{"id":3110,"date":"2007-11-11T11:18:38","date_gmt":"2007-11-11T17:18:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/?p=3110"},"modified":"2013-06-14T15:39:53","modified_gmt":"2013-06-14T20:39:53","slug":"monthly-news-summary-november-2007","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/articles\/3110","title":{"rendered":"Monthly News Summary – November 2007"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flight plan: Navigating dangers in the skies<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Satellite observations help pilots detect potential flight hazards such as turbulence. This image depicts turbulence created as strong winds blow over the Rocky Mountatins.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

As the airplane\u2019s wheels leave the runway, you can only hope that the pilot has all the information necessary to get you safely to your destination. With the help of a handful of CIMSS scientists, a team of researchers has developed several techniques to use meteorological satellites to aid pilots as they navigate potential perils in the skies.<\/p>\n

Satellite observations can mitigate the threat posed by turbulence, in-flight icing, storms and volcanic ash, according to the cover article in this month\u2019sBulletin of the American Meteorological Society<\/em>. CIMSS\u2019s\u00a0Wayne Feltz<\/strong>,Kris Bedka<\/strong>,\u00a0Sarah Bedka<\/strong>,\u00a0Tony Wimmers<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Michael Pavolonis<\/strong>(NOAA at CIMSS) contributed to the research covered in this paper.<\/p>\n

As the single greatest cause of injury to passengers and flight attendants, turbulence is an obvious concern to airlines. However, this phenomenon is difficult to observe. Satellite measurements can help identify atmospheric features or conditions that could potentially cause turbulence. According to the research team, the detection techniques derived from these observations could contribute to an effective warning system when paired with other observations.<\/p>\n

Storms can also affect the safety of those aboard aircraft. In fact, thunderstorms are the main reason for air traffic delays in the U.S.\u00a0 In the paper, the team discusses several strategies for working with the Federal Aviation Administration to improve satellite-based techniques to detect, track and monitor developing cumulus clouds.<\/p>\n

In addition to developing operational aviation weather products, the research group uses satellite data to validate existing weather products. The CIMSS researchers involved are a part of the SSEC\u00a0Satellite-based Nowcasting and Aviation Application Program<\/a>\u00a0(SNAAP).<\/p>\n

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<\/a>Data and Imagery<\/strong><\/p>\n

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This animation shows Sidr as it approaches Bangladesh.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Animating satellite images<\/strong>\u2014Cyclone Sidr<\/a>gathered strength in the Bay of Bengal in the middle of November. Far from the storm itself, researchers at CIMSS monitored the cyclone using satellite observations. The Weather Channel featured a popular CIMSS product during many of the live updates on Sidr.<\/p>\n

CIMSS\u2019s\u00a0Tony Wimmers<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Chris Velden<\/strong>\u00a0developed a technique to create a unique animation that depicts changes in a hurricane\u2019s structure by combining images from different satellites. The\u00a0Morphed Integrated Microwave Imagery at CIMSS<\/a>\u00a0(MIMIC) product blends a series of microwave images from polar- and other low-orbiting satellites to create animations of a storm\u2019s structure similar in composition to more common radar loops.<\/p>\n

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The Weather Channel’s Steve Lyons used a MIMIC animation of Sidr in a broadcast on November 15<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Microwave imagery allows researchers to see inside a hurricane, leading to a better understanding of these powerful storms. This type of image provides unique information about a hurricane such as the formation of a secondary eyewall and details about eyewall replacement cycles, but inconsistent timing and slight variances in the images makes it challenging for a forecaster to visualize the recent history of a storm. MIMIC blends sequential but irregularly spaced images to create a smooth animation.<\/p>\n

Rain, shine and laughter<\/strong>\u2014On the last Monday of every month, CIMSS Director\u00a0Steve Ackerman<\/strong>\u00a0joins Professor Jon Martin to talk about everyone\u2019s favorite topic: the weather. The\u00a0Weather Guys<\/a>\u00a0explain current weather topics and answer listeners\u2019 questions as a part of Larry Meiller\u2019s call-in show on Wisconsin Public Radio. An\u00a0article about the show<\/a>\u00a0made the cover of the November 14 edition of\u00a0Wisconsin Week<\/em>. The story highlighted the entertaining, but educational nature of the Weather Guys\u2019 commentary.<\/p>\n

