Simulated GOES-R ABI imagery in AWIPS
Simulated GOES-R ABI imagery in AWIPS

GOES-R Satellite Proving Ground Mission Statement

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) Satellite Proving Ground project engages the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast and warning community in pre-operational demonstrations of selected capabilities anticipated from the next generation of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) geostationary earth observing systems.

The Proving Ground project objective is to bridge the gap between research to operations by:

A key element of this activity is a sustained interaction between the developers and end users for the purposes of training, product evaluation, and solicitation of user feedback. The Proving Ground relies on close coordination with the GOES-R Algorithm Working Group (AWG) and Risk Reduction programs as sources of demonstration products, and will enhance the operational transition pathway for those programs.

The intended outcomes of this project are Day-1 readiness and maximum utilization for both developers and users of the GOES-R observing system, and an effective transition of GOES-R research products to the operational weather community.


The GOES-R Proving Ground will facilitate the testing and validation of new ideas, technologies and products before they become integrated into operational use. This proving ground is an essential component of GOES-R risk reduction, which will help to ensure that users are ready for the new types of satellite imagery and products that will be available in the upcoming GOES-R era (Table of ABI bands). GOES-R is scheduled to be launched in 2015.

The proving ground concept will allow satellite product developers at CIMSS, CIRA, and SPoRT to be involved with National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters at an early stage in product development, providing a unique opportunity for interaction between developers and users; CIMSS, CIRA, and SPoRT will continue to build on the close relationships already established with their local and regional NWS Forecast Offices. Both the satellite product developers and the forecasters will test, apply and evaluate algorithms for new GOES-R satellite data and products using proxy and simulated data sets, including MODIS, AIRS, IASI, SEVIRI, NAST-I, NPP/VIIRS/CrIS, and model-simulated products.


Significant Activities:

The Alaska Environmental Satellite Workshop was held at Fairbanks, Alaska on 29-31 July, 2008.

The 2008 NOAA STAR GOES-R Alogrithm Working Group Review was held at Madison, WI on 23-26 June 2008.

The GOES-R Proving Ground Kick-Off Meeting was held at Boulder, Colorado on 15-16 May 2008 (meeting agenda and presentations). Below is the proposed GOES-R Proving Ground Timeline:


GOES-R Satellite Proving Ground AWIPS Product List
(from CIMSS, CIRA, and SPoRT):

Product Name

Product Input

Demonstration Resolution

GOES-R Resolution

Product Status

Product Source

True Color RGB (24-bit)

MODIS

250 m / 2 images per day

0.5-1 km / 5 min

Available since July 2007

CIMSS

Visible (0.65µm)

MODIS

1 km / 4 images per day

0.5 km / 5 min

Available since July 2006

CIMSS, SPoRT

Cirrus Detection (1.6µm)

MODIS

1 km / 4 images per day

2 km / 5 min

Available since July 2006

CIMSS

Snow/Ice Discrimination (2.1µm)

MODIS

1 km / 4 images per day

2 km / 5 min

Available since July 2006

CIMSS

Shortwave IR (3.7µm)

MODIS

1 km / 4 images per day

2 km / 5 min

Available since July 2006

CIMSS, SPoRT

Water Vapor (6.7µm)

MODIS

1 km / 4 images per day

2 km / 5 min

Available since July 2006

CIMSS, SPoRT

IR Window (11.0µm)

MODIS

1 km / 4 images per day

2 km / 5 min

Available since July 2006

CIMSS, SPoRT

Fog/stratus Product (11.0-3.7µm)

MODIS

1 km / 4 images per day

2 km / 5 min

Available since July 2006

CIMSS, SPoRT

Sea Surface Temperature

MODIS

1 km / 4 images per day

2 km / 5 min

Available since July 2006

CIMSS, SPoRT

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index

MODIS

1 km / 4 images per day

2 km / 5 min

Available since July 2008

CIMSS

Land Surface Temperature

MODIS

1 km / 4 images per day

2 km / 5 min

Available since July 2008

CIMSS, SPoRT

Cloud Phase

MODIS

4 km / 4 images per day

10 km / 15 min

Available since July 2006

CIMSS

Cloud Top Temperature

MODIS

4 km / 4 images per day

10 km / 15 min

Available since July 2006

CIMSS

Total Precipitable Water

MODIS

4 km / 4 images per day

10 km / 15 min

Estimated Availablity: Dec 2008

CIMSS

Total Column Ozone

GOES

10 km / 1 image per hour

10 km / 15 min

Available since Oct 2006

CIMSS

Lifted Index

MODIS

4 km / 4 images per day

10 km / 15 min

Estimated Availablity: Dec 2008

CIMSS

K-Index

MODIS

4 km / 4 images per day

2 km / 5 min

Estimated Availablity: Dec 2008

CIMSS

Total Totals Index

MODIS

4 km / 4 images per day

2 km / 5 min

Estimated Availablity: Dec 2008

CIMSS

MIMIC TPW

SSM/I, AMSR-E

~25 km / 1 image per hour

N/A

Estimated Availablity: Dec 2008

CIMSS

GOES Mesoscale Winds

GOES

Variable / 15 min

N/A

Available since May 2007

CIMSS

CRAS Forecast Imagery

Satellite, Model

~10 km / 1 image per hour

N/A

Available since Sep 2006

CIMSS

Volcanic Ash Enhancement

GOES / MODIS

GOES 4 km / 30 min

MODIS 1 km / 6 h

2 km / 5 min

Estimated Availability: 10/31/08

CIRA

Blowing Dust Detection

GOES / MODIS

GOES 4 km / 30 min

MODIS 1 km / 6 h

2 km / 5 min

Estimated Availability: 10/31/08

CIRA

Snow / Cloud Discrimination

GOES / MODIS

GOES 4 km / 30 min

MODIS 1 km / 6 h

2 km / 5 min

Estimated Availability: 10/31/08

CIRA

Low Cloud / Fog Product

GOES

GOES 4 km / 30 min

2 km / 5 min

Estimated Availability: 10/31/08

CIRA

Simulated True Color

MODIS

MODIS 250-500 m / 6 h

0.5-1 km /

5 min

Estimated Availability: 10/31/08

CIRA

Geo-Color Multi-Layer Blending

GOES / DMSP

GOES 4 km / 30 min

2 km / 5 min

Estimated Availability: 10/31/08

CIRA

Simulated True Color

MODIS

250-500 m / 2 images per day

0.5-1 km / 5 min

Available

SPoRT

Total Lightning Source Density

NASA/UAH Ground Based Instruments

2 km / 2min

10 km

Available

SPoRT

Composite SST

MODIS

1 km / 6 hr

2 km / 1 hr

Available

SPoRT