public visible imagery from the GOES-17 Advanced Baseline Imager were released on May 31, 2018. See the GOES-17 Data and Imagery gallery for additional GOES-17 imagery and data from all six instruments. Note: The GOES-17 data posted on this page are preliminary, non-operational data and are undergoing on-orbit testing.

GOES-17 science product validation schedule as of May 17, 2019.

GOES-17 science product validation schedule as of May 17, 2019.

 

GOES-17 ABI full disk view of Earth’s Western Hemisphere from its checkout position on May 20, 2018

GOES-17 ABI full disk view of Earth’s Western Hemisphere from its checkout position on May 20, 2018

See GOES-R Data Access Mechanisms for detailed information for GOES-R data distribution.

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Himawari-8 Basics

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  • Himawari-8 started operation at 02 UTC on 7 July 2015. Operational information is here

 

  • Himawari-8 was successfully launched on 7 October 2014 and entered geostationary orbit on 16 October 2014 as planned.
  • You can grasp an overview of the Himawari-8 Satellite by below figures. Further detailed descriptions are available on Himawari User’s Guide.

    Major feature of Himwari-8/9

    Major feature of Himwari-8/9

    Schedule for Himawari satellites

    Schedule for Himawari satellites

    Overview of Himawari-8/9 data distribution/dissemination

    Overview of Himawari-8/9 data distribution/dissemination

    Schedule for transition from MTSAT-2 to Himawari-8

    Schedule for transition from MTSAT-2 to Himawari-8

    Overview of Himawari-8/9 ground segments and operations

    Overview of Himawari-8/9 ground segments and operations

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Himawari-8 User Readiness Planning

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Transition schedule from MTSAT-2 to Himawri-8

Transition schedule from MTSAT-2 to Himawri-8

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Himawari-8 Areas of Coverage and Observations Schedule

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  • Latest Himawari-8 operational schedule is here.
  • Information of current location of “Target area” can be seen here.

 

Instrument specifications

Possible areas of coverage and strategy for image acquisition

AHI observation areas

This figure has been provided since 3 September 2014 as “Japan area”. Final information for scanning area will come from the result of In-Orbit-Testing.

 

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Himawari-8 Data Formats and Volumes

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Overview of Himawari-8/9 data distribution/dissemination

Overview of Himawari-8/9 data distribution/dissemination

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Himawari 8 Data Access Mechanisms

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Overview of Himawari-8/9 data distribution/dissemination

Overview of Himawari-8/9 data distribution/dissemination

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Himawari-8 Software Tools and Test Data

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Himawari-8 User Notification and Feedback

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Himawari-8 Training and Resources

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The Melbourne VLab Centre of Excellence hosted by the Bureau of Meteorology has announced an extensive training campaign for Himawari-8/9 users. The campaign is conducted in cooperation with JMA and starts at the end of January 2015, providing web training sessions as well as self-study training material to support Himawari-8/9 user preparations. All information about the training campaign, including registration of web training sessions, is found at http://www.virtuallab.bom.gov.au/training/hw-8-training/ . On the Comet Meted site, you will find a training module on Himawari-8:  “Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI): What is Different from the GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI)” (online registration needed). The module is highly relevant to all users of Himawari-8. At the occasion of the 6th Asia-Oceanic Meteorological Satellite Users’ Conference in Japan in November 2015, a training event on Himawari-8 data utilization is planned.

Action map of National Himawari-8 Training Campaign

Action map of National Himawari-8 Training Campaign

 

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ELECTRO-L N2 Basics

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Electro-L N2 is the next Russian geostationary meteorological satellite. The launch of Electro-L N2 is currently scheduled for the end of 2014. Mission objectives:

  • Operational observation of the atmosphere and the Earth surface (MSU-GS instrument)
  • Heliogeophysical measurements
  • Data Collection System  and COSPAS/SARSAT Service

Electro-L 2

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ELECTRO-L N2 Instrument Performance

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The Electro-L N2 payload is similar to the one of the Electro-L N1 satellite

MSU-GS instrument (Multichannel scanning unit – Geostationary)  Basic Characteristics

Parameter

Value
Number of channels

  • VIS
  • IR
 10 3 7
Spectral range at half maximum of spectral response function (μm) 0.5-0.65;  0.65-0.80;  0.8-0.9;  3.5-4.0; 5.7-7.0;  7.5-8.5;  8.2-9.2;  9.2-10.2; 10.2-11.2;  11.2-12.5
Image frame (deg x deg) 20 ± 0.5 x 20 ± 0.5
HRIT spatial resolution at sub-satellite point (km) 1.0 (VIS); 4.0 (IR)
S/N ratio for VIS channels ≥ 200
NEΔT at 300K                 (K)

  • in the band         3.5-4.0 μm
  • in the band         5.7-7.0 μm
  • in the band         7.5-12.5 μm
 0.8 0.4 0.1-0.2
Power (W)  ≤150
Mass (kg) ≤ 88
Scan period:  – regular mode (full Earth disk)  – frequent mode (fragments of the Earth disk)   30 min 15 min

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ELECTRO-L N2 Long-Term Operations Plan

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According to the Russian Federal Space Program 2006-2015, the launch of Electro-L N2 satellite is scheduled for the year 2014. The satellite lifetime is expected to be 10 years. The launch planning for all Electro-L, Electro-M and Arctica series satellites  is shown in the fly-out schedule below. It should be nothed that the exact dates could be shifted later, depending on the status of the operational satellites and other issues. 11

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ELECTRO-L N2 Data Access Mechanisms

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The data from Electro-L N2 satellite will be available to direct readout users in HRIT/LRIT formats after the commissioning phase completion. LRIT/HRIT Mission Specific Implementation document is published as SRC Planeta WEB-site, http://planet.iitp.ru/english/index_eng.htm. The data could also be provided in near real time by land channels to EUMETSAT for redistribution via EUMETCast.

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INSAT-3D Basics

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The launch of INSAT-3D satellite on 24 July 2013 heralded a new era for meteorological observations from space-based platforms in India. The INSAT-3D was the first dedicated advanced Indian satellite for meteorological applications with an 18 channel (plus a visible channel for cloud detection during daytime) atmospheric infrared sounder and 6-channel Imager on-board. The INSAT-3D is only second such satellite in world that makes sounding observations from geostationary orbit after USA having an operational series of GOES satellites carrying similar infrared Sounder. The major goal of the INSAT-3D satellite was to boost the Indian observational capability for various weather applications, such as nowcasting of the severe weather events and input to the numerical weather prediction models. The INSAT-3D products are operationally available through the INSAT Meteorological Data Processing System (IMDPS) at MOSDAC, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad and India Meteorology Department (IMD), New Delhi. The entire INSAT-3D processing system IMDPS was developed by ISRO.

 

 

INSAT-3DR

INSAT-3DR during pre-launch test

 

In this series the INSAT-3DR (INSAT-3D Repeat) is the next satellite that will be launched towards the middle of 2016 to enhance the observational capability of INSAT-3D satellite for various weather applications. The INSAT-3DR is exactly similar to its predecessor. A synergistic use of both INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR together would be very useful for improvement in the existing algorithms of parameter retrieval as well as weather applications. The main instruments onboard INSAT-3DR are the following :

    • Imager: It is an improved multi-spectral Imager (optical radiometer) capable of generating the images of the Earth in six wavelength bands significant for meteorological observations, namely, visible (0.55-0.75 µm), shortwave infrared (1.55-1.70 µm), middle infrared (3.8-4.0 µm), water vapour (6.5-7.1 µm) and two bands in thermal infrared (10.2-11.3 µm and 11.5-12.5 µm) regions. The significant improvements in imaging system over that of KALPANA-1 and INSAT-3A enables night time imaging of low clouds/ fog, estimation of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) with better accuracy and acquisition of high spatial resolution images in the visible and thermal infrared bands

 

    • Sounder: It is the first geostationary sounder system over Indian Ocean region. It has 19 channels, with 18 narrow spectral channels in shortwave infrared, middle infrared and long wave infrared regions and one channel in the visible region. It provides information on the vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and integrated ozone. These profiles are available for a selected region over Indian landmass every one hour and for the entire Indian Ocean region every six hours

 

    • Data Relay Transponder (DRT): It is used for receiving meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic data from remote, uninhabited locations over the coverage area from Data Collection Platforms (DCPs) like Automatic Weather Station (AWS), Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) and Agro Met Stations (AMS).

 

    • Satellite Aided Search and Rescue (SAS & R) Transponder: The payload picks up and relays
      the alert signals originating from the distress beacons of maritime, aviation and land based users
      to the Indian Mission Control Centre (INMCC), located at Bengaluru

 

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INSAT-3D Instruments

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INSAT-3DR will carry a 6-channel Imager and 18-channel infrared Sounder (plus a visible channel for cloud filtering during daytime) similar to INSAT-3D.

2.a. Imager: The Imager instrument characteristics are summarised in table-1 and 2.

Table-1: INSAT-3DR Imager instrument characteristics

Number of Channels 6 (Vis, SWIR, MIR, WV, TIR 1 & TIR 2)
Instantaneous Field of View Vis & SWIR: 28 μrad; MIR, TIR-1 & TIR-2: 112μrad;

WV: 224 μrad
Field Of Regard (FOR) 24° E-W x 19° N-S
Active Scan Coverage Normal Mode: 18° E-W x 18° N-S,

Program Mode: 18° E-W x programmable no. of lines
Scan Offset capability E-W: ±3° in steps of ±0.016° N-S: Normal: 1st scan line selectable from –9.5° to –8.5° in steps of 0.013° Program: Selectable from -9.5° to + 9.5° in steps of 0.013°
Space Look Every line
Scanning E-W: Bi directional, N-S: Stepping
In-flight Calibration Full Aperture Blackbody and Space view for IR, space view for Vis & SWIR
Signal Quantization 10 Bits/Sample
System Power <100 Watts
System Weight <140 Kg

 

 

TABLE-2: INSAT-3D Imager Radiometric Specifications

Channel Name Wavelength (μm) SNR or NEDT (K) Scene Condition Saturation radiance / Temperature
VIS 0.55 to 0.75 >150:1 100% Albedo 52.4 mW/cm2/sr/μm
SWIR 1.55 to 1.70 >150:1 100% Albedo   6.7 mW/cm2/sr/μm
MIR 3.80 to 4.00 <1.4K 300K 340K
WVP 6.5 to 7.10 <1K 230K 320K
TIR1 10.3 to 11.3 <0.35K 300K 340K
TIR2 11.5 to 12.5 <0.35K 300K 340K

 

The spatial resolution for the Imager channels corresponding to their IFOV at nadir are 1 km for Vis/SWIR, 4 km for MIR/TIR1/TIR2 and 8 km for the WVR channel. This corresponds to the scanning from 8 elements in Vis/SWIR, 2 elements in MIR/TIR1/TIR2 and 1 element in WVR channel in the north-south direction. The Imager can view anywhere within the Field of Regard (FOR), i.e. 24° EW x 19° NS, with two modes of operation:

  • full frame mode scans 18° EW x 18° NS covering the entire earth disk and some space around in 26 minutes,
  • Programme mode covering 18° in EW direction, NS coverage can be defined in terms of number of lines to be scanned. The signal quantization is 10 bits/sample.

2.b. Sounder:

The Sounder instrument characteristics are summarised in table-3 and 4. The Sounder will make observations in 18 infrared channels and an additional visible channel to assist cloud detection during daytime. The spatial resolution of Sounder observation is 10 km at nadir. It can scan a maximum of 640 x 640 pixels, i.e., 6400 km x 6400 km in about 3 hours and a minimum of 64 x 64 pixels (640 km x 640 km). This way the Sounder can make selectable observations in the block sizes of 64 x 64 pixels, anywhere within the FOR. For in-flight blackbody calibration the Sounder looks at space every 2 minutes and at the blackbody every 30 minutes. The entire Indian landmass scanning will take about 50 minutes and can be programmed in synergy with the INSAT-3D in such way that repeated observations (better than 30 minutes) are available for nowcasting applications.

Table-4 provides the details of the Sounder channel characteristics with details about the central wavelength/wavenumber, sensor noise, principal absorbing gas within the channel bandwidth, and the main purpose of the channel.

 

 

 

 

Table-3: INSAT-3DR Sounder instrument characteristics

Number of Channels  19 (18 Infrared + 1 Visible)
Channel Definition  Interference filters (Table-4)
Instantaneous Field of View  ≤280 rad (EW) x 280 rad (NS) (10 km x 10 km at nadir)
Channel to channel registration  ±280 R (1 VIS/ IR element) among all channels
Simultaneous sounding per Channel  4 (aligned NS)
Field Of Regard (FOR) (optical)  24° EW x 21° NS
Step size  EW  280 μR (optical)/100msec, NS 1120 μR/scan line
Active Scan Coverage EW: Selectable from 0.513° (64 steps, 640 km) to 5.13° (640 steps, 6400 km) in steps of 0.513° (640 km).

NS: Selectable from 1.026° (16 lines, 640 km) to 10.2° (160 lines, 6400 km) in steps of 640 km.
Space Look  Every ~2 minutes (1216 FW revolutions)
Scanning  EW: Bi directional, NS: Stepping
In-flight Calibration  Full Aperture Blackbody and Space view
Signal Quantization 14 bits/sample for LWIR, MWIR & SWIR and

12 bits/sample for Visible
System Power  < 100 watts
System Weight  < 155 kg

 

Table 4: INSAT-3D Sounder Channels Characteristics
Detector Ch. No. l c

(mm)

 nc

(cm-1)

 NEDT (K)

@300K

 Principal absorbing gas Purpose
Long wave 1 14.67 682 0.17 CO2 Stratosphere temperature
2 14.31 699 0.16 CO2 Tropopause temperature
3 14.03 713 0.15 CO2 Upper-level temperature
4 13.64 733 0.12 CO2 Mid-level temperature
5 13.33 750 0.12 CO2 Low-level temperature
6 12.59 794 0.07 water vapor Total precipitable water
7 11.98 834 0.05 water vapor Surface temp., moisture
Mid wave 8 10.99 910 0.05 window Surface temperature
9 9.69 1032 0.10 ozone Total ozone
10 7.43 1346 0.05 water vapor Low-level moisture
11 7.04 1421 0.05 water vapor Mid-level moisture
12 6.52 1534 0.10 water vapor Upper-level moisture
Short wave 13 4.61 2168 0.05 N2O Low-level temperature
14 4.54 2202 0.05 N2O Mid-level temperature
15 4.48 2232 0.05 CO2 Upper-level temperature
16 4.15 2408 0.05 CO2 Boundary-level temp.
17 4.01 2496 0.05 window Surface temperature
18 3.79 2642 0.05 window Surface temp., moisture
Visible 19 0.659 14367 – window Daytime clouds

 

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INSAT-3D : Long Term Operational Plan

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INSAT-3DR is a follow-up of the INSAT-3D that was launched by ISRO on 26 August 2013 to strengthen the observational capability of Indian satellites for the benefit of atmospheric applications leading to a better weather prediction. The launch of INSAT-3DR will provide a continuity in these observations. The INSAT-3DR will be followed-up by its successor INSAT3-DS that will act as the spare for one of these two satellites. The combination of INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR is expected to provide a high temporal resolution observation that is a crucial requirement for numerical weather prediction especially for nowcasting applications. This will provide a similar capability that exist only with USA with observations from GOES series of satellite at GOES-E and GOES-W locations.

