ANNUAL 2014-2015 REPORT

Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research Studies and Investigations TABLE of CONTENTS Letter from GESTAR Director...... 4 The GESTAR Team...... 5 GESTAR STAFF Technical Research...... 6 Achuthavarier, Deepthi Jin, Jianjun Rault, Didier Administrative Staff Code 555 Microwave Instrument Technology Branch...... 6 Andrew, Andrea Johnson, Leann Reale, Oreste Code 586 Science Data Management Branch...... 8 Anyamba, Assaf Ju, Junchang Retscher, Christian Arens, Jeff Code 610 Earth Sciences Division...... 8 Aquila, Valentina Kekesi, Alex Rousseaux, Cecile Baird, Steve Code 610.1 Global Modeling And Assimilation Office...... 18 Armstrong, Amanda Kim, Dongchul Sayer, Andy Billingslea, Rhonda Code 610.2 Global Change Data Center...... 30 Barker, Ryan Kim, Hyokyung Schiffer, Bob Dalnekoff Smith, Julie Code 612 Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Laboratory...... 32 Beck, Jefferson Kim, Min-Jeong Schindler, Trent Davis, Ashley Code 613 Climate And Radiation Laboratory...... 36 Bell, Benita Korkin, Sergey Selkirk, Henry Foster, Sarah Code 614 Atmospheric Chemistry And Dynamics Laboratory...... 42 Code 615 Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory...... 60 Belvedere, Debbie Kostis, Helen-Nicole Sharghi, Kayvon Gardner, Jeanette Code 616 Ocean Ecology Laboratory...... 62 Bensusen, Sally Kowalewski, Matthew Shi, Jainn J. (Roger) Hornbuckle, Frank Code 617 Hydrological Sciences Laboratory...... 62 Bridgman, Tom Kucsera, Tom Sippel, Jason Houghton, Amy Code 618 Biospheric Sciences Laboratory...... 68 Brucker, Ludovic Kurylo, Michael Soebiyanto, Radina Johns, Sharon Code 699 Planetary Environments Laboratory...... 72 Buchard-Marchant, Ladd, David Sokolowsky, Eric Kannon, Stacey Virginie Lagomasino, David Soldo, Yan Laughlin, Dan Delivering the Message...... 75 Burger, Matthew Lait, Leslie Southard, Adrian Maginnis, Beth Code 130...... 75 Cede, Alexander Lamsal, Lok Stanley, Thomas Moncrieffe, Keyshawn Code 606.4 Scientific Visualization Studio...... 87 Celarier, Ed Laughlin, Dan Starr, Cynthia Morgan, Dagmar Code 606.2 High Performance Computing...... 88 Cetinic, Ivona Lawford, Rick Steenrod, Stephen Queen, Lynette Science Program Support Office...... 94 Chang, Yehui Lee, Dongmin Stoyanova, Silvia Richardson, Linda Code 160 Office of Education...... 100 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Chase, Tyler Leidner, Allison Strahan, Susan Samuel, Elamae Chatterjee, Abhishek Leitold, Veronika Strode, Sarah Products...... 102 Chern, Jiun-Dar Lentz, Michael Suarez, Max Cheung, Samson Lewis, Katherine Swanson, Andrew Technical Editor Cho, Naeyong Li, Feng Taha, Ghassan Student Engagements and Education/Public Outreach...... 103 Cohen, Jarrett Li, Xiaowen Tao, Zhining Amy Houghton Colombo, Oscar Liang, Qing Teinturier, Samuel Awards...... 107 Collow, Allison Liao, Liang Tian, Lin Graphic Design Erin Senoz Cote, Charles Lim, Young-Kwon Trapp, Cindy Acronyms...... 109 Damoah, Richard Lipschultz, Frederic Ungar, Stephen de Matthaeis, Paolo Liu, Junhua Unninayar, Sushel De Lannoy, Gabrielle Lyu, Cheng Hsuan Van Oevelen, Peter Domaszczynski, Piotr (Joseph) Veselovskii, Igor Draper, Clara Malanoski, Mark Vikhliaev, Yuri Duberstein, Genna Malespin, Charles Wang, James Eck, Thomas Marchant, Benjamin Ward, Alan Elkins, Kel Margolis, Hank Weaver, Kristen Errico, Ronald McGrath-Spangler, Erica Weir, Brad Fitzgibbons, Ryan McLean, Debbi Weissinger, Scott Follette-Cook, Melanie Meyer, Kerry Wen, Guoyong Gallagher, Dan Miller, Kevin Witmer, Stu Ganeshan, Manishan Mohammed, Priscilla Wright, Ernie Garner, Robert Monroe, Brian Xu, Hui Gassó, Santiago Moran, Amy Yang, Weidong Gatebe, Charles Mounirou Toure, Ally Yang, Yuekui Girotto, Manuela Ng, Joy Yao, Tian Gong, Jie Norris, Peter Yasunari, Teppei Graham, Steven Nowottnick, Ed Zeng, Xiping Grecu, Mircea Oda, Tom Zhang, Cheng Gupta, Manika Olsen, Mark Zhang, Qingyuan Gupta, Pawan Osmanoglu, Batuhan Zhang, Yan Han, Mei Patadia, Falguni Zhou, Yaping Handleman, Michelle Peng, Jinzheng Ziemke, Jerald Hanson, Heather Perez-Ramirez, Daniel Holdaway, Dan Phillips, Jackie Image from “CALIPSO observes Saharan dust crossing the Atlantic Ocean”. Humberson, Winnie Potter, Gerald Credits include Kel Elkins, Lead Animator; Joy Ng, Producer; Horace Mitchell Hurwitz, Margaret Prescott, Ishon (NASA/GSFC), Animator; Hongbin Yu, Scientist (JCET/UMBC), among others. Jentoft-Nilsen, Marit Privé, Nikki Jethva, Hiren Radcliff, Matthew Jin, Daeho Randles, Cynthia LETTER from GESTAR DIRECTOR The GESTAR TEAM

GESTAR MANAGMENT TEAM June 10, 2015 GESTAR Director: Dr. William Corso We are pleased to offer this fourth NASA Goddard Earth Sciences, Technology, and Research (GESTAR) Associate Director: Dr. Darryn Waugh, JHU Cooperative Agreement Annual Report for the period: 11 May 2014 – 10 May 2015. NASA awarded Associate Director: Dr. Joseph Whittaker, MSU GESTAR to the team of Universities Space Research Association (USRA), Morgan State University (MSU), Associate Director: Dr. Le Jiang, ISMG Johns Hopkins University (JHU), I.M. Systems Group (IMSG), Institute for Global Environmental Strategies Business Manager: Ms. Dagmar Morgan (IGES), and Ball Aerospace for a period of five years (2011-2016). Last year, we welcomed Global Science and Technology (GST) to our team. During the past year, GESTAR continued to be among major NASA Goddard Space flight Facility Founded in 1969, Universities Space Research Association Morgan State University (MSU), founded in 1867, is one of the partnerships. During Year-4, the number of GESTAR tasks grew approximately (USRA) is an independent nonprofit research corporation that nation’s premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HB- 15 percent from our third year. conducts basic and applied research and operates programs and CUs). The University offers a comprehensive program of studies national facilities for government and industry, many of which are at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Morgan State has This report summarizes multidisciplinary efforts of GESTAR-affiliated in support of NASA. USRA currently manages 20 programs and continuously served the community with distinction while meeting researchers, technologists, students, visitors, and staff. We describe facilities that employ more than 400 scientific, technical, and the educational needs of an increasingly diverse society. Desig- accomplishments for the past year and technical progress in all research areas professional staff. With 105 university members, USRA provides nated as Maryland’s Public Urban University, MSU will continue identified in the GESTAR Annual Research Program Plan, submitted to NASA a unique and special value that other research organizations do its prominence in Maryland’s educational future. In many fields, on 31 July 2014. Within the report and its appendices are: a) abstracts and not. Only PhD-granting universities in Earth and space sciences particularly in engineering and the sciences, MSU accounts for papers published by GESTAR-affiliated staff; b) GESTAR-affiliated presentations with demonstrated outstanding research abilities are eligible for large percentages of degrees received by African-Americans from at conferences, seminars, and workshops; c) education and public outreach membership in USRA. USRA’s mission is to advance Earth and Maryland institutions. At the graduate level, it awards doctoral engagements by GESTAR-affiliated staff; d) awards received by GESTAR- space sciences and exploration through innovative research, and master’s degrees in several selected fields. The University affiliated staff; and e) engagement of GESTAR-affiliated staff in reviewing/ technology, and educational programs, and to develop and oper- has made a major commitment to academic excellence, investing advising/ committee participation activities. ate premier facilities and programs by involving universities, the substantial resources to enhance its research infrastructure, and private sector, and governments. stimulate research development in a broad range of disciplines, This past year, everyone at GESTAR worked diligently with our NASA sponsors/ especially STEM. In addition to the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. collaborators to ensure success of critically important projects that support Founded in 1876 as the first research university in the United School of Engineering complex, MSU has the Estuarine Research NASA’s mission in Earth Sciences and beyond. Their efforts have resulted in States, The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is one of the lead- Center, the Richard N. Dixon Science Research Center, a state- many substantive accomplishments, highlighted in this report. Our sincerest ing research institutions in the nation. JHU is composed of of-the-art research facility that provides space for specialized thanks go out to all for their commitment and professionalism. We look nine academic divisions, including Arts & Sciences, Education, research laboratories in physics, chemistry, and biology, and the forward to applying our knowledge and experience to the upcoming year to Engineering, the School of Public Health, plus JHU Applied Physics modern Murphy Fine Arts Center. ensure GESTAR continues to exceed all of our expectations. Laboratory. The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences is the home of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. A major I.M. Systems Group (IMSG) has over 15 years of providing envi- focus within this department is global change science, with active ronmental, scientific, technical, and I support to the US govern- research groups in atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrospheric sci- ment as well as environmental services to government agencies ences as well as planetary geodynamics. The department main- in Africa and Asia. Over 60% of its workforce has advanced tains state-of-the-art design and engineering facilities, as well as degrees with over 100 PhD researchers. IMSG is NOAA’s largest William Corso laboratories for high performance computing and large-scale data support service, with its largest concentration of researchers and analysis that are also being used for Earth system science. JHU’s support scientists in the Satellite Applications Research Center Joseph Whittaker (Associate Director – Morgan State University) Whiting School of Engineering consists of faculty who possess and the NWS Environmental Modeling Center. Darryn Waugh (Associate Director – Johns Hopkins University) experimental, computational, robotic and modeling capabilities. Le Jiang (Associate Director – IMSG) Additionally, faculty at the School of Public Health are involved Rounding out the GESTAR Team are Ball Aerospace and Technol- with the application of Earth system science and remote sensing ogies, The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) to the study and teaching of public/environmental health. and Global Science & Technology (GST). GESTAR Management continues to work to identify appropriate, GESTAR-affiliated activi- ties in which they may become meaningfully engaged.

4 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 5 TECHNICAL RESEARCH

CODE 555: MICROWAVE INSTRUMENT Dr. Jinzheng Peng (sponsor: J. Piepmeier) also works TECHNOLOGY BRANCH as part of a collaborative team on NASA’s Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) mission. In addition to research- NASA’s Soil Moisture Active and Passive (SMAP) Mission As part of NASA’s Soil Moisture Active and Passive ing and developing pre-launch and post-launch calibra- (SMAP) mission, Dr. Priscilla Mohammed (sponsor: NASA’s Soil Moisture Active and Passive (SMAP) Mission which tion theoretical bases, plans and activities, and data J. Piepmeier) works on a collaborative team at NASA launched on January 31, 2015 will provide global measurements of reductions, he is specifically responsible for developing GSFC to develop the L1B TB algorithm which converts soil moisture and freeze/thaw state using L-band radar and radiometry. the SMAP L1B correction algorithms, the SMAP Level radiometer data into calibrated estimates of brightness Drs. Priscilla Mohammed and Jinzheng Peng (Code 555) are both part 1 brightness temperature forward simulator, pre- and temperature. Her efforts include research and develop- of a collaborative team who worked on developing the SMAP L1B TB post- launch calibration, and calibration/validation tools. ment of radio frequency interference (RFI) detection algorithm, which converts radiometer data into calibrated estimates of The SMAP L1B correction algorithms will obtain the Earth and removal algorithms plus prototype instrument brightness temperature; works also involved the SMAP L1B correction surface brightness temperature (TB) from the calibrated algorithm code for the L1B TB algorithm, which is part algorithms, the SMAP Level 1 brightness temperature (TB) forward and RFI-free antenna temperature. Unwanted emissions of ground processing. The Science Data System (SDS) simulator, pre- and post- launch calibration, and calibration/validation Figure 1: Global coverage of H polarization TB using data from ascending in the antenna sidelobe from the Sun, the Moon, the at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is responsible for tools. They work with the Science Data System (SDS) at the Jet files. Footprints collected with the antenna in the aft position of the spinning galaxy, the atmosphere, and Earth need to be removed implementing the production code for the radiometer Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). mode were averaged in a 1-degree bin. Image provided by P. Mohammed. from the radiometer measurements, and the effects of L1B_TB algorithm. Dr. Mohammed provided support to the atmospheric attenuation and Faraday rotations to the In preparation for the assimilation of SMAP observations, satellite help verify the product output provided by the produc- mediate products, tools were written that will be used to produce radiometer measurement need to characterized and cor- observations from the Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission were tion code, which involved using the prototype code in global plots of TB and RFI. rected. Dr. Peng programmed these algorithm corrections using used to build a prototype system for the L4_SM product. This prototype Matlab to produce outputs for direct comparison to the Matlab, and they then were translated into C++ and integrated system was updated with many new aspects, mainly to improve the outputs of the production code. Upon completion of Based on the algorithm provided by NASA GSFC’s algorithm team, into the science data processing system. The SMAP mission assimilation of SMAP TB observations and to improve soil moisture the algorithm review for the SMAP L1B_TB algorithm JPL’s science data system produces SMAP data products for the launched on January 31, 2015, and the correction algorithm has estimates (more information is available in Dr. De Lannoy’s report, Code in September 2013, it was decided to include loss due L1B_TB algorithm. A week of simulated radiometer level 1A data been used successfully to obtain global brightness temperature 610.1). Dr. Gabrielle de Lannoy supported colleagues in implementing to the radome (the structure which covers the antenna was ingested and processed by the L1B_TB processor. This data of the Earth’s surface, shown in Figure 1 (J. Peng). In addition to the scientific system for operational purposes and was instrumental in feedhorn) when computing counts to brightness tem- was then analyzed using cal/val tools which were developed; such the correction algorithm, Dr. Peng is responsible for developing providing a SMAP ‘Nature Run v04’ to JPL’s Science Team. Prior to the peratures (TB). analyses included time series and global plots to help validate the the integration of the radiometer L1B protocode, which has been mission’s launch, the SMAP L4_SM system was heavily exercised with algorithm. used for checking the data fidelity of the data product generated SMOS brightness temperature data. To facilitate the transition from Upon analysis of radiometer test data, it was decided by the science data processing system. SMOS to SMAP data, a preprocessor was developed to convert SMOS to update two of the RFI detection algorithms. Detec- SMAP launched on January 31, 2015, and the radiometer was brightness temperature observations from the Top-of-the-Ionosphere tion performance was improved by implementing turned on for various instrument tests; for about two days each in A major risk-reduction asset for the SMAP radiometer L1B algo- to the Bottom-of-the-Atmosphere. A paper on this research has been formulas to determine standard deviation of the data. February and in March, such tests included an instrument health rithm development is the SMAP Level 1 brightness temperature conditionally accepted (De Lannoy et al., GRSL, 2015). All of the detection algorithms also use look up tables check and a non-spin test, respectively. During this time, data was forward simulator. Currently all of the effects of the unwanted to determine threshold levels for detection; these collected and processed by JPL’s science data system, and cal/ sources (except RFI) and propagation effects can be simulated. In working with the scientists involved with the SMAP mission, the tables are based on a 1-degree grid, and the values val tools were used to analyze the L1B_TB products to check for Prior to the mission’s launch, Dr. Peng was working on the simula- Communications and Visualizations team were involved with promoting can vary geographically. The tables and protocode were algorithm performance and to produce global plots of brightness tor development and generating data for the SMAP radiometer the mission and creating informational material. Michelle Handleman updated to include variability due to the direction of the temperatures. The calibration and validation part of the mission L1B algorithm. After launch, he generated simulated data which produced a satellite media tour to promote the mission, and highlights spacecraft’s orbit as well as to determine whether the continued as the instrument was turned on permanently included two hits with the Weather Channel, CBS News Radio; Fox footprint under observation on Earth is in the forward on March 31, 2015; these cal/val tools analyzed the NewsEdge affiliate service and seven interviews with top 20 television or aft position of the spinning antenna. The L1B_TB L1B_TB and intermediate products. Figure 1 (P. Moham- markets. The video “SMAP Radiometer versus Radio Frequency product includes bit flags which indicate the quality of med) was produced using one of these tools and shows Interference” (http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=11743) the brightness temperatures reported in the product; global coverage of H polarization TB using data from features Instrument Scientist Jeff Piepmeier, explaining how and why the bit flag algorithm was defined and documented, ascending files. Footprints collected with the antenna in SMAP’s radiometer can avoid RFI. Matt Radcliff was Lead Producer and protocode was written and tested. All of these the aft position of the spinning mode were averaged in and Video Editor, and Brian Monroe was Animator, among others updates to the L1B_TB algorithm were written in a 1-degree bin. In the months ahead, calibration and involved with this project. And, SPSO Staff were in California for the Matlab and delivered to JPL’s science data system, and validation will continue, and data analyses will be critical launch; pre-launch activities included writing, designing, and producing subsequently, the production software was updated. in determining algorithm performance. Currently, the the SMAP mission brochure, while on-site they worked with SMAP The intent of the protocode is to verify and validate the instrument is in the science orbit in the spinning mode. Education and Public Outreach teams from JPL and GSFC to organize production science data products. Further, during the Analyses will continue in order to better determine speakers to give hyperwall presentations at the guest briefing. post-launch calibration/validation period for SMAP, the calibration coefficients as well as optimize the radio initial data will need to be analyzed in order to update frequency interference and detection algorithms. Dr. Mo- For more information and to follow the latest news on the SMAP various ancillary files to be used in processing, includ- hammed will continue to provide support to the science mission, please visit the mission page: http://smap.jpl.nasa.gov/. ing tables to be used in the RFI detection as well as data system at JPL to ensure product verification. mitigation parts of the algorithm. For various analyses Figure 1: TB of the Earth’s surface on April 18-21, 2015, vertical of the outputs of the L1B TB product as well as inter- polarization. Image provided by J. Peng.

