ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019

Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research Studies and Investigations GESTAR STAFF Hanson, Heather Ng, Joy Yao, Tian Holdaway, Dan Norris, Peter Zhang, Cheng Achuthavarier, Deepthi Humberson, Winnie Nowottnick, Ed Zhang, Qingyuan Ahamed, Aakash Ibrahim, Amir Oda, Tom Zhou, Yaping Amatya, Pukar Jackson, Katrina Oddo, Perry Ziemke, Jerald Andrew, Andrea Jentoft-Nilsen, Marit Olsen, Mark Anyamba, Assaf Jepsen, Rikke Orbe, Clara ADMINISTRATIVE Aquila, Valentina Jethva, Hiren Patadia, Falguni STAFF Armstrong, Amanda Jin, Daeho Patel, Kiran Arnold, Nathan Jin, Jianjun Paynter, Ian Kuehn (Ball), Carol Barker, Ryan Jo, MinJeong Peng, Jinzheng Berard, Russell Beck, Jefferson Johnson, Leann Potter, Gerald Espiritu, Angie Bell, Benita Ju, Junchang Prescott, Ishon Gardner, Jeanette Bensusen, Sally Keating, Shane Prive, Nikki Houghton, Amy Bollian, Tobias Kekesi, Alex Radcliff, Matthew Morgan, Dagmar Bridgman, Tom Keller, Christoph Rama, Xhafer Nourieh, Carine Brucker, Ludovic Khan, Maudood Reale, Oreste Samuel Henry, Elamae Buchard, Virginie Kim, Dongchul Resende de Sousa, Carvalho, David Kim, Dongjae Celio Technical Editor

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Castellanos, Patricia Kim, Hyokyung Rousseaux, Cecile Amy Houghton Cede, Alexander Kim, Min-Jeong Sayer, Andrew Cetinic, Ivona Knowland, Emma Schiffer, Robert Graphic Designer Chang, Yehui Kolassa, Jana Schindler, Trent Ada Ruiz/Amika Studio Chatterjee, Abhishek Korkin, Sergey Seadler, Abigail Cheung, Samson Kostis, Helen-Nicole Seegers, Bridget Chittimalli, Sandeep Kowalewski, Matthew Selkirk, Henry Cho, Nayeong Kucsera, Tom Shi, Jainn J. (Roger) Cohen, Jarrett Kurylo, Michael Shi, Yingxi Collow, Allison Ladd, David Soebiyanto, Radina Colombo, Oscar Lait, Leslie Sokolowsky, Eric Concha, Javier Lamsal, Lok Soldo, Yan Craig, Susanne Lawford, Rick Southard, Adrian Damoah, Richard Lee, Dongmin Stanley, Thomas de Matthaeis, Paolo Lee, Eunjee Starr, Cynthia Divakarla, Murty Lee, SeungKuk Steenrod, Stephen Duberstein, Genna Lee, Yuni Strahan, Susan Durham, Kevin Lentz, Michael Strode, Sarah Eck, Thomas Li, Feng Suarez, Max Elkins, Kelly Li, Xiaowen Swanson, Andrew Errico, Ronald Liang, Qing Taha, Ghassan Fauchez, Thomas Liao, Jin Tan, Jackson Fitzgibbons, Ryan Liao, Liang Tao, Zhining Follette-Cook, Melanie Lim, Young-Kwon Teinturier, Samuel Freitas, Saulo Lipschultz, Frederic Tian, Lin Gallagher, Dan Liu, Fei Trapp, Cindy Ganeshan, Manishan Liu, Junhua Trossman, David Garner, Robert Longo de Freitas, Karla Ungar, Stephen Gassó, Santiago Lyu, Cheng Hsuan Unninayar, Sushel Gatebe, Charles (Joseph) Van Oevelen, Peter Girotto, Manuela Malanoski, Mark Vervoort, Fernande Gong, Jie Marchant, Benjamin Vikhliaev, Yury Graham, Steven Masters, Joshua Wang, James Grecu, Mircea McGrath-Spangler, Erica Ward, Alan Gupta, Pawan McLean, Debbi Ward, Lauren Gutierrez, Adriana Mersmann, Kathryn Weir, Brad Manrique Miller, Kevin Wen, Guoyong Han, Mei Mohammed, Priscilla Wiessinger, Scott Handleman Seff, Monroe, Brian Wright, Ernie Michelle Moran, Amy Yang, Weidong

2 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 TABLE of CONTENTS Letter from the GESTAR Director ...... 5

The GESTAR Team ...... 6

Technical Research ...... 7 Code 555: Microwave Instrument Technology Branch ...... 7 Code 610: Earth Sciences Division ...... 9 Code 610.1: Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) ...... 10 Code 612: Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Laboratory ...... 32 Code 613: Climate and Radiation Laboratory ...... 37 Code 614: Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory ...... 43 Code 615: Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory ...... 61 Code 616: Ocean Ecology Laboratory ...... 62 Code 617: Hydrological Sciences Laboratory ...... 67 Code 618: Biospheric Sciences Laboratory ...... 76 Code 699: Planetary Environments Laboratory ...... 81

Delivering The Message ...... 83 Code 130 (Sponsor: W. Sisler) ...... 83 Code 606.4 (Sponsor: H. Mitchell) ...... 101 Science Communications Support Office (SCSO) (Sponsor: S. Platnick) ...... 111

USRA Funding Opportunities ...... 121

Products ...... 123 Maniac Talks ...... 123 NASA Viz ...... 123

Student Engagements And Education/Public Outreach ...... 125 Student Engagement ...... 125 Education and Public Outreach ...... 125

Awards and Recognition ...... 129

Memoriam ...... 131.

Acronyms List ...... 133

On March 11, 2019, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the NASA Headquarters Moon to Mars initiative (see https:// www.nasa.gov/specials/moon2mars). David Ladd produced and edited the video, “Science Discoveries Beyond Earth - Go Forward” (https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=0SKjX4_r_ vU&feature=youtu.be). This image is from David’s video, found in the Videos section of the “Explore Moon to Mars” toolkit. (Provided by D. Ladd.)

GESTAR Annual Report 2018– 2019 | 3 Jefferson Beck (USRA/130) flew with the Operation IceBridge springtime Arctic field campaign in Greenland. According to a NASA feature on OIB, “After this spring campaign, the IceBridge team plans to carry out two additional campaigns in 2019, one in the Arctic in late summer, to measure how much ice melted during the summer, and a second over Antarctica in the fall. … These will be the final IceBridge flights – the end of an era of airborne observations that has catalogued an Arctic that has experienced rapid change – from the rapid thinning of many Greenland ocean-terminating outlet glaciers to the continued decline of the Arctic sea ice pack in extent, snow cover and thickness.” For more information on Operation IceBridge, visit https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/icebridge/index.html.

A massive iceberg, reminiscent of a castle and containing its own blue melt pond, floats in a fjord in western Greenland. The fjord connects the calving fronts of the Rink and Kangerdlugssup glaciers. Nearby other icebergs are held fast in a mélange of glacial ice and frozen sea ice. This shot was taken from just 1,500 feet above the water onboard NASA’s P-3 research aircraft as part of an Operation IceBridge science flight over the region on May 7, 2019. IceBridge uses lasers, a range of radars, and optical and other instruments to measure the changing ice near both poles. This year IceBridge witnessed the second-earliest start to the melt season in Greenland during the satellite record. (Credit: J. Beck)

Meltponds in crevasses in the ice near the Jakobshavn Glacier in western Greenland. Waves can be seen on the surface of the meltponds, indicating a strong wind was blowing at the time. This shot was taken from just 1,500 feet above the Greenland Ice Sheet onboard NASA’s P-3 research aircraft as part of an Operation IceBridge science flight over the region on May 6, 2019. IceBridge uses lasers, a range of radars, and optical and other instruments to measure the changing ice near both poles. This year IceBridge witnessed the second- earliest start to the melt season in Greenland during the satellite record. (Credit: J. Beck)

4 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Letter from the GESTAR Director

This report is the eighth NASA Goddard Earth Sciences, Technology and Research (GESTAR) cooperative agreement annual Report, encompassing the period 11 May 2018 - 10 May 2019. GESTAR continues to be led by the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), with Morgan State University (MSU), the I.M. Systems Group (IMSG), and Global Science and Technology (GST) as current partners. All members of the team have worked very effectively to contribute to the success of NASA mission.

This report summarizes the accomplishments and activities of GESTAR Earth and Planetary scientists, engineers, media specialists, video producers, science data visualizers, model and algorithm developers. Contributions by students, visitors and staff are also noted. The research by GESTAR scientists spans a very broad range of fields encompassing global modeling, data assimilation, mesoscale meteorology, climate and radiation, cryosphere science, ocean ecology, hydrology, biosphere science and solar system science, particularly planetary. The centrality of remote sensing in all these applications, and the focus on exploiting NASA sensors in space, thus enhancing the value of NASA’s mission, is a common aspect of all GESTAR activities. In addition, part of the GESTAR effort focuses on the dissemination of NASA achievements through high-level videos, documentaries, and social media content as well.

Aside from the research and communication accomplishments, this report contains sections pertaining to educational activities, awards, and public outreach. A separate Appendices document containing publications, presentations, proposals and grants completes the report.

This year, as in previous years, GESTAR has contributed to the success of the NASA mission. We are committed to striving toward excellence in the future as well.

Oreste Reale

Director

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 5 The GESTAR Team

7178 Columbia Gateway Drive Columbia, MD 21046 410-730-2656 https://www.usra.edu

https://gestar.usra.edu

Founded in 1969, Universities Space Research Association researchers and support scientists in the Satellite Applications (USRA) is an independent nonprofit research corporation that Research Center and the NWS Environmental Modeling Center. conducts basic and applied research and operates programs and national facilities for government and industry, many of which are Global Science & Technology, Inc. (GST) was founded by in support of NASA. USRA currently manages 12 major programs three business associates; two of the founders remain with and facilities that employ close to 500 scientific, technical, and the company today. They believed that hiring the right people professional staff. With 111 university members, USRA provides into a nurturing, collaborative environment would produce a a unique and special value that other research organizations do cutting-edge, innovative, and profitable company. GST provides not. Only PhD-granting universities in Earth and space sciences superior service in the fields of science, engineering, Information with demonstrated outstanding research abilities are eligible for Technology (IT), and technical support to worldwide government, membership in USRA. USRA’s mission is to advance Earth and industry, and academic clients. GST has built a highly specified space sciences and exploration through innovative research, workforce that includes experts in these key domains. From technology, and educational programs, and to develop and projects such as instrument engineering for the Hubble Space operate premier facilities and programs by involving universities, Telescope program, to meteorology, software engineering, the private sector, and governments. and satellite communications—GST is committed to technical excellence and customer satisfaction. Morgan State University (MSU), founded in 1867, is one of the nation’s premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The University offers a comprehensive program of studies at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Morgan State has continuously served the community with distinction while meeting the educational needs of an increasingly diverse society. Designated as Maryland’s Public Urban University, MSU will continue its prominence in Maryland’s educational future. In many fields, particularly in engineering and the sciences, MSU accounts for large percentages of degrees received by African Americans from Maryland institutions. At the graduate level, it awards doctoral and master’s degrees in several selected fields. The University has made a major commitment to academic excellence, investing substantial resources to enhance its research infrastructure, and stimulate research development in a broad range of disciplines, especially STEM.

I.M. Systems Group (IMSG) has over 15 years of providing environmental, scientific, technical support to the US government, as well as environmental services to government agencies in Africa and Asia. Over 60% of its workforce has advanced degrees with over 100 PhD researchers. IMSG is NOAA’s largest support service, with its largest concentration of

6 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Technical Research

CODE 555: MICROWAVE INSTRUMENT decreasing trend over China. This work was presented at the TECHNOLOGY BRANCH 2nd Science Utilization (SUSMAP) meeting held in Arcadia, CA in November 2018. NASA’s Soil Moisture Active and Passive (SMAP) Mission, the first of a series of Earth Science Decadal Survey missions, launched While the SMAP radiometer ground processing algorithm January 31, 2015. The mission has continued to provide includes RFI detection and mitigation, high level RFI sources global measurements of soil moisture and freeze/thaw state cause the algorithm to flag and remove significant portions using L-band radiometry. Dr. Priscilla Mohammed (sponsor: of the spectrum thus increasing the noise equivalent delta J. Piepmeier) has worked with a collaborative team at GSFC to temperature (or standard deviation of the measurement of develop the L1B TB algorithm which converts radiometer data interest). Dr. Mohammed creates RFI reports using SMAP data into calibrated estimates of brightness temperature. The effort and submits them to the NASA spectrum office; in turn, this includes research and development of radio frequency (RFI) office submits these reports to the necessary administrations detection and removal algorithms and prototype instrument with the hope that the offending countries will help eliminate algorithm code for the L1B TB algorithm, which is part of illegal transmitters at L-band. This will help to improve the the ground processing. Over the past year, radiometer data electromagnetic environment within the protected Earth monitoring occurred by processing and observing instrument Exploration Satellite Service passive frequency allocation data from L1A radiometer and L1B_TB products. Automated (1400-1427 MHz). Over the past year, reports were submitted reports were generated weekly and monitored to ensure normal for the following countries: Brazil, the Russian Federation, Italy, instrument performance. Dr. Mohammed reported on instrument the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kuwait, the United Arab performance at the annual SMAP engineering review held by Emirates, Turkey, Uzbekistan, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on February 6, 2019. In addition, and Azerbaijan. Figure 1 is the type of image included in the an automated data checker was used to perform quick checks RFI reports. This work was presented at the 12th SMAP Science on L1B_TB files to check for data quality. Weekly images of data Team meeting held in Arcadia, CA in November 2018. were created to monitor changes in RFI globally. Dr. Mohammed will continue to work on radiometer data Work continued on the development of RFI monitoring methods monitoring, and automated reports will be generated and using SMAP radiometer data. The objective is to monitor the monitored to ensure normal instrument performance. changing RFI environment at L-band and characterize the RFI sources. Dr. Mohammed analyzed data to characterize global changes in RFI over the past three years of the mission lifetime. While RFI at L-band still persists globally, there was a noticeable

Figure 1 is a map of Italy on a 0.25x0.25 degree grid of the percentage of observations over the period of August 1, 2018 to October 31, 2018 that obtained a detected RFI level of 5K Image created by P. Mohammed, which shows the slope of the or more in the horizontal polarization. Its intent is to highlight global RFI probability. Blue indicates probability decrease and the temporal persistence of specific sources. (Provided by P. red is probability increase. Mohammed.)

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 7 Development of the time series algorithm for RFI monitoring and to calibrate all of the calibration parameters (internal reference characterization will continue. She will continue to investigate sources, antenna gain, reflector loss, etc.) simultaneously. methods to optimize the RFI detection algorithm and detect RFI using methods not currently implemented in the SMAP ground Dr. Peng upgraded the reflect galaxy correction algorithm for software algorithm. ocean by developing wind-speed-dependent reflect galaxy correction LUTs. The algorithm also was used in the L1B_TB Dr. Jinzheng Peng (sponsor: J. Piepmeier) is part of the data product (version 4); its performance was featured in a collaborative team on NASA’s Soil Moisture Active/Passive presentation at the 2018 IEEE International Geoscience and (SMAP) mission. In addition to researching and developing Remote Sensing Symposium in Spain in July 2018. Dr. Peng pre-launch and post-launch calibration theoretical bases, plans worked on the calibration of the CubeRRT radiometer, which and activities, he is responsible for developing the SMAP L1B performs observations of the Earth’s brightness temperatures correction algorithms, instrument calibration, calibration/ from 6-40 GHz and demonstrates RFI detection and mitigation validation tools, the CubeSat Radiometer Radio Frequency technologies. After the launch of the CubeRRT, he analyzed Interference Technology Validation (CubeRRT) calibration and the data, updated the L1B algorithm and generated L1B data L1B algorithm, and the antenna temperature (TA) forward product. modeling for the Correlator Array-Fed Microwave Radiometer (CAFR) Component Technologies. The CAFR was an awarded NASA ACT (Advanced Component Technology) project in 2017. The goal of this project is to provide The SMAP L1B correction algorithms obtain the Earth multiband passive microwave imagery in X to W band with surface brightness temperature (TB) from the calibrated and adequate spatial resolution by using a multi-band correlator RFI-free antenna temperature. Unwanted emissions in the array feeding a large reflector antenna. The key development antenna sidelobe from the Sun, the Moon, the galaxy, the is a broadband line array covering 10-90 GHz appropriate for atmosphere, and Earth need to be removed from the radiometer illuminating a large deployable reflector. Its performance trade- measurements, and the effects of the atmospheric attenuation study and design will be evaluated by the TA forward simulator. and Faraday rotations to the radiometer measurement need to Dr. Peng has developed the CAFR’s TA forward simulator and be characterized and corrected. The correction algorithm has processed high spatial resolution ancillary data. In Figure 1, the been successfully implemented into the SMAP L1B production simulations for 37 GHz with the ideal antenna pattern are shown code by the SMAP Science Data System (SDS) team for the (left panel, 1 km spatial resolution; right panel, 10 km spatial radiometer L1B_TB data product. The calibration for a microwave resolution), and the simulated result was presented in the CAFR remote sensing instrument after launch is to calibrate instrument annual review. parameter(s) using external known targets; thus, the bias in the instrument measurement could be reduced or eliminated over the required dynamic range. Dr. Peng upgraded the calibration algorithm for the SMAP radiometer by using new estimates of the reflector emissivity as well as using multiple scenes to calibrate the radiometer internal reference sources and antenna gain simultaneously. The calibration result satisfies the science requirement with improved performance, and it has been used by the latest SMAP radiometer L1B data products (version 4) for science activities. The L1B_TB data product (version 4) and its assessment report have been released to the public in June 2018. A journal article titled “Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) L-Band Microwave Radiometer Post-Launch Calibration Upgrade” was published in the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics Figure 1. TA simulation at 37 GHz using the ideal Gaussian in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing (JSTARS). Dr. antenna pattern. (left panel) 1-km spatial resolution; (right panel) Peng continues to work on the SMAP radiometer calibration to 10-km spatial resolution. (Provided by J. Peng.) improve the radiometer performance by using multiple scenes

8 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 The SMAP radiometer is in its six-year extension mission. In the describing the tool and is second author on a related blog post coming year, Dr. Peng’s responsibilities will include the SMAP for AGU’s Thriving Earth Exchange newsletter. He devised and radiometer calibration/validation for next L1B_ TB data release executed an approach connecting the CRT with the 4th NCA to public, monitoring data quality and instrument calibration drift, content, providing useable climate information to augment the and research on improving the radiometer performance. Work online, but static, NCA report. Under his guidance, the CRT and will continue with CAFR TA forward simulation with conventional NCA4 teams will continue building on his approach to deepen antenna pattern and CAFR antenna pattern to evaluate the the connection over the next year. In addition, he continues to performance of the CAFR antenna patterns. Dr. Peng will start develop USGCRP’s vision for a “Resilience Enterprise” system working on active microwave remote sensing instrumentation of existing USGCRP programs that supports collaborators and data processing. such as ESRI, PReP, and FutureEarth in helping communities develop climate awareness and take action to adapt to climate variability and change. Dr. Lipschultz also served on a NOAA Climate Program Office panel review of 35 proposals concerning CODE 610: EARTH SCIENCES DIVISION “Building U.S. Communities’ and Businesses’ Resilience to Extreme Events”. Dr. Fredric Lipschultz’s (sponsor: J. Irons) overarching goal at USGCRP is to broadly coordinate Federal climate activities, Dr. Lipschultz continues to serve as the only non-Canadian especially sustained climate assessment activities, that support member of the advisory committee for the Canadian Climate place-based decision making, while actively interacting with other Assessment, which is due in 2021, bringing his deep USGCRP leaders to meet the broader goals of the program. He understanding of climate assessment to this role as they work brings his expertise from the U.S. sustained assessment process to develop reports and websites based on the U.S. experience. to bear advising international and U.S. sub-national assessments He also served as an Associate Editor of California’s 4th Climate and adaptation activities. Assessment that was released in fall 2018. This past year, he has traveled and presented nine times to varied audiences about Over the past year, Dr. Lipschultz’s efforts were heavily focused climate issues as part of USGCRP outreach and engagement. on producing the 4th National Climate Assessment Volume He has attended numerous meetings at USGCRP and within the II report, which was released in late 2018 to considerable vicinity to build and maintain relationships, to learn about new press attention and accolades. In addition to providing much issues and to represent USGCRP. of the strategic vision for NCA4 and mentoring new staff about assessment, he was specifically responsible for shepherding Over the next year, Dr. Lipschultz will focus on sustained the author teams of six chapters of the ~30-chapter report. assessment activities, including outreach efforts, fostering state Across the entire report, he helped author teams craft their key and international assessments, and efforts to enhance USGCRP messages and substantiate their findings via traceable accounts. scenarios. He will lead the Climate Explorer task team for the He also is leading the planning for USGCRP’s approach toward CRT and lead strategic development of USGCRP’s Resilience scenario information needed to support assessment efforts for Enterprise. And, he will continue his engagement with the the next NCA in 4 years. The NCA staff has begun developing a Canadian government and has already begun working with the suite of auxiliary products from the various USGCRP reports over new leadership in the California’s Governor’s office as they begin the past four years, and Dr. Lipschultz is leading development of planning their next assessment activities. products on the topic of infrastructure. Ms. Abigail Seadler (sponsor: S. Platnick) supports Jack Kaye Dr. Lipschultz continued working to foster the federal provision and the NASA Earth Science Research and Analysis Program in of climate data and improve coordination among federal agency collecting, cataloguing, and conveying Earth science results from efforts, especially in areas such as climate adaptation and across NASA centers to tell integrated stories that do not always scenario development. As the leader of the interagency team get told because they involve different projects, approaches, or developing the Climate Explorer tool for climate information, a foci. She has been discussing a new process through which HQ central component of NOAA’s Climate Resilience Toolkit (CRT), management and Earth science communicators can mine results he continued to play a crucial role leading towards the upcoming from centers (and possibly other institutions that use NASA data) major release (V3). He is the lead author for a paper to BAMS for various uses across NASA. She also is facilitating increased

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 9 channels for internal communication among Earth science Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting and was posted to the R&A communicators at different NASA centers. webpage on science.nasa.gov.

This year, Abby created and developed a new template for the Earth Science Research & Analysis (R&A) Focus Area webpages on science.nasa.gov. She methodically reviewed Focus Area by CODE 610.1: GLOBAL MODELING AND Focus Area, editing text, adding imagery, incorporating feedback, ASSIMILATION OFFICE (GMAO) and cataloging existing content to create new, more dynamic landing pages. The new pages better clarify what each Focus Dr. Deepthi Achuthavarier (sponsor: A. Molod) completed her Area does and add more context to their scientific research. work on this activity this year. The goal was to evaluate aspects To date, the Earth Surface and Interior and Atmospheric of climate and weather variability in century-long simulations and Composition Focus Area webpages have been completed; Water decadal predictions made with the GEOS-5 coupled atmosphere/ and Energy Cycle, Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems, and Climate ocean/land model. This included assessing the leading modes of Variability and Change should be posted by May 10. Her goal is coupled variability, their predictability, and their regional impacts. to have all of the pages updated and live on the science.nasa.gov Areas of focus include the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), the website by the end of May 2019. Going forward, she will continue Atlantic multi-decadal oscillation (AMO), and long-term variability to review the R&A landing pages on science.nasa.gov to ensure in the Asian and American monsoons. Dr. Achuthavarier they stay up-to-date and accurately reflect each Focus Area’s continued to work on the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) main scientific priorities and messages. Abby will work with Focus teleconnection analysis on the sub-seasonal hindcasts. This Area leads and program managers to fill gaps in communications included several statistical diagnosis to examine the skill of materials, including new “explainer” content that goes into more atmospheric circulation, air temperature and precipitation fields depth about the measurements and science that each program over the North America that could be due to the MJO. She made supports. progress on an article she is leading on this subject. In addition, she worked on figures and text for an overarching article led by After a stalled beta-testing launch due to the government her sponsor on the new GMAO seasonal-subseasonal system shutdown, Abby worked with her developer to further enhance (S2S). the Earth Science Research Results Portal—the streamlined mechanism to collect and convey Earth science research Dr. Achuthavaier presented her research findings at various results across NASA. She has moved the portal to a new meetings. At the World Climate Research Program’s Second content management system (CMS) and has met with Jack International Conference on Subseasonal to Seasonal Kaye and other high-level stakeholders to hone the Portal’s key Prediction, she was lead author on a poster presentation mechanism: the online webform. titled “Prediction skill of the MJO teleconnection signals in the NASA GEOS-5 subseasonal reforecasts.” She also co-authored Additionally, Abby has begun to work with Steve Cole and Debra another presentation at this conference. At the 2018 AGU Hernandez on the Earth Science Communications Feature Fall meeting, she was lead author on a presentation titled Review process. When any Earth science-related feature is “MJO Teleconnection Signals in the NASA GEOS Subseasonal written, it is sent to NASA headquarters for a final review. Abby Reforecasts,” and co-authored another presentation given at this is now tasked with sending each feature onto the appropriate meeting. Additionally, she gave a poster presentation and a flash subject matter expert with the R&A Program, as well as providing talk on the subseasonal prediction efforts at GMAO for the GMAO her own edits. Further, she worked with 11 members of the NASA 5-year review panel. Earth Science Communications Community to create an internal, comprehensive list of resources, materials, and best practices Dr. Virginie Buchard (sponsor: A. da Silva) works on the for the greater community. Abby presented the final document development and evaluation of Ensemble Kalman Filter at the annual Earth Science Communications Retreat, held at algorithms for the assimilation of aerosol measurements in NASA HQ in October 2018. Abby also worked with every Focus GEOS-5. Measurements include AOD and eventually radiances Area to create a Top 2018 Research Results handout for the R&A from MODIS, MISR, VIIRS, and the geostationary constellation. Program. This document, which will now be produced annually, In addition, LIDAR data from CALIPSO, CATS and EarthCARE are was included in the Earth Explores packet at the 2018 American used. This year, since the aerosol data assimilation scheme

10 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 in the GEOS system is being upgraded, Dr. Buchard has been in-situ observations, in line with other state-of-the-art reanalyses working on the implementation of the infrastructure in the and an improvement over the previous MERRA winds was model. She worked on the development of the quality control detected. This study was recently submitted to an AMS journal. of the aerosol observations (called background check and buddy check). A new observation data structure was developed, The GMAO OSSE framework simulates AMV and radiances allowing researchers to consider various dimension data observations at locations in the GEOS-5 Nature Run where types (1D, 2D or 3D). Dr. Buchard was convener on a session clouds and water vapor features exist (in the case of the AMVs) titled “Advances in Data Assimilation, Inverse Modeling, and and where the sky is clear from clouds (for the case of the Forecasting of Trace Gases and Aerosols”; preliminary results radiances). This set of experiments will simulate the OSSE on this new data structure were presented during this session. satwind and radiance observations at the locations where they Plans in the coming year include work on the aerosol assimilation were measured in reality. The objective is to assess the relevance system in GEOS. of simulating the OSSE observations with physical consistence (as the GMAO does), compared to cases where they are not (as She started to work on a prototype to include aerosol fields in the other OSSE producers do). The latter can be explained by the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA)/Joint Effort fact that by sampling the observations at the locations where for Data assimilation Integration (JEDI) framework to upgrade they were taken in reality, the Nature Run might or might not the aerosol assimilation system to a variational ensemble type of have trackable features (for the AMVs) and might or might not scheme. Last November, she participated in the JEDI academy, be cloud-contaminated (for the case of the radiances) at the organized by JCSDA, which provided several aspects of the JEDI observations locations. Several experiments are currently in system. progress.

This past year, Dr. Buchard submitted a proposal as a PI to the Dr. Carvalho is also testing a new methodology designed to NASA DSCOVR Science Team call and she was a Co-I on a NASA carry out the atmospheric motion vector (AMV) observations ACMAP proposal. Additionally, OECD (Organisation for Economic thinning at GEOS5-GSI system. The motivation is to make a Co-operation and Development) authors asked her to review better and optimized use of the available AMV observations, one of their reports where they used MERRA-2 aerosol and and to implement the thinning choices with a justified scientific meteorological data in their study. Finally, Dr. Buchard is co- reasoning. Several experiments are currently underway. author of a paper that was published in the journal Atmosphere as part of the Special Issue “Radiative Transfer in the Earth Dr. Carvalho began work on a funded project titled “Assimilation Atmosphere”. of 3D Atmospheric Motion Vectors to Improve Subseasonal Numerical Weather Forecasts,” which aims to test the This past year, Dr. David Carvalho (sponsor: R. Gelaro) updated assimilation of a new observation dataset (AIRS AMVs) into the GMAO-OSSE Satwind code. The observations counts and the GEOS5 forward processing system. Several AIRS AMVs locations tuning and calibration is now a completely automated assimilation experiments in the GEOS5-GSI system are underway. process, constituting a great progress in the OSSE Satwind code since the previous methodology was based on manual try Dr. Abhishek Chatterjee (sponsor: S. Pawson) aims to contribute and error. In addition, the OSSE observations now have added to the development of GMAO’s carbon cycle assimilation and realism. predictive modeling capabilities, focusing on atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane distributions. He uses satellite observations Dr. Carvalho validated the GMAO MERRA2 reanalysis surface to constrain present-day carbon cycle via data assimilation, winds. MERRA2 surface winds (ocean and land), other current and uses predictive models to estimate atmospheric carbon state-of-the-art reanalyses (ERA Interim, NCEP-CFSR) and the growth rates over the next decades that will help define criteria previous version of MERRA were compared with in situ land for planning carbon-relevant observations from space. This and ocean surface wind observations to assess the quality year, Dr. Chatterjee developed and implemented a new compact of MERRA2 ocean winds, when compared with its concurrent module to simulate atmospheric CH4. The previous CH4 module reanalyses. He also compared the improvement in the was reliant on outdated emission files; these files have been representation of the global surface wind fields from MERRA to completely overhauled and rewritten. A new sector for CH4 MERRA2. MERRA2 surface winds showed a good agreement with emissions from biofuels has been added to make the model

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 11 simulations more realistic, and he tested the model simulations information from other remote-sensing missions, Dr. Chatterjee against available atmospheric observations. Results are and collaborators attempted to better understand how the encouraging and manuscripts are being prepared to capture this ocean carbon cycle responded during the 2015-2016 El Nino new capability in the GEOS model. event. A manuscript on this work is currently being reviewed by co-authors. Dr. Chatterjee also co-authored a manuscript For NASA’s new Carbon Cycle OSSE initiative led by Dr. Lesley Ott submitted by the OCO2 Flux Team to Atmospheric Chemistry (NASA/GSFC), Dr. Chatterjee has assumed a key role. The goal and Physics. The manuscript is currently in discussion and is to inform future space-based observing strategies through captures a synthesis of the knowledge obtained from three advanced modeling and data assimilation. He has assisted in years of operation of NASA’s OCO2 mission. He is also leading creating realistic, model-based synthetic CO2 and CH4 datasets a paper quantifying the information in OCO-2 retrievals and for use in inversion and signal detection experiments. Dr. benchmarking them against a suite of model simulations. This Chatterjee is working with the rest of the team in making these paper will be submitted by the end of summer 2019. Note: while datasets publicly available for use by the international carbon this grant officially ended in September 2018, Dr. Chatterjee modeling community and in mission planning activities. Looking continued to work with the OCO-2 team and on various projects ahead, he will continue model developments needed to advance in which he was involved. future carbon cycle OSSE efforts. As PI, Dr. Abhishek Chatterjee (program manager: Dr. J. Entin) As one of the lead authors of the Second State of the Carbon conducts research on a second NASA grant titled “Use of Cycle Report (SOCCR-2), Dr. Chatterjee helped in the coordination SMAP observations in Conjunction with OCO-2 data to Improve and release of the final report on November 23, 2018. Dr. Understanding of the Coupled Carbon and Water Cycle within Chatterjee also participated in a press conference at the 2018 the GEOS-5 Modeling System”. As part of this research, Dr. AGU Fall Meeting, more details of which are available at https:// Chatterjee and his team integrate observations from SMAP and fallmeeting.agu.org/2018/press-item/slides-new-findings-in- OCO-2, two of NASA’s most recent and innovative Earth Science carbon-cycle-science. He also highlighted accomplishments from missions, to inform and improve representation of carbon-water the SOCCR2 report at the 2019 AMS Annual Meeting in Phoenix, cycle linkages within the GEOS-5 model. AZ. Dr. Chatterjee is working with Dr. Ben Poulter’s group (Zhen In other work in the year ahead, once the simulations of methane Zhang, postdoc at UMD) and Dr. Randy Koster’s group to ingest concentrations have been fully evaluated, Dr. Chatterjee will SMAP data into two different biospheric models. The ensemble archive and share the runs with GMAO collaborators, especially of model simulations allows the team to understand what drives those working on upcoming NASA missions like GeoCarb. A the observed variation of XCO2 from OCO-2, including SMAP manuscript or a technical report will be prepared, highlighting soil moisture as a measure of plant stress, MERRA-2 surface this new capability from GMAO. He also test the third generation temperature as a proxy for respiration, and GOME-2 SIF as a of the CTM module (Jason tag) to make sure it is simulating measure of vegetative productivity. Preliminary results showed carbon species within reasonable limits. that OCO-2 observations (i.e., XCO2) has a lagged response to changes in these drivers, and these responses vary over different Dr. Abhishek Chatterjee (program manager: Dr. K. Jucks) regions of the globe. A new post-doc (Dr. Alka Singh) has been worked on a grant for the OCO-2 Mission titled “Operations and hired to work on this project and will assist Dr. Chatterjee with data products for carbon-climate feedbacks using OCO-2” (PI: conducting a more detailed study. In October 2018, at the SMAP Dr. D. Schimel, JPL/Caltech). Dr. Chatterjee used OCO-2 data Science team meeting, Dr. Chatterjee presented the results to to constrain carbon flux estimates at high spatial and temporal date from this work. resolution, and tested current hypotheses about how increasing CO2 and climate variability affect carbon flux patterns in time Over the next year, Dr. Chatterjee is preparing to ramp up and space. this specific project after having hired Dr. Singh. Her primary responsibility will be to integrate observations from SMAP and Using a suite of model simulations of air-sea fluxes and OCO-2 to understand the response of ecosystems to drought and atmospheric transport, in situ observations of pCO2 from water stress conditions. NOAA’s Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) project and auxiliary

12 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Dr. Abhishek Chatterjee (program manager: Dr. H. Margolis) Dr. Allison Collow (sponsor: M. Bosilovich) works on making also is PI on a NASA ABoVE grant titled “GEOS-5 Forecasting NASA’s reanalyses more usable for the National Climate and Modeling in Support of ABoVE Airborne Research.” He Assessment (NCA) by performing various activities related to and his team will deliver a fully integrated modeling framework MERRA-2 and determining the ability of GCMs to reproduce that will use the multi-scale data streams from the 2017 field drought processes over the US, focusing on NCA sectors. She campaign to inform and improve process-based representation of also collaborates with NASA’s NCA PI’s interacts with them on permafrost-carbon dynamics within NASA’s GEOS-5 system. regional climate issues and the ability of reanalyses to contribute to decision-making and resource management. Dr. Chatterjee integrated the methane and CO2 fluxes generated from the LPJ model into the high-resolution atmospheric Extreme precipitation events in the United States can have transport model (GEOS-GCM). The simulations have been a variety of attributions that have varying characteristics. In completed from 2009-2017 – the critical period being the an effort to better define the causes behind regional extreme year 2017 when the ABoVE airborne campaign took place. Dr. precipitation events and their interannual variability, Dr. Collow Chatterjee worked with collaborators at NOAA (Dr. Colm Sweeney) has been using two techniques to objectively classify events and JPL (Dr. Charles Miller) to benchmark these GEOS GCM-LPJ based on MERRA-2 data. The first is an automated tracking simulations against aircraft profiles that were taken during the algorithm, tempestExtremes, and the second is self organizing 2017 ABoVE airborne campaign. A manuscript based on the maps and clustering; however, the focus has really been placed findings is being prepared and will be submitted in summer 2019 on atmospheric rivers in tempestExtremes. Dr. Collow presented to Environmental Research Letters. Furthermore, Dr. Chatterjee an overview of her work on this topic at the poster session for the worked with the GMAO weather operations team to set up a GMAO Panel Review. dedicated website to support the ABoVE Aircraft Campaign that will occur in summer 2019. He also is working with the ABoVE Dr. Collow hosted Haiden Mersiovsky, a summer intern, who science team to coordinate flight plans and provide guidance on worked on extreme precipitation events associated with science acquisitions. atmospheric rivers along the west coast of the United States. Events were detected using tempestExtremes and were then At the 2018 AGU Fall meeting in Washington, DC, Dr. Chatterjee put into the context of climatology and teleconnections using was one of the conveners of a session that focused on ABoVE additional information from MERRA-2. Mr. Mersiovsky presented and other high-latitude carbon dynamics. He also chaired three these results at the AMS annual meeting. As an additional sessions related to ABoVE at this meeting. component to this work, Dr. Collow analyzed the maximum intensity and duration of atmospheric rivers associated with Dr. Chatterjee is working with Dr. Mathias Gockede (MPI-BGC, extreme precipitation events. Since tempestExtremes is still Jena, Germany) to investigate changes in the pan-Arctic carbon in the development stage by Paul Ullrich (UC Davis), Dr. Collow cycle, and to explore the next generation of missions that will be spent time analyzing output from the component of the software needed to observe and detect those changes. A new set of model that will link atmospheric rivers in time and space. The end goal simulations have been identified that will test new hypotheses, is to be able to use this information to determine whether there and consequently will forge a stronger science partnership are temporal or spatial characteristics of land falling atmospheric between NASA’s ABoVE campaign (focused on Alaska and rivers that differ during extreme precipitation events. Northwest Territories) and international partners (focused on high-latitude regions in Europe and Asia). This work will continue Additionally, Dr. Collow contributed toward two manuscripts on in the year ahead. the topic of extreme precipitation events: the first is an overview paper led by Dr. Matt Barlow that documents the current state of Going forward, Dr. Chatterjee will participate in the upcoming knowledge on extreme precipitation events, and the second is a 2019 ABoVE Science Team meeting and present results from sidebar for the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society’s the GEOS5-LPJ simulations. As mentioned above, Dr. Chatterjee, State of the Climate 2018 Report. Both have been submitted for along with the GMAO weather ops team, will provide detailed publication. Dr. Collow was the lead author for the sidebar that weather forecasting support for the ABoVE airborne team/crew in discussed the strengths and weaknesses of using reanalyses Alaska over the next three months. for studying extreme precipitation using the example of the multi-day event that occurred in the Mid-Atlantic United States

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 13 in July 2018. This event resulted in widespread flooding and MERRA-2 data products are produced in four simultaneously record-breaking rainfall. To document just how unusual this event running production streams, each about 10 years long. The was, Dr. Collow put together a research brief and corresponding first year of successive streams overlaps the last year of the animation of the atmospheric moisture that contributed to the previous one. Researchers had verified that towards the end of rainfall, which were both posted on the GMAO website at https:// each overlap period monthly means of both streams were nearly gmao.gsfc.nasa.gov/researchbriefs/midatlARevent_July2018/ identical. In this new study, however, it was shown that standard midatlARevent_July2018.pdf and https://gmao.gsfc.nasa. deviations of differences between streams at concurrent times gov/researchbriefs/midatlARevent_July2018/midatlARevent_ were notably different, although the data assimilation model and July2018.mp4. algorithm were identical and the input observations nearly so. This highlights the importance of using more robust metrics than MERRA-2 uses three different datasets to prescribe the sea just monthly means. surface temperature and sea ice throughout the 37-year time series, and it has been suggested that discontinuities GPS Radio Occultation (GPSRO) data are used to estimate in those datasets could impact trends in the near surface air atmospheric temperature and humidity fields. There are two temperature. Furthermore, trends in 2m temperature in the primary schemes used operationally for data assimilation: one Arctic and Mid-latitudes in MERRA-2 differ from those in an developed by NOAA and COSMIC and the other by EUMETSAT. ensemble of simulations using the same model without the Both employ the same theory but different computational assimilation of observations, referred to as M2AMIP. To further algorithms. As such, for the same atmospheric field input, they examine the role of the varying datasets used for SST and produce estimated bending angles that differ significantly. In sea ice, Dr. Collow has completed a five-member ensemble fact, the variances of their differences are approximately one-half experiment using the MERRA-2 atmospheric model with the of their corresponding data assimilation innovation (observation SST and sea ice conditions stemming from the ERA-Interim minus forecast) values. In the coming year, researchers will reanalysis. Near surface temperatures and related fields over perform a series of GMAO OSSEs to investigate the potential of the Arctic were compared to MERRA-2, M2AMIP, and other expanding the current GPSRO observing system for improving reanalyses. Results from this experiment were presented at the accuracy of atmospheric data assimilation. These will the AGU Fall Meeting and a manuscript is being drafted in include many more receiving satellites to increase numbers of collaboration with Richard Cullather and Mike Bosilovich. profiles and more accurate signal processing to observe lower in the atmosphere. Currently, investigators have produced Over the next year, Dr. Collow plans to continue analyzing conflicting results regarding whether or not improvements will be large-scale influences on extreme precipitation events in the noticeable. Since the GMAO presently has the most sophisticated U.S. using MERRA-2 and M2AMIP. She also hopes to submit OSSE capability, its results should be more conclusive. manuscripts for publication on atmospheric river-induced extreme precipitation events along the Washington coast and the At the request of a committee of the WWRP/WMO, a White Paper influence of boundary conditions on near-surface temperature in was published to promote better practices for development, the Arctic within the MERRA-2 atmospheric model. validation, application, and interpretation of OSSEs. Since this type of work has become more popular, it has become apparent Dr. Ronald Errico (sponsor: R. Gelaro) develops, validates, and that fundamentals are being neglected or misrepresented applies observing system simulation experiments (OSSE) at the regarding work that potentially can affect all of meteorology. In Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). This year, the order to encourage better practices, these fundamentals were GMAO OSSE for Weather Analysis Software Package (GOWASP) explained and suggestions for better management of community was refined and modified in many ways. In particular, the efforts were offered in that White Paper. simulator for atmospheric motion vector (AMV) observations was redesigned and recoded, both to introduce much greater realism This year, Dr. Errico was a co-organizer of the 11th Adjoint and to facilitate its tuning. Previously, such tuning was performed Workshop. This series began in 1992 as open meetings for iteratively by hand. Now it is almost entirely automated and the presentation and evaluation of works concerning primarily generalized to apply to any reasonable Nature Run or AMV meteorological data assimilation and sensitivity analysis. observation type. A manuscript describing the new algorithm and Secondarily, related works concerning analogous problems its performance is in the final stage of preparation. in other fields were also offered. Formats were designed to

14 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 encourage community interaction and public evaluation of all interacting with the underneath surface by exchanging latent and presented works. The 11th workshop convened for six days in sensible heat fluxes. Preliminary results show some improvement Aveiro, Portugal, and was attended by 75 investigators. of the simulation of the diurnal cycle of the precipitation over the land, mainly during the nighttime. This work was presented at the Dr. Errico will be working on three papers, which are currently in 2019 AMS conference in Phoenix, AZ in January (see image). various stages. One is on the new AMV simulator for GOWASP, and another describes the lack of convergence of MERRA-2 overlapping production streams. The third is a quantification of the different bending angles produced by the two community GPSRO forward operators for data assimilation, including an analysis of which computational aspects seem to be most responsible.

Dr. Saulo Freitas (sponsor: W. Putman), among other things, works on implementing, further developing and evaluating a new convection parameterization in the NASA GEOS-5 modeling system. He and his team evaluated the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) modeling and assimilation through a cascade of simulations with increasing horizontal resolution. The GEOS model is driven by the finite-volume cubed-sphere (FV3) non- hydrostatic dynamical core, a set of scale-aware physics package and data assimilation capabilities. The GEOS model was run for 30 days beginning on 01 Aug 2016 at seven uniform global resolutions of approximately 200, 100, 50, 25, 12, 6, and 3 km with 72 vertical levels up to 0.01mb. The model’s physics uses the Grell-Freitas (GF) scale-aware convection scheme to Image: Dr. Freitas was lead author on this poster presentation at dynamically reduce the role of parameterized deep convection 2019 AMS conference in Phoenix, AZ. (Provided by S. Freitas.) since resolved scale processes in the model take over at higher resolutions. Shallow convection is parameterized following the UW scheme, and cloud microphysics applies a single-moment Dr. Freitas and team are evaluating the GEOS-5 model with formulation for rain, liquid and ice condensates. They provided GF convection parameterization on weather time-scale and for an overview of the scale dependence of precipitation across applications in the GMAO. GEOS-5 with GF is planned for a data the spatial scales, geometric characteristics of the simulated assimilation (DA) cycle for the GEOS Forward Processing system cloud fields, and a comparison of IR brightness temperature in the summer 2019. with observations. They also included a look at the capability of GEOS to realistically represent the diurnal cycle of precipitation Upcoming plans include working on a manuscript to be over global and land-only regions across those scales. This work submitted to GMD/EGU describing the newest GF convection was presented during the 2019 UCP-Understanding Clouds and parameterization as well as continuing with implementing the Precipitation Conference in Berlin. cold pool scheme in the GF parameterization and assessing the impacts on the performance of the GEOS system. They also In other work, they developed and implemented a simple will determine the capabilities of GEOS-5 on predicting extreme representation of a cold pool in the Grell-Freitas (GF) convection weather events, including tropical cyclones. parameterization. The cold pool parameterization is based on the observation that convective-scale downdrafts produce a Dr. Manuela Girotto (sponsor: R. Reichle) works on assimilating local ‘deficit’ of the moist static energy (MSE). This information satellite observations from the Gravity Recovery and Climate is advected and becoming downwind available to trigger and Experiment (GRACE), from the Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity intensify new convection. The cold pool is dissipated by a (SMOS) mission, and from the Advanced Microwave Scanning simple exponential decay using a lifetime of a few hours, or by Radiometer (AMSR-E) into GMAO’s land surface data assimilation

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 15 system. The goal is to assimilate both vertically integrated -Earth Science Seminar at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in late May terrestrial water storage (GRACE) and brightness temperature 2018 titled “Land Surface Data Assimilation for Soil Moisture, (Tb) to improve profile of soil moisture, snow estimates, and the Groundwater and Snow Estimation.” She also presented two hydrology contribution to sea level rise. lead author presentations at the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting in December; also, at AGU, she was the session chair and convener Dr. Girotto is working with colleagues at UMD to integrate a for the Hydrologic Data Assimilation. She attended a workshop multivariate assimilation scheme within GEOS. This multivariate in College Park, MD titled “Land-Atmosphere Interactions and assimilation should lead to improved estimates of snow, Extremes,” attended the Eastern Snow Conference in College soil moisture and terrestrial water storage. In fact, satellite Park, MD, and the Sea Level Change Science Team Meeting in observations from three satellite missions will be incorporated: Annapolis, MD. Dr. Girotto was lead author on a 2019 paper titled SMOS, AMSR-E, and GRACE data. In the previous year, she “Multi-sensor assimilation of SMOS brightness temperature and accomplished the assimilation of SMOS and GRACE data. GRACE terrestrial water storage observations for soil moisture This year, Dr. Girotto has integrated the UMD-developed and shallow groundwater estimation” published in Remote AMSR-E assimilation algorithm into the GEOS LDAS. These Sensing of the Environment. She also co-authored two papers, efforts included the implementation of new EASE v2 25km one published in Journal of Hydrometeorology and the other grid capabilities in GEOS LDAS. Dr. Girotto has simulated and in review with Nature Communications. As a Co- I, Dr. Girotto assimilated experiments for the North America domain in submitted a proposal titled “An Arctic Landscape Across Scales: the attempt to better estimate snow water equivalent. The Mapping Environmental, Social, and Infrastructural Changes in assimilation experiment uses an observation operator that uses the Yukon-Kuskokwim River Delta” to an NSF call. This project a machine-learning algorithm to predict radiances observations. proposes to evaluate the consequences of past and future local, Future work will include the assimilation of reprocessed AMSR-E regional, and global changes in the Yukon-Kuskokwim River data via an improved observation operator. Delta.

In other work, Dr. Girotto proposed an alternate GRACE TWS Dr. Girotto also serves as an Early Career Scientist Forum data assimilation (DA) approach. Current data assimilation committee member; this forum was held in November 2018 at schemes update the hydrology prognostic states directly (e.g., NASA Goddard. She also is a co-organizer of the USRA-sponsored groundwater, streamflow, and snow water equivalent. In the GMAO Seminar Series on Earth System Science. newly proposed approach, precipitation fluxes are adjusted in order to achieve the desired change in the hydrological Going forward, Dr. Girotto plans to complete and submit a draft of prognostic states. Dr. Girotto has implemented this alternative a manuscript that describes the team’s original contributions on assimilation approach within GEOS LDAS in a series of estimating precipitation from GRACE. She also will work toward synthetic experiments. Preliminary results indicate that by the implementation and validation of the triple-DA (GRACE + adjusting precipitation researchers can better reproduce the AMSR-E + SMOS) to improve both the soil moisture and snow “truth” scenario, yet some regions in the northern hemisphere processes. She plans to use GRACE Mascon solutions from the experience degradation in the precipitation fluxes. GSFC 61A lab to improve TWS estimates over land, and therefore improve the hydrology contribution to the sea level change. The spatial and temporal variability of the terrestrial hydrology is driven by both natural and anthropogenic processes. While Dr. Bryan Karpowicz (sponsor: W. McCarty) focuses on natural processes, such as precipitation induced runoff or thermal infrared radiance assimilation within the Goddard evaporation are included in the GEOS modules, anthropogenic Earth Observing System (GEOS) data assimilation system processes, such as irrigation, are rarely modeled. For this (DAS). A key objective is to extend the use of hyperspectral reason, Dr. Girotto has proposed to integrate an irrigation module radiance measurements in parts of the thermal infrared within the GMAO land surface model, Catchment, and has been spectrum that are presently underutilized in the GEOS DAS. investigating the irrigation module within GEOS LDAS. The work involves developing improved radiation transfer codes and methodologies to effectively assimilate these data. He Throughout the year, Dr. Girotto presented her work at several develops and refines assimilation methodologies to constrain meetings and in various publications. She gave an invited ozone using hyperspectral radiances in the 9.6 um absorption presentation at the Science Visitor and Colloquium Program continuum; also, he quantifies the impact of these observations

16 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 alongside others used in GEOS DAS. He also contributes to the and acceptable error limits, three DAS runs were conducted: development of new mission concepts that exploit the potential a control run (no ozone channels assimilated), a case with benefits of constellations of hyperspectral sounders and imagers. selected channels in the 9.6 um region turned on using all available ozone Jacobians (even those channels outside the 9.6 Currently, hyperspectral sounder brightness temperatures um range, which are currently used for temperature sounding), assimilated in the Goddard Earth Observing System Atmospheric and a case using selected channels in the 9.6 um region turned Data Assimilation System (GEOS-ADAS) are limited to on using only ozone Jacobians only available in the 9.6 um assimilating temperature and moisture. The ozone sensitive band. The exploration of the effect from ozone Jacobians is 9.6 um region is sensed by several hyperpectral sounders under consideration because the current GEOS-ADAS turns off including AIRS (Atmospheric IfraRed Sounder), IASI (Infrared ozone Jacobians for all infrared sensors to avoid misplacing an Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer), and CrIS (Cross-track increment between temperature and ozone. The three cases Infrared Sounder). Direct assimilation of brightness temperatures were run for three months, allowing for a one-month spin up for in the 9.6 um region has been used previously to improve ozone analysis of forecast statistics. analyses. This has recently been achieved by ECMWF (Dragani and McNally, 2013), and while every system presents its While further analysis of the OSE conducted is necessary, all challenges, it should be possible to take advantage of this region experiments including ozone sensitive channels have shown using the GEOS-ADAS. improvement in tropospheric ozone concentration when verified against ozonesondes in the tropics. Outside the tropics, there Dr. Karpowicz has conducted several Observing System has also been improvement, but to a lesser extent. Differences Experiments (OSEs) using channels from AIRS, IASI, and CrIS. between the two experiments with ozone-sensitive channels This was comprised of three main components: selection turned on are similar, although the experiment with all ozone of available channels, development of the OSE including Jacobians switched on (even outside the 9.6 um region) observation error specification, and evaluation of the OSE to appears to verify closer to available ozonesondes in the tropics. highlight the implications of including channels in the 9.6 um Given that these ozone-sensitive channels are also sensitive band. Channels were selected based upon an in-depth analysis to temperature, it is important to look at the effect upon the of month-long observations and simulations in this region, forecast. An initial look at forecast statistics available in the and evaluating information content using Principal Component troposphere shows no statistically significant impact in 500 mb Analysis (PCA). In addition to considering PCA, Dr. Karpowicz height anomaly correlation outside the tropics in the Northern also compared against channel selections made by ECMWF in and Southern Hemisphere, with a small but statistically their operational system, along with ozone channels selected significant change in 500 mb height RMSE in the tropics. Also, in NOAA’s retrieval system NUCAPS (NOAA Unique Combined there is a small but statistically significant change in temperature Atmospheric Processing System). As a final step, Dr. Karpowicz and moisture fields in the tropics and Southern hemisphere. utilized an independent radiative transfer model (RTTOV) to Further work is ongoing to compare forecast fields of the evaluate the sensitivity functions of ozone and temperature. stratosphere, as the most widely used GEOS tools focus on the While the channels selected had strong sensitivities to ozone troposphere. in the upper and lower troposphere, the channels also have a strong temperature sensitivity towards the surface; for In the coming year, Dr. Karpowicz should be able to finalize this reason, he initially decided to only assimilate 9.6 um the strategy for assimilation of ozone-sensitive channels in the observations over ocean/liquid water surfaces where there are 9.6 um region. Challenges will include assessing the impact fewer uncertainties regarding surface emission. of assimilating the additional channels on the forecast in the stratosphere, investigating what steps are necessary to Once the channels were selected for the OSE, the observation include the changes into the next Forward Processing (FP) errors specified in the DAS were tuned by matching up the system version, and potentially extending the use of some penalty function used for water vapor channels to the new ozone-sensitive channels over land surfaces. Additionally, ozone sensitive channels over several weeks of DAS cycling. more work will be pursued in the underutilized but information- Additionally, a tight acceptable error limit was set based upon rich shortwave infrared (SWIR), which has the potential to histograms of observations minus background simulations over provide temperature, and humidity sounding. Plans for utilizing this initial period. Also, once he chose the observation errors observations in the SWIR include participating in teleconferences

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 17 with NOAA/NESDIS and assessing what improvements may come Dr. Keller helped develop a software package to efficiently from a new polarization correction applied to CrIS observations. analyze large amounts of model output (e.g., produced by an atmospheric chemistry model). The developed software takes Dr. Christoph Keller (sponsor: S. Pawson) works on the Goddard advantage of recent advances in the field of image compression Earth Observing System (GEOS) Earth System modeling, focusing and data selection and enables rapid extraction of dominant on global atmospheric composition simulations at ultra-high features from large data sets. It can be used for a range of resolution. He contributes to model development, especially in applications, including clustering, classification, reconstruction, the areas of emissions modeling and atmospheric chemistry and even prediction. This work was presented in a paper titled mechanisms. A second major focus is on the assimilation of “Scalable diagnostics for global atmospheric chemistry using reactive trace gases, to constrain emissions using satellite Ristretto library (version 1.0)” published in Geoscientific Model observations from EOS and other platforms. Development (Velegar et al., 2019).

