ASAP Timeline

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To Understand and Protect Our Home Planet An
Overview of the NASA Aviation Applications
Program John A. Haynes Program Manager,
Aviation Applied Sciences Program Science
Mission Directorate
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Over 6 billion people to serve.
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2006 NASA Strategic Plan
NASA Strategic Goal 3 Develop a balanced overall
program of science, exploration, and aeronautics
consistent with the redirection of human
spaceflight program to focus on exploration.
NASA Sub-Goal 3A Study Earth from space to
advance scientific understanding and meet
societal needs.
NASAs partnership efforts in global modeling and
data assimilation over the next decade will
shorten the distance from observations to answers
for important, leading-edge science questions.
NASAs Applied Sciences program will continue the
Agencys efforts in benchmarking the assimilation
of NASA research results into policy and
management decision-support tools that are vital
for the Nations environment, economy, safety,
and security. NASA also is working with NOAA and
inter-agency forums to transition mature research
capabilities to operational systems, primarily
the polar and geostationary operational
environmental satellites, and to utilize fully
those assets for research purposes.
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Remote Sensing Spacecraft Observatories
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Future NASA Remote Sensing Observatories
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Mission Overview - CALIPSO
First polarization lidar in space Joint NASA-CNES
collaboration

• Objectives
• Improved understanding of aerosol and cloud
  effects on radiation budget
• Improved understanding of cloud-climate
  feedback processes
• Improve aerosol and cloud information from
  other A-train sensors
• Improved predictive capability for climate,
  weather, and air quality

• Approach
• Produce a global uniformly-calibrated aerosol
  and cloud dataset
• - Profiles, optical properties, microphysical
  properties
• - Identify cloud ice-water phase, aerosol type
• Combine CALIPSO and other A-train observations
• Provide profile data/validation to other
  A-train sensors

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The Objectives of CloudSat
CloudSat Mission Objective Provide, from
space, the first global survey of cloud profiles
(height, thickness) and cloud physical
properties (water, ice, precip) needed to
evaluate and improve the way clouds, moisture and
energy are represented in global models used for
weather forecasts and climate prediction (uses 94
GHz RADAR).
CloudSat 1sts FIRST global estimates of the
fraction of clouds on Earth that produce
precipitation FIRST global detection of snow in
air from space FIRST statistics on the vertical
structures of clouds FIRST vertically resolved
estimates of mass of water and ice content of
clouds FIRST indirect but validated estimate of
how much clouds contribute to the vertical
distribution of atmospheric radiative heating
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Future Observatory Launch Dates

• OSTP has committed to LDCM being a free-flyer.
  Launch expected in 2011.
• Ocean Surface Topography Mission (2008)
• Glory (2008)
• Orbiting Carbon Observatory (2008)
• Aquarius (2009)
• NPOESS Preparatory Project (2009)
• Global Precipitation Mission (2013)

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Earth System Models
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Integrated System Solutions
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Applications of National Priority
Public Health
January 25, 2005
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Aviation
Integrated System Solution
EARTH SYSTEM MODELS
DECISION SUPPORT TOOLS

• Weather WRF, RUC
• Icing FAA CIP, FAA FIP
• Convective Weather CIMSS Convective Cloud Mask,
  FAA NCWF OCWF
• Ceiling/ Visibility FAA NCVP
• Turbulence FAA GTG, ITFA

• NAS-AWRP (National Airspace System- Aviation
  Weather Research Program)

Predictions
VALUE BENEFITS

• Convective Weather
• Turbulence
• Icing
• Ceiling and Visibility
• Volcanic Transport
• Oceanic Winds
• Winter Storms
• Tropical Cyclones

• Key weather observations
• Nowcasting Products
• 24 Hour precise continuous atmosphere
• Weather warnings and predictions
• Accurate and easily accessible weather forecasts
• Increase in understanding of atmospheric
  conditions
• Real time interest fields
• Comprehensive image library