To provide the climate quality data products from the INSAT-3D series of satellites a procedure that is established by the Global Space-based Inter-Calibration System (GSICS) has been adopted by ISRO. Using GSICS procedure the Imager and Sounder radiances are corrected based on the relationship between the collocated simultaneous nadir overpass (SNO) observations from INSAT-3D and Metop-IASI/Aqua-AIRS/NPP-CrIS. The GSICS procedure has proved extremely helpful for the INSAT-3D and will make is consistent with the INSAT-3DR and INSAT-3DS radiances as well based on the inter-calibration coefficient established w.r.t. the reference satellite instrument recommended by the GSICS.

  1. Area of Coverage and Observations Schedule:

The INSAT-3D/3DR observations together will provide a unique observational capability for nowcasting and short range weather prediction over India due to frequent coverage from two satellites from geostationary platform. Presently, similar observational capabilities are available only over continental US region through GOES series of satellite. GOES maintains two satellites operationally that covers east part of continental US (GOES-East) and west part of the continental US (GOES-West). For nowcasting applications frequent observations, typically half-hourly or better, are required over a region of interest; whereas, for the numerical weather prediction input data at 3 or 6 hourly interval may be sufficient. The data requirement for the rapidly changing weather conditions such as tropical cyclones, thunderstorms, cloud-burst etc the temporal resolution of the satellite data should be very high, < 15 minutes. This can be achieved by suitably configuring/staggering the observations from two INSAT-3D/3DR satellites.

The scan schedule for Imager is every half an hour and the INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR will be making observations in a staggered mode, separated by 15 minutes. The Sounder observation schedule will be redefined in order to get maximum benefit from two satellites sounding instruments. Presently, INSAT-3D maintains following scan schedules for two regions (Figure shown below):

  • Sounding is repeated every hour over land (Region-A: covering Indian landmass)
  • Every 6th hour sounding over Ocean (Region-B: covering Indian ocean)

 

sc_fnl5_1

 

 

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INSAT-3D: Data products and Applications

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Data Products: Following tables  show the list of data products from INSAT-3DR Imager and Sounder. These products may be updated from time to time based on user requirement and new products generated.

                  Products from  INSAT-3D Imager

S.No. Data Product Processing Level Code Format Remarks
Standard Products
1 Standard Product Full Disk L1B STD HDF Per Pixel Lat & Lon as viewed by Satellite
2 Standard Sector Product L1C Sector mnemonic HDF Map Projected
Geo-Physical Parameters (Per Pixel)
1 Outgoing long wave radiations L2B OLR HDF Per Pixel
2 Rainfall using Hydro Estimator L2B HEM HDF Per Pixel
3 Quantitative Precipitation Index (IMSRA Method) Improved L2B IMC HDF Per Pixel
4 Sea Surface Temperature L2B SST HDF Per Pixel
5 Upper Troposphere Humidity L2B UTH HDF Per Pixel
6 Cloud Mask L2B CMK HDF Per Pixel
Geo-Physical Parameters (Map Projected)
1 FOG L2C FOG HDF Map Projected
2 SNOW L2C SNW HDF Map Projected
3 INSOLATION L2C INS HDF Map Projected
Geo-Physical Parameters (Point)
1 FIRE L2P FIR KML Point
2 SMOKE L2P SMK KML Point
3 Visible Winds L2P VSW HDF Point
4 IR Winds L2P IRW HDF Point
5 MIR Winds L2P MRW HDF Point
6 WV Winds L2P WVW HDF Point
Geo-Physical Parameters (Gridded)
1 Quantitative Precipitation Estimate (GPI) L2G GPI HDF 1 deg x 1 deg
2 Aerosol Optical Depth L2G AOD HDF 0.1 deg x 0.1 deg
3 Quantitative Precipitation Index (IMSRA) L2G IMR HDF 0.25 deg x 0.25 deg
Binned Geo-Physical Parameters (Temporally Binned)
1 Outgoing long wave radiations L3B OLR HDF Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly

Per Pixel
2  Rainfall using Hydro Estimator L3B HEM HDF Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly

(Per Pixel)
4 Upper Troposphere Humidity L3B UTH HDF Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly

(Per Pixel)
5 Sea Surface Temperature L3B SST HDF Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly
6 Quantitative Precipitation Index (IMSRA Method) L3G IMR HDF Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly

0.25 deg x 0.25 deg
7 Quantitative Precipitation Index (GPI Method) L3G GPI HDF Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly

(1 deg x 1 deg)
8 Insolation L3C INS HDF Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly (Map Projected)
9. Potential Evapo-Transpiration L3C PET HDF Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly (Map Projected)

 

Products from INSAT-3D Sounder

S.No. Data Product Processing Level Code For-mat Remarks
Standard Products
1 Standard Product L1B STD HDF Per Pixel Lat & Lon as viewed by Satellite
Geo-Physical Parameters
1 Vertical Profiles

·         Temperature Profiles (Regression and Physical Retrieval)

·         WV Profiles (Regression and Physical Retrieval)

·         Ozone Profile (Regression and Physical Retrieval)

·         Surface Skin Temperature (Regression and Physical Retrieval)

·         Total Ozone (Regression and Physical Retrieval)

 

Derived products

·         Geo Potential Height (40 levels)

·         Total Precipitable Water

·         Layer-1 (1000-900 hPa) Precipitable Water

·         Layer-2 (900-700 hPa) Precipitable Water

·         Layer-1 (700-300 hPa) Precipitable Water

·         Lifted Index Wind Index

·         Dry Microburst Index

·         Maximum Vertical Theta-e

 L2B PFL HDF Profile on 3×3  Pixels (Average)

Apart from these geophysical parameters the clear-sky radiances and cloud-cleared radiances from both the Imager and Sounder will be available for direct use in the radiance assimilation in NWP models.

Applications: Following is a list of the applications that is expected to benefit from the INSAT-3DR observations:

  • Numerical weather prediction
  • Assimilation – Radiance/Geophysical parameters
  • Nowcasting – severe weather/thunderstorm/cloud-burst
  • Monsoon – monitoring and assessment
  • Cyclone track and intensity prediction
  • Ocean State forecast
  • Agricultural monitoring and forecast
  • Fire monitoring
  • Pollution (Dust/Haze) monitoring
  • Aviation
  • Ozone monitoring
  • Climate applications

 

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INSAT-3D: Data Formats and Volumes

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Product Format: INSAT-3DR Data will be available in CF (Climate and Forecasting) Convention version 1.6 Complaint HDF-5 format and KML (Keyhole Markup Language) for (Fire and Smoke). Providing data products in CF Complaint formats gives advantage to the users to open the products in following software makes it compatible with following freely available COTS packages:

  • Ferret (v6.9) (Raster and Point Datasets) http://www.ferret.noaa.gov/Ferret/
  • Grads v2.0.a8+ (Supports Gridded Products: L2G and L3G) http://www.iges.org/grads/
  • MIAS (Meteorological Image Analysis Software) All Products (Indigenously Developed by SAC, ISRO)
  • IDV (Integrated Data Viewer) 4.1+ (All Products) unidata.ucar.edu/software/idv
  • McIDAS-V (Man Computer Interaction Data Access System) v1.3 (All Products) ssec.wisc.edu/mcidas/software/v
  • HDFView 2.9 (All Products) http://www.hdfgroup.org/products/java/hdfview/
  • NetCDF toolsUI.jar v4.3.22 (All Products) unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf-java
  • Panoply v2.9.4 All Raster Products http://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/panoply/
  • Climate Data Operators (CDO) 1.6.4 rc1 (Raster Products) https://code.zmaw.de/projects/cdo
  • NCAR Command Language 6.0.0 (Raster Products) ncl.ucar.edu/
  • Quantum GIS 2.0.1 (as layer served by WMS) qgis.org
  • THOR (Raster Products) http://pps.gsfc.nasa.gov/THOR/release.html
  • ncBrowse v1.6.7 (Raster Products) ftp://ftp.epic.noaa.gov/java/ncBrowse/install.htm

Data Volume: Following Tables 5(a) & (b) shows the approximate volumes of the data products from INSAT-3DR Imager and Sounder, respectively. These volumes may change from time to time depending upon the addition/removal of a few products.

                      Data Volumes : INSAT-3D IMAGER

Types of Data Product Data Volume per day
L1B 4.848 GB
L02 (Sector) 2.88 GB
IMAGER quantitative products 10 GB
Total 73 GB

 

                  Data Volumes : INSAT-3D SOUNDER

Types of Data Product Data Volume per day
L1B 9.3 MB
SOUNDER quantitative products 200 MB
Total 500 MB

 

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INSAT-3D: Data Access Mechanism Specification

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National Satellite Meteorological Centre, India Meteorological Department is responsible for reception of satellite data from all Meteorological geostationary satellites, it’s processing, and then generation of various satellite derived images and products and archiving the satellite data. The processed channels imageries & derived products of INSAT-3D satellite are disseminated through dedicated webpage http://satellite.imd.gov.in/insat.htm and some product are also available on GTS. The webpage is updated every 15 minutes.

The domain  of various sectors imageries generated from  three Meteorological geostationary operational satellites namely Kalpana1, INSAT-3A and INSAT-3D are as follows:

Satellite / Payload Sector Domain Images
 

 

 

 

 

INSAT-3D Imager

 Full Globe Full Globe VIS(0.55-0.75µm),SWIR(1.55-1.70µm),

MIR(3.7-3.9µm),WV(6.8µm),

TIR1(10.3-11.3µm),TIR2(11.5-12.5µm),

IR1_BT(10.3-11.3µm),

Day/Night Microphysics Images
Asia Mercator 45°N-10°S

45°E-105°E

 

 VIS,SWIR,MIR,WV,TIR1,TIR2,

High Resolution Images,

Day/Night Microphysics Images,
North-East Sector 0°N-35°N

75°E-105°E

 VIS,SWIR,MIR,WV,TIR1,TIR2,

Day/Night Microphysics Images
North-West Sector 50°N-20°S

15°E-85°E

 –do–
High Resolution Images with district boundaries
North-East Sector

 

 15°N-40°N

80°E-100°E

 VIS,SWIR,MIR,WV,TIR1,TIR2
North-West Sector

 

 15°N-35°N

65°E-85°E

 –do–
South-East Sector

 

 0°N-30°N

75°E-105°E

 VIS,SWIR,MIR,WV,TIR1,TIR2,

BD Curve Cyclone Enhancement Images,

NHC Curve Cyclone Enhancement Images
South-West Sector

 

 0°N-30°N

40°E-75°E

 –do–
 

INSAT-3D Sounder

 Sector-A Images

 

 7°N-40°N

60°E-96°E

 VIS(0.695µm),SWIR1(4.57µm)

SWIR2(4.52µm),SWIR3(4.45µm),

SWIR4(4.13µm),SWIR5(3.98µm),

SWIR6(3.74µm),MWIR1(11.03µm),

MWIR2(9.71µm),MWIR3(7.43µm),

MWIR4(7.02µm),MWIR5(6.51µm),

LWIR1(14.71µm),LWIR2(14.37µm),

LWIR3(14.06µm),LWIR4(13.64µm),

LWIR5(13.37µm),LWIR6(12.66µm),

LWIR7 (12.02 µm)
Sector-B Images

 

 10°N-13°S

55°E-96°E

 –do–
Sector-A Brightness Temperature Images

 

 7°N-40°N

60°E-96°E

 MWIR1 (11.03 µm),MWIR2 (9.71µm)

MWIR3 (7.43 µm),MWIR4 (7.02 µm)

MWIR5 (6.51 µm),LWIR1 (14.71 µm)

LWIR2 (14.37 µm),LWIR3 (14.06µm)

LWIR4 (13.64 µm),LWIR5 (13.37µm)

LWIR6 (12.66 µm),LWIR7 (12.02µm)
Sector-B Brightness Temperature Images 10°N-13°S

55°E-96°E

 –do–
Sector-A Temperature Profile Images

 

 7°N-40°N

60°E-96°E

 950 hPa,850 hPa,700 hPa,620 hPa

500 hPa,400 hPa,300 hPa,250 hPa

200 hPa,150 hPa,100 hPa,070 hPa

050 hPa,030 hPa,010 hPa
Sector-B Temperature Profile Images 10°N-13°S

55°E-96°E

 –do–
Sector-A Humidity Profile Images

 

 7°N-40°N

60°E-96°E

 950 hPa,850 hPa,700 hPa,620 hPa

500 hPa,400 hPa,300 hPa,250 hPa

200 hPa,150 hPa,100 hPa
Sector-B Humidity Profile Images 10°N-13°S

55°E-96°E

 –do–
Sector-A Geo-Potential Height Profile Images 7°N-40°N

60°E-96°E

 950 hPa,850 hPa,700 hPa,620 hPa

500 hPa,400 hPa,300 hPa,250 hPa

200 hPa,150 hPa,100 hPa,070 hPa

050 hPa,030 hPa,010 hPa
Sector-B Geo-Potential Height Profile Images 10°N-13°S

55°E-96°E

 –do–
 

KALPANA-1

 Full Disk Full Globe VIS(0.55-0.75µm),WV(5.7-7.1µm),

IR(10.5-12.5µm), RGB
Asia Sec 40°N-40°S

50°E-130°E

 VIS, WV, IR, RGB, Enhanced Image of VIS, WV, IR
NE Sec 0°N-35°N

75°E-105°E

 VIS, WV, IR, RGB
NW Sec 50°N-20°S

15°E-85°E

 –do–
 

INSAT-3A VHRR

 Full Disk Full Globe VIS(0.55-0.75µm),WV(5.7-7.1µm),

IR(10.5-12.5µm), RGB
Asia Sec 40°N-40°S

50°E-130°E

 –do–
NE Sec 0°N-35°N

75°E-105°E

 –do–
NW Sec 50°N-20°S

15°E-85°E

 –do–
 

INSAT-3A CCD

 Full Scan Full Disk VIS(0.62-0.68µm),NIR(0.77-0.86µm),SWIR(1.55-1.69µm), RGB
Asia Mercator 40°N-40°S