Lift off!<\/strong>\u2014NASA space shuttle forecasters relied on information from SSEC during the recent launch and landing of the\u00a0Space Shuttle Discovery<\/a>. Forecasters used the high-resolution MODIS sea surface temperature data to predict sky conditions as Discovery left the landing pad and again when the shuttle returned to Earth. The sea surface temperature product is a part of a data suite created at CIMSS for use in NASA and NOAA\u2019s weather forecasting software package.<\/p>\n

Predicting soil erosion<\/strong>\u2014Knowing how much and where soil erosion occurs helps farmers improve field management practices to reduce erosion and optimize crop productivity.\u00a0Christine Molling<\/strong>\u00a0has worked with John Norman of the\u00a0UW-Madison Department of Soil Science<\/a>\u00a0and collaborators at the Pontificia Universidad Cat\u00f2lica de Chile to develop an agricultural model that simulates runoff that accounts for realistic topography. Many models of this type rely on the assumption that the field has uniform topography and soil characteristics\u2014an assumption that generally doesn\u2019t reflect reality. In a paper recently published in\u00a0Soil Science of America Journal<\/em>, the coauthors describe how the\u00a0Precision Agricultural-Landscape Modeling System<\/a>\u00a0(PALMS) can predict changes over short distances by focusing on small sections of the field. Using a small grid allows the model to incorporate local soil properties and topography. The November issue ofCrops, Soils, Agronomy News<\/em>\u00a0featured an article about PALMS.<\/p>\n

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The plumes of smoke from the California wildfires are clearly visible in this animation of GOES-11 images.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Monitoring the California wildfires<\/strong>\u2014In late October, wildfires tore across Southern California. The fires scorched approximately 500,00 acres and destroyed more than 1,600 homes. CIMSS researchers used satellites to track and learn about these fires. Satellites also offered some striking images of the smoke rising off of Southern California. Using the CIMSS\u00a0Wildfire Automated Biomass Burning Algorithm<\/a>(WFABBA), CIMSS researchers produced a\u00a0four-day composite<\/a>\u00a0that allows the group to assess the overall development of the fires. Other satellite images showed the smoke plumes from the fires.\u00a0NASA\u2019s Earth Observatory web site featured an image<\/a>\u00a0of the smoke created using data from SSEC. For more information and images, please refer to the\u00a0CIMSS Satellite Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hurricane trends<\/strong>\u2014As the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season draws to a close, these powerful storms are still a hot topic. CIMSS tropical cyclones researcher\u00a0Jim Kossin<\/strong>\u00a0has contributed to many conversations about hurricanes and climate change. In September, the\u00a0Wisconsin Engineer<\/em>featured\u00a0an article about Kossin\u2019s research<\/a>. Kossin led a team of scientists in an effort to\u00a0create a more consistent hurricane data record<\/a>. The team then conducted a reanalysis of the data and found a distinct increase in hurricane activity in the Atlantic. Kossin\u2019s research also came up on CNN during a broadcast on October 20. Meteorologist Rob Marciano mentioned the recalibrated dataset: \u201cA recent study conducted by respected scientist Jim Kossin re-analyzes the global data and shows that there has been no increase in hurricane strength worldwide in the last 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Expanding forecasting tools<\/strong>\u2014SSEC has added two new satellite data products to the suite of data provided to several National Weather Service forecast offices. The two new products will help forecasters predict high and low temperatures as well as the risk of fires and fog formation. SSEC directly contributes to more accurate weather forecasts by providing addition satellite data to NWS forecasters.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>Education and Outreach<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Shelley Knuth and George Weidner will bring Jelly Bear with them to Antarctica.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A teddy bear\u2019s travels<\/strong>\u2014The crew from SSEC\u2019s\u00a0Antarctic Meteorological Research Center<\/a>\u00a0(AMRC) will have a new traveling companion during this year\u2019s trip to Antarctica. Jelly Bear, at stuffed bear from a second grade classroom in Pittsville, WI, will join\u00a0Shelly Knuth\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0George Weidner<\/strong>\u00a0on their way to the world\u2019s southernmost continent. Antarctica is the only continent Jelly hasn\u2019t visited during its 15 years of globetrotting. As a part of bear\u2019s adventures, the students get to learn about all of the places their furry friend\u2019s travels. Knuth and Weidner talked to the students about working in Antarctica and dressed up a second grader in the gear they wear to protect themselves from the continent\u2019s harsh conditions. The\u00a0Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune\u00a0<\/em>featured\u00a0an article about Jelly Bear\u2019s trip<\/a>\u00a0on November 10.<\/p>\n

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In the News – November 2007<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3116,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-monthly-summary"],"acf":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3110"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3110\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3441,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3110\/revisions\/3441"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}