• Improved Safety
• Improved Airline Efficiency
• Earlier warnings of hazardous weather
• Reduction in the cost of flying

Supported Non-NASA Model
EARTH OBSERVATIONS

• Atmospheric Temperature
• Atmospheric Water Vapor
• Atmospheric Winds
• Storm Cell Properties
• Volcanic Gas Ash
• Cloud Properties
• Global Precipitation

• GOES, METEOSAT, GMS, TOMS,
• TRMM,QuikScat (SeaWinds), Terra,
• Aqua (MODIS, AIRS)
• GIFTS Imager and Sounder
• NPP, NPOESS, etc
• CrIS, IASI, NOAA-series
• Airborne/Field Ex. -- PIREPS, TAMDAR
• THORPEX, AIRS, IHOP, CRYSTAL
• IPO -- NAST, CPL, MAS, Wind Lidars
• DOD Assets GPS, DMSP, IAEAsats

• Management Decisions
• Routing of Flights
• Turbulence/convective weather avoidance
• Fuel/Landing loads

Observations
Future Mission
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Advanced Satellite Aviation-weather Products
ASAP A partnership between NASA, FAA, and NOAA
to infuse Earth science satellite observations
and model predictive capabilities into aviation
weather products for ground and airborne users.
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Current Icing Potential (CIP) Icing Severity Index
Areas of high LWP
Original estimate at 825 mb. Severity index
increases from bottom to top of scale. Areas
outside the colored pixels have negligible icing
potential at this level. (16 Feb 2005)
Modified by inclusion of satellite-derived phase
and liquid water path products from GOES, AVHRR,
and NASA MODIS. Note improved spatial resolution
and increased values of severity index
corresponding to high LWP. (16 Feb 2005)
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Computing Capacity Project Columbia

• Based on SGI NUMAflex architecture
• 20 SGI Altix 3700 superclusters, each with 512
  processors
• Global shared memory across 512 processors
• 10,240 Intel Itanium 2 processors
• Current processor speed 1.5 gigahertz
• Current cache 6 megabytes
• 1 terabyte of memory per 512 processors, with 20
  terabytes total memory

Using Columbia's extraordinary capability to
increase the time to solution, analysis of
shuttle anomalies that used to take two months
can now be accomplished in one day.
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NASA Modeling, Assimilation, and Prediction (MAP)
Environment Integrating Earth System Modeling
and Observations
Coupled Earth SYSTEM Modeling and Data
Assimilation System for Earth-Sun Science
2006 NASA Modeling Environment
2005 Project Hurricane
GEOS-5
fvGCM (GEOS4)
JCSDA/GSI
Project Columbia
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Tracking Volcanic Effluent
Reventador, Ecuador
Mt. Etna, Italy
NASA MODIS Zoom into Landsat 7 Datasets (July 13,
2001 and July 29, 2001)

• Data collected by NOAA GOES on 4 November 2002
• Algorithm output at 30 min intervals
• Ash cloud is extrapolated
• Purple current position
• Orange 60 minute extrapolated position

19
Volcanic Ash Detection and Height Estimates from
Satellite Observations
ASAP Improved Detection (Red -ash, Green -
ice/ash)
Convectional Detection (Ash missed)
Re-analyzed Mt Spur volcanic eruption observed
from NOAA-11 in August 1992 indicating improved
detection (implemented in research mode in NOAA
CLAVR-X tool used at the Washington VAAC)
compared to conventional reverse absorption
methodology
Mt Manam volcanic eruption observed from NASA
MODIS on 24 October 2004 in a more difficult
tropical environment (above).
Convectional Detection (White - cloud)
ASAP Improved Detection (Red -ash, Green -
ice/ash)
Satellite Volash Derived Cloud Top Height Estimate
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Enhancement of Convective Weather Products
through Satellite Observations
ASAP Satellite CI Product
Transition
AutoNowcaster
CI Nowcast Pixels
Red Pixels are forecasted CI locations in next 60
min