50°E-130°E

 –do—
 

INSAT-3D, INST-3A and

KALANA-1  Derived Products

 INSAT-3D IMAGER and KALANA-1 VHRR Derived Products
AMV Products

 

 40°N-40°S

50°E-130°E

 INSAT-3D: Visible Winds(600-975 hPa during day time), MIR Winds(600-975 hPa during night time), CMV(100-975 hPa )WV Winds(100-500 hPa), LL Winds (400-975 hPa), HL Winds(100-500 hPa)

KALPANA-1: CMV(100-950 hPa ), WV Winds(100-500 hPa), LL Winds (400-950 hPa), HL Winds(100-500 hPa)
OLR Products

 

 Full Disk INSAT-3D: Half Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seasonal

KALPANA-1 : Half Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seasonal
SST Products

 

 Full Disk –do–
UTH Product

 

 Full Disk –do–
Insolation Product

 

 45°N-10°S

45°E-105°E

 –do–
LST Product

 

 Full Disk INSAT-3D: Half Hourly

KALPANA-1: Half Hourly,

Daily_Min, Daily_Max,

Weekly_Min, Weekly_Max, Monthly_Min,Monthly_Max
Rain Estimate Product
QPE

 

 

 

 45°N-10°S

45°E-105°E

 

 

 INSAT-3D: Half Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seasonal

KALPANA-1 : Half Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seasonal
IMR

 

 

 

 45°N-10°S

45°E-105°E

 

 

 INSAT-3D: Half Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seasonal

KALPANA-1 : Half Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seasonal
HEM

 

 Full Disk

 

 

 

 INSAT-3D: Half Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seasonal

KALPANA-1 : Half Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seasonal
BT Average Product

 

 Full Disk INSAT-3D: MIR – Daily, Weekly, Monthly, IR1 – Daily, Weekly, Monthly, IR2 – Daily, Weekly, Monthly

KALPANA-1: WV Daily, IR Daily
Cloud Top BT Product

 

 45°N-10°S

45°E-105°E

 INSAT-3D: CT BT Below -40°C

KALPANA-1: CT BT (Change in 24 hrs), CT BT, CT BT Below -40°C
Snow Product 45°N-10°S

45°E-105°E

 INSAT-3D: 0500UTC,0530UTC,

0600UTC
Aerosol Product 45°N-10°S

45°E-105°E

 INSAT-3D :0530UTC,0600UTC,

0630UTC,0700UTC,0730UTC,

0800UTC,0830UTC
Fog Product 45°N-10°S

45°E-105°E

 INSAT-3D: Half Hourly
Smoke Product 45°N-10°S

45°E-105°E

 –do–
Cloud Mask Full Disk –do–
Fire 80°N-80°S

0°E-160°E

 –do–

 
Vorticity 40°N-40°S

30°E-130°E

 INSAT-3D: 850mb, 700mb, 500mb, 200mb
Shear 40°N-40°S

30°E-130°E

 INSAT-3D: Wind Shear, Mid Shear, Shear Tendency
Convergence 40°N-40°S

30°E-130°E

 INSAT-3D: Low level (850-925 hPa)
Divergence 40°N-40°S

30°E-130°E

 INSAT-3D: Upper level (150-300 hPa)
INSAT-3D SOUNDER Derived Products
Sector A

 

 7°N-40°N

60°E-96°E

 LPW (1000-900 hPa), LPW (900-700 hPa), LPW (700-300 hPa), Total PWV

,Potential Temperature  Difference, Total Ozone, Mean Surface Pressure,

Surface Skin Temperature, Dry Microburst Index, Lifted Index,

Wind Index
Sector B

 

 10°N-13°S

55°E-96°E

 –do–
INSAT-3A CCD Derived Products
NDVI, COMPOSITE NDVI, AOD,

COMPOSITE AOD

 45°N-10°S

45°E-105°E

 INSAT-3A CCD Asia Sector

Archived Imagery

Along with current satellite imageries and products the archived satellite imageries and products are also available for last six months online on the following webpage: http://satellite.imd.gov.in/archive/ .

 Real Time Analysis of Product & Information Dissemination (RAPID) tool

IMD is also providing its users Real Time Analysis of Product & Information Dissemination (RAPID) tool. Real time Analysis of Products & Information Dissemination called RAPID is a web based visualization and analysis tool for satellite data on a real time basis. This introduces Next Generation Weather Data Access & Advanced Visualization Application that  touch the life of common man in one or other way ranging from weather events to atmospheric phenomenon to agricultural services. We can see the Fog presence over railway track and highways & a pilot can see the position of clouds, fog and visibility of the entire route in real time basis interactively. The RAPID can be accessed at: http://rapid.imd.gov.in/

RAPID has following features:

  1. It has Overlay Map Boundaries (World Coastline, State, District Boundaries, Gridlines) with configurable:
  • Color
  • Opacity
  • Thickness
  1. It has Contrast Stretch feature to accommodate user preference.
  2. It has Lookup Table Application to accommodate user preference.
  3. It has following Probes (on the fly) for analysing data
  • Time Series
  • Vertical Profile
  • Transect
  1. It has Animation feature for analysing cloud movement in a go.
  2. It has RGB Composites feature for viewing Day and Night microphysics images.
  3. It has Contouring feature for analysis.
  4. It has features to change Map background.
  5. It has following Base layers:
  • Open StreetMap
  • River SubBasins
  • Blue Marble
  • Bhuvan
  • FMO Basins

 Global Telecommunication System

IMD is also disseminating  satellite derived Cloud Motion Vectors, Water vapour Wind, Visible Wind, MIR Wind products in Bufr format generated from INSAT-3D imager and by INSAT-3DR(whenever will be declared operational) on a 15 minutes basis on GTS with the following headers:

IRW    – IUCN43DEMS

WVW – IUCN44DEMS

VISW – IUCN45DEMS

MIRW – IUCN46DEMS

 Along with this Kalpana-1 VHRR radiance data (L1B and L1C) and derived products in Bin format and Bufr format are also disseminated on GTS with the following headers:

 Globe – EYIN11DEMS MN 00

Globe – EYIN12DEMS MN 30

Asia –    EYIN13DEMS MN 00

Asia –    EYIN14DEMS MN 30

OLR –    T_TXXA12_C_DEMS

QPE –    T_TXXA12_C_DEMS

UTH –    T_TXXA12_C_DEMS

SST –    T_TXXA12_C_DEMS

IRW –     IUCN40_DEMS

WVW –   IUCN41_DEMS

VISW –   IUCN42_DEMS

Along with this INSAT-3A VHRR radiance data (L1B and L1C) in Bin format are also disseminated on GTS with the following headers:

Globe – EYIN21DEMS MN 00

Asia –    EYIN23DEMS MN 00

Note:

  1.  The Satellite data in HDF5 format is provided on request in compliance with IMD data policy.
  2.  All above features are presently operational for INSAT-3D and will be made operational for INSAT-3DR after its commissioning. The website will be updated at every fifteen minutes for INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR products.

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INSAT-3D: Software Tools and Test Data

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Prior to the launch of the INSAT-3D satellite in 2013, the test data was generated using in-house developed methodology to generate proxy radiances for both Imager and Sounder from hyperspectral observation available through polar-orbiting operational satellites, such as Metop-IASI, Aqua-AIRS, and simulated radiance using NWP model analysis as input to the radiative transfer models. However, for INSAT-3DR and 3DS the situation is easier as the actual observations from INSAT-3D Imager and Sounder could work as test data as the instrument characteristic are similar and the same will be applied as the day-1 algorithm.

The software tools that were developed for INSAT-3D will work for 3DR as well as 3DS with improved features based on past few years’ experience with INSAT-3D. These software tools are integrated with the INSAT Meteorological Data Processing System (IMDPS) installed at SAC, Ahmedabad (Bopal Campus) as well as IMD, New Delhi. The processed data is archived and disseminated through Meteorological and Oceanographic Satellite Data Archival Centre (MOSDAC) at SAC.

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INSAT-3D: Training and Resources

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As part of the Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography Research and Training (SMART) program at Space Applications Centre (Ahmedabad, India) of Indian Space Research Organization, it is planned to conduct a short-duration (about a week) training program on INSAT-3DR immediately after its launch. Aim of this training program is to generate awareness about INSAT-3DR mission and meteorological and oceanographic data measured by it among students, researchers and academics across the country. About 20 candidates from across the country will be selected to participate in the training program.

The training program will contain two parts:

  • Presentations/lectures in the forenoon hours on INSAT-3DR Imager and sounder instruments, retrieval methods, calibration validation approaches and potential meteorological and oceanographic applications using INSAT-3DR data.
  • Hand-on with INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR data in the afternoon hours.

In the hand-on session, participants will be provided with training on MOSDAC (Meteorological and Oceanographic Data Archive Centre at Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, India) data portal, data extraction, data analytics and image processing. The training will be conducted jointly with the scientists working in the INSAT-3DR project.

revised_logo_1

The details of SMART program may be obtained from

http://mosdac.gov.in/smart

Training by IMD

Human resource development has always been one of the prime thrust areas of the India Meteorological Department for capacity building and to keep pace with latest trends in various activities of the Department. The Meteorological Training Institute (MTI formerly CTI) of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recognized Regional Meteorological Training Centre (RMTC).

MTI conduct different levels of meteorological training courses namely Basic, Intermediate, Integrated and Advance. All courses have a dedicated subject on Satellite meteorology. The National Satellite Meteorological Centre provides module based specialized training on all the operational and upcoming  Indian Meteorological satellites.

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FY-4 Basics

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At 00:11 BJT on December 11，China successfully launched Fengyun-4-01 (FY-4-01), the first of Chinese second-generation geostationary meteorological satellite at Xichang Satellite Launch Center, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. FY-4-01 is the first of Fengyun 4 geostationary meteorological satellite family of CMA, which is an important milestone for the development of weather satellites in China.

Basic introduction to the FY-4 satellite programme can be found at http://www.nsmc.cma.gov.cn/NewSite/NSMC_EN/Channels/100099.html.

An overview of the FY-4 satellite:

FY-4 Satellite Basics An overview of the FY-4 Ground Segment FY-4 Ground Segment More basic information about the FY-4 satellite and ground system can be found in the presentation given by CMA at the 4th Asic-Oceanic Meteorological Satellite Users Conference in October 2013.

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FY-4 User Readiness Planning

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The FY-4A post launch schedule is as follows (Status as of 22 March 2017),

Dec,             2016:     FY-4A Satellite Launch

Dec,             2016：   Satellite and instrument adjust

————————————————————————————-Phase I

Jan,              2017:     Post Launch test start, Payload test

Mar，           2017：  Calibration &INR test ，Release first set imagery from FY-4A

Jun，           2017：  L1 products test， Release first set L1 products from FY-4A

Jun,30          2017:    FY-4A space segment test finish， Satellite delivery to  CMA

————————————————————————————Phase II

July-Sept,    2017:     L2/L3 products test Application system test.

Sept-Dec,     2017:     pre operation of ground segment

Dec，31       2017 :     Post Launch test  finish， FY-4A is ready for operations

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FY-4 Data, Products and Applications

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The following Level-2 products, derived from the main imaging instrument AGRI, will be operationally implemented for FY-4A. FY-4 Level-2 Products -1   FY-4 Level-2 Products - 2   The list of products for the FY-4 Sounder GIIRS is under development. Possible impact of GIIRS is being analysed through simulations FY-4 GIIRS application

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FY-4 Data Access Mechanisms

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The Data Distribution from FY-4: FY-4 Data Distribution Details on User Registration for CMACast will be provided later FY-4 will also provide the following Direct Broadcast capabilities: FY-4 Direct Broadcast

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GOES-R Series Basics

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NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites – R Series (GOES-R) is the Western Hemisphere’s most advanced weather-observing and environmental-monitoring system. GOES-R Series satellites will provide continuous imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s Western Hemisphere and space weather monitoring to provide critical atmospheric, hydrologic, oceanic, climatic, solar and space data. GOES-R Series environmental data products improve short-term weather forecasts, increase thunderstorm and tornado warning lead time, improve hurricane tracking and intensity forecasts, improve aviation flight route planning, provide data for long-term climate variability studies, and improve solar flare warnings for communications and navigation disruptions. The GOES-R Series also supports maritime forecasts, seasonal predictions, drought outlooks and space weather predictions. The GOES-R series (GOES-R, S, T, and U) will extend the availability of the operational GOES satellite system through 2036.

The GOES-R satellite launched on November 19, 2016, at 6:42 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, aboard an Atlas V 541 rocket. View GOES-R launch videos and GOES-R launch images on the program website. Read the GOES-R launch press release.

GOES-R lifted off at 6:42 p.m. EST on November 19, 2016 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 41, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket. Credit: ULA

GOES-R lifted off at 6:42 p.m. EST on November 19, 2016 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket. Credit: ULA

GOES-R became GOES-16 once it reached geostationary orbit on November 29, 2016. After a series of maneuvers, conducted using the satellite’s hydrazine bipropellent thrusters (HBTs), GOES-16 placed itself in its designated 89.5 degree West longitude checkout location where it will undergo an extended checkout and validation phase of approximately one year.

GOES-16 moved to 75.2 degrees west longitude and became NOAA’s operational GOES East satellite on December 18, 2017, replacing GOES-13. From its operational location, GOES-16 is keeping watch over most of North America, including the continental United States and Mexico, as well as Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west coast of Africa. View details of GOES-16’s transition to operations.

GOES-13 now resides in storage. GOES-14 will continue to be the on-orbit spare GOES satellite in the event of an anomaly or failure of GOES East or GOES West.

GOES-S launched on March 1, 2018, at 5:02 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, aboard an Atlas V 541 rocket. The satellite was renamed GOES-17 when it reached geostationary orbit on March 12, 2018. After post-launch checkout and testing at 89.5 degrees west longitude, GOES-17 moved to 137.2 degrees west longitude in November 2018 and underwent additional testing in it’s operational location. GOES-17  became NOAA’s operational GOES West satellite on February 12, 2019.  An operational GOES-17 gives NOAA two next-generation environmental satellites watching over the Western Hemisphere, from the west coast of Africa to New Zealand.

GOES-S launch

GOES-S launch

View videos of the GOES-S launch and photos of the GOES-S launch on the program website.