6 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 7 has been successfully used for the radiometer instrument’s rithm adopted this method. Further, in order to better understand Mr. Cote has the primary responsibility for coordinating and draft- tions that have made outstanding achievements in science and health check after it was first turned on and for calibrating the ra- how the EPIC RGB images change under different circumstances, ing the Annual Atmospheric Research Report each year, which arts, and it recognizes benefits to mankind brought about by sci- diometer’s internal calibration source using Cold Sky Calibration. Dr. Yang simulated the behavior of the RGB images as a function summarizes all research and administrative activities carried entific innovation. A complete nomination package was prepared The SMAP radiometer is a fully polarimetric radiometer: besides of observation uncertainty, instrument noise, geolocation shift, out during the year. The 2014 draft report is approximately 125 and submitted to headquarters. NASA is allowed to recommend measuring the strength of the vertical/horizontal polarized sig- and channel biases. Results show that RGB images are more sen- pages. Various portions were written; material for other sections one candidate each year for this award. Dr. Newman’s nomina- nals, their correlation also is measured. Therefore, along with the sitive to geolocation shift than to noise perturbations of channel was collected and compiled from information provided by Labora- tion was approved by the NASA Administrator and forwarded to strength of the internal calibration source, the phase imbalances biases. This work is helpful in future image processing. tory scientists. The draft report was submitted to the TIMS group the Cultural Center committee. He also reviewed and submitted of the radiometer channels need to be characterized. Before and for editing, layout and printing. Final reports for all years can recommendations for two AGU Fellows nomination packages for Dr. Yang also developed a suite of software tools for EPIC data after launch, Dr. Peng successfully calibrated the internal noise be found at: www.atmospheres.gsfc.nasa.gov. The 2015 report W.-K. Tao and Lorraine Remer (former GSFC Scientist) respec- quality check, since data quality control is an important step source and the phase imbalances using pre- and post-launch test preparation is now underway. Also, science research highlights tively, plus a nomination for the American Geophysical Union/ in EPIC data processing. He conducted research on potential data. are prepared each month by the Atmospheric Laboratories and ASCENT Award for Gail Skofronick-Jackson. The nominations are methods for DSCOVR data quality check. Several indices are de- the Wallops Support Office. Mr. Cote reviewed and edited submis- based on outstanding accomplishments in their respective sci- Calibration and validation tools were developed in order for cal/ fined for this purpose, including channel ratios and cloud height sions for accuracy and format as well as persuasiveness to attract ence fields. Nomination packages consist of justifications, critical val activities to be able to assess the instrument’s precision and indices. Radiative transfer calculations were performed in order readers. Highlights were then forwarded to management for final background information and professional endorsements. These calibration stability, and to evaluate the accuracy and quality of to quantify the valid value range of these indices. Data values review and distribution to Goddard, NASA Headquarters and col- highly prestigious awards attest to the world-class quality of God- the data products generated by the science data software (SDS). that are out of the valid range can be defined as bad data: for leagues among universities and other science organizations. dard atmospheric scientists. He also reviewed a nomination for Dr. Peng developed several cal/val tools, one being the simplified example, one cloud index Dr. Yang developed for this purpose is the 2015 Goddard William Nordberg Award for Claire Parkinson, SMAP L1B forward brightness simulator. Before launch, in con- the cloud mask index. After the cloud mask index is applied, the The March-April 2015 issue of The Earth Observer Publication of which is the highest scientific award the Center offers. Further, junction with the Counts simulator, which simulates the radiom- cloudy part of the image will be used to calculate cloud height the Earth Observatory (EO) featured the Nimbus 50th anniversary he reviewed the promotion nominations for two senior scientists eter output with given antenna temperature and the L1A shell file, index, while the clear part will be for calculating the normalized event with summaries of all the presentations including introduc- (George Huffman and Scott Braun) and recommendations were the simplified SMAP simulator could generate simulated L1A data difference vegetation index (NDVI) overland. tions by Chris Scolese (Director, GSFC), Dr. Ellen Stofan (Chief made to strengthen the supporting justifications; both were products to test the radiometer L1B SDS, which generates the Scientist, NASA), Dr. Richard Spinrad (Chief Scientist, NOAA), and In June 2015, DSCOVR will open its door and start to make obser- eventually awarded. For the 2015 contractor awards process, L1B data product. These simulated L1A and L1B data products Rick Obenschain (Deputy Director, GSFC). Mr. Cote played a key vations. The DSCOVR RGB algorithm then will be applied to the announcement and schedule, Mr. Cote attended a planning were used to test all other cal/val tools. After launch, the simpli- role in planning and coordinating the event including recruiting observed data. Based on the performance of the code, Dr. Yang meeting convened by Dr. Steve Platnick. The awards are offered fied SMAP forward brightness simulator continues to generate speakers and preparing introductory remarks for speakers, as will continue making improvements to the software package. He annually for Best Senior Authored Publication and for outstanding modeled antenna temperature for other radiometer cal/val tools. well as preparing the list of invitees, the closing remarks and the will continue working with the DSCOVR Science Operation Center performance in multiple categories. The announcement has been Dr. Peng also developed the external calibration and drift correc- preparation of material for a Nimbus historical document. He on getting the RGB algorithm updates into the production line. He posted and nominations will be reviewed and recommendations tion cal/val tool, which is used to monitor the post-launch status served as MC for the event and also delivered a presentation on also will apply the DSCOVR data quality check algorithms to the will be submitted to management. At the Award Ceremony, which of the radiometer and for external calibration. the Nimbus Data Collection and Location Systems experiments observations, and based on the results, recommendations will be will be held in the fall of 2015, each winner will receive a plaque he managed in meteorology, oceanography and Search and made on EPIC data science applications. and appropriate recognition from the employee’s organization. CODE 586: SCIENCE DATA MANAGEMENT BRANCH Rescue (SAR). The SAR activities gave rise to global international operational satellite SAR systems that have saved over 17,000 Under this task, Dr. Richard Damoah (sponsor: C. Tucker) sup- Dr. Yuekui Yang (sponsor: K. Blank) worked on developing an CODE 610: EARTH SCIENCES DIVISION over the years. The accomplishments of the Nimbus program that ports the FDA’s interagency agreement between scientists at algorithm for generating RGB images from data observed by the influence the way we observe Earth today were presented by Ron FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CSFAN) and DSCOVR satellite. He delivered Version 2 of the DSCOVR-EPIC Mr. Charles Cote (sponsor: K. Mohr) fulfills several responsibili- Browning (Former Nimbus/Landsat Project Manager), Dr. Paul NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on designing, building and (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) RGB algorithm package to ties under this task, including, but not limited to, coordinating and Newman (Chief Scientist for Atmospheric Sciences), Dr. Jack Kaye operating a Geospatial Risk Assessment Model of environmental the DSCOVR Science Operation Center (DSOC). The earth’s RGB overseeing annual preparation and submission of IRAD (Internal (Associate Director for Research, Earth Science Division, NASA contamination of produce by enteric pathogens. The model in- image will be one of the most important products for the DSCOVR Research and Development) proposals, coordinating and prioritiz- Headquarters), Dr. Bill Smith (Professor Emeritus, University of corporates USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) mission. Last year, Dr. Yang delivered the first version of the RGB ing annual technical equipment proposals, recommending candi- Wisconsin – Madison), Dr. Gail Skofronick Jackson (Chief Meso- cropland map layer (impact layer), Feedlot, dairy and poultry loca- algorithm package; this year, based on the new knowledge of the dates for and preparing nominations for internal and external hon- scale Atmospheric Processes Laboratory and GPM Project Scien- tions (pathogen sources) and NCEP Rainfall and MODIS Vegeta- EPIC L1B data format, an updated version was developed. Written or awards and promotions, serving as evaluator of IRAD proposal tist), Chuck Cote (Former Nimbus Principal Investigator, USRA), tion Index (pathogen likelihood indicators). This will enable CFSAN in FORTRAN, the code reads the DSCOVR L1B radiance data, con- submissions, planning and allocating office and laboratory space Dr. Herb Jacobowitz (Former Nimbus Principal Investigator, NOAA to communicate to industry specific areas with the likelihood of verts the data into reflectances and generates the ready-to-dis- for 250 civil service and contractor employees, coordinating the (Retired)), Dr. Jeremy Werdell (Research Oceanographer, GSFC), environmental contamination of produce by E. Coli and Salmonel- play images. It processes the data based on whether a pixel is for Atmospheric Research annual progress and achievements report. and Tim Sinquefield, (SARSAT Operations Officer, NOAA). la where early surveillance investigations should be conducted. the earth, the moon or space, and the package was tested with As a member of the Earth Sciences Division Review Panel for The model is being designed and tested over California, where MODIS data as a proxy. To generate better RGB images, Dr. Yang 2014 Internal Research and Development (IRAD) proposals, Mr. Over this past year, Mr. Cote has been involved with a large ~80% of all produce consumed in the U.S. are grown. With Dr. conducted research on atmospheric Rayleigh correction methods. Cote attended IRAD proposal presentations followed by providing amount of awards and promotions, selections and processes. He Damoah’s expertise in meteorology and climate, his primary role Two Rayleigh correction methods have been tested, including the detailed evaluation and scoring of each proposal. Twelve propos- prepared the nomination package for the Albert Einstein World is to investigate the met/climatic variables associated with Patho- method that scales the reflectance at the red, green, and blue als were evaluated and scored and results were uploaded to the Award of Science for Dr. Paul Newman, Chief Scientist for the gen activity. Dr. Damoah also supports CHORI (Children’s Hospital channels and a two-layer model method. Results show the two- Center IRAD database. Subsequently, the IRAD panel convened Earth Sciences Division. This award is offered annually by the and Research Center at Oakland); this effort, led by Dr. Assaf Any- layer model method gives sharper RGB images and the EPIC algo- and prioritized all proposals. The priority order determined the World Cultural Center and pays tribute to individuals or institu- amba, is to investigate the burden of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) potential funding order pending review at the Center level. 8 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 9 Maggie Hurwitz, a 2013-2014 AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), visits USAID grantees in southern Israel. Photo Credit: M. Hurwitz

plans include ongoing updates to the system he con- Hurwitz organized a meeting with the project co-investigators, Dr. and various halogenated species. Most studies were of individual structed for the analysis of ARC rainfall data as part of Steven Pawson (GMAO), Dr. Lazaros Oreopolous (Code 613) and species; of note, there was no mention of modeling HFCs in a cli- the vector-borne diseases study in Kenya. Dr. Eli Mlawer (Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER)). mate model, reinforcing the value of the planned HFC simulations Dr. Mlawer agreed to incorporate approximately six new species with the GEOSCCM and GSFC 2D model. At the Interdisciplinary Seminar at the Biology Depart- (HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFC-143a and CF4) into ment of Morgan State University in September 2014, AER’s radiation code, since Mr. Fleming showed that this code Work performed by Dr. Leslie Lait (sponsor: P. Newman) centers Dr. Damoah spoke on Climate Change: Does the Loca- appropriately models the radiative response to the major green- on investigating the dynamical context of atmospheric measure- tion and Season of NOx Emission Matter? On Febru- house gases and ozone–depleting substances. The NASA ACMAP ments, to aid in their interpretation. Data from a wide variety ary 6, 2015, Dr. Damoah was among the speakers for and MAP program managers, Drs. Newman and Hurwitz held a of sources are analyzed with an emphasis on using techniques Climate Change 101 at the School of Architecture and teleconference to confirm the funding for this task. Dr. Hurwitz that assist in combining disparate data sources to yield a unified Planning at MSU, where he spoke on Global Climate and co-investigators collected and sent preparatory information to picture of the whole. Specifically, investigations examine the use Change and the Associated Impact. He also contrib- AER about the six fluorinated species, including atmospheric pro- of quasi-conserved quantities (such as potential vorticity and uted to Dr. Anyamba’s presentation at the FDA as part files and maximum expected surface concentrations. Mr. Fleming potential temperature) as coordinates to construct composite of the development of a Geospatial Risk Assessment and Dr. Hurwitz will run and analyze sensitivity simulations with fields of atmospheric constituents that can be mapped back into Model of environmental contamination of produce by new RRTMG code in spring and summer 2015. These simulations real-space. In addition, support is provided to aircraft field experi- enteric pathogens. In the months ahead, Dr. Damoah will investigate the radiative impacts of HFCs and other key fluori- ments, including the use of forecasts and modeling results to aid will continue his analysis of RH and pathogen detec- nated species using various emissions scenarios. in planning aircraft flights to maximize the scientific return and Margaret Hurwitz, AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow tion as part of FDA’s Geospatial Risk Assessment test the feasibility of various flight path scenarios. For the third Model of environmental contamination by pathogens. Dr. Hurwitz analyzed existing coupled ocean-atmosphere and final science campaign of the Hurricane and Severe Storm From September 2013 through November 2014, Dr. Hurwitz served GEOSCCM simulations, testing the climate and ozone sensitiv- Sentinel (HS3) field experiment staged from NASA’s Wallops as an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow with the Middle Over the past year, Dr. Damoah has developed several ity to doubled CO2 and elevated HCFC-22, and planned further Flight Facility from August 18 through September 25, 2014, Dr. East Regional Cooperation (MERC) program at the U.S. Agency for collaborations. Along with the Department of Indus- GEOSCCM sensitivity simulations with Dr. Feng Li. Meanwhile, Lait provided preparation and flight planning support. Prepara- International Development (USAID). MERC, a grants program, funds trial and System Engineering and the Department Dr. Li tested the existing RRTMG radiation code in the Ganymed tions included packing equipment and initiating arrangements for joint Arab-Israeli scientific research. MERC research supports regional of Civil engineering at MSU, Dr. Damoah submitted version of the GEOS-5 atmospheric model within GEOSCCM. The shipment to Wallops and participating in teleconferences. On-site problem-solving, builds capacity in the Arab world and contributes to two proposals to the ASCEND Pilot Research Project existing RRTGM code does not include HFC species and its perfor- field mission support involved planning science flights: evaluat- Arab-Israeli diplomacy and peace-building. Dr. Hurwitz’s duties included Grant and DOD’s Research and Education Program for mance has not been thoroughly evaluated. Drs. Hurwitz and Li will ing various scenarios for timing and feasibility, and determining reading and reviewing research proposals, responding to inquiries from HBCU/MI. He also is collaborating with MSU’s Center carry out a serious of simulations with the updated RRTMG radia- way points and dropsonde locations. From the resulting plans, Dr. applicants and grantees, recruiting reviewers, attending conferences, for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Educa- tion to assess the model climatology and the impacts of HFCs on Lait prepared materials for the flight crew (including high-altitude events, interagency meetings and team meetings, giving presentations, tion on NASA’s project on Maryland HBCU Pre-Service simulated climate and climate change. meteorological forecasts) and the leading mission scientists, and interpreting U.S., foreign and agency policy in the context of the MERC Teacher STEM Institute Training Network. Dr. Damoah he uploaded descriptive files to the project’s web-based collabora- program, and planning site visits to the Middle East. Dr. Hurwitz visited and MSU’s Mathematics Department have collabo- Dr. Hurwitz participated in many publications and presenta- tive tools web site for use by all participants. In addition, he used MERC grantees in Israel, Jordan, Egypt and the West Bank. In addition, rated on the CCICADA Climate Change Malaria Project. tions over this past year. One lead author manuscript about the meteorological forecasts to model the fuel temperature on the as an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow, Dr. Hurwitz attended He also is collaborating with All Nations University atmospheric response to El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was aircraft, to avoid dangerously cold regions in which the fuel could numerous professional development and networking events. Early in College in Ghana on Satellite Technology and Appli- published in Climate Dynamics, and she also contributed to two be prone to freezing. He also assisted in revising the flight paths 2015, Dr. Hurwitz gave presentations about her fellowship experience at cations, as well as with the Ghana Space Agency on manuscripts, which are currently in varying stages. Her work con- in real time during flight to adjust for the movement of the tropical NASA Goddard and NASA Headquarters. Climate Impact on Agriculture. tributed to two poster presentations given at the 2014 European storm systems being examined. In addition, he set up and main- Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly, Vienna, Austria in tained the computer systems used for flight planning. Dr. Margaret Hurwitz (sponsor: P. Newman) analyzes May, as well as an oral presentation given at the 2015 European and Dengue virus (DENV) transmission, infection and disease and models the impact of sea surface temperature Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly, Vienna, Austria in Because of the lack of an over-storm aircraft during the Wallops in Kenya. Dr. Damoah’s role in CHORI is to extract, process and variability on the ozone layer. She has been working on “Under- April. Dr. Hurwitz and co-investigators have submitted an abstract Island deployment, HS3 project management arranged for a analyze NOAA’s ARC (African Rainfall Climatology) rainfall data standing the Role of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in Climate and to the 11th International Conference on Southern Hemisphere partial extension of the mission in combination with the Tropical at the study locations and make the data available to the project Stratospheric Modification”, a NASA ACMAP-funded project, since Meteorology and Oceanography (ICSHMO), to be held in October Cyclone Intensity (TCI) mission of the Office of Naval Research members. This past year, Dr. Damoah and Dr. Anyamba traveled June 2013. This project investigates the atmospheric impacts of 2015 in Santiago, Chile. In June 2014, she attended the AGU Sci- (ONR) in the Department of Defense. Consequently, some of the to Kenya to survey and familiarize themselves with the study sites hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) using two chemistry-climate models: ence Policy Conference, which focused on policy related to natural over-storm instruments that were to have been used in the over- for an ongoing study on the burden of Dengue and Chikungunya the computationally efficient NASA GSFC 2D model and a fully resources, natural hazards and climate change. Dr. Hurwitz also storm Global Hawk were transferred to the NASA WB-57 aircraft vector-borne diseases in Kenya. This 5-year study is funded by coupled ocean-atmosphere version of the Goddard Earth Observ- attended the Seventh International Symposium on Non-CO2 and flown during test flights of the ONR’s new dropsonde system. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Drs. Damoah and Anyamba ing System Chemistry-Climate Model (GEOSCCM). (Dr. Hurwitz Greenhouse Gases in November 2014 in Amsterdam. Climate From October 1 through November 20, Dr. Lait provided remote are providing climate data and analysis support for the project. contributed a small amount of time to this project during her policy experts gave a European perspective on climate mitiga- support from GSFC for these flights, which involved assisting in The purpose of the field visit was to inspect the meteorological AAAS fellowship – see sidebar; meanwhile, Dr. Feng Li, Dr. Paul tion and the IPCC AR5 synthesis report, energy policy, and best planning flight paths (including estimating time intervals) and par- instruments currently in operation and make recommendations Newman and Mr. Eric Fleming prepared the models for planned agricultural practices. Speakers stressed the need for short-term, ticipating in mission teleconferences. He also updated the aircraft to their viability. In addition, they determined the optimal grid-size simulations.) An important step in this project is the incorpora- drastic measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to performance characteristics of the WB-57 in the flight planning for extraction of satellite-derived rainfall estimates for comparison tion of key fluorinated species into the RRTMG radiation code, meet future climate targets. Researchers presented atmospheric software. Dr. Lait participated in the HS3 Science Team meeting with rain gauge data measured at the four study sites. Future to be run in both the GSFC 2D model and in the GEOSCCM. Dr. measurements and modeling studies of methane, nitrous oxide held at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Califor-

10 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 11 nia, May 4-9, 2015. another project to discuss using the software in that experiment, federal agencies, SISCG, and INCA plan for a successful Fourth remote sensing community. To this end, she is organizing an oral and added the ability to view certain shapefiles. In July 2014, NCA report. During the 2014 American Geophysical Union Fall symposium on local to regional-scale conservation and a remote Dr. Lait incorporated into his model of Global Hawk fuel tem- Dr. Lait submitted a proposal to the ROSES AIST opportunity to Meeting, Dr. Leidner was an invited speaker in a session on “Cli- sensing training session at the International Congress for Conser- peratures several new days of flight data from last year’s ATTREX develop a new web-based version of the flight planning software. mate Literacy: The National Climate Assessment as a Resource vation Biology this summer. She also will continue to help to guide Guam deployment, and obtained data from previous Global Hawk Although not selected for funding under that program, the idea for Decision-Making and Education at Multiple Scales”, where the NCA process as plans are implemented for the next quadren- missions. The model worked well for all but two flights. Further was seen as having merit by another manager at NASA Headquar- she presented on NASA’s contributions to the NCA. She also co- nial assessment and other sustained assessment activities. She investigation indicates that suspicious fuel load readings are the ters, who is now providing funding for the work under the GESTAR organized and co-chaired an oral and poster session on climate will participate in USGCRP working groups and work with ESD cause for those two days’ discrepancies. He attended the ATTREX task. Accordingly, Dr. Lait began writing a design document for the indicators and gave a hyperwall presentation at the NASA exhibit program and senior managers to coordinate assessment activi- science team meeting in Boulder, CO, October 19-24, where he new software, and began writing a module and unit tests for doing booth. Finally, Dr. Leidner spoke on a discussion panel about ties, as well as help define a strategy for NASA’s participation in participated in planning discussions for the joint ATTREX/CAST navigational calculations. During the HS3 Science Team meeting careers in science policy. the NCA in the year ahead. deployment scheduled for February-March 2015. In preparation at NASA’s Ames Research Center (May 4-9, 2015), he met with Dr. Feng Li (sponsor: P. Newman) conducts research on the inter- for the 2015 ATTREX/CAST field deployment, Dr. Lait revised the Ames personnel who also will be working on the project. Work Dr. Leidner supports the Biodiversity and Ecological Forecasting action of stratosphere and troposphere, particularly as it relates way that the Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Lab obtains continued on developing object-oriented routines for handling programs in a variety of ways. One major activity was coordinat- to the interaction of the ocean and the stratospheric ozone layer. and extracts GEOS5 meteorological forecasts and analysis data meteorological data in the IDL language, as well as revising the ing NASA’s involvement in the 2014 World Parks Congress. This Using the GEOS-5 model with coupled ocean and interactive for local use. The new method, which uses locally-developed work- gigatraj trajectory model. Congress is a once-a-decade meeting convened by the IUCN flow software, is much more robust in the face of disruptions and (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), the world’s stratospheric chemistry as the main tool, Dr. Li investigates how late model runs. From February 25 through March 15, Dr. Lait was Dr. Lait continued work on a new and updated set of programs for largest conservation organization, that brings together leaders atmosphere-ocean coupling affects the stratosphere, and how on-site at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California auditing local compliance with the NASA-adopted CIS benchmarks in protected area management. In cooperation with EOSPSO and the stratospheric ozone change affects climate in the troposphere to participate in the ATTREX/CAST field experiment, where his for IT security. He assisted in renewing web site registrations and others, she organized NASA exhibit activities that included select- and ocean. Another objective of his research is to improve our main duties involved planning science flights: evaluating vari- obtaining new SSL certificates to replace expiring certificates. ing hyperwall speakers, developing handouts about NASA data understanding of stratospheric dynamic and transport processes. ous scenarios for timing, solar angles, and feasibility, as well as He revised software to handle local software upgrades and as- products, and planning a book release. She also gave several It has been well recognized that stratospheric ozone depletion determining way points. As with the HS3 campaign, he prepared sisted with the migration of Lab printers onto a new printers-only hyperwall talks for scientists, students, and the public during the plays an essential role in driving climate change in the Southern materials for the flight crew and the leading mission scientists, virtual network. Additionally, he created new local rule sets for meeting and public festival. Additionally, she spoke with Con- Hemisphere. To date, many climate models prescribe the evolu- and uploaded descriptive files to the project’s web-based collab- the “modsecurity” web server security software, tested them, and gress VIPs such as Sylvia Earl (National Geographic Explorer), the tions of the stratospheric ozone layer using monthly and zonally orative tools web site for use by all participants. Dr. Lait also as- made the software operational in the Atmospheric Chemistry and Honorable Maggie Barry (New Zealand Minister of Conservation), averaged ozone field; however, the prescribed ozone underesti- sisted in revising the flight paths in real time during flight to adjust Dynamics Laboratory’s web site. Tom Friedman (New York Times reporter) and the Honorable Sally mates Antarctic ozone depletion and lacks zonal asymmetries. for meteorological conditions encountered. In addition, he set up Barnes (Director, Australian National Parks) about NASA science. Dr. Li investigates the impacts of using interactive stratospheric and maintained the computer systems used for flight planning. Dr. Allison Leidner (sponsor: J. Richards) has two main areas Finally, she coordinated social media releases between NASA and of responsibility with the Earth Science Division (ESD) at NASA the Word Parks Congress about NASA activities. chemistry, instead of prescribed ozone, on simulations of climate Dr. Lait analyzed data from NASA’s DC-8 aircraft during the recent Headquarters. First, she leads NASA’s involvement with the Na- change in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. Two sets of en- SEAC4RS experiment, with the aim of characterizing recent air- tional Climate Assessment (NCA) by representing NASA on various The second major activity was serving as a leader for the Carbon semble transient simulations of 1960-2010 were conducted with craft performance. Parameters related to this aircraft were then interagency working groups at the U.S. Global Change Research Cycle and Ecosystems (CC&E) 4th Joint Science Workshop (JSW). the coupled ocean version of the GEOS-5: one with interactive adjusted in the flight planner software to make it as realistic as Program (GRCP) and by working within ESD to coordinate assess- The CC&E JSW is triennial meeting of the CC&E focus areas stratospheric chemistry and the other with prescribed ozone. possible. He then created several flight plans using the DC-8 for ment-relevant activities. She also provides a variety of support (biodiversity, ecological forecasting, terrestrial ecology, ocean Comparing climate trends in 1979-2010 between the interactive the ATom (Atmospheric Tomography) field experiment, scheduled for activities within the Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems (CC&E) Focus biology and biogeochemistry, land use and land cover change, chemistry and prescribe ozone simulations