{"id":3508,"date":"2005-10-19T10:59:56","date_gmt":"2005-10-19T15:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/?p=3508"},"modified":"2013-06-25T14:27:46","modified_gmt":"2013-06-25T19:27:46","slug":"monthly-news-summary-october-2005","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/articles\/3508","title":{"rendered":"Monthly News Summary – October 2005"},"content":{"rendered":"

A popular source for hurricane information<\/strong><\/p>\n

by Jennifer O’Leary<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Chris Velden and his Tropical Cyclones research team use satellite data to study hurricanes and develop better prediction tools. The above image was produced using data from NOAA-16 on September 22.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Hot on the heels of Hurricane Katrina, this year\u2019s hurricane season continued to rage off the coast of the southern United States with Hurricanes Ophelia and Rita. Seeking explanations and predictions, the media once again turn to the\u00a0Cooperative Institute of Meteorological Satellite Studies\u2019 Tropical Cyclones team<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes us feel good that we\u2019re playing a small role in the saving of lives, potentially,\u201d team leader\u00a0Chris Velden<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS) said in\u00a0a report aired on Madison\u2019s ABC affiliate on September 22<\/a>. Velden and his research team use satellite data to study hurricanes and develop better prediction tools.<\/p>\n

As Hurricane Rita intensified on September 21, the band of researchers used their tools to provide the\u00a0National Hurricane Center<\/a>\u00a0with invaluable information. The reconnaissance plane scheduled to fly into the storm on the night of the 20th experienced technical difficulties and turned back. During this time, a computer procedure called the\u00a0Advanced Objective Dvorak Technique<\/a>\u00a0indicated a rapid intensification. Velden noticed this and notified the crew at the National Hurricane Center. His contribution appeared in the hurricane center\u2019s online discussion: \u201cSatellite images indicate that the cloud pattern is typical of an intense hurricane … T-numbers from … the University of Wisconsin CIMSS are peaking near 7.0 on the Dvorak scale.\u201d Developed by the CIMSS team, the technique uses digital infrared information to create a profile for a storm including its strength and potential path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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\u201cIt helps forecasters reduce the time that they spend trying to use [satellite data] to decide what\u2019s happening,\u201d team member Tony Wimmers said in the ABC report.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In addition to supplying information on the fly, the Tropical Cyclones group provides many real-time products to the National Hurricane Center and other government organizations. The group creates and improves technology that helps meteorologists use satellite data to better understand the characteristics of tropical cyclones. Their work results in more accurate forecasts and, consequently, more effective warnings for the public. \u201cIt helps forecasters reduce the time that they spend trying to use [satellite data] to decide what\u2019s happening,\u201d team member Tony Wimmers said in the ABC report.<\/p>\n

The media rely on the CIMSS team to help the public figure out the science behind the hurricane reports.\u00a0On the 22nd, ABC reporter Carl Agnelly (with local WKOW-TV) spoke with Velden and Wimmers.<\/a>\u00a0The report focused on the different products and techniques Velden and his team use to aid forecasters. The footage included shots of the group\u2019s imagery as well as a look at the instrumentation on the roof of SSEC\u2019s home in the Atmospheric, Oceanic & Space Sciences Building. Velden also appeared on\u00a0WISC-TV\u2019s Live at Five<\/a>\u00a0on September 20 and gave an interview to the Los Angeles Fox News affiliate. He also spoke with\u00a0WIBA Radio<\/a>\u2019s Josh Wescott.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Tim Olander produced this image showing Hurricane Rita’s track with Hurricane Katrina’s. The image used the data available on September 23.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Tim Olander, a researcher with the Tropical Cyclones team, also provided the media witha tool to communicate with the public. At the request of\u00a0The Star Ledger<\/a><\/em>, Olander produced an image showing Hurricane Rita\u2019s track along side Hurricane Katrina\u2019s. According to the graphics editor, the image appeared on the front page of their September 23 evening edition.<\/p>\n