GOES-15 will continue to operate alongside GOES-17 through early July 2019 to allow for assessment of the performance of GOES-17 as the GOES West operational satellite. GOES-15 drifted from its operational location at 135 degrees west longitude to 128 west to eliminate radio frequency interference with GOES-17 at 137.2 west.

spacecraft-with-instruments

GOES-R series satellites’ environmental data products  support short-term 1-2 day weather forecasts and severe storm watches and warnings, maritime forecasts, seasonal predictions, drought outlooks and space weather predictions.

  • GOES-R marks the first major technological advances in geostationary observations since 1994 (when GOES-I/8 launched)
  • GOES-R Series satellites offer 3x more spectral channels than previous GOES with 4x greater resolution, 5x faster than ever before.
  • The satellites scan the full disk every 15 minutes, the Continental U.S. every 5 minutes, and areas of severe weather every 30-60 seconds, all at the same time.
  • The Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) is the first operational lightning mapper flown in geostationary orbit.

GOES-R Series improvements over previous GOES:

  • Improved hurricane track and intensity forecasts
  • Increased thunderstorm and tornado warning lead time
  • Earlier warning of ground lightning strike hazards
  • Improved aviation flight route planning
  • Improved air quality warnings and alerts
  • Better monitor areas of smoke and dust, which can be a critical factor in visibility
  • Better fire detection and intensity estimation
  • Better detection of heavy rainfall and flash flooding risks
  • Improved transportation safety
  • Improved solar flare warnings for communications and navigation disruptions
  • More accurate monitoring of energetic particles responsible for radiation hazards to humans and spacecraft
  • Better monitoring of space weather to improve geomagnetic storm forecasting
  • Improved detection of coronal holes, solar flares and coronal mass ejection source regions
  • Improved power blackout forecasts
  • Increased dynamic range, resolution, and sensitivity in monitoring solar x-ray flux
  • Enhanced detection of weaker emergency beacon signals for improved search and rescue operations
  • Improved Numerical Weather Prediction models
  • Better data for long-term climate variability studies

 

Detailed information about the GOES-R Series spacecraft and instruments can be found on the following webpages:

 

Ground support is critical to the GOES-R Series mission. NOAA developed a state-of-the-art ground system that receives data from the GOES-R Series spacecraft and generates real-time data products. This is accomplished via a core set of functional elements, an antenna system and a product access component. The GOES-R Series satellites produce 3.5 terabytes of data per day, as compared to only 90 gigabytes of data per day for current GOES and POES combined.

GOES-R System Architecture

 

GOES-R FAQs: http://www.goes-r.gov/resources/faqs.html

http://www.goes-r.gov

http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES-R/index.html 

 

 

 

 

 

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GOES-R User Readiness Planning

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The GOES-R Series Program is committed to ensuring that the user community is prepared for the new types of satellite imagery and data that are available from the GOES-R satellite series. Users are defined as the individuals, companies, and institutions that will use the GOES-R Level 1b (L1b), Level 2, and higher-level (L2+) products to perform their meteorological functions. Preparing users for the advanced capabilities of GOES-R Series satellites is essential to the success of the mission. The intended outcomes of the user readiness plan are day one readiness, maximum utilization of GOES-R products, and an effective transition to operations. GOES-R engaged users early in the process through Proving Ground and NOAA testbed activities, simulated data sets, training, scientific and user conferences, and other communication and outreach efforts.

readiness

Learn more about GOES-R User Readiness.

The GOES-R User Readiness Plan (URP) provides an overall plan for the user readiness.

 

An important element of user readiness is the GOES-R Proving Ground. The Proving Ground is a collaborative effort between the GOES-R Program Office, NOAA Cooperative Institutes, a NASA center, NWS Weather Forecast Offices, NCEP National Centers, and NOAA Test Beds across the country. The Proving Ground is a project in which simulated GOES-R products can be tested and evaluated before the GOES-R satellite is launched into space.

GRPG Partners Official 5.8.14

 

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GOES-16 Post-Launch Testing, Science Product Validation, and Data Release

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GOES-R reached geostationary orbit on November 29, 2016, and became known as GOES-16. GOES-16 underwent a six-month checkout period in the central 89.5 degrees west checkout orbit and then an additional six months of extended validation. Post-launch testing includes instrument calibration and trending and image navigation and registration system testing and validation.

GOES-16 moved to 75.2 degrees west longitude and became NOAA’s operational GOES East satellite on December 18, 2017, replacing GOES-13. From its operational location, GOES-16 is keeping watch over most of North America, including the continental United States and Mexico, as well as Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west coast of Africa. View details of GOES-16’s transition to operations.

Each GOES-16 data product goes through three levels of validation: Beta, Provisional and Full.

Beta: The product is made available to users to gain familiarity with data formats and parameters. The product has been minimally validated and may still contain significant errors and is not optimized for operational use.

Provisional: Product is ready for operational use but has documented known issues. Product analyses are sufficient to communicate product performance to users relative to expectations (performance baseline).

Full: Product is operational. All known product anomalies are resolved and/or documented and shared with the user community.

A Peer Stakeholder – Product Validation Review (PS-PVR) happens for each product at each level of maturity. The PS-PVR appraises the the status of product quality with respect to program definitions.

A schedule of GOES-16 product validation is below. Click to enlarge.

GOES-16 Science Product Validation Schedule as of April 3, 2019

GOES-16 Science Product Validation Schedule as of April 3, 2019

The Environmental Satellite Processing Center (ESPC) is the source for GOES-16 notifications. To subscribe, email ESPCOperations@noaa.gov. Between launch and operations handover (launch + 6 months), notifications will only occur for distribution turn-on milestones. After operations handover, nominal notifications commence.

The first public images and from the GOES-16 Advanced Baseline Imager were released on January 23, 2017. See the GOES-16 Data and Imagery gallery for additional GOES-16 imagery and data from all six instruments. Note: The GOES-16 data posted on this page are preliminary, non-operational data and are undergoing on-orbit testing.

This composite color full-disk visible image is from 1:07 p.m. EDT on January 15, 2017 and was created using several of the 16 spectral channels available on the GOES-16 Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instrument. The image shows North and South America and the surrounding oceans.

This composite color full-disk visible image is from 1:07 p.m. EDT on January 15, 2017 and was created using several of the 16 spectral channels available on the GOES-16 Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instrument. The image shows North and South America and the surrounding oceans.

 

This area of Mexico and Central America is seen from GOES-16 with a largely cloud-free view. A fire and its associated smoke are evident over southern Mexico near the coast.

GOES-16 instrument data are now publicly available via direct readout (GOES Rebroadcast, HRIT/EMWIN and GeoNetcast America) and terrestrial access [Product Distribution and Access (PDA) and the Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS)].

See GOES-R Data Access Mechanisms for detailed information for GOES-R data distribution.

One comment on “GOES-16 Post-Launch Testing, Science Product Validation, and Data Release”

  1. Many Thanks for posting this valuable information on GOES-16!
    We look forward to release of first public images from GOES-16 on January 23!

    Reply

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GOES-R Series Instrument Performance

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The GOES-R Series Data Book provides detailed information on GOES-R Series instrument performance.

Instrument performance information currently available includes:

Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI):

abi

Technical Summary of ABI Bands

ABI Weighting Functions

ABI Spectral Response Functions

A Closer Look at the ABI on the GOES-R Series (Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society):

The GOES-R Program encountered a performance issue with the cooling system of the GOES-17 Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instrument during post-launch checkout in 2018. The loop heat pipe (LHP) subsystem, which transfers heat from the ABI electronics to the radiator, is not operating at its designed capacity. This is preventing adequate cooling for some of the infrared (IR) channels on the instrument. The effect is worse during warm portions of orbit, near midnight when sun enters the ABI aperture, and during warm seasons around vernal and autumnal equinoxes. Under worst case conditions, local emission and dark current noise cause the longer wavelength channels saturate and become unusable for some hours.

Optimization techniques have been successful in recovering more than 97% of planned ABI data. GOES-17 is currently observing with more channels, at a higher resolution, and with more rapid refresh than what is available from the current GOES West satellite. NOAA is confident the GOES constellation will continue to meet the operational needs of the National Weather Service and forecasters across the nation. See the GOES-17 ABI Performance webpage for additional information.

Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM):

  • Staring CCD imager (1372×1300 pixels)
  • Near-uniform spatial resolution of approximately 10 km
  • Coverage up to 52 deg N lat
  • 70-90% flash detection day and night
  • Single band 777.4 nm
  • 2 ms frame rate
  • 7.7 Mbps downlink data rate (for comparison- TRMM LIS 8 kbps)
  • < 20 sec product latency

 

Extreme Ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensors (EXIS):

EXIS Key Measurements Chart

EXIS Metrics:

Mass 30.0 kg
Power 40 watts
X-Band Data Rate 7.2 Kbps
L-Band Data Rate 0.9 Kbps
Envelope 76 x 30 x 37 cm
Thermal Active Control, 2 Zones

 

Space Environment In-Situ Suite (SEISS):

Energetic Heavy Ion Sensor (EHIS) Performance Requirements

Magnetospheric Particle Sensor – Low (MPS-LO) Performance Requirements

Magnetospheric Particle Sensor – High (MPS-HI) Performance Requirements

Solar and Galactic Proton Sensor (SGPS) Performance Requirements

 

Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI):

SUVI Operational Goals:

  1. Locate coronal holes for geometric storm forecasts
  2. Detect and locate flares for forecasts of solar energetic particle events related to flares
  3. Monitor changes in the corona that indicate Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)
  4. Detect active regions beyond the east limb for activity forecasts
  5. Analyze active region complexity for flare forecasts

Six wavelength bands observe the range of solar phenomena important for space weather forecasting:

suvi

 

Level I functional and performance requirements for the GOES-R series system

The GOES-R Series Mission Requirements Document

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GOES-16 and GOES-17 Areas of Coverage and Observations Schedule

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GOES-16 moved to 75.2 degrees west longitude and became NOAA’s operational GOES East satellite on December 18, 2017, replacing GOES-13. From its operational location, GOES-16 is keeping watch over most of North America, including the continental United States and Mexico, as well as Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west coast of Africa. View details of GOES-16’s transition to operations.

GOES-17 moved to 137.2 degrees west longitude and became NOAA’s operational GOES West satellite on February 12, 2019, replacing GOES-15. From its operational location, GOES-17  is in position to watch over the western continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Ocean all the way to New Zealand.  View details of GOES-17’s transition to operations.

GOES constellation coverage in the GOES-R era.

GOES constellation coverage in the GOES-R era.

For information on how the GOES-R Series system operates, see the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) document.

The original default observation mode for the GOES-16 Advanced Baseline Imager was a full disk scan every 15 minutes, a CONUS every 5 minutes, and two mesoscale every 60 seconds (or one sub-region every 30 seconds). On April 2, 2019, the GOES-16 and GOES-17 Advanced Baseline Imagers began operating in a new scan mode, 10-minute flex mode. Ten-minute flex mode is very similar to the previous default flex mode with one exception: a full disk image is generated every 10 minutes instead of every 15 minutes. Contiguous U.S. (CONUS) for GOES-16/ Pacific U.S. (PACUS) for GOES-17 scans (3000 km by 50000 km) are still provided every five minutes, in addition to two mesoscale domains (1000 km by 1000 km) every 60 seconds (or one domain every 30 seconds if scanning the same domain). The new scan mode allows NOAA to match the full-disk scanning cadence of our international partners and will be critical to National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices, National Centers, and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers in monitoring hazardous weather conditions and providing additional information in observationally limited areas. Additional modes of operation for the ABI can be found at http://www.goes-r.gov/spacesegment/abi.html.

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GOES-R Series Long-Term Operations Plan

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NOAA operates two primary geostationary satellites. GOES East is located at 75.2° W and provides most of the U.S. weather information. GOES West is located at 137.2°W over the Pacific Ocean. NOAA also maintains an on-orbit spare GOES satellite in the event of an anomaly or failure of GOES East or GOES West.  The GOES-R series (GOES-R, S, T, and U) will extend the availability of the operational GOES satellite system through 2036.

GOES-R (now GOES-16) launched in November 2016 and is operational as GOES East. GOES-S (now GOES-17) launched in March 2018 and is operational as GOES West.

GOES-T is scheduled for launch in December 2021 and GOES-U is scheduled for launch in 2024.

View the latest GOES flyout chart/launch schedule.

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GOES-R Data, Products and Applications

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GOES-R will make available 34 meteorological, solar and space weather products. An additional 31 products may be made available as future capabilities for the GOES-R Series.

Products

The baseline set of operational GOES-16 products can be found at http://www.goes-r.gov/products/baseline.html. For each product, the detailed Algorithm Theoretical Baseline Document is provided, as well as short descriptions of the applications of the product. A list of future capability products for the  GOES-R series is provided at http://www.goes-r.gov/products/option2.html.

A collection of product fact sheets is available at http://www.goes-r.gov/products/factsheets.html.

Additional information about the development of GOES-R series products is provided by the Algorithm Working Group.

The Product Definition and Users’ Guide (PUG) document provides a product description and format users’ guide for all data and products produced and made available to users by GOES-R Core Ground Segment.

GOES-R series sample data can be found at http://www.goes-r.gov/products/samples.html. These sample datasets represent initial products generated from the GOES-R ground segment during integration and test of product algorithms. These datasets are intended to give GOES-R users a first look at sample data. This data is provided for reference only and should not be considered final.  All datasets are available in NetCDF format.

Example of ABI L1b data for each of the 16 bands as simulated from high resolution numerical weather prediction model output and state-of-the-art radiative transfer models.

Example of ABI L1b data for each of the 16 bands as simulated from high resolution numerical weather prediction model output and state-of-the-art radiative transfer models.

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GOES-R Series Data Formats and Volumes

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There are three levels of GOES-R series data:

Level 0: Unprocessed instrument data at full resolution

Level 1b: Level 0 data with radiometric and geometric correction applied to produce parameters in physical units

Level 2+: Derived environmental variables comparable to Level 1 spatial and temporal resolution

The GOES-R Product Definition and Users’ Guide (PUG) document provides a product description and format users’ guide for all data and products produced and made available to users by the GOES-R series core ground system. This includes the GOES Rebroadcast (GRB), Level 0 data, Level 1b products, and all Level 2+ end products as well as ISO series metadata, instrument calibration data and semi-static source data and algorithm packages. The PUG is divided into five volumes:

Volume 1 (Main) contains reference material, product and data overview information and cross-reference tables to specific product and data paragraphs in the other volumes.

 

Volume 2 (L0 Products) contains Level 0 product descriptions and format information. Note that there is an Appendix X document containing detailed descriptions of ISO series metadata associated with Level 0 products and data.