revealed that interac- to take place in multiple deployments over the next few years. Area, especially with the Biodiversity and Ecological Forecasting and agriculture programs) that brings together the NASA research tive chemistry has important effects on climate change not only These plans worked out several options for flights in the high Programs. Dr. Leidner is NASA’s representative on the USGCRP community in an interdisciplinary setting to discuss program ac- in the Antarctic stratosphere, troposphere and surface, but also in northern latitudes. He also created several meteorological and Interagency National Climate Assessment (INCA) Working Group complishments and develop future plans. The 2015 meeting took the Southern Ocean and Antarctic sea ice. The interactive chem- chemical plots for these flight plans, to aid in the discussion of ad- and serves as the primary point of contact for the agency’s NCA place April 20-24, 2015 in College Park, MD. Dr. Leidner led the istry simulations produce stronger cooling in the Antarctic lower ditional options, and he participated in planning teleconferences activities. In this role, she briefs ESD senior managers and coor- steering committee that identified the meeting themes, plenary stratosphere and stronger circumpolar westerly acceleration from for the mission. dinates NASA-funded research activities conducted in support of speakers, breakout topics, keynote speakers, and other special stratosphere to surface during November-December-January. The the NCA. Furthermore, she is a member of the USGCRP Scenarios events to take place during the meeting, including a panel discus- significantly stronger trends in surface wind-stress cause a larger Several enhancements were made to the current version of the and Interpretive Science Coordinating Group (SISCG), which sion on uncertainty characterization, a student mentoring lunch, increase of the Southern Ocean Meridional Overturning Circula- locally-developed software for planning science flights for field organized two workshops in June 2014. The first was focused on and student/early career poster speed talks. Approximately 450 tion, which leads to year-round stronger warming near the ocean experiments. Dr. Lait added the ability to make color-coded and developing population scenarios and the second on developing scientists from NASA, other federal agencies, and the academic surface and a large decrease in Antarctic sea ice. He presented color-filled contour plots of meteorological data, to customize land use/land cover change scenarios for the United States. For community attended. these results at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting and the 17th AMS color tables for plots, and to plot data on logarithmic scales. For the latter meeting, she gave opening remarks, chaired sessions, Middle Atmosphere Conference, and will submit a related manu- HS3, he added a new map display with a better, more intuitive participated in an hour-long question and answer session, and This past year, Dr. Leidner advanced her professional develop- script. user interface. For ATTREX, he added more features to the solar facilitated four 90-minute breakout groups. She also participated ment by taking a three-day workshop on Team Leadership offered The Goddard Earth Observing System - Coupled Atmosphere- zenith angle display and incorporated forecast products from in numerous conversations, strategy meetings, and workshops through NASA headquarters, as well as a half-day workshop on Ocean-Chemistry Climate Model (GEOS-AOCCM) has been updat- the European MACC (Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and to help frame the climate scenarios to be used in the next NCA communicating climate change. In the coming year, she will ed with new atmosphere and ocean components. This updated Climate) project. Predictions of the sampling locations of the OCO- report. The decision documents and white papers to which she continue working with the Biodiversity and Ecological Forecasting model has made significant improvements in reducing errors 2 satellite also were added. Dr. Lait met with a researcher from is contributing and leading will allow the USGCRP, leaders from programs, especially by serving as a liaison to the conservation in the previously version of the model, particularly in the North 12 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 13 over Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes. Seasonal varia- results were presented at the SEAC4RS science meeting in Pasa- working group on Climate Resilient International Development tions in the air-mass fractions above 700 hPa reveal that, dena, CA (Apr 30-May 3, 2015). (Executive Order 13677) to implement climate screening by FY16 during the boreal winter, air from midlatitudes originates across all federal funding of overseas aid. USGCRP has begun its primarily over the oceans. By comparison, during summer, Dr. Liang has completed new GEOS-5 model simulations with legislatively mandated process to update the 2012-2022 strate- midlatitude air originates primarily over land, overwhelm- additional model resolutions with finer vertical and temporal gic plan; Dr. Lipschultz is the lead author for Goal 3: Sustained ingly so over Asia and to a lesser extent over North America. resolutions for more meaningful comparisons with SEAC4RS and Assessment and for Objective 1.4: Integrated Modeling. Both Seasonal variations in the air-mass fractions are interpreted ATTREX observations and more accurate lifetime estimates. These activities have a demanding timeline that will continue into fall in terms of changes in the large-scale ventilation of the mid- model results were provided to Prof. Steve Wofsy (Harvard Univ.) 2015. latitude boundary layer and the midlatitude tropospheric jet. and Dr. Jasna Pittman (Harvard Univ.), and part of these results were presented by Prof. Wofsy and Dr. Pittman at the SEAC4RS He also supports translating the recent U.S. experience in climate The front cover image of the June 2014 issue of Reviews of science meeting in Pasadena, CA. This collaboration will continue assessment to the AMAP working group in preparation for the Geophysics is a figure from Dr. Li’s paper “Long-term chang- in the coming year regarding analyzing the model’s CO2-ODS upcoming U.S. chairmanship of the Arctic Council. The focus is es in stratospheric age spectra in the 21st century in the correlations to quantify the lifetimes of these substances. Further improving the Arctic Adaptation to Climate Assessment (AACA) GEOSCCM”. Figure 1 shows the mean age of stratospheric work on this project will include new model simulations with the report that is due in 2017 by coordinating with other Federal enti- air and its projected changes in the 21st century simulated GEOS-5 Ganymed version. ties (IARPC, ARC) as well as USGCRP member agencies, assisting by the GEOSCCM. with development of the Bering, Chukchi, Beaufort regional re- Dr. Fredric Lipschultz (sponsor: J. Richards) broadly coordinates port, and acting as advisor to the executive integration team that Dr. Qing Liang (sponsor: P. Newman) conducts 3-D Chem- Federal climate activities, especially the sustained climate as- guides the entire AACA process. In addition to modifying NCA3 istry Climate Model and 2-box model simulations for CCl4 sessment, that support regional science needs and activities guidance documents and experience in reaching a wider audi- and performs budget analyses to under sources and sinks within USGCRP, while actively interacting with other USGCRP ence via online approaches, Dr. Lipschultz has attended meetings of CCl4. She evaluates the modeled stratospheric represen- leaders to meet the broader goals of the program. In addition, in Seattle, Ottawa and Oslo to work directly with authors and the tation of CCl4 in these simulations with balloon, aircraft, he supports the U.S. Head of Delegation to the Arctic Council’s Figure 1, from a paper by F. Li; figure credit F. Li. AMAP Secretariat. and satellite observations, and conducts analyses to derive Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), bringing global emissions and to examine the impact of hemispheric expertise from the U.S. sustained assessment process to bear on Over the next year, Dr. Lipschultz will continue developing the Atlantic sea surface temperature and salinity. Dr. Li has started a emission distribution and ocean loss. Of great interest this AMAP programs. sustained assessment process within USGCRP while also contrib- control simulation in perpetual 1950 conditions with the updated past year were the results from Dr. Liang’s 40-year 3-D global uting to the Updated Strategic Plan for USGCRP. Working across model. In the coming year, Dr. Li will continue to investigate the model simulation of CCl4, which provided the best current under- The major accomplishment this past year was the release of the the Federal agencies, he will continue to lead the climate projec- effects of stratospheric ozone recovery on Southern Hemisphere standing of CCl4 emissions and lifetime estimates. These model Third NCA Report. Dr. Lipschultz was responsible for coordinating tions task team for the CRT and to implement climate screening climate change in the 21st century using GEOS-AOCCM simula- results were evaluated against ground-based and aircraft mea- 10 of 30 chapters and authored two chapters of this highly influ- for international development in response to EO13677. He will tions. He will conduct three sets of ensemble simulations from surements. Dr. Liang also has begun a new model CCl4 capabil- ential report. He received an Award for Excellence from the Office continue to act as an advisor to the U.S. Head of Delegation to 2010 - 2100 in order to identify the relative roles of greenhouse ity, including the implementation of regional tagged CCl4 tracers of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) at the White House for AMAP, focusing on developing the AACA report by the end of the gas increase and ozone-depleting substance decrease in driving to track emissions from different regions, e.g., North America, his work, gave 15 presentations on different aspects to varied au- U.S. chairmanship of the Arctic Council. the climate change in the Southern Hemisphere’s atmosphere Europe, East Asia, South Asia, and the Southern Hemisphere. diences and helped organize several meetings about the report. and the Southern Ocean. Additionally, Dr. Li will continue to col- Related work included the steering committee for the organiza- As USGCRP transitions its focus from producing the report to a Dr. Benjamin Marchant (sponsor: S. Platnick) works on the laborate with Dr. Margaret Hurwitz to integrate HFC radiation into tion of the SPARC CCl4 workshop, formed by Dr. Liang, Dr. Paul more sustained process, Dr. Lipschultz also shifted his empha- development of new algorithms to continue improving the cloud the GEOS-AOCCM. He will conduct control and sensitivity simula- Newman (GSFC) and Dr. Stefan Reimann (Empa). This workshop sis from report-related activities. He recently initiated, planned optical products of instruments such as MODIS, VIIRS, eMAS, etc. tions to investigate the impacts of HFCs on stratosphere, particu- on “Solving the mystery of Carbon Tetrachloride (CTC)” will be held and ran a 25-person workshop to discuss coordinated climate Over this past year, he implemented a new cloud phase classifica- larly stratospheric ozone recovery. Another collaboration with in Zurich, Switzerland in October 2015 and will involve all aspects outlooks across Federal agencies and now leads the interagency tion algorithm for the MODIS Collection 6, which also has been Dr. Judith Perlwitz (CIRES, University of Colorado) will continue in of topics that are pertinent to the CCl4 budget problem (i.e., emis- team in developing the ‘climate outlooks’ component of the applied to the NPP/VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer which they investigate the impacts of atmosphere-ocean coupling sions, loss processes, observations and global modeling). Work Climate Resilience Toolkit. He actively participates in a range of Suite) instrument with success. He developed geo-colocation on stratospheric processes from daily to annual timescales in the will continue regarding use the CCl4 tagged tracers to track emis- meetings to plan and implement aspects of the sustained assess- codes to compare MODIS cloud optical products against CALIOP Northern Hemisphere. sions from different regions (i.e., North America, Asia, European). ment and the next quadrennial report due in 2018, as well as re- and POLDER cloud products. Those comparisons studies have These tracers will be used to analyze the seasonal variations of lated meetings to understand how the NCA3 report is being used shown a substantial improvement of the MODIS cloud phase Dr. Li co-authored a paper (Orbe, et al.) that has been accepted CCl4 concentrations at NOAA GMD/AGAGE surface monitoring across the nation. To coordinate with NASA, he participates in products as compared to MODIS collection 5 (see Figure 1, which by Journal of Climate. This study presents the first climatology of stations to a refined quantification of CCl4 regional emissions. weekly meetings with NASA HQ about NCA activities and monthly is from “MODIS Collection 6 shortwave-derived cloud phase clas- air-mass origin in the Arctic in terms of rigorously defined air-mass briefings with all NASA HQ staff involved in USGCRP activities. sification algorithm and comparisons with CALIOP”, Marchant et fractions that partition air according to where it last contacted the Dr. Liang also worked closely with her sponsor in analyzing CCl4 al., to be submitted). This work was presented at the 2014 AGU planetary boundary layer (PBL). Results from a present-day cli- measurements collected during the SEAC4RS aircraft missions. Dr. Lipschultz also coordinates USGCRP and NASA efforts related Fall Meeting. Also, Dr. Marchant’s research included the develop- mate integration of the Goddard Earth Observing System Chemis- By analyzing these measurements along with other trace gas to climate assessment with other Administration-led and partner ment and implementation of new techniques based on machine try Climate Model (GEOSCCM) reveal that the majority of air in the measurements, they aimed to identify U.S. local emission sources agency efforts, especially in areas such as climate adaptation and learning (such as the SVM support vector machine and Bayesian Arctic below 700 hPa last contacted the PBL poleward of 60°N. that were sampled by the DC8 and ER2 aircraft. These analysis scenario development. He actively participates in the interagency Networks) and image processing tools to continue improving the By comparison, about 60% of the air above 700 hPa originates

14 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 15 ATBD/User Guide as well as the MODIS Atmosphere the cloud retrievals, assuming no aerosols are present above- and the data from field observations, etc. web page. cloud, have been compared with the operational MODIS cloud product (MOD06), and are shown to correlate well with near-zero Dr. Yasunari and colleagues have continued to update their snow Dr. Meyer provided continued scientific and analyti- bias. In addition, the above-cloud absorbing aerosol retrievals impurity module, GOSWIM, from the Fortuna 2.5 version of GEOS- cal support towards implementing a common cloud correlate well with CALIOP for select case studies, though the 5 to the latest version. Some test simulations at each step of the property retrieval algorithm (MODAWG) to MODIS retrieved aerosol optical thickness (AOT) is larger than CALIOP. GOSWIM updates were carried out with the Ganymed version; and VIIRS. He created images and comparison plots This bias has been confirmed via a comparison using that eight however, the latest version of GEOS-5 is now the Heracles ver- for select collocated case studies for evaluating years of collocated CALIOP observations. However, it should be sion. Therefore, they recently decided to start work on GOSWIM MODAWG performance and retrieval differences noted that the biases are consistent with previous investigations in a Heracles version, merging the GOSWIM components to the between the two sensors. Ongoing efforts to resolve comparing passive retrievals to the CALIOP aerosol product. Heracles version of GEOS-5. retrieval differences are underway via close collabo- ration with colleagues at the University of Wiscon- The entire Aqua (2003-2014) and Terra (2000-2014) MODIS Over the past year, Dr. Yasunari and his co-workers presented on sin - Madison. For the SEAC4RS field campaign, he 5km sub-sampled data record has been used to create a regional relevant topics on the Snow Darkening Effect (SDE) at the Young provided support for the eMAS calibration efforts that cloud and above-cloud absorbing aerosol climatology over the Scientist Forum in June 2014, at the Workshop on Perspectives have included eMAS reflectance comparisons with southeast Atlantic Ocean during the months of June through in Computational Climate Science and the 7th OFES International collocated Terra and Aqua MODIS for select satellite October. This climatology was created for two aerosol model Workshop in October 2014, at the 2014 Autumn Meeting of Me- under-flights, as well as comparisons with ground- assumptions, namely a model derived from in situ observations teorological Society of Japan, and at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting in based vicarious calibration efforts post-campaign. He during the SAFARI-2000 field campaign and a model based on the December 2014. He also co-authored a review paper (especially assisted with finalizing the eMAS operational cloud operational MODIS aerosol product (MOD04) absorbing aerosol on the modeling part) on light-absorbing particles in snow and retrieval algorithms (MAS06) for the official produc- model, and illustrates the sensitivity to aerosol model choices. ice led by Dr. Yun Qian (PNNL), that was published in Advances tion of the eMAS SEAC4RS cloud products. In late in Atmospheric Sciences (Qian et al., 2015). Also, Dr. Yasunari 2014, the SEAC4RS eMAS calibration was finalized, Dr. Meyer has submitted a manuscript detailing the MODIS multi- and his NASA colleagues carried out ten-year by ten-ensemble spectral cloud and above-cloud absorbing aerosol retrieval to GEOS-5/GOSWIM simulations for both non-SDE and SDE cases Fig. 1: Comparisons MODIS C5 (a) & C6 (b) against CALIOP cloud phase and the SEAC4RS L2 cloud products were expected to Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres. The manuscript to discuss the fundamental role of SDE in boreal spring climate, screening out mulitlayer clouds (PAF: phase agreement fraction defined as the be released the week of April 20, 2015. In addition, describes the retrieval methodology, and provides case study and summarized the results in a paper that is currently in review fraction of pixels where both CALIOP and MODIS are agree on the total amount a draft version of a paper detailing a new thin cirrus results, uncertainty analyses, a comparison with CALIOP, gridded with Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres (Yasunari et of cloudy pixels. Image Credit: B. Marchant retrieval using spectral reflectance measurements within the 1.88µm water vapor absorption band has multi-year statistics, and preliminary cloudy sky direct radiative al.); this also was introduced in a two-minute presentation at the cloud optical products. He has given two related presentations, been completed. effect calculations. After peer reviews and revisions, this manu- Town Hall Meeting at NASA/GSFC in December 2014. Finally, Dr. one at the NASA Climate Branch Seminar in February 2015 and script is back under review with JGR-Atmospheres. Additionally, Yasunari and his collaborators have worked on revising the paper one at UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) in April Dr. Meyer has developed a hyperspectral radiative transfer (RT) Dr. Meyer presented on the cloud/above-cloud aerosol retrieval at on comparisons of total dust deposition flux during precipitation 2015. tool based on the well-known DISORT algorithm. This RT tool will the 14th AMS Conference on Radiation and Cloud Physics in July between observations and GEOS-5 simulations in Toyama, Japan, be used by the MODIS Cloud Research Group in ongoing efforts 2014, at the 2014 CALIPSO-CloudSat Science Team Meeting in in the spring of 2009. Their revised paper was resubmitted to Under this task, Dr. Kerry Meyer (sponsor: S. Platnick) works to- for PACE, as well as for the newly-developed PICARD (Pushbroom November 2014, and at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting in December Atmospheric Research and is now in revision. ward improving current MODIS cloud retrieval capabilities for thin Imager for Cloud and Aerosol Research and algorithm Develop- 2014. An Aerocenter seminar also was presented in March 2015 cirrus optical property retrievals using the 1.38 micron channel, in ment) airborne hyperspectral instrument. in which he discussed algorithm details and the results included Dr. Jerald Ziemke (sponsor: P. Newman) has several objectives addition to general scientific and analytical support for the GSFC in the manuscript submitted to JGR-A. related to this task: (1) to develop a long-record (1979-current) cloud retrieval efforts for MODIS (MOD06), VIIRS (MODAWG), Dr. Kerry Meyer (Program Manager: Dr. D. Considine) also works of tropospheric and stratospheric ozone by combining measure- PACE, SEVIRI (SEV06), and airborne eMAS (MAS06). This past on a NASA-funded three-year grant. As PI, Dr. Meyer is focused on Dr. Teppei Yasunari (sponsor: K.-M. Kim) conducts the data ments from TOMS and OMI, (2) to reprocess OMI/MLS ozone year, he continued to provide scientific and analytical support developing a technique to simultaneously retrieve marine bound- analysis and modeling studies of the impacts of light absorbing measurements using OMTO3 v9 total ozone for OMI and MLS for the MODIS Collection 6 cloud products (MOD06), specifically ary layer liquid phase cloud optical and microphysical properties, aerosols (LAA) such as dust, black carbon (BC) and organic car- v4.2 ozone profile data upon availability and validate these with helping to identify and resolve retrieval methodology issues as well as the optical properties of an above-cloud absorbing bon (OC), on the changes of snow-related variables (called snow fields using ozonesondes and satellite measurements, (3) to use and public product oversights (e.g., datasets not previously pro- aerosol layer, using multiple MODIS spectral reflectance measure- darkening effect, SDE) and on climate via feedbacks between the Code 614 GMI model and free-running CCM and our ozone vided), and assisting with data analysis as a means to enhance ments, evaluating the retrieval with collocated CALIOP aerosol the atmosphere and the land surface in the Asian monsoon and datasets to study ozone from short to decadal time scales, (4) to our scientific understanding of the cloud products. Dr. Meyer retrievals, and investigating the direct radiative effects of above- Eurasian regions. While his research is focused on the Eurasian determine impact of stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) on co-authored a paper that details the frequency and causes of cloud absorbing aerosols. In his research, Dr. Meyer modified the continent, including Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau regions, he tropospheric ozone, (5) to quantify the strengths and weaknesses MOD06 failed cloud optical and microphysical property retrievals; cloud/above-cloud aerosol retrieval solution logic to avoid cases may expand this research to other regions in the cryospheric of four ozone products: Cloud Slicing, trajectory mapping, data this paper was accepted for publication in Journal of Geophysical where the retrieval fails to properly converge. Additional uncer- parts of the world. He developed a model known as GOddard assimilation, and direct profile retrieval, (6) to evaluate ENSO and Research-Atmospheres in April 2015. He also continued to help tainty components, namely those due to cloud model (i.e., cloud SnoW Impurity Module (GOSWIM), a new snow impurity module the Madden-Julian Oscillation and shorter timescale variability with editing and content decisions for the MOD06 User Guide; a particle size distribution effective variance) and aerosol model to incorporate the SDE into the land surface model in the NASA for their effects on ozone, (7) to perform algorithm maintenance “beta” version was made publicly available in September 2014, errors, as well as cloud top altitude errors, are now included in the GEOS-5. His current task is to estimate the SDE impact on climate and improvements to the trajectory mapped ozone products, and and he participated in drafting a webinar presentation for the retrieval uncertainty estimates. The retrieval has been evaluated via its feedbacks between the atmosphere and land over the re- (8) to write journal papers relating to our research of the mea- C6 roll-out. He also completed drafts of FAQ sections for MOD06 using eight years of MODIS and CALIOP observations. Specifically, gions above by means of GOSWIM in NASA GEOS-5, satellite data, surements and models. This past year, Dr. Ziemke’s work and and the MOD08 L3 global gridded product, to be included in the 16 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 17 research has resulted in several publications and presentations. humidity. The assimilation runs are either of one-quarter- or one- published a paper about this work in ACPD. She continues to tions, leading to the identification of one potential mechanism: degree horizontal resolution, each having a corresponding control update the radiative transfer code interface by implementing the the phase-locking and amplification of a planetary wave through Dr. Ziemke had one lead author paper published in J. Geophys. analysis, in which the DYNAMO observations are deliberately latest version of VLIDORT. the imposition of a spatial pattern of soil moisture at the land Res. – Atmospheres and another that is in review with Atmos. omitted. She was involved in diagnosing the outputs, conducting surface. Potential sources of predictability on intra-seasonal time Chem. Phys. He has co-authored two publications, one in El- comparisons with verification databases and in-situ observations. Focusing on a 10-year period, Dr. Buchard used measurements scales could be explored. This work was published in the Journal ementa and one in the Bulletin of AMS, and co-authored three The impact of DYNAMO observations in the GEOS-5 ADAS was collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) of Climate in 2014. others that are in press with J. Geophys. Res. (2) and the Bulletin further investigated by performing 20-day-long forecasts of 30 and the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments of AMS (1). He contributed as lead author to two presentations, ensembles. (IMPROVE) networks as an independent validation for MERRAero In May 2014, the Balkans endured the worst floods since record- one given at the Aura Science Team Meeting in September 2014, surface PM2.5. She gave an Aerocenter seminar and presented keeping began 120 years ago. Dr. Chang carried out large- the other at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting in December 2014. He The evaluation of the GEOS-5 model involved Dr. Achuthavarier her work at the Coupled Chemistry-Meteorology/Climate Modeling ensemble high-resolution prediction experiments to assess the contributed to three others: one that was presented at the 13th diagnosing data on several of the latest runs of the GEOS-5, with meeting held in February 2015 at WMO Headquarters in Swit- ability of the GEOS-5 model to reproduce such unusual extreme IGAC Science Conference on Atmospheric Chemistry in Brazil in a particular emphasis on ENSO (El Nino-Southern Oscillation) and zerland. A paper about this work is under review by co-authors. weather activity. His research contributed to the overall evalua- September 2014 and two that were given at the Aura Science MJO. Her results indicated that, in the latest GEOS-5 atmosphere- Further, Dr. Buchard was tion of climate variabil- Team Meeting in Baltimore, MD. ocean coupled run, the ENSO periodicity is nearly four years, as involved in the evaluation of NASA TECHNICAL MEMO ity and predictability at observed, and the tropical connection of the PDO is closer to the aerosols in the 7-km GEOS- sub-seasonal-to-decadal This past year, a proposal for the new DSCOVR NASA mission observations. She worked in collaboration with the coupled model 5 Nature Run. Several GESTAR members of the GMAO were involved in contributing to a timescales and the role of was submitted and accepted for full funding. This proposal pro- development team to better understand convective control of recently published NASA Technical Memo: Gelaro, Ronald, William M. Put- initialization in improving vides funds for Dr. Ziemke as Co-Investigator for the next three ENSO in GEOS-5, where she proposed to examine the sensitivity As a step toward improving man, Steven Pawson, Clara Draper, Andrea Molod, Peter M. Norris, Lesley prediction skill. The floods years with his task being to measure tropospheric ozone for the to the Tokioka parameter, the minimum entrainment rate thresh- the representation of aero- Ott, Nikki Privé, Oreste Reale, Deepthi Achuthavarier, Michael Bosilov- along with other extreme DSCOVR EPIC instrument. The title of the proposal is “An Accurate old in the cumulus parameterization. She examined the outputs sol in GEOS-5, Dr. Buchard ich, Virginie Buchard, Winston Chao, Lawrence Coy, Richard Cullather, weather of the Balkans in Ozone Product from the DSCOVR EPIC Instrument” (PI: R. D. Mc- of Tokioka sensitivity runs and found that the ENSO amplitude is is working on the develop- Arlindo da Silva, Anton Darmenov, Ronald M. Errico, Marangelly Fuentes, 2014 were studied to as- Peters, Code 614). Additionally, Dr. Ziemke’s recently submitted considerably reduced when deep convection is suppressed. Dr. ment of an Ensemble Kal- Min-Jeong Kim, Randal Koster, Will McCarty, Jyothi Nattala, Gary Partyka, sess the prediction ability NPP proposal is under review, and he plans to write a new ACMAP Achuthavarier also studied MJO variability in both GEOS-5 coupled man Filter-based scheme Siegfried Schubert, Guillaume Vernieres, Yuri Vikhliaev, and Krzysztof of the GEOS-5 model. He proposal during summer 2015. and stand-alone atmospheric versions, where she concluded that to assimilate lidar informa- Wargan, 2015. Evaluation of the 7-km GEOS-5 Nature Run, NASA/TM– presented his research coupling with the ocean model did not improve the MJO. From her tion jointly with MODIS and 2014-104606, Vol. 36, edited by R. Koster. on the assessment of extensive work, she was nominated by her sponsor, Dr. Schubert, MISR. The assimilation climate factors causing CODE 610.1 Global Modeling and Assimilation Office to a proposed committee on subseasonal variability and predict- of lidar data will help to This seven-chapter document is 300+ pages long, and chapters are co-au- Balkans weather misery Dr. Deepthi Achuthavarier (sponsor: S. Schubert) evaluates ability at the US Climate Variability and Predictability (US CLIVAR) constrain the model verti- thored by GESTAR members and other scientists from NASA GSFC’s Global at several conferences, aspects of climate and weather variability in century-long simula- program. cal structure in the model. Modeling Assimilation Office. As such, there are several references to workshops and meetings. tions and decadal predictions made with the GEOS-5 coupled Preliminary results were this Nature Run Tech Memo throughout this section on accomplishments model. This includes an assessment of the leading modes of Dr. Achuthavarier was involved in the GEOS-5 7km Nature run presented at the CALIPSO of GESTAR members in Code 610.1. The Overview/Chapter 1 is soley au- Dr. Chang used the coupled variability, their