This year, Dr. Keller continued the development of the GEOS In the year ahead, Dr. Keller will work on an improved composition forecast model (GEOS-CF), which produces global, representation of lightning in the GEOS model using GLM high-resolution forecasts of atmospheric composition on a daily observations. He will continue to validate the GEOS CF model basis. GEOS-CF is now part of the GMAO product suite and the output and will prepare a manuscript with the model description GEOS-CF model forecasts are available to the public in near and model validation. Additionally, work will continue on real-time (https://fluid.nccs.nasa.gov/cf). Working closely with incorporating the GEOS air quality model output into end user Dr. Emma Knowland, Dr. Keller oversaw the transition of the applications. This includes stakeholders from the cities of Rio GEOS-CF model to a production-mode system. He also made de Janeiro (Brazil) and Quito (Ecuador), the US Army of Public updates to the model physics and chemistry that further improve Health, IBM, and Swiss Re. the accuracy of the model. Dr. Emma Knowland (sponsor: L. Ott) works toward improving Dr. Keller validated the air quality predictions made by GEOS-CF the representation of atmospheric constituents in the GEOS- through comparison against independent observations. Based 5 models and data assimilation systems. Her particular on this, he developed a tool to account for systematic differences focus is on transport uncertainty in the models, including its between the model and observations (e.g., if the local conditions dependence on spatial resolution. She is working on developing at the measurement site cannot be resolved by the model). This ensemble assimilation methods, which will contribute to the method is applicable to any measurement site and can be used implementation of suitable ensembles that span the range of to improve the accuracy of air quality predictions at a specific constituent uncertainty in GEOS-5, followed by the construction location. Working with city officials from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) of state-dependent background error covariances that contain and Quito (Ecuador), Dr. Keller has been deploying this method to information about transport and source-sink uncertainties. cities that currently lack reliable air quality predictions. Applications will be to greenhouse gases and/or reactive constituents that impact air quality. Also, Dr. Keller developed a new algorithm that can simulate atmospheric chemistry with almost the same accuracy as a In collaboration with Dr. Christoph Keller (GESTAR/USRA) and reference model but requires only a fraction of the computational other members of the GMAO and Code 614, Dr. Knowland cost. This algorithm, which is based on machine learning, is continued to validate and further develop the GEOS Composition described in detail in a paper titled “Application of random forest Forecast (CF) system. This year saw the transition of the GEOS- regression to the calculation of gas-phase chemistry within the CF from a research project to an operational GMAO product. She GEOS-Chem chemistry model v10” published in Geoscientific prepared model run scripts for the GMAO Operational Group Model Development (Keller and Evans, 2019). This algorithm and supported the set up and validation of the model in the has the potential to significantly speed up the computation of operational system. After a period of parallel runs, Drs. Knowland air quality in the NASA GEOS model, opening the door to new and Keller were able to confirm the success of the GEOS-CF applications such as probabilistic air quality forecasts and longer- operational forecasts run by the GMAO Operational Group, which term forecasts. became the primary composition forecast system on September 15, 2018. She reran the GEOS-CF with an updated model, which

18 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 included the relaxation to GEOS-FP assimilated ozone in the is the point of contact for air quality forecasting for DKI-Jakarta stratosphere, for 1 January 2018 until 8 March 2019, at which on a Grand Design for air pollution in Jakarta, Indonesia, and point the GEOS-CF transitioned to the operational near-real time Dr. Keller is collaborating with scientists from the City of Rio de product run by the GMAO Operational Team. She continues to Janeiro, Brazil and Quito, Ecuador to improve air quality forecasts support the GMAO Operational Group in the production of the at the city level using the GEOS-CF forecasts. Dr. Knowland near-real time GEOS-CF forecasts, especially following the same introduced the GEOS-CF to the EPA’s Office of International and update of the GEOS-CF model, visualization of the forecasts on Tribal Affairs through a teleconference on May 15, 2018, as an GMAO’s webpage FLUID, and preparation for public release of inter-agency discussion on air quality in Jakarta, Indonesia. the surface-layer pollutant concentrations. Throughout the year, Dr. Knowland gave several presentations, Dr. Knowland is working closely with Dr. Keller, Dr. Emily domestic and international. In May 2018, she gave a Saunders (SSAI), and Dr. Pamela Wales (NPP/USRA) evaluating presentation at the Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics the full tropospheric and stratospheric composition of the GEOS- Lab (Code 614) lunch seminar series and also presented CF in preparation of public release of the three-dimensional “Stratospheric Intrusion-Influenced Ozone Exceedances data. Dr. Knowland, Dr. Keller, and Robert Luchessi (GMAO/ in MERRA-2” at the GMAO Panel review. In June, she gave SSAI) wrote the GMAO Office Note File Specification for GEOS- an invited talk at the International Cooperative for Aerosol CF Product to be released on the GMAO website with the public Prediction (ICAP) 10th working group meeting held at the UK release of the GEOS-CF data. Dr. Knowland will maintain the Met Office in Exeter, England. Dr. Knowland introduced the GEOS-CF File Specification document, with updates planned with working group to the “Air pollution forecasts using the NASA the public release of the full three-dimensional GEOS-CF data GEOS model, GEOS-CF.” Ahead of the ICAP meeting, she visited collections. In collaboration with Dr. Lawrence Coy (SSAI), Dr. the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) group Knowland integrated a new tropopause height diagnostic into at the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasting the GEOS model code within the GEOS-CF model system. There (ECMWF) in Reading, England and gave a presentation. Also, are currently three tropopause height diagnostics in the GEOS at the Meteorology Department at the University of Reading model; however, all three follow the model levels that result in she presented “Stratospheric Intrusion Catalog: A 10-year jumps in the height. This new diagnostic, “TROPPI”, interpolates Compilation of Events Identified by using TRACK with NASA’s between the model levels, which is particularly important for MERRA-2 Reanalysis”. At the SED Director’s Seminar, hosted analyzing constituent transport across the tropopause. TROPPI by the Earth Sciences Division, at NASA Goddard in July, Dr. was added to the GEOS-CF hindcast from 1 January 2018 such Knowland presented on “Air Quality Forecasts using the NASA that full evaluation of this new diagnostic can be done with the GEOS Model: A Unified Tool from Local to Global Scales”. She constituent concentrations and transport tracers from the GEOS- also presented at the NASA GSFC SED 2018 Early Career CF simulations. In the next year, in collaboration with Dr. Coy, Dr. Scientist Forum held in November. Also in November, Dr. Knowland will test the new tropopause height diagnostic, TROPPI, Knowland was an invited speaker and panel member for the Air against the other GEOS model tropopause height diagnostics, Quality Session at the 6th Arab-American Frontiers of Science, constituent concentrations from the GEOS-CF simulations, Engineering and Medicine Symposium, held at the Kuwait and observations of tropopause height from radiosondes. Drs. National Library, Kuwait. The three day event, November 4-6, Knowland and Coy will prepare a manuscript for a peer-reviewed 2018 was organized by the US National Academies of Sciences, publication. Engineering, and Medicine and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). She presented on the new Dr. Knowland and Dr. Keller are involved in various high-resolution “Air quality forecasts using the NASA GEOS collaborations, such as with NASA’s Health and Air Quality model”. At the 2018 AGU Fall meeting, she gave a presentation, Applied Sciences Team (HAQAST) and NASA’s Urban Environment and also gave a demonstration of how OpenAQ near-real Science Task Group, where there is interest in using and time air quality data is being used to evaluate the GEOS-CF improving the GEOS-CF forecasts. As part of the HAQAST forecasts at the Development Seed “AGU Happy Hour”, held in collaboration, Dr. Knowland is working with Dr. Keller, Dr. Bryan conjunction with OpenAQ. In April, she gave two presentations Duncan (Code 614) and Dr. Kevin Cromar (NYU) to facilitate the at the EGU General Assembly 2019 in Vienna, Austria, and in development of a new global Health-based Air Quality Index using May, Dr. Knowland attended the 9th International GEOS-Chem the GEOS-CF pollutant concentrations. In addition, Dr. Knowland Meeting (IGC9) at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, where

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 19 she presented on “Near real-time forecasts at 25km horizontal intrusions linked with surface ozone air quality exceedances in resolution.” western USA during the spring stratospheric intrusion seasons. In addition, Dr. Knowland will explore additional model output Dr. Knowland was a co-author on a paper titled “Recent decline that would be useful to the stratospheric intrusion scientific in extratropical lower stratospheric ozone attributed to circulation community, especially for forecasting such events in medium changes” that was published in Geophysical Research Letters. range to seasonal forecasts. She also is a Co-I on Dr. Fei Liu’s (GESTAR/USRA) successful Atmospheric Composition: Modeling and Analysis (ACMAP) Dr. Jana Kolassa (sponsor: R. Reichle) contributes to research proposal titled “Development of Satellite-constrained Pollution and science development on land data assimilation within Emissions for Improved Simulation of Global Tropospheric the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model and its Composition”. associated Land Data Assimilation System (LDAS). She develops and implements land data assimilation components for the water Outside of her research, Dr. Knowland is a member of the and carbon cycles, including remote sensing observations of soil GEOS Chemistry-Climate Model (CCM) leadership committee. moisture, snow, land surface temperature, and vegetation. In This committee meets monthly and with the CCM developers the past year, Dr. Kolassa’s efforts have primarily focused on the bimonthly. As part of this committee, she coordinates the calibration of vegetation parameters in the GMAO’s Catchment- development of specific diagnostics, which can be used during CN land model as part of the SMAP Level-4 Ecohydrology project. the testing of GMAO FP systems, and explains how changes in The objective of the parameter estimation is to better match model physics may impact the transport and chemistry in GEOS model simulations of the fraction of absorbed photosynthetically CCM simulations. active radiation (FPAR) – a measure for vegetation activity – to FPAR observed by the Moderate Resolution Imaging As the lead scientist on stratospheric intrusions in the GMAO, Spectroradiometer (MODIS). This is expected to improve Dr. Knowland has participated in the monthly EPA Stratospheric Catchment-CN’s simulations of hydrological fields as well as Intrusion working group teleconferences since January 2017. terrestrial water, energy and carbon fluxes. Specifically, the During the May telecon, Dr. Knowland shared with the national work conducted by Dr. Kolassa included 1) the implementation working group the representation of recent stratospheric and optimization of the calibration approach, 2) the processing intrusions, which occurred over Colorado, Arizona and Maryland, of the reference satellite observations, 3) the development of using the GEOS-CF analysis. Additionally, Dr. Knowland is now a a selection strategy for appropriate calibration locations, and part of the scientific team for a potential new satellite instrument, 4) conducting the parameter calibration and 5) revising the ALICE: Advanced Limb Infrared Chemistry Experiment, with her vegetation parameterization in Catchment-CN. involvement in the project to quantify stratosphere-troposphere exchange capabilities of the instrument. Furthermore, she joined To implement and optimize the Catchment-CN vegetation the GMAO Seminar Series on Earth System Science organizing parameter calibration approach, Dr. Kolassa conducted a committee and is the GMAO representative to the USRA seminar suite of sensitivity experiments. These included a study of committee. the calibration routine internal parameters, which control the trade-off between a thorough exploration of the solution space In the year to come, Dr. Knowland, Dr. Keller, and other and a rapid convergence to the optimal solution. An additional contributing scientists from the GMAO and Code 614 will give sensitivity analysis of the modeled FPAR values to Catchment- presentations to national and international audiences as well as CN’s vegetation parameters allowed Dr. Kolassa to select the set write a peer-reviewed paper, documenting the GEOS-CF system of model parameters, whose calibration would lead to the most and the validation of the forecasts using the hindcast simulation effective model skill improvements. The selected parameters from 1 January 2018 to 8 March 2019 and the operational generally fall into three categories: parameters related to the near-real time analyses and forecasts since 8 March 2019. She timing of growth onset and senescence, parameters related to will continue to contribute to the evaluation of tropospheric and photosynthetic efficiency, and parameters related to carbon and lower stratospheric transport of reactive gases in the different nitrogen storage, which control interannual vegetation changes. products using the GEOS model products. In particular, Dr. Knowland will focus on the GEOS-CF model, the GEOS-FP model, For processing satellite observations, specifically the MODIS and the MERRA-2 reanalysis representation of stratospheric FPAR observations, for their use as a reference in the parameter

20 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 calibration, she implemented multiple pre-processing steps, within individual vegetation classes in the satellite data, which included a regrinding of the observation from their resulting in opposite-sign model biases at different locations of native 500m resolution sinusoidal grid to the model’s 9-km the same vegetation type. These are the result of fundamental resolution equal area grid. Additionally, Dr. Kolassa implemented limitations of the vegetation representation in Catchment-CN a Fourier Transform-based spectral filtering of the data to (e.g., lacking representation of plant hydraulics). Such problems remove residual noise from the observations, and converted the with the model structure cannot be addressed through a simple MODIS observations to their location-specific mean seasonal parameter calibration, which tends to correct biases in the same cycle in order to remove the impact of individual events on the direction and thus would only result in model skill improvements calibration. Finally, she implemented a scaling of winter-time in certain locations. To address this, she tested a change to observations for deciduous vegetation classes to account for Catchment-CN’s vegetation parameterization, introducing the fact that underbrush observed by MODIS is not represented multiple parameter sets for each vegetation type, with the goal in the model, which can result in unrealistic parameters found of introducing some of the (observed) intra-class vegetation during the calibration. variability. A preliminary regional model experiment over the contiguous United States showed that this approach results in To select calibration locations that are most likely to result in a a general reduction of the model error and accordingly a more correction of the most prevalent model errors with respect to realistic model simulation of vegetation behavior. MODIS and that additionally represent the spectrum of observed and modeled vegetation behavior, Dr. Kolassa implemented a In the coming year, Dr. Kolassa will conduct a thorough multi-step calibration location selection strategy. The first step evaluation of the calibrated Catchment-CN model. This will involves an estimation of the vegetation class specific global include an evaluation of the modeled vegetation behavior against biases between the model and MODIS observations, including other vegetation observations, such as satellite-based gross a multi-variate linear regression to estimate biases in model primary productivity, net ecosystem exchange, or solar-induced locations with multiple vegetation types. In the next steps, fluorescence (as the most direct observation of photosynthesis), candidate calibrations are identified that have a homogeneous as well as ground observations from eddy covariance towers. vegetation type cover (the same vegetation type in the model The evaluation also will include related model variables, such and the observations) and that have a bias that is close to as hydrological fields and surface fluxes, which will be evaluated the most prevalent bias for the respective vegetation type. using both satellite and ground-based observations. Additionally, Finally, she implemented an additional k-means clustering she will begin preparing a manuscript to summarize the findings approach to ensure that the selected calibration locations were from the parameter calibration and its evaluation. Furthermore, homogeneously distributed globally. This selection approach Dr. Kolassa will begin working on phase 2 of the SMAP Level-4 resulted in up to 20 calibration locations for each vegetation ECO project, which involves the joint assimilation of SMAP soil class, 10 for correcting positive and negative model biases, moisture and MODIS vegetation observations. respectively. Dr. Eunjee Lee (sponsor: R. Koster) works toward improving land- Using the optimized calibration routine and pre-processed atmosphere coupling of the carbon cycle in the GEOS model and satellite observations, Dr. Kolassa calibrated the Catchment- advancing scientific investigation of the carbon feedback. Dr. Lee CN vegetation parameters at the selected calibration evaluated the coupled carbon cycle model in GEOS and revised locations. At each location, the calibration routine was able the model’s treatment of land carbon fluxes at coastal regions. to significantly reduce the model error with respect to the She made the improvement by incorporating the land fraction MODIS observations; additionally, transferring parameters at the land-ocean boundaries into the model calculation of net calibrated in a given location to other model locations generally carbon emissions to the atmosphere. This resulted in a more resulted in a reduction of the model errors. This demonstrated accurate representation of terrestrial biospheric emissions in that parameters were not overfit to the observations in a computing total carbon emission and the simulated atmospheric given location, indicating the calibration routine has good CO2 from the coupled model. The improvement was done with generalization capabilities. Dr. Lesley Ott (NASA/GMAO).

During her analysis of model biases with respect to MODIS, To investigate the roles of the interannual variability of the Dr. Kolassa observed a large variability of vegetation behavior land carbon flux and the atmospheric transport in determining

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 21 atmospheric CO2 variability, Dr. Lee conducted a pair of GEOS modeling and assimilation tools developed by the GMAO. He simulations using the carbon coupling version of the model. The conducted a variety of research projects this past year. Dr. Lim simulations use either inter-annually varying or climatological performed a study on the roles of climate change and climate net land carbon fluxes to compute the total net carbon emission variability in the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. With six to the atmosphere. The preliminary result suggests that the major hurricanes (the third most on record), he was motivated effect of the inter-annual variations in land carbon flux explains to explore the main causes of this extremely active hurricane regional and seasonal CO2 variability and that CO2 variability is season. His study found that the sea-surface temperatures also controlled in large part by atmospheric transport variability. (SSTs) over the eastern Main Development Region (EMDR), For a better estimation of the model CO2, she revised and where many tropical cyclones (TCs) developed during active performed another pair of the AGCM simulations using the offline months of August/September, were ~0.96°C above the Catchment-CN carbon fluxes as the inputs. The revised result is 1901–2017 average (warmest on record): about ~0.42°C from included in a manuscript in preparation. a long-term upward trend and the rest (~80%) attributed to the Atlantic Meridional Mode (AMM). The contribution to the As a part of the Interdisplinary Science (IDS) project she works SST from the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) over the EMDR on with Dr. Lesley Ott, Dr. Lee continued to investigate the land was a weak warming, while that from ENSO was negligible. carbon anomalies associated with 2015-2016 El Nino event. Nevertheless, ENSO, the NAO, and the AMM all contributed to The offline Catchment-CN model carbon fluxes over the first favorable wind shear conditions, while the AMM also produced 9-month period in year 2016 were estimated using two versions enhanced atmospheric instability. When he compared this with of GMAO’s retrospective forecast meteorology that is further bias- the strong hurricane years of 2005/2010, Dr. Lim found that corrected (work by Dr. Fenwei Zeng) and were compared with the the ocean heat content (OHC) during 2017 was larger across the fluxes driven by the MERRA-2 meteorology and the observation tropics, with higher SST anomalies over the EMDR and Caribbean dataset for the same time period. The gross primary production Sea. On the other hand, he identified that the dynamical/ (GPP) anomalies using the bias-corrected ensemble forecast thermodynamical atmospheric conditions, while favorable for agree reasonably well with the anomalies driven by the MERRA-2 enhanced TC activity, were less prominent than in 2005/2010 meteorology, while their regional patterns and magnitudes differ across the tropics. These results suggested that unusually warm from the observed GPP anomalies. For the IDS project, she will SST in the EMDR together with the long fetch of the resulting continue to contribute to the analysis of the model results and storms in the presence of record-breaking OHC were key factors preparation of scientific presentations and manuscripts. She also in driving the strong TC activity in 2017. A paper led by Dr. Kim plans to expand the test of the coupled model’s performance in titled “The roles of climate change and climate variability in the evaluating the size of the land carbon sink and the atmospheric 2017 Atlantic hurricane season” was published in Scientific CO2 growth rate. Reports.

Dr. Lee published a paper titled “The impact of spatiotemporal Dr. Lim also investigated the sensitivity of the subseasonal variability in atmospheric CO2 concentration on global predictive skill for the major large-scale teleconnections (North terrestrial carbon fluxes” in Biogeosciences (doi:10.5194/bg- Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Arctic Oscillation (AO), and Pacific North 15-5635-2018), co-authored by colleagues at GMAO and at the American (PNA)) forecasted by the GEOS seasonal prediction Biospheric Sciences Laboratory. In addition, she is preparing a model to the increase in the number of ensembles (up to ~40 manuscript that includes the results of drought-induced land members) initialized by the perturbed initial conditions. He and atmosphere carbon anomalies and the effects of land flux presented evidence that the prediction skill of teleconnections is and atmospheric transport on the CO2 variability. She also gave improved through multi-member runs. For example, correlation of several presentations: one titled “Relative contributions of land the ~15 member averaged daily teleconnection anomalies within carbon fluxes and atmospheric circulation patterns to spatio- 30-day forecast lead is generally greater than the correlation of temporal variations in atmospheric CO2” at the 2018 AGU Fall single-member anomalies with observation by ~0.2. He found meeting in December, and two others at the AMS 2019 Meeting that the correlation skill increases significantly with an increase in Phoenix, AZ in January. in the number of members within the range of 1-15 members. He also found that the correlation skill increases as a function Dr. Young-Kwon Lim (sponsor: S. Pawson) supports scientific of the number of members starts slowing down around 15-20 research on climate variability and weather extremes using members. He plans to apply different perturbation techniques to

22 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 initial conditions to test the possibility of further improvement in of tropical cyclone numbers over the Western Pacific and the predictive skill. Looking ahead, he plans to determine the optimal North Atlantic. The Western Pacific region showed relatively way of model configurations, which will include the number of better performance than North Atlantic. A related paper was ensemble members and the initial conditions (perturbation published in International Journal of Climatology (Dr. Lim is a method), to further improve the predictive skill for the major coauthor). large-scale teleconnections (NAO, AO, and PNA) and subseasonal scale variation in the tropics (e.g., MJO) using the GEOS Additionally, Dr. Lim performed a study on the inter-relationship subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) prediction model. between subtropical western–central Pacific sea surface temperatures (STWCPSST), sea ice concentrations in the Dr. Lim worked on evaluation of his team’s global model system Beaufort Sea (SICBS), and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and reanalysis for representation of the major extra-tropical in summer over the period 1980–2016. His observational teleconnections, decadal-scale climate modes, and Madden- analysis and the AGCM experiments suggested that STWCPSST Julian Oscillation (MJO). The main goals are 1) to verify the warming and subsequent planetary-scale wave propagation reliability of his reanalysis and model in realizing those climate acted to increase the Arctic upper-level geopotential heights features, 2) to find any shortcoming of the system in reproducing and temperatures in the following season. He found that this them, and 3) to compare them with those captured by other response extends to Greenland, providing favorable conditions institutions’ models. His study found that the new version of for developing the negative phase of the NAO. Dr. Lim led a the GEOS subseasonal prediction model is able to predict the related paper titled “Inter-relationship between subtropical MJO with correlation greater than 0.5 at ~30 day lead, which Pacific sea surface temperature, Arctic sea ice concentration, is comparable to or better than the predictive skill from the and North Atlantic Oscillation in recent summers,” which has other models. He also found that decadal-scale climate models, been published in Scientific Reports. such as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), are predicted reasonably up Work in the coming year will include his examination of the to 6-month lead. The spatial pattern of the PDO realized by coupled (atmosphere-ocean) and the uncoupled (atmosphere the model was very realistic, while the pattern of the AMO only) GEOS-5 model experiment data to identify why the model needs some improvement. Further, Dr. Lim found that the does not realistically reproduce the observational atmospheric latest version of the GEOS subseasonal forecast model has a nature over the Northeast Pacific and North America in January greater capability of the MJO prediction in summer, while the compared to February during the ENSO maturity. A set of regional predictive skill improvement over the previous version is marginal replay experiments that give an observational constraint in in winter. He will investigate the main cause of this seasonal different regions (e.g., Indian Ocean, tropical Pacific, extra- difference to provide the model with better strategy to achieve tropical Pacific, etc.) and an analysis of the model outputs will a significant skill improvement of the MJO prediction for winter be carried out to identify which region is most essential to be season. Additionally, in the coming year, Dr. Lim plans to explore accurately represented by the model to successfully predict the capability of the GEOS-5 subseasonal forecast system for precipitation and temperature over North America during El Niño forecasting the atmospheric rivers. The western United States, January. where extreme precipitation events have been largely determined by variations of atmospheric rivers, will be a target area for this Dr. Karla Longo de Freitas (sponsor: A. da Silva) contributes investigation. This study is a first of its kind by a GMAO member. to GMAO’s constituent modeling and assimilation efforts, with a focus on using data from NASA’s field missions to assess the This past year, Dr. Lim was involved in studying the simulation quality of aerosol and trace gas distributions in GEOS systems. of the tropical cyclones using the NASA GEOS-5 atmospheric She uses historical observations to help evaluate re-analyses general circulation model (AGCM) with modified convection and the development of model transport algorithms to improve scheme. The modification was made in order to improve the the representation of constituents, especially in the planetary simulation of the strong hurricanes. Dr. Lim investigated the boundary layer. She also contributes to field support of NASA simulation of the strong hurricanes as well as the interannual aircraft missions. This year, as part of the analysis of the GEOS- variation of the TC numbers and genesis locations simulated by 5 results focusing on the Atlantic SE region for the ORACLES the model. This study found that the model is reliably sensitive to (ObseRvations of Aerosols above their Relationships) field the ENSO phase, producing realistically the interannual variation campaign, Dr. Longo de Freitas contributed to an ORACLES paper

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 23 focused on intercomparing six numerical models performances the GMAO’s GEOS-5 global model by integrating state-of-the art during ORACLES, including GEOS-5. The manuscript titled radiation codes (such as RRTMG and RRTMG-P) and testing and “Modeling the smoky troposphere of the southeast Atlantic: a validating these against observations; diagnosing and correcting comparison to airborne observations from September of 2016” RT problems; and improving the coupling between RT and other was submitted for publication to Atmospheric Chemistry and model Gridded Components. Physics. The aerosol extensive properties simulated suggest that the 2016 ORACLES observations are reasonably representative, After discussions with Drs. Eli Mlawer and Robert Pincus, with systematic deviations of 20% or less, of the regional authors of the RRTMGP radiation code (i.e., Rapid Radiation monthly average. All models place smoke top and bottom at Transfer Model, GCM Parallel version), at the ECMWF radiation lower altitudes than lidar observations do (by 100-500 m and workshop, Dr. Norris began integrating the RRTMGP longwave 100-1400 m, respectively) in the north and central regions of and shortwave codes into GEOS-5, with the help of Drs. Rob the tracks, and most models are able to capture the spatial Pincus of U. Colorado and Tom Clune and Matt Thompson of trends and variability of smoke heights in these locations. GMAO. Good progress was made and the code has now been Several findings on individual models note that GEOS-5 typically fully integrated into a recent GEOS-5 tag, for both clear-sky overestimates the carbonaceous aerosol mass, especially in the and cloudy atmospheres. The integration was a significant boundary layer. challenge, because the code is written in modern object-oriented Fortran, but this should pay good dividends in the long-run for Dr. Longo de Freitas participated in the pre-mission activities maintainability and extensibility. Careful attention was given to of the CAMP2Ex (Cloud, Aerosol and Monsoon Processes the stochastic cloud generation aspects of the implementation. Philippines Experiment) mission, which will be based in Subic In collaboration with Dr. William Putman (NASA/GMAO) and Drs. Bay, Philippines from August 20 to October 07, 2019. The Lazaros Oreopoulos (NASA/613) and Dongmin Lee (GESTAR/ CAMP2Ex mission objectives include investigating the following: USRA), the RRTMGP integration will be tested. At the request of 1) the aerosols effects on shallow cumulus and congest clouds Dr. Putman, Dr. Norris modified the RRTMG longwave code and properties and their impact on the transition from shallow to its drivers to provide flux and brightness temperature outputs for deep convection; 2) the changes in the distribution of heating RRTMG’s three “water vapor channel” bands, as useful validation rates and fluxes related to the aerosol and cloud fields, and and model intercomparison products. This same code also will potential feedback in the evolution of aerosol, cloud, and be put into RRTMGP once tested, but it was urgent enough to put precipitation; and, 3) to what extent the radiation-cloud-aerosol it into RRTMG first. interactions are confounded and modulated by the atmospheric circulation of the mesoscale. She participated in the CAMP2Ex Dr. Norris has been working with Drs. Andrea Molod and Bin 2018 virtual campaign and attended the 2019 CAMP2Ex Science Zhao (both NASA/GMAO) to address an issue with the energy Team Meeting in early March in Pasadena, CA. She also has coupling between the Solar Radiative Transfer and Land Surface been contributing to the configuration of the GEOS-5 real-time gridded components of GMAO’s GEOS-5 GCM. The issue arises production system for the CAMP2Ex 2019 campaign. because GEOS-5 can only afford to do a full solar calculation every hour, but the land surface updates its surface albedos Once the campaign is underway, Dr. Longo de Freitas will much more frequently, especially in areas of partial snow cover. participate in the CAMP2Ex field campaign in the Philippines Dr. Norris has implemented a pilot scheme to do advanced flux for about four weeks, delivering daily aerosol and cloud updates between full solar calculations using a more thorough forecast to support the flight planning. She also will continue characterization of the radiative state of the atmosphere derived the GEOS-5 model analyses for the ORACLES period. More from the full calculation. Unlike the existing GEOS-5 flux update specifically, she has been working in close cooperation with scheme, the new scheme takes into account solar path length ORACLES team partners to evaluate the GEOS-5 model results changes as a function of solar position. Initial testing indicates regarding the aerosol above cloud and aerosol-cloud interactions that further development is necessary. representation. Dr. Norris attended the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium- Dr. Peter Norris (sponsor: W. Putman) works on the atmospheric Range Weather Forecasts) Workshop “Radiation in the next radiative transfer (RT) development and validation in GEOS-5: generation of weather forecast models” in Reading, England, improving the quality of solar and terrestrial radiative transfer in in May 2018. He used this opportunity to learn about the latest

24 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 directions in atmospheric radiative transfer, to have discussions an experiment using the 3DVar GMAO OSSE to evaluate the with fellow scientists about issues with the radiative transfer performance of the adjoint tool for estimation of observation calculations in GEOS-5, and to present a poster titled “Lessons impact. The adjoint tool uses the 24-hour forecast skill to learned in GCM clear-sky LW flux validation”. This successful estimate the impact of individual observational data on the meeting contributed strongly to progress on the other highlights. forecast state. The forecast skill is calculated using the self- Dr. Norris also presented at the NASA Goddard Climate and analysis field, which is inaccurate, particularly for short term Radiation Lab (Code 613) seminar on March 6, 2019, speaking forecasts. The OSSE allows calculation of the errors induced on subjects of radiative transfer theory, RRTMG validation, and by using this self-analysis field. A manuscript, “Uncertainty of RRTMGP’s object-oriented coding style and implementation. observation impact estimation in an adjoint model investigated This provided good exposure for his work on the GMAO’s GEOS-5 with an Observing System Simulation Experiment” by N.C. Prive radiation codes, and for the GMAO in general, and was received and R.M. Errico, was submitted to Monthly Weather Review. well. Dr. Privé ran three months of the GEOS-5 model with 4D As part of the GMAO Modeling Group, Dr. Norris contributed Ensemble Variation (4D EnVar) data assimilation with the GSI to many other RT-related tasks: 1) custom modification of the using real data, including forecasts and adjoint estimates RT codes for specialized intercomparison experiments by Dr. of observation impacts. The 4D EnVar assimilation is an Nathan Arnold, and 2) reorganization and bug fixes to GMAO’s advancement of the OSSE to a more sophisticated, modern implementation of the COSP (CFMIP (Cloud Feedback Model assimilation method. Additionally, she ran a baseline experiment Intercomparison Project) Observation Simulator Package) for the GMAO OSSE using 4D EnVar data assimilation with the satellite simulator package, while looking for a GEOS-5 memory GSI/GEOS-5 model. She validated the results of the baseline leak. experiment against a corresponding experiment with real data. Dr. Privé also ran OSSE experiments to explore the role of Dr. Norris will continue with the validation of RRTMGP in GEOS- correlated observation errors in numerical weather prediction. 5’s new Jason2 tag and add new cloud overlap methods. Along The GMAO OSSE framework was used to create simulated with Dr. Andrea Molod, Dr. Norris will continue to develop a observational data both with and without correlated observation more advanced flux-update method for time-steps between full errors. She ran the GEOS-5 model with both sets of simulated radiation calls. He also will work with Drs. Dong Wu and Huisheng data to compare the effects of these correlated errors on Bian on providing new solar output diagnostics for their research analysis quality, observation impact, and forecast skill. and validation work. The RRTMGP aerosol optical property tables need updating for the MAM aerosol package, and he will be Along with Dr. Ron Errico (GESTAR/MSU), Dr. Privé co-organized working with Dr. Anton Darmenov on this activity. the 11th Workshop on Sensitivity Analysis and Data Assimilation in Meteorology and Oceanography, in Aveiro, Portugal, held Dr. Nikki Privé (sponsor: R. Gelaro) supports projects in 1-6 July 2018. She maintained a database of attendees as atmospheric data assimilation, especially regarding the well as the workshop webpage. At the workshop, she gave a use of current and future space-based observations. This presentation titled “Adjoint estimation of observation impact includes diagnostic studies to evaluate and improve the use of explored with an Observing System Simulation Experiment.” observational data as well as running and interpreting observing Other presentations this year included a lecture titled system simulation experiments. The latter includes simulating “Introduction to OSSEs” at the 2018 JCSDA Summer School observations and their errors. Work involves modifying, testing, in Bozeman, MT, a presentation titled “Observing System and running suites of computer software, interpreting their Simulation Experiments as tools for investigating the behavior of output, and producing figures for presentation. data assimilation systems” at the 2018 AGU Fall meeting, and a remote presentation on “OSSE Requirements” for the workshop Dr. Privé completed the baseline run of the 3DVar GMAO OSSE, on Interface for Observation Data Access (IODA) at NRL in including two months of analyses and forecasts for the OSSE Monterey, CA, in February 2019. system. The baseline is used in OSSE experiments as the control case, and is used to validate the system. The adjoint tool was In the year ahead, Dr. Privé will perform OSSEs in support of used to estimate observation impacts in comparison with the proposed instruments, including geostationary hyperspectral real world for validation. Dr. Privé also analyzed results from instruments and GPS-RO. She also will complete ongoing

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 25 experiments into the behavior of the GEOS-5 adjoint tool and the “Comparing flood-producing catastrophic hurricanes in GEOS: A performance of the 4D-ensemble variational data assimilation study of Juan 1985 and Harvey 2017.” system and will prepare manuscripts for publication. In collaboration with Dr. McGrath-Spangler (GESTAR/USRA), Dr. Dr. Oreste Reale (sponsor: S. Pawson) supports scientific Fuentes, and other GMAO scientists, Dr. Reale has coordinated research on climate variability and tropical storms using high- research, on tropical cyclones (TC) in the northern Indian resolution versions of the GEOS-5 atmospheric model developed Ocean. These cyclones are particularly difficult to represent by the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). In in analyses and global models, and even in very recent times, addition, Dr. Reale is also involved in the GMAO monitoring effort, some catastrophic events have been completely missed in global contributing to the ongoing evaluation and assessment of the analyses. This ongoing work shows that 1) MERRA-2 represents GMAO modeling suite and other GMAO products. Note, as of these cyclones better than previous operational analyses, and his appointment to Director of the GESTAR program in February 2) MERRA-2 can be used to produce very successful hindcasting 2019, his level of effort on this has been adjusted accordingly. studies. Experiments focused on the TC Nargis (2008), which caused an immense amount of lives lost in Myanmar (Burma) in Dr. Reale has contributed to the GMAO monitoring team, whose 2008, demonstrated the forecasts initialized from MERRA-2 have primarily goal is the performance assessment of the operational more skill than forecasts initialized from operational analyses GMAO modeling suite. Dr. Reale has provided insights on, but of that time. In addition, Dr. Reale has contributed to investigate not limited to, tropical cyclone genesis and development, often in storms occurred recently, such as the cyclones Hud Hud (2014) collaboration with Dr. Marangelly Fuentes (SSAI/GMAO) and other and Nilofar (2017). GMAO scientists. This past year, Dr. Reale has also overseen the applicability of the 2D parallel Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT), Dr. Reale will continue to attend GMAO Science Theme Meetings (previously ported as part of Dr. Reale’s grant on NASA High- and GMAO Monitoring Meetings, and to coordinate the use of the End Computer resources), as a validation tool for the GMAO HHT capability as an operational tool for the GMAO Monitoring Monitoring. Work on the HHT was predominantly done by Dr. team. He also will continue to provide scientific advice to junior Manisha Ganeshan (GESTAR/USRA). Dr. Reale presented the scientists and colleagues. first results of the HHT used as a tool to evaluate and compare competing versions of the operational GEOS model at the GMAO Dr. Oreste Reale (program manager: Dr. T. Lee) is the PI on Monitoring Meeting in April 2019. the NASA grant, “Using AIRS and CrIS data to understand processes affecting Tropical Cyclone structure in a global data Dr. Reale also has conducted research on historical hurricanes assimilation and forecasting framework.” The goal of the grant in MERRA-2. In collaboration with Dr. Fuentes and Mr. Takacs is to investigate the representation of tropical cyclones (TCs) (SSAI/GMAO), he has continued to investigate the representation structure and its changes, together with the impact on the TC of hurricanes that occurred before the age in which operational forecasting ability, consequent to the assimilation of AIRS and data assimilation systems and forecast models had the ability CrIS radiances. The research also makes use of the Hilbert- to represent tropical cyclones. As part of the research, Dr. Reale Huang transform (HHT, recently implemented on NASA High- contributed to analyzing Hurricanes David (1979), Frederic End Computer resources by this team) to evaluate the spectral (1979), Allen (1980), Elena (1985) and Juan (1985). In addition, properties of analyses obtained by different assimilation Dr. Reale’s and colleagues have demonstrated through a set of strategies. Dr. Reale coordinates the research, and Drs. Erica experiments that not only can MERRA-2 represent hurricanes McGrath-Spangler, Manisha Ganeshan, and Radina Soebiyanto of the past better than previous reanalyses, MERRA-2 also (all GESTAR/USRA) have been supported, totally or partially, by can be used for downscaling studies, in which hindcasts are this grant. initialized at much higher resolution. Experiments on Hurricane Juan (1985), which devastated the Gulf States with catastrophic Part of their work involved research on comprehensive floods and had remarkable similarities with Hurricane Harvey hyperspectral thinning strategy. In collaboration with Drs. that flooded Texas in 2017, had proven very successful, unveiling McGrath-Spangler and Ganeshan as well as Drs. Will McCarty important aspects of predictability. Dr. Fuentes presented these and Ron Gelaro (both GMAO), Dr. Reale continued to examine results at the AMS Conference in Phoenix, AZ, in January 2019: the interaction of AIRS cloud-cleared radiance data with data from the CrIS instrument onboard Suomi NPP and data from

26 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 the IASI instruments onboard Metop-A and Metop-B in an After having supervised the implementation of HHT software on attempt to devise a comprehensive thinning strategy for the the NCCS system, (an effort previously performed by Dr. Radina three instruments together. Dr. Reale presented the results at Soebiyanto with help from the NCCS personnel), Dr. Reale has the 2018 NASA Sounder Science Team Meeting in October and coordinated the extensive testing of the new diagnostic tool, at the 2018 AGU Fall meeting in December in the talk titled produced by Dr. Ganeshan and Dr. McGrath-Spangler. Preliminary “Impact of assimilating cloud-cleared and adaptively thinned findings, and an explanation of the HHT potential, in both model infrared hyperspectral data on tropical cyclones in a global evaluation and data assimilation contexts, were presented by data assimilation and forecast framework.” This work is the Dr. Reale at the GMAO Science Team Meeting held in September continuation of the findings from the predecessor of the grant 2018. Work will continue on investigating the HHT as a tool in a presented in a June 2018 article with the same title published in data assimilation context, to investigate sensitivity to different Weather and Forecasting. data sets and data assimilation strategies.

Further, Dr. Reale continued supervising the study on the impact In the year ahead, Dr. Reale will continue to investigate the of assimilating cloud-cleared radiances on the Arctic temperature applications of the HHT for weather forecasting applications, structure, and on the representation of Polar Lows. The studies continue to prepare an article on comprehensive hyperspectral show that assimilation of AIRS cloud-cleared radiances improve adaptive thinning, continue to coordinate and supervise new the forecast skill in the northern high latitude due to an improved experiments with the 4DenVAR GEOS system, and continue to representation of the thermal structure of the low-tropospheric investigate the impact of cloud- cleared radiances assimilation in over the Arctic region. In addition, it improves the representation the polar regions. of Polar Lows over both hemispheres. Dr. McGrath-Spangler and Dr. Ganeshan presented results, respectively, in talks at Dr. Manisha Ganeshan (program manager: Dr. T. Lee) works on the NASA Sounder Science Team Meeting in October and at the the NASA grant titled “Using AIRS and CrIS data to understand 2018 AGU Fall meeting in December, and a talk and a poster at processes affecting Tropical Cyclone structure in a global data the Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP) Arctic Science Workshop in assimilation and forecasting framework” (PI: O. Reale). Dr. January 2019 in Finland. Ganeshan focuses on carrying out numerical experiments and their analysis, investigating the impact of different AIRS data Dr. Reale had previously coordinated a short-term project, which types and assimilation strategies on the analysis and forecast of involved NASA Civil Servant Dr. Joel Susskind and his former Tropical Cyclones (TCs) and high-latitude convective systems in SAIC team, with the goal of porting the cloud-clearing algorithm the NASA GEOS-5 system. She works in close collaboration with on NASA HEC resources and making it less dependent from Dr. Erica McGrath-Spangler (GESTAR/USRA), who also is partially external resources as well as more customizable. The project supported by this grant. was completed and AIRS cloud-cleared radiances can now be generated locally, and assimilated in the GEOS. As a new As part of her research, Dr. Ganeshan investigated the impact step in this direction, a new collaboration with NOAA/NESDIS, of assimilating AIRS cloud-cleared radiances on high-latitude coordinated by Dr. Chris Barnet (NOAA/STC), has been initiated. mesoscale cyclones including Polar and Antarctic Lows. She The goal is to test cloud-cleared radiances produced for CrIS performed this research in close collaboration with Drs. Oreste and IASI on our system and eventually to extend the project Reale and Erica McGrath-Spangler and with Dr. Will McCarty initiated for AIRS, (i.e., portable cloud-clearing methodology) to all and Dr. Ron Gelaro (both of NASA/GMAO). In particular, she hyperspectral sensors. Drs. McGrath-Spangler and Ganeshan are investigated four different cyclones in experiments assimilating conducting this project, along with the active involvement of Dr. adaptively thinned AIRS cloud-cleared (as opposed to clear- Will McCarty (NASA GMAO). sky) radiances in the NASA GEOS 3dVar data assimilation and forecast system. These cyclones were an Antarctic Low in the Other work involves the design and coordination of new Southern Ocean, a Polar Low in the Gulf of Alaska, a tropical- experiments with the hybrid 4DenVAR GEOS system. Dr. Reale like cyclone in the Mediterranean Sea (cyclone Qendresa), and has supervised the efforts of Dr. McGrath-Spangler and Dr. the remnants of a central Pacific tropical cyclone (Hurricane Ganeshan to produce a new set of experiments for AIRS and Ana) after its extratropical transition. The results showed an CrIS. This is a very large computational effort that they have improvement in the structure, intensity, and vertical alignment worked on this past year and will continue to do so. of most of these storms, due to the assimilation of more dense

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 27 AIRS cloud-cleared radiances around the storm and sparser Dr. Reale delivered at the GMAO research theme meetings in elsewhere. Dr. Ganeshan presented some of these results in a September 2018 and April 2019. talk titled “Impact of assimilating AIRS cloud-cleared radiances on Antarctic Polar Lows” at the NASA Sounder Science Team Dr. Ganeshan ran the analysis and 10-day forecasts of the Meeting (NSSTM) in Greenbelt, MD, in October. She also experiment assimilating AIRS cloud cleared radiances at 300 presented a poster titled “Impact of assimilating AIRS cloud- km thinning density using the GEOS Hybrid 4DEnVar Data cleared radiances on the analysis and forecasts of Polar Lows” Assimilation System. This Observing System Experiment (OSE) at the Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP) Arctic Science Workshop runs from 31 July 2017 to 19 Oct 2019. She also ran four in January 2019 in Helsinki, Finland. She also presented experiments to test an adaptive thinning strategy for assimilating posters discussing this work at the Early Career Scientist Forum denser AIRS cloud-cleared radiances around Polar Lows and (November 2018) and at the Annual Sciences & Exploration tropical-like storms, and sparser (~1/4th) coverage globally Directorate New Year’s Poster Party (February 2019) at Goddard using the NASA GEOS-5 3DVar system, based on the previous Space Flight Center. Dr. Ganeshan also will present her work successfully adopted methodology for TCs. In lieu of best-track/ at the Climate and Radiation Laboratory Seminar series in May TC-vitals-like information, Dr. Ganeshan used guidance from 2019. AMSU-B satellite to track an Antarctic Low in the Southern Ocean and a Polar Low in the Gulf of Alaska. She used previously Dr. Ganeshan contributed to research investigating the impact published satellite track information for cyclone Qendresa in of assimilating AIRS cloud-cleared radiances (CCRs) on the Mediterranean Sea. The results are promising, showing an tropical cyclone (TC) analysis and forecast in the GEOS hybrid improved representation of the structure, intensity, and better 4D-Ensemble Variational (Hybrid 4DEnVar) data assimilation vertical alignment of these storms in the analysis assimilating system. She co-authored a talk titled “Progress toward a adaptively thinned AIRS cloud-cleared radiances. She also is comprehensive cloud-cleared AIRS-CrIS radiance assimilation involved in a new collaboration with NOAA/NESDIS, coordinated strategy” (Reale et al.) that Dr. McGrath-Spangler presented by Dr. Reale’s team and Dr. Chris Barnet (NOAA/STC), to test at the AIRS Spring Science Team Meeting in California in April cloud-cleared radiances produced for CrIS and IASI in the NASA 2019. She also contributed to research that investigates the GEOS system. impact of assimilating AIRS cloud-cleared radiances on high- latitude boundary layer and atmospheric dynamics. She gave an Upcoming plans include summarizing the results describing oral presentation on behalf of first-author, Dr. McGrath-Spangler, the impacts of assimilating adaptively thinned AIRS cloud- titled “Impact of assimilating AIRS cloud-cleared radiances cleared radiances on the representation of high-latitude on atmospheric dynamics and boundary layer height at high mesoscale cyclones (Polar Lows and TC-like cyclones) in an latitudes” at the YOPP Arctic Science Workshop in January article for a peer-reviewed journal. As lead author, she will work 2019 in Helsinki, Finland. She also is a co-author on two of in close collaboration with Drs. Reale and McGrath-Spangler Dr. McGrath-Spangler’s oral presentations delivered at the on this article. Dr. Ganeshan will continue running OSEs in NSSTM in October 2018 and at the 2018 AGU Fall meeting in the 4dEnVar GEOS system for analyzing TCs during the 2017 December 2018. She also co-authored two talks on investigating boreal late summer-fall period. She will contribute to research a comprehensive hyperspectral thinning strategy combining and investigations toward a comprehensive adaptive thinning cloud-cleared, adaptively thinned AIRS radiances with clear- strategy using AIRs, CrIS, and IASI. Additionally, she will continue sky, adaptively thinned CrIS and IASI radiances in the NASA collaborating with Dr. Soebiyanto, Dr. Reale, and Dr. McGrath- GEOS 3dVar data assimilation and forecast system. Dr. Reale Spangler, to develop HHT as a tool for performing model output presented these at the NSSTM and AGU Fall Meeting. diagnostics. She will continue testing the output from the latest GEOS versions (currently x36 and x37) and comparing them With the help of Dr. Radina Soebiyanto (GESTAR/USRA), Dr. against the verifying analysis. Ganeshan learned to run the 1D and parallel 2D HHT code on the output of various GEOS experiments. Along with Drs. Reale Under the NASA grant titled “Using AIRS and CrIS data to and McGrath-Spangler, she investigated atmospheric waves, understand processes affecting Tropical Cyclone structure in tropical weather systems, and model artifacts in the GEOS output a global data assimilation and forecasting framework” (PI: O. using HHT as a tool. She co-authored two presentations, which Reale), Dr. Erica McGrath-Spangler (program manager: Dr. T. Lee) works on designing, conducting, and investigating numerical

28 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 experiments. These are focused on the impact of different clear-sky radiances. She expects the new data information will hyperspectral infrared data types and assimilation strategies on enable an additional improvement in the new system compared the analysis and forecast of TCs in the NASA GEOS system. to data from previous studies using the 3DVar system. She also worked with Dr. Barnet (STC) and Mr. King (IMSG/NOAA) Dr. McGrath-Spangler developed the capability to run the hybrid on converting the cloud-cleared CrIS radiances to the bufr 4d ensemble variational (4DenVar) GEOS system and ran format. Similar to the impact seen for AIRS, they expect that this for the control case of late summer/early fall 2017. This the assimilation of CrIS cloud-cleared radiances will produce particular season was characterized by several high impact a strongly positive impact on the representation of tropical tropical cyclones that affected the U.S. and its territories. This cyclones, high latitude systems, and other cloudy regimes. version of the GEOS data assimilation and forecast system allows Additionally, Dr. McGrath-Spangler has been working with Dr. spatiotemporally varying error estimates, which is important for Bryan Karpowicz and Dr. Ganeshan to test the assimilation of an OSE experiment because the observing system may impact CrIS cloud-cleared radiances that have been converted to the the evolution of the error estimate and this may be captured bufr format, for ingestion into the GSI, by a team at NOAA. by the ensemble members. This updated version of GEOS should benefit from the approaches of assimilating adaptively To improve the effectiveness of cloud-clearing and advocate thinned infrared data and cloud-cleared hyperspectral infrared its use in an operational environment, Dr. McGrath-Spangler information that were used in her previous work, but applied in collaborated with Dr. Susskind (NASA GSFC) and his former team a comprehensive manner incorporating additional instruments. from SAIC to port their existing cloud-clearing algorithm to NASA She mentored Dr. Ganeshan on running this new hybrid HEC resources and to make it more customizable. A new step in 4DenVar system. Dr. McGrath-Spangler also developed new this direction is a collaboration with NOAA/NESDIS, coordinated GEOS experiments using the hybrid 4DEnVar data assimilation by Dr. Barnet (STC) to test cloud-cleared CrIS and IASI radiances method. These new experiments assimilate cloud-cleared AIRS in the GEOS DAS with Dr. McCarty’s involvement. radiances using a thinning density of 240 km and of 340 km. Previous results showed no degradation in global skill from the Along with Drs. Reale and Ganeshan, Dr. McGrath-Spangler assimilation of AIRS cloud-cleared radiances at 300km using this has investigated the impact of assimilating cloud-cleared AIRS version of the model and an improvement in H. Harvey (2017). radiances on the polar regions. They have found an improved These experiments, in addition to one Dr. Ganeshan ran, should northern hemisphere forecast skill, resulting from an improved assist in determining an optimal, global thinning density of representation of thermal structure in the low-tropospheric cloud-cleared AIRS radiances for use in future adaptive thinning Arctic region. Additionally, they have found an improved experiments. representation, in the analysis, of the horizontal and vertical structure of Antarctic Polar Lows. This work was presented at the At present, Dr. McGrath-Spangler is generating AIRS cloud- AGU fall meeting and NASA Sounder Science Team meeting. Dr. cleared radiances from the level 1B radiances available from McGrath-Spangler has begun work on a manuscript, tentatively the GES DISC. She is performing this by using code ported to titled “Sensitivity of mid-latitude waves to assimilation of NCCS High End Computing resources by former members of Dr. low tropospheric Arctic information in cloudy regions,” which Joel Susskind’s (NASA GSFC) team and using results from the details the results showing that the assimilation of aggressively GEOS as the background for the computation. This continues thinned cloud-cleared AIRS radiances results in a decrease in the experiment that assimilates these radiances as a proof of the lower-tropospheric Arctic temperature that translates into a concept. lowering of the mid- to upper-tropospheric geopotential heights. These alterations produce an increase in the latitudinal height Dr. McGrath-Spangler worked closely with Dr. Will McCarty (NASA gradient that propagates to mid-latitude waves and results in an GMAO) on modifying the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI), improvement in global forecast skill. She also was a co-author of allowing for the assimilation of cloud-cleared infrared radiances Dr. Reale’s article titled “Impact of adaptively thinned AIRS cloud- in the new hybrid 4DenVar version of GEOS. She acquired the cleared radiances on tropical cyclone representation in a global AIRS cloud-cleared radiances from the GES DISC and converted data assimilation and forecast system,” published in Weather them into bufr, the format required for ingestion into the GEOS and Forecasting. system. This is necessary for further exploration of the impact of cloud-cleared radiances over that which is achievable using only

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 29 Dr. McGrath-Spangler led or was part of several presentations data assimilation and forecasting framework’” (PI: O. Reale). this year. In October, at the NASA Sounder Science Team Dr. Soebiyanto produced and released the first version of the Meeting, she presented a lead-author talk titled “Impact of 2-Dimensional Hilbert Huang Transform (2D HHT) code. Under assimilating AIRS cloud-cleared radiances on atmospheric the supervision of Dr. Reale, she worked with Dr. Thomas Clune dynamics at high latitudes.” She co-authored other talks (NASA/GMAO) and Hamid Oloso (SSAI/GMAO) to parallelize presented at this meeting, one led by Dr. Reale and another led the code. After several tests, she also released the parallel by Dr. Ganeshan. At the 2018 AGU Fall meeting in December, version (openMP) of the 2D HHT code. Throughout this year, Dr. she delivered a talk titled “Impact of assimilating AIRS cloud- Soebiyanto has been working closely with Dr. Manisha Ganeshan cleared radiances on atmospheric dynamics and polar low and Dr. Erica McGrath-Spangler, providing interpretations representation at high latitudes,” and she was second co-author to the resulting HHT analysis and providing suggestions for of Dr. Reale’s presentation titled “Impact of assimilating cloud- experiments/analysis design using HHT framework. cleared and adaptively thinned infrared hyperspectral data on tropical cyclones in a global data assimilation and forecast In the year ahead, Dr. Soebiyanto will continue to provide framework.” In January, at the Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP) guidance on the use and interpretation of 2D HHT framework Arctic Science Workshop in Helsinki, Finland, Dr. Ganeshan to Dr. Reale’s group. She also plans to generalize the code for presented a talk titled “Impact of assimilating AIRS cloud-cleared different applications, thereby extending the use of the code to radiances on atmospheric dynamics and boundary layer height other fields. at high latitudes” by McGrath-Spangler et al. and a poster titled “Impact of assimilating AIRS cloud-cleared radiances on the Dr. Cecile Rousseaux (sponsor: W. Gregg) performs research analysis and forecast of Polar Lows” by Ganeshan et al. Dr. on ocean phytoplankton populations using the GMAO NASA McGrath-Spangler gave a presentation by Reale et al. to the AIRS Ocean Biogeochemical Model (NOBM). She provided a variety of Spring Science Team Meeting in Pasadena, CA, in April 2019. technical support, which included assembling and reformatting the forcing and assimilation files for 2018 that are required to Upcoming plans include working with Drs. McCarty, Karpowicz, run the NOBM. Dr. Rousseaux also provided data and technical and Ganeshan to assimilate CrIS cloud-cleared radiances into support to scientists at the University of Oregon interested in the GEOS data assimilation and forecast system. Dr. McGrath- using the NOBM data for their research. She worked with GMAO Spangler will continue performing new experiments using the colleagues to pursue the development of a coupled GEOS-5 hybrid 4DenVar GEOS system, to improve the understanding of system; her duties included developing the biogeochemical code the impact of infrared data and devise a comprehensive thinning and providing a new stable tag to the rest of the team. methodology. Work will continue on her manuscript “Sensitivity of mid-latitude waves to assimilation of low tropospheric Arctic Dr. Rousseaux continued to work on several chapters to information in cloudy regions”, which she plans to submit to contribute to the International Ocean Color Working Group Weather and Forecasting. She will contribute to an article, led (IOCCG) report on “Ocean Color Applications for Biogeochemical, by Dr. Reale, on the impact of using a comprehensive thinning Ecosystem and Climate Modeling” to be published in 2019. She approach for the assimilation of all hyperspectral infrared data, was co-author on a paper submitted to Nature Climate Change and she will contribute to Dr. Ganeshan’s article on the impact on “Global Ocean Primary Production Trends in the Modern of cloud-cleared radiance assimilation on the representation of Ocean Color Satellite Record (1998-2015)”. Additionally, Dr. polar lows and Mediterranean cyclones. Dr. McGrath-Spangler Rousseaux was a collaborator on a proposal submitted by PIs will prepare, submit, and then present an abstract to the Shubha Sathyendranath and Robert Brewin (both of Plymouth JCSDA Technical Review Meeting and Science Workshop, NASA Marine Laboratory) on a project titled “Biological Pump and Headquarters, Washington, DC, in May 2019. Her presentation Carbon Exchange Processes (BICEP)”. This proposal was will focus on this team’s progress and the significant submitted to a European Space Agency Solicitation. As part of improvements obtained by properly assimilating cloud-cleared the IDS project on which Dr. Rousseaux is a Co-Investigator, she infrared radiances. provided the first forecast of ocean pCO2 and fluxes.

Dr. Radina Soebiyanto (program manager: Dr. T. Lee) also She presented on various research activities this year, including works on the NASA grant titled “Using AIRS data to understand the Interdisciplinary Research on Science (IDS) meeting in processes affecting Tropical Cyclone structure in a global College Park, MD, where she discussed her work on the

30 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 biogeochemical forecast with a focus on the future development lead author paper on the dataset subgroup is now being to forecast carbon dioxide fluxes. In August 2018, Dr. Rousseaux prepared for publication by Kimberly Casey. (Note, this project attended the US CLIVAR meeting in Wilmington, NC, where she ended in February 2019.) chaired a session on “Observation Simulation Experiments in a data assimilation Framework”. At the 2018 AGU Fall meeting, she On a second NASA grant titled “Observation-system simulation was a co-author on a poster titled “Toward integrated seasonal experiments (OSSEs) and seasonal forecasts to support predictions of land and ocean carbon flux: lessons from the EXPORTS,” PI Dr. Cecile Rousseaux (program manager: Dr. P. 2015-2015 El Niño” presented by Dr. Lesley Ott (NASA/GSFC). Bontempi) and others have worked on assessing the skills of Dr. Rousseaux was also interviewed by AGU on a paper that was the chlorophyll forecast in the northeast Pacific and improved recently published (https://news.agu.org/press-release/arctic- the representation of export rates in the NOBM. The skill sea-ice-decline-driving-ocean-phytoplankton-farther-north). assessment revealed some limitations of the model that are being rectified. The free-run model showed a bias in chlorophyll Dr. Rousseaux will continue to work on the technical support of in the. This led the initial condition of the forecast (produced by the NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model including any forcing and assimilating satellite ocean color) to return within days to the assimilation files required as well as support for data usage. She biased chlorophyll concentration of the free-run. The correction will continue her role as Co-Investigator on the proposal led by Dr. of this bias unveiled some interesting observations about the Ott by providing updated forecast of carbon dioxide fluxes. challenges in forecasting in the Northeast Pacific region; most importantly, the seasonal variability in this region is relatively Dr. Cecile Rousseaux (program manager: Dr. P. Bontempi) small. It is more challenging to forecast a system that has little worked as PI on a NASA grant titled “Phytoplankton Composition variability than one that has large-scale, atmospherically driven algorithms for PACE.” As part of this project, the Ocean- biogeochemical variability (e.g., Equatorial Pacific). Improving Atmosphere Spectral Irradiance Model (OASIM) was reformulated the model meant improving their understanding of the physical from a 25nm to a 1nm resolution for the spectral range and biochemical variables and processes that played a key role 250-800 nm at the global scale. She used the NASA Ocean in this region, so they began working on assessing the seasonal Biogeochemical Model (NOBM) to produce a one-year simulation variability of physical and biogeochemical parameters at Ocean to provide the input of phytoplankton composition needed for Weather Station PAPA. The findings of this exercise are part of OASIM. The simulated dataset was summarized and the skills a manuscript to be submitted in summer 2019. This paper will of the dynamic model to derived global radiances was assessed highlight the complex interactions between the production of in Gregg & Rousseaux (2017). Several collaborations have chlorophyll in the surface water, the change in phytoplankton developed with the PACE Project Team to use this dataset for composition, and the export of this production to deeper waters. various applications including instrument design such as band In the coming year, Dr. Rousseaux will work on publishing the selection, atmospheric correction and algorithm development. paper titled “Setting the seasonal context of export rates in the The skill assessment suggested some skills for simulating Northeast Pacific using a biogeochemical model”. hyperspectral normalized water-leaving radiances at those wavelengths that exist on MODIS-Aqua and suggest the potential Dr. Cecile Rousseaux (program manager: Dr. D. Considine) is for simulating normalized water-leaving radiances outside the PI on a third NASA grant titled “Seasonal Forecast of Ocean bands currently available. Biogeochemistry using GEOS-5.” Using the NOBM in combination with the GMAO seasonal forecast of atmospheric and ocean The hyperspectral water-leaving radiance developed as part of conditions, Dr. Rousseaux and team members have developed this project also led to a new collaboration with Dr. Castellanos a global forecasting capability for biogeochemical conditions and Dr. Da Silva (both NASA/GMAO) and the NASA PACE Project in the oceans. The forecast skills have been evaluated using Team. For this project, Dr. Rousseaux and team provided the retrospective forecasts and comparing these to satellite ocean hyperspectral water-leaving radiance along with some other color data. They used these retrospective forecasts to quantify variables of interest to Drs. Castellanos and Da Silva, addressing the uncertainties in the forecast of ocean biogeochemistry at the development of a test granule simulation to use for algorithm lead times from weeks to nine months. A focus of this study development and other post-processing efforts. The findings and published in Frontiers in Marine Sciences (Rousseaux & Gregg, outcomes of this project are being written as a NASA Technical 2017) assessed the skills of this forecast in predicting the Memorandum (TM) to be published in 2019. Dr. Rousseaux’s occurrence of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on the

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 31 phytoplankton concentration in the Pacific Ocean as well as the CODE 612: MESOSCALE ATMOSPHERIC physical and nutrient conditions leading to these events. While PROCESSES LABORATORY the current assessment focused on the 2015 El Niño event, there are many other applications of this forecasting system Dr. Mircea Grecu (sponsor: R. Meneghini) works on developing including field sampling design (e.g., NASA EXPORTS), Harmful methodologies to estimate precipitation from combined satellite Algal Bloom forecast, fisheries, etc. Going forward, Dr. Rousseaux radar and radiometer observations. This past year, research will continue to quantify and correct the bias that was found in focused on evaluating a methodology to estimate super-cooled the biogeochemical forecast. She also will work on streamlining cloud water over land. Super-cooled cloud water is an important the processes of running the forecast. ingredient in ice-phase precipitation processes. This is why accurate estimates of the amount of super-cooled cloud water Dr. Brad Weir (sponsor: L. Ott) works toward assimilating associated with snowfall are important. Such estimates are atmospheric CO2 observations into the GEOS-5 data assimilation easier to derive from satellite radar and radiometer observations system. He also works on developments to GEOS-5, especially over oceans than radar/radiometer observations over land, to develop and implement background error models based because oceans have low emissivity and super-cooled cloud on ensemble techniques and bias correction algorithms. His water has a warm signature in radiometer observations. research studies are aimed at evaluating observations from Nevertheless, super-cooled cloud water can be estimated over AIRS, GOSAT, and OCO-2 data using GEOS-5, and applying these land as well, although less accurately than over oceans. A cloud to understanding the carbon cycle. Dr. Weir developed a system water estimation procedure over land has been thoroughly for assimilating multiple trace gas species into the GEOS model, investigated using simulated observations. Results are and this system was applied to observations of water vapor, HCl, encouraging (see Fig. 1). HNO3, and N2O from the Microwave Limb Sounder, which were ingested into the StratChem stratospheric chemistry module of GEOS. This work was the basis for a GMAO peer award presented to Dr. Weir.