 

Volume 3 (L1b Products) contains Level 1b product and data descriptions and content and format information. Note that there is an Appendix X document containing detailed descriptions of ISO series metadata associated with Level 1b products and data.

 

Volume 4 (GRB) contains product and data descriptions and content and format information for data made available via GOES Rebroadcast (GRB). This volume also contains description, content and format information for the communications and application level protocols used in GRB. Note that there is an Appendix X document containing detailed descriptions of ISO series metadata associated with Level 1b and Level 2+ products available via GRB.

 

Volume 5 (Level 2+ Products) contains Level 2+ product and data descriptions and content and format information. Note that there is an Appendix X document containing detailed descriptions of ISO series metadata associated with Level 2+ products.

 

Appendix X (ISO Series Metadata) is an appendix to the Product Definition and Users’ Guide (PUG) containing a detailed description of the ISO series metadata.

 

The GOES-R Series Program has made sample datasets available that represent initial products generated from the GOES-R ground segment during integration and test of product algorithms. These datasets are intended to give GOES-R users a first look at sample data. This data is provided for reference only and should not be considered final. As the ground system is built, more sample products and updates to the data will be posted as they become available. All datasets are available in NetCDF format.

Additional test data is available through the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Space Science Engineering Center’s Community Satellite Processing Package (CSPP) for Geostationary Data. In March 2015, SSEC announced the release of the CSPP Geo GRB Prototype software package. This is the initial release of software that will allow direct broadcast users to process GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) data received on their antennas from the GOES-R satellite, after it is launched in 2016. The software is publicly available and free to use. The main functionality included in this release is to ingest a simulated GRB data stream, recover Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 1 and Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) Level 2 data payloads, reconstruct the datasets, and write output to mission-standard NetCDF files.

The minimum system requirements for the CSPP Geo GRB software are:
• 12 core, 2.4 GHz CPU with 64-bit instruction support,
• 32GB RAM,
• CentOS 6 64-bit Linux (or other compatible 64-bit Linux distribution),
• 100 GB disk space

Root access may be needed on the target machine to configure network buffer settings to the recommended sizes.

A simulated ABI / GLM test case is provided, along with a test script that simulates the GRB data stream by sending UDP packets on a socket. In our internal testing, the software was able to keep up with the expected GRB data rate without packet loss when running on the recommended hardware.

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GOES-R Series Data Access Mechanisms

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The diversity of the GOES-R user community is reflected in the wide variety and applications of GOES-R series data and products. Larger institutional users can exploit the increases in spectral, temporal, and spatial resolution and assimilate radiances for use in prediction models, increasing the timeliness and accuracy of forecast products. GOES-R data will be used in real time for critical life and property forecasting and warning applications primarily by the National Weather Service, where these users will be able to monitor the rapid development and interaction of severe storms. Other smaller public and private sector users will be able to obtain GOES-R data through their own Earth stations, or through terrestrial network distribution. Learn more about user systems.

GOES-R Series data distribution

GOES-R Series data distribution

GOES-R data products are available using new product distribution and access technologies:

GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) enables direct broadcast users with their own receivers to receive full resolution, calibrated, near real-time direct broadcast data. These data are available to all users with GRB receivers in view of a GOES-R Series satellite at the East or West operational longitudes. GRB is the new data format for GOES-R that replaces the GOES VARiable (GVAR) service. GOES users must upgrade or acquire new antenna and receiver hardware, and acquire processing systems in order to receive the higher volume of GOES-R data via GRB.

GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) distribution

GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) distribution

The data available via GRB is ABI L1b, Space Weather L1b, GLM L2. NOAA Satellite Operations Facility receives the GRB data and generates the rest of the Level 2 baseline products.

GOES Rebroadcast Product Users’ Guide 

GOES Rebroadcast Downlink Specifications

Satellite Receiving Equipment Manufacturers:

 

Real-time data is available to authorized users via Product Distribution and Access (PDA) which receives and stores real-time environmental satellite data and products. The Environmental Satellite Processing and Distribution System (ESPDS) is responsible for receiving and storing real-time environmental satellite data and products and making them available to authorized users.

Product Distribution and Access (PDA)

Product Distribution and Access (PDA)

PDA users include approved users with real-time data requirements. PDA distributes all baseline products (ABI L1b, ABI L2+, Space Weather L1b, GLM L2). What you receive depends on your subscription.

PDA replaces the current Environmental Satellite Processing Center (ESPC) systems [Data Distribution Service (DDS), NDE, GOES satepsdist, etc.] It provides a 7-day data catalog for GOES-R and supports FTPS and SFTP protocols.

Users are asked to review the policy on data access and complete a Data Access Request form. The completed Data Access Request form must be submitted to nesdis.data.access@noaa.gov. This does not guarantee access will be granted, but it is the first step in the process.

Requests from international users will be coordinated with the NOAA office of International and Interagency Affairs. Only users who demonstrate a real-time need for data will be granted access.

GOES-R Series data is also available via CLASS, the Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System, a web-based data archive and distribution system for NOAA’s environmental data. CLASS will provide retrospective data access and distribution services of GOES-R data to all users.

GEONETCast Americas is a commercial satellite-based, C-band broadcast of GOES-R series level 2 imagery and other products. These data are available to all users with GNC-A receivers in view of the Intelsat IS-21 satellite located at 58 degrees West Longitude.

GEONETCast-Americas serves most of North, Central, and South America including the Caribbean Basin, utilizing relatively inexpensive satellite receiver stations based on Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-S or S2) standards.

  • Separate broadcast channels by data provider
  • Users can choose channels they wish to receive
  • Training Channel and Alert Channel Included
  • No restriction on the format of products

GEONETCast

GEONETCast

The Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) is an interactive computer system that integrates meteorological and hydrological data, enabling forecasters to prepare forecasts and issue warnings. The NWS is the primary operational user of GOES-R Series data and will receive key data directly from the GOES-R/AWIPS interface.

The Data Collection System (DCS) is a relay system used to collect information from a large number of Earth-based platforms that transmit in-situ environment sensor data on predefined frequencies and schedules, in response to thresholds in sensed conditions, or in response to interrogation signals.

The GOES-R satellite series frequency plan is different from the plan used by the GOES 13, 14 and 15 satellites. GOES Direct Readout Ground Systems (DRGS) currently support the GOES East (GOES-13) DCS downlink in the frequency range of 1694.30 to 1694.70 MHz. The GOES-R series satellites use 1679.70 to 1680.10 MHz to support the DCS downlink. GOES Data Collection System (DCS) users need to modify their Direct Readout Ground Systems (DRGS) to accommodate this change in downlink frequency, to be able to support GOES-16. Note that the GOES-16 frequency plan changes do NOT affect the Data Collection Platform (DCP) UHF-Band uplink transmissions, only the L-Band downlink to NOAA and the DRGSs. There will also be NO frequency changes in the DCS DOMSAT Ku-Band service.

The Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN) is a direct service that provides users with weather forecasts, warnings, graphics, and other information directly from the National Weather Service (NWS) in near real time. The GOES EMWIN relay service is one of a suite of methods to obtain these data and display the products on the user’s personal computer. The HRIT (High Rate Information Transmission) service provides broadcast of low-resolution GOES satellite imagery data and selected products to remotely located user HRIT Terminals.

HRIT / EMWIN Prototype Receiver Links and Specifications


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GOES-R Software Tools and Test Data

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The GOES-R Series Program has made sample datasets available that represent initial products generated from the GOES-R series ground segment during integration and test of product algorithms. These datasets are intended to give GOES-R users a first look at sample data. This data is provided for reference only and should not be considered final. As the ground system is built, more sample products and updates to the data will be posted as they become available. All datasets are available in NetCDF format.

Example of ABI L1b data for each of the 16 bands as simulated from high resolution numerical weather prediction model output and state-of-the-art radiative transfer models.

Example of ABI L1b data for each of the 16 bands as simulated from high resolution numerical weather prediction model output and state-of-the-art radiative transfer models.

Additional test data is available through the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Space Science Engineering Center’s Community Satellite Processing Package (CSPP) for Geostationary Data. In March 2015, SSEC announced the release of the CSPP Geo GRB Prototype software package. This is the initial release of software that will allow direct broadcast users to process GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) data received on their antennas from the GOES-R satellite, after it is launched in 2016. The software is publicly available and free to use. The main functionality included in this release is to ingest a simulated GRB data stream, recover Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 1 and Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) Level 2 data payloads, reconstruct the datasets, and write output to mission-standard NetCDF files.

The minimum system requirements for the CSPP Geo GRB software are:
• 12 core, 2.4 GHz CPU with 64-bit instruction support,
• 32GB RAM,
• CentOS 6 64-bit Linux (or other compatible 64-bit Linux distribution),
• 100 GB disk space

Root access may be needed on the target machine to configure network buffer settings to the recommended sizes.

A simulated ABI / GLM test case is provided, along with a test script that simulates the GRB data stream by sending UDP packets on a socket. In our internal testing, the software was able to keep up with the expected GRB data rate without packet loss when running on the recommended hardware.

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GOES-R Series User Notification and Feedback

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The GOES-R Series user community will be notified of satellite maneuvers and scanning changes the same as legacy systems; through the ESPC Operations listserv which is ESPC.Notification@noaa.gov. Users are encouraged to complete the registration process below to receive the latest available information from NESDIS.

In order to provide critical details regarding the forthcoming switch from GOES VARiable (GVAR) to GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) and from GOES Low Rate Information Transmission (LRIT) provided from the GOES-N series satellites to the new High Rate Information Transmission (HRIT), each user is encouraged to complete the short (5-minute-long) registration process so that the user can receive the latest available information from NESDIS. The secure NOAA site is: https://dcs4.noaa.gov/Account/Login

And click on the link in the lower half of the page labeled:

Register for Direct Readout and Services Notifications

                             Help us keep you up to date with changes and anomalies!

Your support will be greatly appreciated and will help to keep users up to date.

You can contact Jim McNitt (Direct Readout Program Manager) at james.mcnitt@noaa.gov for additional information about the transition from GVAR to GRB.

We would also like to know whether you are an LRIT user planning to transition to HRIT/EMWIN when GOES-16 becomes the operational GOES-East satellite this fall (or when GOES-S becomes GOES-West in the future) or whether you will have or will install a HRIT/EMWIN system in the near future. Any other feedback on these two systems is welcome. Please feel free to contact the LRIT and HRIT/EMWIN Program Manager seth.clevenstine@noaa.gov for further information regarding the transition and what impacts it could have to your receipt of data.

NOAA’s outreach plan:

  • Emailing known users to acquire feedback and pushing out DRO registration information to include in master database.
  • Updating NOAASIS website to provide information regarding HRIT (ie: the changes, manufacturers,
  • Product User’s Guide, DRO registration, system overview, etc…)
  • Updating LRIT@NOAA.GOV to a new HRIT@NOAA.GOV, including revised email distribution list of known LRIT/HRIT users.
  • Communicating with known LRIT/HRIT manufacturers.
  • Streaming Admin messages via LRIT broadcast pointing to email addresses and websites for further information.
  • Attending future Satellite User Conferences.

Plan de Divulgación de NOAA:

  • NOAA se comunicará por correo electrónico con los usuarios conocidos para solicitar retroalimentación e información sobre recepción directa para incluirlos en una base de datos.
  • NOAA mantendrá actualizada su página de Internet sobre HRIT (es decir, sobre los cambios, proveedores, Guía de Usuarios, recepción directa, etc.)
  • NOAA realizará la transición de LRIT@NOAA.GOV a la nueva dirección HRIT@NOAA.GOV, incluyendo las listas de distribución de los usuarios conocidos de LRIT/HRIT.
  • NOAA se mantendrá en comunicación con los proveedores de equipo de recepción de LRIT/HRIT.
  • NOAA difundirá anuncios administrativos vía LRIT incluyendo correos electrónicos y páginas de Internet donde podrán encontrar mayor información o hacer preguntas.
  • NOAA participara en conferencias futuras de usuarios de satélites

 

 

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GOES-R Training and Resources

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training-main-525

The GOES-R Series Program is committed to providing extensive training for the operational and educational communities that will address both the end users’ and developers’ needs, bridging the gap between research and operations. Training will focus on the quantitative and qualitative use of GOES-R data and products, methods for interpreting GOES-R data, new features, capabilities and algorithms, and a better understanding of atmospheric sciences and mesoscale meteorology in preparation for the future GOES-R Series satellites.

GOES-R Series training is developed and provided by a number of partners across the weather enterprise through the GOES-R Proving Ground, e-learning training modules, seminars, weather event simulations, and special case studies.

Conferences and meetings are also important opportunities to reach the user community and to give the program the chance to communicate with different types of users. The GOES-R Program Office participates in and conducts conferences with the user community to keep current with new developments in the program and to assess user readiness. The program also uses these conferences to obtain user feedback; gaining insight from different communities to ensure that user readiness will be achieved. Visit the GOES-R program website for a list of upcoming conferences and events.

The GOES-R Series Program has also begun offering “short courses” in conjunction with meteorological conferences and meetings. These courses are designed to introduce users to the new capabilities made possible by NOAA’s next-generation weather satellite constellation.

 

GOES-R Training Partners

The Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and Training (COMET) MetEd Program supports, enhances, and stimulates the communication and application of scientific knowledge of the atmospheric and related sciences for the operational and educational communities. The COMET Distance Education Program training materials include web, CD-ROM, and teletraining methods which serve earth science education and training needs by providing interactive experiences for learners at a distance. Please note: You must sign up for an account in order to access the COMET training modules but there is no fee associated with the training resources.

There are many MetEd resources. A selection of modules specific to GOES-R are listed below. Additional resources relevant to GOES-R can be found at http://www.goes-r.gov/users/training/comet.html. For a complete list of MetEd training resources, visit https://www.meted.ucar.edu/. Courses are available in English, French, Indonesian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

GOES-R: Benefits of Next-Generation Environmental Monitoring: An overview of the GOES-R mission, instruments, system and services, satellite synergy, the role of GOES-R in the Global Observing System as well as environmental monitoring section that addresses the benefits of GOES-R and the ability to monitor 13 unique hazards and phenomena. This course is available in English and Spanish.

GOES-R ABI: Next Generation Satellite Imaging: This module focuses on the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instrument, the satellite’s 16-channel imager. The module introduces the ABI’s key features and improvements over earlier GOES imagers and lets users interactively explore the ABI’s 16 channels. It also contains movies that show the advancements that the ABI will bring to a variety of applications and contains additional resources pertaining to the ABI. This course is available in English and Spanish.