predictability, and their regional impacts. evaluation efforts. To this end, she examined tropical cyclone Science Team Meeting. thored by Dr. William Putman. Drs. Nikki Privé and Ronald Errico were co- GEOS-5 coupled gen- Areas of focus include the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), the variability including its intensity, vertical profiles, counts and authors along with one other author on Chapter 2, on Wind and Tempera- eral circulation model Atlantic multi-decadal oscillation (AMO), and long-term variability tracks and evaluated them against observational Best Track data Dr. Yehui Chang (sponsor: ture; and Dr. Min-Jeong Kim contributed to Chapter 3, on Humidity and (CGCM) to evaluate the in the Asian and American monsoons. A key goal of her work is from the NOAA National Hurricane Centre and the Joint Typhoon S. Schubert) contributes Precipitation. Drs. Oreste Reale and Deepthi Achuthavarier contributed mechanisms that allow to provide insights into physical mechanisms and model deficien- Warning Centre. In addition to being a co-author of two presenta- to the overall evaluation of to Chapter 4, which focused on Tropical Cyclones and Related Phenomena, an atmospheric state cies that can lead to model improvements. Over the past year, Dr. tions at GMAO Nature Run evaluation meetings, Dr. Achuthavarier climate variability and pre- and Drs. Clara Draper and Yuri Vikhliaev were contributors to Chapter 5 to affect ENSO develop- Achuthavarier was involved in a project proposed to better under- contributed to and is a co-author of the NASA technical memo- dictability at sub-seasonal- on Surface Characteristics. Drs. Peter Norris and Ronald Errico contrib- ment. Such atmospheric stand the mechanisms of the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO), an randum titled “Evaluation of the 7-km GEOS-5 Nature Run”. She to-decadal timescales and uted to Chapter 6, Clouds and Radiation, and Dr. Virginie Buchard was impacts were examined in eastward propagating large-scale tropical oscillatory phenomenon also presented a poster and co-authored another at the American the role of initialization in involved with Chapter 7, Aerosols and Trace Gases. The Technical Memo the context of the coupled in 40-50 day timescale, commonly observed in winds and rainfall Meteorological Society’s annual meeting held in Phoenix, AZ. improving prediction skill. is available online at http://gmao.gsfc.nasa.gov/pubs/docs. general circulation model anomalies. Due to its intraseasonal timescale and influence over He also works on climate simulations, which then the entire tropics, the MJO is often thought to have the potential Dr. Virginie Buchard-Marchant (sponsor: A. da Silva) works simulations and attribu- led to the identifica- to bridge the gap between the weather and climate predictability on developing a VLIDORT (Vector LInearized Discrete Ordinate tion studies, and conducts climate diagnostic studies using the tion of ENSO predictability. A related paper will be submitted for in the tropics. This current project takes advantage of an in-situ Radiative Transfer) interface to simulate top-of the-atmosphere GMAO’s GEOS-5 model suite. Dr. Chang used an atmospheric publication. Also, Dr. Chang assessed the tropical atmosphere data collection from the DYNAMO campaign (Dynamics of the radiances using GEOS-5/GOCART aerosol concentrations, and general circulation model (AGCM) to explore one potential mecha- in the GMAO Nature Run, examining the verisimilitude of the MJO), targeted to better observe MJO, led by the Cooperative In- also assesses the quality of aerosol estimates from the MERRA nism for remote soil moisture impacts on meteorological fields, precipitation associated with selected tropical wave, monsoonal dian Ocean Experiment on Intraseasonal Variability in Year 2011 Aerosol Reanalysis (MERRAero). Dr. Buchard used independent a mechanism involving the phase-locking of a planetary wave and diurnal variability produced in the 7km GEOS-5 Nature Run (CINDY2011), and proposes to assimilate these observations in Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) observations and the radia- over a specific soil moisture pattern. The precise mechanisms by forced with observed SST, focusing on the period of June 2005- the NASA GEOS-5 Atmospheric Data Assimilation System (ADAS). tive transfer interface GEOS-5/VLIDORT developed over the past which land-atmosphere feedback occurs are still largely unknown, July 2006. The results include hovmöller diagrams of daily means Dr. Achuthavarier produced several 13-month-long analyses years to evaluate MERRAero Absorption. She presented her in particular, the mechanisms that allow the land moisture state to highlight subseasonal propagation, maps of monthly means to using the latest NASA GEOS-5 ADAS, assimilating the DYNAMO results at the OMI science team meeting held in September 2014 in one region to affect atmospheric conditions in another. Such highlight the basic patterns and the seasonal development of the radiosonde and pibal observations of winds, temperature and and at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting. As lead author, Dr. Buchard remote impacts are examined in the context of AGCM simula- various monsoons and related low-level winds, plus maps of the

18 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 19 mean diurnal cycle of precipitation over North America. Compari- or co-authored several papers that are published or in press as Nature Run has Dr. Manuela sons were made with the high-resolution CMORPH precipitation well as two book chapters related to microwave remote sensing large and frequent Girotto (sponsor: estimates. and data assimilation. She has two lead author papers related to data sets. Their R. Reichle) works SMOS and SMAP currently in review. use in the GMAO with Dr. Gabrielle In the coming months, Dr. Chang will use the GEOS-coupled GCM OSSE observation De Lannoy on as- to study the root cause of the Pacific warming and its impact on Dr. Clara Draper (sponsor: R. Reichle) works on the development simulation software similating satel- the global extreme weather. At present, waters in a huge area of and implementation of land data assimilation components, in required a com- lite observations the Pacific Ocean have been running 5.5 degrees warmer than particular the use of satellite observations of soil moisture, snow, plete redesign of from the Gravity normal over the past two years. It is possible that this is affect- and land surface temperature, with a focus on implementation the latter. This new Recovery and Cli- ing the West Coast drought and the record cold and snow in the within the GEOS-5 atmospheric data assimilation system. Dr. software uses fea- mate Experiment Midwest and Northeast over the last two seasons, including the Draper has performed a series of experiments testing whether tures in the Earth (GRACE) and record snowstorms of 2015 in Boston and Detroit. While this may the GEOS-5 Land Surface Temperature (LST) biases can be System Modeling Soil Moisture be due to a Pacific Decadal Oscillation and a long-lasting El Nino- improved by updating the model LST towards Geostationary LST Framework (ESMF) Ocean Salinity like pattern in the Pacific, currently the answer is not clear. observations. These experiments showed that while this approach to allocate data (SMOS) mission improves the model nighttime low-level temperature biases, it can structures. New into GMAO’s land Dr. Gabrielle J.M. De Lannoy (sponsor: R. Reichle) works on the have a detrimental impact during the daytime, due to the model’s features also were surface data development of the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Level extreme sensitivity to changes in LST. added to enhance assimilation 4 soil moisture (L4_SM) data product. In preparation for the as- user flexibility. system. The goal similation of SMAP observations, satellite observations from the Dr. Draper has investigated the benefit gained from soil moisture Work will be ongo- is to assimilate Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission are used to build a assimilation across different time scales. It is well established ing with simulating both vertically prototype system for the L4_SM product. During the past year, the that near-surface soil moisture assimilation can improve modeled observations from integrated ter- system has been updated with numerous new aspects, mainly sub-seasonal-scale soil moisture dynamics, and her study found the GMAO high-res- restrial water to improve the assimilation of SMAP brightness temperature that modeled seasonal and inter-annual timescale soil mois- olution Nature Run, storage (GRACE) observations and ultimately to improve soil moisture estimates. ture also can be improved, demonstrating that near-surface soil and the simulation and brightness This includes the generation of updated land surface model and moisture assimilation can improve model simulation of important of their errors will temperature radiative transfer model parameters, corrections to and optimiza- long-term events, such as multi-year droughts. This study also be validated within (Tb) to improve tion of the assimilation framework, improved quality control of highlighted the systematic differences between modeled and the GMAO OSSE Figure 1, openloop comparison provided by M. Girotto. surface and brightness temperature simulations and observations, advanced remotely sensed soil moisture variability at different time scales, context using a root zone soil treatment of brightness temperature observations and modules which has important consequences for bias correcting the obser- broad set of metrics. moisture. Dr. Girotto has worked on the assimilation of GRACE, to assimilate freeze/thaw information. A selection of this research vations using relatively short time periods, which is a common while Dr. De Lannoy’s focus was on the SMOS assimilation into has been submitted for publication. Dr. De Lannoy supports practice in atmospheric modeling systems and when assimilating He also conducted the first test of the validity of the GMAO high- the GMAO’s land surface DAS. Dr. Girotto worked on developing colleagues in the implementation of the scientific system for novel observations. resolution nature run in an OSSE context. In an OSSE context, code in order to implement the assimilation of GRACE terrestrial operational purposes and was instrumental in providing a SMAP model error is implicitly simulated by the difference between the water storage observations within the GMAO’s land data assimila- Dr. Draper also has further developed the GMAO Land-Atmo- ‘Nature Run v04’ to the larger SMAP Science Team (NASA/JPL). model used to simulate nature (the “nature run”) and the model tion system (LDAS). She has finalized the assimilation, optimiza- sphere Data Assimilation system, and has contributed to the used in the data assimilation system. Since the GMAO high-res- tion, verification and analysis of GRACE terrestrial water storage Prior to the launch of SMAP on January 31, 2015, the SMAP evaluation of GMAO’s GEOS-5 7km Nature Run and the MERRA-2 olution nature run and data simulation models have a common (TWS) of 11 years of observations (Jan 2003 – Dec 2014), which L4_SM system was heavily exercised with SMOS brightness systems. This past year, she was awarded a three-year NASA heritage, it is likely that the use of these at the GMAO will under- allowed for the investigation on the effects on soil moisture temperature data. To facilitate the transition from SMOS to SMAP ROSES Terrestrial Hydrology Program grant as Principal Investiga- represent model error leading to unrealistic behavior in the OSSE. when GRACE TWS is solely assimilated. Results indicated that data, a preprocessor was developed to convert SMOS brightness tor, published one first-author peer-reviewed journal paper, co- A preliminary test was conducted, revealing different degrees of GRACE-TWS data assimilation does affect soil moisture dynamics. temperature observations from the Top-of-the-Ionosphere to the presented at the Sciences and Exploration Directorate Director’s unrealism for different metrics. As shown in Figure 1, Dr. Girotto illustrates the decrease of the Bottom-of-the-Atmosphere. A paper on this research has been Seminar on behalf of GSFC Earth Sciences Division, and gave model’s uncertainty (i.e., the ensemble standard deviation of the conditionally accepted (De Lannoy et al., GRSL, 2015). two first-author conference presentations. In the coming year, Dr. In the coming months, Dr. Errico will apply the GMAO OSSE frame- open loop) in root zone soil moisture that are of consequence to Draper will conduct experiments assimilating remotely sensed work to investigate, understand and improve functionality of the GRACE TWS assimilation. However, improvements on hydrological Dr. De Lannoy authored and co-authored invited presentations near-surface soil moisture into the GEOS-5 atmospheric system, new data assimilation schemes under development at the GMAO. states were found to be statistically significant only over a limited at several international meetings: CMWR (June 2014), GEWEX and will investigate the use of remotely sensed LST for improving This OSSE application exploits the fact that, within its simulation number of groundwater and soil moisture locations. This suggests (July 2014), IGARSS (July 2014), MEME’14 (July 2014), TERENO GEOS-5 land surface flux forecasts. framework, the “true” atmospheric state is known, being given (September 2014), SMOS for Water and Carbon Symposium further efforts be made toward the integration of both GRACE and by the nature run. Further, the GMAO OSSE framework will be SMOS/SMAP missions in order to improve both groundwater and (November 2014), AGU (December 2014), AMS (January 2015), Dr. Ronald Errico (sponsor: R. Gelaro) works on the development, used to estimate the usefulness of proposed new atmospheric and EGU (April 2015). She also contributed to the GMAO Young validation, and application of an Observing System Simulation soil moisture. This work is described in a manuscript draft to be observing systems, and their competing designs, in the context of submitted for peer review. Scientist Forum, GMAO Science Theme meeting and various Experiment (OSSE) framework at NASA’s Global Modeling and data assimilation. Additionally, this OSSE application exploits the SMAP-related meetings and teleconferences. She was present for Assimilation Office (GMAO). Over this past year, he has transi- fact that, within its simulation framework, it is unnecessary that Dr. Girotto has begun to implement the assimilation of GRACE into the SMAP science team meeting and attended the SMAP launch tioned observation simulation software to be used with the GMAO observations exist in reality. the newest model tag, a necessary step in order to place the as- at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. She also authored high-resolution nature run for OSSE applications. The 7-km GMAO 20 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 21 similation systems into the up-to-date model framework for SMOS advection of cloud and aerosol perturbations. After implement- late June, his role will transition to validating the products being Meteorological Society’s annual conference in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. data assimilation. She has been investigating and learning about ing this scheme in both the nonlinear and linearized versions of introduced. Jin and his colleagues’ work on this project was reported in the SMOS data assimilation, and to this purpose, she has performed GEOS-5, they were able to confirm linearity and good performance JCSDA -NOAA 2014 fall newsletter in an article co-authored by SMOS experiments under the guidance of Dr. De Lannoy. Future of the new scheme using an idealized GEOS-5 setup, and im- Dr. Jianjun Jin (sponsor: R. Gelaro) conducts radiance data Dr. Jin (Dr. William McCarty, GSFC, lead author) in which they work will involve the determination of uncertainties in GRACE and provement for the full linearized version of GEOS-5 was noted. A assimilation using the GEOS-5 atmospheric data assimilation reported the team’s initial results from assimilating GMI data for a SMOS observations through triple collocation. paper presenting the results of this investigation is in submission system (ADAS) in order to improve GEOS-5 precipitation and cloud hurricane case. to Tellus A. analyses; to develop and improve the procedure and algorithm of As a result of her research, Dr. Girotto has (co-) authored presen- assimilating microwave radiance observations made by the satel- Dr. Jin also helped GMAO in updating its stratospheric tempera- tations given at the Young Scientist Forum, at the 2014 AGU Fall The GEOS-5 adjoint model provides an excellent tool to investigate lite instrument TRMM/TMI and the new instrument GPM/GMI; to ture observation data set. The Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) meeting, at the American Meteorological Society (AMS) annual sensitivity to initial conditions in weather forecasting. With the contribute to the evaluation, analysis, and development of ozone temperature data version 3 is being assimilated in producing meeting, and most recently at the GMAO Science Theme meeting. implementation of the linearized radiation schemes, Dr. Holdaway and temperature assimilation in GEOS-5 in the middle atmo- GMAO’s new analysis data set MERRA-2, part of Dr. Jin’s previous She has collaborated on one publication (Margulis, et al., 2015). recognized that the model presented an opportunity to investigate sphere; and to conduct scientific investigations related to precipi- task. A new MLS observation data set was released this past win- Dr. Girotto has been working on a paper draft to describe the sensitivity to dust and other aerosols. He implemented the adjoint tation, atmospheric composition, and structure using GEOS-5. ter, and Dr. Jin built new computer programs to process these new assimilation of GRACE observations into the GMAO’s land surface versions of the core GOCART physics schemes as well as the inter- MLS observation data and assisted with testing these new data. data assimilation system (currently in internal review). action between radiation and aerosols. As a first step, he included On February 27, 2014, NASA’s earth observation satellite Global New MLS observations will be used for producing future GOES-5 the five dust variables in the linearized model and constructed Precipitation Measurement mission (GPM) core observatory was data sets. Dr. Daniel Holdaway (sponsor: S. Pawson) develops tangent lin- all the utilities for initializing them. After he used the tangent launched in order to produce global rain and snow observations ear and adjoint components of GEOS-5 for use in the data assimi- linear model to confirm that sufficient linearity exists for the dust to advance our knowledge of Earth’s water and energy circle, to Dr. Young-Kwon Lim (sponsor: S. Schubert) supports scientific lation tools used by the GMAO. After an initial implementation, variables that the model should prove useful, his work focused improve weather forecasts of extreme precipitation events, and research on climate variability and weather extremes using he completed a major revision to the linearized cloud scheme. on using the model to investigate sensitivity to dust during the to reduce the costs from natural disasters. One of the two core in- modeling and assimilation tools developed by the GMAO. In his He recognized the need to split the approach to handling issues formation of Atlantic hurricanes. Early results are promising and struments aboard this satellite is a microwave imager (GMI) which investigation of the impact of large-scale climate modes on the around the generation of cloud between different uses of the lin- suggest that this will be a useful tool. The results demonstrate a measures Earth’s surface and atmosphere with high spatial reso- Atlantic tropical cyclone activity on seasonal time scale and the earized model. He implemented a new high-efficient perturbation relatively small sensitivity to dust compared with other variables. lution in 13 channels with low and high microwave frequencies. predictability of those modes, Dr. Lim found that the seasonal At- model approach to prevent spurious perturbation growth. This In the coming months, he will try to identify new ways in which to Dr. Jin developed the procedure to assimilate these new GPM/ lantic tropical cyclone (TC) activity is very different each year and model can replace the previously used Jacobian filtering tech- apply the technique to studying sensitivity. He is working closely GMI observations with the GEOS-5 in order to improve GEOS-5’s that the combined effect of the Atlantic Meridional Mode (AMM), nique and allow the scheme to be used more efficiently in data with a group at the University of Wisconsin, and together they are analysis data sets. After the GPM team released its new level North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and ENSO explains largely the assimilation settings. The 4DVAR technique requires maximum examining three case studies of severe weather events and sensi- 1C-R radiance data set, Dr. Jin built the algorithm to assimilate year-to-year variation of TC frequency, landfalls, dominant genesis efficiency in the linearized model, due to the numerous calls to tivity to observations for those events. this new data set. He began by building the software to produce a locations and track patterns over North America. This indicates the adjoint model. Splitting the approach also allows for a more BUFR format data set, which is the input for GEOS-5 data assimi- that any seasonal forecast of TC activity relying solely on ENSO extensive filtering to be applied for the observation impacts use of He also has developed tangent linear and adjoint versions of a lation system, and he then built the infrastructure to process GMI phase would have a large risk of forecasting errors. For example, the linearized model. Observation impacts are run over 24 hours spectral quasigeostrophic channel model, which presents an radiance data, tuned its observation error, developed the quality his study found that a strong impact of the positive AMM in 2005 and only one integration of the adjoint is required; therefore, opportunity to test data assimilation systems without the com- control process in the data assimilation system, and conducted constructed the negative Sea Level Pressure (SLP) anomaly over accuracy is more important than efficiency. For both 4DVAR and plexities of a full model while maintaining realistic dynamics. The experiments to investigate the new data’s impact. In general, the the North Atlantic, leading to an active TC season despite a weak observations impact applications, the accuracy of the linearized tangent linear and adjoint models are key to using a 4DVAR data improvement in GEOS-5 forecast skills are neutral after GMI data El Niño phase. A weak TC activity in 2013, despite the La Niña model was improved with the updates. For 4DVAR, the number of assimilation, so this development will allow a 4DVAR data assimi- are assimilated in clear-sky conditions; however, GEOS-5 ADAS phase, is reasonably explained by the impact of a positive NAO observations being assimilated at each step is increased, and for lation system to be implemented for this model. As such, newer is able to assimilate more observations from other instruments, (and weak negative AMM as well) that drives the negative SST observation impacts, the percentage of the observation impacts techniques for data assimilation also can be tested for the model such as the microwave humidity sounder (MHS) aboard NOAA- and positive SLP anomaly and stronger vertical wind shear over captured by the linear estimate also is increased. A paper cover- and compared with using 4DVAR. The tool can be used for testing 18 and METOP-B satellites, when GMI data are assimilated. The the low-latitudes of the North Atlantic. He also investigated the ing the development of the linearized cloud scheme was revised new ideas, e.g., coupled data assimilation. software used to make the BUFR data set and to develop the impact of Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) on the TC genesis so as to include these changes and is in submission to Monthly algorithm for assimilating GMI in the data assimilation system location. From both observations and the GEOS-5 model data- Weather Review. Additionally, Dr. Holdaway assisted the EPIC cloud algorithms were adopted by researchers at NOAA. Going forward, Dr. Jin will set obtained from “replay run with spectral filter”, he found that team to determine the appropriate time-stepping to be used on work toward improving the GEOS-5 DAS by improving its process- timing of the TC genesis depends on the phase of MJO: while TC During testing with linearized clouds and aerosols, Dr. Holdaway the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) Earth-observing ing of GPM/GMI and other space-borne observation data, and by genesis, especially over the western Atlantic basin, becomes very identified issues around the linearized transport of these quanti- instruments. He is using output from the GEOS-5 operational fore- implementing new satellite data sets such Advanced Microwave active when the positive MJO passes the Western Hemisphere, ties. Clouds and aerosols and their perturbations can have very casts and Nature Run to provide a long time series of the aspects Scanning Radiometer – 2 (AMSR-2) aboard the Japanese satellite TC genesis becomes weakest when the positive MJO passes the small-scale features. The highly nonlinear advection schemes of the atmosphere observable by the instrument. In particular, the Global Change Observation Mission for Water – 1 (GCOM-W1) into western North Pacific. Dr. Lim also performed multi-member runs used in GEOS-5 become more nonlinear and support growing Nature Run is very useful for this kind of study, since it provides a the GEOS-5 system. (20 members) forced with prescribed sea surface temperature modes when the structure of the field is small. Rather than using simulation of the atmosphere with very high temporal and spatial (SST) for the Atlantic hurricane season period to investigate the the linearized version of the full nonlinear advection schemes, Dr. resolution. Using a range of statistical techniques on the time Dr. Jin presented his research results at the 12th Technique Re- model’s predictability of the leading climate modes. He investi- Holdaway and a collaborator at the University of Michigan tested series, he and the EPIC team are able to determine the optimal view & Science Workshop on Satellite Data Assimilation, held by gated cases from four different TC years, two of which were very a large selection of linearized advection schemes to find an alter- time-step to use. This is an essential question for the instrument the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA) at NOAA, active (2005 & 2010) and two which were very calm (2006 & native. Using a one-dimensional setting, they identified a linear as limited storage is available and the orbit prevents data trans- at the 2014 NASA Precipitation Measurement Missions (PMM) 2013). He found that GEOS-5 model has a great predictability third-order scheme that provides the optimum properties for the mission for long periods of time. As the satellite comes online in Science Team Meeting in Baltimore, MD, and at the American 22 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 23 of the AMM, while the predictability of the ENSO is a little lower mates. The results demonstrated that large-scale teleconnections veloped within the GMAO. Using these skills, she was able to cre- data analysis, provides quality-controlled PBLH retrievals from the than that of the AMM. Also, the ENSO-related large-scale pattern that originated in the North Atlantic have a substantial impact on ate perturbation experiments that varied the amount of infrared CALIPSO satellite, refines these retrievals in light of the science over the extra-tropical central to the eastern Atlantic exhibits a the East Asian winter temperature and monsoon variability via satellite data being assimilated. She then ran seven multi-month analysis (e.g., experiments with the different horizontal averaging large uncertainty. Large ensemble spread, along with negative planetary-scale Rossby wave propagation. experiments and their associated forecasts. windows), and places regional modeling results in the context of signal-to-noise ratio, is also found for the assessment of the NAO the global modeling efforts at the GMAO. In December 2014, Dr. predictability. This study suggested that reasonable predictabil- Dr. Lim explored subseasonal to seasonal scale atmospheric Over the past year, Dr. McGrath-Spangler has published a lead McGrath-Spangler presented her prior work on determining the ity of the NAO and further improved simulation of ENSO-related variability associated with summer monsoons, including Asian author article with Dr. Andrea Molod in the journal Atmospheric PBL depth from the CALIPSO satellite at the kick-off meeting for extra-tropical atmospheres are essential to improve the seasonal monsoon, African monsoon and American monsoon, produced by Chemistry and Physics, and has a second lead author paper cur- this contract at Sigma Space Corporation, Lanham, MD. She has prediction of TCs’ genesis locations and track patterns over the the 7-km resolution GEOS-5 nature run. He found that the model rently in review with ACP. She gave an oral presentation of her inventoried the available CALIPSO satellite data and orbit tracks Atlantic. Future work will involve global model simulations to pro- reasonably produces eastward or northward migration of convec- work at the Young Scientist Forum hosted at NASA GSFC in June for the DISCOVER-AQ 2011 field campaign over the Baltimore/ duce the MJO in collaboration with scientists from the Mesoscale tive cells on subseasonal time scales over the Indian monsoon 2014, and she supplied a highlight slide for the GMAO booth at Washington area in order to put them into context with other Modeling group. region, which is one of the challenging features to reproduce the NASA GSFC Science Jamboree; the slide showed the effect of available PBL depth data from ground-based and airborne lidars. by current global climate models. He also found that northward PBL depth definition on the diagnosed global PBL depth, Saharan She then processed the data using her algorithm described This past year, Dr. Lim became involved in an interdisciplinary progression of the monsoon frontal system over East Asia reaches dust, and carbon monoxide. In May 2015, Dr. McGrath-Spangler in McGrath-Spangler and Denning (2012, 2013) to provide an research project titled “Feedbacks, processes and impacts of con- Korea and Japan, which has not been well simulated by many will attend the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation Science estimate of the PBL depth value and coverage over the region. temporary changes in the Arctic”, which explores the atmospheric current global models. Additionally he addressed pros and cons of Workshop, where top level findings from various national centers In her work with quality control, she tested modifications to two and oceanic climate variability associated with the ice mass the model in simulating the monsoon evolutions over Africa and will be presented. quality control checks in the original algorithm to optimize the variation/loss over the area of Greenland. He investigated the role Americas on seasonal time scale. compromise between quality of the retrieved PBL depth and the of large-scale teleconnections in the North Atlantic in explaining Dr. McGrath-Spangler was involved with two NASA proposals that spatiotemporal coverage. With these modifications, she was able the variation of temperature and ice mass over Greenland. He Along with US CLIVAR Extreme working group scientists, Dr. Lim were selected for funding. The first was submitted to the NASA to increase the coverage for