satellite remote sensing of aviation hazards

Satellite Remote Sensing of Aviation Hazards

Gary P. Ellrod , CCM*Gary P. Ellrod , CCM*

NOAA/NESDIS-retiredNOAA/NESDIS-retired

Granby, CTGranby, CT

Aviation Weather Users Workshop, Nov 18-19, 2008Aviation Weather Users Workshop, Nov 18-19, 2008Islip/Macarthur Airport, NYIslip/Macarthur Airport, NY

* AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist

Outline

Current capabilities of satellite dataCurrent capabilities of satellite dataFog and low cloudsInflight icingTurbulenceThunderstorms (initiation, convective gusts)Volcanic ash

Future improvements (GOES-R)Future improvements (GOES-R)

Aviation Weather Users Workshop, Nov 18-19, Aviation Weather Users Workshop, Nov 18-19, 2008 Islip/Macarthur Airport, NY2008 Islip/Macarthur Airport, NY

U.S. Weather Satellites

Polar (low orbit) (NOAA-Polar (low orbit) (NOAA-18 / METOP-A)18 / METOP-A) 1 km resolution 4 looks per day 6 channels

Geostationary (GOES-Geostationary (GOES-11/12)11/12) 4 km IR, 1 km visible 15-30 min frequency 5 channel Imager 19 channel Sounder (10

km), hourly over CONUSAviation Weather Users Workshop, Nov 18-19, Aviation Weather Users Workshop, Nov 18-19,

2008 Islip/Macarthur Airport, NY2008 Islip/Macarthur Airport, NY

Nighttime Fog Detection Using GOES Multi-spectral Image Data


Fog in the Northeast: 14 June 2001


GOES Low Cloud Base Product Based on GOES Based on GOES 11m-3.9 m and surface minus GOES and surface minus GOES

cloud top temperatures (now available on AWIPS)cloud top temperatures (now available on AWIPS)

Red areas show where cloud bases <1000 ft are likely, green areas > 1000 ft, blue are cirrus clouds.

Fog Depth Estimates Estimates of fog depth also possible based on Estimates of fog depth also possible based on 11m-3.9

m temperature difference (to forecast burn off time) temperature difference (to forecast burn off time)


SnowSnow

Snow and Fog Using Visible Imagery



Fog Discrimination with 3.9m Imagery

GOES Icing Risk ProductMulti-channel threshold techniqueMulti-channel threshold technique

Merged with Sounder cloud top heights Product available hourly day and nightProduct available hourly day and nightStrengthsStrengths

Good spatial, temporal coverageGood POD (~50-75%), low FAR (~25%)

WeaknessesWeaknessesObscuration by high cloudsUnable to distinguish SLD regions


GOES Combined Icing + Cloud Tops (‘ICECAP’)Available at: http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/smcd/opdb/aviation/icg.html

Icing intensity (3=mod, 4=mod/sev), aircraft type, altitude (feet)

GOES Water Vapor + IR WindsJet Stream


Detection of Mountain Waves Using Water Vapor Imagery

Low and mid-Tropospherice wavescan be seen in GOES 6.7 m water Vapor imagery, but not in IR or visible

GOES-12 IR, 13 Nov 2003

GOES-12 WV, 13 Nov 2003

MountainWaves


Total Column Ozone from GOES Sounder

Stratospheric Intrusion


Convective InitiationCritical for air traffic managementCritical for air traffic managementGOES Visible Imagery Applications GOES Visible Imagery Applications

(boundary interactions, stability, etc)(boundary interactions, stability, etc)Stability and moisture Products from Stability and moisture Products from

Sounder (Lifted Index, PW, Cinh)Sounder (Lifted Index, PW, Cinh)Automated Nowcast ProductsAutomated Nowcast Products

Convective Initiation (UW-CIMSS and U. of Alabama-Huntsville)


Convective Initiation (CI) Product(U. of Ala-Huntsvile/ U. of Wisconsin CIMSS)

Uses satellite Uses satellite parameters to parameters to identify convective identify convective clouds:clouds: IR temp. change WV - IR temp.

difference

Cloud motion Cloud motion vectors to advect vectors to advect developing clouds, developing clouds, produce nowcastproduce nowcast

CI valid 2000Z, 4 May 2003

Radar, 2100Z, 4 May 2003

Wet Microburst Severity Index

Uses GOES Sounder Uses GOES Sounder retrieval dataretrieval data

Based on instability and Based on instability and vertical distribution of vertical distribution of moisture (CAPE, dmoisture (CAPE, dθθee/dz)/dz)

Correlates well with Correlates well with observed peak surface observed peak surface wind gusts wind gusts

WMSI > 200 indicates wind gusts > 65knots possible. 85 knot gusts were reported at Patuxent River, Marylandat 2100 UTC (*).

*


Composite “Split Window” ImageryMt. Spurr, Sept. 1992, NOAA-AVHRR

(Schneider et al 1992)

International Warning System (VAACs)

Established by International Civil Aeronautical Organization (ICAO) in mid-1990’sVolcanically active regions source: Smithsonian Inst.