He presented results from his research at the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting, the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) science team meeting, the Atmospheric Carbon and Transport - America (ACT- America) science team meeting, the University of Maryland, and the 14th International Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Measurements from Space. Dr. Weir also attended the Joint Effort for Data-assimilation Integration (JEDI) workshop, which was focused on building the next generation of geophysical data assimilation systems. He also submitted a proposal to NASA ROSES ACMAP that would leverage the multi-species data assimilation capability he and his team built to ingest Figure 1, Provided by M. Grecu. measurements of ozone, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrogen dioxide, and formaldehyde into GEOS to infer atmospheric In the coming year, the investigation of combined precipitation concentrations of hydroxyl and determine the factors governing estimation from satellite radar-radiometer observations over land its changes over time. Unfortunately, this was not selected for will be extended to convective precipitation in the warm season. funding. Upcoming plans include submitting a paper describing his work calibrating surface fluxes of carbon dioxide to Dr. Mei Han (sponsor: S. Braun) applies satellite-based atmospheric measurements. observations from NASA satellites (GPM and TRMM), numerical models (WRF), and reanalysis data (MERRA) to study precipitation associated with extratropical cyclones over ocean and land, and to evaluate the performances of cloud and precipitation models and retrieval algorithms in the middle latitudes.

32 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 After a prolonged revision process during which the authors For a topographic precipitation event, the simulated radar provided a comprehensive response to the reviewers, Dr. Han reflectivity and microwave brightness temperatures were had her first-author paper accepted by the Quarterly Journal validated and evaluated in comparison to ground-based radars of Royal Meteorological Society in August 2018. The paper, and satellite observations. This study could be the first time “Comparisons of bin and bulk microphysics schemes in when the variations of particle size distributions were depicted simulations of topographic winter precipitation with radar and as a response to the increase of ice nuclei concentration and radiometer measurements”, co-authored with Drs. Scott Braun, other microphysical processes in modeling (see Fig. 1). The Toshihisa Matsui, Takamichi Iguchi, was published in September comparison of two widely used microphysics schemes, the 2018. This paper studied advanced bulk and bin microphysics Thompson bulk scheme and the Hebrew University Cloud Model schemes in the Weather Research and Forecasting model, (HUCM) bin scheme, provides information to weather and and discussed implementing scheme-specific microphysical radiative transfer modeling communities on the improvement assumptions into the Goddard Satellite Data Simulator Unit. of understanding and selection of appropriate microphysics schemes.

As a Co-Investigator, Dr. Han participated in a proposal, “Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS),” which was selected for funding by NASA Earth Venture Suborbital-3 in September 2018 (PI: Lynn McMurdie, University of Washington). Its goal is to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of snow band formation and the most intense snowfall in extreme weather events. The campaign will take place during January and February from 2020 to 2022. Dr. Han plans to participate in the field experiments and to conduct analyses of the airplane data. The first NASA IMPACTS Science Team Meeting was held at the Wallops Flight Facility (FFC), where the field campaign operational center will be located. Dr. Han participated in the meeting with other about 50 science team members, including scientists, pilots, and mission operation managers. Science goals, instrumentation, flight tracks, and data management were intensively discussed during the meeting.

Dr. Han also presented her research at the NASA Precipitation Measurement Mission (PMM) Science Team meeting in October and at the AGU Fall Meeting in December. At the PMM Science Fig. 1: Changes of snow particle size distributions (PSDs) in Team meeting, she gave a presentation titled “Understanding the bin model as a response to the microphysical processes DPR DSD parameters on a global scale”. After analyzing four -- enhanced snowflake breakup (EnBr) and increase of ice years of GPM DPR level 3 gridded data to examine precipitation nuclei by 1 order of magnitude (EnBrIN). (a–f) Mean snow particles sizes over the globe and at multiple vertical levels from PSDs predicted in the bin runs over the Sierras for different near the surface to the top of the storms, she found that particle snow water contents at three altitudes: 3, 4 and 5 km MSL size distributions show clear contrasts over land vs. ocean, at 1000 UTC 31 Dec 2005. Solid lines in left panels are for with distinct variations as a function of season, latitude, and Cntl; solid lines in right panels are for EnBrIN. Dotted lines altitude. Large particles, generally associated with convective are for EnBr, shown in both left and right columns to assist precipitation, occur in northern Eurasia and North America comparisons. Thick dash lines are bulk PSDs (black lines at Z=10 km in the warm season, which corresponds to large are sum of an exponential and a gamma distribution used convective fractions reaching that level. Similar results were in Thompson bulk scheme; grey lines are for an exponential found at Z=15 km at the equator and in the lower latitudes. PSD). (Provided by M. Han.) However, these large particles near the storm top likely lack

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 33 physical basis. These results were communicated with the the GPM satellite has been providing us reliable products related DPR algorithm team, who suggested that the large particles to estimates of the global precipitation since the satellite was at the high levels may be related to limitations in the current launched five years ago. As of May 28, 2018, the scan pattern of algorithm; therefore, algorithm improvement will be necessary. DPR-Ka radar has changed in the same way as the scan pattern Her presentation at the AGU meeting, “Understanding global of the DPR-Ku radar. This change provides a major advantage: precipitation particle sizes with the GPM dual-frequency radar,” the dual-frequency precipitation estimation area, which can more was broadened by comparing the products retrieved by the JAXA accurately estimate the precipitation amount, expands twice DPR algorithm vs. the NASA combined (CMB, DPR, and GMI) as much as the existing one. For the past year, Dr. Kim and her algorithm. In addition to the four years of global gridded data, colleagues have updated the Level 2 and Level 3 precipitation four individual cases with level 2 swath data, including northern retrieval-related algorithm codes to handle new pattern data from Asian convection, US Southern Plains convection, cold frontal DPR-Ka radar; they also have been focusing on analyzing the rainbands, and a heavy coastal snow storm, were selected to stability and reasonability of radar products. examine the storm-scale structure of particle size distribution (PSD) parameters. This investigation was conducted with the Dr. Kim also worked on statistical approaches to estimate latest version of GPM data, V06. In this study, Dr. Han further raindrop size from GPM Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar. examined differences between the CMB and DPR level 2 orbital Comparisons between ground-based and DPR-based estimates data for individual cases. Moreover, the four-year comparison of raindrop size (Dm) generally show reasonably good agreement between DPR and CMB level 3 data demonstrated that both between polarimetric-based ground radar estimates and dual- algorithms reasonably capture Dm variations according to frequency DPR estimates. Yet, despite these favorable results, geolocations. DPR generally has larger Dm than CMB, depending further research is needed to determine the accuracy of the on latitude and altitude, and convective vs stratiform, their estimates over larger space-time scales beyond a particular zonal mean differences could be ~ 0.1 to ~ 0.3 mm. At high ground-validation site. To characterize the statistical properties altitudes, smaller Dm in CMB vs. larger Dm in DPR may indicate of Dm over land and ocean and for stratiform and convective the differences in their algorithms; at low altitudes, CMB was rain types, an alternative to the operational approach is to not able to differentiate between the mid-latitude oceanic storm transform the distribution of near-surface DFR to a distribution track and high-latitude land, particularly for stratiform Dm. The of Dm. The basic idea of this transformation is straightforward: advantages and disadvantages of each individual algorithm may the portion of the DFR > 0 distribution can be converted directly shed light on future algorithms improvement. into a distribution in Dm since the relationship is 1:1. Letting F(Dm) be the cdf (cumulative distribution function) of Dm, then Going forward, Dr. Han will write a paper to report the findings this procedure is equivalent to determining F(Dm) from f to 1, about global precipitation particle size distribution parameters where f is the fraction of data for which DFR < 0. To estimate using the most recent GPM data. She will conduct further F(Dm) from 0 to f, it is necessary to assume a model distribution statistical analysis to demonstrate the difference between the for Dm. Possible choices of distribution include the gamma two algorithms and to illustrate the distribution of particle size and log-normal, since they satisfy the requirement that the distribution parameters from a climate perspective. She also will probability that Dm < 0 is zero. The problem reduces to the continue to investigate the precipitation cases over Bering Sea following: from the measured/retrieved DFR, F(Dm) is derived and write a proposal to the NASA ROSES 2019 solicitation of for values of F(Dm) from f to 1; next, from these values of F(Dm) Weather and Atmospheric Dynamics. find the two unknown parameters of the gamma or log-normal distribution that minimize the rms error between the model Dr. Hyokyung Kim (sponsor: R. Meneghini) works on analyzing distribution and the empirical cdf. This results in the cdf of Dm GPM radar data to assess the accuracy of several current GPM for all values of Dm. Using the ideas outlined above, Dr. Kim and radar algorithms and to assist with possible improvements to and her team generated preliminary statistics of DFR over 5-degree x extensions of these algorithms. Dr. Kim provides the operational 1-month space-time cells for July 2014. These statistics include support of GPM Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) histograms that include stratiform/convective rain types and algorithm in Level 2 and Level 3, and conducts research on the ocean/land backgrounds within the cell as well as histograms assessment and the improvement of radar retrieval algorithm that include only a particular rain or surface type (these special to estimate more accurate global precipitation data. Dual cases can be studied independently). The Dm histograms Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR-Ku and DPR-Ka) onboard that were obtained generally look reasonable. For convective

34 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 precipitation type over land and ocean, the distribution of Dm is showed distinct microphysical characteristics in the stratiform vs. broader and mean Dm is larger than those from the stratiform convective region, indicating different microphysical processes cases. Dr. Kim plans to continue supporting the GPM-DPR and growth rates for convective and stratiform regions. In the algorithm improvement associated with PIA and precipitation stratiform region, DPR shows an increase in both reflectivity estimates for the coming year. and DFR with decreasing heights, indicating that ice-phase particles grow mainly through coalescence of ice crystals and Dr. Xiaowen Li (sponsor: S. Munchak) works on conducting snow aggregates. The densities of the aggregates remain nearly case studies with tropical and midlatitude convection, and constant until they reach the melting level. In the convective orographically-enhanced mid-latitude precipitation using a cloud- region, reflectivity increased, but DFR decreases with decreasing resolving model. Model simulations encompassing this range heights, indicating significant contributions from the riming are needed to study convection processes globally, as proposed process and the increase of both sizes and densities of in our collaborative proposal to PMM science team. The detailed aggregates. Dr. Li will present these results during the Cloud bin microphysical scheme will provide more comprehensive Precipitation Center seminar series in May. information and reduce uncertainties in radiative transfer calculations. In the coming year, the research will focus on the convective cores of both the simulated results and GPM observed data. Dr. Li carried out case simulations using the WRF model for The model simulation will focus on sensitivities of convective two different field campaign cases (MC3E and OLYMPEX), core structure with different resolutions and microphysics. The where ultra-high frequency output at 1-minute intervals satellite observation studies will focus on core identifications enables detailed testing of different instrument configurations using GPM radar and radiometer data. and sample strategies. This is in support of the development of high-frequency microwave instruments on satellite. The A second task of Dr. Xiaowen Li (sponsor: W.-K. Tao) involved simulated hydrometeor profiles were used to drive a 3D radiative using the Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) model and transfer model (ART) to simulate brightness temperatures. satellite/field campaign observations to study cloud microphysics The results showed excessive graupel in simulations leading and dynamics, aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions, as to low brightness temperature compared with field campaign well as their implications in global climate. This year, Dr. Li observations. These results were reported at the PMM Science collaborated with Dr. Taka Iguchi (ESSIC/UMCP) to conduct Team meeting in September 2018 and will be presented at a series of sensitivity tests in order to improve stratiform rain the IGARSS annual meeting in September 2019. Additionally, representations in a WRF-simulated mesoscale convective another set of model simulations were carried out as idealized system during MC3E field campaign. Comparisons with surface convection initialized by warm bubbles. These were simulated radar and rainfall rate observations showed a much smaller using the Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) model. The stratiform area for this case study compared with model results, simulated brightness temperatures showed wider anvil sizes echoing many previous modeling studies. Sensitivity tests were and higher brightness temperatures. These results formed part carried out with different ice-phase particle partitioning, different of a proposal “Active convective cores and their organizations ice density and fall velocity, different numbers of bins, and observed by GPM satellite and applications to improving cloud- varying coalescence coefficients. Although some of the sensitivity resolving simulations”, submitted to the PMM project in June tests produced a wider stratiform region, the total stratiform area 2018, which subsequently received funding. still remains much smaller compared with observations. Further studies are necessary to resolve this issue. Dr. Li analyzed GPM DPR and high-frequency GMI observations of Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) in both the US Central In collaboration with Dr. Tao, Dr. Li developed a proposal for Plain and West Africa during the summer months. The focus is on the NASA AIST program, where GCE and WRF simulated rainfall extracting consistent microphysical information, especially that latent heating will be used as the training dataset for a feed- related to ice-phase microphysics, from GPM measurements. forward deep neural network algorithm in order to improve Her focus is on the characteristics of the radar reflectivity satellite latent heating retrieval algorithms. Gridded CONUS vertical profiles observed by DPR. When the unique capabilities surface radar data and research radar dataset at Wallops will of the Differential-Frequency Reflectivity (DFR) offered by the be used to validate the retrieval algorithm. This proposal was GPM DPR were explored, multiple year data statistics clearly submitted in April 2019.

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 35 On this third task, Dr. Xiaowen Li (sponsor: D. Barahona) began airborne scatterometer is to estimate wind speed and direction. studying ice nucleation and ice crystal formation mechanisms The conical scans of the HiWRAP scatterometer that operates and cirrus clouds using CloudSat/CALIPSO data, global at Ku- and Ka-band at 300 and 400 incidence angles allow for model and cloud-resolving model. Dr. Li has been working on retrieving surface wind speed vectors but suffer from serious implementing an advanced two-moment ice nucleation package drawbacks in the presence of rain due to attenuation. Correcting developed by Dr. Barahona into the GCE model, and comparing the attenuation to measured normalized surface-scattering the simulated cirrus clouds with GMAO’s GCM simulations. She cross-sections is crucial to achieving accurate estimates of replaced the ice nucleation scheme in the original Morrison two- wind vector. Having viewed and examined a large amount of moment scheme in the GCE model with the new ice nucleations the measurements, Dr. Liao found one important and useful scheme. They are testing the model with GCE idealized feature in measured surface-scattering cross-sections, i.e., the simulations. relative independence of differential surface cross-sections on surface roughness between Ku- and Ka-band at the same Dr. Li also conducted analyses of previous GCE model incidences of 300 and 400. The fact of unvaried differential simulations for the DYNAMO field campaign in the tropical Indian surface cross section permits an estimate of differential path Ocean. The simulations showed in situ cirrus formation during integral attenuation (PIA) at Ku- and Ka-band, as the difference the peak convection of a Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) event. of the differential surface cross-section between rain and She theorized that these cirrus clouds formed due to upper- rain-free areas are primarily the results of differential PIA. To level instability generated by gravity waves. The analyses were estimate wind speed and direction, single-wavelength PIA is an integral part of a proposal submitted to a NASA CloudSat/ necessary. Relating differential PIA to single-wavelength PIAs CALIPSO science team competition in July 2018; unfortunately, depends on DSD and rainfall rate, although this can be obtained this proposal was not selected for funding. in the first order approximation from the mean ratio of Ka- to Ku-band PIA (~6). Currently, some optimal methods are being Going forward, Dr. Li will continue testing the new two-moment tested to improve the transformation of differential PIA to single- ice nucleation scheme in the GCE model, and collaborate with Dr. wavelength PIAs. Barahona to compare the results with the GCM simulations. She plans to implement a new drop activation parameterization into Dr. Liao also conducted a physical evaluation of the rain profiling the GCE model as part of a revision request for a manuscript she retrieval algorithms for the Dual-wavelength Precipitation Radar co-authored that had been submitted to Journal of Atmospheric (DPR) aboard the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Sciences. satellite by applying them to hydrometeor profiles that are generated from measured raindrop size distributions (DSD). Dr. Liang Liao (sponsor: R. Meneghini) conducts research on The DSD-simulated radar profiles are used as the inputs to the a variety of topics associated with airborne and spaceborne algorithms, and the estimates of hydrometeors’ parameters weather radar analysis generally and the TRMM Precipitation from the algorithms are compared with the same quantities Radar (PR) and GPM Dual-Wavelength Precipitation Radar derived directly from the DSD data (or truth). The retrieval specifically. The work includes single- and dual-wavelength radar accuracy is assessed by the degree to which the estimates analysis of hydrometeor profiles, simulation of polarimetric agree with the truth. To check the validity and robustness of the radar signatures in rain and snow, retrieval of the microphysical retrievals, the DSD profiles used for Dr. Liao’s evaluation are properties and characteristic parameters of drop size distribution those whose spatial correlations vary from fully correlated (or using data from dual-wavelength airborne weather radar, and uniform profiles) to totally uncorrelated (extremely non-uniform) the validation of the TRMM standard products using ground- along the columns. Impacts of different model assumptions and based measurements. Using observed particle size distribution measurement errors on the retrieval accuracy are also studied. data, the radar signatures are first simulated and then applied After examining the benefits of the dual-wavelength technique as to retrieve snow characteristic size parameters. The estimates of compared to the single-wavelength algorithm performances, Dr. snow parameters are compared directly with those derived from Liao concluded that the DPR dual-wavelength algorithms perform measured snow size spectra in order to assess the retrieval error. fairly well in rain rate estimates and in deriving raindrop size distributions. Dr. Liao also explored techniques to correct rain attenuation for the HiWRAP airborne scatterometer. An important goal of

36 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Dr. Jainn Jong (Roger) Shi (sponsor: S. Braun) works on supporting software developed by Nicholls and Mohr (2018) was analyzing the representation of the vertical structure of the adopted to automate the identification and characterization of Saharan Air Layer (SAL) over northern Africa and the eastern dry WMLs from MERRA-2. Fig. 1 shows the results from using the Atlantic using MERRA-2 and NU-WRF. The SAL is a warm, dry, detection algorithm of Nicholls and Mohr (2018) to analyze the and dusty isentropic layer that results from the intense surface MERRA-2 data for a single event on Aug. 23, 2013. heating and dry convection in the Sahara Desert. The intense surface heating over dusty/rocky land surfaces produces dry well-mixed layers (WML) via dry convection, and these layers are characterized by nearly constant potential temperature and low, nearly constant water vapor mixing ratio. In the absence of external influences capable of generating significant mechanical turbulence, such as fronts or thunderstorm outflow, local dry convection can produce a deep (5km+), well-mixed, nearly isentropic boundary layer that later becomes a dry well-mixed residual layer in the evening. These dry WMLs can retain their unique mid-tropospheric thermal and humidity structure for several days and be transported thousands of kilometers downstream. Dr. Shi’s goal is to characterize the structure of the SAL as represented in the NASA Modern Era Retrospective- analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA-2) global analyses with the Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Fig. 2 Summertime (Jun., Jul. and Aug. 2013, red lines) Transport (GOCART) model at resolutions of 0.5°x0.625°. and wintertime (Dec. 2013, Jan. and Feb. 2014, blue lines) His team’s objectives are 1) to understand the capabilities of average of SAL top and base (hPa, left panel) and total dust MERRA-2 to reproduce observed thermodynamic and aerosol (10-3 g/kg, right panel) of MERRA-2. (Provided by J.J. Shi.) structures as compared to available satellite and in situ observations, and 2) to reveal the diurnal and seasonal variation Using the same algorithm, the MERRA-2 data also were analyzed of the WML/SAL and the Saharan dust distribution. To further to reveal the seasonal variation of summertime (Jun., Jul. and the study of dry WMLs and SAL, a detection methodology and Aug. 2013, red lines) and wintertime (Dec. 2013, Jan. and Feb. 2014, blue lines) average of SAL top and base (hPa) and total dust (10-3 g/kg). The results in Fig. 2 show that total dust loading and depth of SAL in summertime are roughly twice as those in wintertime. These results were presented at the 2019 AMS annual meeting.

In the coming year, Dr. Shi will continue work on the statistical analysis of the representation of the vertical structure of the SAL over northern Africa and the eastern Atlantic using MERRA-2, and will work on using NU-WRF to simulate the SAL in different events.

CODE 613: CLIMATE AND Fig. 1 Results from analyzing the MERRA-2 data on Aug. RADIATION LABORATORY 23, 2003, (a) number of WMLs, (b) WML total thickness (kilometers), (c) WML bottom temperature (deg K), (d) WML Dr. Nayeong Cho (sponsor: L. Oreopolous) works toward the top temperature (deg K), (e) WML bottom pressure (hPa), understanding of cloud structure and cloud interaction with and (f) WML top pressure (hPa). (Provided by J.J. Shi.) their environment by using the concept of “cloud regimes” as a

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 37 basis for performing comparison and compositing analysis on a temporal span as well as an updated version of MODIS dataset suite of spatiotemporally matching observational datasets. She (C6.1); work already has been performed using the k-means creates updated versions of the ISCCP, MODIS, and CloudSat/ algorithm on the cloud optical thickness and cloud top pressures CALIPSO dataset to leverage on the simultaneous availability histograms. of the ISCCP and MODIS retrievals over the last fifteen years to produce a Unified Weather State dataset. This past year, Dr. Manisha Ganeshan (sponsor: Y. Yang) works on improving she studied the ACPRI (Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation-Radiation the knowledge on the Antarctic radiation budget. She conducts Interaction) with their environment by using the concept of research on the boundary layer structure, cloud and blowing “cloud regimes”. When ACPRI is studied with genuine aerosol snow properties over the Antarctic continent using surface, in- observations, contemporaneous aerosol samples are limited situ and space observations, and modeling data; advances the because aerosol data are sought in the presence of clouds. She current understanding of the dynamics of Antarctica boundary completed additional analysis using the MERRA2 aerosol. These layer perturbation and turbulence; and provides support on other results will make up for the weak points in the current analysis. related Antarctic energy budget research. This past year, Dr. Dr. Cho addresses how this approach addresses long-standing Ganeshan gave presentations on results describing the Antarctic aspects of the ACPRI problem, such as the optimal ways to boundary layer and surface stability representation in reanalyses decompose the problem by cloud class, the prevalence and at the Polar18 in Davos, Switzerland in June 2018, where she detectability of 1st/2nd aerosol indirect effects and invigoration, presented and participated in the business meetings of the and the effectiveness of aerosol changes in inducing cloud Atmospheric Working Group of the International Arctic Science modification at different segments of the AOD population. She Committee. She also co-organized a workshop on “Improving our also determined the role of local meteorology to aerosol-cloud understanding of extreme events in the Arctic” along with Dr. Alek interaction. Meteorological variables, such as surface wind Petty (Code 615) and Dr. Thomas Armitage. She also co-authored speed, relative humidity, vertical velocity, and stability index can an oral presentation titled “Antarctic boundary layer structure separate the causal impact of aerosols from the confounding role and its impact on outgoing longwave radiation” (Dr. Yuekui Yang, of local meteorology and retrieval errors. et al.) for the NASA Sounder Science Team Meeting (Oct 2018).

She presented her work at the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting For her research on surface stability over Antarctica in in December 2018, where she examined the diagnostic the Modern-Era Retrospective analyses for Research and relationships between morning aerosol and afternoon cloud- Applications, version 2 (MERRA2), she presented a related affected quantities (precipitation, radiation) at near-global scales. poster at the AGU Fall Meeting and another poster at the This analysis was based on “snapshots”, where the values of YOPP Arctic Science Workshop in Helsinki, Finland, which she (afternoon) cloud-affected quantities were probed for different helped co-organize. Dr. Ganeshan also presented this work at (morning) aerosol optical depths (AOD), where some effort had the Early Career Scientist Forum and at the Annual Sciences been extended to moderate the influence of external factors & Exploration Directorate New Year’s Poster Party at NASA through a breakdown of the analysis by morning Cloud Regime Goddard. Additionally, she gave an invited seminar talk titled, (collections of clouds occurring under similar conditions) and the “Representation of spring season Antarctic boundary layer and use of seasonal AOD percentiles obtained separately for each Polar Lows in the NASA global modeling framework” at ESSIC/ analysis grid cell. She also co-authored a paper titled “The role University of Maryland in November 2018. As part of this talk, of thermodynamic phase shifts in cloud optical depth variations she described new results evaluating the representation of with temperature,” which will be published in Geophysical surface stability over the Antarctic continent in MERRA2. Research Letters. Dr. Ganeshan published a first-author paper in JGR-Atmospheres In the year ahead, Dr. Cho will begin work on two proposals that titled “A regional analysis of factors affecting the Antarctic were selected for funding, one from NASA’s MEaSUREs Program boundary layer during the Concordiasi campaign” (M. Ganeshan as a Collaborator (PI: Dr. Tselioudis, NASA/GISS) and the other and Y. Yang), which explores a unique dataset that provides from the Cloudsat and CALIPSO Science Team Recompete as a critical information regarding boundary layer mixing processes Research Associate (PI: Dr. L. Oreopolous, NASA/GSFC). Work in a remote continent where conventional observations (weather will also involve supporting an ACPRI-related paper. Dr. Cho will stations, remote sensing instruments, and reanalyses) are generate updated MODIS cloud regimes with the extension of the limited and/or have limitations. On Nov 2, 2018, this article

38 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 was featured in the AGU’s Earth and Space Science News In addition to his research activities and fieldwork planning, Dr. (EOS) Editor’s highlight section titled, “Dropsondes Reveal Gatebe co-authored two published papers (one in Journal of Atmospheric Boundary Layers over Antarctic”. This research also Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer and the other was presented as a monthly science highlight in NASA’s Science in Remote Sensing), and gave presentations at the 2018 IGARSS and Exploration Directorate (SED) website and the Climate and (International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium) Radiation Laboratory’s science research portal. and the 2018 HyspIRI Science and Applications Workshop. In December 2018, at the AGU Fall Meeting, Dr. Gatebe co- Additionally, Dr. Ganeshan is a Co-I on a funded ROSES proposal authored three presentations: “The effect of surface roughness to the CloudSat and CALIPSO Science Team Recompete program and polarization on the snow bidirectional reflectance factor to study sources and sinks of Antarctic blowing snow (PI: Y. (BDRF): Model simulations and validation using NASA Cloud Yang). She will work on this proposal as well as contribute to a Absorption Radiometer measurements”; “Ocean Color Products discussion paper reviewing the outcome from the Arctic extreme retrieved from DSCOVR/EPIC mission”, and “SnowEx 2019 - A events workshop that she helped organize in Davos; this paper time series airborne and field experiment in multiple snow will be submitted to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological climates”. He also participated in the NASA SnowEx Town Hall Society (BAMS) Journal. along with Jared Entin, Hans-Peter Marshall, Carre Vuyovich, Mark Raleigh, and Anne Nolin. Dr. Charles Gatebe (sponsor: D. Wu) works to advance the knowledge of clouds, aerosols, ecosystem structure and function, Dr. Gatebe is working on completing a new paper titled snow and ice, albedo, and feedbacks to climate. Activities “Developing an aircraft-based angular distribution model of include building a well-calibrated and feature-rich airborne solar reflection from wildfire smoke in order to help satellite dataset on surface bidirectional reflectance distribution function data analysis.” The paper examines the angular distribution of (BRDF), conducting experiments and developing new methods sunlight reflected from a wildfire smoke plume based on CAR to define important surface and atmosphere radiative transfer measurements taken over boreal forests in Canada during functions, and improving remote sensing retrievals of aerosols the 2088 ARCTAS (Arctic Research of the Composition of the and clouds using laboratory, ground-based, airborne and satellite Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellites) campaign. This effort remote sensing. This year, Dr. Gatebe participated in the Surface is tied to the validation of the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Biology and Geology (SBG) activities. The SBG category is listed Energy System (CERES) angular distribution model for smoke. as one of the five designated observables (DOs) in the most recent Decadal Survey. Several working groups were created, Dr. Jie Gong (sponsor: D. Wu) works on developing retrieval including the Algorithms Working Group (AWG). As a member of techniques and delivering retrieval products (such as cloud ice the AWG, Dr. Gatebe will support mission concept development water path, cloud top height, ice particle size) of AMSUB/MHS by assessing the status of existing algorithms, identifying gaps onboard NOAA satellite series. This past year, Dr. Gong completed and opportunities, and assisting in traceability studies. the beta-version of a two-year (2014-2015) Global Precipitation Measurement Microwave Imager (GMI) ice water path (IWP) SnowEx, a multi-year project to help prepare for future snow retrieval using her previously developed method [Gong and Wu, satellite missions, was designed to advance our understanding 2014]. This method tried to construct an empirical cloud-induced of the terrestrial cryosphere as influenced by differences in the radiance depression model against collocated CloudSat radar weather, topography, and vegetation across different landscapes IWP retrievals so that the passive sensor retrievals will remain at all spatial-temporal scales. Dr. Gatebe and colleagues consistent with active sensor observations. In conjunction, she completed a Science Implementation Plan for future field computed the three-hourly diurnal cycle globally from the two experiments in multiple snow climates. Additionally, Dr. Gatebe years of GMI IWP retrieval results, and compared this against and colleagues organized a special session on SnowEx’17 at the several ARM ground “truths”. However, the comparison result did 75th Eastern Snow Conference in June 2018 at the NOAA Center not look very good, and Dr. Gong is examining this at present. for Weather and Climate Prediction in College Park, MD. In the This ongoing study did lead to a funded ROSES-CCST-2018 year ahead, work will continue on a Science and Implementation proposal (PI: Dr. Gong). This year, Dr. Gong also co-authored Plan for the SnowEx-ABoVE campaign in Alaska in winter 2020. A two published papers, one on volcanic aerosol-induced cloud site visit to Alaska is planned for early June 2019. scattering signals revealed from MISR observation, and the other on 3D wind retrieval using stereo technique.

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 39 Recently, Dr. Gong studied the IceCube measurements by to unveil the climatological relationships between clouds and identifying collocated CloudSat radar, CALIPSO and CATS lidars, precipitation,” and the other titled “Global Precipitation Regimes: and CALIPSO-IIR retrieved ice cloud properties (IWP and effective A Dataset of Recurring Precipitation Patterns”; the second was size). The results agree well with model predictions. These efforts selected for funding. In the coming year, Dr. Jin will work on the also led to a proposal submitted to the ROSES-RRNES-2019 study of cloud-precipitation relationship with a new version of the call (PI: Dr. Gong). She also learned to run the ARTS radiative IMERG precipitation dataset. transfer model, and is learning how to use Python to I/O with the model as well as to make plots. In the coming year, Dr. Gong Additionally, Dr. Jin collaborates with Dr. Kyu-Myong Kim on will continue calibrating, reprocessing and delivering the Level 1 researching cloud in the East Asia domain; Dr. Jin derived East IceCube radiance data, and write a related manuscript. Asian cloud regimes using k-means clustering. This work will continue going forward. Dr. Jie Gong (sponsor: D. Barahona) works on another task, designing the ice cloud re-classification algorithm, to conduct Dr. Sergey Korkin (sponsor: A. Lyapustin) has been developing satellite data analysis and to provide the data for regional and numerical software for light scattering in Earth’s atmosphere global model evaluation. Dr. Gong computed the 3-hourly diurnal for passive polarized remote sensing systems. He presented cycle globally from the second year of GPM Microwave Imager his work at the 15th Asia Oceania Geosciences Society Ice Water Path (GMI IWP) retrieval results, and compared against (AOGS) Annual Meeting in June 2018; at the 2018 AGU Fall several ARM ground “truth”. The comparison result does not look Meeting in December 2018, he authored and co-authored two very good unfortunately, and Dr. Gong at present is investigating presentations, “Development of Surface Polarized Reflection the reason. This ongoing study has led to a ROSES-CCST-2018 Model for Satellite Observations” and “Performance of DSCOVR proposal (PI: Dr. J. Gong) that was awarded funding. EPIC atmospheric correction algorithm” (Dr. Korkin is responsible for polarization correction data and accounting for sphericity of In addition to the diurnal cycle study, Dr. Gong also investigated the Earth atmosphere). the underlying thermodynamic and dynamic causes of the horizontally oriented ice crystals. She is preparing a paper Dr. Korkin submitted a proposal as PI, is a Co-I on a funded draft to summarize her findings. This year, she attended two NASA-ROSES proposal (PI: Dr. A. Lyapustin), and has concluded conferences and attended a seminar at ESSIC, College Park, MD. and begun work on USRA IRAD projects (see separate section). This year, he was lead author on two papers, one in JQSRT Going forward, Dr. Gong will complete the PD scenario paper and and one in AMT, and co-author of another paper in AMT. Dr. submit it to a peer-reviewed journal, and she will work on revising Korkin also co-authored a presentation led by A. Kokhanovsky a submitted GMI-CloudSat paper. (Vitrociset, Belgium) titled “The OLCI snow products: algorithms and examples from Sentinel-3A” (OLCI = Ocean and Land Color Dr. Daeho Jin (sponsor: L. Oreopoulos) investigates the Instrument).” In this work, Dr. Korkin is responsible for radiative relationship between precipitation and clouds as well as transfer simulation in thick media using his own radiative investigates climate phenomena using the concept of “cloud transfer code IPOL. IPOL is one of the few codes that has no limit regime”. This year, Dr. Jin detected a horizontal cluster of on thickness of scattering media, which is vital for snow studies. convective clouds using the concept of “cloud regimes,” and examined the geographical and seasonal distribution of the Additionally, Dr. Korkin has worked toward the completion of convective cluster system by its size. Healso examined the studying scientific software development under Unix/Linux. relationship among the horizontal cluster size of deep convection In particular, he created a make-file for his radiative transfer regimes, precipitation and OLR intensity, and Madden-Julian code SORD (currently in use by AERONET) and compiled this by Oscillation activity. At the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting, he presented using GNU Compilers Collection (GCC). The package is publicly a poster titled “Characteristics of Large-scale Tropical Convection available from the following: https://github.com/korkins/make_ Systems.” A related manuscript is being prepared for submission. gsord/blob/master/src/makefile. Further, in the coming year, he plans to further develop his radiative transfer code IPOL in C/ As a Co-I, Dr. Jin participated in two ROSES-PMM proposals, C++ (currently in Fortran). one titled “Combined analysis of GPM and MODIS datasets

40 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Dr. Korkin will continue to support the NASA GSFC MAIAC team Deep Blue products and gave presentations about Deep Blue at (PI: Dr. Alexei Lyapustin) and provide global LUTs for the current national and international meetings. (MODIS, EPIC) and future (VIIRS, ABI GOES, AHI Himawari) instruments. Collaboration will continue with the Atmospheric Moving forward, Dr. Sayer has one paper from his work on the Chemistry & Dynamic Laboratory’s Ozone Retrieval Group (PIs: Deep Blue project still under review. He will respond to eventual Drs. Pawan Bhartia and Nickolay Krotkov), and he will support reviewer comments as appropriate and work to make any their spherical RT codes intercomparison. Dr. Korkin plans to necessary revisions for journal publication of this paper. This will present on Radiative Transfer Software at USRA, Columbia, MD, end his involvement with this task. (As of Sept 2018, Dr. Sayer and to discuss his research at AGU 2019, Electromagnetic & began working with the Ocean Ecology Laboratory/Code 616.) Light Scattering 2019, SPIE Remote Sensing 2019, and others. Dr. Jackson Tan (sponsor: G. Huffman) conducts research Dr. Benjamin Marchant (sponsor: S. Platnick) develops and comprised of three components: the Integrated Multi-satellitE maintains operational algorithms for MODIS, VIIRS, eMAS cloud Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) V06 algorithm; an approach to optical products. This past year, he conducted an evaluation create a unified set of Weather States dataset from MODIS study of the MODIS multilayer cloud detection algorithm through and International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) comparisons with CALIOP and CloudSat products. He presented observations; and conducting a combined analysis of his work at several conferences (e.g., 2018 AGU Fall meeting precipitation (including, but not limited to, IMERG and the cloud and the International Cloud Working Group - ICWG). He also regimes from MODIS, ISCCP, and the unified MODIS-ISCCP continued work on a machine-learning framework to improve the product). cloud thermodynamic phase classification and the multilayer detection algorithms. The project was presented at the first NASA The Integrated Multi-SatellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) Goddard Workshop on Artificial Intelligence on November 2018. dataset is the global, gridded precipitation dataset from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. IMERG V06, As in previous years, the bulk of Dr. Andrew Sayer’s efforts the latest version of IMERG, is a major reprocessing of the (sponsor: N. C. Hsu) have been related to the ‘Deep Blue’ dataset, involving an overhaul devised by Dr. Tan of the morphing aerosol project (https://deepblue.gsfc.nasa.gov), led by his NASA component used to fill in gaps in the data field by propagating sponsor. Deep Blue uses satellite measurements from various microwave retrievals of precipitation using motion vectors derived instruments to determine aerosol loading (e.g., from mineral from model data. This reprocessing extends the IMERG record dust, sea spray, wildfire smoke, volcanic ash, industrial haze) globally, which is important for applications such as hazard avoidance, air quality/human health, and climate change. A major milestone this year was the release of Deep Blue aerosol products for the VIIRS sensor on the S-NPP satellite. Launched in late 2011, S-NPP is the first in the USA’s new generation of polar-orbiting meteorological satellites and will continue the EOS-era aerosol data records into the future. This year, Dr. Sayer published studies validating the over-land and over-water portions of this new data set, together with the latest version (Collection 6.1) of the MODIS Deep Blue over-land retrieval. He also co-authored published papers that described these latest algorithms (led by Dr. Hsu), and used an extension of Deep Blue to cloudy scenes to evaluate climate model simulations of Figure 1: A half-hour precipitation field from IMERG V06. The smoke above clouds in the southern Atlantic Ocean (led by Dr. M. colored strips indicate swaths of microwave sensors during this Mallet, Meteo-France). He also collaborated with Mr. Thomas Eck half-hour; the precipitation estimates within these swaths come (GESTAR/USRA) on a study investigating extreme smoke events directly from the microwave sensors. Outside these swaths, no during the 2015 Indonesian biomass burning season. In addition direct observations are available, so the estimates are derived to the above, Dr. Sayer assisted data users with their analyses of using the new morphing algorithm. (Provided by J. Tan.)

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 41 from 2014 back to 2000 (eventually 1998) and coverage from Dr. Yaping Zhou (sponsor: R. Levy) supported the MODIS Dark 60° latitudes to the poles. Dr. Tan is involved in the development, Target algorithm team in developing a dust retrieving algorithm testing, production, and documentation of IMERG V06. over ocean within the current Dark Target (DT-O) algorithm framework. Dust is a major atmosphere aerosol emitted from As part of the MEaSUREs project to produce a dataset of the world’s desert and arid regions and transported across the Unified Weather States from the International Satellite Cloud entire globe. Different from most other aerosols, dust aerosols Climatology Project (ISCCP) and the Moderate Resolution are characterized with coarse size, non-spherical shape and Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) cloud observations, absorptive chemical compositions. The DT-O retrieval algorithm separate datasets of ISCCP and MODIS cloud regimes need uses a pre-calculated look up table (LUT) that computes the to be produced first. Dr. Tan processed the underlying MODIS top-of-atmosphere spectral radiances with prescribed aerosol observations to facilitate the production of MODIS cloud regimes; models and surface, atmosphere properties, but none of the this processing allowed for a direct comparison between ISCCP aerosol models are non-spherical, which creates bias in the and MODIS observations, which he conducted preliminarily retrieved AOD, fine model fraction (FMF) and Angstrom Exponent to explore possible hurdles in combining both datasets. (AE). The problem could be corrected by using different (non- Furthermore, he extended the processing to the recently spherical) aerosol models; however, assuming the use of dust released MODIS-VIIRS Continuity Product, which potentially models would bias non-dust scenes. The strategy is first to enables cloud regimes to be produced from the Visible Infrared identify dust and then to apply non-spherical dust models for Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) dataset. identified dusty pixels. Initially, Dr. Zhou developed an algorithm for dust identification by using a combination of non-dust As a Co-I on a recently funded Precipitation Measurement aerosol index (NDAI) and a brightness temperature difference Missions (PMM) proposal, Dr. Tan has investigated the BT8.7-11um as a basic dust test that effectively utilizes dust precipitation properties of cloud regimes, in continuation of signatures in dark blue, near infrared and thermal infrared a study that has been in progress. This has culminated in a spectral channels. Next, she mainly focused on building an publication in the Journal of Climate. Meanwhile, to establish a ensemble dust model using a scattering database from Texas parallel comparison for cloud regimes, he has begun exploring A&M, and the GRASP radiative transfer model with assistance whether it is possible to produce precipitation regimes; from Dr. Reed Espinosa. The ensemble dust optical properties preliminary results are encouraging. were then put into a radiative transfer model to create new LUT for dust scenes. The stand-alone retrievals with the new dust In the year ahead, Dr. Tan will work on several analyses, such as model were compared with ground measurements from Aerosol that of the diurnal cycle in IMERG. Along with the IMERG team, Robotic Network (AERONET) and Marine Aerosol Network (MAN) he will assess the consistency across different years of IMERG, data. Both the dust detection algorithm and dust aerosol model which is a concern due to evolving satellite constellation and a were tested on global ocean for a month. A related manuscript switch in calibration source. Work will begin on the next version that documents the procedure and validation is near completion. of IMERG; while it is not slated for release for at least two years, In addition to the dust study, Dr. Zhou participated in other there are several outstanding issues from V06 that have to be validation and diagnostic activities within the Dark Target aerosol resolved. Regarding his work toward the ISCCP-MODIS Unified group. To eliminate large AOD bias in the high-latitude oceans, Weather States, Dr. Tan will begin testing various approaches in she investigated cloud mask for the aerosol retrieval for possible combining ISCCP and MODIS observations. Concurrently, he will cloud contamination, and she designed a new method to coordinate with collaborators to finalize the MODIS and VIIRS eliminate the cloudy contaminated pixels in the aerosol retrieval cloud regimes and perform some scientific analyses based on algorithm. In the coming months, Dr. Zhou plans to complete the these datasets. Dr. Tan plans to attend the 12th International dust detection and dust retrieval paper; she also will complete Precipitation Conference in Irvine, CA, to present the latest the evaluation of cloud mask in the ocean for the MODIS DT developments on IMERG. He also will attend the Asia-Oceania algorithm. Geoscience Society Annual Meeting in Singapore, presenting both the latest developments on IMERG and his work involving Dr. Yaping Zhou worked on NASA Grant #NNX15AB51G, “EPIC the precipitation properties of MODIS cloud regimes. Cloud Algorithms” (PI: S. Korkin, Program Mgr.: Y. Yang). The EPIC onboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) is a unique instrument that measures the sunlit side of the Earth

42 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 at the Earth’s L1 Lagrangian point approximately one million UMBC), Selwyn Hudson-Odoi (UMBC) and David Barbato (UMBC), miles away from the Earth. Dr. Yang developed the suite of cloud this training was coordinated with Washington State University products including cloud fraction, effective cloud pressure, who hosted the training in partnership with the Environmental height, and optical thickness, utilizing five of the total 10-channel Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10, and the US Forest Service spectral measurements. Dr. Zhou’s involvement was to conduct Pacific Northwest Research Station. Over the course of three a systematic evaluation and analysis of the EPIC cloud products days, 39 participants from 25 organizations attended the and improve the algorithm. In the year ahead, she will continue training. In addition to ARSET materials, invited speakers Dr. the evaluation of EPIC clouds with cloud products from MODIS, Susan O’Neill (USFS) and Dr. Yunha Lee (Washington State and will continue to analyze the diurnal cycle of EPIC clouds in Univ.) discussed their experiences and research in using satellite association of aerosol. aerosol products and modeling for air quality applications in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Zhou conducted a systematic evaluation of the cloud products using collocated GEO/LEO cloud products provided Dr. Follette-Cook assisted in the development of a four-session by a LaRC team. She assisted Dr. Yang with the EPIC science webinar series titled “High Temporal Resolution Air Quality team proposal on continuing validation and improvement of the Observations from Space” conducted by the NASA ARSET cloud products, and she contributed to Dr. Yang’s presentation program. This training was attended by 544 participants on EPIC science team meeting and a manuscript detailing the representing ~400 organizations from 73 countries. This course algorithm and initial validation. Additionally, Dr. Zhou analyzed was organized and instructed by Pawan Gupta (MSFC/STI) and the diurnal cycles of cloud properties, including cloud fraction, additionally supported by Brock Blevins (614/JCET), Elizabeth optical thickness and effective cloud pressure globally for winter Hook (613/SSAI), and Selwyn Hudson Odoi (614/JCET). This and summer months during the sun-lit hours. Characteristics of webinar series covered high temporal resolution geostationary diurnal variations were analyzed separately for different climatic satellite observations for air quality applications. Attendees regions. She was a co-author of a related presentation titled learned about new and upcoming geostationary missions “DSCOVR-EPIC L2 Cloud Products and Applications to Cloud covering the Americas, Asia, and Africa (GOES, HIMAWARI, GOCI, Diurnal Cycle Studies” at the AGU Fall Meeting in December. GEMS, INSAT), as well as current data availability and access. The training featured guest speakers Dr. Amy Huff (Penn State/ NOAA), Dr. Myungje Choi (Yonsei University, South Korea), and Dr. Prakash Chauhan (Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, India). CODE 614: ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND DYNAMICS LABORATORY Additionally, Drs. Follette-Cook and Gupta are developing a three- session webinar series titled “High Resolution NO2 Monitoring Dr. Melanie Follette-Cook (sponsor: S. Uz) develops webinars from Space with TROPOMI” that will introduce users to TROPOMI and conducts training sessions on use of satellite data for air data. Attendees will learn how to access and analyze OMI and quality applications under the NASA Applied Sciences ARSET TROPOMI data, and learn about current applications that use project. The goal is to increase utilization of NASA remote these data. This webinar is scheduled for late May 2019. sensing data sets among air quality scientists at universities, other federal agencies, state agencies, non-governmental For her second task, Dr. Melanie Follette-Cook (sponsor: organizations, and foreign entities. The content of these course B. Duncan) oversees the performance and evaluation of materials will be based on collaborative research on tropospheric meteorological and chemical simulations of the four DISCOVER- chemistry observations from satellite to be conducted between AQ campaigns. By using model output along with observations Dr. Follette-Cook and civil servant scientists in the Atmospheric made during DISCOVER-AQ, she will diagnose and characterize Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory at Goddard. the relationship between column quantities and surface concentrations during the campaigns. She evaluated high- In July 2018, Dr. Follette-Cook and Dr. Pawan Gupta (formerly resolution model output for three of the four DISCOVER-AQ 614/USRA) conducted an in-person training, “Satellite Remote deployments (Maryland, California, and Colorado) and is Sensing of Dust, Fires, Smoke, and Air Quality” as part of the overseeing the design, development, and evaluation of a NASA Applied Remote Sensing Training (ARSET) Program. With simulation for the Texas deployment. In addition to model assistance from Elizabeth Hook (613/SSAI), Brock Blevins (614/ evaluation, Dr. Follette-Cook is evaluating NO2 vertical column

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 43 densities (VCDs) from the GeoTASO (flown during the KORUS- AQ campaign), GCAS (flown during the Texas and Colorado DISCOVER-AQ deployments), and ACAM instruments (flown during the Maryland and California DISCOVER-AQ deployments). VCDs from these remote sensing instruments are being evaluated against surface column observations by Pandora instruments and in situ aircraft observations. Dr. Lok Lamsal (GESTAR/USRA) presented the results from this work at the American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Follette-Cook was a co-author on this presentation titled “Systematic Analysis of DISCOVER-AQ Nitrogen Dioxide Observations for Improved Column-to-Surface Relationship Diagnosis.” Further, Dr. Follette-Cook continued work on the Aura/ACMAP funded project: “Deriving Surface NO2 from Orbital and Suborbital Observations: Maximizing the Use of Current and Future NASA Data for Tropospheric Composition and Air Quality Studies” (PI: L. Lamsal). In the coming year, she will continue her work on this project and contribute to several manuscripts currently in development.

Dr. Hiren Jethva (sponsor: O. Torres) conducted research for a variety of projects, including work related to the Aura-OMI aerosol Figure 1: This figure shows the evolution of the PyroCb event in product, related to creating long-term aerosol record from UV terms of UV Aerosol Index measured from EPIC. (Provided by H. sensors (MEaSUREs project), and detailed research on a PyroCb Jethva.) event of the Aug 2017 British Columbia Wildfire.

Dr. Jethva contributed significantly towards understanding the He performed a validation analysis of the satellite-retrieved evolution of a PyroCb (pyrocumulonimbus) event of the Aug above-cloud aerosol optical depth by comparing against the 2017 British Columbia wildfire by using observations from the ORACLES airborne direct measurements of aerosols. The EPIC sensor onboard DSCOVR satellite parked at the L1 point. AOD dataset acquired from the airborne sensors HSRL-2 and Assuming a set of aerosol models, he conducted radiative 4STAR operated during ORACLES campaign over Southeastern transfer calculations to create look-up tables to use in the Atlantic in 2016 and 2017 was used to validate AOD above retrievals, carried out a detailed analysis of the retrieved product cloud retrievals from Aura-OMI, Aqua-MODIS, and DSCOVR-EPIC including stratospheric mass injection calculations, made sensors. numerous graphics and animations to track the movement of the smoke plume, and validated aerosol retrievals against ground- Dr. Jethva concluded the GEO-CAPE aerosol task by revising based AERONET measurements. The results derived in this the validation of MODIS land aerosol products using collection process are included in a manuscript led by Dr. Torres. For his 061 dataset. He submitted a related manuscript describing the work with Aura-OMI and Sentinel5-P TropOMI aerosol products, results to Atmos. Meas. Tech. Dr. Jethva conducted the comparison of SSA products of OMI and SKYNET using the latest datasets from the respective sensors. The launch of TropOMI sensor onboard ESA’s Sentinel5-P The results were described in a manuscript that was submitted platform has offered an excellent opportunity of extending the to the journal Atmos. Meas. Tech. He performed radiative near-UV aerosol record from heritage sensors TOMS and OMI. transfer calculations to create aerosol look-up table (LUT) for the Dr. Jethva, using his expertise and experience of working with retrievals of dust aerosols over the ocean for Aura-OMI, Nimbus-7 the OMI aerosol product, had developed a merged version of the & EarthProbe-TOMS, and DSCOVR-EPIC algorithms. near-UV algorithm code that delivers aerosol retrievals in clear- as well cloudy-sky atmosphere. The developed software code

44 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 was successfully tested on the available TropOMI Level 1 data global product of the above-cloud aerosols and one presenting and now is ready for global processing. the results on the link between agricultural burning and air quality over northern India. He also presented a talk on OMI Aerosol product during the Annual AEROCENTER Update in July 2018. In October 2018, Dr. Jethva attended the 17th AEROCOM followed by 6th AEROSAT meeting held in College Park, MD, and presented his work on creating a global, decadal record of absorbing aerosols above clouds using satellite observations. At the 2018 AGU Fall meeting in December, he presented a poster titled “How good are the retrievals of above-cloud aerosol optical depth from satellites? A validation effort using ORACLES-1 Direct Airborne Measurements over Southeast Atlantic.” In March 2019, he also gave an AEROCENTER talk presenting the work on agricultural burning and air quality over northern India. He remotely participated and presented a similar talk at the Crop Burning-Air quality Workshop jointly organized by RTI International and the US Embassy in New Delhi.