GOES-R GLM: Introduction to the Geostationary Lightning Mapper: This module focuses on the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) instrument, the satellite’s lightning mapper. The GLM will provide continuous lightning measurements over a large portion of the Western Hemisphere, mapping total lightning (intra-cloud and cloud–to–ground) flash rates and trends. GLM observations will improve local forecasts and warnings of severe weather and air quality, and provide new data for numerical weather prediction and studies of regional climate and climate change. This course is available in English and Spanish.

GOES-R Satellites Orientation Course: This course consists of three self-paced lessons, “GOES-R: Benefits of Next-Generation Environmental Monitoring,” ”GOES-R ABI: Next Generation Satellite Imaging,” and “GOES-R GLM: Introduction to the Geostationary Lightning Mapper,” that introduces forecasters, students, researchers and other interested learners to the capabilities, products and applications anticipated with the next-generation GOES-R satellites. This course is available in English and Spanish

 

The Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training (VISIT) is a joint effort involving NOAA Cooperative Institutes, the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS), and the National Weather Service (NWS). The primary mission of VISIT is to accelerate the transfer of research results based on atmospheric remote sensing data into NWS operations using distance education techniques. Training sessions include topics on Satellite Meteorology, Severe Weather, Climate, Numerical Weather Prediction, and more. VISIT also provides monthly Satellite Chats to demonstrate satellite products that can be applied to operational forecasting and identify new training topics based on specific participant needs. See the VISIT Training Calendar for upcoming VISIT Satellite Chats. A selection of resources relevant to GOES-R can be found at http://www.goes-r.gov/users/training/visit.html.

 

NASA’s Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center (SPoRT) provides training about specific products, discussing the strengths and weaknesses, with the goal of successfully transitioning products to operations. This training is built from surveys and direct communication with our partners. With this paradigm, the forecasters are an integral component of the transition process and not a passive recipient of data. SPoRT Product Training Modules include: Pseudo Geostationary Lightning Mapper, Lightning Mapping Array, MODIS Fog Products, GOES Fog Depth, and more. A selection of resources relevant to GOES-R can be found at http://www.goes-r.gov/users/training/sport.html.

 

Satellite Foundational Course for GOES-R/16: This National Weather Service (NWS) Satellite Foundation Course for GOES-R/16 contains 37 short training modules to bring forecasters, the scientific community, and others up-to-date on the capabilities of the GOES-R/GOES-16 satellite. Training developers included the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), COMET, the Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center (SPoRT), the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (CIMMS),and the NWS Office of the Chief Learning Officer (OCLO).

 

Additional training documents include the GOES-R Training Plan, the GOES-R 101 training presentation, and a variety of fact sheets on GOES-R instruments, ground system and products. A series of ABI bands fact sheets has been created as quick reference guides to provide forecasters with information on each of the GOES-R series Advanced Baseline Imager’s 16 spectral bands. These include two visible channels, four near-infrared channels and ten infrared channels. Each fact sheet covers what the band measures and how this is operationally relevant. The fact sheets also include links for more information.

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Roadmap for regional satellite data distribution in Region III and IV

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The user community in South and Central America have established a Roadmap for regional satellite data distribution in Region III and IV. This purpose of the roadmap to better coordinate satellite data access and (re-)distribution across the Region, to share resource load and responsibility, and to guide WMO Members in the identification and realization of country-specific solutions. A Region-based approach to this problem will also make it easier for NOAA and vendors to respond to the Region and country needs.

 

The current draft roadmap presents the background situation and the new components of the satellite system in the region. It also shows the actual status and the timetable for the next satellite generation (GOES-R series) and their characteristics. In addition, the document presents the different ways to have access to the data, and potential solution pathways for Members (e.g., using a GOES-R ReBroadcast Station (GRB), using GEONETCast-Americas, etc). The roadmap is a very important document for the region and will guide the users towards the different possibilities to access the next satellite generation. The roadmap is a living document and you will find the latest version here.

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GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Basic

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[ 2018.12.21 04:18 UTC Content has been updated. ]

 

GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Basic

① Development of Geo-KOMPSAT-2A

Geo-KOMPSAT-2A(hereafter GK-2A) was successfully launched on 5th December of 2018 in Centre spatial guyanais(CSG), which will succeed the COMS(Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite) meteorological mission. The COMS is scheduled to complete its observation operation until March of 2020, the data service will be done until the end of 2019. And the level 1B data of GK-2A will be released on July of 2019 after completion of in-orbit-test(IOT). So there will be six months transition period of user service of COMS and GK-2A parallely from July to December of 2019.

 

gk2a_basic_1

The GK-2A has much better capabilities in terms of observation performance. The number of channels of GK-2A will be increased from 5 to 16 and the number of meteorological products from 16 to 52, respectively. Its ability of full disk scanning of every 10 minutes will enhance the disaster monitoring.

 

gk2a_basic_2gk2a_basic_3<Comparison of COMS and Geo-KOMPSAT-2A>

 

② Payload Development

The GEO-KOMPSAT-2A will load two instruments, one is AMI(Advanced Meteorological Imager) for meteorological mission and the other is KSEM(Korea Space wEather Monitor) for space weather mission.

  • AMI(Advanced Meteorological Imager) 
    The AMI is manufactured by Harris Co. and it has 1.3 micrometer channel and doesn’t have 2.3 micrometer channel compared to AHI on Himawari-8/9.

gk2a_basic_4

gk2a_basic_5

  • KSEM(Korea Space wEather Monitor)
    KSEM is the first Korean space weather instrument suite aboard a GEO satellite. Like the Galaxy 15 anomaly on 2010, GEO satellites are easily exposed to the risk due to severe space weather. It is expected that KSEM data will contribute to secure the satellite operation and the high-tech ground infrastructure
    KMA in coordination with KARI selected KHU (Kyunghee University) to develop the KSEM suite of instruments and post-delivery support for the assembly and integration test, pre- and post- launch test of Geo-KOMPSAT-2A. The suite of KSEM instruments consists of particle detector (PD), magnetometer (MAG) and SCM (Satellite Charging Monitor). The sensors are used to monitor the space environment 6 the severe space weather information of high-impact space storms, the radiation environment hazardous to spacecraft, aircraft and radio communication for 24 hours and 7 days during 10 years mission life time.

gk2a_basic_6< PD: Particle Detector / MG: Magnetometer / CM: Charging Monitor >

 

③ Development of ground station

NMSC has been developing the ground station to operate Geo-KOMPSAT-2A since 2014. For non-stop operation and real-time data service, back-up systems will be equipped for all components and the remote data storage will be implemented for enhancing data security.

The Ground Segment of GEO-KOMPSAT-2A will improve the weather forecast accuracy, sharpen the competitive edge in the global meteorological information sector, establish the safety control and climate change response, and cultivate the professional in the meteorological sector.

GEO-KOMPSAT-2A ground segment contains the algorithms to produce 52 meteorological products which will be used for weather forecasting and climatology research. Those algorithms were developed by the universities in Korea, which were modularized, standardized, and parallelized for NMSC to be installed in the data processing system of the ground segment.  the application algorithms to provide more value-added information to the satellite data interpreters, weather forecasters, typhoon analyzers and the satellite data users in many other areas. Four application areas include Nowcasting, Typhoon and Ocean Monitoring, Surface and Hydrology Information, and Climatology and Environmental Monitoring.

GEO-KOMPSAT-2A has the mission to observe the space weather. Five types of space weather outputs are Magnetospheric high energy particle distribution, Geostationary particle distribution, Spacecraft charging index, Dst index, and Kp index. The service of the processed satellite data will be provided in two ways : WEB-based internet/intranet service and weather broadcasting service. Various satellite meteorological data services such as searching, displaying, or downloading can be provided on the website of the National Meteorological Satellite Center.

For weather broadcasting services in conjunction with large scale broadcasting receivers, all channel data will be provided at the resolution same as that of imagery captured by the GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Satellite.

gk2a_basic_7

 

④ Development of data processing and application technology

NMSC plans to produce 52 kinds of products and develop 4 types of base technologies in the field of meteorological data processing. Also the applications system will be developed to provide the customized information over the Now-casting, NWP, Typhoon/ocean, climate changes and environmental weather monitoring, and converging technology area.

geo-kompsat-2a_05

 

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GEO-KOMPSAT-2A User Readiness Planning

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[ 2018.12.21 04:29 UTC Content has been updated. ]

 

GEO-KOMPSAT-2A User Readiness Planning

KMA has established the work structure for the GK-2A products user readiness.
Below are the roles of each components

  • NMSC : Quasi-realtime operation of algorithm testbed/education and guidances for users
  • User groups : Assessment and recommendation for the meteorological products/feedbacks on the results to NMSC
  • ETRI : Algorithm improvement reflecting the users’ feedbacks from NMSC

gk2a_user_readness_planning_1

The user readiness group consists of members in various divisions such as forecast, NWP, synoptic observation and aviation. NMSC leads and communicates to the user readiness group. The user readiness group assesses the performance of GK-2A meteorological products.

 

gk2a_user_readness_planning_2

With the activities of the user groups, the timeline guidance for nearcast and warnings of convective rainfall is suggested as below.

 

gk2a_user_readness_planning_3

During the IOT period, NMSC and User readiness group will have the deeper assessment of GK-2A products using the actual GK-2A data, and NMSC and user group will make an effort to find the application method of GK-2A for the improvement of forecast accuracy

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GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Instrument Performance

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[ 2018.12.28 04:37 UTC Content has been updated. ]

 

GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Instrument Performance

① AMI(Advanced Meteorological Imager) with 16 channels

gk2a_instrument_performane_1

Belows are the target products of each channels

  • 0.47 : for Aerosol over land, coastal water composite imaging
  • 0.511 : for Composite imaging
  • 0.64 : for Vegetation, burn scars, aerosol over water, winds, composite imaging
  • 1.38 : for cirrus cloud detection, cloud type and amount
  • 1.61 : for Daytime cloud-top phase and particle size, vegetation snow
  • 3.83 : for Surface and clouds, nighttime fog, fire, winds
  • 6.24 : for High altitude atmospheric water vapor, winds, precipitation
  • 6.95 : for Low altitude water vapor, winds, sulfur-dioxide
  • 8.59 : for Total atmospheric, turbulence, winds
  • 9.62 : for Ozone, atmospheric turbulence, winds
  • 10.4 : for Surface and clouds, atmospheric window
  • 11.2 : for Clouds, Precipitation, atmospheric window
  • 12.64 : for Total water, ash, atmospheric window
  • 13.31 : for Air temperature, cloud heights, carbon dioxide

 

② AMI(Advanced Meteorological Imager) SRF(Spectral Response Function)

gk2a_instrument_performane_2

 

③ KSEM(Korea Space wEather Monitor)

gk2a_instrument_performane_3

 

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GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Areas of Coverage and Observation Schedule

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[ 2018.12.21 04:44 UTC Content has been updated. ]

 

GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Areas of Coverage and Observation Schedule

① Observation Scan Patterns

– Full Disk (FD)

– Regional Area (RA) : 6200 X 5900 km (EW X NS)

– Extended Local Area (ELA) : 3800 X 2900 km (EW X NS)

– Local Area (LA) : 1000×1000 km (EW X NS)

gk2a_area_of_coverage_and_observation_schedule_1

② Observation Area and Schedule

– Plan 1: Full Disk (1) + ELA (4) / 10 minutes

– Plan 2: Full Disk (1) + RA (2) / 10 minutes

geo-kompsat-2a_14

During 10 minutes timeline, GK-2A takes 1 FD, 5 ELA and 5 LA images. LA image can be utilized for special observation for designated area defined by operation center such as typhoon, volcanic eruption etc.

 

gk2a_area_of_coverage_and_observation_schedule_3

 

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GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Data Access mechanisms

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[ 2018.12.21 05:16 UTC Content has been updated. ]

 

GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Data Access mechanisms

GK-2A data can be accessed in various ways of landline-based network and dissemination by satellite.

gk2a_data_access_mechanisms_1

  • Satellite broadcast system (AMI data)- To maintain H/LRIT broadcast corresponding to COMS five channels
    • [UHRIT] All 16 channels data of meteorological observations in Ultra HRIT
    • [HRIT] Maintain HRIT broadcast corresponding to COMS five channels
    • [LRIT] Broadcast weather FAX replaceable information for ships over ocean

gk2a_data_access_mechanisms_2gk2a_data_access_mechanisms_3

The antenna size map for receiving GK-2A UHRIT data is below. For example, the 4.5m diameter antenna is needed for Indonesia to receive those data.

 

gk2a_data_access_mechanisms_4

 

  • Landline service (AMI/KSEM data)
    • Access and download will be available on websites (NMSC, DCPC)
    • Data service function on websites will be available by user registration

gk2a_data_access_mechanisms_5

 

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GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Software Tools and Test Data

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[ 2018.12.28 05:20 UTC Content has been updated. ]

 

GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Software Tools and Test Data

  • Image Processing Tools are under development
    • Image processing/analysis tool for Linux and PCs
    • The function of real time/non-real time image format conversion (library) will be developed
    • This software will be released on NMSC website and the availability will be notified in the future.

gk2a_software_tools_test_and_data_1

gk2a_software_tools_test_and_data_2

<Example of screen display of image analysis tool>

 

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GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Data, Products, and Applications

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[ 2018.12.21 05:02 UTC Content has been updated. ]

 

GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Data, Products, and Applications

① Meteorological products

NMSC/KMA has started to develop 52 meteorological products (23 day-1 and 29 day-2) for GEO-KOMPSAT-2A (GK-2A) since 2014 for applying now-casting, numerical weather prediction, climate, and so on. All products are developed by 4 development teams which are Cloud and Precipitation, Radiation and Aerosol, Atmosphere and Aviation, and Scene Analysis and Surface Information. The detailed Algorithm Theoretical Baseline Document for each product will be provided in near future.

geo-kompsat-2a_15

<List of 23 Day-1 and 29 Day-2 products>

The specification of level 2 product for main products

gk2a_data_products_and_applications_2

 

② Application techniques

Also, NMSC/KMA will plan to develop the application technology of GEO-KOMPSAT-2A data including the following four parts:

  • Nowcasting
  • Tropical cyclone & Ocean
    • Hydrology & fusion technology
  • Climate change monitoring & Environmental meteorology

gk2a_data_products_and_applications_3

geo-kompsat-2a_16

<The development plan for GEO-KOMPSAT-2A application products>

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GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Data Formats and Volumes

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[2018.12.21 05:08 UTC Content has been updated. ]

 

GEO-KOMPSAT-2A Data Formats and Volumes

NMSC/KMA is developing the ground segment that will receive data from GK2A, generate real-time GK2A meteorological/space weather products and disseminate data via GK2A broadcasting. The top-notch Information & Communication Technologies and scientific capabilities are being applied to handle the vast volume of GK2A data in real-time manner consistent with user requirements.