• Satellite-based CI indicators provided 30-60 min
  advanced notice of CI in north, and eastern Kansas

DFW AutoNowcaster with ASAP CI products
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Enhancement of Turbulence Products through
Satellite Observations
CIT and Mountain Wave Identification Algorithms
to be tested and implemented in the GTG.
MODIS Water Vapor Image With Turbulence Reports
MODIS Visible Image over Colorado Front Range
6.72m 245K 261K
Enhanced MODIS Imagery
Overshooting Cumulus CIT Signature
11 x 11 Laplacian of Gaussian
Wave Gradient Strength
Gradient detection methods create mask of waves
22
Projects Selected through the NASA Decision
Solicitation in 2005

• NASA microphysical data applications from MODIS,
  VIIRS, AVHRR, and GOES to improve the NOAA
  operational mesoscale forecast (RUC-Rapid Update
  Cycle) model and NCEP/AWC in-flight icing hazard
  warning products.
• UMBC volcanic aerosol and gas tools derived from
  NASA Aura/OMI observations to replace NASA TOMS
  observations and the NOAA/CIMSS CLAVR-X tool for
  ash cloud detection, height and transport
  analysis for the NOAA Volcanic Ash Advisory
  Center (VAAC) in Washington.
• NCAR convectively induced turbulence (CIT) tools
  derived form GOES and MODIS satellite
  observations to enhance the NCEP/AWC Graphical
  Turbulence Guidance (GTG) product.
• Evaluation of Aqua/AMSR-E and QuikSCAT
  observations over the Gulf of Mexico for
  enhancement of convective weather forecasts in
  products developed by the FAA/AWRP Oceanic
  Weather Product Development Team.

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Project Selected through the ROSES 2005
Solicitation

• Cathy Kessinger / NCAR
• Oceanic Convective Weather Diagnosis and
  Nowcasting (NASA AMSU-A, AMSR-E, QuikSCAT, MODIS,
  TRMM, CloudSAT, and NOAA GOES)
• Deep convection over the oceans presents a safety
  hazard to aircraft and is a costly impediment to
  efficient flight routing across long oceanic
  routes. The Convective Diagnosis Oceanic (CDO)
  and Convective Nowcasting Oceanic (CNO) products,
  under development within the FAA Aviation Weather
  Research Program (AWRP) Oceanic Weather Program
  Development Team (OW PDT), will help to mitigate
  these impacts by providing real-time, current and
  predicted locations of convection. Using these
  products, pilots, dispatchers and controllers
  will be able to assess the distribution of
  oceanic clouds and efficiently plan flight tracks
  that avoid regions where convective hazards may
  exist. As a result, the exposure of oceanic
  traffic to damaging turbulence, lightning and
  icing will be minimized. Inclusion of NASA Earth
  science data sets into the CDO/CNO products will
  improve their performance through better
  understanding of the atmospheric and oceanic
  environments, better wind vector measurements,
  and by providing a second independent
  verification data set.

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Aviation with FAA NOAA
GOES L, M
SRTM
Downlink
Exploitation
Digital Airspace for National Airspace System
Synthetic Vision System display
EOSDIS DAACs
25
Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO)

• Next Generation Air Transportation System
  (NGATS) will triple capacity by 2025 through
  extensive redesign and automation

• Congress has mandated 17M in the FAA budget
  allocation for JPDO, other agency contributions
  TBD
• National Aviation Weather Strategy submitted to
  congress in Dec 2004

• FAA, NASA, NOAA, DOD, and DHS staff JPDO Weather
  IPT interagency teams for observations and
  sensors, forecasting, integration, dissemination,
  mitigation and training
• The Weather IPT plans and coordinates Observing
  System requirements out to 2025 with NASA, FAA,
  NOAA, OSTP, USGEO, OFCM, and the aviation
  industry

http//www.jpdo.aero
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Applied Sciences Program

• http//science.hq.nasa.gov/earth-sun/applications/
  index.html
• http//aiwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/