Among his various publications, Dr. Jethva was lead author on a paper published in the journal Aerosols and Air Quality Research (AAQR) titled “Agricultural Burning and Air Quality over Northern India: A Synergistic Analysis using NASA’s A-train Satellite Data Image: This image was part of a 2018 paper led by Dr. Jethva and Ground Measurements” (see image). Additionally, his published in AAQR, was featured on the Earth Observatory benchmark work on creating a global record of aerosols above website, and was an Atmospheric Sciences highlight in August cloud titled “A 12-year long global record of optical depth of 2018. (Provided by H. Jethva.) absorbing aerosols above the clouds derived from the OMI/ OMACA algorithm” was published in Atmos. Meas. Tech. He also co-authored a paper led by Dr. Omar Torres published in Atmos. Dr. Jethva also works on the MEaSUREs project toward creating Meas. Tech. Additionally, he contributed as co-author to three a long-term record of aerosols from TOMS and OMI UV sensors. collaborative papers, all published in Atmos. Chem. Phys. He contributed significantly to the development of the long-term satellite record of aerosols from these sensors. The various Among other plans, Dr. Jethva will work towards creating an tasks included the preparation of aerosol look-up tables through aerosol look-up table and develop an algorithm for the retrievals radiative transfer calculations, an in-depth data analysis of of aerosol layer height from EPIC-DSCOVR observations. He also processed versions, and the validation of aerosol retrievals using will process the UV aerosol algorithm on TropOMI observations ground-based measurements. One of the essential contributions and perform an analysis of the retrievals including validation. was the wavelength conversion of the UV Aerosol Index (UVAI) through a rigorous regression approach applied to the Nimbus-7/ Mr. Matthew Kowalewski (sponsor: S. Janz) provides scientific TOMS observations. The results derived by Dr. Jethva in this and engineering support to the Radiometric Calibration and process have helped to extend the temporal record of UVAI Development Laboratory (RCDL) at NASA GSFC. This support from Nimbus-7 to EarthProbe, resulting in a two-decade-long includes proof of concept instrumentation, calibration standards, consistent record of absorbing aerosols globally. and technical guidance to the backscatter ultraviolet (BUV) community. Programs supported include GEO-CAPE, TEMPO, This year, Dr. Jethva presented his various research in NPP and JPSS OMPS, and multiple Earth Venture Suborbital publications and at conferences and meeting. He also campaigns. contributed to several outreach opportunities, detailed in a separate section of this report. In June, he gave two talks at the The Radiometric Calibration and Development Facility 15th AOGS 2018 meeting held in Hawaii, one describing the OMI (RCDF) Laboratory (RCDL) develops and maintains prototype

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 45 instrumentation and components for use in solar backscatter requirements were met. In the coming year, Mr. Kowalewski research. Mr. Kowalewski has ensured that the technical will lead the MASTAR engineering team in developing a high- activities of the lab were performed and met the goals and altitude balloon version of the instrument. Additionally, for the direction of the lab’s Principal Investigator. In addition to Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite directing the technical aspects of the lab’s work, he ensured the (OMPS), Mr. Kowalewski served as government science team safety of the facility through frequent internal safety reviews, representative during the J2 OMPS integrated sensor suite (ISS) quarterly safety assessments to the Division, and non-ionizing new calibration trending test. While at the instrument vendor radiation (i.e., laser) safety inspections and certifications. site at Ball Aerospace, Mr. Kowalewski evaluated test setups and preliminary data and provided recommendations for additional For the Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study (LISTOS) test enhancements. field campaign, Mr. Kowalewski led the RCDF team in conducting instrument operations and data processing. The purpose of the In other activities, Mr. Kowalewski served as consulting campaign was to investigate the land-water transition of ozone instrument scientist for Code 614’s Digital Array Gas filter production in and around the Long Island New York region. In Radiometer (DAGR) sensor and for a new Earth imaging order to do this, the LISTOS campaign utilized both the GEOCAPE sensor for the Lunar Orbital Platform (LOP-G). The purpose of Airborne Simulator (GCAS) and Geostationary Trace gas and DAGR is to demonstrate and evaluate the gas filter correlation Aerosol Sensor Optimization (GEOTASO) instruments. Even radiometry (GFCR) measurement of methane using scattered though this campaign was based semi-locally at NASA Langley sunlight. The LOP-G imager is a dual use science and technology Research Center, the team was challenged by providing long- demonstration being developed in conjunction with Goddard’s duration operations support (5 months), multiple instruments, Laser Communications group within the Technology Enterprise and multiple aircraft that necessitated performing more than and Mission Pathfinder Office (TEMPO). Lastly, Mr. Kowalewski five instrument integration/de-integration activities. In addition was awarded a grant to provide systems engineering support to to ensuring the data quality, instrument health and operations of the Navy Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) on the GCAS and GEOTASO, Mr. Kowalewski led the team in performing Long-Range Passive Adaptive Optic Compensation (LPAC) project. test flights of his newly developed Multi-axis Optical Airborne Tracker (MOAT). This proto-type sensor accessory was developed Mr. Tom Kucsera (sponsor: M. Chin) supports global and regional to enhance GEOTASO’s products through higher signal-to-noise modeling and analysis of atmospheric aerosols and trace direct sun observations. The MOAT system passed multiple test gases, and supports NASA-sponsored observational programs. flight evaluations for aircraft and crew safety, while active and Among other responsibilities, he compiles observations from passive sun tracking were demonstrated during the flights with satellite, ground-based, and in-situ measurements for model performances that met expectations. The next year will bring one input, evaluation, and improvement; executes and evaluates anticipated field deployment of the GCAS spectrometer to fly on atmospheric modeling codes; and performs software and the NASA ER2 in support of the FIREX-AQ mission in summer hardware management, as well as computer administration 2019. GCAS will provide trace gas observations resulting from duties. This year, Mr. Kucsera processed the CMIP6 emission forest fires in the western continental US. data, a total of approximately 35 years of data products from 1979-2014 inclusively. In addition, pre-industrial and historical The Multi-Angle Stratospheric Aerosol Radiometer (MASTAR), data for the years 1750 and 1850 were processed. All generated a proto-type cubesat radiometer system, completed its official results were made available for continuing analyses and grant period of performance after the successful final review with atmospheric modeling runs. Also, Mr. Kucsera processed the Goddard’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO). The ESTO MAIAC Aerosol climate model gridded data for the years 2000- leadership was impressed with the team’s performance and 2017. From this data, he produced enhanced data products offered additional financial support to continue development and created images. The CCI-GOMOS satellite aerosol extinction of the system for test flights on a high-altitude balloon in 2020. data products were processed. The MODIS (Terra and Aqua) As lead systems engineer, Mr. Kowalewski oversaw all aspects L3 aerosol optical depth data (with dark target and deep blue of the systems development, including procurement, optical combined) were processed, and all results were archived on the design, mechanical design, and electrical design. He coordinated local computer network for collaborative research efforts. the efforts of both civil servants and contracting engineers with the MASTAR science team in order to ensure the science

46 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 All of the Windows computers that Mr. Kucsera maintains were presentations flowing smoothly and speakers adhering to a strict updated from Windows 7 to Windows 10, and he installed and demanding time schedule. Microsoft Office 2016 on all group maintained workstations. He fully implemented smartcard login onto all of his group’s Dr. Leslie Lait’s (sponsor: P. Newman) research activities managed Apple computers. This enhanced the security of these center on investigating the dynamical context of atmospheric computers by now requiring two-factor authentication to log on measurements, to aid in their interpretation. Data from a wide to these computers. Two-factor authentication was also put into variety of sources are analyzed with an emphasis on using operation for the Linux workstations that he manages which techniques that assist in combining disparate data sources increased their security posture as well. All OS systems that he to yield a unified picture of the whole. In addition, support manages for his group now meet the NASA-required mandate of is provided to aircraft field experiments, including the use of two-factor authentication. forecasts and modeling results to aid in planning aircraft flights to maximize the scientific return and test the feasibility of various Mr. Kucsera also compiled purchase requests for computer flight path scenarios. hardware, including an Apple laptop computer and related accessories, Microsoft laptops and IT-related products, and For the fourth and final deployment of the Atmospheric a Linux workstation. In preparation for the Office 365 NASA Tomography (ATom) field campaign through May 21, 2018, Dr. Agency-wide rollout, he provided conversion assistance for the Lait provided support remotely from Goddard Space Flight Center. migration of his group members’ NASA email accounts. These He revised flight plans and distributed the resulting updates advanced preparations allowed for the mail migration process to mission participants, along with forecast data. He prepared for his group members to proceed without any major issues. All and delivered several of the daily meteorological briefings. systems handled by Mr. Kucsera were also routinely managed During flights, he participated in real-time communications and maintained. with investigators onboard the NASA DC-8, delivering updated meteorological information. Once the mission ended with the Mr. Kucsera installed and configured the DR DAS environmental final flight on May 21, Dr. Lait updated meteorological plots for all acquisition and database software packages on the newly the flights online. He also generated and submitted to the data acquired WNATIVE computer. This package is used for equipment archive meteorological data files for each flight. At the request integration and data archiving. The supplied HASP key and the of mission management, he drafted a document of guidelines associated software were successfully installed. Communication for submitting model data products to the mission archive. with the software and the instruments needed to be properly He also generated test files of four-dimensional data files of configured, unfortunately, access to the old computer system’s GMAO GEOS5 meteorological and chemical data for the ATom configuration files were severely restricted since the old archive, consulting with mission and archive personnel about computer was unable to boot up and had severe disk drive standardized variable names. In addition, he refreshed the local issues. However, Mr. Kucsera was able to recover important copy of the ATom data archive. configuration files and valuable settings from the old system. With this retrieved information, the new computer setup is He continued his analysis of profiles sampled by the ATom now working flawlessly and is properly communicating with the missions, comparing measurements with MERRA2 data and scientific instrumentation. putting the MERRA2 data into their climatological context. An analysis of water vapor was added to previous temperature In 2018, Mr. Kucsera was co-author on two articles, both and wind field analyses. At the ATom Science Team Meeting published in Atmos. Chem. Phys. The first was titled “HTAP2 held in Boulder, CO, in November, he participated in planning multi-model estimates of premature human mortality due to discussions regarding writing a paper describing the intercontinental transport of air pollution and emission sectors”, meteorological context of the four ATom field campaigns. In and the second was titled “Multi-model study of HTAP II on sulfur preparation, Dr. Lait began extracting subsets of meteorological and nitrogen deposition”. He also attended the NOAA Satellite fields for the ATom flights and making prototype plots from Aerosol Workshop, Sept. 25-26, 2018. In October, Mr. Kucsera them. The prototypes were circulated among others on the attended the 17th AEROCOM/6th AEROSAT workshop held ATom meteorological support team for comments. He devised at the NOAA College Park, MD facility. He provided technical a novel technique of assessing the atypicality of regional flow support for the speakers with their presentations, which kept the fields during ATom, based on Empirical Orthogonal Functions

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 47 (EOFs). Applying the technique to NCEP/NCAR reanalysis coordinate to the model in addition to the existing vertical geopotential height fields at 925, 500, and 250 hPa, he was coordinates, pressure and potential temperature. able to characterize how unusual the ATom flights’ environments were compared to the years 1980 through 2018. His results Finally, Dr. Lait developed a set of rotation equations for were presented in a poster at the ATom Science Team Meeting. rigorously accurate vector interpolation near the poles, and He then began refining and improving the method, using simplified them to an approximate form that matches equations streamfunctions instead of geopotential heights. He verified that more commonly used elsewhere. the results are independent of the time order of the sampled fields, and that fields separated by more than five days can be For his work with data systems management and development, considered independent of each other. To examine uncertainties Dr. Lait revised modules within the flight planner software, in the atypicality assessments, he conducted a number of Monte improving the accuracy and performance of simulating certain Carlo simulations. ascent and descent maneuvers. He made revisions to the “niagara” workflow processing system, improving how time zones Planning has begun for the Dynamics and Chemistry Of The are handled. Dr. Lait performed maintenance on the science Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) field campaigns, scheduled data automailer facility, to remedy a problem with date selection. to fly over the next few years from Salina, Kansas, using the He also diagnosed and fixed a failure in the automated renewal NASA ER-2. Dr. Lait participated in several teleconferences and of web certificates, and implemented measures to improve the contributed to discussions on meteorological support and flight security of the Laboratory’s mail software. He also developed and planning. He also began testing certain IT procedures for use deployed standardized procedures within the ACD Unix Cluster, in the field, and he wrote and distributed several documents to implement NASA’s new requirements for PIV smartcard describing aspects of the data system. In late April, Dr. Lait authentication. These procedures included the ability to change traveled to NASA’s Ames Research Center for discussions on card readers on a live system and a procedure for updating DCOTSS and other mission support activities. NASA-issued certificate authority certificates.

Dr. Lait continued to develop the gigatraj trajectory model library Dr. Lok Lamsal (sponsor: N. Krotkov) leads the effort to derive toolkit. He added a new data source, the GEOS fp Data Portal, NO2 vertical column amounts from sub-orbital sensors (ACAM, and refactored the MERRA and MERRA2 data source modules GCAS, and Geo-TASO) that participated during the DISCOVER-AQ to take advantage of a common code base. He also improved AND KORUS-AQ field campaigns. His team has previously used a the caching of data on disk storage; this included adding clean site for reference spectra to be used in the DOAS spectral expiration dates to cached objects containing forecast data so fitting procedure. This technique provides differential slant that they can easily be superseded by subsequent forecasts. column density (dSCD), instead of slant column density (SCD). A Dr. Lait added a new MetSelector module to enable users to major limitation of the approach is that the NO2 amount in the select any desired data source at model run time. Several parcel reference spectra needs to be accounted for but is unknown. generator modules were added to initialize trajectory starting This problem can be addressed by creating reference spectra locations in new, convenient configurations. In addition, parcels from a clean site where NO2 measurements are available from initialized at different times can now be run together. He also a ground-based instrument. Creating reference spectra over revised the model documentation. With these improvements the ground site and accounting for NO2 from the reference completed, Dr. Lait then implemented and tested a simple site provides considerable improvements in the quality of NO2 gigatraj model based on the toolkit, tracing trajectories using retrievals form these air-borne sensors. In addition, Dr. Lamsal several parcel configurations. The tests were done isentropically, has calculated air mass factor (AMF) using the VLIDORT model quasi-isentropically, and kinematically. The distances between with MODIS bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) the parcels’ starting locations and their ending locations were for surface reflectivity and diurnally varying NO2 profiles from examined after being run forward five days and then backwards, the high resolution regional model (WRF/CMAQ) for troposphere and these distances were found to be very small. Dr. Lait also and from GMI for upper troposphere and stratosphere. Most compared the gigatraj model results to output from the ftraj and of these simulations were performed by his collaborative ktraj models currently used within Code 614’s Lab. The gigatraj team, with the exception of a simulation for Texas, for which trajectories compare very favorably with those from the other his team is developing WRF/CMAQ simulations with improved models. He then began adding a pressure altitude as a vertical emissions and meteorology. Moreover, his team has conducted

48 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 several sensitivity studies to diagnose the factors affecting the emissions and trends of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and co-emitted relationship between columns and surface concentrations. gases.

Dr. Lamsal is Co-I of the NASA funded project titled “Taking OMI As co-I of the NASA-funded investigation titled “Extending

NO2 to the next level: Inferring global fossil fuel CO2 emissions NASA’s EOS SO2 and NO2 data records from Aura/OMI to Suomi using OMI NO2 data improved with critical algorithm updates” NPP/OMPS” (PI: C. Li), Dr. Lamsal leads the development of

(PI: N. Krotkov). He is responsible for OMI NO2 algorithm NO2 products from NPP OMPS instrument. In contrast to other improvement, reprocessing, assessment, and release of data prior UV/VIS instrument (e.g., OMI), the spectral coverage of products. Currently, his team is preparing to release a new the OMPS instrument is only up to 380 nm, well below the version (version 4.0) of the NASA OMI standard NO2 products. conventional visible (402-465 nm) windows for NO2 retrievals. The major changes from the prior to the current version include Dr. Lamsal and his colleague Dr. Sergey Marchenko have the following: 1) the use of more accurate and high-resolution adapted the OMI operational spectral fitting algorithm to OMPS, surface reflectivity information from MODIS BRDF; 2) the and demonstrated that the OMPS wavelengths can be used use of improved cloud information from a new cloud product to retrieve NO2. However, the OMPS’s UV measurements lead

(OMCDO2N) that maintains the consistency between NO2 and to decreased sensitivity as compared to visible wavelengths cloud algorithms; 3) the improvement in the treatment of terrain as the retrieval sensitivity is dependent on spectral contrast pressure using ETOPO database and NASA MERRA-2 model; and in the NO2 absorption coefficient and on the scene reflectivity. 4) a minor adjustment in stratosphere-troposphere separation Moreover, OMPS measurements are affected by poor quality of scheme. An initial evaluation has shown that the new products the wavelength registration and radiometric radiance-irradiance agree better with independent satellite and ground based match, impacting NO2 retrievals. To address this problem, his measurements. The improved NO2 data are used to infer the team has used radiance measurements from high level optically emissions of NOx and co-emitted CO2 gas. thick cloud to create reference spectra, and them used in the spectral fitting procedure. Dr. Lamsal used VLIDORT model to For the NASA-funded MEaSUREs (Making Earth System Data calculate scattering table required to calculate AMF at the middle

Records for Use in Research Environments) proposal titled “Multi- of the fitting window. A priori NO2 profiles are taken from a GMI Decadal Nitrogen Dioxide and Derived Products from Satellites simulation. He successfully adapted the OMI algorithm for AMF (MINDS),” this activity will develop consistent long-term global calculation and applied the stratosphere-troposphere separation trend-quality data records of tropospheric NO2 columns and scheme to estimate both stratospheric and tropospheric value-added surface NO2 concentrations and NOx emissions NO2 columns. An assessment of OMPS stratospheric and by applying the mature NO2 algorithms developed for the NASA tropospheric NO2 columns with those from OMI and TROPOMI

Aura OMI to similar satellite spectrometers (GOME, SCIAMACHY, operational product suggests that the NO2 products from the

GOME-2). MINDS NO2 products are based on improved retrieval three instruments are highly consistent, albeit with somewhat techniques and the use of high-resolution auxiliary information. It larger noise in the OMPS data. includes the development of coupled and consistent algorithms for NO2 and cloud retrievals from UV-Visible hyperspectral Also, Dr. Lamsal is the PI of the Aura Science Team/ACMAP remote sensing measurements. The algorithm will be deployed proposal, “Deriving Surface nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from Orbital for the forthcoming version of the NO2 Standard Product from and Suborbital Observations: Maximizing the Use of Current the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) uses cloud parameters and Future NASA Data for Tropospheric Composition and Air from a newly developed oxygen dimer (O2-O2) cloud algorithm, Quality Studies”. A method that consists of NO2 retrievals from resulting in more accurate tropospheric and stratospheric NO2 OMI requires a surface-to-column relationship simulated with a vertical column densities. The new NO2 and cloud algorithms are chemical transport model (CTM) to infer surface concentrations. self-consistent and take advantage of high-resolution information A comparison of the OMI-derived surface NO2 with the ground- from MODIS-derived Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution based measurements showed significant correlation, but the Function (BRDF) data that accurately describe surface angular degree of agreement between the two datasets varied with reflection. Adaptation of the OMI algorithm to GOME is ongoing. locations. The study shows that OMI-derived surface NO2 Applying this synergistic approach to current and past satellite observations supplement sparse surface monitoring sites in the instruments, this activity will create a consistent long-term Land Use Regression (LUR) model, thereby better resolving intra-

(1996-present) NO2 data record for the improved inference of urban variation in ambient NO2, enhancing predictive power of

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 49 the model, and providing data useful for epidemiological studies. to warm in summer and cool in other seasons. The mixed layer However, Dr. Lamsal’s preliminary work with the DISCOVER-AQ temperature budget was diagnosed to quantitatively assess the observations has revealed that several factors complicate the relative importance of surface heating, Ekman advection, and relationship between satellite-observed columns and surface entrainment in determining the surface temperature response. data. For instance, there is a need to characterize the PBL They found that surface heating plays a dominate role in the heights to improve the column-to-surface relationship on a summer Southern Ocean surface warming. The increase of day-to-day basis and certainly for an hour-to-hour basis for the the summer surface heating is caused by the decrease of the geosynchronous TEMPO satellite. mixed layer depth, which is due to ozone recovery-induced weakening of surface wind stirring. Entrainment cooling is mainly Dr. Feng Li’s (sponsor: P. Newman) research activities focus responsible for Southern Ocean surface cooling outside of on chemistry-climate interactions, stratosphere-troposphere summer season. The entrainment response is mostly determined coupling, and atmosphere-ocean interactions. Using the GEOS- by two processes: weakening of the upward heat transport 5 model with coupled ocean and interactive stratospheric below the mixed layer and shoaling of the mixed layer. These two chemistry as the main tool, Dr. Li investigates how atmospheric processes contribute nearly equally to entrainment cooling in processes, particularly stratospheric ozone depletion and summer and fall. These findings have important implications to recovery, affect the ocean circulation and sea ice, and how understand model biases in Southern Ocean temperature and oceanic processes influence the atmosphere. Work from this Antarctic sea ice. Dr. Li presented these results at the 2018 AGU past year included co-authoring a paper titled “Climate Response Fall meeting (Washington, DC) and the 20th AMS Conference on to Hydrofluorocarbons”, led by Dr. Margaret Hurwitz (SSAI). Middle Atmosphere (Phoenix, AZ). Additionally, Dr. Li will submit a Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are replacements for the CFCs and manuscript on the impact of ozone recovery on Southern Ocean other ozone depleting substances and their emissions have surface temperature. increased rapidly since 1990. This study investigates the surface climate impact of HFCs using the coupled ocean Goddard Dr. Feng Li works on a second grant, “Understanding Earth Observing System Chemistry-Climate Model (GEOSCCM). Stratospheric Water Vapor and Ozone Feedbacks and Their A scenario was tested in which the surface concentrations of Impacts on Global Warming” (program manager: Dr. K. Jucks). five HFC species are increased from near-zero (representing The objective is to quantify and constrain the stratospheric water 2000-like climate conditions) to twice business-as-usual values vapor and ozone responses and feedbacks to global warming projected for 2100. This simulation demonstrates that HFCs using the coupled GEOS-5 atmosphere-ocean model and NASA have a marked impact on global climate: the global mean satellite observations. surface air temperature increases by 0.95K and precipitation increases 2%. The strongest surface warming occurs in the Stratospheric water vapor, a greenhouse gas, has a positive Arctic. The HFC temperature and precipitation response patterns climate feedback. Decreases in stratospheric water vapor will are indistinguishable from the responses to an equivalent warm the stratosphere but cool the troposphere and surface. radiative forcing perturbation by CO2. In the year ahead, Dr. Li will Satellite and in-situ observations revealed a sharp decrease prepare a manuscript on the impact of increasing HFCs on the of stratospheric water vapor after the year 2000: lower stratosphere. stratospheric water vapor dropped about 10% between 2001- 2005 and 1996-2000. Researchers have hypothesized that Dr. Feng Li also works on two grants. The first (program this large stratospheric water vapor decadal change strongly manager: Dr. D. Considine), “Understanding Antarctic Sea affected the surface temperature. Two 80-year time-slice Ice Change in a Warming Climate”, aims to advance the simulations were conducted in order to test this hypothesis. understanding of why Antarctic sea ice extent has increased The two experiments have the same setup except that the since the late 1970s, and why climate models have failed to stratospheric water vapor in the second experiment was simulate the observed Antarctic sea ice expansion. Dr. Li and reduced by 10%. The results show that stratospheric water vapor team investigated the impact of stratospheric ozone recovery decrease causes significant cooling in the Arctic, particularly on Southern Ocean surface temperature using the coupled- over the Greenland Sea. The cooling is strongest in winter and ocean GEOSCCM. A pair of four-member ensemble simulations weakest in summer. Dr. Li and team found that an increase in for 2005-2099 were conducted. The simulations show that sea ice cover plays an essential role in the amplification of Arctic stratospheric ozone recovery causes the Southern Ocean surface cooling in response to stratospheric water vapor decreases. In

50 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 winter, an increase in sea ice cover reduces the heat exchange the sources and chemical factors dependent on organic aerosols- from ocean to atmosphere, leading to strong cooling over the formaldehyde relationships to provide more accurate organic Greenland Sea, while in summer, an increase in sea ice cover aerosol estimates and spatially- and temporally- resolved, reduces the incoming solar radiation and causes surface cooling. observation-based constraints for global model OA. Although Dr. Li presented these results at the 21st AMS Conference the proposal was not selected, it was scored as excellent/very on Atmospheric Chemistry (Phoenix, AZ). A manuscript on good. Dr. Liao was a Co-I on a mini-proposal titled “Reconciling the impact of stratospheric water vapor variability on surface measurements and model representations of remote temperature and a manuscript on stratospheric water vapor tropospheric NOx”, which was awarded for extra funding from feedback are both in progress. the ATom field campaign (https://espo.nasa.gov/atom/content/ ATom). Dr. Liao merged TOGA and other potential measurements Dr. Jin Liao (sponsor: T. Hanisco) supported the field study of to WAS merge dataset based on WAS data time stamp as model deploying formaldehyde instrument onboard Cessna aircraft inputs and ran the box model F0AMv3 to simulate the NOx and to measure formaldehyde around New York and Maryland- HOx concentrations for ATom 3 and ATom4. The results will be DC regions during LISTOS campaign in 2018 and FLAGGMD helpful when coworkers investigate the discrepancies between campaign in 2019. She also wrote codes in MATLAB to convert model and measured NO2 and NO. satellite HCHO L2 data (e.g., from OMI and TROPOMI) into area weighted gridded data. Dr. Liao will participate in the upcoming NASA FIREX-AQ field campaign in July-September, 2019. She also will start a new data Dr. Liao’s first author paper titled “Towards a satellite analysis such as looking into the impact of HCHO a priori profiles formaldehyde-in situ hybrid estimate for organic aerosol (from in situ airborne campaign and from global models) on abundance” was published in Atmos. Chem. Phys. this year. satellite HCHO vertical column over South Korea. Her paper discussed the study of estimating organic aerosol (OA) mass loadings from satellite formaldehyde data and in Dr. Fei Liu (sponsor: B. Duncan) estimates emissions and trends situ organic aerosol and formaldehyde relationships. The OA of SO2 and NOx inferred from Aura OMI satellite data. These estimates compare well with US EPA IMPROVE data obtained new emission estimates will help to improve the performances over summer months, with correlation performance comparable of climate and air quality models. She plans to continue to to intensively validated GEOS-Chem with IMPROVE OA and develop and augment the anthropogenic SO2 emission database superior to the satellite-derived total aerosol extinction with by investigating its uncertainty. In addition, she will augment

IMPROVE OA. She also co-authored a paper that has been the satellite capability for estimating CO2 emissions from accepted by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences large point sources based on satellite-based NOx emissions. of the United States of America (PNAS); this study was using Dr. Liu published her research in a paper titled “A new global satellite HCHO data to infer OH column. Additionally, Dr. Liao anthropogenic SO2 emission inventory for the last decade: a co-authored another paper titled “Anthropogenic enhancements mosaic of satellite-derived and bottom-up emissions” in Atmos. to production of highly oxygenated molecules from autoxidation” Chem. Phys. The new inventory is the first inventory with inclusion that also was published in PNAS this year. She also presented of satellite-detected sources that were not captured in previous her research at various meetings. Her talk titled “Towards a leading bottom-up inventories. This will help to improve models’ satellite formaldehyde-in situ hybrid estimate for organic aerosol performances by providing more accurate emission data. In the abundance” was given at the 2019 AMS annual meeting and at a coming year, Dr. Liu will work on quantifying the uncertainties of

614 lunch seminar. She gave another talk titled “The sources of the newly developed SO2 emission database based on the high- high organic aerosols in South Korea” at the KORUS-AQ Science resolution modelling SO2. Team meeting in August 2018 in Irvine, CA. She discussed the important contributions of local anthropogenic emissions She presented at the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting in December, compared to long distant transport of biomass burning air speaking on “A new global anthropogenic SO2 emission inventory masses to the high levels of organic aerosols detected during for the last decade: A mosaic of satellite-derived and bottom- KORUS-AQ. up emissions and its uncertainty.” She also gave a talk at the 2018 OMI Science Team Meeting. Dr. Liu submitted a NASA Dr. Liao was involved in proposals, as both PI and Co-I. Her first PI ROSES ACMAP proposal, which was based on her previous work proposal, submitted to NASA ROSES ACMAP, was about refining on developing a SO2 emission database by combining satellite-

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 51 based emission estimates and the conventional bottom-up SO2, HCHO, O3, CO, and in-situ measurements of CO, O3 and inventory. This proposal was selected for funding. Looking ahead, generated suitable evaluations plots. Her goal for next year is to Dr. Liu will attend the 2019 AURA science meeting in August implement the plotting codes into the standard GEOS-5 model. 2019, and also will prepare a manuscript about quantifying

CO2 emissions from power plants based on satellite-based NOx In other activities, Dr. Liu worked on her ACMAP project of emissions and bottom-up NOx to CO2 ratio. stratospheric impact on tropospheric ozone. She used O3 simulations from the high-resolution GEOS-5 Replay simulation Dr. Junhua Liu (sponsor: B. Duncan) works toward understanding (MERRA-2 GMI at 0.5deg horizontal resolution) and observations the processes affecting atmospheric composition in the from ozonesondes to investigate the factors controlling the troposphere and lower stratosphere, specifically the sources, observed interannual and trend variations in tropospheric O3 chemical evolution and transport pathways. Her research since 1990. She assessed and compared the role of changes in focuses on quantifying contributions of the stratospheric the following: IAV and trends of stratospheric ozone input; varying intrusion, surface biomass emissions and lightning to the trends in emissions of ozone precursors; the vertical extent observed interannual variations (IAV) and trends in tropospheric of the stratospheric impact on tropospheric ozone between

O3 and precursors during the past 20 years over the tropics and Europe and North America regions. The model reproduced the mid-latitude and investigating their interaction with the Earth’s observed anomalies over Europe region, but underestimated climate. these anomalies in the middle and lower troposphere over the North America region. At the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting and at the Dr. Liu worked with colleagues on the chemistry forecasting AMS 2019 Meeting, Dr. Liu gave a presentation titled “Dynamical briefing using GEOS-5 and GEOS-CF forecasting simulations for modulations of the Northern Hemisphere Winter-Spring ATom-4 Campaign in May 2018. Their chemical forecasts from Ozone Interannual Variability in the Troposphere and Lower the GMAO GEOS-5 and GEOS-CF model provided insight into Stratosphere during past 30 years.” She is writing a manuscript the chemical environments and source contributions for the for this work, and is working with her Co-I on the global STE diverse regions sampled by ATom campaign. She used ATom analysis using MERRA-2 GMI simulations. measurements and the global chemical model simulations from GEOS-5 and GMI-CTM to investigate the spatial and temporal Dr. Liu was a co-author on three papers this past year; one is

CO and O3 representativeness of the specific ATom flights currently in review with J. Geophys. Res. The paper titled “A during ATom-1 and -2. Her analysis focused on looking through new method (M3Fusion v1) for combining observations and the PDFs of CO and O3 from model simulations along the flight multiple model output for an improved estimate of the global track compared to over larger regions. The GEOS-5 global surface ozone distribution” was published in Geosci. Model model reproduces the observed background CO levels very well, Dev., and the paper titled “Global changes in the diurnal cycle including the timing and topography of CO enhancements during of surface ozone” was published in Atmospheric Environment. the ATom mission. CO sampled along the ATom transect is likely From November 2018 through March 2019, Dr. Liu gave several representative of typical regional variation over Pacific basin and presentations at the ATom science team meeting, Boulder, CO; N. Atlantic (20degN-80degN) for ATom-1; over N. and Trop. Pacific the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting, Washington, DC; the AMS meeting (20degS-80degN), Trop. Atlantic (20degN-20degS) for ATom 2019, Phoenix, AZ; and monthly Chemistry-Climate Model (CCM) -2. For ozone, the GMI-CTM model reproduces well-observed meetings in February and March.

O3 variations. O3 sampled along the ATom transect is likely representative of typical regional variation only over N. Atlantic Dr. Edward Nowottnick (sponsor: P. Colarco) evaluates Ozone high latitude (40degN-80degN) for ATom -1 (similar results for Monitoring Instrument (OMI) aerosol products in the context of ATom-2). She gave an oral presentation at the ATom science the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System version 5 (GEOS- team meeting in November 2018 titled “Spatial and Temporal 5) model and provides Observing System Simulation Support Representativeness of ATom Transects using GEOS-5 and GMI- (OSSE) and data analysis for spaceborne and aircraft lidar CTM Simulations” and is preparing a manuscript on this work. systems. In the past year, Dr. Nowottnick worked with the Cloud Aerosol Transport System (CATS) algorithms to improve daytime Dr. Liu work on setting up a chemistry evaluation package aerosol detection, cloud - aerosol discrimination, and aerosol for new runs of GEOS-5 model, CCM/CTM. She has collected typing. These modifications significantly improved CATS level-2 various observations including satellite measurements on NO2, cloud and aerosol products and were implemented in the final

52 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 CATS data reprocess, released in December 2018. He co- of the NASA GSFC-Scale Group, focused on looking at Small and authored two papers which are in review and in preparation, CubeSat next generation instrument concepts. respectively: “EARLINET evaluation of the CATS L2 aerosol backscatter coefficient product” by Proestakis et al., and “CATS Looking ahead, Dr. Nowottnick will continue to familiarize himself Level 2 Vertical Feature Mask Algorithms and Data Products: An with the GRASP retrievals code and will work with Dr. Peter Overview and Initial Assessment” by Yorks et al. Additionally, Dr. Colarco to test the code’s utility for combined lidar/polarimeter Nowottnick presented a poster titled “CATS Version 3 Aerosol retrievals. He also plans to support the Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL) Products and Use for Retrievals of Aerosol Extinction and Surface team during the NASA FireEx-AQ mission in Palmdale, CA during Air Quality with the NASA GEOS AGCM” at the AGU Fall Meeting summer 2019 and will be a member of the aerosol forecast team and 2019 Annual AeroCenter Poster Bash, and gave a talk titled for the NASA CAMP2Ex mission in the Philippines in Sept - Oct “New Retrieval Techniques using the NASA CATS Lidar and GEOS 2019.

AGCM: Applications for Extinction and PM2.5” at the AMS Annual Meeting. Under grant #NNX16AI08G, Dr. Edward Nowottnick (program manager: Dr. L. Chambers) utilizes lidar data to evaluate Dr. Nowottnick was a part of three proposals submitted to the assumed aerosol optical properties used in the NASA GEOS-5 NASA CloudSat and CALIPSO science team recompete (CCST): model and corrects them for biases. Using lidar observations of one as PI, two as co-I. Unfortunately, none of the proposals aerosols from the Cloud Aerosol Transport System (CATS) and the were selected and he is currently awaiting the official reviews. NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) modeling system, Additionally, Dr. Nowottnick was a co-I on the CLARINET EVS-3 Dr. Nowottnick previously developed a retrieval technique that concept (PI: Colarco) as the flight planning/forecasting lead, as produces vertical profiles of extinction and total attenuated well as the Science and Data Analysis Lead; however, despite backscatter using a 1-D ensemble-based variational (EnsVar) reviewing well, the proposal was not selected. In the next year, retrieval approach. This retrieval technique was modified to Dr. Nowottnick plans to submit a proposal to the NASA ROSES retrieve surface mass concentrations for particulates with

“Weather and Dynamics” call with a focus on exploring the diameters less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) informed by CATS impact of dust aerosols on African Weather. observations.

Dr. Nowottnick has been participating as a member of the Using one month of processed CATS-GEOS retrieved products, Science Impact Team as part of the Aerosols and Cloud, Dr. Nowottnick has been evaluating differences in aerosol Convection, and Precipitation Decadal Survey Dedicated types identified by the standard CATS level 2 product and those Observing System. His experience with aerosol typing, CATS- that are determined by the combined CATS-GEOS product. The

GEOS extinction and PM2.5 retrievals, and his work with Observing combined product will reflect mixtures of aerosols simulated by System Simulations Experiments (OSSEs), has been leveraged GEOS and therefore will have a more dynamic lidar ratio than while defining the A-CCP Science and Applications Traceability those assigned by the CATS standard aerosol typing algorithm. Matrix (SATM). In the coming year, Dr. Nowottnick will continue to serve as an A-CCP Science Impact Team member. Once the Dr. Nowottnick has begun processing a year of combined CATS/ SATM is finalized in the summer of 2019, OSSEs and sampling GEOS aerosol extinction retrievals for evaluation. As part of the studies will be conducted to assess different observing system effort, along with Dr. Arlindo da Silva, Dr. Nowottnick will evaluate strategies. Dr. Nowottnick will coordinate this effort with Drs. the utility of using a single wavelength lidar to vertically constrain Arlindo da Silva, Peter Colarco, and John Yorks. a global aerosol model as a means for improved aerosol typing from lidar. This work is very relevant to the Aerosols and Clouds, At NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Dr. Nowottnick has Convection and Precipitation (A-CCP) decadal survey’s dedicated continued to serve as an AeroCenter and Early Career Scientist observing system, which calls for a single wavelength backscatter Forum committee member. As an AeroCenter committee lidar as a desired capability. member, he has helped host seminar speakers and coordinated the Annual AeroCenter Poster Bash and AeroCenter Update. As Going forward, Dr. Nowottnick will continue to process retrievals an Early Career Scientist Forum committee member, he helped of aerosol extinction and PM2.5 using CATS and the GEOS to organize the NASA GSFC Code 600 Early Career Scientist aerosol transport model. He will evaluate the utility of this Forum, held in November 2018. Dr. Nowottnick is also a member approach for improved aerosol typing from space and as a

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 53 means to estimate noise level aerosol mass concentration using designed to evaluate the use of online convection versus reading a lidar and aerosol transport model. He expects to publish the convective mass fluxes from file when running the GEOS CTM. results from this evaluation in the upcoming year. The diagnostics showed that the stratospheric transport and the troposphere to stratosphere input remained essentially the Dr. Mark Olsen’s (sponsor: Q. Liang) research focuses on the same using either method. The fourth simulation evaluated was analysis of stratosphere-troposphere exchange, transport in the free-running “benchmark” GEOS CCM simulation. Dr. Olsen the lower stratosphere and troposphere, and the coupling of found that the Brewer-Dobson circulation was significantly faster stratosphere and troposphere in both global atmospheric data than other simulations. However, the younger age-of-air in the sets and output from global models. Global, regional and process stratosphere was generally still within the bounds derived from studies on seasonal, annual and longer time scales are used to observations. investigate topics concerning trends, exchange, circulation and transport, influences of layers, and for the evaluation of models. Dr. Olsen continued to assist with a project of assimilating multiple additional species in the GEOS assimilation system. He Dr. Olsen completed an evaluation of the mass flux across the and his team found that the difficulty in the assimilation of HNO3 380 K potential temperature surface in the extratropical lower was caused by how the model diagnoses polar stratospheric stratosphere for the SPARC Reanalysis Intercomparison Project clouds (PSCs) as well as the treatment of HNO3 increments. With (S-RIP). The results were compared for five modern reanalyses an eye towards refining the PSC implementation, they performed and submitted as part of Chapter 7, “Extratropical Upper comparisons to CALIOP observations of PSCs to aid evaluation Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere,” of the S-RIP report. He of the model representation of PSCs and the impact on when and his team found that the relative differences between the and where the HNO3 should condense in PSCs. In addition, reanalyses remained fairly constant throughout the 1980-2010 preliminary GEOS analyses of Microwave Limb Sounder HNO3, time period in both hemispheres, except for the NCEP Climate O3, HCl, and water vapor observations were compared to ACE-FTS Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR). In addition, the MERRA-2 profile observations. The results showed that the assimilation reanalysis showed a slight increasing trend during the last greatly improves the representation of these species in the decade not seen in the other reanalyses. The annual mean model. Work continues on refining the assimilation of these spatial patterns and locations of the maximums and minimums species. are similar for all reanalyses. The differences primarily occur in the magnitude of the extremes. Refinements were made to the analysis, and a manuscript on the QBO and ENSO impact on ozone around the subtropical jet The stratospheric circulation and stratosphere troposphere was submitted to the Journal of Geophysical Research (JGR). In exchange (STE) in several simulations using the GEOS-CTM response to reviews, minor revisions were made and the paper tracer package were evaluated and compared to the MERRA-2 has been re-submitted. Additionally, Dr. Olsen participated in two GMI tracer results. The GEOS-CTM simulations were driven proposal efforts submitted to ROSES-18 ACMAP, one as PI and by meteorological fields from MERRA-2 and a later version one as Co-I (PI: Clara Orbe). Dr. Orbe’s proposal was selected of the GEOS model (X33). The MERRA-2 GMI simulation was for funding and focuses on improving the understanding of the produced using the replay mode of GEOS combined with GMI interhemispheric transport processes controlling ozone, ozone chemistry. Overall, the X33 CTM simulation exhibited a much precursors and aerosols. faster Brewer-Dobson circulation and greater STE than the other simulations. The MERRA-2 CTM and MERRA-2 GMI simulations Dr. Olsen will continue work on using simulated tracers and were more similar, but seasonal differences between the two other model output to identify “hotspots” of deep stratosphere- were found in the STE and stratospheric transport and mixing. troposphere exchange. The joint AIRS+OMI retrievals will be A primary goal of this tracer analysis is to develop a set of evaluated for use comparing the model results with observations. benchmarking diagnostics of the Brewer-Dobson circulation and He will continue evaluating and refining the assimilation of STE that can be applied to evaluate future versions of the GEOS Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) observations into the GEOS system. A minimal set of diagnostics derived from the various system, and will use the analyses to examine the polar chemical tracers were identified that are needed for a simple, rapid processing of these species. Dr. Olsen also will investigate the comparison of simulations, and these diagnostics were applied interhemispheric transport across the intertropical convergence to four additional simulations. Three of these simulations were

54 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 zone using model tracers and observations in support of the new validate solar occultation measurements of water vapor and ACMAP study. ozone by the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment 3 (SAGE-3) on board the International Space Station (ISS). The Dr. Henry Selkirk’s (sponsor: N. Krotkov) first research challenge in validating SAGE-3 is the relative infrequency of solar activity aims to utilize observations of atmospheric trace occultations at a given location, particularly in the tropics, and constituents such as water vapor, ozone and sulfur dioxide to the short lead time over which accurate overpass forecasts can better characterize their vertical structure and the processes be made. However, by working closely with the SAGE-3 team at through which they influence the earth’s climate. He is NASA Langley, Dr. Selkirk and the Ticosonde team have been Principal Investigator for the able to make six launches Ticosonde balloon project that since August 2018 coincident since 2005 has been launching with SAGE-3 ISS solar sunrise balloon sondes in Costa Rica occultations. As the set of to measure water vapor, ozone coincidences grows, the SAGE- into the lower stratosphere, III will be able to assess the and, since 2012, tropospheric accuracy of their retrievals. sulfur dioxide. These profiles provide unique insights into the Dr. Selkirk and Ticosonde mean structure and variability colleagues traveled to San in the tropics of these important José, Costa Rica for a week for atmospheric trace gases. Of the Ticosonde annual site visit. equal importance is their use in This year, the US contingent the validation of remotely-sensed included NASA Ticosonde measurements of these trace Co-I and SHADOZ PI Anne species by satellite instruments Thompson along with Dr. Ryan including the Microwave Limb Stauffer, an NPP post-doc in Sounder (MLS) and Ozone the Atmospheric Chemistry Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and Dynamics Laboratory. on the NASA Aura satellite, The week’s activities included the Ozone Monitoring and Image: The Ticosonde team at the NASA-SICA Joint Statement the 7th Ticosonde Workshop Profiling Suite (OMPS) signing event with Dr. Sandra Caufmann, Acting Director, NASA at UCR on March 21st, which instrument on the Suomi NPP Earth Sciences Division. From left: Dr. Jorge Andrés Diaz, UCR, featured six presentations, satellite, and most recently Ticosonde International Co-I; Dr. Henry Selkirk, Ticosonde PI; including Dr. Selkirk’s talk the TROPOspheric Monitoring Dr. Nancy Searby, NASA Applied Sciences Program Manager; on validation of water vapor Instrument (TROPOMI) on board Dr. Caufmann; Dr. Anne Thompson, NASA GSFC, Ticosonde Co-I observations of SAGE-III ISS. ESA’s Sentinel 5 Precursor and PI, SHADOZ network; Dr. Holger Vömel, NCAR, Ticosonde There also were two successful satellite. Through April 2019, Co-I; and Dr. Ryan Stauffer, NPP fellow. (Photo provided by H. intercomparison launches the long-term data archive from Selkirk.) of Intermet Africa’s iMet 54 Ticosonde is comprised of 568 radiosonde in conjunction with profiles of ozone and 210 frostpoint hygrometer profiles of water the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional, a well-received public talk vapor along with 43 dual-sonde profiles of SO2. This includes the by Dr. Thompson at the UCR Planetarium entitled “Environmental 35 ozone, 12 water vapor and 12 SO2 profiles obtained over the Success Stories: The View from Space”, and a meeting with the last 12 months. In the coming year, launches will continue with staff of the US Embassy in Costa Rica to update them on our a minimum of one water vapor launch each month and one dual activities. Last, but not least, in San José, the Ticosonde team sonde each month. These will be augmented every other month participated in the signing event of a Joint Statement between by a regular ozonesonde. NASA and the Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA). This statement expresses the interest of NASA and the In addition to validation of more conventional satellite governments of Central America in joint partnerships in applied instruments, Ticosonde measurements are being used to sciences and earth observations for societal benefit. During the

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 55 event, Dr. Sandra Caufmann, Acting Director of the NASA Earth Mr. Stephen Steenrod (sponsor: L. Oman) is involved Science Division, cited Ticosonde as a successful example and with several developments: development, optimization, model for the kinds of collaborations envisioned in the Joint multiprocessing, execution, and evaluation of atmospheric Statement. modeling codes; development of diagnostic software for analysis of model output and satellite data; and development of general This year, in April 2019, Dr. Selkirk gave a presentation on user software to allow simple access to large central databases uncertainties in validating sulfur dioxide measurements from of model output. the TROPOMI satellite at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly in Vienna, Austria. One of the new findings This year, Mr. Steenrod worked on several issues with the in the presentation was a calculation of the effective lifetime GMICTM model, including several enhancements to the of 5.8 hours for the SO2 emissions from the Turrialba Volcano. model’s capabilities. This year the development work was being Dr. Selkirk’s colleague Dr. Fei Liu (GESTAR/USRA) conducted transistioned from the original code framework into the GMAO this research. In November, Dr. Selkirk will represent the NASA GEOS framework. The GMI chemical mechanism is used in the Goddard Sentinel 5 Precursor Validation Team at the TROPOMI GEOSCCM and CEOSCTM. The most important work Mr. Steenrod Workshop at ESA ESRIN in Frascati, Italy. accomplished was nearing completion of the implementation of the latest version of the FastJX photolysis code, CloudJ, into For his second task, Dr. Henry Selkirk (sponsor: D. Barahona) the GEOSCCM. This is a major update since GMI will change the works to improve the moist physics components in GEOS-5 way the cloud and aerosol optical depths will be calculated, as through the analysis of suborbital water vapor and related tracer well as result in major changes to the cloud and aerosol photon data and then to use these observations to inform improvements scattering effects. This update is first being implemented into the to GEOS-5 in collaboration with his sponsor and Dr. Mark GEOSCCM code and then should be available for the GEOSCTM, Schoeberl (Science and Technology Corporation). This year, Dr. as well as any other GEOS versions using the GMI chemistry. Selkirk was a co-author on a paper led by Dr. Schoeberl titled Mr. Steenrod also implemented other important improvements, “Water Vapor in the Tropical Tropopause Layer” published in the including modifying the chemical mechanism creation software Journal of Geophysical Research. Using a simple Lagrangian to make the code generation for mechanisms more fully cloud model, the researchers demonstrated that the widespread automatic. Previously, the model user had to create, by hand, cloudiness and extended regions of supersaturation in the an input file for a photolysis reaction lookup table. This table upper tropical troposphere are primarily the result of cloud is now created automatically when the chemical mechanism processes due to large-scale upward motion. Condensation code is created, eliminating the possibility of using the wrong and supersaturation are driven by both diabatic heating and table. Another improvement involved modifications to use the wave-induced uplift, and these processes are nearly sufficient MERRA surface albedo for the photolysis code instead of the to balance the cloud ice and water vapor budget without a climatological table that was being used. major contribution from detrainment of deep convective clouds. Additionally, Dr. Selkirk was one of two speakers invited by NASA In his work with the GMI tracer suite, Mr. Steenrod continued his Ames Research Center to a celebration in honor of the career collaboration with University of California, Irvine. He implemented of Dr. Leonhard Pfister, Dr. Selkirk’s longtime colleague. The two new tracers into the GMI tracers, N2Ox and CFCx, which title of the talk was “Near-Saturation Conditions at the Tropical have simple chemistry determined from our full chemistry Tropopause”. He presented his thesis, buttressed by both simulations. These simplified tracers are being used to better

Ticosonde observations and modeling results, that the so-called understand the natural and anthropogenic sources of N2O and “tapehead” of the well-known atmospheric tape recorder lies in a CFC-11 in the atmosphere. Mr. Steenrod also supported the shallow layer immediately below the tropical tropopause. ATom aircraft mission by running, post-processing and submitting the GMI model runs to the mission’s official repository. He has In the year ahead, Dr. Selkirk will make a presentation to Aura also provided GMI model output datasets that are specifically Science Team meeting in late August. The topic will be the designed for other individual studies to collaborating scientists. structure of water vapor and saturated layers as revealed by in One such study uses the aircraft measurements of temperature, situ observations and modeling results. He also will continue the humidity and some constituent gases as initial conditions to analysis of the GEOS-5 simulations for the October 2016 case. the GMI full chemistry model. The model is then run to better understand oxidizing processes in the model and in the Earth’s

56 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 atmosphere. Additionally, to increase the versatility of GMI, Mr. of total column O3 between 60-90oS during October). Using

Steenrod added the capability to use daily MERRA2-assimilated simulations with and without O3 depletion, the study evaluated tropospheric aerosol fields as input for the full chemistry runs, the sensitivity of various O3 metrics to changing CFC levels and which is used in a study in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins to atmospheric dynamical variability, which interferes with the

University. He also made multiple GMI runs testing the sensitivity detection of O3 change attributable to declining CFCs. The study of the GMI polar stratospheric cloud parameterization, a key to identified the 3O metric with the maximum sensitivity to CFC understanding the formation of the stratospheric ozone hole. In decline and the minimum sensitivity to dynamical variability. the coming months, Mr. Steenrod will work on improving the GMI The trend calculated with this metric showed that Antarctic O3 model and fixing issues as they are discovered. recovery is on schedule and proceeding as expected as per the Montreal Protocol. His administration support included updating and securing the operating systems of the Code 614 computer cluster Differences between a simulation using current levels of CFCs regularly, as well as updating and maintaining the hardware on and one with CFCs held constant at their peak values in the this cluster in a timely and unobtrusive manner. This included 1990s quantified the 3O increase over Antarctica attributable to fixing or replacing failed hard-drives, graphics cards, monitors, the Montreal Protocol. The simulations showed that column O3 UPS batteries and printers. In the year ahead, Mr. Steenrod has increased about 10% due to the Protocol and that the Ozone will continue work on improving the GEOSCCM/CTM model Hole area was approximately 17% smaller in 2018 (4.7 million and implementing changes. His computer cluster group leader square kilometers) than it would have been without the reduction activities will continue, especially with regard to the OS security in CFCs. These results were presented at the annual meeting updates and installation of new and replacement hardware. of the American Meteorological Society and submitted to the Journal of Geophysical Research. Dr. Susan Strahan (sponsor: P. Newman) primarily focuses on analyzing stratospheric observations to improve the Dr. Strahan continues to work with the GEOS model development understanding of stratospheric transport processes, their group. She leads the evaluation of updates and implementations variability, and their effects on the chemistry of trace gases, of various atmospheric processes required to make the GEOS especially ozone. The results of observational analyses are chemistry transport model a fully functional replacement for used to evaluate the representation of transport and chemistry the GMI CTM. Several challenges remain in the troposphere, in NASA models, including the Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) such as implementation of acceptable nitric oxide (NO) emission chemistry transport model (CTM) and GEOS models. production from lightning and ships. Dr. Strahan recently joined the Steering Committee of the Harvard GEOS-Chemistry model as The excellent agreement between GMI-MERRA2 chemistry a co-leader of the stratospheric working group. The stratospheric transport model (CTM) simulated ozone (O3) and nitric acid working group convened for the first time at this year’s 9th (HNO3, a long-lived trace gas) and observations from the Aura International GEOS-Chem Meeting. The goal of the working group MLS satellite instrument has opened the door to research aimed is evaluate the fidelity of the model’s stratospheric composition at understanding stratospheric ozone trends. The meaning and to monitor impacts on the stratosphere from updates to of observed O3 trends has recently become a controversial the model’s chemical mechanism, emissions, and tropospheric topic, as there are concerns that lower stratospheric O3 should processes. be increasing during this century, not decreasing. A study was completed that used satellite ozone records and GMI Dr. Strahan also is a member of the steering committee of the CTM simulations of the past 20 years to identify a metric that Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change accurately captures the trend in Antarctic ozone attributable (NDACC) and supports the network by providing GMI CTM to the decline in chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) resulting from the simulation results in customized output files for more than 70 Montreal Protocol, the international treaty that controls ozone individual NDACC station instruments, available on the NDACC depleting substances. This work was motivated by the lack of website. This year the model files, which provide simulated agreement between published Antarctic ozone recovery trends, atmospheric trace gases from 1985-2018, have been updated which are based on many different recovery metrics. A metric with higher vertical resolution and improved temporal resolution is a long-term O3 data record with specific spatial and temporal for certain species. New collaborations have been forged with boundaries that is used for trend calculations (e.g., the average an ozonesonde group, the Pandora network (ground-based

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 57 O3 measurements), and a SAGE III satellite data analysis through press releases, videos, and publications. She also will team. Customized model support files similar to that produced continue to use MERRA2-driven CTM simulations to understand

for NDACC were provided to these groups. The work with the and explain observed O3 trends. She will participate in chemical ozonesonde team resulted in a submitted manuscript. The SAGE transport model development and evaluation for the GEOS-CTM III team is using high temporal resolution global model output and for the Harvard GEOS-Chem model. to understand spatial and diurnal variations in SAGE III O3 and NO2 profiles. Dr. Strahan continues to collaborate with research Dr. Sarah Strode (sponsor: B. Duncan) contributes to three- groups at the NOAA Aeronomy Lab, The Johns Hopkins University, dimensional modeling efforts, both for Chemical Transport and Georgia Tech, as well as with other ozone scientists in the Models and Chemistry Climate Models. She also conducts Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Lab at GSFC. simulations for the Atmospheric Chemistry-Climate Model Intercomparison, and provides emission scenarios for past and future simulations. This year, Dr. Strode updated the isoprene emission methodology in the GEOS model’s GMI chemistry mechanism to be consistent with the emissions used in other parts of GEOS. This update reduces GMI’s isoprene emissions over the Amazon. In the coming year, she will update monoterpene emissions for the GMI mechanism and further evaluate the isoprene emissions.

During the ATom-4 deployment, Dr. Strode supported the Atmospheric Tomography (ATom) mission by providing chemistry forecasts. These forecasts included ozone and black carbon concentrations as well as CO tracers from different sources and regions. They provided the ATom science team a preview of the chemical conditions that the aircraft was likely to encounter during the upcoming flight. She published a paper titled “Forecasting carbon monoxide on a global scale for the ATom-1 aircraft mission: insights

Figure 1: Simulated total column O3 increase attributable to the decline from airborne and satellite observations and modeling,” in CFCs and other ozone depleting substances since the 1995 (color which evaluates the GEOS CO forecasts for ATom-1 and contours). The white solid line shows the size of the observed ozone hole uses satellite observations to provide context for the ATom on September 15, 2018 (as defined by the 220 Dobson Unit (DU) O3 observations. At the ATom science team meeting, she gave contour). The white dashed line shows the location of the 220 DU contour a presentation that used observations from MOPITT, MLS, in a simulation where CFCs remained at their peak values in the 1990s. and MODIS to understand whether the time period of the The 2018 ozone hole would have been 4.7 million square kilometers ATom mission was typical of the longer-term climatology. larger without the CFCs reductions required by the Montreal Protocol and its amendments. (Provided by S. Strahan.) Methane is an important greenhouse gas whose concentrations are increasing over time. Understanding the causes of methane changes is complicated because For the year ahead, Dr. Strahan will continue to develop methods methane has many sources. However, the ratio of the carbon that combine MERRA2 meteorological variability with sparse isotopes of methane differs depending on the source of NDACC long-term data sets to estimate global budgets and methane, so the isotopic composition of atmospheric methane

decadal trends for important species such as O3, HCl, and provides additional information on methane sources. Dr. Strode nitric acid (HNO3). This work includes providing model support is conducting global model simulations of atmospheric methane for NDACC groups and collaborating with NDACC instrument and its isotopic composition. She analyzed the impact of altering teams to interpret observations and their temporal and spatial oxidant fields on the isotopic distribution and presented this variability. She will work with Code 614 scientists to monitor polar work at the AGU Fall meeting. Understanding how methane is ozone depletion and to communicate new findings to the public oxidized is important for understanding its isotopic composition

58 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 since different oxidants have different effects on the isotopic LISTOS studies the interactions between ozone and various ratio. Future work will include evaluating the effect of additional trace gases where researchers desired the inclusion of HCHO oxidant scenarios on methane’s isotopic composition. in the molecules being analyzed. Mr. Swanson assisted with the inclusion of CAFE in this campaign, preparing the instrument Additionally, Dr. Strode investigated changes in the diurnal cycle for aircraft integration, designing and constructing integral of surface ozone; surface ozone has a strong diurnal cycle, and fixtures, as well as configuring the instrument’s electrical and most health-related metrics focus on the hours around the peak. experimenter control interface. A brand new control interface Consequently, changes in ozone’s diurnal cycle impact the trends was necessary since there was not sufficient space to fit the in these metrics. She published a paper titled “Global changes instrument’s customary power-control interface aboard the small in the diurnal cycle of surface ozone” and presented the results research aircraft. He created a custom electronics rack mount at the IGAC Science Conference. This study uses the NASA assembly for integrating CAFE into UMD’s Cessna 402B. After

MERRA2-GMI model simulation and OMI NO2 observations, as coordinating with UMD’s aircraft engineer, Mr. Swanson designed well as surface ozone observations from EPA’s CASTNET network. and fabricated in-house the electrical power and control It shows that the magnitude of the diurnal cycle of surface circuitry with enclosure necessary for operating the instrument ozone increased in regions where NOx emissions increased, and aboard the 402B. He also modified CAFE’s electrical system decreased where NOx emissions decreased. to accommodate the new instrument control configuration. On multiple occasions, Mr. Swanson traveled with colleagues Dr. Mr. Andrew Swanson (sponsor: T. Hanisco) provides engineering Jin Liao and Dr. Jason St. Clair to Tipton airport in Odenton, support at NASA GSFC’s Code 614 In Situ Observation MD, to configure CAFE into the 402B and provide operational Laboratory. He assists with the development and deployment of instructions and instrument training to UMD experimenters. Mr. prototypical in situ and remote sensing atmospheric analyzers. Swanson coordinated with the UMD researchers throughout His work primarily focuses on the advancement of innovative the campaign and assisted with troubleshooting ambient heat- spectroscopy techniques integral to NASA’s airborne atmospheric related instrument performance issues. research. Mr. Swanson spent the majority of this year working on the Mr. Swanson continued working on the production and assembly design, engineering, and production of a novel ozone instrument of the lab’s instrument spare for CAFE, dubbed CAFE Deux. The that utilizes cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy for the Compact Airborne Formaldehyde Experiment (CAFE) has been quantification of ozone concentrations to a precision of ±50 involved in various NASA field campaigns and the lab desires pptv in 1 second. This new instrument has been named ROZE a complete instrument spare in case catastrophic technical (Rapid OZone Experiment); it is referred to as rapid since it problems are encountered with the existing instrument, or will have a very low time constant enabling it to be utilized so that identical instruments can be deployed to various for flux measurements on future tropospheric campaigns. locations simultaneously. After procuring all of the instrument’s Lab testing demonstrates it will have a sensitivity roughly 20 components, completing related documentation, and beginning times that of existing instruments. In spring and summer, assembly during the first two quarters of last year, work on this Mr. Swanson created a rapid prototype design to house the project was postponed so that Mr. Swanson could devote his laboratory benchtop experiment. This design was used for time to work related to upcoming 2019 and 2020 NASA field testing and then eliminating fluctuations of the measurement’s campaigns, namely FIREX-AQ and DCOTSS, an EV Suborbital-3 incoherent light source, resolving measurement cell and sensor campaign, as well as a TROPOMI validation campaign in thermal instability, and as a compact mobile platform for the collaboration with the National Institute for Aerospace Research experiment to be taken outside of the lab and tested in ground (INCAS) in Romania during fall 2019. CAFE is funded for based atmospheric conditions. After validating experimental participating in DCOTSS aboard NASA’s ER-2, so a spare for measurements with outdoor testing, Mr. Swanson designed this instrument should be completed before field research a final airworthy package for the instrument, the goal being commences. to complete it in time for its use in the upcoming FIREX-AQ summer 2019 campaign. In fact, design was completed in early Throughout the year, Mr. Swanson collaborated with investigators April 2019 – including a new custom long pass absorption from NOAA and the University of Maryland College Park (UMD) cell, lightweight optical platform, a refined chassis assembly in the Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study (LISTOS). additionally housing an internal pump and control and

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 59 measurement electronics, as well as an electrical design for studies and data analysis. Specific research areas include, all of the instrument’s components. Since then he has begun but are not limited to, 1) undertaking case studies on regional instrument production and is diligently working to have ROZE air quality/climate over the North America, Asia, Africa, and ready for FIREX-AQ. other interested areas with NU-WRF; 2) examining interaction between aerosol and cloud/precipitation over the west Africa; In the year ahead, Mr. Swanson plans to complete the assembly 3) undertaking case studies on high-resolution simulation of of CAFE Deux. He will continue working on mechanical assembly, CO2 transport over the North America; 4) analyzing satellite/ specifically the instrument chassis, as well as assembling all of ground-based/aircraft measurements; and 5) participating in an the optical components, and he will complete electrical assembly international collaboration study on Asian air pollution - MICS- that is currently underway. The lab anticipates CAFE Deux to be Asia. finished and lab tested before DCOTSS fieldwork. Mr. Swanson also is scheduled to participate in several NASA Airborne Field This year, Dr. Tao published a lead author paper titled “NU- Campaigns, as well as a TROPOMI validation campaign that will WRF aerosol transport simulation over West Africa: Effects utilize CAFE for HCHO. He will be responsible for the structural of biomass burning on smoke aerosol distribution” in J. Appl. engineering, planning, preparation, and integration of the lab’s Meteorol.Climtol., doi:10.1175/JAMC-D-17-0278.1. He also gave instruments into various airborne research platforms on these several presentations, domestically and internationally: 15th field campaigns. AOGS Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI; 14th iCACGP Quadrennial Symposium and 15th IGAC Science Conference, Takamatsu, Dr. Ghassan Taha (sponsor: G. Jaross) investigates SNPP Japan; 2018 AGU Fall meeting, Washington, D.C.; 99th OMPS Limb sensor data quality with the goal of identifying AMS meeting, Phoenix, AZ; 10th International Workshop on improvements to current and future Limb sensors. His research Atmospheric Modeling Research in East Asia, Jinhua, China. In focuses on alternative approaches to data reduction that have the year ahead, he will continue to work on projects to analyze potential implications for sensor and algorithm design. Dr. the representation of the vertical structure of Saharan Air Layer Taha evaluated the newly released version 1.5 of the OMPS over northern Africa and eastern Atlantic using NU-WRF. aerosol profile and compared it to SAGE III/ISS, OSIRIS, and CALIPSO aerosol. He found a general agreement of 25% with Dr. Jerald Ziemke (sponsor: R. McPeters) works on 1) developing other instruments. Dr. Taha also analyzed OMPS LP aerosol a multi-decadal record (1979-current) measurements of measurements in the tropics using an aggressive cloud tropospheric and stratospheric ozone that includes combining screening criteria to detect the Asian tropopause aerosol layer measurements from TOMS and OMI instruments and new v9 (ATAL) during the monsoon season between June and August. retrieval; 2) maintaining the Aura OMI/MLS tropospheric ozone In addition, he investigated the volcanic eruption of Ambae, product for October 2004-current; 3) developing a tropospheric Vanuatu using OMPS LP observation to track the plume ozone product from combined NPP OMPS nadir mapper and transport. Ambae volcano erupted twice this year, reaching the limb profiler; 4) establishing DSCOVR EPIC tropospheric ozone lower stratosphere on both occasions. In the coming year, he measurements on hourly basis for August 2015-current, plans to write an OMPS LP V1.5 validation paper. and 5) conveying findings and efforts in papers, reports, and presentations. In December, Dr. Taha attended the 2018 AGU Fall meeting and presented a paper titled “Validation of OMPS LP aerosol During this past year, Dr. Ziemke produced tropospheric ozone extinction profiles V1.5’”. He also co-authored five other data products by combining measurements from several presentations. This year, he was co-author on three publications NASA satellite platforms including TOMS, SBUV, Aura OMI/ as well – two that were published in Remote Sensing and one MLS, NPP OMPS, and DSCOVR EPIC. His work involving product that is under review with Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss. development includes using meteorological analyses and ozone assimilated by NASA Goddard GMAO. The derived tropospheric Dr. Zhining Tao (M. Chin) works toward developing the regional ozone data products extend for 1979-present and are updated chemistry-transport model (NASA Unified WRF, NU-WRF), periodically and made publically available on the Code 614 examining biosphere-atmosphere interactions, and investigating tropospheric ozone website and AVDC. Dr. Ziemke works the role of aerosols and trace gases (e.g., CO2 and ozone) in closely with the ozone processing teams of various instruments climate change and air quality through global/regional modeling and with GMAO, and produces algorithm methods that best

60 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 combine these measurements for deriving tropospheric ozone and Radiometer), and is led by Dr. Osmanoglu. During the first suitable even for long-term trend analyses. The tropospheric test flights of SWESARR over Grand Mesa, CO in Dec. 2018, Dr. ozone products include residual columns and mean mixing Brucker carried out field snow measurements. This work was ratios, and cloud-ozone concentrations from Aura OMI and MLS done in partnership with Dr. Hiemstra (USACE CRREL). This first measurements. campaign and the fieldwork activities were featured by NASA Earth Observatory (https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/ His research during this year has led to seven published refereed fromthefield/category/swesarr). journal papers and three refereed journal papers currently under review. Dr. Ziemke was lead author on “Trends in global A major highlight this year was Dr. Brucker’s selection as the tropospheric ozone inferred from a composite record of TOMS/ recipient of the 2018 AGU Cryosphere Early Career Award, OMI/MLS/OMPS satellite measurements and the MERRA-2 GMI for “a significant contribution to cryospheric science and simulation,” Atmos. Chem. Phys., https://doi.org/10.5194/acp- technology.” The entire work he has performed since 2011 as 19-3257-2019, 2019. In December 2018 and January 2019, he a USRA GESTAR scientist contributed to this recognition. (See gave presentations at both the 2018 AGU Fall meeting and the Awards and Recognition.) Also, Dr. Brucker chaired sessions at 2019 American Meteorological Society (AMS) meeting. He also the International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium is a Co-Investigator on a DSCOVR Science Team proposal titled (IGARSS) and the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. “Improving total and tropospheric ozone column products from He was also a member of the NASA Distributed Active Archive EPIC on DSCOVR for studying regional scale ozone transport” (PI: Centers (DAAC) for the cryosphere. His data product contribution N. Kramarova). In March 2019, they learned this proposal would to this DAAC has been featured by NASA Earth Data (https:// be fully funded. earthdata.nasa.gov/user-resources/who-uses-nasa-earth- science-data-user-profiles/user-profile-dr-ludovic-brucker). In Dr. Ziemke will continue his research plan of producing ozone the year ahead, Dr. Brucker will continue to focus his activities data products, attending meetings, writing/co-authoring on remote sensing of the cryosphere and conduct research proposals and science papers, and contributing to national/ to develop, assess, and interpret remote sensing products for international reports on ozone. Effort will also focus on helping studying the cryosphere. the Ozone Processing Team (OPT) improve the v9 profile algorithm, in particular for SBUV retrievals with the goal of Dr. Paolo de Matthaeis (sponsor: D. Le Vine) conducts work that developing a 50-year satellite record of profile algorithm, in falls in the framework of continuing the estimation of sea surface particular for SBUV retrievals with the goal of developing a 50- salinity from space, for study of large-scale ocean processes year satellite record of profile ozone. and climate change, using the SMAP radiometer after the end of the Aquarius/SAC-D mission. Activities focus on minimizing the various errors in the brightness temperature measurements acquired over the ocean to perform a reliable retrieval of CODE 615: CRYOSPHERIC sea surface salinity. Dr. de Matthaeis has been performing a SCIENCES LABORATORY comparison of the Aquarius and SMAP radiometer RFI detection algorithms and an analysis of the errors produced by the Dr. Ludovic Brucker (sponsor: S. Nowicki) conducts research to reflected galactic radiation on SMAP measurements regarding advance and validate satellite-derived properties of snow and sea surface salinity retrieval. ice on Earth using surface-, air-, and space-based microwave sensors. Dr. Brucker’s work over the past year has resulted in In July 2018, Dr. de Matthaeis was heavily involved with IGARSS four published journal articles plus four manuscripts currently in 2018 in Valencia, Spain. He chaired the Annual Meeting of the peer-review system, and more than twenty presentations. the IEEE GRSS Frequency Allocations in Remote Sensing Technical Committee; co-organized and lectured in one session Dr. Brucker contributed to a NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s on Spectrum Management, Detection and Mitigation of RFI in internal research and development (IRAD) project to pursue the Microwave Remote Sensing, co-organized two oral sessions development and testing of a novel dual microwave instrument and one poster session on RFI in Microwave Remote Sensing; designed for monitoring snow water equivalent (SWE). The gave an oral presentation as well as a poster presentation, and concept is named SWESARR (SWE Synthetic Aperture Radar co-authored two other oral presentations. This coming year, Dr.