The each level 1B and level 2 products will be generated in netCDF4 format as you can see below sample.

gk2a_data_formats_and_volumes_1

The level 1B files will contain some quality information in header parts.

gk2a_data_formats_and_volumes_2To give some clue of data volume, you can refer the below table which displays the file sizes of Full Disk level 1B. For all 16 channels, it would be 2.25 GB.

gk2a_data_formats_and_volumes_3

 

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Geo-KOMPSAT-2A Training and Resource

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[ Content has been updated. ]

 

Geo-KOMPSAT-2A Training and Resource

All documents including ATBD (Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents) of Level-2 products from GK-2A satellite are now being prepared and will be available after 2018. To meet the user’s needs and operational performance, user community composed of scientists, researchers and operational forecasters communicate with each other through monthly science meeting, seminars, or annual workshops. NMSC/KMA is also developing user-oriented GK-2A image processing tools for internal and international users.

On the other hand, Centre of Excellence (CoE) of KMA will provide an international training course on “Improvement of Meteorological Satellite Data Analysis and Application Capacity” from 2016 to 2018 through the support of KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency). The objective of this course is to improve analysis and application competence in the various fields such as forecasting, marine, climate, environment, hydrology etc. using GK-2A and other LEO satellite data.

The first training is scheduled for 24 days from 10 October to 2 November, 2016 and 26 participants from 17 countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Mongolia, Philippines, Indonesia, Uzbekistan and Bhutan, will attend the course. The training will focus on the quantitative and qualitative use of COMS and GK-2A data and products, satellite image interpretation and analysis for weather forecasting, fundamental RGB techniques, various application methods for climate, environment and hydrology fields to enhance understanding on the next generation satellite of GK-2A.

At the occasion of Asia-Oceanic Meteorological Satellite Users’ Conference in Songdo, Korea from 21 to 27, November 2016, 2days’ training event (21~22, Oct.) is also planned, which is related to data processing and application on nowcating of next generation satellites such as Himawari-8, GOES-R, FY-4, and GK-2A.

 

The detailed module of KMA’s international training is as below table.

geo-kompsat-2a_21geo-kompsat-2a_22

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MTG Basics

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Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) is EUMETSAT’s next generation of geostationary satellites, following on from earlier successful missions.

This next generation, following on from Meteosat Second Generation, provides an evolution of the imaging service, including a new Lightning Imager, and a state-of-the-art atmospheric sounding service providing measurements in the infrared and ultraviolet spectrum.

To achieve these services, MTG will see the launch of six new geostationary satellites, with the first satellite (MTG-I1) having been launched in December 2022. The satellite series is based on 3-axis platforms and comprise:

  • Four Imaging Satellites (MTG-I) (20 years of operational services expected)
  • Two Sounding Satellites (MTG-S) (15.5 years of operational services expected)

The full operational configuration will consist of two MTG-I satellites operating in tandem, one scanning Europe and Africa every 10 minutes, and the other scanning only Europe every 2.5 minutes, and one MTG-S satellite.

Further details on the instruments onboard the MTG satellites, can be found in the user guides linked below

Ground Segment

The Meteosat Third Generation Ground Segment acquires data from all the MTG satellites, and generates, archives and distributes the products. It also provides the capabilities to command and control the satellites and the ground segment itself.

The ground segment consists of:

  • The Telemetry, Tracking and Control (TT&C) ground stations — the TT&C interface between the Space Segment and the Mission Control Centre.
  • The Mission Data Acquisition (MDA) ground stations — the payload data interface between the Space Segment and the Mission Control Centre.
  • The Mission Operations Facility (MOF) — provides functions for the preparation, planning and operation of the system, including satellite and mission operations and flight dynamics.
  • The Instrument Level 1 Data Processing facilities (IDPF-I and IDPF-S) — these extract the measurements from the sensors. They also perform a series of functions for the generation of level 1b data and the processing of level 1c data.
  • Level 2 Processing Facility (L2PF), for the extraction of centrally generated products.

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MTG User Readiness Planning

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The EUMETSAT User Portal is now the one-stop-shop for all user information related to MTG. The Meteosat Third Generation section includes an overview of the mission and data services (0 degree, data collection service, rapid scanning service, sounding service); MTG data; resources, including user guides, related documents, software and code and service status updates, and MTG data news and events.

In order for users to prepare for MTG, format familiarisation test data packages are being released. A Product Format Specification document describing the content of each product is also released with each test data package. For more information on test data, see the MTG test data user guide.

For more information on timelines etc, see the MTG in operations user guide.

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MTG Areas of Coverage and Observations Schedule

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Flexible Combined Imager (FCI)

FCI instrument in at test centre

FCI instrument in at test centre. Credit: ESA

The Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) on the MTG-I satellite continues the very successful operation of the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) on Meteosat Second Generation (MSG).

Requirements for the FCI were formulated by regional and global Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and Nowcasting communities. These requirements are reflected in the design which allows for Full Disc Scan (FDS), with a basic repeat cycle of 10 minutes, and a European Regional-Rapid-Scan (RRS) which covers one-quarter of the full disc with a repeat cycle of 2.5 minutes.

The FCI takes measurements in 16 channels, of which eight are placed in the solar spectral domain between 0.4 µm to 2.2 µm, delivering data with a 1 km spatial resolution. The additional eight channels are in the thermal spectral domain between 3.8 µm to 13.3 µm, delivering data with a 2 km spatial resolution. In the RSS mode two channels in the solar domain will be disseminated with advanced spatial resolution of 0.5 km. In the thermal domain two channels will have an advanced spatial resolution of 1 km. The scanning domain is the so-called LAC4 domain, with the wider Europe region enclosed.

Instrument information
Channel Centre Wavelength Spectral Width Spatial Sampling Distance (SSD)
VIS 0.4 0.444 µm 0.060 µm 1.0 km
VIS 0.5 0.510 µm 0.040 µm 1.0 km
VIS 0.6 0.640 µm 0.050 µm 1.0 km; 0.5 km*
VIS 0.8 0.865 µm 0.050 µm 1.0 km
VIS 0.9 0.914 µm 0.020 µm 1.0 km
NIR 1.3 1.380 µm 0.030 µm 1.0 km
NIR 1.6 1.610 µm 0.050 µm 1.0 km
NIR 2.2 2.250 µm 0.050 µm 1.0 km; 0.5 km*
IR 3.8 (TIR) 3.800 µm 0.400 µm 2.0 km; 1.0 km*
WV 6.3 6.300 µm 1.000 µm 2.0 km
WV 7.3 7.350 µm 0.500 µm 2.0 km
IR 8.7 (TIR) 8.700 µm 0.400 µm 2.0 km
IR 9.7 (O3 ) 9.660 µm 0.300 µm 2.0 km
IR 10.5 (TIR) 10.500 µm 0.700 µm 2.0 km; 1.0 km*
IR 12.3 (TIR) 12.300 µm 0.500 µm 2.0 km
IR 13.3 (CO2 ) 13.300 µm 0.600 µm 2.0 km

Note: The channels VIS 0.6, NIR 2.2, IR 3.8 and IR 10.5 are delivered in both FDSS and RSS sampling configurations, the latter is indicated by * in the table.

Graphic of Earth showing field of view

Field of view of the Lightning Imager instrument

Lightning Imager (LI)

The Lightning Imager (LI), on board the MTG-I satellites, continuously measures at a wave-length of 777.4 nm with a very narrow bandwidth, with a spatial resolution 4.5 km at sub-satellite point, triggered by a variable threshold — optical pulses initiated by lightning emitting energy of larger than between 4 and 7 µJm-2sr-1.

The field of view (FOV) of the LI instrument is covered by four identical cameras on the instrument, each covering one out of four domains on the observable Earth disc.

Products derived from the instrument data are arranged around the following three categories:

  1. Events — what the instrument measures, a triggered pixel in the detector grid.
  2. Groups — neighbouring events in the same integration period (1 ms), representing a lightning stroke.
  3. Flashes — collection of groups in temporal and spatial vicinity (XX km, YY milliseconds), representing a lightning flash.

The LI complements the two NOAA GLMs (Geostationary Lightning Mapper) on the GOES-R and the GOES-S satellites, contributing, in the long term, to near global coverage.

Infrared Sounder (IRS)

Graphic showing MTG Infrared Sounder dwell coverage

MTG Infrared Sounder dwell coverage

The IRS will deliver over the Full Disc in the Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) 800 spectral channels and in the Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) 920 channels with a basic repeat cycle of 60 minutes.

The IRS is based on an imaging Fourier-interferometer with a hyperspectral resolution of 0.625 cm-1 wave-number, taking measurements in two bands, the Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) and the Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR), with a spatial resolution of 4 km.

Summary of technical specifications:

  • Spectral bands: MWIR: 1600 to 2250 cm-1 (4.44–6.25 µm) and LWIR: 680 to 1210 cm-1 (8.26–14.70 µm).
  • Full disc coverage in 60 min, Europe region (Local Area Coverage) 30 min.
  • Onground resolution of 4 km x 4 km.
  • Radiometric measurement ranges between 180 K and 313 K (equivalent black-body temperature.)
  • Spectral radiometric noise (excluding spectral calibration) at 280 K black body: between 170 and 900 mK depending on the considered wave-number inside the band of interest

Ultraviolet Sounder

Graphic showing instrument spectral bands and sampling domain

Instrument spectral bands and sampling domain

The Ultraviolet, Visible and Near-Infrared Sounding (UVN) instrument is a Copernicus Sentinel-4 instrument designed for geostationary chemistry applications. It will fly on board the MTG-S satellites

The UVN is a spectrometer taking measurements in the ultraviolet (UV: 305–400 nm), the visible (VIS: 400–500 nm) and the near infrared (NIR: 755–775 nm) with a spatial resolution of better than 10 km.

Its observations are restricted to Earth area coverage, from 30 to 65° N in latitude and 30° W to 45° E in longitude. The observation repeat cycle period will be shorter than or equal to one hour.

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MTG Long-term Operations Plan

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Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) will comprise of six new satellites, the first of which was launched in 2022. The MTG programme should guarantee access to space-acquired meteorological data until at least the early 2040s.

Planned deployment of the satellites can be found in the Satellite service and history table in the Meteosat Third Generation section of the EUMETSAT User Portal.

For more information on deployment of MTG services, data releases and more, see the MTG in operations user guide.

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MTG Data Formats and Volumes

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NetCDF-4 is the baseline format for the FCI, LI and IRS instrument dataset generation. NetCDF-4 offers a number of advantageous features, including:

  • Ability to cope with large dataset sizes — ~7 Gbytes for Full Disc archived dataset for MTG compared to the current ~220 Mbytes.
  • Datasets are self describing.
  • Groups allow potential for easier subsetting.

BUFR, GRIB and other formats will be used where there is already a product delivered in that particular format. See the Formats user guide for more details.

When available, further information is added to the Meteosat Third Generation resources section in the EUMETSAT User Portal.

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JPSS-1 Basics

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The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is the Nation’s new generation polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system. JPSS is a collaborative program between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its acquisition agent, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This interagency effort is the latest generation of U.S. polar-orbiting, non-geosynchronous environmental satellites.  NOAA, an agency within the Department of Commerce (DOC), works in partnership with NASA on all JPSS missions to ensure a more “Weather-Ready Nation.”

JPSS satellites increase the timeliness and accuracy of forecasts three- to seven- days in advance of a severe weather event. NOAA’s National Weather Service uses JPSS data as critical input for numerical forecast models, providing the basis for these mid-range forecasts. These forecasts allow for early warnings and enable emergency managers to make timely decisions to protect American lives and property, including ordering effective evacuations.  In addition to a more “Weather-Ready Nation,” information from JPSS supports NOAA’s missions to ensure healthy coasts, resilient coastal communities and adapt and mitigate climate change.  As the Nation’s polar-orbiting satellite fleet, JPSS also enables scientists and forecasters to monitor and predict weather patterns with greater accuracy and to study long-term climate trends by extending the more than 30-year satellite data record.

JPSS satellites also provide support for zero to three day operational forecasting, which is particularly important in Polar Regions where other observational data are sparse. In Alaska, JPSS provides critical data for nearly all of the weather forecasting for aviation, as well as for the economically vital maritime, oil and gas industries.

JPSS satellites circle the Earth from pole-to-pole and cross the equator 14 times daily in the afternoon orbit—providing full global coverage twice a day.  Satellites in the JPSS constellation gather global measurements of atmospheric, terrestrial and oceanic conditions—including atmospheric temperature, atmospheric moisture, hurricane intensity, clouds, rainfall, dense fog, volcanic ash, fire locations, smoke plumes, sea and land surface temperatures, vegetation, snow and ice cover and ozone.

JPSS includes four polar-orbiting satellites and a versatile ground system. These satellites, NOAA-20 (formerly JPSS-1), JPSS-2, JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 capitalize on the success of their predecessor, the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite, and feature similar instruments. The ground segment system also supports satellite missions operated by partner organizations including the Department of Defense, the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

The state-of-the-art instruments currently flying on board the Suomi NPP satellite are the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) and Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES).  NOAA-20 was launched on November 18, 2017 and joined the Suomi NPP satellite in the same orbit, but operates 50 minutes ahead of it, allowing for important overlap in observational data.  JPSS-2 is planned for launch in 2021 and JPSS-3 and 4 missions have anticipated launch dates of 2026 and 2031 respectively.

JPSS represents significant technological and scientific advancements in observations used for severe weather prediction and environmental monitoring.

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JPSS-1 Instrument Performance

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Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS)

https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/icvs/status_NPP_ATMS.php

Description

The Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) operates in conjunction with the CrIS to profile atmospheric temperature and moisture. Higher (spatial, temporal and spectral) resolution and more accurate sounding data from CrIS and ATMS will support continuing advances in data assimilation systems and NWP models to improve short- to medium-range weather forecasts.

ATMS consists of a microwave radiometer that:

  • Measures microwave radiances at 22 channels (23.8 GHz to 183.3 GHz)
  • Measures total-power, two-point external calibration

Heritage

  • ATMS is the functional-equivalent follow-on to AMSU-A (Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit) and MHS (Microwave Humidity Sounder) with improved sampling and coverage

Provides 3 EDRs with CrIS:

  • Atmospheric Vertical Moisture Profile
  • Atmospheric Vertical Temperature Profile
  • Pressure (Surface/Profile)

S-NPP ATMS Public Spectral Response Function (SRF)

ATMS Specifications

https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/jpss/ATMS.php

Cross-Track Infrared Sounder (CrIS)

CrIS Normal Spectral Resolution ICVS – https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/icvs/status_NPP_CrIS.php

CrIS Full Spectral Resolution ICVS – https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/icvs/status_NPP_CrIS_FSR.php

Description

The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) is the first in a series of advanced operational sounders that will provide more accurate, detailed atmospheric temperature and moisture observations for weather and climate applications. This information will help significantly improve climate prediction and both short-term weather “nowcasting” and longer-term forecasting.