While appearing in various media outlets, the Tropical Cyclones team also maintains a large Web presence. Imagery and detailed forecast data make their\u00a0Web site<\/a>\u00a0a popular stop for those seeking information about hurricanes. The site received 2.5 million hits on September 21, nearing their record of three million set last year during Hurricane Ivan.\u00a0Yahoo currently lists the group\u2019s site in its directory for current information on hurricanes, typhoons and tropical cyclones<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Unsolicited praise for their tropical cyclones site reflects its popularity and utility. \u201cYour Web site is the best weather site I have ever seen! Keep up the good work and thank you for being there,\u201d Janet West Brooks of Suncoast Property Consultants in St. Pete Beach, FL said in e-mail. Laura Wheeler with the American Red Cross also offered up praise for the site. \u201cI just wanted to say thank you for keeping the Web site up to date with such wonderful pictures and information,\u201d she said. \u201cI have printed out a couple pictures to use on our bulletin board for visuals and everyone loves them.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Another look at the tornado outbreak<\/strong>\u2014\u00a0written with help from Kris Bedka\u00a0<\/em>Using data from the tornado outbreak in Southwestern Wisconsin on August 18,\u00a0Kris Bedka<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS) demonstrated the stand-alone value of satellite-derived products to forecasters for thunderstorm growth prediction<\/a>. These particular products constitute an element in an\u00a0aviation safety system for thunderstorm avoidance under development by a team<\/a>\u00a0within the\u00a0Federal Aviation Administration<\/a>\u00a0(FAA) and are provided by CIMSS researchers as a part of the\u00a0Advanced Satellite Aviation Weather Products (ASAP) program<\/a>. While only a piece of the puzzle in the FAA\u2019s system, Bedka applied the products to the data from August 18 and found that an individual forecaster relying solely on satellite information could have identified the precursors to predict the severe thunderstorms and tornados that eventually occurred. According to Bedka, a forecaster can pick out important details from these products that a computer may ignore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Before the storms on August 18, the satellite wind product indicated certain factors that trigger thunderstorm development.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

For example,\u00a0a product that looks at wind data<\/a>showed a subtle change in direction of the wind with higher altitudes to the east of the storms and a flow of air from western Wisconsin set to converge with it. A forecaster on August 18 would have identified the collision of these winds as a trigger for continued thunderstorm development. The satellite wind product allows a forecaster to identify signs of impending storm characteristics. These include storm-induced wind speeds at the surface and the possibility for hail and tornadoes associated with rotating storms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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The convective cloud mask helps forecasters identify clouds with the potential to become thunderstorms.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Another product helps monitor cloud characteristics. Using statistical properties of cloud features to identify six different classes of clouds, theconvective cloud mask<\/a>speeds up the forecasting process by pointing out the clouds with the potential to evolve into thunderstorms. Satellite-derived imagery shows the differences among the clouds, allowing the mid-level \u201ctowering\u201d cumulus clouds to stand out from the others \u2013 something that a weather prediction model will not indicate. Forecasters looking at the data from this product on August 18 would have noticed these threatening clouds in the pre-storm environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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The cloud-top cooling rate corresponds to the cloud’s growth. A faster cooling rate indicates faster growth and a potential thunderstorm.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

A forecaster can get even more specific by monitoring the temperatures at the top of the clouds with the15 cloud-top cooling rate product<\/a>. Faster cooling rates signal faster growth and stronger storm updrafts. Once rapid growth begins, it often doesn\u2019t stop until the cloud becomes a huge thunderstorm. \u201cIt\u2019s almost like taking a boulder and pushing it down a hill,\u201d Bedka said. Using this satellite product, forecasters on August 18 would have had only to watch the clouds with rapid cooling rates.<\/p>\n

Bedka notes that demonstrating the forecaster\u2019s ability to obtain so much prediction information from a satellite has broad implications particularly in areas of the world do not have the other pieces included in the FAA\u2019s system such as high-resolution computer model output or radar data. Although these regions lack weather radar coverage, satellites can see these areas well and can provide beneficial information.\u00a0SSEC\u2019s interactive case study of the August 18 tornado event<\/a>\u00a0now includes Bedka\u2019s analysis.<\/p>\n

Educating educators about hurricanes<\/strong>\u2014The\u00a0Teacher\u2019s Domain project<\/a>plans to use imagery from\u00a0CIMSS\u2019s Tropical Cyclones team<\/a>\u00a0in their hurricanes section. They will use the images of Hurricane Ivan that previously appeared in\u00a0NOVA ScienceNow: Hurricanes<\/a>. Teacher\u2019s Domain targets teachers and students in grades K-12. The project provides an interactive Web-based resource for a variety of topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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The National Climate Data Center used this animation of Hurricane Katrina on a page devoted to hurricane climatology. Click for animation.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Featured animation<\/strong>\u2014The National Climate Data Center used\u00a0an animation of Hurricane Katrina on their page devoted to hurricane climatology<\/a>.\u00a0Rick Kohrs<\/strong>\u00a0(SSEC) produced the animation. The page also links to\u00a0CIMSS\u2019s Tropical Cyclones team\u2019s Web page<\/a>\u00a0for Hurricane Katrina.<\/p>\n