Technology OutlookOperational Spacecraft

Near-TermNear-TermGOES-N (launched May 2006) through P

Improved navigation, power to operate through Improved navigation, power to operate through satellite eclipse (Spring, Fall)satellite eclipse (Spring, Fall)

Mid-Long TermMid-Long TermNPOESS VIIRS imager (NPP prototype

launch in 2010)Twenty-two bands at 370 to 740 m resolutionTwenty-two bands at 370 to 740 m resolutionIncludes day/night visibleIncludes day/night visible


Technology OutlookOperational Spacecraft

Long-TermLong-TermGOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (2015)

Sixteen spectral bandsSixteen spectral bandsResolution: 0.5 km visible, 2 km IRResolution: 0.5 km visible, 2 km IRFive minute CONUS, 15 min Full DiskFive minute CONUS, 15 min Full Disk

GOES-R Lightning MapperGOES Hyper-spectral Sounder - ????

Hyper-spectral capabilities, hourly global coverageHyper-spectral capabilities, hourly global coverageGood resolution (4 km horizontal, ~1 km vertical)Good resolution (4 km horizontal, ~1 km vertical)


2222

ABI Improvements

1/5 Disc

GOES-I/P

5 Minute CoverageGOES-R

Full Disc

ABI covers the earth approximately five times faster than the current Imager.

2323

Imager Coverage in ~30 minutes

Current Imager

(Rapid Scan mode)

Future Imager

(“Flex” mode)

Full Disk 0 2

Northern Hemi 1 -

CONUS 3 6

Mesoscale 0 60

Full Disk N. Hemisphere CONUS Mesoscale

IR Resolution – ABI versus GOES-12


Use of 1.6 m “Near-IR” on ABI

1.6 m

Simulated GOES-R Fog ImageBased on AVHRR IR (3.7 m and 11.0 m)


GOES-R Icing Product (NASA LARC)

Explicit parameters fromGOES (droplet size, liquidWater path) can estimatePotential icing severity

Simulated Water Vapor Imagery (Low, Mid, High) on ABI


Observed GOES-12 Band 3 (6.5 micron)Observed GOES-12 Band 3 (6.5 micron)

Simulated ABI Band 9 (7.0 micron)Simulated ABI Band 9 (7.0 micron)

Automated Turbulence Detection – GOES-R Water Vapor(U. of Wisconsin – CIMSS)


Simulated GOES-R Ash ImageBased on MODIS IR, Near-IR, Visible Channels

Volcanic ash (red)Volcanic ash (red) Composite of 8.5, 11,

12m channels Land (green)Land (green)

Near-IR (1.6m) Ocean/ice clouds Ocean/ice clouds

(blue)(blue) Visible (0.6m)

Popocatepetl, 20 Dec 2000, 1715 UTCBased on data from Terra MODIS


Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM)

• Detects total strikes: in cloud, cloud to • Day/night total lightning (in cloud,

intra-cloud, and cloud to ground)

– Compliments today’s land based systems that only measures cloud to ground (about 15% of the total lightning)

• Increased coverage over oceans and land

– Currently no ocean coverage, and limited land coverage in dead zones

-250 -200 -150 -100 -50 0 50

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

longitude (deg)

latit

ude

(deg

)


Example from Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS)


NASA Marshall Space Flight Centerhttp://thunder.nsstc.nasa.gov/lms/

SupercellStorm

Simulations of Low vs High Spectral Resolution Retrievals Geo-I gets <1 K rms for 1 km T(p) and <10% rms for 2 km RH(p)

Moisture

Temperature


3434

BT(K)

Capability: Vertical ProfilingCapability: Vertical Profiling

Eye

AIRSalonemoisture

AIRSalonetemperatureEye

Hyperspectral sounder on geo will provide rapid observations need to monitor hurricane eye temperature anomaly, which is a surrogate measurement of hurricane intensity

Temperature and moisture cross section along AIRS scan line 119, demonstrating profiling capability, but AIRS does not provide the

monitoring requirement

BT(K)

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Summary

Satellite remote sensing is critical in Satellite remote sensing is critical in providing needed observations to support providing needed observations to support aviation warnings and forecastsaviation warnings and forecasts

Future instruments will provide excellent Future instruments will provide excellent opportunities for improved productsopportunities for improved products

Much work is needed to fully utilize future Much work is needed to fully utilize future deluge of high quality data!deluge of high quality data!


Internet Resources:

GOES Aviation Products (Imager and Sounder) http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/smcd/opdb/aviation/

(NESDIS) http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/goesprod/ (NASA GHCC) http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/NEXSAT.html (NRL-Monterey)

GOES-R InformationGOES-R Information http://www.goes-r.gov/ (GOES Program Office) http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes_r/ (UW-CIMSS)


Acknowledgments

Slides obtained from:Slides obtained from:Brian Motta (COMET)Ken Pryor (NESDIS)Tim Schmit (NESDIS)William Smith, Jr. (NASA)Anthony Wimmers (UW-CIMSS)Kris Bedka (UW-CIMSS)

Aviation Weather Users Workshop, Nov 18-19, 2008 Aviation Weather Users Workshop, Nov 18-19, 2008 Islip/Macarthur Airport, NYIslip/Macarthur Airport, NY

satellite remote sensing of aviation hazards

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