Hillger, Campbell, Combs, Dostalek

• An upgrade to current GOES software being used by the Satellite Operations Control Center (SOCC) and by the ARAD RAMSDIS was made to fix 1) a long-existing problem causing the SOCC RAMSDIS to crash on occasion, and 2) a non-functioning option in one of the programs delivered last year to the ARAD RAMSDIS.  Both problems were fixed remotely from CIRA and new software was sent via FTP.

• The RAMM Team suggested that the GINI (GOES Ingest NOAA-port Interface) water vapor (WV) channel as used on the AWIPS return to the standard bi-linear Look Up Table (LUT) traditionally used by McIDAS and RAMSDIS.  The main problem with the present GINI LUT is that temperatures are truncated if they extend outside of the range from -10 to -60 deg C.  We strongly oppose the fact that those measurements are not available to AWIPS users for any present or future image product development.  Also, the AWIPS product generator, which works on 8-bit counts, cannot generate meaningful image products using the WV channel because the count to temperature conversion is not identical for all the GOES IR channels (the WV channel being the exception).  Supporting evidence for this decision is available on the Web at the following two addresses.  The first one explains the GINI LUT issue,  http://www.cira.colostate.edu/RAMM/cal_val/wvgini.htm; the second gives the reasons for our decision to support a full return to the bi-linear LUT used by McIDAS/RAMSDIS and by AWIPS for the other GOES IR channels http://www.cira.colostate.edu/RAMM/cal_val/wvprop.htm

• Programs for producing albedo images were modified to work on McIDAS-X and were then made available to the NWS Western Region offices for further testing.  The programs generate albedo images from the GOES visible channel or combinations of GOES channels.  The albedo images are corrected for solar zenith angle variations to enhance portions of the image that are normally very dark.  The day/night albedo combines the visible channel during the day with the shortwave albedo calculated from GOES IR channels 2 and 4 at night.

• Software for smoothing McIDAS-format satellite area files has been made available to Kevin Schrab at NWS Western Region Headquarters.  The program is used to slightly smooth and produce a more pleasing display of GOES Sounder water vapor channel-12 (6.5 µm) being ingested into AWIPS.  This Sounder channel typically has a low signal-to-noise ratio and appears quite noisy without smoothing.  Smoothing is used for this channel on the Sounder RAMSDIS at the CIRA.

• Software for clustering GOES fields-of-view has been modified to work on McIDAS-X and forwarded to CIMSS for testing.  The conversion to McIDAS-X was accomplished by modifying existing software to work on both McIDAS and McIDAS-X without having special software that only works on either system alone.

• Several new products generated from GOES Imager and Sounder channels have been added to RAMSDIS Online, including loops of experimental albedo and skin temperature products from the GOES Imagers, and some experimental combined-channel products from the GOES Sounder (GOES-east only).  Advanced   Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) data will be added in the near future.  The web site includes information on how the various products are generated.  Site is at http://www.cira.colostate.edu/ramm/rmsdsol/ROLEX.html