Featured on the UW-Madison home page<\/strong>\u2014The\u00a0University of Wisconsin-Madison\u2019s home page<\/a>currently includes an SSEC image of Hurricane Katrina created by\u00a0Dave Santek\u00a0<\/strong>(CIMSS) under \u201cFeatured Sites.\u201d The image links to a\u00a0page with information about ways to offer help to those areas devastated by the storm<\/a>. A section for media outlets seeking information directs users to the\u00a0September edition of\u00a0In the News<\/em><\/a>\u00a0for \u201cexpertise on hurricane imagery and forecasting.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>Antarctica<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Some of SSEC\u2019s work in polar regions received mention in an article featured in NASA\u2019s\u00a0Earth Observatory. Several images from the AWS\/AMRC gallery accompany the article, including a composite image of Antarctica cloud conditions on September 6.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Providing \u201cinstant\u201d data<\/strong>\u2014SSEC\u2019s work in polar regions received mention in aSeptember 6 article<\/a>featured in\u00a0NASA\u2019sEarth Observatory<\/em><\/a>. The article discusses the importance of MODIS data to polar research projects.\u00a0Jeff Key<\/strong>\u00a0(NOAA at SSEC) and\u00a0Matthew Lazzara<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS) helped install\u00a0a MODIS direct broadcast system at McMurdo Station in Antarctica<\/a>. Reporter Holli Riebeek notes that this direct broadcast capability will improve weather forecasts and help researchers monitor weather conditions while working in the field. She also includes information about Lazzara\u2019s plans to use the data to research fog in Antarctica and about Key\u2019s polar winds work. Several images from the\u00a0AWS\/AMRC gallery<\/a>\u00a0accompany the article, including one taken by\u00a0Shelly Knuth\u00a0<\/strong>(SSEC\u2019s AMRC) and\u00a0a composite image<\/a>\u00a0of Antarctic cloud conditions from September 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"oct2005_antarcsurfacetemp<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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The MODIS DB suite at McMurdo now generates several more products, including ice surface temperature.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Expanding the McMurdo product suite<\/strong>\u2014The MODIS Direct Broadcast suite at McMurdo<\/a>\u00a0now includes several more products. In addition to the polar wind product, the system also generates: cloud amount, cloud top pressure, cloud particle phase, clear-sky, low-level atmospheric temperature inversion strength and depth, ice surface temperature and ice surface albedo. All of the processing occurs at McMurdo. With this system, the goal is to provide forecasters with real-time products and to decrease the time necessary to produce wind data. Faster generation of these data sets will facilitate their incorporation into numerical weather prediction systems.<\/p>\n

Creating a long-term Polar Wind record<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014Recently, CIMSS\u2019s\u00a0Richard Dworak<\/strong>\u00a0began generating polar wind information using historical Global Area Coverage data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). Dworak plans to produce a data set that includes wind speed, height, and direction in Polar Regions from 1982-2004. Researchers will find the data set helpful in climate studies as well as for future re-analysis projects at the\u00a0National Centers for Environmental Prediction<\/a>\u00a0(NCEP), the\u00a0National Center for Atmospheric Research<\/a>\u00a0(NCAR), and the\u00a0European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts<\/a>\u00a0(ECMWF).<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/span>Weather Expertise<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"oct2005_hurricanejova\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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UW\/CIMSS analyses contributed significantly to a National Hurricane Center online discussion of Hurricane Jova. This image shows the storm’s track.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Contributing to hurricane discussions<\/strong>\u2014CIMSS received credit in an online\u00a0National Hurricane Center<\/a>discussion on September 22. UW\/CIMSS analyses contributed significantly to the discussion of the weakening of Hurricane Jova, particularly in the sections about the vertical wind shear. \u201cI don’t think I’ve ever seen this much CIMSS coverage in one [tropical cyclone] report!\u201d\u00a0Dave Stettner\u00a0<\/strong>(CIMSS) said.<\/p>\n

Tropical cyclone experts<\/strong>\u2014Tim Olander<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Jim Kossin<\/strong>\u00a0of CIMSS\u2019s Tropical Cyclones group added their insight to a September 9\u00a0Science Magazine<\/em><\/a>\u00a0article on Hurricane Katrina. Olander commented on the storm\u2019s rapid intensification and discussed the rarity of such an event. Kossin theorized about the causes. He indicated that the unusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico and the absence of strong, high-altitude winds probably contributed.\u00a0Go to\u00a0Hurricane Katrina and Its Aftermath<\/a>\u00a0to access content free to the public. This includes the article that quotes Olander and Kossin,\u201cScientists\u2019 Fears Come True as Hurricane Floods New Orleans.\u201d<\/p>\n

A positive story of hurricane forecasting<\/strong>\u2014One of UW-Madison\u2019s student newspapers,\u00a0The Daily Cardinal<\/em>, ran an article about the highly accurate forecasts of Hurricane Katrina in their September 28 edition. Reporter Mike Richards spoke with\u00a0Chris Velden<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS) and\u00a0Tim Olander<\/strong>\u00a0(CIMSS) to uncover the positive story amid disaster. Velden discussed the \u201clive toll\u201d that will reach into the millions as a direct result of excellent forecasting efforts that predicted the area where the storm would make landfall with an unprecedented 15-mile margin two days before the storm hit. Forecasters also correctly predicted the storm\u2019s intensity as it made landfall. Olander stressed that it is important not to \u201ccry wolf\u201d when forecasting a hurricane\u2019s intensity as it hits land and he reminded readers of the high costs attached to public severe weather warnings.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Presentations and Publications<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