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 61 de Matthaeis is leading the organization (as General Chair) of a CODE 616: OCEAN ECOLOGY LABORATORY workshop on Radio Frequency Interference to be held in Toulouse in Fall 2019. Dr. Andrea Andrew (sponsor: C. Del Castillo) focused on capturing colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) dynamics Dr. Yan Soldo (sponsor: D. Le Vine) supports the Aquarius/ in the mangrove forest of the Southwest Florida coastline; SAC-D and the SMAP missions to map ocean salinity and soil subsequently, she aimed to determine the quantum moisture worldwide. His research aims to improve the quality of photoproduction efficiency of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC, salinity retrievals from raw satellite data. This year, Dr. Soldo led measured as CO2) via photodegradation of CDOM in this study investigations on several research topics. To improve detection area. She also conducted photodegradation experiments in the of Radio-Frequency Interferences (RFI) in the SMAP processing, laboratory using a solar simulator. he and others devised an algorithm. For work with the fourth Stokes parameter, he found that land surfaces emit low levels Dr. Andrew collected optical data as well as other data including of brightness temperatures in the fourth Stokes parameter. The DOC, salinities, fluorescence quantum yields, etc. for over 145 reason for such signal is unknown and virtually no research has CDOM samples from the Shark River in Southwest Florida. been done on this topic; investigations of the signal’s origin are These data have been analyzed, drafts and figures have been underway. Also, Dr. Soldo devised a new approach, based on produced, and a manuscript is in progress; this paper will a neural network, to retrieve accurate salinity in areas where describe the distribution and dynamics of the optical properties current retrievals are quite inaccurate. The reason for this of the region under study, and incorporate trends with regards improvement is that past approaches have relied on theories, to tides and location. This analysis will provide the background whereas the new approach is mostly empirical. His additional for the samples being used in the photo irradiation experiments. work with land correction also aims to improve the retrieved With the set-up complete, the experimental protocol for the ocean salinity in coastal areas. Finally, Dr. Soldo worked on determination of the DIC photoproduction quantum yield of an approach to estimate the clocking angle, which currently CDOM samples from the Shark River also was completed. She is measured before launch and presumed constant, but this streamlined the protocol as well to be more efficient, reducing assumption has proved not entirely accurate. His approach works experimental time by more than half, and this has resulted in very well for SMAP, but less well for Aquarius. very reproducible results.

Dr. Soldo also works to locate periodically the emitters that Dr. Andrew successfully developed an irradiation and DIC- create RFI signals in SMAP data; his results are forwarded to the measuring set-up after testing at least five different experimental NASA spectrum management office, which reports them at the configurations, which include the solar simulator sample international level. chamber and coulometer optimization. The solar simulator can now accommodate up to 12 samples (4 groups of 3 replicates In addition to his research activities, Dr. Soldo participated in and 1 blank). She tested the irradiation and DIC measurement several conferences: at IGARSS, he gave two presentations, protocol with several CDOM samples from the Shark River and chaired two sessions and one tutorial; at the OSSST meeting, obtained DIC yields on the order of 10-3, similar to that published the SFCG meeting, and the NSMA meeting, he gave one for other riverine-influenced study areas. Full experimental presentation. He also published one peer-reviewed article blanks have been evaluated and show zero absorbance loss after and several conference proceedings. Further, Dr. Soldo is the several hours of irradiation, up to 6hrs, with the majority showing co-chair of FARS (Frequency Allocations in Remote Sensing), no DIC production. (A few blanks did have small amounts of DIC an IEEE technical committee. In this position, he served on the produced <0.07 µM, which may be suspect and may be due to Scientific Organizing Committee for the RFI Conference 2019, the Coulometer.) Replicate samples had very high precision in which is sponsored by NASA, ESA, CNES, URSI, IEEE and others; terms of absorbance losses upon irradiation, with 14% deviation, developed the IEEE-GRSS RFI observation tool (http://www. down from initial values of 46%. Dr. Andrew also conducted grss-ieee.org/fars-tools-2); helped organize the CSSMA-SFCG a time-series experiment to explore the relationship between workshop; prepared submissions to SFCG and to ITU meetings absorbance loss and DIC production with respect to irradiation on behalf of IEEE; and, worked with representatives from other time. Results showed that the DIC yield was relatively linear, Space Agencies. In the year ahead, he will represent IEEE on with irradiation times up to about 5 hours and subsequently upcoming ITU meetings, and he also will run for Chair of FARS. decreased at longer irradiation times.

62 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 During the year, Dr. Andrew evaluated the CO2 Coulometer, after field campaigns and 30 years (Global Ocean Carbon Algorithm suspecting that an internal blockage or break in the tubing was Database), and its application in developing algorithms for the cause of the bad readings from the instrument, along with remote retrievals of surface dissolved carbon products in the other connectors and tubing issues. She sourced new tubing, global oceans. These algorithms were validated and then applied connectors, cell compartment and other consumables, and to satellite data over 30 years to investigate seasonal and repaired and reconditioned the Coulometer back to working climatological trends in oceanic dissolved organic carbon. conditions within the manufacturer’s specifications. Standards evaluated on the instrument resulted in DIC values within Dr. Aurin worked with his NASA sponsor and collaborators at the allowable ranges. This reconditioning also contributed to City College of New York (CCNY) to secure NASA funding for a increased precision and accuracy in the results for the irradiation pilot program to evaluate commercial satellite data for achieving experiments. objectives in NASA Earth Science Division’s Research and Analysis and Applied Sciences. The grant was ultimately awarded Finally, Dr. Andrew completed the fluorescence EEMS for Dec. 1, 2018 – Nov. 30, 2019, and will augment the NASA measurements for ~140 CDOM Remote Sensing of Water Quality samples collected from the east project (#NNH16ZDA001N) in coast from Maine to Florida (ECOA preparation for the Arctic-COLORS samples); in the coming year, she initiative. DigitalGlobe (DG), Inc. will analyze these fluorescence data were selected for the pilot EEMS and compile the data, project for their spectral and which will later be used for spatial coverage. To facilitate this publication. work, Dr. Aurin participated in a workshop held by DG at the 2018 As of September 2018, Dr. Dirk AGU Fall meeting to describe WV- Aurin (sponsor: A. Mannino) 2, WV-3, and CAVIS instruments began providing hyperspectral high-resolution multispectral in situ radiometric support for imagery. He coordinated with NASA’s PACE mission, taking a project leads, NASA sponsors, primary investigative role in the DG, and the National Geospatial- NASA Research, Analysis and Intelligence Agency (NGA) to Applied Sciences pilot initiative acquire imagery, including to evaluate commercial imagery SWIR bands and data from the for suitability in ocean color experimental CAVIS instrument. science, and coordinating with Working with the Field Support the NASA Ocean Ecology Lab Figure 1, from Dr. Aurin’s paper in the Applied Science Group and collaborators at CCNY, Field Support Group on upcoming special issue. CDOM anomaly (left) and slope anomaly he obtained cruise metadata oceanographic field campaigns (right) from MLR applied to MODIS Aqua during Autumn in from which to evaluate satellite and ocean color research in the El Niño years (2002–2005; top panel) and La Niña years imagery match-ups with historical Arctic. (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011; bottom panel). The Western in situ field data. Example images Pacific Crescent (WPC) feature is defined here as the were obtained in order to provide In December 2018, Dr. Aurin broad region exhibiting a notable decline in CDOM during a testing environment for the published a paper titled “Remote El Niño years, and enhancement during La Niña. UV slope images pending acquisition of Sensing of CDOM, CDOM shows the opposite pattern, with lower slopes during La actual match-up data suitable for Spectral Slope, and Dissolved Niña, although the percentage change is roughly an order evaluation. Data availability and Organic Carbon in the Global of magnitude lower. (Provided by D. Aurin.) capacity, data acquisition logistics Ocean” in an Applied Sciences challenges, and the government special issue focused on Outstanding Topics in Ocean Optics. shutdown introduced delays in obtaining these images. To date, The article details the development of a large ocean color they have 68 images matched with the radiometric in situ cal/ algorithm development and validation database from over 500 val buoy (MoBY) as well as a handful of other images in the

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 63 Arctic and the northeastern U.S. that may match up with satellite conference. Discussion was brisk, and key recommendations imagery (e.g., MODIS, MERIS, OLCI). Meetings were held at from the community were presented to the IOCCG following the GSFC and via teleconference between Dr. Aurin, pilot project meeting. Dr. Aurin also presented a poster highlighting the recent coordinators, NASA sponsors, field campaign PIs, and DG to publication in Applied Sciences, and attended the NASA Ocean plan for directed, active targeting of DG satellites for upcoming Color Research Team meeting. field campaigns in the Arctic (May-August 2019), and along the US East Coast in conjunction with NOAA calibration/validation In the coming year, Dr. Aurin will coordinate satellite targeting cruises (now postponed until September 2019). for upcoming cruises in May – September 2019. He will solicit detailed field campaign information in a timely fashion and as Dr. Aurin has learned object-oriented Python programming it evolves (e.g., weather, cloud cover, etc.) from cruise PIs in in conjunction with the development of an open source the Arctic and along the U.S. East Coast, and converting that software tool for processing hyperspectral in situ radiometric information into resources (i.e., GIS shapefiles, KMZ files, etc.), data in support of the PACE mission. The development of the which can be communicated rapidly to DigitalGlobe for up-to-the- software suite for processing in situ radiometry (now dubbed hour satellite targeting efforts leading up to each day’s collection Hyperspectral In Situ Support for PACE, HyperInSPACE) has events. As mentioned, DG satellite imagery will continue to be accelerated since spring 2019, and will soon be distributed for downloaded and evaluated for its viability in conducting ocean internal testing prior to public release. The suite is designed to color research by matching to in situ radiometric data and other accept raw, binary output from the Satlantic/SeaBird HyperSAS orbital assets for comparison and validation. Solar Tracker together with ancillary meteorological data, and process it to remote sensing reflectances, normalized water- Dr. Ivona Cetinic (sponsor: J. Werdell) serves as the Project leaving radiances, and other products relevant to ocean color Scientist for the EXPORTS program and as a Project Science Lead research and applications. It is currently a fully developed for Biogeochemistry for the PACE mission. The former involves graphical user interface, main-view-controller software suite interacting with the HQ EXPORTS Program Manager and Science capable of translating raw binary instrument data to calibrated, Team Lead and collaborating with the Principal Investigators that dark-corrected, deglitched radiometric radiances and irradiances participate in the field campaigns; the latter involves supporting filtered for solar zenith angle. Dr. Aurin and colleagues have the PACE Project Scientist in data product development and held discussions and conducted demonstrations to discuss the validation, documentation, science team collaboration. logistical and scientific limitations that must be overcome in order to make HyperInSPACE a robust tool for the community and For the PACE mission, Dr. Cetinic has contributed to PACE- a useful tool for the PACE mission. A high priority is to complete associated science trade studies (some of which published the development of HyperInSPACE by the end of summer 2019 as PACE TMs), as well as the PACE-associated communication and then distribute it to internal colleagues for testing and efforts. For the EXPORTS campaign, she has overseen the recommendations. The package then will be distributed to project office, conducted science, and supported the funded selected external colleagues for obtaining similar feedback, and, scientists. Additionally, she has contributed to the OSSE project, after suggestions have been considered and incorporated, it will led by Dr. Cecile Rousseaux (610.1/USRA). This past year, the be made public to the community, which will benefit by having first of two planned field experiments for the EXPORTS project a standard, transparent procedure, which also facilitates easy took place in the North Pacific. Dr. Cetinic assisted with planning submission of data to the NASA SeaBASS archive. and conducting science as well as remote operations during the campaign. She continued work on data analysis, dissemination In addition to his research and development activities, Dr. Aurin and presentation of the results from last year’s “Sea to Space co-chaired a special session/workshop with Dr. ZhongPing Lee particle Investigation” cruise, of which she was the Lead. She (UMass Boston) at the International Ocean Colour Sciences has started work on her new project, known as “Minions” 2019 meeting in April in Busan, South Korea. He composed (miniature Lagrangian floats). Dr. Cetinic continued to contribute the session description and goals, and worked with Dr. Lee to the Phytoplankton Taxonomy work group and the Particulate to invite eight guest speakers for the session and coordinate Organic Carbon protocol group. the schedule. The workshop, titled “Remote Sensing of Optically-complex and Shallow Waters”, may have had the This past year, Dr. Cetinic presented at four international largest attendance of any of the nine breakout sessions at the conferences (OCB, AGU, Robotics conference, and Ocean

64 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Optics), either as a lead author or co-author on oral and poster biogeochemical information from ocean color, and presented the presentations; she also organized sessions and town halls, and results at the Ocean Optics XXIV meeting in Croatia. This work is presented her work on a NASA hyperwall. She co-chaired the in the final stages of preparation for publication. Dr. Craig was an Ocean Optics Conference in Dubrovnik, and gave three invited invited speaker at University of Rhode Island Graduate School talks and one webinar. As part of the EXPORTS campaign, she of Oceanography, and she attended the Fiducial Reference co-organized a meeting at University of California, Santa Barbara Measurements for Satellite Ocean Colour Workshop in the United in May. Dr. Cetinic was the lead editor on PACE TM series, which Kingdom. published four more volumes in the last year, and she became the assistant editor for Limnology and Oceanography: Methods Dr. Craig will gradually transition to the PACE Science Team lead journal. She also became a member of National Academy of on Apparent Optical Property calibration and validation activities. Sciences’ Committee on Earth Sciences and Applications from This will include the development of a detailed mission plan for Space. field calibration/validation, implementation of machine learning ocean color algorithms, and investigation of novel autonomous As EXPORTS continues onto its second field campaign (North platforms for measuring ocean color. Atlantic 2020), Dr. Cetinic will continue to support preparations and organization of the project, and oversee the project office Dr. Priscila Lange (sponsor: J. Werdell) works with the NASA (including the organization of the science meetings). She will PACE mission, wherein the goal is to develop, validate, and participate in several meetings, OCB summer workshop, Biaritzz evaluate algorithms that use hyperspectrally resolved reflectance carbon workshop, OceanObs 19 and Ocean Sciences 2020, information to estimate the biomass of at least two marine presenting her work, organizing sessions and townhalls. For more phytoplankton taxonomic groups in the world’s oceans. Dr. information on the EXPORTS and PACE missions, visit http:// Lange works on the development and implementation of a oceanexports.org/ and https://pace.gsfc.nasa.gov. model to discriminate different phytoplankton types using hyperspectral remote-sensing reflectance (Rrs) data. The model Dr. Susanne Craig (sponsor: J. Werdell) supports the Ocean is an adaptation of a current model (PHYDOTax), which uses Ecology Laboratory with data management for the EXPORTS a library of Rrs information retrieved from measured inherent project, ocean color algorithm development, and related optical properties (IOPs) in monospecific phytoplankton cultures. oceanographic research. As the EXPORTS Data Manager, her Subsequently, the model uses a principal component analysis work included the development of a new infrastructure in to retrieve the contribution of different phytoplankton taxa in the SeaBASS (NASA’s repository for bio-optical field data) to ingest ocean (in situ Rrs measurement). Model validations are being the large and eclectic amounts of data generated by the first conducted by comparing these retrievals with the contribution of EXPORTS field campaign in the North Pacific, and the preparation phytoplankton taxa retrieved from pigments (CHEMTAX). of 100+ experimental protocols for publication as a NASA Technical Memorandum. As a member of the PACE mission In December, she participated in the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting Science Team, she actively contributed to the development of in Washington, DC, and was involved in the Science Diplomacy science goals and tasks – specifically calibration and validation workshop during AGU as well as the NASA/IOCCG Aquatic Primary activities – and the preparation of mission protocols that were Productivity Workshop. In March 2019, she gave a seminar published as NASA Technical Memoranda. titled “The ocean seen from space: a kaleidoscope of life” to the general public at the Rio de Janeiro Aquarium (AquaRio), Dr. Craig published a paper in Biogeosciences on the effect presented a lecture titled “Phytoplankton seen from space and of the passage of Hurricane Arthur on pCO2 uptake in the the PACE mission (NASA)” at the Biology Institute seminar series - Northwest Atlantic. Along with Dr. Cecile Rousseaux (GESTAR/ IB/UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro), and gave a special USRA), she also co-authored a paper that will be submitted lecture at the Ibio/Unirio (Federal University of the State of Rio to Earth System Science Data that presents a synthesis of de Janeiro). In June 2019, she will be participating in the Ocean hyperspectral ocean color data instrumental to the development Carbon Biochemistry summer workshop. of algorithms for the upcoming PACE mission. She presented her EXPORTS work at the Ocean Carbon and Biology 2018 Summer In addition to these specific activities, Dr. Lange participates in Workshop. Additionally, in collaboration with an OEL scientist, a discussion group within the Ocean Ecology Laboratory (OEL- she developed a new machine learning approach to derive NASA GSFC) on models that use remote-sensing information to

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 65 discriminate phytoplankton functional types (PFTs), which can requirements to provide an uncertainty estimate of the satellite potentially be implemented by the Ocean Biology Processing measurement and its validation activities supporting algorithm Group (OBPG) in the future. development.

Her future research will focus on the improvement of the model The generation of this protocol is an evolving process being currently under development by detecting the effect of changes updated as new needs arise. On the IOCCG side, the group has in optical property settings on the retrieval of Rrs information requested a handbook on data processing. On the SEABASS side, by Hydrolight, and how this relates to what is observed in situ. the updated protocols will continue with other optical variables. She will present the preliminary results at the ESA Living Planet Engagement from the international community continues as Conference in Milan, Italy, in May 2019. A manuscript including strong collaborations with NOAA and JRC/EC are in place to these results will be published in the next year. support this activity.

Dr. Violeta Sanjuan Calzado (sponsor: B. Franz) leads the In summer 2018, Dr. Andrew Sayer (sponsor: J. Werdell) scientific requirements on the SeaWIFS Bio-optical Archive and joined Code 616 as Project Science Lead for Atmospheres for Storage System (SEABASS) database. SEABASS is the lead the NASA Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) repository of bio-optical data available for the international mission (https://pace.gsfc.nasa.gov), expected to launch in community and sets up the data quality standards. She also 2022-2023. The bulk of his efforts since then has been toward leads the development of a new update of NOMAD, NASA bio- achieving mission success by ensuring that required atmospheric Optical Marine Algorithm Dataset, a high-quality bio-optical (aerosol and cloud) data products will be able to be produced dataset in support of algorithm development for the upcoming and validated at the NASA Ocean Ecology Laboratory. Since PACE satellite mission. then, he has made three main contributions, as follows. First, he wrote a validation plan for PACE atmospheric products, In order to establish data quality needs and submission which has now been incorporated into the main PACE mission guidelines on SEABASS, a comprehensive document is being validation plan, a major milestone for the project. Second, he generated addressing submission requirements and quality has contributed to implementation and refinement of heritage procedures for PIs submitting data into SEABASS. These aerosol property algorithms to create a proxy data processing guidelines gather information from the community addressing chain for future PACE measurements. Finally, he has developed a best practices on data processing and quality control for cloud masking algorithm and prototype code for the PACE Ocean radiometric data. This effort includes processing protocols for Color Instrument (OCI). The cloud mask is a key component as different radiometers and data handling reporting uncertainty individual data processing algorithms are generally applied only associated with the measurement. Addressing processing to cloudy or cloud-free scenes, so this cloud mask decision step protocols is crucial toward validation activities on PACE mission occurs upstream of much of the rest of the data processing and associated uncertainty budget. chain. He has also contributed to general PACE development and outreach efforts. The International Ocean Color Coordinating Group (IOCCG) of experts and representatives from national space agencies is Dr. Sayer has been part of new developments to advance the coordinating an effort to generate protocols for measurements state of aerosol remote sensing, relevant both to PACE and other and data processing in radiometry in support for ocean color future missions such as might be proposed in response to the missions. In line with the requirements of the Ocean Ecology recent Decadal Survey in Earth Sciences. As part of the AeroSat Laboratory to update SEABASS processing protocols, a group, he has been leading an initiative to develop a framework contribution has been made to this international protocol for in to assess uncertainty estimates provided in satelite aerosol data situ optical radiometry that sets the standards of the community sets. These are key to making the best use out of the satellite for processing radiometric data worldwide. In conjunction data, especially for applications such as data assimilation for with the documented guidelines and protocols for radiometric weather and hazard forecasting. He presented the results from processing, Dr. Sanjuan Calvado also is writing software to be the first phase of the study he leads at the annual AeroCom/ implemented on SEABASS to process radiometry from different AeroSat meeting held in College Park, MD, at the 2018 AGU sensors and provide uncertainty estimates associated to the Fall Meeting held in Washington, DC, and locally at the NASA measurement. This effort is framed within the PACE mission Goddard AeroCenter annual poster bash. He helped convene

66 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 a workshop led by Prof. Zhibo Zhang (UMBC) on the combined for more robust algorithm analysis as the number of ocean use of imager and polarimeter data, such as will be provided color algorithms available to the community has increased in by PACE and other missions for satellite remote sensing. This recent years, along with the need for these algorithms to inform multi-instrument synergy offers a whole greater than the sum of models, decision support, and management. The ocean color its parts but has been largely absent until now. He also attended community has generally relied on a small set of statistical tools workshops for the GRASP retrieval software package, and the for algorithm assessment, which limits the ability to evaluate NASA workshop on artificial intelligence and machine learning. or compare algorithms for various applications. The course He co-authored a paper as part of the Surface Ocean Lower taught how to assess when and where algorithms work well Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) group on frontiers in and possibilities or perform poorly as well as what metrics best allow algorithm for remote sensing of the ocean-atmosphere interface. Further, comparison. Dr. Seegers provided case studies and real data for Dr. Sayer contributed to developing the widely used VLIDORT a practical and hands-on statistical experience. Also this year, radiative transfer code, improving the treatment of surface she developed and led a SeaDAS software training session for reflectance and polarization, which are necessary for modeling CyAN project collaborators and stakeholders with a focus on the satellite signals with high accuracy. cyanobacteria satellite products. This was the first time that a lake-centered CyAN SeaDAS training had been offered. In response to the release of the recent Decadal Survey in Earth Sciences, Dr. Sayer is part of a team funded by NASA GSFC’s In September, Dr. Seegers was an invited speaker at lakes IRAD program. This group seeks to assess the possibilities workshop titled “A new paradigm for lake and reservoir research and necessary characteristics for improved quantification of and management through global monitoring, modeling, and the Earth’s aerosol system through a constellation of cubesats engaging and empowering people networks,” hosted by The carrying multiangle polarimeters. The work involves use of and Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON) and held improvement to the GRASP retrieval code using simulated data in Alexandria, VA. She gave a talk titled “The Cyanobacteria for characteristics similar to the HARP instrument, which is Assessment Network (CyAN) Moving from Slime to Solutions expected to fly both on the PACE mission and as a stand-alone with Collaboration and Data Distribution.” The meeting was cubesat within the next several years. At present, this team’s comprised of a group of researchers from the U.S. from a range work will end in Sept 2019; however, they may apply for an of fields, including aquatic ecologists, modelers, remote sensing extension. scientists, and computer scientists. The goal was to identify the key opportunities for collaboration, data use, and analysis for Much of Dr. Sayer’s efforts will remain on the PACE mission. surface water research. He will continue to refine prototype algorithms for PACE aerosol and cloud data processing, and contribute to other mission Looking ahead, Dr. Seegers plans to submit a manuscript on development and outreach activities as necessary. He is working a full continental United States analysis of MERIS chlorophyll on a new framework for data aggregation, which will improve products for inland lakes. This type of analysis is unprecedented the applicability of PACE and other satellite aerosol data sets for U.S. lakes. She also plans to continue productive for climate studies, and continuing the AeroSat work to identify collaborations with inter-agency partners via meetings, the best techniques for PACE data processing to use to provide manuscripts, and trainings. meaningful pixel-level uncertainty estimates on aerosol products.

Dr. Bridget Seegers (sponsor: J. Werdell) supports the Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN) Project. This multi- CODE 617: HYDROLOGICAL agency (EPA, USGS, NOAA, and NASA) effort will demonstrate SCIENCES LABORATORY that satellite data can be used to identify and monitor cyanobacteria blooms in U.S. inland lakes and water bodies. Dr. Pukar Amatya (sponsor: D. Kirschbaum) develops open- This year, at the 2018 international Ocean Optics Conference source landslide detection algorithms for the production of Dr. Seegers created and co-led a workshop titled “Better landslides inventories, which can be used for susceptibility, Metrics for Algorithm Assessment,” which focused on better hazard, risk studies and rapid response efforts. He also manages statistical methods for data analysis. The course, which reached the CEOS Landslide Pilot. This year, in an effort to automate capacity and had a waitlist, was designed to address the need landslide detection for the High Mountain Asia project, Dr.

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 67 Amatya developed a prototype open-source landslide detection assisted with organizing the 2nd Annual GEOGLOWS Business algorithm running in Python. The algorithm combines object- meeting, held in May 2018 at the European Centre for Medium oriented analysis and machine learning to predict landslides. Range Forecasting (ECMWF) in Reading, UK. This meeting helped The implementation of this algorithm along the three highways in to increase European engagement in GEOGLOWS and to clarify Nepal and its performance was presented at EGU 2019. At the the GEOGLOWS deliverables. After the November 2018 GEO 2018 AGU Fall Meeting, Dr. Amatya also presented on landslide Plenary, the collaboration of GEOGLOWS and Asian scientists mapping and modeling efforts along the Karnali Highway in increased through the Asian Water Cycle Initiative (AWCI) and Nepal. He participated and presented on behalf of the project drought studies. team at the 5th CAS/NASA Workshop in Chengdu, China and at NASA’s HiMAT All-Hands Meeting at the University of Maryland. In his role as GEOGLOWS Secretariat, Mr. Lawford responded to several requests for reviews and inputs including a draft Dr. Amatya completed the first round of data order through the statement on why the Swiss Government should fund CEOS landslide pilot in three landslide prone regions of the world: GEOGLOWS EWV activities; a draft statement on GEOGLOWS Nepal, DRC and USA (Pacific Northwest). He prepared materials for the GEO Web Site; GEOGLOWS update for USGEO; and, regarding pilot activities, which were presented in WGDisasters contributions to the new 2020-2022 GEOGLOWS Initiative plan meetings in Naples 2018 and Athens 2019. Further, he led with input on NASA activities. He completed the science report landslide mapping efforts for three events this year in Japan, and other requirements to close out the NASA E.2.E grant for Brazil and Mozambique. GEOGLOWS/IGWCO meetings. Discussions continue about staffing a GEOGLOWS Secretariat position on a more permanent Dr. Amatya will continue his efforts towards making the landslide basis. To promote GEOGLOWS, Mr. Lawford and Dr. Angelica detection algorithm more effective and efficient. He will also Gutierrez organized a GEOGLOWS side event at the GEO Plenary continue to manage participants and data requests in the year meeting in Kyoto, Japan on October 30, 2018. During the ahead for the CEOS landslide pilot. session, Mr. Lawford presented “Selected GEOGLOWS responses to the GEOSS Water Strategy” which summarized his analysis The development and coordination of water resource of the GEOGLOWS contributions to the GEOSS Strategy. At the applications and water cycle activities within the Group on Earth GEWEX Conference, he presented a poster titled “GEOGLOWS: Observations (GEO) and in the wider science community requires Earth observations for sustainability in water management.” substantial coordination and nurturing both within and beyond NASA. The IGWCO Community of Practice (CoP) provides opportunities for a large community of international experts to exchange Mr. Richard Lawford (sponsor: F. Policelli) works toward information and collaborate on GEO-related work in water maintaining the coordination and synergies needed to advance resources. Mr. Lawford organized the 14th annual IGWCO the use of NASA water-related data products within the GEO meeting in Reading, UK in May 2018. During this meeting, it framework. Application areas include the GEO Global Water was agreed that GEOGLOWS will address Extremes and IGWCO Sustainability (GEOGLOWS) Initiative, the Integrated Global Water will complete an updated summary of responses to the GEOSS Cycle Observations (IGWCO) Community of Practice, the Water- Water Strategy recommendations. Additionally, to coordinate Energy-Food Nexus, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), IGWCO activities, quarterly teleconference calls were held for drought, and user engagement. the following goals: first, to plan IGWCO CoP’s participation in the 2018 GEOGLOWS and IGWCO CoP annual meetings and the The GEO Global Water Sustainability (GEOGLOWS) initiative is GEO Symposium; second, to provide feedback on the results of a broad framework developed for coordination and promotion the IGWCO CoP annual meeting, and start a review of progress of of water activities related to GEO. GEOGLOWS’ leadership role GEO Water actions to address the GEOSS Water Strategy; third, for Essential Water Variables (EWVs) was facilitated by Mr. to discuss IGWCO CoP inputs for the November GEO Plenary; Lawford’s draft outline for an approach to EWVs, which served as and fourth, to discuss IGWCO CoP future and review progress on an input to a GEO white paper that provides a two-year plan for actions addressing the recommendations in the GEOSS Water addressing EWVs. In November 2018, the plan was adopted by Strategy. Dr. Wolfgang Grabs and Mr. Lawford have developed the GEO Plenary and commits GEOGLOWS to identifying EWVs by a survey regarding IGWCO’s future and distributed this to CoP 2020 and a system design for delivering EWVs by 2021. He also members.

68 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Mr. Lawford updated the actions by various agencies taken in Information Systems in Water-Energy-Food Nexus Planning response to the GEOSS Water Strategy recommendations. GEO Frameworks” in December 2018, and he presented a paper Water Initiative leads and experts are reviewing this summary for titled “The role of global water and energy cycle information in verification/correction, and then it will be submitted to the GEO the Water-Energy-Food Nexus” at the 8th GEWEX conference in Secretariat and CEOS. He represented IGWCO and GEOGLOWS at Canmore, Alberta, summarizing water cycle aspects of the W-E-F the AO GEOSS Pacific meeting in Kyoto, Japan in October 2018. Nexus report for Future Earth. Also at AGU, together with Drs. Ana He co-chaired a session on AWCI country initiatives and gave Nunes and Valeriy Ivanov, Mr. Lawford co-chaired oral and poster presentations in other sessions on GEOGLOWS (and IGWCO) sessions on “Advances in Integrated Observations, Modeling and advances, and potential contributions of EO information to the Predictions for Weather, Climate and Impact Assessments.” Water-Energy-Food (W-E-F) Nexus. He also gave a water-themed synthesis presentation at the A-O GEOSS Plenary entitled In other activities, Mr. Lawford began planning a stakeholders “Task Group 1 (Water) Summary,” which brought together meeting for addressing the W-E-F Nexus for the Lake Winnipeg highlights from the water session discussions. Also, at IHE in Basin (including the Red River of the North). He briefed experts Delft, the Netherlands, Mr. Lawford participated in the CEOS from the data division of Food and Agriculture Canada in Regina, “Freshwater from Space” workshop in November 2018. He gave Saskatchewan and had discussions with representatives of a presentation entitled “IGWCO CoP and Cross-over Issues,” the Global Water Sustainability project in Saskatoon regarding and chaired a breakout group exploring terms of reference for a this plan. The objective is to explore the use of NASA assets in possible ongoing CEOS water advisory group. CEOS is continuing monitoring the W-E-F Nexus in this basin. He also prepared new to assess its requirements for a water advisory group. work plan input for the EO4WEF Community Activity and updates to USGEO on activities related to the EO4WEF Community The Water-Energy-Food Nexus approach to resource Activity. management promises new economic efficiencies and better environmental planning. This activity explores the contributions The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide that Earth observations can make to this goal. For his work opportunities to use EO to address priority policy issues. This on Future Earth, Mr. Lawford is completing a synthesis report activity considers options for doing this as well as looking at for Future Earth and the Belmont Forum for a recent W-E-F opportunities in related activities such as green infrastructure Nexus study. The production stage is in the layout and design and comprehensive water assessments. Mr. Lawford provided phase. Difficulty in covering the costs of producing the report substantial inputs to a recently published study of the linkages has slowed its completion. A special collection of W-E-F Nexus between the SDG targets for the food, water and energy. papers by various authors has been developed in Frontiers in Environmental Science by Mr. Lawford, Dr. Rabi Mohtar (Texas This year, Mr. Lawford will focus on finding a new chair for the A&M) and Dr. Jill Engel-Cox (DOE). Details on this special IGWCO CoP and finding a person for the GEOGLOWS Secretariat; collection are given at https://www.frontiersin.org under he will mentor each person as needed. He plans to continue to Freshwater Science Research Topic titled “Achieving Water- support GEOGLOWS and GEO Water after these positions are Energy-Food Nexus Sustainability: a Science and Data Need or filled. He also will support the W-E-F Nexus activities by helping a Need for Integrated Public Policy?” Work has begun on the to identify activities that could address the recommendations synthesis for the ~20 accepted papers. The collection uniquely in Future Earth W-E-F Nexus report and to take leadership for brings together interests in data applications and governance for some aspects of the pilot projects. In particular, he plans to managing the WEF Nexus in all parts of the world. Mr. Lawford initiate a pilot W-E-F Nexus activity in a basin or area in western published a vision for a W-E-F Nexus data and information North America. He will also participate in SDG-related work and, system in this special issue titled “A design for a data and as appropriate, will support E.2.E workshop proposals to NASA. information system to address the knowledge needs of the Through a continuing role in SWFP, he will support COMPASS and Water-Energy-Food (W-E-F) Nexus and strategies to facilitate its other data-intensive SWFP activities. implementation,” Frontiers in Environmental Science, 7(56), doi: 103389/fenvs.2019.00056. Throughout the year, Mr. Lawford Dr. Cheng-Hsuan (Joseph) Lyu (sponsor: E. Kim) continues to was a co-author, presenter and contributor to several papers support Suomi-NPP/Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder and meetings. At the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting, he presented a (ATMS) & Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) pre- paper titled “On the Potential Role for Earth Observations and launch testing and post-launch sensor calibration and validation,

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 69 algorithm development and subsequent Joint Polar Satellite Dr. Lyu’s activities will continue regarding the support of S-NPP & System (JPSS)/ATMS sensors testing, characterization and/ NOAA-20 ATMS on-orbit calibration and validation, the monitoring or algorithm development. Throughout this past year, Dr. Lyu of ATMS science RDR, and dwell and/or diagnostic daily data; he requested, downloaded and processed both S-NPP & NOAA- will generate ATMS monthly trending reports and send reports 20 ATMS RDR, daily data and generated ATMS NEdT monthly to JPSS ATMS instrument manager and his sponsor. Discussions performance trending reports for S-NPP and for NOAA-20. He will be held with Northrup Grumman (NG) on models and issues. sent reports to JPSS ATMS instrument managers and to his He also will continue to coordinate with all ATMS SDR team sponsor Dr. Kim, ATMS instrument scientist, on a monthly basis. members, including NOAA/STAR, MITLL, NG and Raytheon to Further, Dr. Lyu supported ATMS SDR bi-weekly science meetings support JPSS/ATMS and NPP/ATMS calibration and validation and the NOAA STAR JPSS annual conference; he also presented plans and/or activities. a poster at ESSIC/University of MD on the NOAA-20 ATMS active geolocation analysis report. Mr. Perry Oddo (sponsor: J. Bolten) works on estimating near real-time socioeconomic impacts of flooding in the Lower Mekong On November 18, 2017, NOAA-20 (N20) was launched, and Dr. River Basin. He provides logistics support to project partners, the Lyu has continued to support its post-launch calibration and Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and SERVIR-Mekong. validation reporting activities. He has compiled a comprehensive In addition, he has developed methodologies to determine the report and a journal paper on the N20 active geolocation test, societal value of these near real-time Earth Observations when which both present an extensive study of ATMS on-orbit pointing applied during disaster relief scenarios. This year, Mr. Oddo angle errors. First, he used the N20 VIIRS true color and thermal continued his research into the application of rapid satellite band data and images to determine the real geometric coastline observations in Southeast Asia. Following the publication of his locations. Next, he compared the geometric coastline results 2011 Case Study event, the insights from his near real-time with the corresponding radiometric coastline determined by (NRT) impact assessment were used to determine initial flood using ATMS on-orbit stare data. After a detailed study of these damages for the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy dam break in Laos PDR differences, he determined N20 ATMS on-orbit pointing angle (July 2018). This was a collaborative effort with SERVIR and errors in terms of pitch, yaw and roll errors. Marshall Space Flight Center to provide logistics support to flood managers in-country. The results were featured in an article from In the past year, Dr. Lyu has supported the following J2 ATMS the Goddard Office of Communications, which highlighted the technical review discussions: J2 ATMS Critical Design Review response efforts and the significance of their findings (August (CDR), J2 ATMS Spectral Response Function (SRF) Performance 2018). Requirement Document (PRD), including CCR write-up meeting, new J2 ATMS and its subsequent sensors Calibration Target Mr. Oddo extended the focus of his NRT flood work to include Equipment (CTE) discussions, J2 ATMS cold plate nominal research on the societal value of using Earth Observations setting discussion, J2 pitch maneuver (backflip) meeting, J2 operationally. This novel analysis used the output from the orbital science configuration meeting and study, FRB meeting impact assessment to determine the time and cost savings on J2 ATMS Ch2 beamwidth out of spec, Triplexer Ch20-Ch22 produced when satellite information is incorporated into the out of specification, which includes center frequency stability, emergency management pipeline. Specifically, he evaluated out of band rejection and return loss issues, and options for SPA the impact of advance notice of flood conditions on emergency assembly scan drive command anomaly, J2 SRF CCR 1637 PRD vehicle routing to avoid the most highly impacted areas. Mr. discussions, and J2 ATMS Ka band beamwidth FRB meeting, a Oddo presented his initial results at the NASA GSFC Early detailed check/discussion on J2 ATMS mechanical rotation w.r.t. Career Scientist Forum and at the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting in CrIS, etc. Washington, D.C.

After participating in extensive trainings and taking on-line The insights taken from these conferences allowed Mr. Oddo to certification tests, Dr. Lyu received the System Tool Kits (STK) incorporate valuable improvements and led to the submission of Level 3 Grand Master Certification. (See agi.com for more a journal article “The Value of Near Real-Time Earth Observations information and details.) in a Disaster Response Scenario” to Water Resources Research. In addition to this first-author publication, Mr. Oddo is also a

70 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 co-author on two papers submitted in the past year, stemming he generated a relief map with a resolution of 1/8-degree, and from his previous involvement with the NASA DEVELOP then joined relief to several dynamic variables from the NCA- program. Other accomplishments this year include providing LDAS dataset and a Pacific Northwest Landslide Inventory. slide information for a widely attended NASA ARSET training, Armed with these data, he designed a machine-learning model “Using Earth Observations to Monitor Water Budgets for River for dynamic landslide prediction. The model filled gaps in the Basin Management.” He also acted as a panelist during the live historical record of landslides and described the seasonality of trainings, addressing questions from an online audience of ~500 landslides in Washington and Oregon. participants over two sessions. Also, Mr. Stanley compared the annual and monthly occurrence of landslides to the standard indices of extreme precipitation in High Mountain Asia. The connection between changes to extreme precipitation indices and flood or landslide is often assumed but rarely demonstrated. This work will be published as a chapter titled “Extreme precipitation in the Himalayan landslide hotspot” in Satellite Precipitation. He also adapted LHASA, a global landslide model, for use with precipitation from the GFDL FLOR global circulation model, and then projected future changes to landslide potential, based on a 30-member ensemble GCM. The results indicated modest increases in landslide potential over most of the Himalayan region, with greater increases at the highest elevations.

Dr. Sushel Unninayar (sponsor: F. Policelli) supports NASA HQ in a variety of NASA/SMD-ESE’s internal, interagency, and international programs and activities, such as The Global Change Research Program (GCRP); the Group on Earth Observations (GEO); the Global Observing System of Systems (GEOSS); the GEOSS Integrated Global Water Cycle Observations (IGWCO) Community of Practice (CoP); GEO Global Water Sustainability (GEO-GLOWS); EO for the monitoring of indicators of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Future Earth (Water- Image from P. Oddo from Goddard’s feature article on flood Energy-Food Nexus); Committee on Earth Observations Satellites damages from the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy dam break in Laos in (CEOS), and WCRP/GEWEX. July 2018. Work continued on the GEOSS Water Strategy and GEOGLOWS In the upcoming year, Mr. Oddo plans to explore ways to implementation. Dr. Unninayar contributed to the “GEO Work expand the NRT flood analyses to have a broader reach, with Programme 2020-2022” for submission to the GEOGLOWS an emphasis on scalability and flexibility. In addition, he plans Steering Committee. Of particular importance to GEOGLOWS, the to explore the incorporation of multiple sensors into the flood GEOSS/IGWCO-CoP, and CEOS water cycle-related communities detection framework, which would improve spatial resolution is the need to further develop a comprehensive definition of, and and alleviate issues like cloud cover (e.g. SAR) as well as reduce requirements for, Essential Water Variables (EWVs). Dr. Unninayar uncertainty through direct observations of water elevations (e.g., conducted a review of observational requirements that support ICESat-2). the monitoring of essential water variables and submitted a white paper to the IGWCO (and GEOGLOWS) titled “Essential Mr. Thomas Stanley (sponsor: D. Kirschbaum) investigated Water Variables, User Needs, Observational Requirements—A the effects of a changing climate in two landslide hotspots: the Global Overview.” This theme was discussed at a GEO Work Pacific Northwest and High Mountain Asia. In the latter location, Plan Symposium held in June 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr.

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 71 Unninayar was one of the lead authors on a paper “GEOGLOWS initiated this pilot project in 2017 as a collaborative project White paper on Essential Water Variables for the 2018 GEO- between NASA/GSFC-Applied Sciences and UNE to carry out a XV Plenary” submitted to the GEOSEC in September 2018. “Multiple-Scale Analysis” of fresh water systems in a selection Switzerland leads the GEOGLOWS-EWV initiative and introduced of countries on a priority basis for UNEP’s SDG reporting needs. this work on EWVs to the 2018 GEO Plenary-XV held in Kyoto, The initial project covered (for about 10 countries) fresh water Japan. The current plan is to advance this project in two phases: extent (and change), EO for water quality (suspended solids first, identify and define the EWVs (observation and/or parameter and chlorophyll-a), and coastal fresh water ecosystems. The EO type), and second, develop requirements for the EWVs in data used were primarily Landsat and Sentinel, and MODIS. The terms of observing systems, space/time resolutions, accuracy benefits of MODIS (though at the sacrifice of spatial resolution) requirements, and data distribution systems. To implement were apparent when looking at seasonal and interannual GEOSS, the GEO has included the need to build information variability because of more frequent (than Landsat) revisit and data products that can meet the needs of users and times. An interim report was submitted to UNE in early 2018. stakeholders within various GEO Societal Benefit Areas (SBAs). UNE chose to use the EU-JRC’s approximately 30-year Landsat One of the strategic priorities identified by GEO is that Members analysis of fresh water extent carried out on Google Earth address EWVs that are particularly relevant to water cycle Engine, and decided postpone the consideration of higher extremes (WCEs) due their disproportionate impact on social, (than annual) frequency variability. The pilot continued in 2018 economic, and ecological systems. The impact of global climate and extended into 2019 with an emphasis on the monitoring change on water cycle extremes is also of major concern. As lead of water quality parameters and coastal wetlands ecosystems of the WCE effort, Dr. Unninayar prepared a draft framework for (mangroves). Several groups at NASA/GSFC and UMD were a GEOGLOWS/IGWCO project to review WCEs and observational involved. In addition, Dr. Unninayar was involved in a new pilot and data requirements per type of extreme event and parameter, to investigate the use of EO in monitoring “Urban” sustainability and to develop recommendations for future systems. Work in this by quantifying urban extent and changes in collaboration with area is ongoing. Major deficiencies remain in existing observing Conservation International. This project addresses indicator and monitoring systems. Space and time resolutions (and SDG 11.3.1. The challenge for NASA is to develop the tools and coverage) are issues for both satellite observations and in-situ protocols to demonstrate that remote sensing EO can be used data sets. Timely data and information delivery to the end user to monitor indicators of sustainable development. Following is also a challenge. NASA’s global Earth observing systems and prototype applications at target sites chosen by collaborating data assimilation and modeling technologies are well positioned end-user partners, the goal is to standardize the EO applications to serve a broad range of research and applications end users. protocols through in situ calibration and validation, followed by The timely identification of extreme events and their impacts extending the analysis to regional and transboundary to scales. on water resources management and social and economic The ultimate objective is to build a system for monitoring the systems are considered a critical need. Space-based systems SDG indicators on a global basis using NASA satellite- (and data also are uniquely positioned to provide global and transboundary assimilation model) derived products. The procedures developed coverage, but some could lack sufficient space/time resolution to in this manner would also be available for application to the adequately characterize intense or localized extreme events. The activities under the UN Sendai Framework for disaster risk identification of gaps and deficiencies in existing observing and reduction, among other programs. data management systems to address global water sustainability issues remains a primary objective of GEOGLOWS. Activities For his work with Future Earth and Global Water-Energy Food under IGWCO and GEOGLOWS support the implementation of the (WEF) Nexus, Dr. Unninayar reviewed three papers submitted observations required for monitoring the indicators of the UN- to Frontiers Environmental Science Research Topic: Achieving SDGs and the Sendai Framework on disaster risk reduction. Water-Food-Energy Nexus Sustainability: a Science and Data Need or a Need for Integrated Public Policy. Water is at the center Dr. Unninayar continued to advise the collaboration between of the intersection of the observational and decision support NASA and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNE), needs for the operational and strategic management of water the custodial agency for SDG-6 (Water-related goals), as regards resources to ensure the availability of fresh water for human applying NASA’s Earth Observations to monitor indicators SDG consumption as well as providing water for agriculture, energy 6.6.1, and 6.3.2 dealing with surface waters (and fresh water production, and ecosystem services. In this connection, he ecosystems) --extent, quantity and water quality. Dr. Unninayar worked to develop frameworks for the applications interfaces for

72 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 water cycle-related EO data/info systems that can be accessed and data assimilation models in research and applications that by the multi-sectoral end user communities. An integrated serve multiple end user communities. NASA has a particular approach to the W-E-F Nexus is considered essential for interest in showcasing opportunities for the use of remote achieving the effective governance of sustainable environmental sensing and modeling technologies that are available at NASA and economic development. Nexus approaches are considered centers. Future plans include continuing the discussion to a necessary basis for robust operational and strategic decision- evolve products for NASA’s contribution to national, regional, making protocols. As part of an initial pilot project, he was and global environmental programs for analytical, graphical involved as a contributing collaborator on a project proposal to and statistical information products, covering EWVs needed develop cross-sectoral satellite-derived and in situ data sets for by decision makers and water resources managers for their the Red River North River Basin (RRNRB) that cuts across several operational and long-term strategic planning activities. Work states (US) and parts of Canada. Dr. Unninayar is involved in will continue on the further development of observational and developing verifiable methodology for assessing and optimizing modeling requirements for water cycle variables, especially balance between competing resources in the W-E-F Nexus. requirements for the monitoring of water cycle extremes (WCEs) and their impact on the W-E-F nexus sectors as well as natural Work continued on advancing conceptual models for the ecosystems. Coordination will continue with the GEOGLOWS/ improvement of data and information flow from observing IGWCO to further develop aspects of the Water Strategy dealing systems to end-users via “cognitive” cloud-based user interfaces with defining EWVs and WCEs. For the UN “Water” Sustainable that apply analytical tools to address user queries and needs. Development Goals (SDGs), Dr. Unninayar will continue to Such a system would provide a transparent and seamless develop plans for demonstrating the benefits of NASA remote conduit to expand exposure to, the effectiveness of, and the sensing data and models that contribute to achieving the targets transfer of NASA observational and modeling products to of SDG-6, 11, 14, and 15 (Fresh water and sanitation; Urban support integrated global water cycle research and client-driven environments; Life under water; Life on Earth). SDG 6 deals water resources management applications. Dr. Unninayar is broadly with water resources management, water availability, considering a workshop on “AI Applications to the Water-Energy- water stress, water quality, wastewater management, health and Food Nexus” for FY-2019. Furthermore, he is the Co-Convener sanitation. Possibilities for the application of EO to monitor these of a session accepted for the 2019 AGU Fall Meeting titled other SDG indicators will involve a broader range of satellite data “Remote Sensing Applications for Water Resources Management and modeling derived information products and statistics. The including Droughts, Floods, and Associated Water Cycle development of requirements for EWVs will include the needs Extremes.” This session theme has been conveyed successfully of the Sendai Framework on disaster risk reduction. He will over three successive years, and has attracted numerous papers also work toward improving the use of Earth observations and covering nearly all aspects of remote sensing and modeling of data/information systems EO to support integrated approaches the global water cycle and the application of data and models to the strategic management of water resources. In addition, for monitoring EWVs, identifying extremes, and predicting conceptual models for “cognitive intelligence” systems will be future changes to water systems. This year a sub-focus area examined with the aim of promoting and building a seamless for water quality has been added to cover the monitoring of WQ interface for information access to NASA observations, modeling parameters from space. The publisher Elsevier has approached and analysis products, and end-user research and applications. Dr. Unninayar with a renewed interest in publishing a reference book on the topic of EO/RS applications for WRM. A previous alternate proposition from Frontiers to publish a special topics edition in their journal is also being considered. GEWEX

Coordination will continue with (and for) NASA-HQ and NASA/ The Global Energy and Water EXchanges (GEWEX) Project of the GSFC regarding the implementation of the GEOSS Water World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) brings together a Strategy, the international GEOGLOWS Project, the monitoring of significant component of the world climate community in joint indicators of the UN-SDGs, the Sendai Framework for disaster initiatives to understand Earth’s water cycle and energy fluxes risk reduction, and the development of mechanisms to address at and below the surface and in the atmosphere, to advance the W-E-F Nexus. These activities will effectively promote and understanding of coupled hydrologic and atmospheric processes optimize the use of data from NASA’s remote sensing platforms from regional to global scales, and to use research, observations

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 73 and models to address the problems related to weather and For activities related to the WCRP Grand Challenge (in relation to climate processes and water resources around the world. the Extremes Grand Challenge on Water for the Food Baskets), Scientists from over 45 countries participate in major GEWEX the IGPO set up an open meeting following the 8th GEWEX projects aimed at quantifying the hydrologic cycle and energy Science Conference on May 11, 2018; also, the IGPO set up a fluxes by means of global measurements of atmospheric and meeting with Dr. Alex Ruane and his colleagues from NASA-GISS surface properties; modeling the global water cycle and its role and AgMIP (Agricultural Modeling Intercomparison Project) in in the climate system; developing the ability to predict variations New York in July 2018. They assisted with the AGU Side meeting of global and regional hydrologic processes and water resources “Water for the Food Baskets” in December 2018 and a Town and their response to environmental change; and fostering Hall Meeting at the 2019 EGU in Vienna, Austria in April 2019. the development of observational techniques, as well as data For activities related to the GEWEX Scientific Steering Group management and assimilation systems. GEWEX activities involve (SSG), support included assisting with the organization of the understanding and modeling land-atmosphere coupling and SSG meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in late February 2019 cloud system processes, global data set development for process at WMO Headquarters, where the discussion of the GEWEX studies, water resource applications, and the effective use of strategy for the coming years has been a major component and Earth Observations in climate science. The International GEWEX relations have intensified with space agencies in Europe, Japan Project Office (IGPO) facilitates and coordinates GEWEX research and the U.S. The IGPO created the meeting’s website, produced across the GEWEX studies, activities, and products. presentations, and took notes for actions items and the meeting report. Drs. Peter van Oevelen and Robert Schiffer along with Ms. Fernande Vervoort (sponsors: J. Santanello and F. Policelli) with Several meetings between the IGPO director and GEWEX SSG support from USRA and Science and Technology Corporation Co-Chairs with the new WMO Chief Scientist and Director of (STC) cover the operation of IGPO, and facilitate and coordinate Research, Pavel Kabat, were held to discuss the developments GEWEX research, activities, and products. This past year, USRA at WMO and WCRP and the impact it may have on GEWEX and provided directly or through access to the necessary facilities the other WCRP core programs. The IGPO has assisted the and staffing the support required to meet the obligations and GEWEX SSG co-chairs with their inputs and responses to the JSC responsibilities of IGPO and its Director. Examples include as it takes steps to formulate a road map for the development supporting the GEWEX Scientific Steering Group (SSG) and its of a new strategic plan for WCRP. The next JSC meeting will be Co-Chairs; assisting with the coordination and implementation held in Geneva, Switzerland, May 2019; IGPO is coordinating of the Third Phase of GEWEX through GEWEX Panels, Working the GEWEX presentations for the meeting. The IGPO assisted Groups, Regional Hydroclimate Projects (RHP) and the SSG; WCRP in manning WCRP’s booth at the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting coordinating the formation of new working groups, panels, and in Washington, DC, and assisted with communication through related activities in certain areas of GEWEX; reporting on GEWEX different mediums for the 2018 WCRP Workshop: The Earth’s activities to international bodies and government agencies; Energy Imbalance in Toulouse, France in November 2018. implementing an outreach program for GEWEX; representing GEWEX at scientific conferences and other international forums; For the GEWEX Panels’ annual meetings, IGPO tracks travel facilitating the development of cross-cutting issues and the grants, sends invitations, assists with logistics and planning, linkages of GEWEX with other programs, such as Future Earth and creates meeting websites with registration and venue and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); information. Aside from these activities, IGPO assisted the managing travel requests from scientists to attend GEWEX GASS Panel with the organization and registration of the meetings and meetings where GEWEX attendance is required; 2018 UTCC PROES workshop held in October 2018 in Paris, reviewing plans from WCRP and other environmental programs, France, and assisted with the communication through different providing inputs to planning documents for WCRP and other mediums for the 2nd GEWEX Convection Permitting Climate programs, and responding to numerous requests for information Modeling Workshop in Boulder, Co, held in Sept. 2018 and the about the GEWEX program and data sets; and representing International Workshop of First Phase of GEWEX/GASS ILSTSS2S WCRP in the International Global Water Cycle Observations Initiative and TPEMIP in Washington DC in December 2018. Community of Practice (IGWCO-COP) theme and Science IGPO also assisted with the installment of two new GASS panel Advisory Group through the provision of secretariat services and members. IGPO supported GDAP with the organization and contributions to the Group on Earth Observations (GEO).

