VIIRS and MODIS Multi-Spectral Imagery Assessment for Aviation Weather and Cloud Analysis at High Latitude – Winter 2013-14

Introduction This report describes the 2013/14 assessment of multi-spectral, false color composites produced by the NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center, similar to other products developed previously by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). Products herein are generated from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites, and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (S-NPP)as an extension of previous capabilities developed from the geostationary capabilities of the Spinning Enhanced Visible Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) operated by EUMETSAT as part of the Meteosat series, or higher resolution applications of traditional Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series operated by NOAA. Applications described herein highlight future capabilities of the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) aboard NOAA’s upcoming GOES-R satellite series and focus on use by NOAA/NWS Weather Forecast Office (WFO) collaborators at high latitude within the NWS Western and Alaska Regions. The report is intended for NOAA and NASA program managers, operational forecasters, product developers, other institutions participating in JPSS and GOES-R Proving Ground and research-to-operations activities, and the general satellite remote sensing community.