one orbit in mid-July by 70%. Work decomposed upper-level geopotential height data to capture the has been working on extreme weather/climate variability. They ROSES14 ACMAP call and she is the principal investigator for this in the coming months will involve processing the remaining orbits first major teleconnections over the Atlantic and calculated tem- performed an overview of the previous studies on extreme tem- project. The second was submitted to the ROSES13 ACCDAM call from the July 2011 DISCOVER-AQ field campaign to estimate the perature anomalies and advective temperature changes driven by perature and precipitation variability to complete a review paper. and is being led by Dr. Jennifer Hegarty (AER Inc.); Dr. McGrath- amount of increased coverage with the modified quality control the impact of each teleconnection. He found that, compared with Dr. Lim contributed to documentation of the role of the Arctic sea Spangler is serving as a Co-Investigator. specifications. the contribution by oceanic circulation, the role of atmospheric ice in the Northern hemispheric warm/cold extremes, and sum- circulation constructed by the NAO and the Arctic Oscillation (AO) marized the capability of the CMIP-5 models in reproducing the Dr. Erica McGrath-Spangler performed work in support of As mentioned in his report, Dr. Oreste Reale is the PI on a NASA has increased in the last decade in determining the Greenland ice temperature extreme statistics for the present climate. Regarding research under a NASA Grant of which she is the PI (Program grant (Program Manager: Dr. R. Kakar), and Dr. McGrath-Span- mass variation; this analysis was conducted using both MERRA1 precipitation extremes, he led a section on the large-scale influ- Manager: Dr. Eckman); funding began in February 2015. She gler provides support by contributing to designing, conducting, and MERRA2 reanalysis data. He also is examining the radiative ences on precipitation extremes (globally or regionally over North analyzes climatological PBL depth trends in the GEOS-5 atmo- and analyzing numerical experiments focused on the impact fluxes incoming to the surface and cloud distributions to see if America) in a review paper. He has been working on multiple spheric model and the CALIPSO satellite record and the impact of different AIRS data types and assimilation strategies on the their anomalies are to some extent linked to the large-scale circu- papers with the US CLIVAR Hurricane working group scientists; in on atmospheric tracer concentration and transport. She success- analysis and forecast of TCs in the NASA GEOS-5 system. She has lation driven by teleconnections. these papers, Dr. Lim addressed performance and capability of fully ported her PBL depth retrieval algorithm to the NASA Center completed three multi-month data assimilation experiments con- the NASA GEOS-5 model in realizing the TC activity over the globe for Climate Simulation (NCCS) computer system and tested the sisting of a control and two extreme perturbations, the purpose Dr. Lim advanced the analysis on comparing the large-scale under present climate, different ENSO phases, and changing production of PBL depths from the CALIPSO level 1B data. Ad- being to evaluate the sensitivity of global forecast skill and tropi- impacts of the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and East Atlantic/West Rus- climate (warming). Four papers are either in press or published. ditionally, Dr. McGrath-Spangler created code to manipulate the cal cyclone track and intensity to the density of assimilated AIRS sia (EA/WR) on the East Asian winter climate anomalies for the Topics of the four papers are, respectively, 1) Characteristics of CALIPSO satellite PBL depth data to make it comparable to the data, and to provide a working framework for future experiments past 35 winters. His analysis revealed that the EA/WR impact is tropical cyclones in high-resolution models in the present climate, GEOS-5 model by gridding it to the ½-degree GEOS-5 model grid with variable data density. Dr. McGrath-Spangler then developed comparable to the AO impact in affecting the East Asian tem- 2) Hurricanes and climate: the U. S. CLIVAR working group on resolution and computing the monthly mean. She has completed an innovative procedure to allow more information near active perature and monsoon. For example, warm (cold) months over hurricanes, 3) How well do global climate models simulate the processing the lidar data from first light in 2006 through 2008. features such as tropical cyclones and reduced data elsewhere, mid-latitude East Asia during the positive (negative) AO are clearly variability of Atlantic tropical cyclones associated with ENSO?, and This code also computes the number of orbit tracks for each grid allowing for different data density dependent upon the atmo- seen when the AO and EA/WR are in the same phase. Near-zero 4) Cluster analysis of downscaled and explicitly simulated North cell in the monthly mean in order to help quantify the represen- spheric conditions. Using this method, she began running four correlation is found between temperature and the AO phase when Atlantic tropical cyclone tracks. tativeness of that grid›s value to the true monthly mean. Going multi-month experiments and their associated forecasts. For the both teleconnections (AO & EA/WR) are in an opposite manner. forward, she plans to produce a monthly mean, gridded PBL framework and variable data density experiments, she computed Also, Dr. Lim found that activity of Siberian high, East Asian winter Dr. Erica McGrath-Spangler (sponsor: S. Pawson) originally depth climatology from space-based lidar as well as climatological the forecast statistics to evaluate the effect of AIRS data density monsoon, and cold surge are more highly negative-correlated worked on this task to use space-based observations and earth emissions files for atmospheric aerosols and greenhouse gases. on global skill. with the EA/WR than with the AO. Results including the advective system models to further the understanding of the carbon cycle. She will estimate the increased long-wave radiation to the Earth temperature change by teleconnection effect in this study suggest As of October 1, 2014, Dr. McGrath-Spangler has been involved system due to increased greenhouse gas concentrations and Dr. McGrath-Spangler contributed to the Science Theme Meeting that the impact of EA/WR should be considered more important with data assimilation and data impact studies, with a particular include this term in the model for long-term simulations. on Tropical Cyclones held in Jan 2015 and was a co-presenter on than previously thought for a better understanding of East Asian focus on data from infrared sensors on the GEOS-5 Data Assimila- a talk by Dr. Reale and herself. She also contributed to a presen- winter temperature and monsoon variability. Additionally, he tion and forecasting system. She has learned how to download, Another NASA grant was selected for funding in March 2015 tation by Drs. Reale and McGrath-Spangler, plus Dr. Will McCarty examined the importance of the Scandinavian (SCA) pattern and compile, run, and debug the GEOS-5 DAS, and learned how to and Dr. Erica McGrath-Spangler participates as a Co-I (PI: Dr. (GSFC) at the GMAO Monitoring Meeting. They showed results East Atlantic (EA) pattern for determining the East Asian winter cli- calculate forecasting statistics and plot the results using tools de- J. Hegarty; Program Manager: Dr. A. Pszenny). She works with from four data assimilation experiments varying the density of

24 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 25 AIRS data; they consisted of three framework experiments and increased vertical levels. in spatial emission distributions. He will provide uncertainty College Park, MD, as well as an invited presentation as part of the one variable thinning experiment with variable AIRS data density. estimates to the carbon flux analysis Dr. Ott and her team will AMS Forecast Improvement Group webinar on OSEs and OSSEs. In late September, she attended the NASA Sounder Science Team Dr. Norris conducted an extensive validation against CERES data conduct. In other endeavors, Dr. Oda has been selected as a Also, two manuscripts were published, one in Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Meeting, the largest gathering of scientists using data from the of cloud and radiation properties in the GMAO’s new GEOS-5 Na- member of NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2) sci- Soc. and one in Tellus. AIRS instrument for such things as data assimilation and algo- ture Run. He was team leader for this part of the validation and ence team. He is a part of this project led by Prof. Eric Kort at U. rithm development. oversaw contributions by several others. The results of the valida- Michigan (PI); the Kort team will be quantifying emissions from As part of an interpolation error project, Dr. Privé is performing a tion were presented at the GMAO nature run validation meeting in world megacities using data collected by OCO2 as well as existing comparison of spatial and temporal interpolation errors using a Dr. Peter Norris (sponsor: A. da Silva) uses cloud data retrievals June 2014, and he also presented a short talk on the topic at the ground observation and modeling capabilities. Dr. Oda is seeking very high-resolution (1.5km, 10-minute output) run of the GEOS-5 to validate cloud properties within the Goddard Earth Observing SED Director’s Seminar on October 3, 2014. Dr. Norris subse- an improved method to prescribe emission distributions within a forecast model. This research can be used to determine the best System (GEOS) model, to measure the capability of trial cloud quently contributed a chapter on Cloud and Radiation validation city using impervious surface data from LandSat data in collabo- choice of model output frequency when performing computation- representations, and to assimilate cloud measurements directly to the GMAO Technical Report on the Nature Run, published in ration with collaborators at JPL and UMBC. ally expensive forecasts. Initial processing of the high-resolution into the GEOS data assimilation system. This past year, Dr. Nor- March 2015 (see sidebar, Code 610.1). Future efforts will include model output is underway. ris continued the short-wave radiative validation of Dr. da Silva the preparation of a journal article on cloud behavior in the new Dr. Nikki Privé (sponsor: R. Gelaro) supports projects in atmo- and Norris’ cloud data assimilation (CDA) system, as Part III (in GEOS-5 Nature Run. spheric data assimilation, especially regarding the use of current Dr. Cynthia Randles (sponsor: A. da Silva) works on a task that preparation) of a series of CDA papers. Included were: (1) coding and future space-based observations. She conducts diagnostic involves three different sub-tasks: she assesses the performance and examining the effect of an improved overlap scheme within Since joining GESTAR in October 2014, Dr. Tomohiro (Tom) Oda studies to evaluate and improve the use of observational data, of the GEOS-5 SEAC4RS mini-reanalysis aerosol fields relative GEOS-5, consistent with the CDA system, on the radiative valida- (sponsor: S. Pawson) has been involved in developing high- and runs and interprets observing system simulation experiments to observations from the field campaign, examines the added tion; (2) examining the effect of cloud edge removal by MODIS resolution CO2 emission datasets for fossil fuel combustion and (OSSEs), which includes simulating observations and their errors. value of AERONET observations in the aerosol assimilation, and optical property retrievals on the radiative validation; (3) examin- biomass burning and evaluating them using atmospheric trans- The testing and interpretation phases require applying theory prepares downscaled emissions inventories for a high-resolution ing the effect of GEOS-5 background optical depth biases on the port models and correlative measurements. As PI, Dr. Oda leads and experience to explain sometimes unintuitive responses to replay simulation. Regarding the SEAC4RS Field Mission, she and CDA system and its short-wave validation. Reviews for his and Dr. a NASA ROSES13-funded project and develops and maintains a often complex algorithms. Over this past year, Dr. Privé developed her colleagues have used in-situ observations of aerosol optical da Silva’s CDA papers (Parts I and II) were received and they have global fossil fuel carbon dioxide (CO2) emission model (ODIAC: elements required for a new OSSE using the GMAO Nature Run. properties and aerosol mass to assess the performance of the submitted revisions. Subsequently, reviews of the revisions were Open-source Data Inventory for Anthropogenic CO2) that pro- Land surface types for use with radiative transfer calculations SEAC4RS mini- meteorological and aerosol reanalysis. While the received, and they determined that, for Part 1, additional calcu- duces global CO2 emission fields at a very high spatial resolution were generated, as were data files for tropical cyclone relocation. model performs extremely well in simulating both the magnitude lations were required to illustrate the workings of their Markov (1x1km). Several upgrades have been made to his ODIAC model, The new GEOS-5 Nature Run (G5NR) was used to create synthetic and location of aerosol AOT, extinction, and backscattering, the Chain Monte Carlo Bayesian inference algorithm. They worked and he has distributed the 2014 version of this ODIAC dataset to observations for OSSEs, and these observations were calibrated model does poorly in representing the aerosol absorption. This is on these calculations quite extensively during the past year; as a the international user community. He gave a presentation on the using repeated short runs of the data assimilation system (DAS) due to excessive black carbon in the model, most likely result- result, the calculations have been completed and an additional recent upgrades and modifications at the NASA Carbon Cycle and to calculate observation counts. A case using real archived obser- ing from an assumption of hydrophobicity upon emission. These section has been added to the manuscript, along with four new Ecosystem Joint workshop held at College Park, MD, and currently vations was run for 2.5 months to use for calibration and verifi- results were presented at the 2014 AGU Fall meeting and the figures and an extensive mathematical appendix. The analysis is working on a manuscript that summarizes his recent version of cation. Three months of synthetic observations were generated SEAC4RS Science Team Meeting. A manuscript is in preparation. revealed identifiability issues with a one-layer version of the algo- this model. A team at NOAA/ESRL implemented a simulation of from the G5 Nature Run and tested in the GMAO OSSE setup. rithm under certain cloud cover situations, though these are not fossil fuel emissions in the atmosphere using a version of ODIAC This preliminary test involved two months of analysis cycles using Other work involved studying the impact of AERONET observations expected to seriously affect the full multi-layer algorithm. Dr. Nor- data, and a movie of the simulation became available for display the GEOS-5/GSI, along with five weeks of daily forecasts. Results on aerosol reanalysis. Dr. Randles performed two mini-reanalyses ris plans to complete revisions to Parts I and II of the Monte Carlo on NOAA’s Science On a Sphere (http://sos.noaa.gov/Datasets/ showed that the new synthetic observations seem realistic, but with and without AERONET, and assessed the added-value Bayesian CDA paper series, and will submit Part III, which focuses dataset.php?id=504). At present, Dr. Oda is testing the use of the forecast skills are high due to the similarity of the Nature Run brought to the assimilation by using AERONET. A manuscript is in on the radiative validation of the CDA system. different satellite data (DMSP, Suomi-NPP/VIIRS and LandSat) to and the GEOS-5 forecast model. Future work will involve complet- preparation. Additionally, she and her colleagues have provided improve the spatial emission representation. He contributed to ing the transfer of the OSSE system to the new discover compute an initial assessment of the aerosol reanalysis from MERRA-2 for Dr. Norris continued supporting Gala Wind and Arlindo da Silva four AGU presentations, two Japanese conference abstracts and nodes. Calibration of the synthetic observations and observa- a technical memo. In preparation for a high-resolution (12 km) with his contribution to the MODIS cloud simulator work, par- four EGU presentations related to this project. tion errors on the new system will be completed. A two-month replay simulation for the MERRA-2 period, they have prepared ticularly the aerosol validation, e.g., by providing aerosol species control case using the GEOS-5 Nature Run observations will be downscaled emissions of organic and black carbon aerosol. In the breakdowns for simulator sampled locations. Also, he com- Dr. Oda also works on the modeling of biomass burning. He has performed, including daily forecasts, along with an accompanying coming months, she plans to compile a technical memo on the pleted a preliminary validation of cloud radiative forcing (CRF) for proposed a method to estimate biomass burning emissions using validation case using real data. MERRA-2 aerosol reanalysis. GMAO’s GEOS-5 Modern Era MERRA-2 reanalysis product. The combustion parameters retrieved by the VIIRS/Nightfire algorithm MERRA-2 CRF for thermal and solar bands was compared with developed by Co-Investigator Dr. Chris Elvidge and his group at Dr. Privé contributed to the evaluation effort of GMAO’s new high- Dr. Randles co-authored one journal article that has been accept- the CERES EBAF satellite data product, and also with the earlier NOAA/NGDC. Dr. Oda is currently developing a model to calculate resolution Nature Run for OSSEs by analyzing the extratropical ed by ACPD, and is the co-author of one and lead author of two MERRA-1 reanalysis. This work will be written up by mid-May the emissions with the NOAA/NGDC team and a collaborator at synoptic wave activity in the Nature Run and also examining the other manuscripts currently being prepared for JGR-Atmospheres 2015, and presented at a GMAO Science Theme Meeting in early NCAR. time mean fields and general circulation. She coordinated the and ACPD. June. In the coming year, Dr. Norris will work on providing a near section on wind and temperature field evaluation for the 2015 Under this task, Dr. Oreste Reale (sponsor: S. Schubert) sup- real-time passive and non-cycling cloud analysis for Collection As a Co-I, Dr. Oda is part of the GEOS-CARB2 project funded by Technical Memo, “Evaluation of the 7-km GEOS-5 Nature Run” ports scientific research on climate variability and tropical storms 6 MODIS data and Geostationary cloud data. He also plans to the NASA Carbon Monitoring System (PI: Dr. Lesley Ott). He works (see sidebar, Code 610.1). Also, as a result of her research, she using high-resolution versions of the GEOS-5 atmospheric model advise the GEOS-5 modeling group on the cloud overlap behavior on uncertainty associated with fossil fuel emissions used in gave a poster presentation at the 12th JCSDA Technical Review developed by the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). and its tuning in the RRTMG radiation scheme that will become carbon flux analysis, and has made an inter-comparison of global Meeting & Science Workshop on Satellite Data Assimilation at In particular, he evaluates the sensitivity of the representation of the default radiation scheme in future GEOS-5 releases with emission datasets and will further characterize the differences the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction (NCWCP), tropical storms in GEOS-5 to model resolution and uses metrics 26 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 27 specific to different categories of tropical storms. Since October selected as an AGU research spotlight. on ocean phytoplankton populations using the GMAO NOBM. tial contributors. In future months, she will participate in meet- 1st, Dr. Reale has been involved in the GMAO monitoring effort, She has prepared data and documentation necessary to move ings and coordinate efforts in building the international database. contributing to the ongoing evaluation and assessment of the Dr. Oreste Reale performs work under a three-year NASA grant of the NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model (NOBM) data to the new As part of her PACE proposal work, she will develop the radiative GMAO modeling suite and other GMAO products. Dr. Reale has which he is PI (Program Manager: Dr. R. Kakar) and investigates Giovanni-4 system, and has downloaded all the in situ data nec- transfer model to be hyperspectral instead of a current 25 nm co-authored four presentations given at the Monitoring Meetings the representation of tropical cyclone (TC) structure, the changes essary for validating the NOBM. Additionally, she has downloaded, model and collect physical, physiological and optical properties of from November 2014 – April 2015; all have involved an assess- in structure, and TC forecasting ability, consequent to the as- regridded and reformatted all the Modern Era Retrospective-Anal- phytoplankton groups currently not included in the NOBM. ment of the operational GEOS-5 data assimilation and forecast similation of AIRS data. The work is focused on assimilation of ysis For Research and Applications (MERRA) reanalysis product system, compared with experimental versions of the system, radiances affected by clouds and includes the investigation of the (monthly, daily and 6-hourly) necessary to force both the Poseidon Other future work will involve investigation of the effects of ice and with official NCEP and ECMWF forecasts. In particular, the effects of AIRS data assimilation on precipitation forecast. He and Modular Ocean Model circulation model, and downloaded coverage on the phytoplankton communities around Greenland. presentations focused on the following: the performance of the uses the Hilbert-Huang Transform to evaluate the spectral proper- the new reprocessing of Carbon Tracker data that provided the Dr. Rousseaux will collaborate with Lesley Ott (GMAO) to calcu- GEOS-5 with respect to a major mid-November arctic outbreak ties of analyses obtained by different assimilation strategies. atmospheric carbon data needed for the model. late carbon dioxide fluxes over the oceans as part of the Carbon over the U.S.; the GEOS-5 representation of a tropical cyclone-like Dr. Erica McGrath-Spangler and Dr. Yaping Zhou (Code 610.1) Monitoring System proposal. She also will conduct data analysis system developed over the Mediterranean Sea on November 7th; are also partly supported by this grant. Over the past year, a set In 2014, she co-authored along with her sponsor, Dr. W. Gregg, a to assess the potential of a phytoplankton index to detect El Niño the performance of an experimental version of the GEOS-5 (pro- of experiments was produced to compare the effect of variable NASA Technical Memo titled “The effects of chlorophyll assimila- Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability in the Equatorial Pacific duced by Dr. W. Putman) in handling an unusual triple cyclogene- AIRS radiances data density and distribution in the GEOS-5 data tion on carbon fluxes in a global biogeochemical model”, NASA/ Ocean as part of her collaboration with JPL. sis that occurred in the western Pacific; and the effect of variable assimilation and forecast system. The procedure, known as “thin- TM-2014-104696, Vol. 33. Dr. Rousseaux was first author on a infrared data density in the GEOS-5 DAS. In addition, Dr. Reale ning”, is a standard practice to reduce the gross volume of data paper recently submitted to Global Biogeochemical Cycles and a The GEOS-5 Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Model (GEOS- organized a GMAO Science Theme Meeting on Tropical Cyclones, to a subset that a DAS can handle. The experiments are aimed co-author on two published articles, one in Journal of Geophysical 5 AOGCM), a coupled climate model developed at the NASA selecting the speakers and giving a presentation authored by him at investigating the effect of a modified thinning in presence of Research-Oceans and one in Journal of Geophysical Research- GMAO, is designed to simulate climate variability on a wide range and Dr. Erica McGrath-Spangler. tropical cyclones. Dr. McGrath-Spangler, who is responsible for Atmospheres. She also co-authored three articles, one which was of time scales, from synoptic time scales to multi-century climate designing and running the GEOS-5, has produced six two-month- published in Ocean Modelling. Over the past year, Dr. Rousseaux change. The model’s main components are the atmospheric Dr. Reale contributed to the assessment of the ultra-high-res- long assimilation experiments and related sets of forecasts, was first author on five presentations and co-author on five oth- model, the catchment land surface model, MOM5 (the ocean olution (7km) global simulation created by Dr. Putman (GMAO) which will serve as a framework for future studies. Dr. Reale has ers, which were given at the Ocean Optics Conference, the 2nd model developed by the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory) with the cubed-sphere version of the GEOS-5. This simulation coordinated this phase, has begun the evaluation of the analyses Gregory G. Leptoukh Workshop, the NASA PACE Science Team and CICE4 (the sea ice model developed at Los Alamos National has been released as the new Nature Run (NR) for use in the and forecasts produced, and is designing the future experiments. Meeting, the 5th North American Carbon Program, the Program Laboratory). The GMAO uses the model for assimilation of climate Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) community, to The results are extremely promising, and have demonstrated that for Arctic Regional Climate Assessment meeting, the NASA CMS data, for climate predictions and for basic climate research. Cur- replace a previous simulation produced by the European Center the density of AIRS data impacts the forecast skill differently, meeting, and the NASA Carbon Cycle and Ecosystem Focus Area rently, the model produces a realistic, stable mean climate and for Medium-Range Weather Forecast in 2007. The validation/ according to what kind of atmospheric feature is being predicted. workshop (among others). She was invited to and participated in interannual climate variability; however, some deficiencies have to evaluation process of the NR has been a major collaborative In particular, large anti-cyclones, being mostly inactive, benefit by the Pre-Decadal Carbon Workshop in Oklahoma and contributed be addressed. To improve the model performance, Dr. Yury Vikhli- effort that involved several scientists from the GMAO and other a very low density. On the contrary, the representation of tropi- to this effort by volunteering to write the report. In May 2015, Dr. aev conducts and analyzes multi-decadal high-resolution climate NASA Laboratories. In March 2015, the new NASA Technical cal cyclones is damaged by sparse data and benefits from the Rousseaux will participate in the MODIS Science Team Meet- simulations. Over this past year, 10 multi-decadal and multi-cen- Memorandum on the GMAO NR was published as a 300-page assimilation of denser information. The final goal is to attempt ing, and in June 2015, she will give a talk at the Hyperspectral tury climate simulations were performed in order to assess the document and comprises evaluations of different aspects of the to create an “intelligent thinning” technique, based on dynamic Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) Data Product Symposium, will chair and model performance and to address model biases. This includes simulation. As part of the NR validation team, Dr. Reale has been fields. Some of these results were presented at the GMAO Sci- present at the International Ocean Color Science Meeting, and a 400-year-long baseline simulation based on the Ganymed-4_0 leading and coordinating the evaluation of tropical cyclones, ence Theme Meeting in January 2015 by Drs. Reale and McGrath- will participate in the NASA Ocean Color Research Team Meeting. atmosphere component and MOM5 ocean component. This simu- tropical weather disturbances, and atmospheric jets in this new Spangler, and at a GMAO Monitoring Meeting in April 2015 by Drs. lation is used to study interannual and decadal climate variability NR. In this capacity, he is the first author of the chapter “Tropical Reale and McGrath-Spangler along with Dr. Will McCarty (GSFC). Two proposals that she submitted last year were awarded funding in the GEOS-5 AOGCM. Results from this baseline simulation were Cyclones and Related Phenomena”, co-authored by Drs. Deepthi Future plans include designing and coordinating the production of (Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) and the Pre- presented at GMAO meetings. Achuthavarier, Gary Partyka and Marangelly Fuentes, in the 2015 new experiments with both Dr. McGrath-Spangler and Dr. McCarty. Aerosol, Clouds and Ecosystem Mission (PACE)). She also was a NASA Technical Memo “Evaluation of the 7-km GEOS-5 Nature Additionally, Dr. Radina Soebiyanto (Code 610.2) will be partially Principal Investigator on the PACE proposal selected for funding Dr. Vikhliaev updated the ocean component of the AOGCM Run” (see sidebar, Code 610.1). funded by this grant; she will work toward the use of the Hilbert- in October 2014. During the last year, Dr. Rousseaux provided all to MOM-5.1.0; additionally, the GEOS-5 code was updated to Huang Transform as an evaluation methodology. the data necessary for Michelle Gierach (JPL) to pursue her data Heracles-3_0 and includes ocean biology and radiation com- Dr. Reale also contributed to a study, led by one of Dr. Schubert’s analysis, provided data for the Round Robin exercise of primary ponents as well as new formulation for the atmosphere-ocean collaborators, Dr. Young-Kwon Lim, on the effects on tropical Additionally, the precipitation fields associated with tropical production called PPARR5, and provided and maintained qual- coupling interface. The model code was redesigned to make it cyclone representation caused by changes in convective param- cyclones are being studied, and the impact of AIRS data assimila- ity control of data provided to the MARine Ecosystems Model easier for different GMAO groups to run the coupled model in dif- etrization. This article was published in January in the Journal tion on precipitation forecast skill continues to be investigated. Intercomparison Project (MAREMIP). Dr. Rousseaux started col- ferent configurations. This version of the model is currently being of Climate. Dr. Reale was the lead author of an article on the This work is partially done in collaboration with Dr. Zhou and has laborating with Peter Thompson (CSIRO, Tasmania) on the Primary tested. Additionally, he prepared and tested a coupled model with impact of dust on tropical cyclogenesis, published in Geophysical demonstrated to date the great sensitivity of precipitation forecast Production in Australian waters. a ¼-degree ocean grid and 1- and ½-degree atmosphere grids. Research Letters in late May 2014. While most of the research in response to assimilated AIRS data. In October 2014, Dr. Reale A new re-routing scheme for river discharge was implemented to was carried out in a task that is currently closed, it involved an gave a talk at the NASA Sounder Science Team Meeting that illus- As part of the PACE Science Team, Dr. Rousseaux became the address a fresh ocean water bias at the river discharge locations. intense collaboration with the GMAO, in particular with Dr. da trated past work on AIRS assimilation in the GEOS-5 system. leader of the PACE Dataset subgroups, which involves organizing Moist physics in the atmosphere was re-tuned for shorter time Silva, who was one of the co-authors. The article titled “Impact of teleconferences, writing reports, advertising the need for data at step, a configuration that produces a realistic climate with slightly assimilated and interactive aerosol on tropical cyclogenesis” was Dr. Cecile Rousseaux (sponsor: W. Gregg) performs research the international level as well as answering questions from poten- cold surface temperature bias over low latitude oceans due to an