74 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 registration of the 2018 GDAP meeting held in November 2018 website (https://www.gewex.org), which provides recent GEWEX in Lisbon, Portugal. science results, overviews of the structure and organization of GEWEX and its projects, access to GEWEX reports, publications In support of the GEWEX Hydroclimatology Panel (GHP), the and data sets, updates on recent and planned activities, and a IGPO assisted the GHP co-chairs with planning, organizing calendar of project meetings and conferences. IGPO also hosts and the registration of the 2018 GHP meeting in Santiago, (including domain registration), maintains, and continually Chile in October, which was jointly held with the 1st ANDEX updates the GEWEXevents website (https://www.gewexevents. workshop and the 4th INARCH Workshop. A joint meeting org), which provides detailed information on upcoming and between scientists from all three meetings was organized to past GEWEX events. In addition, IGPO has developed a Wiki discuss subjects of common interest, enhancing transregional page containing a list of most commonly known and used scientific collaboration on mountainous terrain topics in a Abbreviations and Acronyms related to climate research (https:// consistent manner with the overall objectives of GHP. At the bit.ly/2CEE2NP). 2018 GHP Meeting, a third GHP component, GHP Network, was accepted during the GEWEX SSG 2019. The GHP Network’s To encourage the involvement of young scientists in GEWEX/ purpose is to keep the scientific communities engaged with WCRP activities, the IGPO has invited the Young Hydrologic GEWEX after completion of an RHP or as an alternative if a Society, the AGU Hydrology Section Student Subcommittee, and proposed RHP fails to reach the initiating stage. Also at the the Young Earth System Scientists Community to contribute 2019 GHP Meeting, Baltic Earth was confirmed as a fully one-half page in each issue of GEWEX News to advertise their working Regional Hydroclimate Project (RHP) and PannEx as an activities. The IGPO assists with planning cross-collaboration initiating RHP. The IGPO assisted with communications for the activities of GEWEX and the Integrated Land Ecosystem- 4th PannEx Workshop: The ELTE Meeting, held in Budapest in Atmosphere Processes Study (iLEAPS), the importance of which September 2018, and the 5th OzEWEX Workshop: Water in the was recently highlighted by a Memorandum of Understanding Anthropocene held in Canberra, Australia in January/February between WCRP and iLEAPS. GEWEX and CLIVAR joint activities 2019. With respect to PannEx, IGPO was instrumental in getting include the JSC task group on extreme weather and climate their 80-page PannEx White Book published. IGPO is assisting and the WCRP Monsoon Panel and the Earth Energy Imbalance with the organization of a writing workshop for ANDEX, a Workshop and related activities. potential RHP on the Andes, in Quito, Ecuador, in April 2019; the promotion of the 2nd International Global Water Futures Meeting More collaboration was sought with ESA, which has resulted in Saskatoon, Canada, in May 2019; and, the 12th HyMeX in their participation at the GEWEX SSG-31 meeting and the Workshop in Split, Croatia, in May 2019. In communication with roundtable meeting with other space agencies (NASA, JAXA, the GLASS community, the IGPO assisted with promoting the EUMETSAT) at said meeting. Furthermore, through ESA’s Coupling metrics “cheat sheets” and promoting the published invitation, GEWEX was given the possibility to participate in ESA/ article in BAMS, “Land-Atmosphere Interactions: The LoCo EC Expert meeting in Brussels, Belgium held in March 2019. Perspective.” In addition, meetings with colleagues from University Utrecht The IGPO develops, publishes, and distributes GEWEX and Technical University Delft, both in The Netherlands, were News, a quarterly published newsletter with a distribution of held regarding possible joined research opportunities. An approximately 3,000 copies. For every issue, IGPO determines important step in improving the GEWEX network in Central Asia the content; solicits articles; and collects, edits, and formats and Middle East has been made through GEWEX Outreach effort these for layout. All issues of the newsletters are available on the by the IGPO Director, Dr. Peter van Oevelen. He gave lectures on GEWEX website. Additionally, the IGPO periodically distributes a Observations and Modeling of the Global Energy and Water Cycle digital newsletter (GEWEX E-news) that includes recent news of at the Winter Master School 2019 in Almaty, Kazakhstan (This interest to the GEWEX community that is time sensitive, including was organized by the Kazakh National Agrarian University and calls for papers and research as well as career opportunities. the Kazakh Research Institute of Processing and Food Industry The IGPO has increased its activity on social media through with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Twitter and Facebook as a means to attract and engage new and Kazakhstan and the National Agrarian Research and Education existing community members. The IGPO hosts (including domain Center.) registration), maintains, and continually updates the GEWEX

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 75 As the IGPO Director, Dr. van Oevelen co-chaired the International CODE 618: BIOSPHERIC SCIENCES LABORATORY Soil Moisture Working Group, one of the drivers in establishing the global soil moisture in situ. In addition, he serves on the Dr. Assaf Anyamba (sponsor: C. Tucker) continues to Executive Board of the Science Committee for the Integrated conduct research using time series satellite vegetation index Global Water Cycle Observations (IGWCO) Community of Practice measurements from various satellite instruments including (COP) of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO); served on the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Board of the FP7 Project Earth2Observe Project; and, served his SPOT Vegetation, and NOAA’s Advanced Very High Resolution last year on the Board of the Helmholz Alliance as a user group Radiometer (AVHRR), and Tropical Rainfall Measuring representative. Dr. Van Oevelen also contributes to the Water Mission (TRMM) and associated ground-based rain gauge Cycle Societal Benefit Area under GEO and is a member of the measurements. His work also focuses on land surface response Digital Belt and Road Initiative (DBAR) Water advisory board. to interannual climate variability associated with El Niño/ Southern Oscillation (ENSO), drought pattern analysis; and it This past year, IGPO staff attended and gave one or more infers long-term trends and dynamics of vegetation patterns, presentation at the following meetings: European coordination development of long-term data records (LTDRs) of the biosphere meeting with Prof. Bob Su; AOGS International Conference, and links between climate variability and vector-borne disease Honolulu, HI; NASA-GISS and AgMIP Meeting, NY; 2nd GEWEX outbreaks. Dr. Anyamba leads and develops research analysis Convection-Permitting Climate Modeling Workshop, Boulder, and applications development for global agricultural and CO; 8th Third Pole Environment (TPE) Workshop, Gothenburg, drought monitoring for the U.S. Department of Agriculture/ Sweden; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; 2018 GHP Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS), climate variability Meeting, 1st ANDEX Workshop and joint ANDEX-GHP-INARCH and vector-borne disease prediction mapping in support of the meeting, all in Santiago, Chile; CEOS Freshwater from Space Department of Defense Global Emerging Infections Surveillance Expert Workshop, Delft, The Netherlands; CLIVAR SSG Meeting, and Response System (DoD/GEIS) and the U.S. Department Washington, DC; USGCRP Workshop, Silver Spring, MD; ILSTSS2S of Agriculture/Center for Medical, Agricultural & Veterinary Workshop, Washington, DC; AGU Fall Meeting, Washington, Entomology (USDA/CMAVE), and global monitoring and risk DC; Winterschool Lectures, Almaty, Kazakhstan; GEWEX SSG assessment for Chikungunya outbreaks in support of Defense Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland; ESA/EC Meeting, Brussels, Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Belgium. Dr. Anyamba, Dr. Radina Soebiyanto (GESTAR/USRA) and inter- In the coming year, several GEWEX meetings and workshops are agency co-authors published the first comprehensive study to planned and include the following: 2nd Global Water Futures assess the relationship between a major climate event and (GWF) Annual Science Meeting, Saskatoon, Canada; 12th HyMeX disease outbreak/health impacts on a global scale. The study Workshop, Split, Croatia; 5th PannEx Workshop, Novi Sad, demonstrates the value of NASA and associated earth science Serbia; 8th G-VAP Meeting, Madrid, Spain; 2nd International observations and seasonal forecasts to global public health for GEWEX/GASS/LS4P and TPEMIP Regional Modeling & Aerosol societal benefit. Findings show that disease outbreaks in multiple in Snow Workshop, Nanjing, China; International Workshop on regions worldwide followed shifts in rainfall, temperature, Convection Parametrization: Progress and Challenges, Exeter, and vegetation. These shifts favored ecological conditions UK; 2019 GLASS Panel Meeting, Boulder, CO; Advanced School appropriate for pathogens and their vectors to emerge, and Workshop on American Monsoons, São Paulo, Brazil; High- propagating clusters of disease activity in these regions. The Resolution Climate Modeling Symposium, in conjunction with intensity of disease activity in some regions was approximately the 3rd GEWEX Workshop on Convection-Permitting Climate 2.5%-28% higher during years with El Niño events than those Modeling, Zurich, Switzerland; CFMIP 2019 Meeting, Mykonos, without. For example, above-normal rainfall was associated Greece; GHP CC Workshop: Determining Evapotranspiration, in with plague and hanta virus in Colorado and New Mexico, as conjunction with 2019 GHP Meeting, Sydney, Australia. well as cholera in Tanzania. On the other hand, dengue in Brazil and Southeast Asia was associated with above-normal land- surface temperatures and persistence of drought conditions. (Additionally, Helen-Nicole Kostis (GESTAR/USRA) created visualizations for his research as seen in the NASA press release “The above visualizations were featured in this NASA press

76 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 release: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2019/2015- innovation as it pertains to the expanding paradigm of One 2016-el-nino-triggered-disease-outbreaks-across-globe (Ms. Health. One Health is an umbrella term for a paradigm to Kostis’s report is found within Code 606.4).) health care that considers animal, human, and environmental health issues as inextricably linked, each informing the other, rather than as distinct disciplines. While several important One Health initiatives have been launched in the United States and globally, progress to date is still uneven, and requires significant practical and theoretical work to scale. He was on a panel on “Adding Seats at the One Health Table: Promoting the Environmental Backbone at Home and Abroad” and discussed how environmental satellite data and information can contribute to achieving One Health objectives domestically and globally. In February 2019, he gave an invited talk on “One Health: Lessons from the Rift Valley fever Monitor” at the Africa One Health Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Dr. Anyamba gave an invited presentation, “Rift Valley Figure: Geographic distribution of various disease activity worldwide fever: Supporting Early Warning and Research”, at (between April 2015–March 2016) compiled from various sources and the Rift Valley Fever Forum held in December 2018 in time series profiles of climate variables. Persistence of anomaly conditions Washington DC. The forum was aimed at high federal of precipitation, land surface temperature, and normalized difference government officials in the BioThreats Community and vegetation index in created conditions for the emergence of vectors and interested public. Also presenting were Dr. William outbreaks of diseases for United States, Brazil, Tanzania, and Southeast Karesh (EcoHealth Alliance), Dr. Melinda Rostal Asia focal regions. Citation: Anyamba, A., J.-P. Chretien, S. C. Britch, R. (EcoHealth Alliance) and summary by Mr. Douglas P. Soebiyanto, J. L. Small, R. Jepsen, B. M. Forshey, J. L. Sanchez, R. D. Gorsline (Defense Threat Reduction Agency). Dr. Smith, R. Harris, C. J. Tucker, W. B. Karesh & K. J. Linthicum (2019), Anyamba also was invited to the Bill & Melinda Gates Global Disease Outbreaks Associated with the 2015–2016 El Niño Event, Foundation Grand Challenges 2018 Annual Meeting Scientific Reports (Nature), 9 (1930), https://www.nature.com/articles/ held in Berlin in October 2018 where he presented on s41598-018-38034-z. (Provided by A. Anyamba.) The Rift Valley fever Monitor in the session on National Surveillance Systems to Support Decision Agriculture In October 2018, Drs. Anyamba and Soebiyanto attended the Under Climate Change & Pest and Disease Surveillance for Pandemic Prediction and Forecasting Science and Technology Human, Livestock, and Crop Health Marketplace of Innovation Working Group (PPFST-WG) Workshop in Washington, DC, hosted Presentations. He rounded out the year in April presenting at by The Department of Anthropology of the National Museum of the University of Geneva, Switzerland at the 2nd Symposium on Natural History. Dr. Soebiyanto presented on “Recommendations Understanding Emerging Viral Diseases and their Public Health for improving predictive models,” and a report from the workshop Impact, and giving a presentation titled “Space, Satellites and will be prepared for the National Science and Technology Animals: Rift Valley fever” at the World Organization for Animal Council. They also attended the American Society of Tropical Health in France. Medicine and Hygiene in New Orleans, LA and the DHA GEIS Annual Meeting. Upcoming plans include attendance and presentations at the Future Earth Health Knowledge-Action Network Symposium at In November 2018, Dr. Anyamba attended and was a panelist The Center for Sustainability Science in Academia, Sinica, Taipei, at “The One Health in the 21st Century Workshop”, held in and at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Washington, DC. The forum served as a snapshot of government, Department of State Symposium in Cambridge, MA. Work will intergovernmental, and non-governmental organization begin on manuscripts discussing the following topics: Rift Valley

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 77 fever Risk Mapping Assessment: 2006-2011; Rift Valley fever Predicting the Magnitude, Variability, and Rate of Change at the Interepizootic Period in South Africa; ChikRisk: Chikungunya Intersection of Arctic and Boreal Ecosystems.” In advance of the Global Risk Mapping; Bioclimatic Indicators of Rift Valley project’s start, Dr. Armstrong worked with Co-Is to interview and fever activity; and, Chikungunya Analytics: Risk Mapping and successfully hire a PhD candidate who will join the project in Forecasting. summer 2019 and be co-advised by Drs. Epstein and Armstrong.

Dr. Amanda Armstrong (sponsor: B. Osmanoglu) completed Mr. Thomas Eck (sponsor: B. Holben) continues to investigate her work on the Remote Sensing Theory project in December the optical properties of atmospheric aerosols within AERONET 2018. The goal of this research was to investigate techniques for application to studies of the effects of aerosols on the in fusing forest modeling with Radar and Lidar datasets in order atmospheric radiation balance and climate, and for validation of to accurately measure forest structural attributes including satellite retrievals of aerosol properties. He conducts analyses height and aboveground biomass. For this project, Dr. Armstrong of measurements made by automatic sun-sky scanning developed two different forest models: 1) A La Selva Costa radiometers that are globally distributed as a part of the NASA- Rica version of the FORMIND Model, and 2) A Howland Study managed Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET; project leader: Forest Maine version of the SIBBORK Model. Her lead author Brent N. Holben, GSFC). The measurements of spectral direct FORMIND study is titled “A Multi-scaled analysis of Forest sun intensity and sky radiance distributions are utilized to infer a Structure using Individual-Based Modeling in a Costa Rican complete description of the column integrated optical properties Rainforest.” She also co-authored and led three other papers, of the aerosols. These ground-based remote sensing retrievals of which are in various stages of publication: “Beyond MRV: high- aerosol optical properties are analyzed to better understand the resolution forest carbon modeling for climate mitigation planning dynamics of aerosol properties as a function of source region, over Maryland, USA,” published in Environmental Research transport, aging processes, and interaction with clouds. This past Letters; “Soils”, in the book “The terrestrial protected areas of year, Mr. Eck participated in the development and analysis of the Madagascar: their history, description, and biota.” Association new AERONET version 3 database. Cloud screening, AOD data Vahatra, Antananarivo; and “Importance of Tree Size and Species quality checks, hybrid scan retrievals and retrieval uncertainties Interactions with Wildfire, Climate, and Soils in Interior Alaska: were the main areas of development. Application of a Forest Gap Model at Multiple Scales,” in review with Ecological Modeling. Throughout the year, Mr. Eck gave two presentations at the 2nd KORUS-AQ Science Team Meeting in August 2018, one In September, Dr. Armstrong attended the International presentation at the AGU Fall Meeting in December 2018, and CIrcumpolar Arctic Remote Sensing Symposium in Potsdam, one at the AMS Annual Meeting in January 2019. He was first Germany. In October, she presented two talks on modeling author on two papers with Journal of Geophysical Research – work as part of the Remote Sensing Theory Project at the Atmospheres: “AERONET remotely sensed measurements and FORESTSAT 2018 meeting in College Park, MD. At the 2018 retrievals of biomass burning aerosol optical properties during AGU Fall Meeting, she co-convened a session on remote the 2015 Indonesian burning season”, and “Observations of sensing and ecological modeling, and she prepared two posters the interaction and transport of fine mode aerosols with cloud and contributed to two talks. Dr. Armstrong also worked on and/or fog in Northeast Asia from Aerosol Robotic Network and two proposals, one of which has received funding. The first, satellite remote sensing”. He co-authored five other articles, submitted to ROSES A8: Sustainable Development Goals, was published in Atmospheric Environment, Atmos. Meas. Tech., written with PI Vasit Sagan. The focus is to characterize the Atmos. Chem. Phys. (2), and Aerosol and Air Quality Research. effects of forest fragmentation on biodiversity loss through time in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar. The project will also Mr. Eck will continue to analyze the KORUS-AQ field campaign investigate how climate change will affect the long-term viability data from South Korea during May-June 2016, of the aerosol of forest fragments and what the size threshold of viability is with optical properties from both in situ and remote sensing projected future climate patterns for the region using CMIP5. measurements, focusing on trans-boundary transport events The research will combine high resolution remote sensing and that were often associated with cloud cover and high RH. individual based forest modeling, using the FORMIND Model. The Results will be compiled into a related journal paper. In late second, which was selected for funding, is a NASA ABoVE Phase July to August, Mr. Eck will participate in the Fire Influence II proposal titled “Vulnerability of the Taiga-Tundra Ecotone: on Regional to Global Environments Experiment - Air Quality

78 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 (FIREX-AQ) field campaign that will be conducted primarily in Dr. Ian Paynter (sponsor: B. Cook) conducts research concerning Idaho (based in McCall, ID) and surrounding states. Additional the Earth’s biosphere, with an emphasis on remote sensing measurements will be planned during aircraft over-flights over of ecosystem form and function using Goddard’s Lidar, AERONET sun-sky radiometer sites as well as from mobile Hyperspectral and Thermal (G-LiHT) airborne imager. G-LiHT SUV-based lidar and sunphotometers. Mobile deployments will has acquired multi-sensor and multi-temporal data of terrestrial allow for measurements to be made in major smoke plumes ecosystems from Alaska to the Yucatan (http://gliht.gsfc.nasa. in surrounding regions. He plans to present some preliminary gov) to inventory and monitor forest biomass and productivity; results from this campaign at the 2019 AGU Fall Meeting in improve earlier detection of insect and disease outbreaks; and December. evaluate how terrestrial ecosystems respond to disturbance.

Dr. Min-Jeong Jo (sponsor: B. Osmanoglu) works on flood In 2018, Dr. Paynter provided ground-based data collection with monitoring with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, related a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) to support G-LiHT’s acquisition to NASA disasters program. Dr. Jo has been developing an of airborne data over New Mexico, Oregon and Alaska. These automatic flood mapping system using a pair of SAR images, one observations were conducted to build an inventory of forest pre-event and one post-event data. The current algorithm mainly issues documented with G-LiHT in order to develop automatic focuses on mapping flood extent and floodwater depth based on detection techniques for future observations. The combination dual polarimetry SAR imagery such as Sentinel-1. Her goal is to of lidar and multispectral instruments on G-LiHT are capable of develop a rapid and simple monitoring system for flood events, identifying various forest health issues, including storm damage, which helps urgent decision making. She also supports efforts in fire damage, and parasite infestation. The Terrestrial Laser landslide mapping related to the High Mountain Asia project. She Scanner data are also being used to build a simulation library for has been working on data processing and data analysis of high- various forest health conditions for the species observed during resolution SAR imagery such as COSMO-SkyMed and TerraSAR-X 2018. This model procedurally generates trees based on their satellites data, along a few crucial highways for landslide per-species structural characteristics, and will interface with 3D monitoring in Nepal. Dr. Jo uses a change detection method modelling environments such as DART. based on SAR amplitude information to detect rapid failure landslides. Also, she monitors slow-moving landslides using SAR Additionally, Dr. Paynter continued to work on characterizing Interferometry (InSAR) and time-series analysis. the Firefly spectrometer, including contributions to a 2019 solar-induced fluorescence retrieval workshop connected to the At the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting and the 2018 ISPRS Symposium, upcoming European Space Agency FLEX mission. Firefly updates Dr. Jo presented her work on the development of flood mapping have included hybridized retrieval approaches using multiple system and validation, “Flood Water Depth Mapping Based on absorption features in the solar spectrum, and a new forward Dual-Polarimetric Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery.” model to predict the effects of instrument characteristics, and The current flood mapping system developed is about a 70% conditions during data acquisition, on downstream retrievals of automatic system, and can generate a flood product almost in 4 fluorescence. Dr. Paynter also conducted an extensive analysis of hours once post-event imagery is available. She also co-authored 2017 and 2018 experiments and G-LiHT observations to further an article “Remote Sensing of Cascading Hazards over High this project. Mountain Asia.” Dr. Jo measured the slow-moving Jure landslide in Arniko Highway, Nepal, through a time-series analysis of InSAR Dr. Radina Soebiyanto (sponsor: C. Tucker) aims to quantitatively observations. This map showed the early stage movement of determine the association between climate variability and vector- landslides. borne diseases (Rift Valley Fever in Africa and the Middle East; dengue and chikungunya in the Americas, Caribbean, Africa Efforts will continue related to the flood monitoring system, and Asia) – which further serves as the basis for developing focusing on developing an automatic mapping system and a climate-based disease risk mapping for these vector-borne reducing detection errors. Dr. Jo also plans to improve the current diseases. Climatic data used include rainfall (from GPCP: Global algorithm in collaboration with others who work on the optic- Precipitation Climatology Project and ARC: African rainfall based flood mapping system. climatology), land surface temperature and vegetation index from NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectradiometer (MODIS).

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 79 Dr. Soebiyanto, Dr. Anyamba (GESTAR/USRA) and Dr. Jennifer where Dr. Soebiyanto reported on “Recommendations for Small (SSAI/GSFC) continued their work on revising the current improving predictive models”. A report from the workshop will Rift Valley fever model, which will take into consideration rainfall be prepared for the National Science and Technology Council. In anomaly and ENSO indicators. Dr. Soebiyanto also worked on late November, Dr. Soebiyanto attended a three-day workshop on assessing anomalously high rainfall in Kenya between March Artificial Intelligence held at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. – May 2018 that was followed by several RVF outbreaks in the At the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting, Dr. Soebiyanto presented a talk area. Such high rainfall anomalies (~ 400 mm in 3 months, see titled “Using Global Seasonal Forecasts to Map Chikungunya Figure 1) had never occurred before during the same time frame. Risk”. In March 2019, Dr. Soebiyanto attended the monthly In the coming year, Dr. Soebiyanto will continue her work on Rift Pandemic Prediction and Forecasting Science and Technology Valley Fever monitoring, which includes improving the forecast Working Group meeting. model and preparing manuscripts on the atypical pattern of the Rift Valley fever outbreak in 2018 as well as on the bioclimatic Dr. Soebiyanto was a Co-I on three proposals that were selected indicator for Rift Valley fever. She also plans to develop two for funding this year, two with Dr. Anyamba as PI (funded by NOAA manuscripts on her work on chikungunya. and by D.O.D.) and one with Barbara Han of Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies as PI (funded by Cary Institute). Additionally, in collaboration with The University of Tennessee (PI: Colleen B. Jonsson) and CIES, Drs. Soebiyanto and Anyamba contributed to a White paper Pre-Application titled “Forecasting Rodent Reservoirs of Future Zoonotic Diseases”. The White paper was submitted to Department of Defense, Peer Reviewed Medical Research Programs – Focused Program Award.

Dr. Qingyuan Zhang (sponsor: E. Middleton) has been working on a new task, supporting one NASA mission (the Hyperspectral Infrared Imaging (HyspIRI) concept satellite mission) and the study of Spectral Bio-Indicators (SBI). He continues to support the Surface Biology and Geology Figure 1: Assessment of anomalously high rainfall in Kenya, March (SBG) mission. Dr. Zhang has joined two of the five work – May 2018, followed by several RVF outbreaks in the area. Such groups for SBG: one is the algorithm work group, and the other high rainfall anomalies (~ 400 mm in 3 months) had never occurred is the modeling work group. In June 2019, he will attend the before during the same timeframe. (Provided by R. Soebiyanto.) SBG workshop in Washington, DC.

In December, Dr. Zhang gave a presentation titled “Flexibility A paper led by Dr. Anyamba titled “Global Disease Outbreaks in Barrow tundra ecosystem responses to climate change” at Associated with the 2015–2016 El Niño Event” and co-authored the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting. He and co-authors are revising a by Dr. Soebiyanto was published in Scientific Reports; it also related paper titled “How the Barrow tundra ecosystem in Alaska was highlighted as an NIH National Institute of Environmental is responding to climate change?”, which reports on findings in Health Sciences’ Research Spotlight as well as highlighted by Barrow, Alaska. This year, Dr. Zhang’s former work on findings The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Global of maps of fAPARchl, fAPARnon-chl, fAPARcanopy for Nebraska Health news & analysis. has been included in the book chapter “Spectral Bio-Indicators of Photosynthetic Efficiency and Vegetation Stress”. In the year Dr. Soebiyanto attended several meetings and conferences ahead, he plans to submit a manuscript that will describe the this year, contributing to and/or presenting on various topics. steps of the algorithm to retrieve fAPARchl and other parameters. In August 2018, she and Dr. Anyamba presented at the Dr. Zhang also is a PI on two proposals submitted to NASA, one to International Conference on Emerging Infectious Disease (ICEID) ECOStress and the other to Remote Sensing Theory. hosted by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA. In October, they attended the PPFST-WG Workshop,

80 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 CODE 699: PLANETARY ionization to inject ions directly into an orbitrap. Dr. Southard ENVIRONMENTS LABORATORY is now the product development lead for the laser desorption ionization (LDI) inlet optics for both of these instruments. Dr. Thomas Fauchez (sponsor: S. Domagal Goldman) is a CORALS and CRATER will focus on the detection of different planetary scientist working on exoplanet atmosphere modeling materials on Europa and the moon, respectively. These two and characterization. This year, Dr. Fauchez simulated the impact instruments will be matured to TRL 6 (tested in relevant of clouds and photochemical hazes that the future NASA James environments) in the coming years. He also submitted his Webb Space Telescope may encounter during the atmospheric first MaTISSE proposal as a PI, an attempt to gain funding characterization of TRAPPIST-1e, 1f and 1g habitable planets for maturation of an orbitrap-based mass spectrometer (with through transmission spectroscopy. While clouds and hazes may resolving power of m/dm > 100000). This instrument aims have a large impact on the detectability of biosignature gas, to very precisely resolve the mass of unknown molecules and it appears that CO2 (if any) may be detectable in less than 30 their fragments and disambiguate isobaric interferences. While transits. He has submitted this work to the AstroPhysical Journal. reviews were favorable, the proposal was not selected. Looking In parallel, Dr. Fauchez has led an international intercomparison ahead, as Co-I, Dr. Southard will submit a Planetary Mission of planetary GCMs to highlight differences between models Concept Proposal with PI: Mary Beth Wilhelm related to the use before that observational data will be available with JWST, and of liquid separation methods for detection of organics species. he has investigated the impact on the N2 background pressure on the inner edge of the habitable zone. From each of these Dr. Southard helped write a SPIE proceeding discussing work research efforts, papers are in preparation. He presented his on the MiniEPMA and MACROS instruments titled “Future work at two conferences, the CCTP3 and the AGU Fall Meeting. Planetary Instrument Capabilities Made Possible by Micro- and Nanotechnology”. He also engaged in new learning opportunities, Going forward, work will involve modeling runaway planets with attending the annual American Geophysical Union conference dense atmosphere and modeling their characterization with and the annual COMSOL conference. The COMSOL conference future NASA facilities (JWST, LUVOIR/HabEX/OST), using as a discussed how finite element methods can be used to solve benchmark the TRAPPIST-1 inner planets (TRAPPIST-1 b, c and a host of multiphysics problems. This training will faciliate Dr. d). Dr. Fauchez will continue to be involved with the science Southard’s creation of a COMSOL user group at Goddard Space support analysis team on the Large UV/Optical/Infrared Surveyor Flight Center. (LUVOIR) study. In future work, Dr. Southard plans to demonstrate the Dr. Adrian Southard (sponsor: S. Getty) worked on a variety of capabilities of the AROMA instrument in France, specifically, objectives throughout the year, involving 1) modeling and testing the mass resolving power mass range, and disambiguation of a field emitter array for the Miniature Electron Probe for In situ isobaric interferences using several gas mixes. If legal issues Elemental Microanalysis (MiniEPMA), an instrument for doing associated with a French collaboration can be resolved, this spatially resolved mineralogy through creation of characteristic work will be done during a two-week campaign in 2019-2020. X-rays, 2) modeling and designing an interface between a He will present on AROMA progress at ASMS 2019 prior to that. linear ion trap and orbitrap for the Advanced Resolution organic Dr. Southard will serve as primary mentor for Nolan Roth (High molecular analyzer (AROMA), a high resolution ion trap mass Point University, NC), who will test a new field emitter geometry spectrometer for resolving the components of complex mixtures, for improved emitter uniformity and reduced target spot size 3) optimizing liquid deposition under vacuum for subsequent (< 100 um diameter) for the MiniEPMA instrument. Also, he laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry for the Molecular will be testing predictions of his modeling related to CORALS Analyzer of complex refractory organic-rich systems (MACROS), on European analog materials and mentoring another summer and 4) supporting software design and testing of a novel fluidic student, Jessica Patel (Delaware State University, DE), who will trap, as well as supporting the modeling and testing of an ion assist with this effort. inlet for an LDI interface to an Orbitrap mass spectrometer (CORALS & CRATER). Dr. Samuel Teinturier (sponsor: P. Mahaffy) works on the development and testing of experimental procedures for the This past year, he was a Co-I on two orbitrap-related proposals, Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite, and on GCMS CORALS and CRATER. These instruments use laser desorption lab experiments in order to analyze and interpret the results from

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 81 Mars. He is one of the key users of the SAM Testbed at Goddard and part of the MSL (Mars Science Laboratory) Science and Tactical team. This past year, some new experiments conducted on Mars with the SAM instrument and on Earth with the SAM Tested instrument at Goddard led to the possible discovery of long hydrocarbons chains on Mars. These results are still under review, and other lab experiments will be conducted in order to confirm the origin of these molecules. The possible detection of biosignatures on Mars with the SAM instrument is of great interest. Additionally, after long refurbishment work on the SAM Testbed experiment at Goddard, key experiments were conducted. Martian analogs were synthesized and analyzed, and these results and datasets are important for understanding the next experiments planned on Mars with the SAM instrument onboard the Curiosity rover.

Looking forward, Dr. Teinturier is working on the optimization and modification of the next wet chemistry experiments on Mars, and helping the SAM team in order to maximize the science results from these milestone experiments. Work will continue in laboratory experiments needed to understand results, and he will lead SAM Testbed experiments to understand and optimize these analyses.

82 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Delivering the Message

Image from “New Simulation Sheds Light on Spiraling Supermassive Black Holes.” (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13043. This was also part of a NASA feature https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/new-simulation-sheds-light-on-spiraling-supermassive-black- holes. (Provided by S. Wiessinger.)

Members of the Office of Communications (Code 130, sponsor CODE 130 (Sponsor: W. Sisler) W. Sisler), the Scientific Visualization Studio (Code 606.4, sponsor H. Mitchell), and the Science Communications Support Jefferson Beck provides Goddard Multimedia and the NASA Office (POC: Winnie Humberson, GST; sponsor: S. Platnick) have Goddard Office of Communications with a range of Earth science provided support to a variety of events and missions, and have storytelling support. His work this year primarily focused on continued to generate products to convey the discoveries from work with Operation IceBridge and the final campaigns. For the NASA research. Products are distributed on a growing variety of first time in his nine years of supporting the airborne science social media platforms and are often picked up by high-profile mission, this year Jefferson traveled to three separate IceBridge news media outlets. The SVS website http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov campaigns in the span of nine months. First in August, he joined offers improved search capabilities and showcases work by a team in the Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve as its partners: the Conceptual Image Lab, Goddard Multimedia part of Operation IceBridge Alaska, which focuses on the state’s Studios, and Scientific Hyperwall Presentations. This past year, mountain glaciers. The trip included many challenges, including hyperwalls were featured at events such as the AAS Annual hiking to remote locations; flying in a small, unfamiliar aircraft; Meeting, the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting, NASA’s Earth Day at Union and working on the surface of a glacier wearing crampons while Station, as well as many others. Ongoing collaborative efforts shooting in the rain. He also worked as a one-person film crew combining scientific research with technology, animation, and made substantial use of five separate camera workflows, visualization, and interviews will continue to engage and inform. including a 4k video camera, a DSLR, a cell phone with add-on lenses and a gimbal, GoPro action cams, and 360 immersive cameras. Jefferson produced a video titled “Flying Alaskan Glaciers” (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13162). Next, in October

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 83 he traveled to Punta Arenas, Chile to document the last full- including helping to lead NASA’s freshwater communications scale IceBridge campaign over Antarctica. While there, he flew campaign this spring and summer. As he transitions from work with the mission five times for a total of more than 50 hours in on IceBridge to other projects, he will increase his availability for the air, and filmed the mission’s flight crew, science teams, and support of one-off Earth science news results and will work on the scenery of Antarctica. He also provided extensive support of his overall craft as a video producer. visiting media in the field, including a major documentary effort, CBS News, National Geographic, and several others. Finally, in Ryan Fitzgibbons supports the GPM and ICESat-2 missions in April he traveled to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to join IceBridge’s all multimedia needs, including the documentation of mission final Arctic Spring campaign. While there, he conducted capstone milestones, production of web videos and live press events, and interviews with several of the mission’s core team members, support for the Education/Public Outreach (E/PO) programs. documented three science flights over Greenland’s icesheet and For several months leading up to its September 15th launch, glaciers, and provided substantial logistical support to a visiting Ryan supported the ICESat-2 mission with several production team of BBC Frozen Planet 2 producers. elements. Among these products were two press briefings on Facebook Live and NASA TV. For these live productions, Ryan In November, Jefferson and his colleagues with Operation managed the creation of all video roll-ins, graphics and data IceBridge supported the long-awaited release of a major visualizations used by the scientists and program managers. In discovery -- a massive crater discovered under Greenland’s ice, addition, he produced a short countdown to launch video, a new reported in this NASA feature: https://www.nasa.gov/press- infographic, a new sea ice thickness animation and a post-launch release/international-team-nasa-make-unexpected-discovery- video highlighting new data from the mission. under-greenland-ice. Jefferson’s video on the subject (http:// svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12941) garnered more than 1 million views As part of the new Facebook Watch digital series called “NASA on YouTube alone, and attracted widespread media attention Explorers” on the parts of the cryosphere, Ryan produced two of and the science result was voted one of Science Magazine’s the nine episodes in Season 1. The episodes covered the study top science stories of 2018. Then in February, he aided in the of snow cover from both satellite and ground as well as a look release of a package highlighting the discovery of a second at the launch of ICESat-2. In addition to the individual episodes, massive crater found under the Greenland Ice Sheet. The Ryan helped coordinate around 20 interviews with scientists and resulting video garnered more than 160,000 views on YouTube engineers for the series. alone. (Read more about this in Cindy Starr’s report in Code 606.4.)

This fall Jefferson played a supporting role in the launch of NASA Earth Science’s first-ever serialized video series, assisting series producer Lauren Ward. He provided much of the background footage for the nine-episode “NASA Explorers” cryosphere series from his past field assignments, and produced two of the series episodes. The videos, one on mountain glaciers and one on permafrost, are currently the most-watched of the entire series.

In the coming year, Jefferson will help wrap up the Operation IceBridge campaign, in either a lead or supporting role. He plans to add hundreds of gigabytes, or perhaps even terabytes of IceBridge footage to Goddard’s public-facing website as well as its internal video-sharing system so that future NASA producers, Image from Episode Eight of NASA Explorers: Cryosphere. members of the news media, documentary filmmakers, (Provided by R. Fitzgibbons.) scientists, educators, and students can make use of the footage he has compiled over his time with the mission. He will also Ryan, along with producer Joy Ng, released a groundbreaking produce or assist in producing related videos. Jefferson also will narrated and interactive 360-degree visualization that looks take part in broader agency-wide communications initiatives, deep into 2017’s Hurricane Maria. The visualization produced

84 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 by the Scientific Visualization Studio allows the viewer to explore Daniel released a video profile of the Mars Organic Molecule the individual drops inside the massive hurricane in a way never Analyzer (MOMA) instrument built at Goddard. MOMA will before done. At 143,000 YouTube views to date, the video is the accompany the European Space Agency’s ExoMars rover in most viewed GPM product. searching for signs of past or present life on the Red Planet. In May 2018, MOMA shipped to Europe for integration with the rover, which will launch to Mars in 2020. The MOMA video was released on May 24, 2018 on YouTube, the SVS archive, and nasa.gov. To date, it has received over 25,000 views. See https:// youtu.be/ZSAzWBz6rNY or https://svs.gsfc.nasa. gov/12962.

Daniel produced and released a three-minute video with NASA GSFC astrobiologist Jen Eigenbrode discussing her finding of ancient organic molecules on Mars. The SAM instrument onboard the Curiosity rover first discovered organic molecules on Mars in 2014. Now, Jen and her colleagues have used SAM to discover an even wider inventory of organics within rocks that formed billions of years Image from “Inside Hurricane Maria in 360.” (Provided by R. ago, meaning that the building blocks of life were present on Fitzgibbons.) Mars at a time when it was considerably more habitable. This video, “Ancient Organics Discovered on Mars”, was released on During the upcoming period, Ryan will produce several high YouTube, Facebook, the SVS archive, and nasa.gov. To date, it profile mission visualizations for both GPM and ICESat-2. has received over 227,000 views on the main NASA and NASA For GPM, the science team is reanalyzing the TRMM era of Goddard YouTube channels. See https://youtu.be/a0gsz8EHiNc precipitation data using the new GPM-IMERG algorithms in order or https://youtu.be/G6baLED8qdA. to create a 20-year look at global precipitation. Ryan will work with the science team and the SVS in order to produce a handful of visualizations that use the long record to look at climate, weather, patterns, scales and anomalies. For the ICESat-2 mission, Ryan will produce new visualizations with the SVS that look at new Arctic sea ice freeboard data and ice sheet elevation change in Antarctica. Much of these visualizations will work their way into short videos to present the new data.

As a multimedia producer with Goddard Media Studios, Daniel Gallagher creates videos that inform the public about missions and scientific research being conducted at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His work is regularly posted on nasa.gov, the Goddard YouTube channel, and the Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS) website. Daniel’s videos have also been reposted to Scientific American, Wikipedia, Space.com, Gizmodo, TIME, and other science and news outlets. Also, as the lead video producer for Planetary Science at Goddard, Daniel Image from “Ancient Organics Discovered on Mars.” provides video support for the MAVEN and OSIRIS-REx missions, (Provided by D. Gallagher.) as well as for general planetary research.

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 85 As producer, Daniel assisted with updating and releasing an Videographer of the Year Award, which was announced at the Apollo 8 Earthrise Video in 4k resolution for the 50th anniversary agency’s annual DTV convention. (See awards section.) The video of the event. Data visualizer Ernie Wright created the new visuals includes interviews with the mission’s principal investigator, and worked with Dan and editor Michael Randazzo to update scientists, engineers, flight dynamicists and others. Daniel and and release the video on YouTube, the SVS archive, and nasa. Goddard’s videographers filmed over a dozen interviews and gov. On December 24, 1968, the Apollo 8 astronauts became the on-location footage in three different states to produce the video, first humans to witness the Earth rising over the moon’s barren which was released on the SVS archive, YouTube, and nasa.gov. surface, and captured the moment in an iconic photograph. This To date, this short documentary has received over 64,000 views video uses lunar data visualizations and real-time astronaut on YouTube. See https://youtu.be/OO_nPW-9vsA or https://svs. audio to recreate the event exactly as it happened. Originally gsfc.nasa.gov/12166. released in 2013, the video was re-released in December 2018 at a higher resolution and with an updated ending. To date, the video has received over 117,000 views on YouTube. See https://youtu.be/LHbFIieK-uo or http://svs.gsfc.nasa. gov/4593.

Image from “Arriving at Asteroid Bennu.” (Provided by D. Gallagher.)

Upcoming plans include working with the CI Lab to produce a short animated teaser video for the Lucy mission. Lucy will Image from “Earthrise in 4K.” (Provided by D. Gallagher.) be the first spacecraft to explore Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids, crisscrossing the inner solar system on a journey to the “fossils” In December, Daniel released an eight-minute mission design of planet formation. video for OSIRIS-REx, which includes new 4K animations from Goddard’s CI Lab and from the SVS. The video gives a detailed Daniel will provide graphics and communications support for overview of all phases of the OSIRIS-REx mission, from launch the OSIRIS-REx sample site announcement in late July. OSIRIS- through sample return, and was released during the mission’s REx is exploring near-Earth asteroid Bennu, and will collect a arrival at its target, asteroid Bennu, on December 3, 2018. In sample of Bennu in 2020 for return to Earth in 2023. The official addition to producing and editing the video, Daniel wrote and announcement of the sample site location on Bennu will take recorded voiceover narration. The video was released on the SVS place in late July 2019, and will be made at the PI’s office at the archive, YouTube, and nasa.gov, and to date has received over University of Arizona. 70,000 views to date on YouTube (https://youtu.be/NYGHbl_ esgw). Also, Daniel will work with the SVS and CI Lab to produce data visualizations and artist concept animations based on MAVEN’s Additionally, Daniel released a six-and-a-half-minute documentary findings at Mars. This work will support two science result on 12/03/18 about the OSIRIS-REx mission titled “Arriving announcements for MAVEN in 2019, related to never-before-seen at Asteroid Bennu.” In early 2019, this video won the NASA climate phenomena on Mars.

86 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Robert Garner translates complex scientific and engineering With the Goddard Archives leading the project, Rob has helped content into products consumed by a wide spectrum of plan the center’s first-ever oral history initiative over the past audiences. The work of the “Science Multimedia and several months, devising questions and an outreach plan. Visualization” involves the entire arc of multimedia science The project debuted to the center on April 1, 2019, as part of communication including the creation of data visualization, Goddard’s 60th anniversary celebration. science illustration, multimedia and video programs, interactive web and software products, and web features. The team consists of science communication specialists including producers, animators, data visualizers, education producers, and web producers who create signature science visuals and content for distribution through major NASA distribution channels such as NASA-TV, nasa.gov and NASA Education’s Digital Learning Network (DLN).

Goddard’s longtime social media lead, Aries Keck, moved on to a position at NASA Headquarters in March 2019. Upon her departure, Goddard Communications leadership named Rob as the interim social media lead, in addition to his role as the web team lead. In the coming year, he expects to prepare the social Image from the oral history initiative. (Provided by R. Garner.) media team for transition to a permanent lead. Rob aided in the formation of Goddard’s newest audio-rich Rob was selected by the Office of Communications engagement storytelling format, an idea conceived by Micheala Sosby team to host a Q&A at a special showing of Rory Kennedy’s and executed largely by her and Katie Atkinson on the “Above and Beyond” documentary at Goddard on Sept. 26. Communications team. He met with Micheala and Katie to He prepared talking points for Center Director Chris Scolese’s brainstorm story ideas and advise on technical considerations. introductory remarks, and Rob proctored the half-hour Q&A with The first piece in the new series, “Sounds of the Sun,” was Rory Kennedy following the showing. published July 25, with Rob behind the story’s presence on nasa.gov. In less than a day, it became the most-listened-to item on NASA’s agency-wide SoundCloud account in the preceding eight months. In less than a month, this first foray in audio-rich storytelling had exceeded 1.5 million plays across various NASA platforms, particularly agency-flagship social media accounts like SoundCloud, YouTube and Facebook.

Image from Q&A Session with Rory Kennedy. (Provided by R. Garner.)

Image from “Sounds of the Sun,” available at https://svs.gsfc. nasa.gov/13011. (Provided by R. Garner.)

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 87 Rob ventured to Wallops to support Antares-Cygnus launches space weather and radiation belts around Earth. Using the news to the ISS. For May 21, 2018, and Nov. 17, 2018, he fulfilled peg of the probes being moved to a new orbit, Michelle was his usual role as author, editor, publisher for the mission launch able to book 22 media outlets to talk about this mission. Some blog. He expects to support the two Antares flights from Wallops, interview highlights include: KMAX Sacramento’s “NASA Man”, scheduled for October 2019 and for early 2020. Spectrum News, which feeds their material out to a number of stations across the country, and the NPR podcast “Are We There Michelle Handleman Seff is the lead producer for the “live Yet?”. team,” which includes the satellite media tour and live show programs that highlight the broad spectrum of science and technology being done at Goddard Space Flight Center. She works with the scientists and editorial producers to craft the story arc of the campaign and makes sure all the moving parts are in place. She holds media training sessions with the scientists to prepare them for interviews, creates web pages on the SVS specifically for the media to use, and mentors Office of Communications Pathways students and interns.

Michelle led a campaign in April 2019 celebrating Earth Day and NASA’s efforts to better understand our home planet. Her campaign highlighted NASA’s social media campaign #PictureEarth, which encouraged the public to take pictures of Earth and tag them on social media using that hashtag. She worked with a team of editorial producers to craft the story arc and pitched the campaign to media outlets around the country. She also worked with the four scientists participating in Image from Sacramento’s “NASA Man” interview with Alex Young, associate director the interviews on media training. Altogether, for science in the Heliophysics Science Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. the scientists did 29 interviews, including (Provided by M. Handleman Seff.) Spanish-language networks CNN Espanol, APTN Latin Desk and Telemundo national. She booked eight total Spanish-language interviews, the most In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon for a single campaign since the 2017 solar eclipse. Michelle landing, Michelle is pitching moon-related stories, such as the also coordinated interviews with eight local stations in top 20 10th anniversary of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to media markets, including two in Washington, D.C. (WTTG and WRC outlets. She already has coordinated with Gray TV to come to (#6 market)). In addition, she booked interviews with CBS News Goddard to do interviews about LRO and the Marshall Space national radio; Nexstar affiliate service that will send their story Flight Center’s Planetary Science Group’s Noble Gas Research to all their affiliates, and Bloomberg’s TicTic, a 24-hour global Lab (MNGRL), which will be receiving an untouched lunar sample news streaming service. She produced canned interviews for the this summer. Gray TV is an affiliate service that owns 92 local media to download if they were unable to book an interview. television stations around the country; when their video piece is complete, they will send to all those stations. She is working Michelle led the live team in a campaign to highlight the exciting to coordinate several other requests for similar type interviews work involving the Van Allen Probes helping us to understand throughout summer 2019.

88 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Other Hubble videos Katrina produced include a piece for Breast Cancer Awareness Month about Hubble technology transfer recently used to detect breast cancer in the science writer who originally wrote the 1994 press release about the technology. She also produced an intricate six-part mini- series called “Hubble Tool Time.” Hosted by astronaut John Grunsfeld, the series discusses the tools astronauts used on Hubble’s five servicing missions. The mini-series was released on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, and was Hubble’s first series to be released in a vertical format for Instagram TV (IGTV).

Katrina also supported several live productions. She edited the graphics for a Hubble live shot campaign about Mars and Jupiter, helped coordinate a livestream tour of the Hubble control room, and produced dozens of roll-ins for two live shows in December featuring astronauts talking about the 25th anniversary of Hubble’s first servicing mission.

Image of a reporter from Gray TV’s Washington bureau onsite, Katrina made significant progress on Hubble’s video archive. She compiling footage for a video. (Provided by M. Handlemann assembled a spreadsheet of metadata for nearly 100 historically Seff.) important Hubble tapes and created webpages of downloadable content for footage from pre-launch, launch, Servicing Mission 1, Looking ahead, Michelle is conducting media outreach to create and Servicing Mission 4. Additionally, she oversaw Hubble video new contacts at news outlets and non-traditional producers who work done by summer, fall, and spring interns. She reviewed their may be interested in using NASA material. She is also doing products, assisted with their editing, and helped get their videos research to track the reach of interviews and canned video published. She helped select a new Hubble video producer and associated with the live shots. She also is working on the live trained him to take over her Hubble producing duties going into shot calendar for the next quarter, which will include campaigns the rest of 2019. for the Hubble Space Telescope’s 10th anniversary of servicing mission 4 and wildfires field campaign. She assisted with other multimedia products, such as managing the graphics for the OSIRIS-REx media teleconference for the Katrina Jackson is a science video producer for the Hubble start of the Approach Phase in August 2018. She also produced Space Telescope and planetary science. She coordinates with a suite of video products for the start of the Approach Phase, project leads and communications officials to provide multimedia including hosting videos formatted for YouTube, Facebook, and in support of mission goals and communication campaigns. Twitter, and a 30-second text-on-screen trailer video in multiple aspect ratios. Katrina also produced her annual video for the For Hubble Space Telescope Multimedia products, Katrina summer interns’ first day, where she films, edits, and publishes started creating suites of video products optimized for different a video all within one day with the assistance of a couple social media platforms rather than single videos. She produced communications interns. science news videos about Hubble data showing the interstellar object ‘Oumuamua’ to have a non-gravitational acceleration, In late June 2018, Katrina attended VidCon, where she spent and evidence for the first discovered exomoon (a moon orbiting three days attending sessions about the digital media industry a planet outside our solar system.) These videos were viewed and meeting with other science content creators. She shared hundreds of thousands of times across Hubble, Goddard, and information from the conference in presentations to the Goddard NASA social media channels. multimedia group and news communications group. She also

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 89 presented information to the Goddard multimedia group about Working with USRA scientist James O’Donoghue, David produced how to use YouTube endscreens and cards. and edited the video “Saturn’s Rings Are Disappearing.” This video showcased the discovery that not only are Saturn’s rings Note, Katrina’s last day with GESTAR/USRA was April 26, younger than previously thought, but also that the rings are 2019, and Paul Morris will be taking over her Hubble producing actually disappearing at a rapid pace through a process called responsibilities. “ring rain.” In this new study, the rate of water flowing into the planet was estimated to be one Olympic-sized swimming pool David Ladd is a Senior Multimedia Producer with Goddard every half-hour, meaning Saturn’s rings will be gone in under Media Studios, working in the realm of planetary science 300 million years. This video was picked up by numerous communications. He produces and edits videos that highlight the national and international media outlets, and gathered over latest planetary research and science results, while also creating 400,000 views on the Goddard YouTube page (https://www. videos for numerous NASA missions and programs, including the youtube.com/watch?v=mN8o90UbpmE&feature=youtu.be). Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, OSIRIS-REx, Lucy, and It is also on the Goddard SVS page: https://svs.gsfc.nasa. the Goddard Instrument Field Team. gov/12672.

Working with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Mission and the Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball team, David was an instrumental member in helping arrange a NASA STEM Education Day on May 30, 2018 at the historic Fenway Park. This event featured an exhibition of 7 different NASA missions and projects, demonstrations of space science concepts, and

Image from “Saturn’s Rings are Disappearing.” (Provided by D. Ladd.)

Working with the OSIRIS-REx mission team, David produced and edited the video, “Why Bennu,” which was animated by Adriana Manrique Gutierrez and Bailee DesRocher (both GESTAR/USRA) from NASA’s Conceptual Image Lab. The cartoon takes a fun look at why asteroid Bennu was chosen as the Image from “NASA at Fenway.” (Provided by D. Ladd.) target for the mission. This video can be found on the Goddard YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ presentations from NASA scientists on the wide array of NASA watch?v=4S0uk_5hm2c or on the SVS page: https://svs.gsfc. science. The keynote speaker was Astronaut Sunita Williams. nasa.gov/13112. Over 4000 students and their teachers from around 60 schools across the Boston area attended. During the STEM Day itself, Additionally, with USRA science visualizer Ernie Wright, David David worked as a videographer, and later produced and edited produced and edited the video “Moon Sheds Light on Earth’s the video called “NASA at Fenway,” which highlighted everything Impact History” for the LRO mission. This video highlighted that took place at the event. See https://www.youtube.com/ a recent study in which scientists found that the number of watch?v=NpduFlVclE8 and https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12985. asteroid impacts to the Moon and Earth both increased by

90 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 two to three times starting around 290 million years ago. This finding was significant because it contradicts previous theories about Earth’s impact rate. The video was released in January 2019, and can be found at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=EtPFCwGDa8s or https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13144.

David’s work will continue into the coming year with producing videos for LRO, MAVEN, OSIRIS-REx, Lucy, and the Planetary department.

Michael Lentz provides art direction and creates animations and visuals to support NASA Goddard missions and science. He supports the Office of Communication in providing creative and technical direction to the Conceptual Image Lab.

For DaVinci II, Michael created a two-minute animation, Image from a JWST animation, which is still in production. which shows how Venus is a good example to use in studying (Provided by M. Lentz.) exoplanets. Part of the animation was created in a real-time rendering pipeline to test how well it would fit into the Conceptual Michael continues to oversee multiple projects being created Image Lab’s workflow. Given the success of the real-time both within and outside of the CI Lab. As the workload has pipeline, it will be used in creating more content for upcoming increased, he has worked to build a pool of outside freelance projects artists to help with overflow work from the Lab. This has allowed the Lab to handle more work and to provide support to in-house artists.

Finally, the transition to Renderman is complete, other than smaller issues with the render farm. All artists are now using the render for current and upcoming projects as well as transitioning older models to work with new renderer.

Michael is art directing dozens of animations for Webb, working closely with the producers and artists assigned to the project. They are creating these animations in a cinematic style along with multiple Image from an animation for DaVinci II. (Provided by M. Lentz.) motion graphic sequences, and these will represent the bulk of the work coming through the Lab in the year ahead. Additionally, Michael is art directing the animations for the James Webb Michael will continue to help manage the large workload of the Space Telescope with a team of four artists. The new animations CI Lab by building a pool of freelancers to help when the in- are being created in a cinematic style with the first round of house artists have reached capacity. This will insure that all work animations in this style currently in production. These animations coming into the Lab will be able to be completed on time and by are also being rendered in Renderman, the CI Lab’s new qualified artists. Further, Michael will continue to work with real- rendering engine. time rendering software, Unreal Engine, and will incorporate this type of workflow in upcoming projects in the coming year.

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 91 Adriana Manrique Gutierrez, an animator and multimedia In preparation for AAS, Adriana completed a series of turntable artist for the Conceptual Image Lab, creates a wide variety of animations that showcase two new configurations of the audiovisual outreach materials for different NASA missions. spacecraft known as LUVOIR. Because of the sheer scale of the Much of her work this past year was with the ICESat-2 mission. telescopes, the team decided to include a human, Hubble, and Her animation “Photon Jump” was shown at the Library of Webb for scale in one of them. Additionally, Adriana completed Congress in November 2018 during a talk by Thomas Neumann, the first of many animations for the Webb telescope (at present, the mission’s Project Scientist. Adriana is credited as lead this animation has not been made public). animator and producer. Other projects she and her outreach team completed in preparation for the mission’s launch on For work on other missions, Adriana created animations and September 13, 2018 included the following: a set of three large- graphics for Parker Solar Probe, MEMEx, LADEE, OSIRIS-Rex (in scale launch banners that were displayed both at Vandenberg, collaboration with Bailee DesRocher), and Lucy, among others. CA and Goddard NASA to announce and celebrate the launch of ICESat-2; commemorative launch stickers; a mission infographic; launch volunteer pins; and updates to animations, posters and other graphics done in the past. Several clips from her animations were shown during the L2 press conference and the Countdown live feed, including the animated short film “Photon Jump” (note, Adriana took part in this as producer and artist while still a student at SCAD in Georgia). For the events prior to launch (L3 onwards), Adriana volunteered to help with several tasks, like setting up the Guest Center, preparing swag bags for guests, and helping transport items and supplies to different sites. She also helped escort the Social Media tour groups around VAFB. Other projects she developed for the mission include an animation explaining how ICESat-2 measures sea Image is a compilation of images from her work on Bennu, ice, a commemorative sticker for the 2018 88’S traverse, and Parker Solar Probe, etc. (Provided by A. Manrique-Gutierrez.) diagrams illustrating ICESat, ICESat-2 and IceBridge footprints. As part of the ICESat-2 Outreach and Education team, Adriana This year, Adriana co-authored a Science in Education paper will be receiving a 2018 Robert H. Goddard Honor Award in mid- published in Acta Astronautica. It explores how the use of May, and in September, she was awarded an HBG peer award as nonconventional outreach materials have proven to be powerful part of the ICESat-2 EPO team. (See awards section.) tools when it comes to increasing the public awareness of the ICESat2 mission and what it stands for. The lead author was Valerie Casasanto (JCET/UMBC) and the paper was titled “Lasers, Penguins, and Polar Bears: Novel Outreach and Education Approaches for NASA’S ICESAT2 Mission.” She also attended AwesomeCon in April as part of ICESat2’s outreach team, where she helped to run the ICESat2 booth in order to promote the mission and cryosphere- related studies. In addition to setting up and breaking down the booth, she ran E/ PO activities for younger audiences.

