CIMSS celebrates 4 years of providing MODIS data in AWIPS to NWS users
AWIPS menu of 1-km resolution MODIS products from CIMSS
July 2010 marks the 4 year anniversary of the point when CIMSSÂ first began to provide MODIS images and products to National Weather Service (NWS) users in an AWIPS format. These MODIS images and products are available for interested NWS offices to add to their local AWIPS workstations via Unidata LDM subscription. A screen capture of the AWIPS menu of 1-km resolution MODIS products is shown above, with a sample of those products shown below over the southeastern US on 23 July 2010 (when Tropical Storm Bonnie happened to be moving across southern Florida and weakening to a Tropical Depression). In addition, there is also a 1-km resolution fog/stratus product (available only at night).
This MODIS in AWIPS project has been a critical component of the CIMSS contribution to the GOES-R Proving Ground effort — and along with extensive user training, has been a successful demonstration of the “Research to Operations” concept.
1-km resolution MODIS images and products available from CIMSS
In addition to supplying the MODIS images and products, CIMSS also includes a MODIS Orbit Itinerary Viewer tool that is available from the AWIPS menu to assist the users in planning when to expect MODIS image availability on any given day. Also, for NWS users in Wisconsin, 250-meter resolution MODIS true color images are also available for viewing from the AWIPS menu.
AWIPS menu of 4-km resolution MODIS products from CIMSS
Similarly, a screen capture of the AWIPS menu of MODIS 4-km resolution products is shown above, with those corresponding MODIS products shown below.
4-km resolution MODIS products available in AWIPS from CIMSS
In an effort to continually improve the quality of the MODIS products being delivered, a recent development has been the correction of the “bow-tie” image artifacts that affect the outer edges of the MODIS scan swath (due to the scanning strategy of the MODIS instrument). In order to most effectively perform this bow-tie image correction, CIMSS has chosen to employ the MODIS Swath Reprojection Tool (MRTSwath) that is supported by NASA. Several examples of how the image bow-tie correction process performs are shown below. (Notice to NWS MODIS users: the bow-tie correction will be applied to all 1-km resolution MODIS images and products distributed by CIMSS beginning 27 July 2010).
MODIS visible images (with and without bow-tie correction)
MODIS IR images (with and without bow-tie correction)
MODIS Land Surface Temperature product images (with and without bow-tie correction)
MODIS Sea Surface Temperature product images (with and without bow-tie correction)
MODIS fog/stratus product images (with and without bow-tie correction)