28 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 29 excess of low clouds in this region. Work in the coming months of total air; thus, any change in water vapor will change the mixing aimed to review major dengue modeling projects in the US as well management. He was also the lead author for the Report on the will involve an update of the ocean component of the GEOS-5 ratio of the trace gas. This effect is particularly noticeable near as the epidemiological, entomological and environmental data “Contributions of Earth Observations, Novel Data Collection and AOGCM to MOM6, which is the next major release of the GFDL the surface in the tropics. generally needed for modelling. Her work also was discussed in Data Integration” to the monitoring of indicators for Sustainable Modular Ocean Model. Also, Dr. Vikhliaev will continue to assess a symposium organized and chaired by Dr. Kiang at the Annual Development Goals (SDGs) and their Targets. He presented at the the performance of GEOS-5 AOGCM based on the AGCM version Dr. Weir received funding for proposed research that seeks to bet- Meeting for the American Society for Tropical Medicine and WHO-HABITAT-UNESCO meeting held in College Park, MD, and was of Heracles-3.0. ter quantify carbon fluxes and their uncertainties, to use satellite Hygiene in New Orleans, LA. At the Federation of Earth Science invited to a second follow-on meeting as a member of the Task and in-situ observations to develop reanalyses for CO and CO2 Information Partners (ESIP Federation) Winter Meeting - Data Ana- Team on Earth Observations, Novel Data and Data Integration to Dr. Vikhliaev collaborated on a variety of work with the GMAO. He distributions from 2009-2016, and to use similar observations to lytic Session, she discussed the process of using analytic tools for discuss policy issues related to monitoring for Water Sustainable worked with the GMAO data assimilation group on incorporating estimate surface fluxes. different sets of data for the purpose of modeling and prediction. Development Goals. diurnal warm layer and wave model into the GEOS-5 framework, a project that is still in progress. The NOAA Wave Watch III wave Going forward, Dr. Soebiyanto will be working with Dr. Oreste At the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting, Dr. Unninayar co-chaired a ses- model was abandoned for technical reasons and was replaced by CODE 610.2 GLOBAL CHANGE DATA CENTER Reale (Code 610.1) to perform frequency analysis (in particular, sion along with Douglas Cripe (GEO, Geneva, Switzerland) that the University of Miami Wave Model. Also, he participated in joint Dr. Radina Soebiyanto (sponsor: R. Kiang) uses remote sensing the Hilbert Huang Transform) on several GEOS-5 assimilation reviewed options for moving from observations to decisions for GMAO efforts for validating a high-resolution AGCM simulation, a technology to monitor, predict and facilitate the control of infec- experiments that used AIRS-derived products. Also, pending both international and US GEO activities, and explored design Nature Run, and a next version of the Modern-Era Retrospective tious disease transmission. The objective is to develop empiri- a submitted proposal, Dr. Soebiyanto will work with Dr. Assaf components of a potential “cloud-based” GEOSS-AI (Artificial Intel- Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA-2). The climatol- cal and theoretical models and techniques that can be used by Anyamba (Code 618) to develop ecological-based monitoring and ligence) system comprised of modules maintained by contributors ogy of surface atmosphere-ocean fluxes and implied northward public health organizations for disease surveillance and control. risk mapping system for chikungunya using data such as MODIS but readily accessible to end-users. Interoperability and integra- ocean heat transport were validated against observations and This past year, much of her research resulted in publications and LST & NDVI, GLDAS temperature and specific humidity, and SRTM tion will be important elements in the final system, which will against reanalysis products. presentations. One paper, published in PLoS ONE, titled “The Role elevation. allow for the automated flow-through of information and products. of Temperature and Humidity on Seasonal Influenza in Tropical Dr. Unninayar was invited to join the NASA HQ effort to develop Dr. Brad Weir (sponsor: S. Pawson) assimilates atmospheric CO Under his task, Dr. Sushel Unninayar (sponsor: S. Wharton) 2 Areas: Guatemala, El Salvador and Panama, 2008–2013”, was in US-GEO as a component of GEOSS entitled GEOGLoWS (GEO observations into the GEOS-5 data assimilation system, and also collaboration with the US Centers for Disease and Control Preven- supports NASA HQ in a variety of internal, interagency, and Global Water Sustainability). This activity, presently led by NASA, develops and implements background error models based on tion (CDC), CDC Central America Region and several public health international programs, such as the NASA Energy and Water will be opened to all other US agencies for a more coordinated ensemble techniques and bias correction algorithms. He partici- institutions in Central America. Dr. Soebiyanto used specific Cycle Studies (NEWS) Program, the Group on Earth Observations effort. GEOGLoWS will be presented to the GEO Plenary following pates in research studies aimed at evaluating observations from humidity and temperature data from GLDAS, as well as precipita- (GEO) that coordinates the Global Observing System of Systems its further development within the context of US-GEO. Further, Dr. AIRS, GOSAT, and OCO-2 data using GEOS-5, and applies these tion from TRMM. Her findings highlighted the association between (GEOSS), the GEOSS Integrated Global Water Cycle Observations Unninayar co-authored several articles and reports with Douglas toward an improved understanding of the carbon cycle. Over the between influenza activity and specific humidity in the three (IGWCO) Community of Practice (CoP), the U.S. participation to the Cripe, Rick Lawford (Code 617) and Rifat Hossain (WHO) that past year, Dr. Weir investigated two types of error correlations tropical countries studied. Positive association with humidity was UNFCCC, the science assessments of the IPCC, the international appeared in GEWEX News, that were submitted to the Meeting assumed to be zero in the assimilation: those between modeled found in El Salvador and Panama. Negative association was found WCRP/GEWEX program, and the activities of the Committee on of the United Nations (WHOHABITAT-UNEP) on the UN Sustain- surface CO and CO mixing ratios, and those between different Earth Observations Satellites (CEOS), among others. 2 in the more subtropical Guatemala, similar to temperate regions. able Development Goals (SDG)-Water, and that were included soundings from the GOSAT/ACOS and OCO-2 retrievals of CO . 2 Of all the study locations, Guatemala had annual mean tempera- in the meeting of the UN Statistical Commission (UNSC) on the Strong model error correlations between CO and CO suggest Dr. Unninayar was the lead author for several sections of the 2 ture and specific humidity that were lower than the others. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-Water. Additionally, as an that observations of one can help inform predictions about the recently published GEO/GEOSS-IGWCO Water Strategy for the expert member of the International Earth Observations Task Team second publication, published in the ISPRS International Journal next decade. His work included considering strategic options for other. Conversely, strong correlations between different soundings of GeO-Information, was a result of a collaboration with her col- (EOTT), he provided input to the First Consultation on Post-2015 suggest that these soundings provide similar information, and the implementation of the GEO/GEOSS-IGWCO Water Strategy for Monitoring: Global Expanded Water Monitoring Initiative (GEWMI), league at her branch to demonstrate the use of remote sensing the next decade titled “From Observations to Decisions.” Topics thinning the assimilated data may improve the accuracy of the data for public health application - with her study on influenza as held in Geneva, Switzerland. analysis. Work is underway to publish the results of the assimila- included: integration across the water cycle and beyond; the role an illustration. of research in integration; water cycle data integration; water cycle tion of GOSAT/ACOS and OCO-2 CO2 retrievals. Dr. Weir will be He continued to develop the “Water Cycle (Variability) and Ex- presenting these research results at various meetings, including Dr. Soebiyanto has been working on assessing the relationship model integration; representing the water cycle in Community tremes—WCEs” theme within the GEOSS IGWCO-CoP as a part th the 11 International Greenhouse Gas Measurement Workshop of influenza with meteorological conditions in European coun- Earth System Models; land data assimilation systems; the impact of the implementation of the GEOSS Water Strategy. Following (IWGGMS 11) in June 2015. tries (Germany, Slovenia and Spain) and in Israel. She found of water cycle observational and modeling error on end user appli- the initial interaction within the IGWCO, a draft report on initial that influenza was inversely associated with specific humidity in cations; observations to support climate change impact assess- responses received was released in January 2015. To follow up He also extended the trace gas assimilation component of GEOS- these study locations. She also found that influenza models using ments and adaptation, among others. In September 2014, the on this initial activity, Dr. Unninayar is the primary convener of 5 to include the option of using GEOS-Chem as an online chemis- minimum temperature performed slightly better for temperate CEOS appointed a Task Team to study the Water Strategy Report a session to be proposed to the 2015 AGU Fall Meeting entitled try component. This improved upon existing GEOS-Chem assimila- locations, whereas models using specific humidity were better for and develop CEOS implementation priorities. “Integrated Observations and Modeling of Water Cycle (Variability) tion systems, which were restricted to using meteorology fields subtropical locations. This work was in collaboration with the CDC, Extremes (WCEs).” Extremes in the water cycle are becoming computed offline. Furthermore, this enables the GEOS-5 trace gas In late May 2014, the first EO Novel Data Assimilation Task Team more frequent and intense as the climate changes. Many of the World Health Organization (WHO) - Euro region, and each coun- Meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan. Following this meeting, Dr. assimilation component to include observations of many addi- try’s public health institution. A related manuscript is currently impacts of these climate-related extremes are mediated through tional constituents, e.g., retrievals of NO from the Ozone Monitor- Unninayar was invited by the IGWCO to assist in defining and 2 under revision. the water cycle, and they are particularly important because of ing Instrument (OMI) on Aura. Additionally, Dr. Weir identified a completing a draft Matrix Indicator table in order to bring EO their large impacts on socio-economic structures and activities possible refinement for the procedure that calculates changes In September 2014, Dr. Soebiyanto and her sponsor, Dr. Richard to the monitoring activities of the UN system, in particular, the and on natural ecosystems. WCEs are at the center of changes in mixing ratios due to changes in water vapor. Trace gases are Kiang, participated in the White House Office of Science and Tech- joint WHO-HABITAT-UNEP project designed to develop, establish, in the water-food-energy-health-ecosystem nexus. They provide typically treated as ratios of an amount of the gas to the amount nology Policy (OSTP) Dengue Prediction Workshop. The workshop and maintain a credible, cost-effective monitoring mechanism a cross-cutting focus for water cycle research and applications. for waste water, water quality management, and water resource 30 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 31 Adequately characterizing WCEs is a challenge to both space- of the simulated reflectivity magnitudes were apparent. The based and in-situ observing systems, and data assimilation/ simulated Ku reflectivity was also compared to observations from modeling systems. Papers will be invited to review the capabilities APR2 onboard the DC-8 preliminarily. Along with simulated verti- and limitations of these systems to characterize extremes and cal structure of hydrometeors and their thermodynamic environ- variability for the following: Precipitation (Droughts & Floods); ment, the analysis revealed a deep melting layer at the boundary Evapotranspiration; Soil Moisture (Near surface & Root-Zone); of warm and cold air. Further investigations of this case will follow Surface Water (Run-Off, River Flow, River Discharge, Lakes & in the coming year. She presented her findings at the 2014 PMM Reservoirs); Snow & Ice; and Ground Water Storages (Aquifers, Science Team meeting, the Lab for Mesoscale Atmospheric Pro- Discharge/Re-Charge). In 2016, a comprehensive review of the cesses monthly meeting and the 2014 Young Scientist Forum. topic of extremes is planned for the IGWCO and US-GEO-Water. In a manuscript, Dr. Han examined the HUCM bin and Thompson bulk microphysics schemes in the WRF model with the G-SDSU- CODE 612: MESOSCALE ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES synthesized microwave brightness temperature and radar reflec- LABORATORY tivity for a precipitation event over the Sierras. It is a continuing study of evaluating four bulk microphysics schemes in Han et al. Dr. Mircea Grecu (sponsor: R. Meneghini) develops precipitation (2013). The focus of this paper is to assess whether the bin mi- retrievals from combined radar radiometer observations. Over this crophysics scheme could correct over-prediction of precipitation past year, several improvements were implemented into the GPM ice scattering signature and high biases on simulated reflectivity combined algorithm. These include a computationally light pro- magnitudes, which are fairly common limitations in a number cedure to account for multiple scattering effects in the Ka-band of bulk schemes. Ice scattering associated with precipitation radar observations; a more accurate convolution procedure; a over the Sierras was indeed improved in the bin simulations as Backus-Gilbert brightness temperature deconvolution procedure; compared to its bulk counterparts; this improvement is caused and a collocation procedure to enable the use of S2 brightness by a ~ 28% decrease of snow mass in the bin runs than the bulk Fig. 1: Sensitivity run in which size and mass spectrum of most types of hydrometeor species were impacted (M. Han). temperature observations in the combined retrievals. These im- run. However, the simulated radar reflectivity in the bin runs has provements had a significant impact on the consistency between a high bias as compared to the observations, which is inferior Dr. Han was invited to speak at the Winter Weather Course hosted the rain-free statistics of NRCS and from the degree of consisten- single- and dual-frequency radars and improved the agreement to the THOM bulk scheme. Subsequently, two sensitivity runs in UCAR, Boulder, CO, a residence course hosted by the Meteo- cy among PIA estimates derived from different types of reference between simulated and observed brightness temperatures. While were carried out to overcome the bias: one with enhanced snow rological Service of Canada (MSC) and the UCAR Cooperative data. The primary reason that the DSRT is more accurate than its the multiple scattering procedure is already included in the cur- particle breakup mechanism, which partially improved the bin run Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training single-frequency counterpart (SSRT) is because the variance of rent public version of the algorithm, the other three procedures by reducing part of the high bias in the frozen layer, and one to (COMET). Her presentation focused on the dynamics associated the difference in the rain-free normalized surface cross sections, are undergoing testing in a Precipitation Processing Systems increase Ice Nuclei (IN) concentration by 1 order of magnitude. In with heavy snow bands in comma-shaped clouds of extratropical sigma0(Ka)- sigma0(Ku), is usually smaller than the variance of (PPS) environment, and will be incorporated in the next version of this run, size and mass spectrum of most types of hydrometeor cyclones. Future work includes work on a Precipitation Measure- either sigma0(Ka) or sigma0(Ku) alone. That is, the surface cross- the operational algorithm to be released in June 2015. species were impacted (See Fig. 1). It also increased snow mass ment Missions (PMM) science team proposal. sections at the two frequencies are usually highly correlated so size by 19%. However, the increased snow was with the smallest that the differential surface reference measurement is stable and Dr. Mei Han Dr. Hyokyung Kim (sponsor: R. Meneghini) studies the path- (sponsor: S. Braun) applies satellite-based obser- particle sizes in the snow mass spectrum, thus no further im- changes in this quantity can be attributed to the degree of attenu- integrated attenuation (PIA), which can be used to improve vations from NASA satellites (GPM and TRMM) and numerical provements were made on the simulated brightness temperature ation caused by the presence of precipitation and cloud liquid precipitation estimates from high frequency space-borne radar. models (WRF) to study precipitation associated with extratropical and reflectivity. water along the radar beam. One approach that provides an estimate of PIA is the surface cyclones over ocean and land, and evaluates the performances reference technique (SRT) which uses the measurements of the One way to improve both the single- and dual-frequency surface of cloud and precipitation models and retrieval algorithms in the The bin scheme could represent the cloud and precipitation spe- normalize radar cross section of surface (NRCS), in the presence techniques is to use a database of previously measured rain-free middle latitudes. Dr. Han continued to examine multiple model cies in much greater detail than bulk schemes; in particular, it and absence of precipitation. Measurements from the dual-fre- surface cross sections, as in a look-up table ordered according simulations and observations of a snowstorm case that occurred could explicitly resolve their Particle Size Distributions (PSDs). But quency precipitation radar (DPR) onboard the GPM core satellite to latitude, longitude and incidence angle. The many years over on Feb 24, 2012 during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation it does not show an overall superior to the bulk scheme (THOM, now afford the first opportunity to assess the SRT performance for which the TRMM PR data were accumulated enabled computa- Experiment (GCPEx). She analyzed two CloudSat overpasses that in this study) when compared to observed microwave signals. By the space-borne radar at Ka-band as well as for the Ku/Ka dual tion of a high resolution temporal file at 0.1degree x 0.1degree for were good samples of the storm and provide good reference of comparing the two types of microphysics schemes (bin and bulk) frequency combination. each month. For the DPR, the data are much fewer and collected how the vertical structure of the wrapped-around snowfall region and the sensitivity simulations, the variations in hydrometeors’ over a larger area, 65S to 65N. With a coarser resolution comes looks with the space-borne W-band radar. She also analyzed the mass spectrum and PSDs provide a good explanation on any For several years, Dr. Kim has focused on developing and refin- a higher variance, so the temporal files are less useful than they Multi-Radar-Multi-System (MRMS) data provided by NOAA/NSSL. variations (including improvement and non-improvement) that ing the SRT algorithm, developing the DPR radar simulator, and would be otherwise. Some ideas on how to improve the temporal This data depicts the storm with WSR-88D radar reflectivity in a were made when synthesizing brightness temperature and radar providing simulated radar test data for algorithm teams. Since the reference files are being explored which include making separate gridded 3-dimentioanal Cartesian coordinate, and provides the reflectivity in the study. Given that radiometers and radars (such launch of GPM/DPR in February 2014, she adjusted the focus of look-up tables for land, ocean and coast. While there are several precipitation rate and precipitation type at the surface. Several as GMI and DPR onboard GPM) often operate at a wide range of her research to assessing the accuracy of PIA estimates derived ways to construct this table, the objective is to find a choice of WRF and G-SDSU simulations were examined for this case, and microwave frequencies, the findings about the mass spectrum from single and dual frequency SRT algorithms with real mea- averaging domains that minimizes the average variance. Dr. Kim reflectivity and Doppler velocity at S- Ku-, Ka-, and W- bands were could contribute to improving the understanding of uncertainties sured DPR data instead of simulated data. The initial assessment will contribute to determining the best way to construct the tem- synthesized and compared to the available observations provided in their retrieval algorithms. by MRMS (S-band) and CloudSat (W-band). At W-band, low biases of PIA estimates from the DPR show encouraging results from the poral reference look-up table and to improve the SRT method to dual-frequency SRT (DSRT). This tentative conclusion follows from 32 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 33 clutters. GPM/DPR measurements have shown that variance of microphysics scheme, which includes below-cloud wash out and the difference of path integral attenuation (PIA) between Ku- and in-cloud scavenging through condensation nuclei activation. For Ka-bands is much less than the PIA at either of their wavelengths; the wash out process, when the precipitation particles are fall- this suggests that PIA estimated through dual-wavelength mea- ing down through the atmosphere, they will collide with aerosol surements would achieve higher accuracy and stability. However, particles, collect some of them, and eventually bring the aerosol the issue as to how to convert dual-wavelength differential PIA to particles to the ground if the precipitation particles reach the the single-wavelength PIA has not completely been solved. One ground. For in-cloud scavenging, each aerosol concentration is typical way to derive single-wavelength PIA is to use the ratio of reduced when cloud condensation and ice nuclei activation occur, the PIA between Ka- and Ku-band. By using measurements of but partially regain the loss when evaporation and sublimation rain drop size distribution (DSD), statistical properties of the PIA occur inside the cloud. The effort also includes adding aerosol ratio has been thoroughly studied. The ratio varies from 3 to 12, coupling into the new Goddard 4-ice cloud microphysics scheme depending on radar reflectivity and DFR (differential frequency in the NU-WRF. The new wet-deposition is being tested using the ratio of radar reflectivity factors between two wavelengths) as well Hurricane Nadine (2012) case. as other radar parameters. The purpose of this study is to provide a guide in choosing the PIA ratio in estimating DPR PIA. Hurricane Sandy was the most destructive hurricane of the 2012 hurricane season, wreaking havoc along the entire eastern Atlan- Dr. Liao also worked on validating early measurements and tic Seaboard from Florida to Maine. It is also the second most estimates of GPM DPR. With the launch of the GPM satellite, costly hurricane in U.S. history, with damages estimated at over the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) onboard provides $68 billion. Most of the destruction and damages occurred along measurements of three-dimensional storm structures within the northern New Jersey shore and in the New York City area, 65 degrees in latitude. To evaluate the performance of the DPR where Sandy made landfall. As reported in forecast bulletins, Figure 2: Model-simulated aerosol optical depth (AOD) compared against the observed MODIS AOD (R. Shi) attenuation correction procedures and estimates of rainfall rate, Sandy arose from the alignment of favorable meteorological con- the attenuation-corrected radar reflectivity factors and surface ditions in the tropics and extratropics, leading to its unusual track estimate more accurate precipitation. implemented CUDA Fortran to run GCE model on GPU (Graphic rain rates inferred from the DPR data are compared with the and evolution compared to more typical Atlantic hurricanes. The Processing Unit) nodes at NASA NCCS. This is part of the require- same quantities derived from un-attenuated ground-based radar. oft-asked question is: Does the occurrence of Hurricane Sandy Dr. Xiaowen Li (sponsor: W.-K. Tao) studies cloud microphysics ment for ROSES AIST proposal. Dr. Li performed this work in Preliminary results indicate that the DPR measurements and have anything to do with global warming? What would happen to and dynamics, aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions, as well as collaboration with Shujia Zhou at NASA NCCS. Dr. Li also modi- estimates are well correlated with the results of ground-based Hurricane Sandy, if the same initial atmospheric conditions were their implications in global climate. Research has involved the fied Morrison 2-moment scheme in NASA Unified WRF to include radar, although there are 1-2 dB biases in radar reflectivity along to repeat themselves under sea surface temperature forcing in use of large-scale force-driven GCE model to simulate the Novem- explicit aerosol activations. These modifications allow for explicit the vertical direction, which might result from an offset of ground a global warming world? Two sets of five 10-day integrations of ber event of the DYANMO field campaign. This is part of a model- simulations of aerosol transport and budget. This work is in col- radar calibration. the Nu-WRF model, starting from initial atmospheric conditions ing inter-comparison in collaboration with Mathew Janiga (Univ. laboration with Dr. Ann Fridlind at NASA GISS. from 00Z October 22, 2012, with 6 hourly increments, through of Miami) and Shuguang Wang (Columbia Univ.). Three sets of Using an effective snow scattering model, Dr. Liao performed a 00Z October 23, 2012 were carried out. In the first, referred to as radar data (TRMM Precipitation Radar, ground-based S-POL, and Dr. Liang Liao (sponsor: R. Meneghini) conducts research on a va- study of the dual-wavelength technique that employs the differen- present day SST (PSST), the atmosphere is forced by prescribed ship-borne C-band Radar) are used to compare and validate the riety of topics associated with airborne and spaceborne weather tial frequency ratio (DFR) of the Ku- and Ka-band radar reflectivi- October 2012 mean SST. The second is forced by a future SST GCE simulations. Dr. Li found that the model simulated excessive radar analysis generally and the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR) ties and the Ku-band reflectivity is carried out for snow estimates. (FSST) derived by superimposing on PSST a projected mean cloud ice at the upper troposphere. By reducing ice nuclei concen- and GPM Dual-Wavelength Precipitation Radar specifically. The An analysis of the retrieval uncertainties associated with the PSD October SST anomaly pattern under global warming. As expected, trations in the Goddard microphysics scheme, results improved work includes single- and dual-wavelength radar analysis of model and the particle scattering model, such as the aspect ratio FSST is much warmer than PSST. The maximum warming (> 2oC) significantly. A related manuscript is underway. hydrometeor profiles, simulation of polarimetric radar signatures of ellipsoidal particles and effective particle mass density, was is found in the tropical eastern Pacific, the Caribbean Sea, the in rain and snow, retrieval of the microphysical properties and performed in order to improve snow retrieval accuracy with proper Gulf of Mexico and regions along the southern and southeastern Additionally, a coupled atmosphere-ocean-wave model (COAWST characteristic parameters of drop size distribution using data from model settings. To aid in the development of the Ku- and Ka- Atlantic seaboard. The FSST warming extends northwestward in model) was used to simulate both October and November MJO dual-wavelength airborne weather radar, and the validation of the band dual-wavelength radar technique and to further evaluate its the form of a warm tongue emanating from the tropics toward the events during the DYNAMO field campaign. TRMM 3B42, REMSS- TRMM standard products using ground-based measurements. performance, measurements of the snow size distribution and fall extratropics, away from the Atlantic coast. merged satellite SST data, as well as ECWMF SST analysis and velocity acquired from the Precipitation Image Probe (PIP) and the HYCOM SST analysis were used to corroborate the model simula- The GPM satellite was launched successfully in early 2014, and two-dimensional Video Disdrometer (2DVD) are used in this study. Under PSST, the storm track of Hurricane Sandy for each of the tions. Finally, a two-dimensional GCE model with spectral bin mi- dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR), one of GPM principle five simulations mimics observations reasonably well through- crophysical scheme was used to study aerosol-cloud-precipitation instruments, has begun measuring global rainfall rates. Although In this first task, Dr. Jainn Jong (Roger) Shi (sponsor: W.-K. Tao) out the 9-day simulations, showing clearly the initial northward interactions and explore the mechanisms of convection invigora- the DPR measurement data appear in high quality, a few issues studies physical and dynamical processes related to convective- propagation, followed by a slight northeastward recurvature, and tion. A related paper is currently under revision. still need to be studied, such as surface signal saturation and to-regional-scale precipitation systems. He has been working on finally a sharp northwest turn of the storm towards the New Jersey antenna side-lobe contamination. In order for DPR to achieve the developing an aerosol wet deposition and rainout process in the coast. Under FSST, the initial northward path of the storm is simi- Dr. Li also works on model development. She continued to col- highest quality, a great amount of work and study is required, new aerosol-radiation-microphysics coupling code in the NASA lar to that of PSST up to the first 5 days, beyond which the tracks laborate with Dan Kokron at NASA NAS and tested MPI-IO in GCE including testing and checking the antenna side-lobe effect and Unified Weather Research and Forecasting (NU-WRF) Model. bifurcate into two groups. Two tracks show a sharp northwest model. MPI-IO is required for large-domain, long-term GCE model the development of the technique to remove or mitigate side-lobe Under the current coding effort, a new aerosol wet deposition turn, while three tracks show a continuous northeast recurvature, simulations. She modified the Morrison 2-moment scheme and scheme has been developed and added into the Goddard cloud 34 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 35 and only a weak northwest turn beyond day 7-8, when the storm Dr. Cho’s research resulted in a presentation on aerosol-cloud detect dry (moist) advection associated is already far out in the open ocean. This result was presented in relationship using MODIS cloud regimes at the 2014 AGU Fall with cold (warm) outbreaks in the Arctic. the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, December Meeting in San Francisco, CA, as well as a publication in Jour- This is a promising new study for the 15-19, 2014. nal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres. She attended the Arctic region, which can more clearly CloudSat and CALIPSO Science Team Meeting in Washington, DC define the atmospheric dynamics along Dr. Jainn Jong (Roger) Shi (sponsor: S. Braun) also works on and obtained scientific and programmatic information related to the marginal sea-ice zone. In addition to a second task involving simulations of hurricanes and their her research. Future work will involve efforts toward testing and COSMIC RO observations, she also is us- interaction with the Saharan Air Layer using the GSFC NU-WRF evaluating the improvement of cloud regimes. ing ECMWF data, and plans to use other regional model. The modeling includes aerosols and their impacts satellite observations, such as MISR on cloud microphysics and radiation, and the simulations are Dr. Richard Damoah (sponsor: C. Ichoku) supports NASA’s wind and CALIOP cloud data, to corrobo- analyzed and compared to observations from the Hurricane and Interdisciplinary Research in Earth Science through the amplified rate this study. Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) investigation. A set of 30 NU-WRF study of the interactions and feedbacks between biomass burning simulations with ensemble initial and boundary conditions were and water cycle dynamics across the Northern sub-Saharan Afri- In the coming months, Dr. Ganeshan produced for Hurricane Nadine (2012). These simulations were can region (NSSA). Led by Dr. Ichoku, this effort aims to provide will apply her wintertime COSMIC RO conducted to compare with the aerosol coupling simulations for a robust analysis of the impacts of recent biomass-burning by Figure provided by M. Ganeshan retrieval method to investigate bound- studying the impact of dust from Saharan Air Layer (SAL) on the monitoring and assessing multiple regional surface, atmospheric, ary layer inversion properties in regions evolution of Hurricane Nadine. These simulations will be analyzed and water cycle processes through remote sensing and modeling retrieve two properties over the Arctic Ocean during cold months: such as Greenland and Antarctica. The and compared to observations from the Hurricane and Severe approaches that integrate research, systems engineering, and boundary layer inversion height and the frequency of the occur- cold and dry climate in these high-latitudes / high-altitude regions Storm Sentinel (HS3) investigation. NU-WRF v3.5.1 with the 2014 applications expertise to best make the connections between the rence of surface-based inversions. will be appropriate for deriving temperature inversion properties Goddard long-wave and short-wave schemes also was fine-tuned various identified processes and phenomena, in order to achieve using her method. She will continue to investigate the variabil- Dr. Ganeshan is working on developing a novel technique based for the aerosol coupling simulations. Model-simulated aerosol concrete results for societal benefits and climate impact assess- ity of COSMIC RO penetration with an aim to develop a retrieval on the variance of the refractivity profile to retrieve the height of optical depth (AOD) is compared reasonably well against the ments. With Dr. Damoah’s expertise in atmospheric modeling and algorithm for atmospheric moisture in the Arctic boundary low-cloud top. Based on radiosonde data, this quantity is found to observed MODIS AOD, as shown in Figure 2. climate, he investigates the recent as well as future impact of bio- layer. The rapid sea-ice retreat has raised the uncertainty in our be sensitive to the gradient of the dew point depression (Ddep), mass burning from the NSSA region on atmospheric composition understanding of ocean-atmosphere interactions and boundary which can be used to derive the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) Dr. Shi compared the results from the four experimental simula- and their associated radiative impact, using NASA’s free-running layer processes. In particular, she will study the boundary layer cloud top. The method identifies the first peak (from the surface) tions of Hurricane Nadine (2012) with and without dust aerosol chemistry climate model (GEOSCCM). To that end, Dr. Damoah moisture variability in the vicinity of the marginal sea-ice zone, an in the variance of the refractivity (N-variance), which is computed coupling in cloud microphysics and radiation schemes (AMR1, successfully completed four separate two-year NASA GMI Model important region for frontal dynamics and roll cloud development. based on the difference between the smooth and original refrac- AMR2, AM1 and AR1). Results show that 1) inclusion of the dust simulations to investigate NSSA biomass burning as part of the In addition to RO observations, she will use ERA-I reanalyses data tivity profiles. This method was validated by using high-resolution leads to better track prediction; 2) apparent differences exist in IDS project. He has constructed an analysis system for the IDS for this study as well as satellite retrievals, such as MISR wind radiosonde observations over the subtropical oceans and sum- precipitation structures between runs with and without dust; 3) project, available at http://acdb-ext.gsfc.nasa.gov/People/Damo- and CALIOP cloud data. Regarding the use of the novel N-variance mer Arctic Ocean regions, respectively (see Figure 1). This figure there is little impact on storm intensity through the first five days ah/IDS/. He presented a poster related to the impact of biomass technique for retrieving low-cloud height using COSMIC RO, she illustrates the relationship between the peak in the N-variance of simulation; and 4) simulation differences from aerosol coupling burning on air quality and climate during Morgan Innovation Day, will explore the applications of this retrieval method in the Arctic and the low-cloud top defined by the Ddep in each radiosonde experiments run smaller than spread caused by random perturba- held in Annapolis, MD. Additionally, he gave a presentation on his as well as other regions, such as the subtropics and tropical profile. A NASA ROSES proposal to further explore this technique tion in the 30 ensemble runs. These results were presented in the analyses of the IDS GMI CTM simulations at the 2014 AGU Fall oceans. has been submitted; Dr. Ganeshan’s role as Co-Investigator AMS annual meeting in January 2015. Meeting. He is planning to initiate a Chemistry Climate model of would include exploring the retrieval of ABL properties over polar the biomass burning in the NSSA region. Within this task, Dr. Charles Gatebe (sponsor: C. Ichoku) aims to Additionally, Dr. Shi participated in the 2014 Hurricane and Se- regions, oceanic regions, and flat landmasses using the two RO advance the knowledge of clouds, aerosols, ecosystem structure vere Storm Sentinel (HS3) field campaign at NASA Wallops Flight Dr. Manisha Ganeshan (sponsor: D. Wu) works on developing an methods she recently developed. and function, snow and ice, albedo, and feedbacks to climate. Facility in late September. He will continue ensemble hurricane algorithm to retrieve boundary layer properties over the data- A well-calibrated and feature-rich airborne dataset is built on Dr. Ganeshan recently investigated the important relationship simulations with aerosol coupling for the HS3 project to examine sparse region of the Arctic Ocean using GPS radio occultation surface bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). He between surface sensible heat flux and the mixed layer height sensitivity to small perturbations. measurements. Ground truth (radiosonde observations) will be develops new methods to define important surface and atmo- over the open Arctic Ocean based on cruise ship observations used to aid in the developing and validating the algorithm. She sphere radiative transfer functions, and improves remote sensing collected from the Japanese research vessel “MIRAI”. The results also compares GPS-derived refractivity measurements to models, retrievals of aerosols and clouds using laboratory, ground-based, serve as crucial evidence of ground-truth for the changing Arctic CODE 613 CLIMATE AND RADIATION LABORATORY reanalyses and other satellite products to improve boundary layer airborne and satellite remote sensing. Also, instruments and atmosphere in response to sea-ice retreat. She is eager to publish Dr. Nayeong Cho (sponsor: L. Oreopoulos) studies cloud struc- and cloud parameterizations over the Arctic region. Dr. Ganeshan technologies are developed for new measurements in support this work in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, ture and cloud interaction with their environment by using the has developed a new methodology using COSMIC Radio Occulta- of future missions, including those defined in the U.S. National where it has already been reviewed once. concept of “cloud regimes” as a basis for performing comparison tion (RO) refractivity to detect properties of the wintertime tem- Research Council Decadal Survey. Dr. Gatebe has developed new and compositing analysis on a suite of spatiotemporally match- perature inversion (height and frequency) over the Arctic Ocean. Dr. Ganeshan seeks to investigate cold air outbreak (CAO) events angular distribution models for the satellite assessment of direct ing observational datasets. Dr. Cho analyzed aerosol effects on (COSMIC is a suite of GPS satellites - the Constellation Observing that occur over the marginal sea-ice zone of the Arctic Ocean radiative forcing by wildfire aerosols derived using multi-angular/ clouds by MODIS cloud regimes. The coincidence of microphysical System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate.) A related using COSMIC RO observations. The marginal sea-ice zone is spectral airborne measurements and 3D radiative transfer model- variables (such as cloud optical depth, cloud effective radius) and manuscript, currently being revised for possible publication in the considered important for frontal dynamics and cloud formation in ing. This effort involves data analysis and modeling of airborne aerosol index according to cloud regimes will provide support to Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres, describes an the Arctic. Currently she is exploring the sensitivity of RO penetra- campaign data from the following NASA-supported experiments: the idea of invigoration and suppression of cloud by aerosols. algorithm based on radiosonde data from the SHEBA campaign to tion to atmospheric moisture, and subsequently the ability to Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from

36 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 37 San Francisco, CA, the Sounder Science Team Meeting, Green- Fourteen models from 11 institutes provide ISCCP simulator out- belt, MD, and the CloudSat/Calipso team meeting, Alexandria, VA. puts, so Dr. Jin and colleagues evaluate these models. For even Future plans include ongoing participation in proposal efforts as and convenient comparison, they assign (known as “Force”) each well as actively searching for collaboration opportunities within model’s clouds to pre-defined ISCCP observational cloud regimes, and outside NASA. rather than deriving cloud regimes from each model. Since they have determined that both cloud regimes using joint histogram Dr. Pawan Gupta (sponsor: C. Ichoku) conducts research on and 3-component have their own benefits, they perform two sepa- aerosol properties and satellite retrievals of aerosol properties rate forcing processes and evaluate all models with two kinds of over urban areas. He successfully developed a new surface char- cloud regimes. Currently, they suggest five criteria: 1) differences acterization over the U.S. and is working to extend the analysis between regime mean of model and observation, 2) regime mean over other global urban areas including Asia and Europe. This new cloud fraction difference, 3) global mean “relative-frequency-of- surface characterization has been implemented in a research ver- occurrence” (RFO) difference, 4) spatial cross-correlation of RFO sion of the MODIS Dark Target land aerosol algorithm. The initial map, and 5) total cloud amount difference by each regime. Evalu- comparison of new aerosol retrievals with AERONET measure- ations are underway at present, and they expect these results ments has shown improvement in the retrieval over urban areas. to be presented in two related manuscripts. Dr. Jin will continue The global analysis will be implemented in MODIS operational to perform extended work of cloud regime based analyses. This global algorithm. will involve analyzing characteristics of physical system of each regime (e.g., precipitation and vertical velocity variability) and Over this past year, Dr. Gupta participated in three ROSES scrutinizing regimes. proposals as a Co-PI. He attended and presented MODIS aero- sol retrieval work at the DISCOVER-AQ Science Team Meeting, Dr. Sergey Korkin (sponsor: A. Lyapustin) works towards develop- Boulder, CO; the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA; the ing a numerical algorithm for the retrieval of atmospheric and Image provided by C. Gatebe, from a lead-author poster presentation. AQAST 8th Science Team Meeting, Atlanta, GA; and, the MODIS surface properties using the effect of light polarization. This past Science Team Meeting, Greenbelt, MD. He is also a co-author on year, Dr. Korkin supported the AERONET team located at GSFC Aircraft and Satellite (ARCTAS), the Southern African Regional Sci- submitted to the DISCOVER-AQ archive. two articles that have been submitted to Advances in Meteorology by creating a new vector (polarized) radiative transfer code. The ence Initiative-2000 (SAFARI-2000), and the Smoke, Clouds, and and the International Journal of Remote Sensing. He is prepar- code is based on the method of successive orders of scattering, Radiation-Brazil (SCAR-B). These campaigns were conducted in re- Dr. Gatebe and colleagues are continuing to reduce the cost and ing to attend and present his research at the ACAM workshop in which is faster for typical atmospheric conditions of the AERONET gions that are considered the world’s largest sources of biomass risk for the BACAR instrument in order to establish a pathway Bangkok, Thailand in June 2015. operation. By including the effect of polarization, they anticipate burning emissions that influence the rapidly warming climate. for future funding from the Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) an increased quality of the final product. Support from the local This investigation is expected to lead to new angular distribu- and Earth Venture class missions. This instrument is needed to Dr. Daeho Jin (sponsor: L. Oreopoulos) works toward develop- developer (located at GSFC) is more efficient compared to remote tion models (ADMs) for biomass burning smoke for estimation of advance the knowledge of clouds, aerosols, ecosystem structure ing a set of advanced diagnostic frames for evaluating the cloud support (from France) of the code currently used by the AERONET shortwave direct radiative forcing of biomass-burning aerosols. and function, snow & ice, albedo, and climate feedbacks. BACAR simulation performance of GEOS-5 AGCM and other AGCMs. The team. Using his vector RT code IPOL, Dr. Korkin supports scientific will provide critical and much needed ground truth measurements diagnostic frame is to be developed based on the cloud regimes, research for MODIS, VIIRS, and DSCOVR missions by creating Dr. Gatebe used MODIS white-sky albedo data to quantify chang- to support many upcoming missions such as the Decadal survey a set of groups categorizing individual clouds. Previously, Dr. Jin look-up tables used for polarization correction, in particular, by es in the albedo after vegetation fires in Africa and to investigate PACE (Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and ocean Ecosystem). performed a k-means clustering analysis with the MODIS and the algorithm MAIAC (Dr. Alexei Lyapustin). The RT code IPOL how the resulting surface brightening/darkening phenomena ISCCP simulator output of GEOS-5 AGCM. The simulator output (Intensity and POLarization) has shown high accuracy in all test Future work includes preparing a NASA ROSES proposal to help in affects radiative forcing, the surface and atmospheric heating was composed of 42 bins joint histogram of cloud top pressure cases. The code is based on the method of discrete ordinates and “knitting together” various EO data sets. Dr. Gatebe will develop rates, moisture regime and rainfall, and their implications for the and optical thickness However, categorized cloud regimes derived is publicly available from NASA ftp website. regional climate. Part of an IDS project, this project, an amplified this proposal in collaboration with J. P. Muller (University College from histogram data of GEOS-5 with k-means clustering were less study of the interactions and feedbacks between biomass burn- London) and other calibration teams at NASA Goddard. He also stable than observational counterparts. Throughout this past year, His work on his RT code IPOL has translated into publications and ing and water cycle dynamics across the northern sub-Saharan plans to focus on the analysis and modeling of CAR airborne data in order to improve cloud regimes of the model, Dr. Jin performed meeting presentations. He co-authored a paper that has been African region, is led by Dr Charles Ichoku (Code 613). from the Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere a simplified version of the k-means clustering analysis, namely submitted to Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy & Radiative from Aircraft and Satellite (ARCTAS) and Clouds and the Earth’s 3-component clustering. Since this method uses only three vari- Transfer. This paper reports some results of the intercomparison The purpose of the proposed work “GEOCAPE Oceans SWG” is Radiant Energy System (CERES) data over Canada. ables instead of 42 histogram bins, i.e., reduced complexity, it has of several vector radiative transfer (RT) codes, i.e. the codes that to undertake a systematic study of the bidirectional dependence the advantage of faster calculation, more stable results, and easi- account for the effect of polarization of light. The considered Dr. Jie Gong (sponsor: D. Wu) works on developing retrieval tech- of the water-leaving radiance in turbid coastal/inland waters. er visualization. While the 3-component clustering analysis was as scenarios are closer to real atmospheric conditions than those niques and delivery of retrieval products (such as cloud ice water Conducting BRDF (bidirectional reflectance-distribution function) strong as the conventional 42-histogram bin clustering analysis published before. The scenarios include atmospheres with many path, cloud top height, ice particle size) of AMSUB/MHS onboard studies leading to BRDF correction of the ocean water-leaving in terms of cloud classification, the resulting cloud regimes were layers, gas absorption, reflection from land and ocean, depo- NOAA satellite series. She also compares correlative datasets to radiances or spectral remote sensing reflectances at relevant distinct from those from the 42-bin clustering analysis. larization factor of the molecular scattering, and scattering by evaluate retrieval performances and uncertainties. Research find- solar angles is a high priority for GeoCAPE Ocean Science Studies spherical particles and spheroids. Another paper was published in ings from this past year resulted in three lead author publications for FY15. The GEOCAPE Aerosols SWG effort includes produc- After Dr. Jin mastered the aforementioned two methodologies (k- Atmospheric Measurement Techniques; Dr. Korkin’s contribution in J. Geophys. Res., Atmos. Chem. Phys., and Atmos. Meas. Tech. ing BRDF products from the CAR DISCOVER-AQ 2014 mission in means clustering with 42 joint histogram bins and 3-component), was in numerical simulation of influence of polarization state of She also participated in four proposals which have been submit- Colorado and providing support to the GEOCAPE Aerosol SWG in he applied them to a practical issue: evaluating multi-models in light on total signal. He presented a related poster at the Young evaluating satellite aerosol products. BRDF data products will be ted. Dr. Gong gave presentations at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5).

38 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 39 Scientists Forum, held at NASA GSFC in late June 2014. He has ences in MODIS - VIIRS observation bands / channels, Dr. Patadia replace the two MODIS sensors, which are well past their design Dr. Sayer has continued to collaborate with other scientists na- also submitted a proposal as PI in which he has suggested to specifically looked at differences in atmospheric corrections and lifetimes. The end goal is the generation of a multi-sensor Deep tionally and internationally. He was a co-author on a study (led by use both his publicly available vector (polarized) radiative trans- TOA reflectances computed in the Look-Up Tables generated Blue aerosol data set to allow for long-term climate data analysis. Dr. M. Chin, GSFC) that used multiple satellite data sets and mod- fer codes IPOL and SORD for fast reprocessing of the long-term for both sensors. She also examined the standard NOAA-VIIRS At present, results have been achieved that are comparable in el output to attempt to quantify and attribute global and regional AERONET observations of scattered solar radiation. It is proposed product details to understand differences in AOD retrievals. Her quality to the MODIS data sets, and a public ‘beta’ release of the trends in aerosol loading. He was also a co-author on a review to use each of the codes under conditions favorable for Discrete sponsor, Dr. Levy, has drafted a paper that addresses the details VIIRS Deep Blue data products is expected later this year; prelimi- paper summarizing the current status and challenges of smoke Ordinates (IPOL) and Successive Orders of Scattering (SORD), on adapting a DT algorithm for retrieving AOD from VIIRS observa- nary results were presented at several venues over the past year. aerosol-cloud interactions in Southeast Asia, and on a BAMS respectively. tions, the challenges of porting the algorithm on another sensor, Meeting Summary of the previous years’ AEROCENTER Annual and the validation of VIIRS AOD retrievals. Dr. Patadia co-authored Dr. Sayer was involved in a study (led by Dr. S. K. Ebmeier, Uni- Update. He has been collaborating on a study (currently in review) In the coming year, Dr. Korkin plans to increase the efficiency on this paper and worked on reviewing it as well. She also worked versity of Bristol, UK) investigating the effects of natural volcanic led by Dr. Y. Liu (Emory University) on the application of MODIS (speed and accuracy) of his vector radiative transfer code SORD. on sensitivity experiments that were designed to study and quan- aerosols from volcanic degassing on cloud properties. These aerosol data for monitoring ground-level air polluting in China. If successful, the AERONET code currently in use will be replaced tify the sensitivity of UV TOA reflectance to underlying ocean sur- effects (termed ‘aerosol indirect effects’) are among the less Finally, Dr. Sayer frequently responds to queries from worldwide with SORD. He will be translating SORD (Successive ORDers) face conditions using atmospheric Radiative Transfer models. She well-understood components of the effects of aerosols on climate, relating to the SeaWiFS and MODIS aerosol data products which from Fortran into C in order to integrate the vector code in the presented her work related to uncertainty in MODIS Dark Target and volcanoes provide a ‘natural laboratory’ for studying them. he has been involved with. algorithm MAIAC. Other developments of his radiative transfer AOD at the MODIS Science Team meeting held in Columbia, MD. Multiple data sets, including NASA MODIS and CERES products, codes may be the inclusion of the curvature of real atmosphere in were used to understand these poorly-quantified effects. As well Future efforts will involve Dr. Sayer working on methods to deter- his Fortran codes. The MODIS Dark Target and MAIAC aerosol algorithms retrieve as a peer-reviewed publication in the journal Atmospheric Chemis- mine aerosol loading above clouds, for cases of absorbing aero- aerosol optical thickness (AOT) only in cloud-free conditions. Be- try and Physics, this research was spotlighted in a video featuring sols. In most cases, spaceborne aerosol data sets are confined to Dr. Falguni Patadia (sponsor: R. Levy) evaluates the MODIS fore the AOT retrievals are performed, the algorithms undergo an Dr. Sayer (created by GESTAR’s Joy Ng, Brian Monroe, and Kayvon cloud-free regions, as clouds obscure the aerosols beneath them aerosol optical depth product to quantify the uncertainty in the arduous task of separating the cloudy and clear sky data pixels. Sharghi, plus others). This feature can be seen on NASA GSFC’s from the satellite view. Due to the limited capabilities of current product and identify sources of error. This past year, she and her Dr. Patadia examined the success, failure and corroboration of YouTube channel: http://youtu.be/KCM1EXMKjz0. satellite sensors, this task is difficult but also very important since colleagues considered six sources of errors in their retrievals: cloud and clear sky identification from the two algorithms. Ad- aerosols above clouds are a regular feature of the aerosol system calibration uncertainty, atmospheric correction error, aerosol ditionally, the AOT retrieved by the two algorithms were cross-vali- The way in which smoke particles in the atmosphere scatter and in many regions (e.g. smoke above clouds in central/southern properties, spatial variability in reflectance within retrieval region, dated, and seven years of MODIS DT and MODIS MAIC Version_0 absorb light depends on many factors, such as the type of fuel Africa or south-eastern Asia). surface reflectance, and cloud contamination. Surface reflec- data were examined. Findings and recommendations from this burning and the meteorology of the atmosphere at the time. Algo- tance and cloud contamination errors were incorporated into the project (among those provided from other groups) were used to rithms to determine the atmospheric aerosol burden from satellite Aerosol-cloud interaction is one of the major sources of uncertain- retrieval algorithm this year. In examining surface reflectance improve the cloud and aerosol product of MODIS MAIC Version_0, sensors must make assumptions about this scattering and ab- ties in accurately estimation of the radiative budget. From the error, Dr. Patadia found that for MODIS-DT retrievals over ocean, which culminated in Version_1 MAIAC data. Subsequently, using sorption. Dr. Sayer led a study (published in ACP) which examines aspect of aerosols, near-cloud aerosol property may be different the surface reflectance is tied with winds that drive white caps 13 years of version_1 MAIAC data, Dr. Patadia re-examined the the global variability of these parameters to develop improved when compared to aerosols far from cloud due to the interac- and foam over the ocean; however, the error in ocean surface re- success, failure and corroboration of cloud and clear sky identi- models for use in these satellite datasets. This will improve the tions. Dr. Weidong Yang (sponsor: A. Marshak) aims to support flectance has now been propagated into AOD depth retrievals and fication from the MODIS Dark-Target and MAIAC aerosol retrieval quality of derived satellite data products (not limited to just the the understanding and retrieval of the aerosol property variations results are analyzed for various global oceanic regions, i.e., clear algorithms. Additionally, the AOT retrieved by the two algorithms Deep Blue algorithm), and is useful for other applications such as near cloud by using optical imaging and laser lidar instrumental ocean, dust over ocean, smoke over ocean. For global oceans were cross-validated. estimating aerosol radiative effects. measurements onboard MODIS, CALIPSO and other satellites. and for several test granules, uncertainty from various sources Dr. Yang and colleagues investigated the contributions of skies has been compared to analyze their relative importance / impact Dr. Andrew Sayer (sponsor: N. C. Hsu) works toward improving Dr. Sayer has given numerous invited oral presentations at local, of various cloud fractions to the statistical results on the near- on AOD. Total uncertainty, from the six error sources mentioned the understanding of the effects of atmospheric aerosols on the national, and international meetings over the past year, with cloud behaviors of aerosol properties. They found that near-cloud above, has been calculated for global ocean regions for four dif- Earth system. As in previous years, the bulk of Dr. Sayer’s efforts most being related to his work on the ‘Deep Blue’ aerosol project. statistical behavior observation can be affected by the cloud frac- ferent seasons of 2010. Validation of the uncertainty estimates have been related to the ‘Deep Blue’ aerosol project, led by his Local presentations included those at NASA GSFC’s AEROCEN- tion distributions, and that by unifying the cloud fractions in the was carried out by comparing against AOD retrievals from ground- NASA sponsor (Dr. Hsu), which uses satellite measurements to TER seminar series, AEROCENTER’s Annual Update, a Climate near-cloud statistics, the effect of aerosol backscatter enhance- based AERONET sun-photometer measurements. The validation determine aerosol loading (e.g., from mineral dust, sea spray, & Radiation Laboratory seminar, and a meeting of the Aerosols, ment near the clouds can be reduced by one-third to two-thirds. In of the uncertainty estimates was closely examined for parsing wildfire smoke) globally. Over the past year this has had two main Clouds and Ocean Ecosystem (ACE) Science Working Group. On addition, because of different cloud features over land and ocean, out effects of cloud contamination. A method for estimating foci. The first is continued analysis of and user outreach related the national/international front, he was invited to speak at the they have found that the composite statistics features of near- biases in AOD due to cloud contamination within the retrieval was to the new ‘Collection 6’ MODIS data product suite, released in AEROCOM/AEROSAT 2014 meeting (which tends to focus on cloud aerosol behaviors over land and ocean might be different. formulated and quantified. Results were presented at the 2014 early 2014. As well as one further peer-reviewed journal paper aerosol data relating to climate studies) as well as the Interna- Further investigation is ongoing. Dr. Wang had one lead author AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. She also presented work (in the Journal of Geophysical Research) evaluating this data set tional Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction (ICAP) 2014 meeting publication as a result of this research in Geophysical Research on uncertainty estimates at the 14th Conference on Atmospheric over the past year, Dr. Sayer gave numerous presentations about (which focuses on data assimilation and forecasting/reanalysis Letters, and gave or contributed to several presentations over the Radiation, Boston, MA, the ESA’s Aerosol Retrieval Uncertainty the Deep Blue project and presented two webinars (available capabilities), and most recently at the European Geosciences past year at symposiums, conferences, science team meetings. Workshop, Helsinki, Finland, and the AeroSat/AeroCom meeting, online at http://modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov/products_C006up- Union (EGU) 2015 General Assembly meeting (broad in scope). Additionally, his work was featured as the monthly science high- Steamboat Springs, CO. date.html) designed to familiarize users with the new Collection 6 In many cases, Dr. Sayer also was involved with additional poster light on the Atmospheric Science Research web site in January products. The second has been the application of the Deep Blue presentations made at these events. These meetings offered 2015 (“Cloud variations skew the statistics of near-cloud aerosol The MODIS Dark Target Group has been funded to perform MO- algorithms to the VIIRS sensor, a project successfully funded via numerous valuable opportunities for Dr. Sayer to present the work properties”). DIS-like ‘Dark Target’ (DT) retrievals on the new Soumi-NPP VIIRS NASA ROSES in the previous year. The current VIIRS is the first of that he and others have performed to international experts. This instrument data. Dr. Patadia worked on analyzing the differences a series to be flown operationally, and is expected to eventually facilitates collaboration and scientific progress, advancing NASA Dr. Yang will conduct further research on the dependence of near- in MODIS AOD and VIIRS AOD retrievals. Considering the differ- and GESTAR’s aims. cloud behavior observations on variables such as aerosol types, 40 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 41 seasons, aerosol loading, and other meteorological conditions. oxygen A- and B-band. For best results, the cloud height index is bution of stratospheric temperature anomalies. This manuscript, duce the requested output. He also produced detailed OMI FoV In addition, he plans to develop methods to reduce the effects of normalized with radiative transfer simulation results for an imagi- to be submitted soon, explains how anthropogenic and natural prediction maps for a Costa Rican field campaign. In response variables on the statistical results of aerosol near-cloud observa- nary water cloud with an optical thickness of 100 located at the forcings worked together to create the staircase pattern observed to a request for OMI field-of-view predictions, up to one year in tions, and compare the results with the measurements from other surface. Through radiative transfer simulations, Dr. Yang showed in stratospheric temperatures. advance, to support planning for a field campaign of balloon satellite and/or ground-based instruments. Research will continue that the designed cloud height index is not sensitive to sun-view measurements of ozone and sulfur dioxide produced by the Costa on the effect of structures of low clouds on the behavior of near- geometry change, which is desirable for the DSCOVR mission. For In December 2014 Dr. Aquila gave an invited talk on her research Rican volcanoes, he produced a set of daily predictions. This work cloud aerosol. operational use, Dr. Yang developed a look up table for the cloud at San Jose State University, and she presented two posters at the supports a critical validation effort of a new sulfur dioxide data height index normalization. 