Measures upwelling infrared radiance at very high spectral resolution

  • 1,305 spectral channels (SWIR: 3.92-4.64µm; MWIR: 5.71-8.26µm; LWIR: 9.14-15.38µm) at nominal mode (NSR), with resolution at 0.625, 1.25, and 2.5 cm-1for the LWIR, MWIR, SWIR bands, respectively
  • 2211 spectral channels at full spectral resolution (FSR) mode, with resolution at 0.625 cm-1for all three bands.
  • Low noise levels (NEdN)
  • Much finer resolution for improved vertical soundings increasing both radiometric and spectral accuracy
  • Data is combined with ATMS to produce vertical profiles of the temperature, moisture, and pressure
  • Typical temperature retrieval accuracy well below 1K

Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) is a key sensor

  • Fourier Transform Spectrometer providing high resolution IR spectra:
    • Fields of Regard each 3 x 3 FOVs
    • Photovoltaic Detectors in all 3 bands
    • 4-Stage Passive Detector Cooler
    • On-board internal calibration target

Science heritage: AIRS on EOS Aqua, IASI on METOP-A/B

STAR offline processing of FSR SDRs since Dec 4, 2014

CrIS Specifications

https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/jpss/CrIS.php

Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)

Description:

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) has multi-band imaging capabilities to support the acquisition of high-resolution atmospheric imagery and generation of a variety of applied products including visible and infrared imaging of hurricanes and detection of fires, smoke, and atmospheric aerosols.

VIIRS provides operational and research users with:

  • Spectral coverage from 412 nm to 12 μm in 22 bands
  • Imagery at ~375 m nadir resolution in 5 bands
  • Moderate resolution (~750 m at nadir) radiometric quality data

Routine data products

  • Cloud cover, cloud layers
  • Cloud and aerosol physical properties
  • Land & ocean biosphere properties, snow & ice
  • Sea Surface Temperature, Land & Ice Temperatures
  • Fire detection
  • Imagery

Note: Sensor-order RSRs follow a detector numbering scheme that follows pre- launch protocol. For sensor-order RSRs, Detector 1 leads in the track direction and Detector 16 (32) trails in the track direction. For product- order RSRs, however, Detector 16 (32) leads in the track direction and Detector 1 trails in the track direction.

VIIRS Documentation

VIIRS RSR Overview Document

Northrop Grumman (NG) Band-Averaged Relative Spectral Response Functions (Official NPP VIIRS At-Launch Values)

Government Team Best VIIRS Relative Spectral Response Functions from Instrument-Level Testing, Version 1.0

17 September 2010

24 September 2010

3 November 2011

Government Team Best VIIRS Relative Spectral Response Functions from Spacecraft-Level Testing, Version 1.0

11 April 2011

27 June 2011

VIIRS Specifications

VIIRS: https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/jpss/VIIRS.php

Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS)
·         OMPS NP ICVS

  • OMPS TC ICVS

Description:

Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) measures the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere, providing information on how ozone concentration varies with altitude. Data from OMPS continues three decades of climate measurements of this important parameter used in global climate models. The OMPS measurements also fulfill the U.S. treaty obligation to monitor global ozone concentrations with no gaps in coverage.

OMPS consists of three spectrometers:

  • Nadir Total Column Spectrometer Provides Total Column ozone data with 50×50 km resolution at nadir
  • Nadir Profile Spectrometer provides ozone profiles in a single ground pixel of 250×250 km at nadir from SNPP; 5 ground pixel of 50×50 km at nadir from JPSS-1
  • Limb Sensor provides 1 km vertical sampling along three slits enabling ozone profile retrieval (Not on J1)

Heritage:
·         TOMS (Nadir Total Column) and SBUV/2 (Nadir Profiler)

OMPS Specifications
OMPS: https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/jpss/OMPS.php

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JPSS-1 Data Formats and Volumes

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The distributed/disseminated JPSS data are available as Temperature Data Records (TDRs), Sensor Data Records (SDRs), and Environmental Data Records (EDRs). Raw Data Records (RDRs) refer to the raw data generated by sensors on the satellites. Science algorithms that perform calibration and geolocation are applied on the RDRs to produce SDRs and TDRs. EDRs are geophysical parameters derived by applying retrieval algorithms on the SDRs. EDR products provide global measurements of such quantities as sea surface temperature, ocean color, ozone and trace gases, aerosols, clouds, temperature and moisture profiles, wind speeds, land surface properties, and snow and ice cover, etc.

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JPSS-1 Data Access Mechanisms

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The diversity of the JPSS user community is reflected in the wide variety and applications of JPSS data and products. Larger, institutional users can exploit the increases in spectral, temporal, and spatial resolution and assimilate radiances for use in prediction models, increasing the timeliness and accuracy of forecast products. JPSS data will be used in real time for critical life and property forecasting and warning applications primarily in the Polar Regions. Other smaller public and private sector users will be able to obtain JPSS data through their own Earth stations, or through terrestrial network distribution.

JPSS data products will be available using new product distribution and access technologies:

JPSS NUPs (NOAA Unique Products) are available from OSPO product web: http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/atmosphere/soundings/nucaps/index.html

The Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) is an interactive computer system that integrates meteorological and hydrological data, enabling forecasters to prepare forecasts and issue warnings. The NWS will be the primary operational user of GOES-R data and will receive key data directly from the GOES-R/AWIPS interface.

Real-time data will be available to authorized users via Product Distribution and Access (PDA) which receives and stores real-time environmental satellite data and products.

  • Enterprise distribution system for real time users
  • Supports only secure transfer protocols (SFTP, FTP-S and HTTPS – pull only)
  • Highly automated user driven process
  • User managed subscriptions, search and tailoring
  • User Operational Prioritization – PDA has the ability to shed lower priority users to ensure data continuity is maintained to mission critical users
  • Full policy and Data Access Request Form at OSPO

Direct readout users may utilize JPSS Direct Broadcast (DB) data in varied ways. To serve this group, JPSS has established and maintains the DB receiver specifications for interested organizations. A biennial conference with DB as a major focus functions as a critical forum for this user group to meet and discuss Direct Broadcast issues. The current antenna network providing data to NOAA’s National Center for Environmental Prediction and users worldwide includes sites in Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, and Wisconsin which cover all of North America. This network of reliably positioned antennas ensures the delivery of critical data to our NWS. One of the key features of DB is that real-time imagery and selected derived products are delivered much faster to forecasters, thereby accelerating their forecasting capabilities.

DB

DB data is processed using free open source science software through the Community Satellite Processing Package (CSPP). Once processed through the CSPP, JPSS has no direct control on how Suomi NPP and JPSS data is used. CSPP enables the creation of Level 1B and higher level products and images in real time.  CSPP also provides training in local product applications to DB users of both polar orbiting and geostationary satellite data.

JPSS data can also be accessed via the University of Alaska (UA) Geographic Information Network of Alaska (GINA).  GINA receives numerous geospatial data sets, many in real time.

JPSS data are accessible to public users worldwide through the NOAA CLASS, the Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System in near real time (3~6 hour delay from the raw data acquisition).  CLASS is a web-based data archive and distribution system for NOAA’s environmental data to scientists, researchers, and academics to review archived products (older than seven days).

Joint Polar Satellite System 1 (JPSS-1) Spacecraft High Rate Data (HRD) to Direct Broadcast Stations (DBS) Radio Frequency (RF) Interface Control Document (ICD)

J1-HRD-DBS

https://directreadout.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/links/rsd_eosdb/PDF/JPSS-1SpacecraftHRDtoDBSRFICDRev-May302012-470-REF-00184.pdf

or, https://jointmission.gsfc.nasa.gov/sciencedocs/2015-06/JPSS-1SpacecraftHRDtoDBSRFICDRev-May302012-470-REF-00184.pdf

 

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JPSS-1 Software Tools and Test Data

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STAR Cal/Val Coordination for JPSS-1 Test Data Sets

JPSS STAR Science teams coordinated with the Test Data Working Group (TDWG) team and requested for JPSS-1 RDRs identifying requirements, desired data sets and needed ancillary data to verify S-NPP algorithms work with JPSS-1 RDRs. TDWG team generated JPSS-1 RDRs as needed by STAR-SDR teams and these data sets are available on the GRAVITE test data portal.

The STAR JPSS team is setting up a test data repository in one of the STAR servers to facilitate easy access for all the STAR Cal/Val teams. The test data repository currently has a copy of all the JPSS-1 test data sets created by the TDWG specifically for the Cal/Val science teams.

The team hopes this arrangement will help for easy access to many test data sets over the time, and also facilitate those who do not have access to GRAVITE/test data portal. The repository will be linked on the STAR JPSS website.

JPSS-1 test data details can be obtained from: https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/jpss/Documents/TestData/J1_Test_Data_Details.pdf

For more information, please visit:

https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/jpss/J1TestData.php

HDF5 Tools and Software: https://support.hdfgroup.org/products/hdf5_tools/

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JPSS-1 User Notification and Feedback

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The JPSS series user community will be notified of satellite maneuvers and scanning changes the same as legacy systems; through the ESPC Operations listserv which is ESPC.Notification@noaa.gov.

Additional information about user notification and feedback will be posted as it becomes available.

image001

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JPSS-1 Training and Resources

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The JPSS Program is committed to providing extensive training for the operational and educational communities that will address both the end users’ and developers’ needs, bridging the gap between research and operations. Training will focus on the quantitative and qualitative use of JPSS data and products, methods for interpreting data, new features, capabilities and algorithms, and a better understanding of atmospheric sciences and mesoscale meteorology in preparation for the future JPSS series satellites.

JPSS training is developed and provided by a number of partners across the weather enterprise through the JPSS Proving Ground, e-learning training modules, seminars, weather event simulations, quick guides, and special case studies.

JPSS Quick Guide


New JPSS Quick Guide CIRA Snow/Cloud Discriminator

The JPSS Proving Ground and Risk Reduction (PGRR) Program 

The JPSS Proving Ground and Risk Reduction (PGRR) Program was created in 2011 to facilitate Operations to Operations (O2O) through demonstrations of operational products from the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) – derived from JPSS – in NOAA Line Offices (LOs).
The Program focuses on maximizing the benefits and performance of data, algorithms, and products derived from Suomi NPP and JPSS for downstream operational and research users. The PGRR program provides resources and support to peer-reviewed projects which demonstrate improved utilization of JPSS data which enhance NOAA and other agency missions.
PGRR supports:
● Enhancements and improvements of user applications
● Education, Training and Outreach
● Facilitation of transition of improved algorithms to operations.
● User feedback to the calibration/validation (cal/val) program

The Proving Ground component consists of demonstration and utilization of data products by end-users in NOAA’s LOs in their operational and/or research environments, leading to innovative applications and identification of new capabilities. The Proving Ground also promotes outreach, training, and coordination of new products with the end users.

Picture1

Systems to Services to Stakeholders

The Risk Reduction component focuses on the development of new research and applications to maximize the benefits of JPSS satellite data. It allows for testing alternative algorithms and developing new research and applications as well as the fusion of data/information from multiple satellites, models, and in-situ sources.

User Access to JPSS Training Modules from the U.S. National Weather Service Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS)

NOAA CLC/LMS – http://www.wfm.noaa.gov/e-learning/

NOAA VLAB – https://vlab.ncep.noaa.gov/group/guest/welcome

Non-AWIPS users have access to training modules from several JPSS Training Partners, including:

The Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and Training (COMET) MetEd Program supports, enhances, and stimulates the communication and application of scientific knowledge of the atmospheric and related sciences for the operational and educational communities. The COMET Distance Education Program training materials include web, CD-ROM, and teletraining methods which serve earth science education and training needs by providing interactive experiences for learners at a distance. Please note: You must sign up for an account in order to access the COMET training modules but there is no fee associated with the training resources.

NASA SPoRT: https://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/sport/jpsspg/

WMO-CGMS VIRTUAL LABORATORY FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN SATELLITE METEOROLOGY: https://www.wmo-sat.info/vlab/next-generation-of-satelliles/

Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training (VISIT) http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/visit/

Satellite Hydrology and Meteorology (SHyMet)  http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/shymet/training_sessions/satfc-j.asp

NOAA CLASS 
https://www.class.noaa.gov

Conferences and meetings are also important opportunities to reach the user community and to give the program the chance to communicate with different types of users. The JPSS Program Office participates in and conducts conferences with the user community to keep current with new developments in the program and to assess user readiness. The program also uses these conferences to obtain user feedback; gaining insight from different communities to ensure that user readiness will be achieved. For a list of upcoming conferences and events and to access briefings from past conferences and events, visit http://www.jpss.noaa.gov/events_conferences.html.

The JPSS program has also begun offering “short courses” in conjunction with meteorological conferences and meetings. These courses are designed to introduce users to the capabilities made possible by NOAA’s advanced series of polar-orbiting weather satellites. Planning for additional short courses is underway.

Also, in an effort to promote more frequent communication with the user community about JPSS science and demonstration activities, the JPSS Program provides monthly virtual science seminars. The seminars allow scientists to highlight their recent work to the rest of the community.

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FY-3E Basics

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FY-3E is the 1st early morning orbit unit of the FY-3 series. There will be eleven instruments on board the satellite. These instruments will monitor a wide range of land, ocean, atmosphere and space phenomena. FY-3E is planned to be launched in 2018, and all real time data will be distributed in X-band Direct Broadcast. The provision of data from FY-3E missions will be crucial for weather and climate monitoring, numerical weather forcasting and space weather monitoring.

Instruments that will fly on FY-3E include:

  • HIRAS Hyperspectral Infrared Atmospheric Sounder
  • GNOS GNSS Radio Occultation Sounder
  • MERSI(low light) Medium Resolution Spectral Imager – low light
  • MWHS-II Micro-Wave Humidity Sounder -2
  • MWTS-III Micro-Wave Temperature Sounder – 3
  • SIM-2 Solar Irradiance Monitor – 2
  • WindRAD Wind Radar
  • SES/IPM SES / Ionospheric PhotoMeter
  • SES/SEM SES / SEM
  • SES /X-EUV
  • SES / X-EUV

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