Image is a compilation of various outreach items and images In the year ahead, working with the JWST production crew, as well as photos from the launch. (Provided by A. Manrique Adriana and the CiLab team will be in charge of creating many Gutierrez.) animations for the mission. She will be involved in all areas of

92 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 production as the Lead Animator. The number of people on the team is expected to grow as production moves on, and her role will then expand to that of an Animation Supervisor.

This summer Adriana will be attending SIGGRAPH, the largest conference in the world specializing in the Visual Effects and Animation industry. Every year new technology and techniques are showcased and explored through workshops and direct communication with the developers. Attending this conference will provide Adriana the opportunity to expand her knowledge, network with other media specialists, and thus create better multimedia products for our clients.

Kathryn Mersmann supports the Earth Science News Team with video and social media communications about Earth science research across the agency. In 2018, Katy traveled with two different field campaigns, providing video and photo coverage, social media and external media support. In August, she traveled to Seattle with the Export Processes in the Ocean from Remote Sensing (EXPORTS) mission and in October, she traveled to Punta Arenas, Chile to fly with Operation IceBridge’s Antarctic deployment.

While covering the EXPORTS mission, Katy produced a kickoff video, a Flickr gallery, a Twitter thread and Snapchat story, as well as supporting a NASA Social event with attendees from around the country, and helped developed the overall communications plan. Since returning, Katy has worked with the Image from “Two Rectangular Icebergs Spotted on NASA EXPORTS and ocean sciences division on social media strategy IceBridge Flight” See https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/ and promotion of the upcoming PACE satellite mission. goddard/2018/2-rectangular-icebergs-spotted-on-nasa- icebridge-flight. (Provided by K. Mersmann.) While traveling with IceBridge, Katy divided most of her focus between supporting external media groups and providing social In the past year, Katy was promoted to lead NASA Earth social media coverage of the campaign. This included multiple Twitter media, sharing the job with a counterpart at JPL. In that position, threads, regular Facebook posts, and multiple social stories for she has intensified her regular posting schedule (including Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. When a picture taken by one more than 200 posts since January 28) and taken a more of the IceBridge team members unexpectedly went viral online, active role in shaping social media strategy for Earth science Katy worked with Jefferson Beck (GESTAR/USRA), who also was around the agency. This has involved managing the social media in Punta Arenas, to produce a quick-response social media blitz coverage of all Earth science press conferences at the 2018 of coverage, including interviews with the scientist who took the AGU Fall Meeting, as well as coordinating posting for the Earth picture and others who explained the story behind the iceberg. Day live show in April. She also has taken the lead on several The picture garnered millions of views and the associated social media projects and coordinates with the Goddard and social media push had hundreds of thousands of engagements Headquarters social media teams to amplify the Earth science -- extremely unusual for a single ice image. While in the field message. This has involved acting as the social media manager with IceBridge, Katy also assisted Jefferson in documenting the for the digital series NASA Explorers: Cryosphere. The show, in campaign in its final full year of flight. its first season, was produced by Lauren Ward with additional production by Ryan Fitzgibbons and Jefferson Beck. Katy worked to build a Facebook Watch page for the show, starting from

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 93 zero and reaching 35,000 followers after six months. As part of This has included regular phone calls and strategy meetings, this effort, she developed promotional strategies for Facebook, as well as securing buy-in from different stakeholders to fully YouTube, Instagram and Twitter and helped manage a steady participate from the NASA Earth accounts. The cross-divisional release of content. She also worked with Lauren Ward to produce communications strategy started with two elements, both of a supporting series of Facebook Lives following each episode, which Katy participated in as a representative of Earth science allowing the audience to get to know the featured scientists communications. The first element is a planned social media even better and foster a community on the pages. After the amplification of specific stories from different divisions. The first government shutdown, Katy developed and enacted a second Earth science topic, about a crater found under Greenland’s round of social media spotlight on the Cryosphere pages, ice sheet, and including a video produced by Jefferson Beck, garnering even more views on the videos. In total, videos in the was shared by accounts as wide-ranging as @NASASun and @ series were watched nearly 2 million times. NASACuriosity, and resulted in views by audiences who do not generally see NASA’s Earth science work. As part of the effort, Over the course of the year, Katy produced more than 10 Katy coordinated the posts from other divisions, checking videos, including some featured on the agency’s developing for scientific accuracy, and created a series of posts from @ IGTV (Instagram TV) platform and some shared by the NASAEarth and @NASA_ICE. After, she interpreted the metrics Washington Post and other news agencies. The videos featured on the posts and found that more than 7000 engagements on sea ice maximum and minimum, the annual temperature the story came from non-Earth science audiences, far more than announcement, new findings by scientists in the Arctic, data for a typical story. The second collaboration element is the NASA products from the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) Science Live show, which Katy has worked on as both a member and support for scientists in the field, among others. These of the editorial team planning the show and as a crew member videos were viewed more than 350,000 times on YouTube alone, producing graphics during the episodes. For the third episode, with hundreds of thousands more views on Facebook and Twitter. which aired on Earth Day and was about Earth as an unusual The videos posted on IGTV garnered more than 1.8 million views planet, she acted as a producer, helping to develop the talking on that platform alone. points, find scientists to appear onscreen, and locate appropriate visuals and graphics for use during the show. Katy also worked on the show’s social media account, along with a few other agency social media leads, to determine the page’s tone and strategy.

In the upcoming year, Katy will continue to lead the Earth science social media accounts, helping guide the tone and strategy to increase engagement. She will continue working as a video producer, including as the lead producer on the Earth science division’s Freshwater and Fires communications campaigns. She plans to travel to Boise and Manila to support field campaigns related to the Fires campaign. She also will continue to work across divisions to share the agency’s message.

Image from “EPIC New Science from 1 Million Miles Away.” As a multimedia producer within the NASA Goddard Multimedia (Provided by K. Mersmann.) Team, Joy Ng produces media products for NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement Mission, social media team, In an agency-wide initiative to promote NASA’s message in a heliophysics team, and on other NASA Earth science research. more strategically inclusive manner, Katy has worked across Joy transforms research into web video stories for NASA.gov, science divisions to promote the ways the science intersects. YouTube, Instagram, and broadcast television.

94 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 For the Heliophysics division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Northrop Grumman, Joy was involved with a fast turnaround edit Center, Joy has produced 19 individual products over the past and release of a video titled “Tour the Plane Giving NASA’s ICON year. The majority of products are videos that compliment a Ride to Space.” To promote the ICON launch, she produced a NASA.gov features. A notable piece is titled “NASA Spacecraft YouTube video for a NASA.gov feature titled “The Secrets behind Discovers New Magnetic Process in Turbulent Space” that Earth’s Multi-colored Glow” plus a video that obtained more reported on a new science paper published in the journal Nature. than half a million views on Instagram. In addition, she released This video was embedded in a NASA.gov article and redistributed another video titled “Unboxing a New NASA Spacecraft”, which by numerous external news organizations, such as EarthSky, was NASA’s first unboxing video. She collaborated with NASA Space.com, IFL Science, and more. The video has achieved more Edge, Vandenberg Air Force Base, and Northrop Grumman than 230,000 views on social media platforms. To increase the on this product. Joy also produced ICON’s science briefing audience reach, she also helped produce other social media - a live event from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and products related to this story including a NASA tumblr post, incorporated a live stream from Vandenberg Air Force Base and a Snapchat/Facebook/Instagram story for NASA HQ, and an NASA’s Johnson Space Center. This was broadcast on NASA TV, Instagram story for NASA Goddard’s account. Another notable Facebook, and Instagram. piece titled “Discovering the Sun’s Mysteriously Hot Atmosphere” achieved around 213,000 views on Facebook alone. It was In August 2018, Joy produced a live show in the lead up to the also the only science-focused video being aired on NASA TV at Parker Solar Probe launch at Kennedy Space Center. This was Johnson Space Center in August 2018. A third notable piece a multi-agency effort with contributions from NASA Goddard, titled “Rare Electric Blue Clouds Observed by NASA Balloon” was Kennedy Space Center, and NASA HQ; guests from Johns picked up by numerous outlets including Science Friday, Vice Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory also participated. It aired Motherboard, The Independent, Sky News, Gizmodo Australia, the evening before the launch and achieved more than 176,000 and more. views and 3300 reactions on Facebook. The live broadcast included pre-edited b-roll, animations, a live feed of the spacecraft, and graphic elements showing factoids. According to NASA HQ, it was “one of the smoothest shows we’ve ever worked on.” She also helped coordinate and edit a fast turnaround video of Eugene Parker’s reaction to the Parker Solar Probe launch. This involved working with the camera crew in getting the raw footage straight after the launch, editing the video, giving the final product to the KSC TV crew for their post-launch coverage, and uploading to NASA’s resources web page for news outlets.

Joy helped produce NASA’s first 360-degree video of Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite data with Ryan Fitzgibbons, Greg Shirah, Ken Elkins, Alex Kekesi and others titled “Inside Hurricane Maria in 360”. It achieved around 300,000 views on YouTube and Facebook and was Image from “Rare Electric Blue Clouds Observed by NASA redistributed by Gizmodo and the Science Channel. At present, it Balloon.” (Provided by J. Ng.) is the most viewed GPM video, and it has been used for national outreach events including Earth Day and the 2018 AGU Fall Joy has directed and produced several live shows in remote meeting. She produced a Snapchat/Instagram/Facebook story locations in collaboration with multiple NASA centers and about GPM’s contributions to society, which was recognized external institutions. In October 2018 for NASA’s Ionospheric by the Associate Administrator for Communications who said, Connection Explorer (ICON) launch, Joy traveled to the Kennedy “Really liked the Instagram story explaining how NASA science Space Center in Cape Canaveral to direct and produce a “live” helps people here on Earth. I know you do this kind of work all tour of the L-1011 Stargazer plane, ICON’s launch vehicle before the time but love seeing the real world applications of our great launch. Working closely with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and science.”

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 95 In December 2018, Joy traveled to Svalbard, an Arctic island and web producers who create visualizations and content shared north of Norway to report on an international sounding rocket through various NASA channels. campaign named The Visualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral Atom Sensing-2 or VISIONS-2. She worked with scientists and For the Dragonfly mission, Jonathan created 11 animated shots, engineers from NASA, the University of Oslo, the University three of which were 2D animated that showed the interior Centre in Svalbard, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Andoya mechanism of how Dragonfly collects and tests samples from Space Center and others. She spent a week filming in the field, Saturn’s moon, Titan. He then created four 3D animated graphs capturing what it takes to launch a sounding rocket in the Arctic. that showed the results of the collected samples. Finally, he During the launch window, she produced and released daily created an additional four 3D exterior shots: one with Dragonfly “live” videos about the development of the rocket launch that drilling into Titan’s surface collecting samples; another that were posted on NASA Goddard’s Instagram. She also produced showed how two of the measuring instruments worked; one shot two Snapchat/Facebook/Instagram stories - one about the that showed the samples flowing through the piping of Dragonfly science of the mission and another about life on the campaign. that flowed into the collection chamber to be tested; and, finally, Joy also helped complete a tumblr post about NASA’s recent a shot of the hovercraft on Titan’s surface. VISIONS-2 sounding rocket campaign. These efforts gained media coverage from Space.com, Earth.com, and others.

Image of Dragonfly drilling into Titan’s surface. (Provided by J. North.)

Image of Joy Ng (left) onsite in Svalbard with the VISIONS-2 For the ongoing Lucy mission, Jonathan created a turntable that campaign. (Provided by J. Ng.) the scientists and engineers will look at to determine if the model is up to date. By learning new 3D software to help speed up the This coming year, Joy will continue to produce multimedia production pipeline, he was able to texture Lucy to look more products covering NASA’s latest research in Earth science and realistic and closer to the visions of the scientist and engineer. heliophysics. Upcoming products include a short documentary about the VISIONS-2 launch, a choose-your-own-adventure piece This year, Jonathan plans to learn more programs, such as about the anatomy of solar storms, pieces associated with the Unreal Engine and Substance Designer, which are used in the upcoming Apollo anniversary, and a piece highlighting a new re- industry. analysis of GPM and TRMM data. Matthew Radcliff provides support to the Office of Jonathan North takes complex scientific and engineering content Communications, particularly regarding Earth science and creates products consumed by various audiences. He is communications. He serves as the Lead Producer for the Landsat part of a team of science communication specialists including program and, when needed, produces videos for the Goddard producers, animators, data visualizers, education producers, Earth Sciences Division. He prepares videos and multimedia for the press and the general public about technological innovations

96 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 in the Landsat Program as well as science results arising from Lauren Ward is a full-time video producer for Goddard Earth Landsat data. Also, he contributes videos and multimedia to the Science stories. Initially, she was brought on as an Earth Science Agency-wide Earth science communications campaign. News Fellow, and she continues to expand the definition of multimedia products at Goddard. She led the development and This year marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of Landsat production of NASA Explorers, a new storytelling initiative that 7, and Matthew dug through the Goddard archives to find old takes a look at people from around the agency who explore footage to showcase the mission. Dozens of old tapes were a unique aspect of our planet and solar system. Her primary digitized and added to the Landsat online collection. Matthew mission is to disseminate and popularize NASA Goddard’s most then edited the interviews, briefings, animations, and launch newsworthy science and stories for fast-paced digital platforms. footage into a memorial video for Landsat 7 to be shown at a party celebrating the milestone. For the NASA Explorers Digital Series, Lauren wrote, produced, directed, edited and narrated five unique episodes of this new As the Lead Producer for the Landsat 9 mission, Matthew is series. Season 1, “Cryosphere,” featured 25 interviewees developing animations of the spacecraft and its two instruments from NASA Goddard, JPL, and HQ, involved five filming to showcase Goddard innovation and explain why a Landsat locations all over the world, and covered 10+ NASA missions. image is more than a picture. He is also developing visualizations So far, the series has garnered over 1.5 million views just on that show the Landsat orbit and how the data can be combined YouTube. Watch the entire series here: https://www.youtube. with data from Sentinel-2, the European Space Agency’s land- com/watch?v=L2H_vIqyWTU&list=PL2aBZuCeDwlQqXdZ_ observing satellite, to improve our understanding of Earth’s hXEX0OSI1vX_p9Cj. surface.

The 2018 renovation of the Goddard Visitor Center included a new display called “Exploration Station,” which allows visitor to select short videos from each division of Goddard science. Matthew curated dozens of videos from each division and produced the necessary elements to populate the display. Each video has closed captions, some teaser text to entice viewers, and a larger description that viewers can call up for more information.

Part of the role of producer for Goddard is to work with outside filmmakers and journalists to tell the story of NASA. Throughout this year, Matthew worked with producers from the BBC and National Geographic Learning to help them find the material they needed for their programs in production. Image from Season One of NASA Explorers. (Provided by L. Ward.) In the coming year, Matthew will document the construction of Landsat 9 and produce animations showing how the two In other work, Lauren wrote, produced and edited several instruments (OLI-2 and TIRS-2) operate. He also will begin videos since joining GESTAR. These include a signature video producing videos that demonstrate the benefits of Landsat data celebrating 18 continuous years of MODIS data available to the since 1972, when the first Landsat satellite launched, and look public via the platform, Worldview. This is available on YouTube: towards the expected launch of Landsat 9 in late 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X16cfGPL2wA&t=1s. She also wrote, produced, and edited two videos about new NASA Matthew will complete production of a video on how Landsat science that were announced during press conferences held data is being used to produce estimates of crop production at the 2018 AGU Fall meeting. These are available for viewing yields. He also will produce a video on the integration of here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PitRWjQC9vo and Landsat and Sentinel-2 data, which increases the frequency of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZkwASBe2zo&t=23s. observations of Earth’s surface. Another video promoted the new GEDI (pronounced “Jedi”)

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 97 mission to capitalize on the micro holiday “Star Wars Day” Going forward, Lauren has been tasked with developing the on May the 4th. The video ranked among one of the most third season of NASA Explorers, which will focus on the people popular tweets for the day on NASA’s flagship Twitter account: who study fires and their effect on the planet. She also will help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjieZ9iZHWs. She also create a standard production guide meant to instruct other wrote, produced and edited the kickoff video for a week-long departments within NASA on how to create their own season of Level-1 agency-wide Earth Day Campaign. The video supported NASA Explorers. Lauren will continue to build relationships with themes dictated by Headquarters promoting technology and other media teams at Goddard and across the agency to create innovation at various NASA centers: https://www.youtube.com/ a strong network of support and collaboration among science watch?v=UQ8MibTqim0. communicators.

Lauren was Lead Producer on a feature video about the 2015- Scott Wiessinger is Goddard’s senior multimedia producer for 2016 El Niño event that brought weather conditions that astrophysics and the WFIRST mission. He is also a producer for triggered regional disease outbreaks throughout the world. heliophysics. His multimedia production work includes short She worked on this with Helen-Nicole Kostis and Matthew videos, static graphics, animated gifs, hyperwall content, 4k Radcliff (both with GESTAR/USRA). The results were published media, and digital art installations, directing the creation of in a Nature Scientific Reports paper titled “2015-2016 El Niño animations and data visualizations, creating animations himself, Triggered Disease Outbreaks Across the Globe.” Lead author providing materials to outside media and producers, collecting, Dr. Assaf Anyamba and co-author Radina Soebiyanto are the creating additional social media content, and curating visuals GESTAR scientists, along with others, involved with this paper; online. Scott coordinates and collaborates with science writers their reports can be found in Code 618. This study is the first to and scientists to produce accurate and accessible materials comprehensively assess the public health impacts of the major timed to coincide with press releases, other announcements and climate event on a global scale. See https://www.youtube.com/ presentations. watch?v=HMJjAxtX4ZQ. Throughout GESTAR’s eighth year, Scott produced, edited and/ Along with producing episodic content for the NASA Explorers or animated 28 videos, which consisted of an extremely broad digital series, Lauren teamed up with the Earth social range of styles and formats. They included narrated videos, text- media team to create bonus content for each episode. on-screen videos, data visualizations, animations, motion graphic She hosted seven Facebook Live interviews with scientists cartoons, animated gifs, extreme wide-format videos and vertical featured in that week’s episode. The videos are available video. This breadth is partly because Scott is now creating here: https://www.facebook.com/NASAExplorersSeries/ multimedia for an extremely large group. Scott is a senior videolist/404722776733479/. producer for the Astrophysics Science Division at Goddard, and does work for every mission except JWST and Hubble. He also supports groups such as SEEC (the Sellers Exoplanet Environments Collaboration) and continues to work on heliophysics projects for missions like SDO and Parker Solar Probe. Scott pioneered work in many different video formats from the very large to the very small. He created 8k content for museum exhibits, extreme-widescreen content for specially constructed multi-projector screens, and vertical video for phones. All of these projects were highly successful and are detailed in the Heliophysics section of Scott’s report.

Despite the fact that the partial government shutdown was quite disruptive, Scott was able to work steadily Image from Facebook Live interview. (Provided by L. Ward.) and productively during it. He prepared materials for the main American Astronomical Society conference, held in the middle of the shutdown. He helped prepare seven hyperwall presentations

98 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 plus a number of new stills, videos and animations for a press conference and two press panels. Scott also updated a popular heliophysics animation in that time. Scott’s complete collection of work can be found here: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/search/ Person/WiessingerScott.html and his YouTube videos produced during the 2018-2019 year can be found here: https://www. youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7XDpO8SEcdhD6paQ3rpxwOjVpzY uibS7.

The biggest release of the year for Astrophysics was the joint NSF-NASA announcement of the detection of light and neutrinos from the same source, a distant supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy called a blazar. Scott worked with both NSF animators and CI Lab at Goddard to produce a fully animated sequence of the story of both the gamma rays and neutrinos. A clip of the blazar animation collected over 1.8 million views on Image from “NASA’s Fermi Links Cosmic Neutrino to Monster Black Instagram. Scott made a narrated short, plus a variety of social Hole.” (Provided by S. Wiessinger.) media products for the release, which was picked up by Gizmodo, NPR, Weather, Wired, Newsweek, The New York Times, Discover In addition to some of the larger projects, Scott created many and more. other products, such as animated gifs for Tumblr; an infographic for the PIPER balloon mission; a quick-turn-around comet video In June, Scott traveled to California for the AstroViz Workshop, a from TESS data; a video built around a timeline graphic that was conference of science visualizers from across the country and also printable as a 5-foot banner; a white dwarf illustration; and Europe. These productive three days led to collaboration with a re-edit of an archival video about OAO-2, one of NASA’s earliest a data sonification group. They worked with Scott in making a space telescopes. sonification of gamma-ray data from the aforementioned blazar, and they also submitted a Hubble sonification that was very Scott and the astrophysics communications team received popular on Instagram. two major awards over the course of the year, including one for the work they did on the gravitational waves and light The American Astronomical Society (AAS) conference was in multimessenger astronomy story. To see the full scope of early January, and despite the shutdown, Scott supported a what went into the final product, visithttps://svs.gsfc.nasa. large part of NASA’s astrophysics presence there. He helped gov/12740. (Also, see the Awards section of this report.) prepare hyperwall presentations for TESS, WFIRST, and SEEC (Sellers Exoplanet Environments Collaboration). TESS had a Over the course of the year, Scott broke new ground in non- major press conference to report on its first science findings, traditional video formats for Heliophysics. In late May, Scott took and Scott created many new stills and video for the presenters on a project of creating two videos for a Sun exhibit at Taiwan’s and for general release. He also supported two other black-hole- National Museum of Natural Science. The videos played on an related panels. All of his visuals were very well received by the 8k display and were the cornerstone of the exhibit. He had to presenters and one video reached 201,000 views on the JPL find ways to keep the project manageable in scope at yet still YouTube channel. deliver a dynamic and compelling product, which totaled 1.5 terabytes for two 3-minute videos. Shortly after that, Goddard’s One of Scott’s most popular releases was a supercomputer Heliophysics division installed a special screening room with an simulation of supermassive black holes. It received a great extremely wide 5568x1200 pixel screen. Scott created a short deal of attention online, with half a million combined views on video to make the best use of the screen and brought in his own YouTube and Facebook, and 2.4 million views on Instagram. audio equipment when it turned out no audio was available. The This represents another productive collaboration with Goddard’s video was so well received that it changed the plan for Director Gravitational Astrophysics Laboratory. Bridenstine’s visit and served as the centerpiece of the division’s presentation to him. Scott also created one of the first vertical

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 99 videos for the new Instagram channel, IGTV. This video gained short videos about the GLOBE Observer App, which is a citizen 1.2 million views and helped guide production for the channel science app sponsored by the GLOBE Program and NASA. Liz going forward. produces short multimedia pieces for social media accounts and for educators to teach users how to utilize the GLOBE Observer While working on those last two projects, Scott also made a video App and its various protocols. Additionally, she produces videos for Parker Solar Probe’s launch. To convey complicated orbital for wider audiences to explain why observations sent in by citizen mechanics as clearly as possible, and to develop a new skill, scientists are important and how scientists here at NASA use Scott did the whole video as a cartoon animation. He received those observations in their research. numerous compliments on the style, and the video did very well online, with 360,000 combined views. Since joining GESTAR/USRA in November 2018, Liz has developed the look and branding package for the GLOBE In addition to creating content, Scott also worked on better Observer videos. One of her goals was to develop a look and feel organizing it. He created a full SVS gallery for the SDO mission that viewers can identify as GLOBE Observer but also as part of (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/Gallery/SDO.html). SDO is one of the the NASA brand. This includes bumpers, bugs, kinetic text for larger presences on the SVS, but, prior to Scott’s efforts, there videos and motion graphics. was no way to see all the content organized in one place. Additionally, in November and December, Liz had the privilege to film with Dr. Allison Leidner, the new head of the GLOBE Program, and Peder Nelson of GLOBE Observer. The work with Dr. Leidner was distributed as a greeting video to the GLOBE community in which she introduced herself. Peder’s interview took place during the 2018 AGU Fall meeting in Washington, D.C., where he was part of a panel. His interview will be used in the upcoming GLOBE Observer video on the importance of submitting land cover observations.

In January, Liz wrote, shot, edited and released the first of many GLOBE Observer videos. The subject of the first video was how to take cloud observations using the GLOBE Observer app. The video was well received, garnering 5,000 views and positive comments from viewers about their desire to take part in citizen Image of an SDO member testing ultra-wide solar footage in the science. Heliophysics presentation room. (Provided by S. Wiessinger.)

Plans for the coming year will involve work with Heliophysics, specifically working on Solarium, breaking news items, and special non-standard projects. In the long-term, Scott is developing content to accompany orchestra performances. Scott’s focus will still be on science results for Astrophysics. The entire Astrophysics division has been very enthusiastic about Scott’s work, and the primary challenge is meeting the ever- increasing demand for his time. For work with WFIRST, there are plans to release several videos over the next year and Scott will complete those projects. Image from “GLOBE Observer Clouds: Getting Started.” (Provided Elizabeth Wilk is a multimedia visiting fellow for GLOBE by E. Wilk.) For more information, visit The GLOBE Program at Observer. She works with the GLOBE Observer team to produce https://observer.globe.gov/.

100 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 In addition to the video about cloud observations, Liz recently The September 2017 X-flare generated multiple events worth completed the principal photography for a video about land cover studying, and a number of papers are starting to come out observations. She began developing and shooting the film in reporting the results. One result is that space weather effects January, it is now in post-production. The video will be the second of the event were detected at several locations around the solar in a series showing viewers how to take and submit observations system. There were some initial problems converting the Enlil to GLOBE Observer. model run of the coronal mass ejections for SVS tools, but these

Future plans include continuing work on the GLOBE Observer series by creating videos to teach viewers how to take observations. These videos will cover each protocol included in the GLOBE Observer app, such as the Mosquito Habitat Mapper, Tree Height, and future protocols to be released. In addition to the “How To” videos, Liz will develop and produce videos focused on why these observations by citizen scientists are important to NASA scientists. This series will look at the “why” and what scientists use GLOBE Observations for in their research. The goal of this video series is to demystify the science by further connecting citizen scientists to the scientists to see how the data is used. Other work will involve providing Image from “The CME Heard ‘Round the Solar System.” (Provided by T. Bridgman.) support where needed to the Office of Communications team. were eventually resolved. Tom also received data from the Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) detectors at Mars (Mars EXpress), GOES, and STEREO-A to add to the visualization. There was no “official” model of the Stream Interaction Region (SIR) important CODE 606.4 (Sponsor: H. Mitchell) in the result, but Tom managed to build a simple version from the description in the research paper, and it worked well with the rest Tom Bridgman provides visualizations for the NASA GSFC of the visualization. The product was released on November 30, Office of Communications and Scientific Visualization Studio. 2018 at https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4699. This year, another science story release was in preparation on particle clustering in Earth’s radiation belts. In this story, the There were discussions about a story relating lunar magnetic gyroresonant scattering process was an important driver of the fields and solar wind “erosion” to “swirling” light colorations on clustering. Tom revisited his earlier efforts with this process to the lunar surface. Tom examined several research papers on the determine what was needed to complete it. Some additional topic and spoke with the main author of some of this research. tuning on the physics simulations, specifically adding a gradient Ideas for possible data visualizations were discussed for the type to the background magnetic field, allowed the gyromotion pitch- of simulation data available, and a dataset of the simulation angle changes to move in one direction and improved the clarity was provided. The Federal Government shutdown occurred of the process. The visualization was released with the science while this product was being developed, but Tom managed to story on May 29, 2018 at https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4649. continue some of the work during this time. When the shutdown ended, there was sufficient time to incorporate the revisions into the main rendering pipeline. The final product (including

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 101 an alternative plotting version developed during the shutdown) Tom also worked with Cindy Starr and Horace Mitchell (SVS) to were released on February 27, 2019 at https://svs.gsfc.nasa. generate an idealized Mars magnetosphere component for a gov/4620. visualization of MAVEN data. One of the scientists had developed an idealized graphic that had electric current trajectories generated by code. Tom was able to use this code to extract the underlying geometry and build curves for an idealized model that Cindy was able to incorporate into her visualization and animate.

In December, Tom supported the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting, including preparing playlists for presenters at the NASA booth. He also attended the meeting for a couple of days, both to make contact with software developers of some of the tools he uses and explore visualizations ideas for future projects.

For the upcoming year, Tom will continue work on data visualizations for GOLD (Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk). He did initial testing with the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) software and then wrote Image from “Magnetic Bubbles on the Moon...” (Provided by T. a data reader to test the data formats for importing the data Bridgman.) into more sophisticated visualization tools. Some initial plans for incorporating the data into a 3D scene proved impractical, In other work, Tom developed a visualization for Petr Pokorny so Tom is now exploring other formats similar to those in the and Marc Kuchner (GSFC) presenting the evidence for a ring of “Interface to Space” series (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/Gallery/ dust concentrated around the orbit of Venus. The researchers InterfacetoSpace.html). Additionally, having updated the Helio provided Tom with the output from a particle simulation (2 Fleet visualizations after launches of GOLD and the Parker Solar million particles), which Tom then incorporated into a model of Probe, Tom expects to generate ‘HelioSentinels 2019’ shortly the inner solar system, including spacecraft that have observed after ICON launches. the dust ring (STEREO-A and Helios). He generated several views of the simulation, including a view from above the ecliptic and Tom will continue reworking the project on key Aurora research to an oblique view of the ring. A chase camera view starts with a generate the visualizations using Python to generate the particle view above the ecliptic and zooms in to a view behind STEREO-A processes and RenderMan 22 (which radically changes earlier looking sunward, which illustrates the dust enhancement seen versions) for the output. Promising results are finally at hand. near the greatest elongation in Venus’ orbit. The visualization The basics of elastic collisions, collisions which excite atoms, was released on March 12, 2019 at https://svs.gsfc.nasa. and atoms that decay from excited states emitting photons are gov/4704. functioning. One of the greater challenges now is to obtain an accurate description of several of the atomic processes to be In addition to the above visualizations, for the project “Pulsar illustrated. Tom hopes to make this capability more general to Current Sheets,” which previously was under development for illustrate more complex processes at the atomic level. quite some time, but a final change in the simulation data files for this visualization required a few other scene changes. Other Leann Johnson provides the Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS) scene adjustments were made to enable some movies to be with requested software to aid the functionality and productivity extended by looping without an unaesthetic transition. Tom of the group. Software development is focused on but not limited generated another set of visualizations with some background to the website, database, and hyperwall systems. For her support objects to provide some stand-alone movies. The Pulsar Current of the website, Leann made several improvements to the SVS Sheet visualization series was released on October 10, 2018, search functionality. She created an SVS search application with different versions of the visuals available at https://svs.gsfc. programming interface (API) currently targeted towards hyperwall nasa.gov/cgi-bin/search.cgi?series=394. material, intended to be used by the NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS) hyperwall kiosk content management system

102 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 (CMS) in Building 28. This API was written to be extensible to the movies, one with a draft overlay and one without; and movies can entire SVS media library at a later date. She researched MySQL be encoded with H265, which supports higher-resolution movies. query best performance practices, as well as web frameworks and related integrated development environments (IDEs) that As SVS servers transitioned to PIV authentication, Leann aided in would enhance website performance and development speed. server and SFTP client testing beforehand and user connection Django, a web-based IDE, coupled with the PyCharm IDE was support afterwards. Because of this transition, the SVS now selected for deeper analysis. Leann conducted further research suggests FileZilla as its preferred SFTP client for users. FileZilla of PyCharm with existing code, as well as using it for several gives users more abilities regarding remote files, including the Django tutorials. Afterwards, she decided to move forward with ability to move and remove files. To avoid any unintended file transitioning the entire SVS website to use Django, starting with or directory alterations, Leann worked with the SVS system the search and its API. Leann began developing a new search administrator, Larry Schuler (ADNET), to make the directory functionality with a cached database backend, Django, and the structure immutable while still preserving the ability for users latest Bootstrap cascading style sheets (CSS). to create new media directories when they are creating new pages. Leann trained six new users to use the metadata entry To advertise the SVS content contained in the Google Arts & software to create detail and gallery pages on the SVS website. Culture release “Illuminating the Invisible: NASA’s Scientific She also assisted existing users using the software by answering Visualization Studio,” Leann added a direct link on the SVS questions, directing users to tutorial information, and fixing minor home page. The release contains a collection of curated material bugs. targeted at the general public. Also, to mitigate the number of broken links on SVS web pages, she wrote a new tool to find She also provides hyperwall support, and Leann created 24 broken links automatically, as well as an admin user interface to hyperwall shows and corresponding details pages on behalf of easily fix them in various ways as appropriate. Leann developed Greg Bacon (STSI), including downloading the media, entering a new utility to allow for panning and zooming of extremely high- all of the supplied metadata, and formatting the content for resolution images on SVS details pages. This utility replaced the hyperwall. These shows focus on astrophysics and Hubble old, defunct Zoomify code, and all entries using that utility were content. The SMD hyperwall group created a tutorial for hyperwall transitioned. presenters to help them compile material for hyperwall talks. Leann added a link to this tutorial in a prominent location on Finally, Leann transitioned into the role of SVS website and the main hyperwall search page. She also helped several users database lead. In preparation for this role, she met several create and edit hyperwall shows and playlists. times with the outgoing lead, Joycelyn Jones to ask questions and review code and responsibilities that had been solely Leann will continue to transition the SVS website into the Django under Joycelyn’s purview. Leann took ownership of Joycelyn’s framework. As always, Leann will continue to address the automatic processes and open tickets, and performed a lengthy programming needs of the SVS and its partners. ticket audit to remove duplicated or invalid tickets. She also performed several code audits of pipelines she was unfamiliar Alex Kekesi provides visualizations for the NASA GSFC Office of with, including code that supports the SVS YouTube channel, the Communications. This year, Alex worked closely with Greg Shirah Goddard Web Form, and the SVS project management software. (SVS/606.4) and Kel Elkins (GESTAR/USRA) on finalizing the new After the Goddard Web Form audit, Leann worked with the GPM visualization pipeline for quick-turnaround events. Aside form’s users to ensure current access. The Web Form will be the from consulting on this project, Alex rewrote the GOES cloud second item to be transitioned into the Django framework, after cover portion of the pipeline to support NASA’s in-house GOES- the search page. Also, as requested, Leann provided monthly 16 near-real-time archive. The code for this pipeline is complete and annual Earth Science website statistics reports, as well as and was successfully used on GPM’s best pass of Hurricane monthly astrophysics reports, for use by Goddard and HQ. Florence. In other programming developments, Alex successfully migrated all his projects to the Pixar RenderMan RIS rendering For her work with internal software and user support, Leann system and has been learning Python via online tutorials. added several new features to svsmovie, the SVS movie encoding tool: decimal frames per second values are now accepted; an Alex delivered three new data visualizations of canopy change audio track can be supplied; there is an option to generate two over the Brazilian Rainforest between 2013, 2014, and 2016.

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 103 Rendered in RenderMan’s RIS, these new data visualizations have much more realistic lighting and render about 50% faster than previous versions. Significant work went into highlighting the areas of change prior to transitioning between different years of lidar data. See the following: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4650, https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4651, and https://svs.gsfc.nasa. gov/4652.

For Brooke Medley’s (GSFC/615) amassed ice core measurement database, Alex created and released a data visualization that shows accumulated Antarctic mass change over the past 100 years. The visualization accompanied a scientific paper release. (Seehttps://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4669 .)

Image: Alex Kekesi presenting a talk at SIGGRAPH 2018. (Provided by A. Kekesi.)

Alex submitted an entry titled “NASA Surveys Hurricane Damage to Puerto Rico’s Forests” to ACM/SIGGRAPH’s 2019 Computer Animation Festival based on several new lidar canopy visualizations he did for the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting. This effort involved editing a previously released reporter’s package via (newly learned) Adobe Premiere. Alex stripped out the live action elements and replaced them with computer graphics elements. He also modified some of the text overlays and the overall composition to fulfill SIGGRAPH requirements. This research was featured in a NASA press release https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/nasa- Image from “100 Years of Accumulated Mass Change Over studies-storm-damage-to-puerto-rico-forests. Antarctica.” (Provided by A. Kekesi.)

The data visualization “A New Multi-Dimensional View of a Hurricane” was accepted and shown at ACM/SIGGRAPH’s 2018 Computer Animation Festival (see http://svs.gsfc.nasa. gov/12635). This festival is an official requisite competition connected to the Academy Awards Computer Animation Short Film program. Although this visualization was not selected for the next level, the team was honored to compete among peers, such as Industrial Light & Magic (Star Wars), Pixar, Disney, and DreamWorks. Although Alex was the lead visualizer on this project, it was truly a team effort that can be jointly celebrated with the collaboration of many other members of the Goddard SVS, GPM, and TV Production teams. Image from “3-D Views of Puerto Rico’s Forests After Hurricane Along with several other SVS team members, Alex gave a special Maria,” https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12590, Credits include among session talk to working volunteers at ACM/SIGGRAPH 2018. His others Alex Kekesi as Animator and Matthew Radcliff as Lead portion of the talk focused on behind-the-scenes work that went Producer. (Provided by A. Kekesi.) into creating “A New Multi-Dimensional View of a Hurricane.”

104 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Upcoming plans include refining his lidar tree canopy data many other meetings and presentations, which he did not attend, visualizations. Although the newest techniques employed are by preparing disks and updating computers for travel and by much faster to render, they also create artifacts when viewed copying back data after each event. up close that the previous system did not. Alex also will provide visualization support for exoplanet work, and he will be the For the year ahead, Eric is in the process of adding movie primary data visualizer on this year’s Wildfires Campaign. controls to the hyperwall GUI control program, which will work for all types of visualizations. These movie controls will allow This year, Eric Sokolowsky continued to update and maintain presenters to pause movies in progress, move forward or the hardware and software for the hyperwall, a video wall used backward through them, and other desirable controls. Eric extensively to show NASA data and scientific visualizations to the intends to finish the implementation of these controls, and NASA community and to the public. Eric is responsible for the intends to improve the synchronization of all animations. He will design, implementation, programming, and testing of all aspects update all of the machines to run Fedora 30 once this has been of this system, including the deployment and customization released. of the operating system and the deployment of the hyperwall control software. Several permanent installations of the Cindy Starr develops data visualizations to support the scientific hyperwall are deployed at Goddard, and several sets are used community, as well as NASA’s education and public outreach as traveling exhibits as well. Eric updated the hyperwall systems efforts. This year she released two new visualizations that to use Fedora 27 Linux, and deployed a new hyperwall system portray new scientific discoveries in Greenland and updated in the lobby of Goddard’s Building 28. He provisioned new two previously created visualizations. She currently has two 24-terabyte data drives to hold all of the hyperwall visualizations additional projects, MAVEN Currents and Greenland Melt, under for travel exhibits. Two of the permanent exhibits are arranged active development. in a 5x3 configuration (referring to the number of screens), and the others, including the travel systems, are arranged in a 3x3 Cindy worked on a visualization on a possible second impact configuration. crater in Greenland. The first was the Hiawatha impact crater, which is also in northwest Greenland and only 183 kilometers Over the last year, Eric made many improvements. He completely away from this new structure, so researchers needed to evaluate rewrote the graphical user interface (GUI) program that controls whether these two craters could be related. Joe MacGregor the hyperwall. This program can now edit user playlists for (GSFC) et al. details this discovery in Greenland in a new study different presentations directly by dragging and dropping entries that describes a possible subglacial impact crater buried in a playlist. This update makes it much easier to add and beneath 2 kilometers of ice in northwest Greenland. If eventually rearrange different visualizations within a presentation. Eric confirmed as an impact crater, it would be only the second added a feature to allow easy access to recently used playlists. found beneath either of Earth’s ice sheets. Cindy used the He also implemented the ability for the visualization software to new BedMachine v3 dataset of both the surface and bedrock compensate for the bezel gap between screens, providing a more of Greenland to create a flyover of the potential new crater, natural picture. He developed a new way to show large movies highlighting key features such as edge picks and best-fit rim. She on the hyperwall, greatly increasing the capability to show 4K completed and released the visualization on February 11, 2019: movies with attached audio, and he developed a more robust https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4691. system for overlaying text on animations. At the request of a client, Eric added the ability to present a common set of curated The second discovery in Greenland reveals recent changes playlists that can be reused as needed. that have occurred on the Jakobshavn Glacier. Over the last 20 years, the glacier has retreated, sped up, and thinned. However, At several meetings where the hyperwall was used, Eric provided recent data revealed that Jakobshavn’s retreat has reversed: direct support at the following events: the USA Science & between 2016 and 2018, the glacier advanced and thickened. Engineering Festival, Washington, DC; NASA’s Earth Day at This visualization, titled “Jakobshavn’s Interrupted Thinning Union Station event, Washington, DC; the Geological Society of Explained,” shows the data that led to this change. Cindy America Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN; the Supercomputing worked with a variety of datasets in order to create an animated Conference, Dallas, TX; the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting, Washington, sequence to show recent changes in the Jakobshavn glacier, DC; and the AAS Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA. He also supported which include topography, the historical water temperature in the

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 105 Cindy’s visualizations of the Hiawatha impact crater discovered under the Greenland ice sheet were released in mid-November (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4572) and received extensive circulation in both the news and scientific media. Dr. MacGregor used the visualizations during his talk “PP41B-01: A Large Impact Crater Beneath the Ice in Northwest Greenland” at the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting. Cindy created a modified version of the visualization (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4706) for submission to the 2019 ACM SIGGRAPH Conference. She revised the script and edited the visuals to remove all live footage, leaving only portions that were created by visualizing data. She selected and edited the music and added the narration track created by producer Image from “A possible second large subglacial impact crater in Lauren Ward (GESTAR/USRA). She submitted the final product to northwest Greenland.” (Provided by C. Starr.) the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival. (As of this writing, this item is embargoed.) Disko Bay, the velocity of the Greenland ice sheet in 2016, the velocity of the ECCO ocean flows around the tip of Greenland, At the request of GSFC’s Jim Garvin, Cindy updated the and lidar data showing the elevation of the Jakobshavn glacier animation showing erosion of the new island formed in Tonga, in 2016 and 2017. She also created a pan-sharpened Landsat informally named Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH), to include mosaic of the Jakobshavn region. All data was prepared, the digital elevation model (DEM) and Digital Globe image data integrated into the animation scene, and tested to get the from March 2018. Dr. Garvin presented this visualization along desired visual effect. with another draft generated by Cindy of the bathymetry around HTHH to the head of Earth Science at the Science Mission Cindy integrated and tested each of the above-mentioned Directorate (SMD) Monthly. See https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4726. datasets in the animation. With assistance from Horace Mitchell (SVS), she created the animated flows for both the movement Cindy performed extensive work on MAVEN Currents. The MAVEN of the Greenland Ice Sheet and the ECCO ocean flows. With satellite has orbited the upper atmosphere of Mars for several advice from Greg Shirah (SVS), she represented the lidar data years collecting data. During this time, scientists collected a as a surface of individual 3D points colored by the change in 3D volume of measurements of magnetic field surrounding elevation between 2016 and 2017. She completed the final the planet. Cindy worked cooperatively with Horace Mitchell version and released her visualization showing the thickening and Tom Bridgman (SVS/GST) to portray the magnetic field of the Jakobshavn glacier on March 25, 2019: https://svs.gsfc. and the currents surrounding Mars. In support of the MAVEN nasa.gov/4688. project, Cindy developed a set of MEL scripts to automatically duplicate and deform non-uniform rational basis spline (NURBS) objects, moving them along a set of curves at equally spaced intervals. The objective of this development effort was to give the appearance of motion flow along the currents created by the magnetic field moving past Mars. A wire deformer was applied to each NURBS object in order to bend the objects according to the curvature of the path. This system is flexible and robust and has been successfully deployed on groups containing up to nearly 1,000 curves. Cindy successfully applied this technique to several sets of actual current curves generated by Horace Mitchell from the MAVEN data. Tom Bridgman also created a set of idealized currents from numerical equations provided by Andy Ascheanden (University of Alaska). In addition, Cindy Image from “Jakobshavn’s Interrupted Thinning Explained.” obtained several series of magnetic field lines created by Horace (Provided by C. Starr.) Mitchell. From these datasets, Cindy developed four matched

106 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 frame visualization sequences and delivered them to producer Kel used a new, high definition version of NASA’s night lights Dan Gallagher (GESTAR/USRA) to use in designing the story dataset (developed by Miguel Román and his colleagues) to line. These sequences include the idealized currents, the actual create a visualization that examines recovery efforts in Puerto currents, the bow shock and induced magnetosphere boundary, Rico following Hurricane Maria. Average night lights down to and two different treatments for the magnetic field lines. A final the street and building level are presented for several locations rendering will be done when the science advisors and producer across the island, spanning from before the storm until several determine how they would like these components combined months into the recovery. The visualization includes a “Days in order to best support the story. Cindy plans to complete the without power” dataset also developed by the scientists. visualization of the MAVEN currents and magnetic field lines in the coming months.

Cindy met with the science advisors to discuss the objectives and potential methods for visually presenting the scientific forecast for the climate model-projected change in the Greenland Ice Sheet from 2008 to the year 2300. Cindy received data showing the projected yearly surface elevation rate of change (DHDT), the annual ice sheet elevation, and the annual bed elevation. She also received monthly data depicting the velocity of the ice movement, the velocity magnitude, and the monthly ice sheet elevation. She prepared the data for the visualization process and altered some scripts to generate Maya obj files and RenderMan Interface Bytestream Protocol (RIB) archives from the ice sheet’s surface elevation. She set up the project and developed shader networks to include high-resolution datasets Image from “NASA’s Black Marble night lights used to examine from the BedMachine V3 bed topography of Greenland as well as disaster recovery in Puerto Rico”. (Provided by K. Elkins.) for Ellesmere Island. Work on this project is ongoing. Kel continued his support of the Global Precipitation Kelly Elkins provides Measurement (GPM) mission vsualization support for by creating a visualization earth science missions depicting Super Typhoon Yutu and research as part of the hitting the Northern Marianas. SVS. Among his work this An additional ‘turn-table’ past year, for NASA’s PACE visualization of the storm was mission (Plankton, Aerosol, created that shows lower data Cloud, ocean Ecosystem), Kel values fading away to examine developed a visualization that the inner structures of the illustrates how the mission storm. Later in the year, Kel will study Earth’s ocean and helped test and develop an atmosphere. The visualization updated storm visualization introduces the satellite’s polar Image from “PACE - Studying Plankton, Aerosols, Clouds, and the pipeline to take advantage of orbit and then describes data Ocean Ecosystem.” (Provided by K. Elkins.) newer software technology and swaths representing PACE’s decrease visualization production collective mission, including time. He used the new pipeline biosphere plankton, aerosol, and cloud data. Global coverage is to create and publish visualizations for Hurricane John and super depicted as data swaths are drawn on a 3D globe over time. typhoon Mangkhut. These were both ‘quick turn’ visualizations, with the resulting products completed within days of the satellite pass over the storm.

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 107 This year, Helen-Nicole supported GESTAR colleague Trent Schindler in the developments of the data-driven animation “AMSR2 2018 Minimum Arctic Sea Ice Extent” that showcased the 2018 minimum Arctic Sea Ice extent. Helen-Nicole prepared, packaged and handed-off to Trent the documentation and project files from the development of the same product from 2017. See https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4684.

She also developed and released “Global Landslide Catalogs for Educational Purposes.” WGBH-Boston, a member of PBS, has been developing data-driven and visualization-based classroom and educational materials for children. Among other topics, WGBH is developing educational modules for landslides. In March, members of WGBH requested flat maps that Image from “GPM Satellite observes powerful super Typhoon were developed by Helen-Nicole in 2018 to be modified for Yutu hitting Northern Marianas.” (Provided by K. Elkins.) educational purposes. Specifically, WGBH was interested in the landslide catalogs from 2007, without visual indication of which In anticipation of the ICESat-2 launch, Kel created a visualization ones (of the landslides) were deadly. Helen-Nicole developed depicting Operation IceBridge laser altimeter data collected versions of these catalogs using data from 2018 and from the over the Rink Glacier in Greenland between 1993 and 2015. recently updated Global Landslide Catalogs (2019). The flat The visualization examines changes in ice elevation over time maps were provided to the WGBH team and released on March and introduces the future coverage of the ICESat-2 satellite. Kel 13, 2019. The maps are available here: Global Landslide Catalog is currently working on a follow-up visualization depicting the (update 2019), https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4710. Operation IceBridge flights over the Crane glacier that includes some of the initial elevation data from the recently launched This year, Helen-Nicole produced, developed and released ICESat-2 satellite. several data-driven visualizations for Dr. Assaf Anyamba’s paper publication “Global Disease Outbreaks Associated with the Kel is currently working on a series of visualizations describing 2015–2016 El Niño Event”. (Dr. Anyamba’s research is detailed how the Landsat-9 satellite (Launch: 2020) orbit and image in this report in Code 618.) Supporting visualizations include the data collection will fit into a larger constellation of Landsat and following: Sentinel satellites. As part of this effort, he has worked with fellow visualizers to develop custom code and graphics shaders “Nino 3.4 Index and Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly Timeline: to create accurate data swaths using satellite TLE data. He also 1982-2017”, https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4695; is working with data from the ICESat-2 satellite (launched in September 2018) for a series of visualizations, including one “Teleconnections in South East Asia for the period of 2015- depicting global sea ice thickness, and another that examines ice 2016,” https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4697; elevation changes for the Crane glacier in Antarctica (comparing ICESat-2 data with Operation IceBridge data). “Precipitation Anomaly and Dengue Outbreaks in South East Asia: 2015-2016,” https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4693; As a data visualization specialist, based at the SVS at NASA/ GSFC, Helen-Nicole Kostis continues to provide expertise in “Land Surface Temperature Anomaly and Dengue Outbreaks data-driven efforts to support NASA’s science and outreach in South East Asia Region: 2015-2016.” https://svs.gsfc.nasa. efforts. She develops visualization materials to support NASA’s gov/4696. Science Storytelling Team and support scientists and the broader agency-wide outreach efforts. In addition, hyperwall-specifc versions of the above productions were developed to accommodate presentations either onsite in

108 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Bldg 28 (Hyperwall) or at NASA’s hyperwall traveling shows. The producers and fellow visualizers; and releasing developed above visualizations were featured in the NASA press release materials via the SVS database. titled “2015-2016 El Niño Triggered Disease Outbreaks Across Globe” (https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2019/2015- Within the next few months, Helen-Nicole will focus on the 2016-el-nino-triggered-disease-outbreaks-across-globe) and following tasks: a) developing materials and presenting them the citation is Anyamba, A., J.-P. Chretien, S. C. Britch, R. P. at the ACM SIGGRAPH Course: “Cinematic Visualization: The Soebiyanto, J. L. Small, R. Jepsen, B. M. Forshey, J. L. Sanchez, Art of Science Communication” (accepted) during SIGGRAPH, R. D. Smith, R. Harris, C. J. Tucker, W. B. Karesh & K. J. Linthicum July 28 - August 1, 2019, and b) finalize the book chapter (2019), Global Disease Outbreaks Associated with the 2015– contribution titled “Foundations of Data Visualization,” which she 2016 El Niño Event, Scientific Reports, 9 (1930), https://www. is co-authoring along with ~25 other internationally recognized nature.com/articles/s41598-018-38034-z. visualization experts.

Assuming support for the NASA Visualization Explorer continues into 2019-2020, she will continue her work with the app. NASA Viz has been on editorial maintenance mode since FY17. A story is released usually every other Monday, with rare exceptions. Various tasks include supervising and scheduling the editorial workflow, assisting with visual storytelling, releasing stories via the SVS Database, and exploring future directions for NASA Visualization Explorer.

Trent Schindler provides support to the NASA Scientific Visualization Studio, creating visualizations on a variety of topics. This year, he created a visualization pipeline that streamlines the annual release of visualizations of the yearly Arctic sea ice minimum, which occurred on September 23, Image: Source material utilized in “Teleconnections in South 2018. The creation of the pipeline consisted of custom IDL code, East Asia for the period of 2015-2016” (credits include H.-N. which automatically creates a frame sequence from SSMI data. Kostis as lead visualizer, H.-N. Kostis and Matt Radcliff as lead A separate visualization animates AMSR2 data for a higher producers) and featured in Dr. Anyamba’s Scientific Reports resolution look at the Arctic sea ice. The president of the National publication “Global Disease Outbreaks Associated with the Academy of Sciences recently presented this visualization during 2015–2016 El Niño Event.” (Image provided by H.-N. Kostis.) a talk on climate change.

For her work with the NASA Visualization Explorer App, Helen- Nicole released 21 NASA Viz stories and assisted NASA Viz Editor Ellen Gray in visual storytelling efforts. These stories are available on the web and are pushed on the NASA Viz app for iOS and Android versions. Please visit the following link to access the variety of stories distributed via the NASA Viz: https://nasaviz. gsfc.nasa.gov/static.html.

In the coming year, she will continue to provide data-driven visualization expertise to SVS and the broader NASA Science Storytelling Efforts. Planned tasks include data acquisition and processing; scene and project development in Maya and Pixar’s Renderman; collaborating with fellow visualizers to resolve issues; receiving and applying feedback from scientists, Image from “Annual Arctic Sea Ice Minimum 1979-2018 with Area Graph.” (Provided by T. Schindler.)

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 109 Trent created a visualization of worldwide trends in sulfur dioxide compared to prior measurements. His work will continue with pollution, concentrating on the decreasing levels in China and support the efforts of the SVS. the increasing levels in India. Ernest Wright provides scientific visualization products in support of education, communications, and public outreach for Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and other NASA efforts. As the visualizer working with NASA’s current Moon mission, Ernie is preparing a number of visuals related to the 50th anniversary of Apollo. These include an Apollo landing sites visualization with Moon phases (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4731), a reconstruction of Apollo 11’s lunar orbit, and a collection of pre-landing images from Ranger 8, Lunar Orbiter V, and Apollo 10 that were used to plan the first landing. With his video editor colleagues, Ernie created an ultrahigh definition (UHD or 4K) version of his Earthrise video to commemorate Apollo 8. Ernie also created a visualization of the Moon to accompany a performance of Debussy’s “Clair de Image from “Sulfur Dioxide 2018 Update.” (Provided by T. Lune” by the National Symphony Orchestra Pops, which was Schindler.) detailed in a NASA feature: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ goddard/2018/60-years-of-nasa-celebrating-where-art-and- As part of an ongoing effort to visualize the process of GMAO science-meet. The performance took place at the Kennedy data assimilation into climate modelling, Trent created a Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on June 1 and hyperwall show contrasting the data available in 1980 with that 2, 2018, as part of a celebration of NASA’s 60th anniversary. of 2018. This show was presented at the 2018 AGU Fall meeting.

Image from “Evolution of the Meteorological Observing System in the MERRA-2 Reanalysis.” (Provided by T. Schindler.)

Trent updated a visualization of the global sources of carbon Image from “Moonlight (Clair de Lune) shows Theophilus, in Earth’s atmosphere, demonstrating how each contributes Cyrillus, and Catharina craters (north to south and youngest to to the overall amount. Additionally, Trent created a 360-degree oldest) at sunrise. (Provided by E. Wright.) virtual-reality visualization showing the impact of Hurricane Maria on vegetation in the region. The visualization compares In December, Ernie released the annual phase and libration the lidar measurements taken from a single location in 2017 and visualization for 2019 https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4459 (north 2018, demonstrating dramatic vegetation loss post-hurricane up and south up), consistently the most popular product on the Scientific Visualization Studio website. He prepared visuals for

110 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 both the January 21st total lunar eclipse and the upcoming total includes Winnie Humberson (lead), Steve Graham (deputy lead), solar eclipse crossing Chile and Argentina on July 2, 2019. He Ryan Barker, Doug Bennett, Sally Bensusen, Kevin Durham, created a visualization of the rates of crater formation on both Heather Hanson, Marit Jentoft-Nilsen, Mark Malanoski, Debbi the Earth and the Moon based on the work of Sara Mazrouei, McLean, Kevin Miller, Amy Moran, Cindy Trapp, and Alan Ward. et al. published in the January 18, 2019 issue of Science. Ernie also visualized the path of the Iceland hotspot during the last The 2019 New Year got off to a challenging start when much of 100 million years, as revealed by Martos et al. in the August the U.S. Government, including NASA, shut down from December 28, 2018 issue of Geophysical Research Letters. The image 23, 2018 to January 25, 2019. Fortunately, SCSO staff were able illustrates an aspect of the cratering rate research. Based on the to continue to execute on planned priorities during the shutdown; LRO Diviner rock abundance map, the circled craters are less however, some activities during the third quarter were impacted. than one billion years old. Winnie Humberson led the team throughout the shutdown by providing guidance and workload direction to continue delivering planned events, as well as producing a weekly work progress report for SMD leadership at NASA Headquarters.