IDEA on the cover<\/strong>\u2014The\u00a0Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(BAMS) used an article about the multi-agency partnership to\u00a0Infuse Satellite Data into Environmental Applications<\/a>\u00a0(IDEA) for the cover story of their September issue. The article focused on a study from September 2003 that demonstrated the capabilities of an online tool to improve air quality forecasts of fine particulate matter. Because of the\u00a0Environmental Protection Agency<\/a>\u2019s positive feedback, CIMSS took on the project in 2004 and the prototype expanded.<\/p>\n

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

Cultural angle<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014The fall edition of\u00a0On Wisconsin<\/a><\/em>\u00a0included a mention of a science program developed to connect Native American storytelling to science.\u00a0Sanjay Limaye<\/strong>\u00a0(SSEC) and Patty Loew of the UW\u2019s Life Sciences Communications Department put together this outreach effort with northern Wisconsin in mind and plan to travel to several schools over the academic year. The goal is to encourage Native American children to study science.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Honors and Awards<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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The NASA Aviation Safety and Security Program presented Wayne Feltz and CIMSS with trophies for their work in ASAP and the TAMDAR validation. Several CIMSS researchers received individual certificates of appreciation.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

National recognition<\/strong>\u2014On September 21, the NASA Aviation Safety and Security Program presented\u00a0Wayne Feltz\u00a0<\/strong>(CIMSS) and CIMSS with trophies for research in the\u00a0Advanced Satellite Aviation-weather Program<\/a>\u00a0(ASAP), and their work on\u00a0Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Report<\/a>\u00a0(TAMDAR) validation. Feltz was both the ASAP leader at CIMSS and the principal investigator for the UW-CIMSS TAMDAR validation project. The\u00a0NASA Aviation Safety and Security Program<\/a>\u00a0funded both research endeavors.\u00a0Anthony Wimmers<\/strong>,\u00a0Michael Pavolonis<\/strong>,\u00a0Kristopher Bedka<\/strong>,\u00a0Sarah Bedka<\/strong>,\u00a0Steven Ackerman<\/strong>, andChristopher Velden\u00a0<\/strong>(all with CIMSS) received certificates of appreciation for their work on ASAP. CIMSS efforts for the TAMDAR validation project also earned\u00a0Sarah Bedka<\/strong>,\u00a0Kristopher Bedka<\/strong>,\u00a0John Short<\/strong>, andErik Olson\u00a0<\/strong>(all with CIMSS) certificates of appreciation.<\/p>\n

Hard work awarded<\/strong>\u2014by Alex Harrington\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Alex Harrington<\/strong>, an undergraduate senior working for CIMSS, recently attended the Regional Space Grant Consortium (RSGC) conference September 15-17th in Chicago, IL.\u00a0 There, he presented a poster titled \u201cValidating CRAS forecasted satellite imagery using GOES.\u201d Harrington\u2019s research demonstrates validation of forecasts derived from a numerical weather prediction model, the\u00a0CIMSS Regional Assimilation System<\/a>\u00a0(CRAS), when compared against actual satellite imagery from Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES). The conference included many undergraduate and graduate students from all areas of aerospace science across the Midwest. Harrington was the only student from Wisconsin, and the only student to present meteorology-oriented research at the conference. By earning first place in the poster session, Harrington was invited to give a special presentation of his research. He also received a $500 award, which will be matched by the\u00a0Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium<\/a>\u00a0(WSGC). Harrington would like to thank WSGC and RSGC for such a noteworthy experience.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Also of Note<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Ackerman\u2019s view<\/strong>\u2014CIMSS\u2019s\u00a0Steven Ackerman<\/strong>\u00a0took time from his busy schedule to speak at the Chazen Museum of Art on September 13. He compared a group of landscape paintings from 19th century Europe and Russia. Ackerman analyzed the use of color in clouds, sky, and water while he helped the audience to see these works from his perspective as an atmospheric scientist.<\/p>\n

Building images<\/strong>\u2014The fall edition of\u00a0On Wisconsin<\/a><\/em>\u00a0featured a story detailing UW-Madison\u2019s plans for a campus makeover based on an architect\u2019s vision from almost 100 years ago. Several photos accompany the article including two that clearly show SSEC\u2019s 16-floor building with its roof-top array of instruments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the News – October 2005<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3509,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3508","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\/3508","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=3508"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3719,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3508\/revisions\/3719"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssec.wisc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}