EARTH SCIENCE DIVISION SUPPORT

In early May 2018, SCSO staff once again supported the Maryland Library Association (MLA) Annual Conference held in Cambridge, MD. The NASA exhibit offered a variety of NASA SMD resources and printed products such as thematic science brochures and the NASA Science calendar. The MLA conference enables NASA to interact with a variety of individuals who are committed to libraries and provides opportunities for professional Image from “Moon Sheds Light on Earth’s Impact History.” development and communication. Later in May, SCSO staff Provided by E. Wright. supported the Japan Geoscience Union (JpGU) Meeting in Chiba, Japan. JpGU is an academic union that covers all disciplines of Ernie will continue to support Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Earth and planetary sciences and related fields. The annual JpGU other NASA efforts. He is scheduled to speak at the American meeting supports international discussion and exchange that Astronomical Society Eclipse Workshop in June. contributes to driving the boundaries of science and invigorating the global Earth and planetary science community. The NASA exhibit prominently featured the Hyperwall with presentations from NASA science leadership, Japan Aerospace Exploration SCIENCE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT OFFICE Agency (JAXA) science leadership, and mission and program scientists. In addition, relevant publications and outreach (Sponsor: Steve Platnick) materials were distributed from a variety of NASA Science programs and missions. The NASA exhibit hosted 115 junior high The Science Communications Support Office (SCSO) consists school students and 30 advanced high school students, who of Global Science & Technology, Inc. (GST) staff who lead and listened to a series of special Hyperwall presentations from JAXA coordinate science community “in-reach” as well as outreach and NASA scientists and participated in a hands-on binary code product development for NASA’s Earth Science Division (ESD), activity. Overall attendance for the meeting was approximately Science Mission Directorate (SMD), and Applied Sciences 7,700 from 39 countries. Program (ASP). Each NASA customer falls under a different task, and activity under each task for the most recent year is In June, SCSO staff supported the Fifteenth Asia Oceania summarized below. The success of the SCSO’s broad array of Geosciences Society (AOGS) Annual Meeting in Honolulu. AOGS endeavors requires contributions from the entire team, which seeks to promote geosciences and related applications for

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 111 the benefit of humanity, specifically in Asia and Oceania. Its In January 2019, SCSO staff supported the 99th Annual Meeting annual convention provides a unique opportunity for exchanging of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) in Phoenix, AZ. scientific knowledge and discussion to address important geo- The AMS is the nation’s premier scientific and professional scientific issues. The NASA exhibit included the Hyperwall as its organization promoting and disseminating information about centerpiece, with presentations by 16 individuals from NASA’s the atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic sciences. Its annual science leadership team and a local TV interview of NASA Chief meeting is the world’s largest yearly gathering for the weather, Scientist James Green. Publications and outreach materials water, and climate community, typically attracting over 4,000 were distributed from a variety of NASA Science programs and scientists worldwide. Participation was estimated at 3,500 missions. this year - reduced attendance due to the federal government shutdown. The NASA science exhibit prominently featured the In July, SCSO staff supported the National Science and Hyperwall and included participation by the Earth Science Technology Week (NSTW) event in Manila, Philippines. The Technology Office (ESTO) and the NASA Postdoctoral Program. event highlighted the significant contributions of science and Twelve Hyperwall presentations were made, including one by technology to national development in the Philippines and the 2018 winner of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Data has become a platform for heralding science and technology Visualization contest, Amber Soja (Langley Research Center/ advocacy. NASA participated as a means to promote awareness National Institute of Aerospace for Applied Sciences Wildfire of the CAMP2Ex field campaign—a joint U.S.–Filipino effort Program). planned for 2019 to improve predictive climate models using aircraft and satellite technology, with a specific focus on examining how airborne particles affect cloud properties and rainfall, which in turn impact droughts and flooding. NASA’s exhibit included presentations by NASA science and technology leadership, publications and outreach materials from a variety of NASA Science programs and missions, and a hands-on binary bead activity to engage attendees. NSTW was open to the general public and estimated attendance was 25,000, with many organized school groups and colleges in attendance. During the same week in January, SCSO staff supported the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) In August, SCSO staff supported the NASA booth at the American conference. Attendance for this meeting was also impacted by Chemical Society’s (ACS) National Meeting and Expo, held in the government shutdown. NASA science visualizations were Boston, MA. NASA’s exhibit prominently featured the Hyperwall displayed on a plasma screen monitor, and attendees enjoyed with presentations from NASA Science leadership, subject matter one-on-one conversations about NASA science with the exhibit experts, and Boston Museum of Science staff. In addition to staff. the live presentations, SCSO staff and other exhibit staffers distributed relevant publications and outreach materials from When not on the road, SCSO staff remained busy creating a variety of NASA Science programs and missions. Estimated and updating products to support future activities. Products attendance was 14,000. SCSO staff also supported the ICESat-2 may be custom designed to support the themes of individual Launch, which took place September 15 at Vandenberg Air Force conferences and events, or they may focus on more generic Base (VAFB) in Lompoc, CA. The Hyperwall was the centerpiece topics so they can be used in a variety of venues. Exhibit of a NASA TV broadcast of the ICESat-2 Prelaunch Briefing, which backdrops, posters, and accompanying signage, fliers, and other was broadcast live from VAFB on September 13. On September marketing products are also developed as needed. This past 14, an SCSO staff representative gave a 45-minute presentation year, SCSO staff produced a series of infographics that feature to the 45 ICESat-2 social media attendees. This presentation seven of NASA’s Airborne Campaigns: ABoVE, SEAC4RS, ATTREX, highlighted the breadth of NASA’s Earth Science program. OIB, OLYMPEX, HysPIRI, and CYPEX. The graphics incorporate an

112 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 illustrated style that can be used in various formats, including Operating and Future Earth Science Satellite Missions as of May presentations, online, and print. Each panel highlights a different 2018. In addition to graphical representation of the missions, the field campaign. tables list mission names, URLs, launch dates, and science focus areas. SCSO staff also produced a series of tri-fold brochures for SCSO staff worked closely with a team from NASA’s Goddard the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission Space Flight Center and NASA Headquarters to produce a and developed a NASA Science Stories brochure for NSTW 24-page Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) 2018. The brochure represents roughly 70 science stories that mission brochure. The brochure highlights the mission, its cover a broad range of Earth science topics. Staff also worked history, the importance of measuring height from space, mission on an advertisement for the online version of NASA’s Science data, spacecraft design and launch, and the mission’s benefits Resources Guide. to society. SCSO staff also designed an accompanying folder for the ICESat-2 mission materials, which was designed to Over the past year, significant effort was dedicated to accommodate not only the mission brochure but also several producing The Earth at Night coffee table book, a compilation other products available from the ICESat-2 mission outreach of pre-existing material and published essays from The Earth team, including stickers, fact sheets, and a lenticular. Observatory and other NASA sources aimed at showcasing Earth’s night lights as seen from space. The book is now in the layout phase after having undergone several rounds of concept development, writing, and editing. It includes introductory chapters and sections on natural sources of night lights and human light sources. Content covers a range of subject matter, including the types of sensors that can “see” Earth at Night; the role of astronaut photography from the International SCSO staff produced a number of iBooks, including ones based Space Station (ISS); natural phenomena visible at night; and how on the ICESat-2 mission brochure (https://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/ human presence is visible from space at night. The book is due publications/59), the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment– for delivery in time for the AGU Fall Meeting in December 2019. Follow On (GRACE-FO) brochure, and six brochures originally published as part of the Understanding Earth series. SCSO staff also developed advertising signage with the tagline “Observing a Changing Earth” to highlight the Earth Science stories told on the Hyperwall and for NASA’s 60th anniversary.

SCSO staff updated the Afternoon Constellation instrument graphic, as well as NASA’s Earth Science Satellite Missions lithograph, a one-pager providing a graphic overview of NASA’s

The oldest continuous product produced by the SCSO is The Earth Observer newsletter, which began in March 1989. Content is derived from a variety of sources, and several staff

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 113 collaborate on editing and design to produce six issues each Map of Tropospheric Nitrogen Dioxide, and the Earth Observing year. Each edition begins with an editorial from Earth Observing Fleet by Theme (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30781). Other new System (EOS) Senior Project Scientist Steve Platnick, and visualizations include urban growth in Shanghai (from a pair of includes feature articles, national and international meeting and ISS photos); a time-lapse visualization of the Kilauea eruption workshop summaries, and a NASA Earth Science in the News using nighttime Landsat TIR data; a visualization depicting section. The bi-monthly publication is printed in black and white, changes in the Padma River over time using Earth Observatory but PDFs of color issues can be downloaded from http://eospso. imagery (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/31022); and an animation to nasa.gov/earth-observer-archive. SCSO staff were either authors demonstrate the science and technology behind the GRACE-FO or co-authors on several articles throughout the year. The federal mission. government shutdown caused some delays in the schedule for two issues; however, the newsletter team persevered to produce Several new ESD-related Hyperwall graphics were created, all scheduled editions of the newsletter. The cover banner including an ICESat-2 graphic to highlight the spacecraft’s was redesigned to highlight the 30th anniversary of The Earth main features and capabilities and an “Earth as a Complex Observer. The new design will be used for the March–April 2019 Interrelated System” infographic to illustrate the idea that Earth “30th Anniversary” issue and subsequent issues in 2019. SCSO is a system of systems (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30988). staff also developed a modified version of the 30th anniversary reflection article that appeared in the print version of the newsletter to be posted at The Earth Observer’s archives page (see link above). A shortened version of this reflection appears on the Earth Matters blog (https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ blogs/earthmatters).

SCSO staff also created a web banner for the NASA Earth Science Research Results Portal. The webpage is currently a beta-site, and the next step will be to create icons that reflect how scientists, managers, and science communicators will be able to use the site.

The NASA Hyperwall continues to serve as the centerpiece of many science exhibits, and the SCSO continues to respond to the SCSO staff will continue to support NASA’s Hyperwall exhibit corresponding high demand for the uniquely engaging science at upcoming conferences by developing fresh science story stories that can be told using the Hyperwall. This year, SCSO staff and visual content, as well as providing technical support for produced many new visualizations for Earth Science, including speakers who prepare and deliver Hyperwall presentations. ones featuring original ICESat datasets to highlight ice losses in New Guinea and Antarctica (ahead of the ICESat-2 launch); details of the Kilauea eruption incorporating visualizations from The Earth Observatory; and updates to depict operating and SCIENCE MISSION DIRECTORATE SUPPORT future satellite missions. In June 2018, SCSO staff supported the American Library SCSO staff also updated the Goddard Institute for Space Studies Association (ALA) Annual Conference in New Orleans, with (GISS) Surface Temperature Analysis [GISTEMP] visualization, attendance of approximately 25,000. The mission of ALA is which extends the time series to 2017, as well as Ozonewatch, “to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and Ozone Minimum Concentration, and Las Vegas Landsat improvement of library and information services and the visualizations to capture the latest data through 2018 (https:// profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30985), (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30889), ensure access to information for all.” The NASA exhibit featured and (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30215). Other Hyperwall the Hyperwall and a variety of tables sharing information across visualization updates include September Arctic Sea Ice, Sea NASA’s SMD. There were roughly 60 Hyperwall presentations and Surface Height Anomaly time series, Oceanic Niño index, Global

114 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 hands-on demonstrations. More than 1,500 NASA books were support, and programming opportunities for science centers, distributed along with a variety of other outreach publications. museums, and related institutions, whose innovative approaches to science learning inspire people of all ages about the wonders In July, SCSO staff supported the NASA booth at the Committee and the meaning of science in their lives. NASA’s exhibit featured on Space Research (COSPAR) 42nd Assembly held in Pasadena, the Hyperwall, with live presentations and demos from SCSO CA. This committee promotes scientific research in space on an staff and program managers from SMD’s Science Activation international level, with emphasis on the free exchange of results program. A number of SMD publications and outreach materials and information, and providing a forum to all scientists for the were distributed. discussion of problems that may affect space research. NASA had a large presence at COSPAR, with the Hyperwall being the highlight of the exhibit. In all, there were 22 presentations from across four SMD divisions. The exhibit’s graphics highlighted Heliophysics, Earth Science, Planetary Science, Astrophysics, and NASA’s 60th Anniversary. The booth had nine tables set up to engage over 3,000 participants in hands-on demos. Staff disseminated STEM outreach materials, and the Enceladus exhibit and James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) model were a big hit with attendees.

In September, SCSO staff supported the NASA exhibit at the Historically Black Colleges & University (HBCU) White House In November, SCSO supported the Geological Society of Initiative conference in Washington, DC. The goals of the event America’s (GSA) Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, IN. GSA is were to highlight the accomplishments of HBCUs and to connect a global professional society with a growing membership of partnerships with opportunities that allow HBCUs to align their more than 26,000 individuals in 115 countries. This annual work with the nation’s competitive priorities. SCSO shared a meeting provides access to professional growth opportunities unified NASA booth with staff from four NASA Centers. The exhibit for Earth scientists at all levels of expertise and from all sectors: featured a NASA HQ Minority University Research & Education academic, government, business, and industry. The NASA booth Program (MUREP) backdrop, virtual reality goggles that tour at this meeting featured the Hyperwall, which several scientists several ISS modules for up to 20 people simultaneously, as well used to deliver talks about Planetary and Earth Science topics. as NASA Earth Science visualizations provided by the SCSO team The exhibit also featured moon rock samples that participants via looping video. SCSO staff disseminated approximately 400 could touch. Eight NASA Ambassadors assisted in handing out copies of print materials and two essential publications focusing materials and talking with individuals one-on-one at the booth. on NASA science opportunities via internships, fellowships, grants, research, technology, flight missions, and science activations. Concurrent NASA career-focused sessions were also streamed via the internet. About 940 participants registered for the event, with an estimated 710 attending due to Hurricane Florence.

In late September, SCSO staff supported NASA’s 60th Anniversary event at NASA Goddard. Various hands-on demonstrations, activities, and presentations were offered inside and surrounding the Visitor Center. The SCSO provided two of the hands-on activities. The event was well attended with more than In early December, the SCSO supported NASA Day on the Hill 2,000 participants. Also in late September and early October, held at the Rayburn Building in Washington, DC. This event SCSO staff supported the NASA booth at the Association of showcases NASA science and technology for elected members Science Technology Centers (ASTC) meeting in Hartford, CT. ASTC, of Congress. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine provided a global organization, provides collective voice, professional opening remarks to attendees during the reception and then

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 115 commemorated NASA’s 60th Anniversary by introducing a data to a larger audience in new, more easily accessible ways. special video clip titled “60 Years in 60 Seconds” (https://www. The competition was funded by a grant from NASA. Several youtube.com/watch?v=1UaBgr_sq9A), which was shown on the information tables where attendees could collect resources Hyperwall. NASA personnel interacted with participants one-on- and talk one-on-one with NASA personnel about specific topics one at the Hyperwall, discussing a wide range of NASA science received a steady stream of visitors, and the 2019 NASA topics. Science calendar was one of the many resources that attracted attendees to the NASA booth (https://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/ The SCSO organized and hosted the 2018 Annual Science sites/default/files/publications/2019%20NASA%20Science%20 Mission Directorate (SMD) Communications Meeting held Calendar_final_508.pdf). December 9 at the Gaylord National Harbor Hotel in Oxon Hill, MD. Over 180 people participated. Members of the NASA In January 2019, SCSO staff supported the 233rd Meeting of HQ leadership team shared the vision for NASA Science, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in Seattle, WA. The administrative priorities for 2019 and beyond, and gave an AAS has approximately 7,000 members, and its mission is to overview of the strategic communications approach for SMD. enhance and share humanity’s scientific understanding of the Participants were briefed on the status of NASA’s Office of universe and beyond. About 3,200 people registered to attend; Communications, including the 2019 communication vision, however, actual participation was 10-15% lower, due to the as well as the latest NASA social media statistics and the federal government shutdown. The NASA exhibit featured the ExploreNASAScience theme. Breakout sessions for Astrophysics, Hyperwall and 13 NASA science programs including the JWST, Heliophysics, Earth Science, and Planetary Science followed, the Exoplanet Exploration Program, NICER, WFIRST, SEEC, the in which participants discussed science story ideas and NASA Postdoctoral Program, and the Decadal Survey programs, communication toolkit topics. among others. Each program offered hands-on activities to enhance awareness and understanding of NASA space science. As has been the case for more than 10 years, the SCSO Over 45 NASA science data visualizations were presented on the organized and supported the NASA exhibit at the 2018 AGU Fall Hyperwall over the four days of the meeting. Meeting, which this year was held in Washington, DC. With help from the NASA science outreach community, the exhibit clearly In February, SCSO staff supported the 2019 Annual Meeting of represented the depth and breadth of NASA’s science activities the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) across several disciplines, including Earth Science, Planetary in Washington, DC. A total of 22 Hyperwall narrations spanned all Science, Heliophysics, and, for the first time, Astrophysics. The four SMD divisions. Exhibit participants included GLOBE, SOLVE, booth featured the Hyperwall, a virtual reality space, a hands-on JWST, Landsat, and two separate virtual reality (VR) groups: demonstration area, and a NASA Anniversaries area to celebrate Exploring NASA Disaster Applications Data and Catastrophic the agency’s 60th anniversary. A large NASA Science monument, Flooding and WebVR, an interactive VR demo that takes the that mimicked the Washington Monument, was at the heart participant a million miles beyond Earth to witness the JWST at of the exhibit, with Washington-inspired street signs to help its full size. Two months later, on April 3, with support from SCSO visitors navigate the 70x50-foot booth space, the largest ever. staff, task leader Winnie Humberson prepared and presented a Throughout the week, the booth offered 105 science stories and SCSO future work plan presentation for 25 members of the SMD flash talks, and 32 hands-on or virtual reality experiences. senior leadership team.

The presentations and demonstrations continuously attracted April was a busy month for the SCSO, with two overlapping events large crowds and generated lots of questions and healthy early that month. SCSO staff supported the NASA exhibit at discussions among attendees. NASA Administrator Jim the 35th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, CO. On behalf Bridenstine and Thomas Zurbuchen (Associate Administrator of the SMD, SCSO staff highlighted the LRO and Commercial for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate) toured the exhibit Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programs as two of the first steps and talked with several participants before making their way toward long-term scientific study and human exploration of the to the Hyperwall stage to say a few words and introduce the Moon and eventually Mars. A series of videos were presented winners of the 2018 AGU Data Visualization and Storytelling on a table-top monitor as well as highlights about NASA’s “Moon Competition, a contest open to undergraduate and graduate to Mars” mission. Jigsaw puzzles of the lunar surface were students that focuses on innovation and creativity in presenting distributed, along with five “How Well Do You Know NASA?”

116 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 quizzes that attendees could take to assess their knowledge weeks leading up to the event. Many signs, brochures, displays, about NASA. activity passports, and other miscellaneous items were created to support the Earth Day event. SCSO staff also updated the Around the same time, other SCSO staff organized and Science Resources Z-Card and Brochure and made it available supported the NASA exhibit at the National Science Teachers online. Association (NSTA) National Conference on Science Education in St. Louis, MO. The NSTA annual meeting provides the latest in science content, teaching strategies, and research to enhance and expand the professional growth of science educators. The annual conference had 6,884 attendees this year. A total of 41 Hyperwall presentations showcased NASA science for the educators, and 13 NASA Science exhibitor teams conducted hands-on activities and staffed the event, including the AREN Project, SETI, STEM on Station, Infiniscope, NASA SOLVE, SLS/Orion/EGS-VR Experience, LaRC/ SCSO staff produced the NASA SMD’s 2019 Explore Science GLOBE, Landsat, and others. calendar. The new calendar format incorporates a wire spiral binding and a tall narrow format designed to emphasize Later in April, the SCSO organized and staffed NASA’s 7th annual captivating NASA science imagery. On December 6, 2018 SMD Earth Day celebration in Washington, DC. The two-day event took Associate Administrator Thomas Zurbuchen held a special place inside Union Station’s historic Main Hall, which attracts assembly at NASA Headquarters to reveal the calendar. He some 25,000-30,000 people daily. Approximately 500 students described the selected images as “…nature’s art. Each is a from local underserved secondary schools participated. The moment in space and time that represents the efforts of many exhibit featured 23 hands-on activities that enabled students to individuals committed to the scientific pursuit of knowledge and explore Earth’s nearest neighbor, the Moon; to use robotic arms advancement of humankind.” to learn how robots service satellites in space; and, to discover how satellite observations monitor the health of plants by In addition to the wildly popular NASA calendar, SCSO staff measuring multiple wavelengths of reflected light. Participating also produced a broad range of graphics, signage and other students and the general public were each given an activity communication materials for the AGU Fall meeting, including the passport listing the 23 activities. After completing at least six graphics for the NASA Science Monument covers, booth maps, a activities, they could redeem their passport to receive a special schedule of events booklet, activity posters, Moon footprint floor NASA drawstring bag filled with NASA science outreach materials. graphics, the NASA Anniversary Timeline Quiz, Stepping Through Nearly 1,700 activity passports were distributed over the two- day event. The 500 students received a NASA bag, as did 980 members of the general public.

SCSO staff updated existing science communication products and produced new ones for SMD-related events they support. A great deal of preparatory work was done for Earth Day, including developing detailed schedules and an exhibit floor plan, as well as frequently updating both as plans evolved in the

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 117 Moments in NASA History graphic, and charter bus and lamppost Sun Talks: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL55HrL0eJVE signage to help guide participants. afGcJBjPCdsNwp852b31u3

The NASA 60th Anniversary History Quiz sheets (first used at Planet and Moon Talks: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P the 2018 AGU meeting) were repurposed and redesigned for L55HrL0eJVEb96SgQ3MxK2Bk8ZPqxMsSO more generic use at future conferences and meetings, with 500 copies printed on color paper and shared during the 2019 Space Symposium. SCSO staff also developed new Earth and Moon concepts for a new lenticular ruler.

SCSO staff developed the graphics layout for an enclosure wall for the Hyperwall at the 2019 European Geophysical Union meeting. The layout was designed to complement the nine Hyperwall screens by showcasing NASA science images that are typically featured in Hyperwall presentations, while not distracting from the Hyperwall itself.

To facilitate the accessibility and communication of information to people with disabilities, SCSO staff produced Section 508-compliant videos of the opening night speakers from the 2018 AGU Fall meeting. Section 508-compliant videos were SCSO staff created Hyperwall versions of the final panorama produced for the student winners of the NASA-sponsored obtained by the Opportunity rover on Mars. In addition, SCSO scientific visualizer competition. SCSO staff also produced a PDF staff updated existing graphics depicting the Astrophysics, Remediation Tutorial Video (screen recording with voice-over) Planetary, Heliophysics, and the full SMD fleet to reflect new and that explains the process for remediating an untagged PDF file current missions across NASA: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30834, for 508-compliance. The NASA/AGU StoryCorps partnership https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30835, https://svs.gsfc.nasa. program was established in October 2018. For the AGU Fall gov/30822, https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30998. Meeting in Washington, DC, SCSO staff recruited 64 scientists to be interviewed. Their stories will be archived at the AGU and Library of Congress, and also will be highlighted in 2019 as part of the AGU’s centennial year. APPLIED SCIENCES PROGRAM SUPPORT

As for Hyperwall content development, SCSO staff developed In May 2018, SCSO staff participated in the Understanding Risk and published a whiteboard-style animation demonstrating how Forum, which took place in Mexico City at the historic Palacio to access and incorporate visualizations from the SVS website: de Mineria building. The NASA exhibit featured Hyperwall https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30993. Hyperwall presentations from presentations on the lifecycle of satellite missions and the use ESD- and SMD-related events, such as the AGU Fall Meeting, of NASA data to manage risk. NASA scientists and disaster risk were routinely uploaded to YouTube for viewing. Presentations experts gave 26 presentations covering the various ways that reside on NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS) YouTube NASA remote sensing data are used to improve disaster risk channel at the following links: management and assist in disaster response. A variety of NASA products were distributed to exhibit visitors. Approximately 1,200 Flash Talks: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL55HrL0eJ individuals attended the event. VEb0PKjIquG9yQFrbNbIAXGl In late June, SCSO staff supported the Air & Waste Management Earth Talks: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL55HrL0eJ Association (A&WMA) Annual Conference in Hartford, CT. A&WMA VEYzak_73qMELtNmJRnL7ql0 is a nonprofit, nonpartisan professional organization enhancing knowledge and expertise by providing a neutral forum for information exchange, professional development, networking

118 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 opportunities, public education, and outreach to more than 5,000 environmental professionals in 65 countries. The NASA exhibit featured the Hyperwall and offered a variety of outreach materials.

Hyperwall content developed for the ASP included several graphics detailing the risks from the Thomas fire in Southern California and the Ambae Island volcanic eruption in Vanuatu (based in part on prior visualizations from The Earth Observatory). An image centered on Mexico was also added to the Black Marble 2016.

After a lull in supporting ASP-related conferences, three future ASP events for 2019 have been added to the SCSO conferences and events calendar for 2019. These are the Air and Waste Management Association’s 112th Annual Conference and Exhibit, Quebec City, Canada, June 25–28; the 38th ISRSE/Pecora 21 Conference, Baltimore, MD, October 6–11; and the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, November 2–6.

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 119 120 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 USRA Funding Opportunities

USRA FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES In January 2019, Drs. Christoph Keller and K. Emma Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is proud to Knowland (code 610.1) were awarded funding for their offer its scientists the opportunity to submit proposals to seek USRA IRAD grant titled “Air Quality Diagnostics for Industry additional internal sources of funds. Two types of support Applications.” They will explore the applicability of the GEOS- are offered: PI-Support funds and Internal Research and CF air quality forecasts for industry applications. Currently, Development (IRAD) Funds. PI-Support funds are primarily they are currently working with IBM on the incorporation of awarded to cover for the time in which a scientist is planning to GEOS-CF model output into IBM’s geospatial data platform work on a non-NASA proposal. These proposals for PI-Support PAIRS Geoscope. In addition, in April 2019, Dr. Knowland funds may be submitted at any time during the year. Evaluation and Dr. Keller spent one day at the reinsurance company and award decisions are made by the GESTAR Director. Swiss Re developing a pilot project that aims to improve reinsurance policies based on GEOS-CF information. IRAD funds have a broader scope and are awarded to develop innovative ideas that are not currently funded through ordinary Dr. Sergey Korkin (code 613) was awarded funding via the USRA proposals. They are not restricted to proposal preparation (e.g., IRAD for his 2017 proposal, “Account for Atmospheric Curvature these funds could be used to develop an Earth-Venture idea, to in USRA GESTAR Developed Radiative Transfer Codes SORD prepare an unsolicited proposal, or to create large collaborative and IPOL” (01/01/18 – 09/30/18); this work, to account for efforts with partners outside the usual range of a task, etc.). atmospheric sphericity (curvature) in GESTAR/USRA-developed Interested individuals should submit their proposals directly to radiative transfer codes SORD and IPOL, occurred in both Dr. Anthony Thornton, using their USRA email. The IRAD funds are Years 7 and 8 of GESTAR. In year 8, Dr. Korkin reported on his aligned with the fiscal years and the call for proposals will be in a research outcomes: a) The Fortran 90/95 subroutines have company-wide announcement during the summer. The following been created and tested and are now available online, as either reports are a few examples of GESTAR scientists who reported basic test or advanced code; b) Numerical tests indicated that for on, began working on, and/or concluded their USRA IRAD grants. atmospheric correction, the atmospheric spherical albedo on the bottom of the atmosphere can be computed using plane-parallel geometry, which is easier for numerical simulation compared Dr. Amanda Armstrong (code 618) was awarded a USRA IRAD to spherical geometry; and c) Literature analysis indicated grant titled “Advancing the simulation range of a spatially the lack of accurate benchmarks; hence, the accuracy of the explicit individual-based gap model for high latitude tree line single-scattering correction remains generally questionable. initialization.” The goal of this work is to further develop her spatially explicit modeling framework in order to initialize In January 2019, Dr. Sergey Korkin’s 2018 USRA IRAD Tundra-Taiga Ecotone (TTE) simulations for future studies of proposal “Surface Polarized Reflectance Analysis using the dynamics of tree line shift across sites in Alaska, Canada, Space Lidar: Proof of Concept” was selected for funding Siberia and High Mountain regions in Asia. The study approach and work is underway (01/01/19 – 9/30/19). accomplishes the following two objectives: (1) updates the SIBBORK model framework to include tundra and tree line shrub In 2018, Dr. Bridget Seegers (code 616) had an outreach grant species allometries, and (2) improves permafrost dynamics in titled “Sippin’ On Science” selected for USRA IRAD funding the model to simulate the changing below-ground conditions that in June, and she spent three weeks on an outreach tour. The catalyze tree line shift. To date, there are no published forest Sippin’ on Science tour in August 2018 brought exciting NASA/ models that successfully simulate forest dynamics and shifting USRA earth science and the Cyanobacteria Assessment Network treelines across landscapes at the level of an individual tree. (CyAN) project to people at restaurants, bars and breweries, primarily in small towns in the lakes region of Wisconsin and She was notified on January 2, 2019 that the proposal (01/01/19 Minnesota. The Sippin’ on Science approach broke down – 09/30/19) had been awarded. Following the government boundaries to create opportunities for the public to ask questions re-opening, Dr. Armstrong and Dr. Batuhan Osmanoglu (NASA and talk to a scientist. The event included a range of engaging GSFC) proceeded with model updates. A permafrost module hands-on science, trivia, and an informal presentation on lakes, is currently in development and allometries for tree species algae, research robots and satellite science. On display was a in the study region have been gathered. As this project nears microscope to explore live samples filled with local lakes’ tiny completion, an associated manuscript will be submitted. critters swimming around in a drop of water. In addition, Dr.

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 121 Seegers conducted an interesting and entertaining experiment that showed how green chlorophyll fluoresces a red color. The new CyAN app was available to demonstrate, which uses satellite data to estimate the amount of algae, particularly cyanobacteria, in local lakes and in lakes across the country. She also provided information about how everyone can help monitor lake health as citizen scientists. Overall, Sippin’ on Science was an out-of-the- ordinary event that was free and open to all, adults and children. The total attendance for the 10 events was 425 people -- quite a few people considering one of the towns had a population of 970. Note, in December, at the AGU Fall Meeting, Dr. Seegers shared her experiences via a poster presentation titled “Sippin’ On Science – Outreach, Small Towns, and Data Product Apps.”

In January 2019, another USRA IRAD proposal by Dr. Bridget Seegers was selected for funding: “CyAN Validation”. Work will encompass planning a research field season and completing the research in the summer. She will collect data for the validation of a cyanobacteria remote sensing algorithm. Therefore, throughout summer 2019, she will be traveling to the upper midwest’s lakes region to gain insights into the optics of cyanobacteria blooms, the community composition and dynamics.

122 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Products

MANIAC TALKS Android beta version was released to the public along with its three subsequent updates. Currently, the apps and website are The GESTAR Maniac Talks offer the opportunity to “discuss and used as conduits to release the packaged and visualized science learn”. The Maniac Talks “promote scientific interaction between stories. young and experienced scientists in order to learn/improve/ revise the knowledge of basics/fundamentals of science and During 2019, for the second year NASA Viz and the NASA Office scientific methods for research.” Charles Gatebe and Bill Hrybyk of Education continued their collaboration in the experiential continue to be instrumental in hosting and maintaining this learning initiative with University of Maryland at College exciting series. Park. As part of this effort, undergraduate students from a technical writing course are getting hands-on experience in Throughout the past year, speakers from NASA Goddard Space science storytelling. NASA Viz shared with the faculty and the Flight Center included the following: participating students its editorial guidelines, story templates and a list of stories to consider for contributions. As part of this • Christopher J. Scolese • Mark Clampin collaborative and educational effort, UMUC faculty and students • Christa Peters-Lidard • Edward W. Rogers. from the technical writing course visited NASA Goddard and met with NASA Viz team members; they will come back at the end Speakers came from outside NASA GSFC as well: of their semester to present their stories. NASA Viz releases the stories that the students deliver and gives them credit for their • Dennis J. Andrucyk (NASA • Robert W. Corell (Global contributions. Not only do students obtain hands-on experience Headquarters) Environment and while working on real-life projects, but also they build their • Gerald R. North (Texas Technology Foundation). editorial portfolios on an official NASA project. A&M University) Throughout this past year, NASA Viz administrators have been The schedule and videos of the Maniac Talks are available at exploring new directions in science storytelling and currently http://atmospheres.gsfc.nasa.gov/ext/maniacs. discussing how to best evolve in FY20 and support NASA’s outreach efforts and highlight the work at the Scientific Visualization Studio.

NASA VIZ The NASA Viz apps remain active and the user-base and social media communities continues to grow. It should be noted that The NASA Visualization Explorer (NASA Viz) is a free iOS and to date, the Android version of the app has received 4.6/5 stars Android app available on the App Store and on Google Play. The from ~600 reviewers in the Google Play store. For more details, app continues to excite, educate and engage audiences through please visit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov. its media rich content and stories. Since the app’s launch on nasa.gsfc.nasavizprod&hl=en#details-reviews. The iOS Universal July 26, 2011, the app has released ~575 stories to date. The app has received more than 3 million unique downloads since collection of stories highlights findings and research efforts from its launch and continuously receives positive ratings (4.2/5 all four NASA science themes—Earth, Heliophysics, Planetary, stars) and reviews from the general public, educators and tech Astrophysics—and includes contributions from NASA’s science websites. mission outreach teams. NASA Viz is available at the following sites: for iOS devices, GESTAR/USRA team member Helen-Nicole Kostis (NASA Viz https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nasa-visualization-explorer/ project manager) works with Ellen Gray (NASA Viz Editor) to id448700202?ls=1&mt=8; for Android, https://play.google. plan the editorial storytelling efforts of NASA Viz. Through their com/store/apps/details?id=gov.nasa.gsfc.nasavizprod; on the ongoing efforts stories are visualized, edited and packaged for web, http://nasaviz.gsfc.nasa.gov; on Facebook, https://www. release every other Monday. Stories are released through the facebook.com/NasaViz; and on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ iOS and Android apps, the NASA Viz responsive and mobile- nasaviz. friendly website and NASA’s social media channels. The apps were actively developed and maintained until 2017, when the

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 123 124 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Student Engagements and Education/Public Outreach

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT The Heliophysics Communications group started a blog, “The Sun Spot” as part of the NASA blogs (https://blogs.nasa. Allison Collow hosted a summer intern, Haiden Mersiovsky gov/sunspot). Tom Bridgman wrote two articles for the blog, (Florida State University), who worked with her on characterizing one resulting from his exploration of the complex trajectory the properties and meteorology surrounding extreme of Parker Solar Probe’s Venus flybys (https://blogs.nasa.gov/ precipitation events that are associated with atmospheric rivers sunspot/2018/11/07/how-to-be-an-orbital-mechanic-reading- events along the west coast of the U.S. orbit-plots-with-parker-solar-probe) and another on the work in developing the Argo Sun visualization (https://blogs.nasa.gov/ Thomas Fauchez advised Daria Pidhorodetska (University of sunspot/2019/03/05/the-story-of-argo-sun). Maryland, Baltimore County, MD), who is conducting research with Dr. Fauchez on Exoplanets. Ludovic Brucker chaired sessions at the International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, and the 2018 AGU Christoph Keller worked with summer student Ada Shaw, a first- Fall Meeting. He was also a member of the NASA Distributed year graduate student from the Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling Active Archive Centers (DAAC) for the cryosphere. His data group at Harvard University. Ada worked with Dr. Keller in looking product contribution to this DAAC was featured by NASA Earth at the impact of vertical resolution on atmospheric chemistry Data (https://earthdata.nasa.gov/user-resources/who-uses- by running the GEOS model with full gas-phase chemistry at nasa-earth-science-data-user-profiles/user-profile-dr-ludovic- increased vertical resolution. brucker).

Tom Kucsera worked with and assisted visiting summer student, Manuela Girotto is a committee member at the Early Career Carolyn Qu (Oakton High School, VA). He provided account setup, Scientist Forum that was held at GSFC on November 1, 2018. programming, and research assistance to help with her research tasks and with the production of scientific products and results. Manuela Girotto is a co-organizer of the USRA-sponsored GMAO Seminar Series on Earth System Science. In summer 2018, Adrian Southard served as an alternate mentor of a summer student, Collin Flynn (Coe College, WI), Manuela Girotto was the session chair and convener for the whose work focused on testing the performance and longevity of Hydrologic Data Assimilation for the American Geophysical Union field emitters for the MiniEPMA spectrometer. Fall Meeting, held in Washington, DC, in Dec 2018.

Manuela Girotto was appointed NASA Young ISSNAF Liaison (Italian Scientists and Scholars in North America Foundation) for EDUATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH the year 2018-2019.

Andrea Andrew was involved in high school science fairs as a Katrina Jackson participated in a 45-minute Career Exploration judge. Forum for high school students on Take Your Child to Work Day at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD on 4/25/19. Amanda Armstrong served as an OSPA (Outstanding Student Presentation Award) liaison and judge of 10 student projects and Hiren Jethva gave an AEROCENTER talk presenting his work talks at the 2018 AGU Fall meeting in Dec 2018. on agricultural burning and air quality over northern India on 3/05/19. Tom Bridgman gave several Hyperwall presentations in the previous year, including a presentation in July 2018 for visitors Hiren Jethva presented a talk on his research on OMI Aerosol from Temple University. He also gave a visualization presentation, product in the Annual AEROCENTER Update held on 7/09/18. “Data Visualization for Space Science” at the U.S. Naval Observatory (9/20/18) and at Global Science and Technology HQ Hiren Jethva’s work on revealing long-term trends in crop (10/25/18). production, residue fires, and air quality over northern India was featured in NASA’s monthly science highlights for August 2018 (https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/scihighlights).

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 125 Hiren Jethva was interviewed often this year where he was Emma Knowland presented “Stratospheric Intrusion-Influenced asked to provide his expert opinion and technical analysis on the Ozone Exceedances in MERRA-2” at the GMAO Panel review on seasonal agricultural and forest burning and its resultant impact 5/24/18. on air pollution in northern India. Some of these features include: Emma Knowland presented at the Sciences and Exploration • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/large- Directorate (SED) Director’s Seminar, hosted by the Earth parts-of-india-dotted-with-fires-nasa-images/ Sciences Division, on 7/13/18. The seminar consisted of three articleshow/63965686.cms presentations from GMAO scientists, including Dr. Knowland presenting on “Air Quality Forecasts using the NASA GEOS Model: • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/ A Unified Tool from Local to Global Scales”. the-good-earth/Forest-fires-highest-in-five-years-in- Himalayanfoothills/articleshow/64410417.cms Emma Knowland gave an oral presentation, “Using NASA’s new composition forecast to investigate ozone exceedance events • https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/pm2-5-levels- linked with stratospheric intrusions”, to NASA GSFC SED 2018 rising-in-proportion-to-stubble-burning-in-punjab-haryana- Early Career Scientist Forum held on 11/01/18. finds-nasa-study-345297.html Helen-Nicole Kostis served as a Reviewer to the ACM SIGGRAPH • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-03/ 2018 Posters program in May 2018. For more information tackling-the-world-s-worst-smog-inindia-one-scooter-at-a- about the program, please visit: https://s2018.siggraph.org/ time conference/conference-overview/posters.

Hiren Jethva also contributed to several Image of The Day (IOTD) Matt Kowalewski visited the Carrolltowne Elementary School in articles published on NASA’s Earth Observatory. The articles can Eldersburg, MD and spoke to four first-grade classes about NASA be accessed at the following links: and the science of the Moon on 6/04/18.

• https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view. Priscila Lange was part of the discussion groups of the Ocean php?id=92309 Ecology Laboratory Science Communication and Science Outreach teams, which included Ivona Cetinic and Bridget • https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/92439/from- Seegers. As part of the OEL’s outreach activities, Priscila has russia-with-aerosols participated in expositions about “What is ocean color?” and the importance of phytoplankton to the general public at the NASA • https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/92567/ exhibit during the 46th Annual Earth Day Celebration at the summertime-moroccan-dust-reaches-spain Union Station, Washington DC, 4/22/19, and at the Maryland Day event in College Park, MD, 4/27/19. • https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/144181/ smokier-and-smokier-skies-in-india Michael Lentz spoke with students in the animation program at the Maryland Institute Collage of Art (MICA), where he discussed Daeho Jin advised UMBC graduate students to apply machine how the Conceptual Image Lab works with scientists in creating learning technique to cloud observation. Dr. Jin contributed to the compelling animations, and he also gave critiques of the paper led by UMBC team. The paper is about applying machine students’ work. He discussed the animation fellowship program learning technique to cloud observation, and submitted to the sponsored by USRA for recent graduates in animation that runs IEEE BigData 2018. for one year in the CI Lab.

Emma Knowland presented “Stratospheric Intrusion Catalog: A Michael Lentz spoke this year at the Washington D.C. Animation 10-year Compilation of Events Identified by using an Objective Roundtable about new techniques the Conceptual Image Lab is Feature Tracking Model with NASA’s MERRA-2 Reanalysis” at using for realtime rendering. the Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Lab (Code 614) lunch seminar series 5/17/18.

126 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Edward Nowottnick presented a poster titled “CATS Version 3 Aerosol Products and Use for Retrievals of Aerosol Extinction and Surface Air Quality with the NASA GEOS AGCM” at the 2019 Annual AeroCenter Poster Bash.

Sarah Strode presented a poster and a two-minute talk at the GMAO review meeting held 5/24/18 at NASA GSFC.

In addition to his visualization tasks, Ernie Wright has played an active outreach role. He was the featured speaker at the Intrepid Museum in New York for Observe the Moon Night. For the Apollo 8 50th anniversary, he spoke to the NARHAMS rocket club at the Goddard Visitors Center, gave a webinar for the Night Sky Network, delivered a Goddard scientific colloquium, participated in a panel at the Escape Velocity conference, and spoke at the NASA hyperwall during the 2018 American Geophysical Union conference. He gave talks about eclipse mapping at the U.S. Naval Observatory and the American Association of Physics Teachers conference. Ernie spoke with students at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and at the SIGGRAPH computer graphics conference. He is frequently requested to speak to tour groups, VIPs, and journalists, and he is featured in the second “We Are NASA” video.

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 127 128 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Awards and Recognition

In July 2018, Ludovic Brucker (code 615, sponsor: D. Le Vine) modeling and nowcasting of landslide hazards through in- was selected by the American Geophysical Union to receive depth investigation on a national and international scale, the 2018 Cryosphere Early Career Award. He was one of 75 supporting exploration by scientists and citizen scientists scientists to be recognized with select awards and honors by alike.” AGU. Dr. Brucker’s recognition was possible thanks to GESTAR management and its Integrated Project Team, who have enabled In September 2018, the Earth Sciences Division - Atmospheres him to focus on challenging, rewarding work. He was appreciative (Code 610AT) Awards Ceremony was held at NASA Goddard. to those who nominated him, for their vision, and the time and Sergey Korkin (code 613, sponsor: A. Lyapustin) was recognized effort all put into the process. Dr. Brucker was especially thankful as part of the MAIAC team and received the 610AT Noteworthy for the trust and mentorship of his Program Director, Dr. Bill Contribution Group Award: “For the development of code MAIAC Corso. and the release of MODIS Collection 6 operational data product MCD19.” In August 2018, Abhishek Chatterjee (code 610.1, sponsor: L. Ott) was part of the AboVE Airborne Science Campaign Team In fall 2018, Scott Wiessinger (code 130, sponsor: W. Sisler) that was awarded the NASA Group Achievement Award: “For was part of the Astrophysics Communications Team that received conducting the successful ABoVE airborne campaigns with multi- a Special Act Team award by NASA Goddard Center Director sensor airborne assets and delivering science results.” Chris Scolese. These awards recognize and reward outstanding scientific or technical innovations, which further the NASA In August 2018, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine hosted the mission. NASA Agency Honor Awards at NASA Johnson Space Center. As part of the Goddard Astrophysics Communications Team, Scott In October 2018, at the inaugural awards ceremony organized Wiessinger and Brian Monroe (code 130, sponsor: W. Sisler) by the Division of Research and Economic Development Office were recognized with a Group Achievement Award for their work of Technology Transfer at MSU, Richard Damoah (code 618, on the 2017 video “Doomed Neutron Stars Create Blast of Light sponsor: C. Tucker) received a 2018 Morgan Instructional and Gravitational Waves,” which is available here: https://svs. Innovator of the Year Award from Morgan State University. This gsfc.nasa.gov/12740. recognized his contribution to innovation, which has helped further economic development and entrepreneurship at MSU. The Hydrosphere, Biosphere and Geophysics Peer Awards Ceremony was held on September 6, 2018, at NASA Goddard. Also in October 2018, the inaugural USRA Management Awards Six GESTAR members were recognized for their achievements. were announced; these awards recognize managers who • Ryan Fitzgibbons & Adriana Manrique (both code 130, demonstrate excellence in leading a team, managing the work, sponsor: W. Sisler) each received an award as part of and positively affecting staff – all while demonstrating USRA the ICESat-2 Outreach & Communications Team: “For Values – Passion, Partnerships, Professionalism. Oreste Reale outstanding accomplishments in support of the ICESat-2 (code 610.1, sponsor: S. Pawson) was among the five managers mission.” selected for this award. • Ivona Cetinic (code 616, sponsor: J. Werdell) for Scientific Achievement: “For keeping the EXPORTS ships afloat: for In February 2019, as part of the ICESat-2 Outreach and exceptional leadership in shepherding a major NASA field Education team, Adriana Gutierrez and Ryan Fitzgibbons (both campaign in the north Pacific Ocean.” code 130, sponsor: W. Sisler) were selected to receive the 2018 • Thomas Eck (code 618, sponsor: B. Holben) for Scientific Robert H. Goddard Honor Award. The ceremony will be held in Achievement: “As part of the AERONET Team, for May 2019. outstanding work on remotely-sensed and ground-based measurement and validation of aerosols.” On February 22, 2019, Goddard’s Climate and Radiation • Yan Soldo (code 615, sponsor: D. Le Vine) for Scientific Laboratory (Code 613) held their annual awards ceremony Achievement: “For outstanding achievement in support of along with their annual party. For Best First-Authored Paper, Aquarius and SMAP.” Manisha Ganeshan (sponsor: Y. Yang) was recognized “For an • Thomas Stanley (code 617, sponsor: D. Kirschbaum) excellent paper providing new insights into Antarctic boundary for Scientific Achievement: “For advancing the global layer structure and mixing mechanisms”: Ganeshan, M., & Yang,

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 129 Y. (2018), A regional analysis of factors affecting the Antarctic boundary layer during the Concordiasi campaign, Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres, 123(19), 10-830.

On March 5, 2019, the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO, code 610.1) held its annual Peer Awards Ceremony, and two GESTAR scientists were recognized for their contributions.

• Min-Jeong Kim (sponsor: R. Gelaro) for Scientific Achievement: “For her essential contributions to GMAO’s assimilation of the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) observations into GMAO’s Forward Processing (FP) system.” • Brad Weir (sponsor: L. Ott) for Scientific Achievement: “For successfully implementing Microwave Limb Sounder constituent data assimilation in the GEOS-DAS with a full stratospheric chemistry model, coding the assimilation capability for stratospheric water vapor, HCl, HNO3 and N2O, and conducting highly effective testing and tuning.”

At the National Association of Broadcasters Conference in Las Vegas, NV, held in April 2019, Dan Gallagher (code 130, sponsor: W. Sisler), Rob Andreoli, and John Caldwell were named NASA’s “Videographers of the Year” with their first-place video depicting “Arriving at Asteroid Bennu”. View this six-and-a-half- minute documentary about the OSIRIS-REx mission for its arrival at asteroid Bennu here: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12166.

In April 2019, Lok Lamsal (code 614, sponsor: N. Krotkov) was part of the Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) International Team that won the prestigious 2018 USGS Pecora Team Award: “For fifteen+ years of sustained team innovation and international collaboration to produce daily global satellite data that revolutionized urban air quality and health research.” For more on the Pecora Award, visit https://www.usgs.gov/land- resources/national-land-imaging-program/pecora.

130 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 In Memoriam

IN MEMORIAM DR. WILLIAM CORSO

1956 - 2018

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 131 132 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Acronyms List

4STAR ������������������Spectrometer for Sky-Scanning, Sun- CIL ������������������������Conceptual Imaging Lab Tracking Atmospheric Research CLARINET ������������Cloud Aerosol Radiation Interaction Experiment ABL ����������������������Atmospheric Boundary Layer CLIVAR ������������������Climate Variability and Predictability project ABOVE ������������������Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment CMAVE ������������������Center for Medical, Agricultural, ACAM ��������������������Airborne Compact Atmospheric Mapper and Veterinary Entomology ACMAP ������������������Atmospheric Composition: Modeling CMIP ��������������������Coupled Model Intercomparison Project and Analysis Program COT ����������������������Cloud Optical Thickness ADAS ��������������������Atmospheric Data Assimilation System CRE ����������������������Cloud Radiative Effect AERONET �������������Aerosol Robotic Network CRM ���������������������Cloud-Resolving Model AGCM ������������������Atmospheric General Circulation Model CTM ����������������������Chemistry Transport Modeling AGU ����������������������American Geophysical Union CubeRRT ��������������CubeSat Radiometer Radio Frequency AIRS ����������������������Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder Interface Technology AMF ����������������������Air Mass Factor CYAN ��������������������Cyanobacteria Assessment Network AMM ��������������������Atlantic Meridional Mode CYGNSS ����������������Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System AMO ����������������������Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation DAS ����������������������Data Assimilation System AMS ����������������������American Meteorological Society DENV ��������������������Dengue Virus AMSR-E ��������������Advanced Microwave Scanning DFR ����������������������Differential Frequency Ratio Radiometer for EOS DIC ������������������������Dissolved Inorganic Carbon AMV ����������������������Atmospheric Motion Vectors DISCOVER-AQ ������Deriving Information on Surface Conditions AOD ����������������������Aerosol Optical Depth from Column and Vertically Resolved AOGCM ����������������Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Model Observations Relevant to Air Quality AO ������������������������Arctic Oscillation DOD ����������������������Department of Defense AOT ����������������������Aerosol Optical Thickness DOE ����������������������Department of Energy AROMA ����������������Advanced Resolution Organic DPR ����������������������Dual-frequency Participation Radar Molecule Analyzer DSD ����������������������rainDrop Size Distribution ARSET ������������������Applied Remote Sensing Training program DTRA ��������������������Defense Threat Reduction Agency ATom ��������������������Atmospheric Tomography Mission DYNAMO ��������������Dynamics of the Madden Julian Oscillation ATMS ��������������������Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder E/PO ��������������������Education/Public Outreach ATTREX ����������������Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment EA/WR ������������������East Atlantic/West Russia AVDC ��������������������Aura Validation Data Center ECMWF ����������������European Centre for Medium- AVHRR ������������������Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer Range Weather Forecast CAFE ��������������������Compact Airborne Formaldehyde Experiment EMAS ��������������������Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator CAFR ��������������������Correlator Array-Fed microwave Radiometer EnKF ��������������������Ensemble Kalman Filter CAI ������������������������Cloud and Aerosol Instrument ENSO ��������������������El Niño/Southern Oscillation CALIOP ����������������Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with EPIC ����������������������Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera Orthogonal Polarization EPICAERUV ����������UV Aerosol Index algorithm for EPIC CALIPSO ��������������Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared ESA ����������������������European Space Agency Pathfinder Satellite Observation EWV ����������������������Essential Water Variables CANOE ������������������Compact Airborne Nitrogen diOxide Experiment EXPORTS ��������������EXport Processes in the Ocean CCMI ��������������������Chemistry-Climate Model Initiative from RemoTe Sensing CDA ����������������������Cloud Data Assimilation FAS ����������������������Foreign Agricultural Service CDC ��������������������Center for Disease Control FDA ����������������������Food and Drug Administration CDOM ������������������Colored Dissolved Organic Matter FLUID ��������������������Framework for Live-User Invoked Data CEOS ��������������������Committee on Earth Observation Satellites GCAS ��������������������GEOCAPE Airborne Simulator CERES ������������������Clouds and Earth Radiant Energy System GCE ����������������������Goddard Cloud Ensemble CFH ����������������������Cryogenic Frostpoint Hygrometer GCRP ��������������������Global Change Research Program CFMIP ������������������Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project GEDI ��������������������Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation CHIKV ������������������Chikungunya Virus GEIS ��������������������Global Emerging Infections Surveillance

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 133 GEMS ������������������Geostationary Environmental IRAD ��������������������Internal Research and Development Program Monitoring Satellite ISCCP ������������������International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project GEO ����������������������Group of Earth Observations ISS ������������������������International Space Station GEO-CAPE ������������GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events ITCZ ����������������������Intertropical Convergence Zone GEOGLOWS ����������GEO Global Water Sustainability JAXA ����������������������Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency GEOS-5 ����������������Goddard Earth Observing System Version 5 JCSDA ������������������Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation GEOS CF ��������������GEOS Composition Forecast JEDI ����������������������Joint Effort for Data assimilation Integration GEOSS ������������������Global Earth Observation System of Systems JPL ������������������������Jet Propulsion Laboratory GEOTASO ��������������Geostationary Trace Gas and JPSS ��������������������Joint Polar Satellite System Aerosol Sensor Optimization JSC ����������������������Joint Scientific Committee GESTAR ��������������Goddard Earth Sciences JWST ��������������������James Webb Space Telescope Technology and Research KORUS-AQ ������������Korean US Air Quality mission GEWEX ����������������Global Energy Water Cycle Experiment LADEE ������������������Lunar Atmosphere and Dust GISS ��������������������Goddard Institute for Space Studies Environment Explorer G-LiHT ������������������Goddard’s Lidar, Hyperspectral LDAS ��������������������Land Data Assimilation System and Thermal airborne imager LER ����������������������Lambertian Equivalent Reflectances GMAO ������������������Global Modeling and Assimilation Office LHASA ������������������Landslide Hazard Assessment GMI CTM ��������������Global Modeling Initiative for Situational Awareness Chemical Transport Model LRO ����������������������Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter GOCART ����������������Goddard Chemistry Aerosol LUVOIR ����������������Large/UV/Optical/IR Surveyor Radiation and Transport M2AMIP ��������������MERRA-2 Atmospheric Model GOCI ��������������������Geostationary Ocean Color Imager Intercomparison Project GOES-R ����������������Geostationary Operational MACROS ��������������Molecular Analyzer of Complex Environmental Satellite-R Refractory Organic-Rich Systems GOLD ��������������������Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk MASTAR ����������������Multi-Angle STratospheric Aerosol Radiometer GOSAT ������������������Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite MAVEN ����������������Mars Atmosphere and Volatile GPM ��������������������Global Precipitation Measurement Evolution Mission GPP ����������������������Gross Primary Production MEaSUREs ����������Making Earth Science data records for GRACE ������������������Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Use in Research for Earth Science GRASP ������������������Generalized Retrieval of Aerosol MERRA ����������������Modern Era Retrospective-Analysis and Surface Properties for Research and Applications GSFC ��������������������Goddard Space Flight Center MHS ��������������������Microwave Humidity Sounder GWC ���������������������Global Water Cycle MISR ��������������������Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer HAQAST ����������������Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team MJO ����������������������Madden-Julian Oscillation HFCs ��������������������Hydrofluorocarbons MLS ����������������������Microwave Limb Sounder HHT ����������������������Hilbert-Huang Transform MMS ��������������������Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission HS3 ����������������������Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel MOAT ��������������������Multi-axis Optical Airborne Tracker HSRL ��������������������High Spectral Resolution Lidar MODIS ������������������Moderate Resolution Imaging HyspIRI ����������������Hyperspectral Infrared Imager Spectroradiometer ICESat-2 ��������������Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 MOMA ������������������Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer ICON ��������������������Ionospheric Connection Explorer MSL ����������������������Mars Science Laboratory IGARSS ����������������International Geoscience and NAI ������������������������NASA Astrobiology Institute Remote Sensing Symposium NAO ����������������������North Atlantic Oscillation IGPO ��������������������International GEWEX Project Office NASA Viz ��������������NASA Visualization Explorer app IGWCO ������������������Integrated Global Water Cycle Observations NASM ������������������National Air and Space Museum IMERG ������������������Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals NCA ����������������������National Climate Assessment for GPM data product NCAR ��������������������National Center for Atmospheric Research IPCC ����������������������Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change NCCS ��������������������NASA Center for Climate Simulation

134 | GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 NCEP ��������������������National Centers for Environmental Prediction SCSO ��������������������Science Communication Support Office NDACC ������������������Network for the Detection of SDG ����������������������Sustainable Development Goals Atmospheric Composition Change SDO ����������������������Solar Dynamics Observatory NDVI ��������������������Normalized Difference Vegetation Index SEAC4RS ��������������Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric NEWS ������������������NASA Energy and Water Cycle Studies Composition, Clouds and Climate NGIMS ������������������Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer Coupling by Regional Surveys NOAA ��������������������National Oceanic and Atmospheric SEAWiFS ��������������Sea-Viewing Wide Field of View Sensor Administration SIGGRAPH NOBM ������������������NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model SMAP ��������������������Soil Moisture Active/Passive NPP ����������������������NASA Post-Doctoral Program SMOS ������������������Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity NPP ����������������������National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi) SPARC ������������������Stratospheric Processes And NPP OMPS ����������NPP Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite their Role in Climate NSIDC ������������������National Snow and Ice Data Center SSG ����������������������Scientific Steering Group NU-WRF ����������������NASA Unified Weather Research SST ����������������������Sea Surface Temperature and Forecasting STE ����������������������Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange OASIS ������������������Organics Analyzer for Sampling Icy Surfaces STEM ��������������������Science, Technology, Engineering OCO-2 ������������������Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 and Mathematics ODIAC ������������������Open-source Data Inventory STEREO ����������������Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory for Anthropogenic CO2 STWCPSST ����������Subtropical Western-Central Pacific SST ODS ����������������������Ozone Depleting Substances SVS ����������������������Scientific Visualization Studio OIB ������������������������Operation IceBridge SWE ����������������������Snow Water Equivalent OLR ����������������������Outgoing Longwave Radiation TA ��������������������������Antenna Temperature OLYMPEX ��������������Olympic Mountain Experiment TB ������������������������Brightness Temperature OMAERUV ������������OMI/Aura level-2 near UV Aerosol data product TC ������������������������Tropical Cyclone OMI ����������������������Ozone Monitoring Instrument TESS ��������������������Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite OMPS ������������������Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite TOAR ��������������������Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report ORACLES ��������������ObseRvations of Aerosols above TOMS ��������������������Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer CLouds and their InteRactionS TRMM ������������������Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission OSIRIS-REx ����������Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource UNEP ��������������������United Nations Environment Programme Identification Security Regolith Explorer USDA ��������������������U.S. Department of Agriculture OSSE ��������������������Observing System Simulation Experiments USGRCP ��������������U.S. Global Change Research Program OWLETS-2 ������������Ozone Water-Land Environmental UT/LS ������������������Upper Troposphere/Lower Stratosphere Transition Study-2 VIIRS ��������������������Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite PACE ��������������������Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and ocean Ecosystem WCRP ������������������World Climate Research Program PBL ����������������������Planetary Boundary Layer W-E-F ��������������������Water-Energy-Food PDO ����������������������Pacific Decadal Oscillation WFIRST ����������������Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope PFT ����������������������Plant Functional Types WRF ����������������������Weather Research and Forecast PSD ����������������������Particle Size Distribution PSP ����������������������Parker Solar Probe QBO ����������������������Quasi-Biannual Oscillation RCDF ��������������������Radiometric Calibration and Development Facility RFI ������������������������Radio Frequency Interference RRTMG ����������������Rapid Radiative Transfer Model for GCM applications RT ������������������������Radiative Transfer SAL ����������������������Saharan Air Layer SAM ����������������������Sample Analysis at Mars

GESTAR Annual Report 2018 – 2019 | 135 7178 Columbia Gateway Drive Columbia, MD 21046 410-730-2656 www.usra.edu

https://gestar.usra.edu