2014 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, CA. Dr. Aquila also gave product. Under this task, Dr. Yuekui Yang (sponsor: A. Marshak) conducted a talk at the SPARC temperature trends group meeting in Victoria, comprehensive radiative transfer studies on cloud properties at In his presentation at the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society Canada, in April 2015. Upcoming work will involve participation Over this past year, Dr. Celarier has co-authored three submitted the near backscattering directions. With the Discrete Ordinate Ra- Meeting held in Sapporo, Japan, Dr. Yang presented the cloud in international model intercomparison projects, such as GeoMIP, articles, of which one has been accepted, titled “Evaluation of diative Transfer model (DISORT), Dr. Yang simulated the behavior observation capability of DSCOVR with a focus on the cloud top VolMIP, and SPARC SSiRC. OMI operational standard NO2 column retrievals using in situ and of top-of-atmosphere cloud reflectance for different solar and view height retrievals using the oxygen bands. He also showed the sen- surface-based NO2 observations”, another that was not accepted angles and for different cloud properties. The simulations were sitivity analysis on the effect of cloud phase, particle size, optical As a member of the OMI NO2 team, Dr. Edward Celarier (spon- and a third that is in final review. Yet another manuscript is still in done for multi-wavelengths, including the UV channel at 388 nm depth, extinction coefficient, cloud fraction, sun-view geometry, sor: N. Krotkov) develops new code for the operational production preparation. and the visible channels at 443 nm, 680 nm and 780 nm. Insight and surface type on the accuracy of cloud height retrieval. It is of NO2 data from OMI, updates and modifies operational algo- on this topic will be very helpful in understanding the cloud obser- found that at the wavelengths of oxygen A- and B-bands, photons rithm codes to implement algorithm enhancements developed by In support of DISCOVER-AQ, Dr. Melanie Follette-Cook (sponsor: vations made by the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR). penetrate into clouds, and the penetration depths are different other members of the OMI NO2 team, reviews test data from the K. Pickering) performs regional air quality modeling and partici- Cloud properties at the near-backscattering directions were also for the two bands. The difference in photon penetration depths operational OMI NO2 algorithm, and writes documentation of the pates in field deployments as part of the forecasting/flight plan- studied using the MODIS data. These studies are relevant for the contains information of cloud geometrical thickness. Based on algorithm and software. Work this past year included the develop- ning team. Other activities include analysis of data from the ACAM DSCOVR mission, because DSCOVR will be located at the Earth’s this finding, Dr. Yang discussed a new method of retrieving the ment of NO2 SCD code, which began with “research code,” from instrument. This past year, Dr. Follette-Cook conducted a spatial L1 point and make observations of the Earth at a near-back- cloud top height and cloud geometrical thickness simultaneously Dr. S. Marchenko, written in IDL. From this, Dr. Celarier has been and temporal structure analysis in support of planning activities scattering direction. From studying the MODIS cases, Dr. Yang through combining the EPIC A- and B-band measurements. creating an operational code in Fortran 95, ultimately for opera- for NASA’s GEO-CAPE and TEMPO satellites. Overall, the results of found that the cloud properties for other angles are similar to tional forward processing. This has required a thorough review her analysis indicated that the precision requirements developed that for the near-backscattering direction observations. DSCOVR of the algorithm, identification and implementation of appropri- for the GEO-CAPE and TEMPO science traceability matrices are will reach Earth’s L1 point in June, 2015, and observations from CODE 614: ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND ate numerical procedures, and identification of potential use well-equipped to answer the relevant air-quality science questions DSCOVR will be available in the coming year. Future work will DYNAMICS LABORATORY cases that would result in operational failure. In addition, he has they are tasked to address. A manuscript that was submitted to involve applying the designed cloud indices derived in the past structured the code for maintainability and readability and has Atmospheric Environment is currently undergoing revisions. She Dr. Valentina Aquila (sponsor: P. Colarco) develops stratospheric thoroughly documented it. He has restructured the code in such also has begun an analysis comparing the spatial and temporal to the analysis of the DSCOVR observed data. DSCOVR, the first aerosol and chemistry modules in the NASA GEOS CCM model- satellite at the L1 point that has Earth observing capability, will a way that the code should be easily adaptable to the retrieval of variability of trace gases during each deployment of DISCOVER- ing system, as well as conducts and analyzes experiments made other trace gases than NO , mostly through the adjustment values AQ, and in May 2015 she will present some preliminary results to observe cloud behavior from that vantage point, which will be with this system to investigate the various roles of stratospheric 2 important for improving the understanding of the climate system. contained in the operational parameters file (OPF) and program the DISCOVER-AQ science team. In July 2014, Dr. Follette-Cook aerosols and chemistry in Earth’s climate system. Dr. Aquila control file (PCF). A stable version was created and tested, and participated in the fourth DISCOVER-AQ deployment in Denver, He also conducted studies on the band-integrated and band-aver- started a new collaboration with Drs. P. K. Bhartia, R. Loughman, is now being modified to handle some special cases, and to ac- CO, where she provided meteorological and air quality forecast- aged solar spectral irradiances for the Earth Polychromatic Imag- and G. Taha to integrate OMPS Limb aerosol measurements and celerate execution. The modified code is now in testing; upcoming ing support for flight planning, and nowcasting support during ing Camera (EPIC) filters on DSCOVR. The information is critical for model calculated aerosol phase functions in order to improve plans include the finalized testing of this code. flight days. Using the DISCOVER-AQ data, she has evaluated an converting DSCOVR-EPIC radiances to bidirectional reflectances, satellite retrievals, and, simultaneously, evaluate model results on experimental air quality forecast provided by NOAA, and she will which provide the basis for deriving many of the EPIC geophysical stratospheric aerosol. Part of this ongoing work will be presented Dr. Celarier traveled to Colorado for the DISCOVER-AQ/FRAPPE present the results of that analysis to the DISCOVER-AQ science products. Dr. Yang found that the primary factor that affects the at the ISARD-2015 conference in St. Petersburg, Russia. In the campaign, along the Front Range, where he worked with a team team as well. conversion is the solar spectrum dataset. By comparing results coming months, she plans to combine observations from OMPS/ of seven students from the Technologico de Monterrey, Campus from the Kurucz dataset (2005), the Chance and Kurucz data- Limb and model results to explain the features of the distribution Guadalajara, and with Dr. Deborah Zweers (KNMI, The Neth- Dr. Follette-Cook and PI Christopher Loughner have conducted set (2010), the Wehrli dataset (1985), and the SUSIM dataset of stratospheric aerosol. erlands) and Dr. Richard Clarke (Millersville University). They several meteorological sensitivity simulations of the September were instructed in the preparation and operation of the nitrogen 2013 DISCOVER-AQ deployment in Houston, TX. Dr. Follette-Cook (1981), Dr. Yang found that the differences among the datasets in She also is collaborating with scientists at George Mason Univer- the blue band can be as high as 5%. He further compared six so- dioxide sonde instrument that has been developed at KNMI, and has used surface meteorological data to assist in determining sity to explain malaria trends in Peru during the last 20 years. As flew it aboard Dr. Clarke’s tethered balloon. They also conducted which simulation best reproduced the conditions surrounding a lar flux datasets used by the MODTRAN radiative transfer model, part of this project, she offers her expertise on climate data to and the differences in the blue band are confirmed. Based on measurements of aerosol optical depth using the new SHADE sun late September pollution event. She also is using surface and investigate a correlation between climate and the incidence of photometer, produced by Tec de Monterrey. aircraft data to evaluate the resulting 4 km and 1 km horizontal this research and after considering all the affecting factors, Dr. malaria. A portion of this work was presented at the EGU confer- Yang derived the band-integrated and band-averaged solar spec- resolution CMAQ simulations she and Dr. Loughner are conduct- ence in Vienna, Austria. Dr. Aquila also collaborated with scien- In response to a special request by Mr. Matthew Kowalewski, Dr. tral irradiances for all ten DSCOVR-EPIC filters using the Chance ing. tists at JHU/APL to investigate the effect of the solar cycle on the Celarier produced detailed latitude/longitude predictions of the and Kurucz dataset, which will be adopted by the DSCOVR project. Middle Atmosphere. A manuscript on this work is currently under OMI FoV edges for specific sites in Colorado for DISCOVERAQ/ Upcoming plans include completing the DISCOVER-AQ multiple- Working with his sponsor, Dr. Yang conducted a comprehensive review at the Journal of Atmospheric Science. FRAPPE flight planning. Since this request was more specific campaign variability analysis and submitting a related manu- than could be satisfied by using his OMI FoV prediction maps, Dr. script. For GEO-CAPE, Dr. Follette-Cook will complete an analysis study on the behavior of Cloud Height Index, which is designed to Dr. Aquila has prepared a manuscript as first author on the attri- inspect the cloud pattern using observations from the DSCOVR Celarier modified the code for the prediction maps in order to pro- of lightning NOx; assess the improvement in the ability of GEO- 42 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 43 CAPE to detect the NO2 from lightning over that of OMI; and evalu- was found that for the former, cloud contamination is the domi- ect in June 2015. Gupta was in Atlanta for the NASA-AQAST 8th Semiannual Meet- ate the ability of GEO-CAPE to detect the enhanced O3 (ozone) due nant effect, that is, the additional radiance in the pixel results in ing at Georgia Institute of Technology, where he gave an invited For his second task, Dr. Pawan Gupta (sponsor: J. Joiner) sup- to lightning NOx by applying averaging kernels from the GEO-CAPE an artificially high AOD. For the cases where OMI AOD were much talk on the NASA ARSET program and discussed various air qual- retrieval sensitivity work to the WRF/Chem output. lower than AERONET, it was found that the aerosol models used ports the development of remote sensing trainings for the NASA ity training conducted in year 2014, end users assessment, and in the retrievals did not have imaginary indexes of refraction high Applied Sciences Program in the area of air quality applications. plans for year 2015. Also in December, he represented the ARSET Using past and present satellite observations in the UV through enough to reproduce the observed radiance, resulting in a low The goal is to increase utilization of NASA remote sensing data program at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, and had multi-satellite approach, Dr. Santiago Gassó (sponsor: O. Torres) OMI AOD. This effect will be corrected in future versions of the sets among applied professionals. Dr. Gupta creates and provides short meetings with other sister program SERVIR team to discuss obtains a continuous record of aerosol optical depth over land. retrieval code. educational and training materials and leads training workshops the future collaboration between programs and NASA centers. He During the past year, there was an ongoing analysis of com- and seminars. Specifically, he develops training materials on us- attended a one-day workshop at Google’s office on Google’s Geo puted lambertian equivalent reflectances (LERs) in CAI Bands 2 Because OMI has a large pixel size (24x13km at nadir), a new ing utilization of data products relevant to air quality applications Spatial tools to analyze and visualize satellite data sets; addition- (382nm), and Dr. Gassó compared the same parameters derived product was created that collocated every MODIS pixel with OMI from the OMI, MISR and MODIS instruments. In the fall of 2014, ally, there were discussions on a potential collaboration between by OMI (388nm channel) over a region that both instruments and computed average properties of MODIS retrievals inside the NASA Applied Science Program ARSET conducted a 2 ½ day train- NASA and Google in the area of training. Most recently, in Janu- observed almost simultaneously (within 5 minutes of each other). OMI pixel. MODIS has higher resolution than OMI, and its prod- ing on Remote Sensing Data Usage in Air Quality Assessment at ary 2015, Dr. Gupta gave an invited talk (provided remotely) on The computation of this parameter required the development of ucts provide a way to evaluate the cloud contamination inside the EPA office in Research Triangle, NC. Dr. Gupta made presenta- ‘Applications of satellite remote sensing for air quality monitor- a new approach to derived LER in CAI since the approach used OMI. During the past year, the evaluation of cloud contamination tions and provided hands-on exercises on several topics related to ing’ at the National Forum on Air Quality: Transport, Health and with OMI is valid in a hyperspectral instruments, whereas CAI in OMI pixels was carried out by collocating OMI pixels with MODIS NASA satellites, data products and their applications in air quality Sustainability, held at the Indian Institute Technology in Bombay, is a broad-band instrument and OMI’s LER formulae cannot be cloud and aerosol products aggregated in each OMI pixel. Plots monitoring. Thirty EPA staff members participated in this training. India. The goal of this two-day-long forum was to develop a plan applied directly. Therefore, a new method was devised to com- of OMI lambertian equivalent reflectances (LERs, essentially the Several case studies on the impact of fires on local and regional on synchronizing and synergizing efforts for Air Quality Manage- pute LER in CAI (including a correction for surface topography), radiance observed with a correction for molecular atmosphere) air quality were prepared and presented by participants on the ment in India. Participants included the Central Pollution Control and CAI’s LERs were computed and compared against OMI. The were created and correlated with MODIS cloud fraction (CF, a last day of the training. Board, the Maharastra Pollution Control Board, the Indian Space comparison was reasonable in the sense that both instruments measure of the amount of cloudiness inside the pixel) and cloud Research Organization (ISRO), the Indian Institute of Tropical Me- derived similar LERs at the same pixels. However, some differ- optical depth (COD, a measure how bright are the clouds inside In September 2014, Dr. Gupta attended the NASA Applied Science teorology and many other national institutes involved in various ences could not be resolved. Specifically, while OMI and CAI LERs the pixel). It was found that OMI LERs do not correlate particularly Program Retreat in Arlington, VA, where participants reviewed the aspects of air quality research. As part of the ARSET program, Dr. agreed well at high LER (cloudy scenes), there were differences of well with either CF or COD; however, it does correlate well with the program’s strategy, shared lessons learned and discussed imple- Gupta provided a short training for participants on NASA satellite ~0.015-0.027 at low LERs (<0.2, clear sky conditions). This differ- product of COD and CF, suggesting a possible tool for estimating mentation and improvement of operations. In November 2014, data and tools available for air quality monitoring. ence did not appear to be a function of the CAI’s calibration con- the degree of contamination in an OMI pixel. Ongoing work will the NASA ARSET team organized a two-day-long retreat that met stant. At present, it seems that the discrepancies between OMI involve further evaluation of OMI products collocated with MODIS; at NASA Goddard. Attendees included ARSET team members from Also this past year, Dr. Gupta co-authored an article published in and CAI LER reside in the differences in LER computations and in particular, focus will be given to comparisons with aerosol prod- NASA Ames, leadership from NASA HQ and the Goddard team, Atmospheric Environment that was prepared by the NASA Applied not in the calibration and use of weights in the CAI band. Going ucts. A manuscript draft is currently undergoing a second round and the agenda included a review of the ARSET program from the Science Team for the satellite data users in air quality application. forward, Dr. Gassó aims to resolve the source of the discrepancy of revisions, and a submission is expected by mid-summer. last five years and a discussion on future directions; they charted He contributed to the section related to satellite remote sensing between OMI and CAI at high LER; it may be that different viewing out a plan for the next five years and funding requirements. Dr. of aerosols and particulate matter: “Satellite Data of Atmospheric geometries are a possible cause. Radiative transfer computations Among other duties in this task, Dr. Pawan Gupta (sponsor: O. Gupta presented an Air Quality training program review and Pollution for U.S. Air Quality Applications: Examples of Applica- will be carried out for this scene. He also will compute LER in CAI Torres) performs radiative transfer calculations in UV, visible and discussed future planning of national and international trainings. tions, Summary of Data End-User Resources, Answers to FAQs, and OMI in other scenes: scenes with constant cloud decks as near IR and develops global climatological data sets on surface In March 2015, Dr. Gupta participated in NASA’s Applied Science and Common Mistakes to Avoid”. well as clear skies over land, and compute maps of LER388 over reflective properties. Over this past year, Dr. Gupta created new Capacity Building Program (CBP) Strategy Planning Meeting at deserts. global surface reflectivity data sets to be used in operational OMI NASA HQ. Representatives from three CBP components (SER- Upcoming plans include the developing and conducting NASA aerosol retrievals. The existing data sets are based on TOMS re- VIR, ARSET and DEVELOP) along with the CBP program manager ARSET training at several sites: ICIMOD, Nepal, June 2015; ACAM In June 2014, as a GOSAT science team member, Dr. Gassó cords whereas new data sets were created using high-resolution participated. In this meeting, they discussed and reviewed the training school, Bangkok, Thailand, June 2015; Georgia Environ- attended the 6th GOSAT PI meeting held in Tsukuba, Japan. He OMI observations. The new data set was implemented in the CBP mission, the vision and short- and long-term goals, as well as ment Department, Atlanta, August 2015; as well as preparing a gave a presentation introducing the project he will be working on: research version of the algorithm. Dr. Gupta performed an inter- how the three programs can collaborate with each other and with special webinar for the EPA (Fall 2015). He will also be working on “Initial results of the Evaluation of the Ozone Monitoring Instru- comparison analysis with existing TOMS and OMI UV surface LER other federal capacity building programs on Earth Observations. and submitting an ARSET proposal for 2015-2016. ment (OMI) Near-UV Aerosol Retrievals with the Cloud and Aerosol climatology, and aerosol retrieval using new surface climatology Imager 380nm band”. was compared with AERONET global network. The surface clima- Over this past year, Dr. Gupta gave presentations at several ven- Dr. Hiren Jethva (sponsor: O. Torres) conducts research on a tology is initially created for two UV channels. This new data set is ues. At the Second Annual Regional Atmospheric Science Work- variety of tasks: researching Above-Cloud AOT retrievals from OMI Under this second task, Dr. Santiago Gassó (sponsor: O. Torres) being implemented in OMI OMAERUV aerosol products. Further, shop (SARAS) in June 2014 in Pokhara, Nepal, he gave an invited observations, performing evaluations of OMI/OMAERUV aerosol derives the spectral slope of aerosol absorption characteristics the newly developed methodology is being applied to other OMI presentation on NASA’s Applied Remote Sensing Training Program products, and conducting work under the GEO-CAPE Task that of different aerosols by using a combination of space-based and channels for better surface characterizations, which will be used (ARSET) and Satellite Data Application for Air Quality Monitoring involves validating the analysis of the AOT retrieved from the MO- ground-based remote sensing. This past year, he carried out in future aerosol and trace gas retrieval algorithms. in the Region. At the EOA Aura Science Team Meeting, 10th Year DIS/MAIAC algorithm. an evaluation of collocated OMI AODs over coastal and island Anniversary Celebration, held at College Park, MD from Septem- AERONET sites. While the overall comparison was statistically Dr. Gupta was a co-author on a journal article titled “Effect of ber 15-18, 2014, he gave a presentation on The ARSET Program: First, for his research on above-cloud AOT retrieval from OMI similar to a previous study over land sites, a detailed analysis was major dust storm on optical, physical, and radiative properties of Building Capacity to Utilize AURA data for Air Quality Applications. observations, Dr. Jethva intended to develop a stand-alone conducted in order to determine the origin of the discrepancies aerosols over coastal and urban environments in Western India” A month later, Dr. Gupta attended the NPP-VIIRS application work- version of the OMI above-cloud aerosol optical thickness (AOT) in the comparison (i.e, why OMI occasionally would derive an AOD published in International Journal of Remote Sensing. Note: this shop in Huntsville, AL where he presented about NASA ARSET and retrieval algorithm and use it to generate a test dataset for further much higher or much lower than the corresponding AERONET). It task is near completion, and Dr. Gupta plans to finalize this proj- the use of various NPP data sets in the training. In December, Dr. analysis. This study involved several aspects and challenges of 44 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 45 mass burning particles, dust aerosols, and wildfire-emitted aero- aerosol parameters derived from the observations collected over sols were found to overlay lower-level cloud deck observed during the left and right side of the OMI swath. SAFARI-2000, ACE-ASIA 2001, and SEAC4RS-2013, respectively. The co-located satellite-airborne measurements revealed a good During the past year, Dr. Jethva received a software package from agreement (root-mean-square-error<0.1) where most matchups Oleg Dubovik (Univ. of Lille, France) that simulates the phase were found to agree within the estimated uncertainties in the function of sphere as well as a distribution of spheroid shape par- MODIS retrievals (-10% to +50%). The co-retrieved cloud opti- ticles. The need for this software arose when Dr. Jethva realized cal depth (COD) was found to be either equivalent to the MODIS that treating coarse mode dust particles as spheres can cause operational cloud product for lower AODs (ACE-ASIA) or higher by differences in the aerosol retrievals at certain geometries, which 30-35% for more absorbing aerosol event of SAFARI-2000. Dr. is an indication of inefficiency in handling the directional aerosol Jethva will write a manuscript highlighting the above results to properties accurately. Following successful testing of this software submit to an appropriate journal. In the months ahead, on the package, he carried out the calculation of phase function of the basis of the analysis and results obtained during past year, Dr. standard OMI/OMAERUV dust and carbonaceous aerosol models. Jethva will continue working toward delivering global above-cloud Results obtained from this software will be used in conjunction AOT retrieval using OMI observations. This will include required with the ARIZONA radiative transfer code to simulate the radiance modification in the already existing operational code, optimiza- fields for the dust models. tion of the parameters and finally processing a decade-long OMI record of aerosols. The goal of the MEaSUREs task is to create a long-term global record of aerosols from multiple UV sensors flown on board dif- Dr. Jethva also conducts performance evaluations of OMI/ ferent platforms (i.e., Nimbus7/TOMS, EP-TOMS, and Aura/OMI). Figure 1: Activities related to the above-cloud aerosols project. Images by H. Jethva. OMAERUV aerosol products via validation, data analysis, and up As part of this goal, Dr. Jethva created the multi-wavelength cloud keeping of the OMI/OMAERUV aerosol algorithm. He conducted look-up-tables for the calculation of the UV Aerosol Index under aerosol remote sensing of aerosols above cloud which includes pared and submitted as a part of the discussion in ACPD. He also an in-depth analysis of the different research versions of the cloudy situations. the testing and optimization of different assumptions about at- presented this work in the bi-weekly OMI science team meeting OMAERUV algorithms and suggested some important changes mospheric states, such as the representation of single-scattering held at SESDA facility. for improvements. On the basis of his findings, a latest research Since 2013, Dr. Jethva has been an integral part of the GEO-CAPE albedo, aerosol layer height, and surface albedo. On the basis of version (V1.5.3) was created and tested for its accuracy using the Aerosol Working Group. He conducted the validation analysis of the proposed analysis, he would generate the required radiative In parallel, he developed a stand-alone version of the algorithm ground-based AERONET aerosol database. He also created the the MODIS/MAIAC AOT retrieval using ground-based AERONET di- transfer calculations (look-up-tables) for use in the inversion. He which was largely based on his earlier research published in global monthly mean maps of aerosol parameters which were rect measurements for many sites located over the North America also planned to conduct an analysis of the global frequency of the Torres et al. [2012]. A successful retrieval of the above-cloud compared and contrasted against previous versions of the algo- region. The recently processed MODIS/MAIAC aerosol retrievals aerosols above using OMI observations. In addition, Dr. Jethva AOT required appropriate ancillary datasets. After testing several rithm. Additionally, Dr. Jethva created the Rayleigh look-up-tables were co-located with the AERONET measurements in space and planned a first-of-its-kind validation analysis of the above-cloud approaches for representing aerosol micro-physical and optical for several near-UV and visible wavelengths for calculating the time for all sites over the region. Several space and time windows AOT retrieved from MODIS observations using a limited database properties of aerosols, he derived optimum settings of these pa- Lambertian Equivalent Reflectivity (LER) from the hyper-spectral were considered to analyze the impact of co-location scheme on of the airborne measurements acquired during past field cam- rameters which include global representation of single-scattering OMI measurements. The purpose of these tables is to create the the validation. Following this analysis, he also diagnosed the dif- paigns. albedo and aerosol layer heights. The algorithm was applied to multi-wavelength LER database for its subsequent use in the esti- ferences between MAIAC and AERONET AOTs in terms of the time the OMI observations for one full year (2007), and results were mation of the surface albedo in the near-UV to visible region. of the year and seasons. He presented the results of both studies OMI’s capability of retrieving aerosol optical thickness above analyzed and found to be satisfactory. An operational code, which in the regular monthly GEO-CAPE aerosol working group meeting. cloud has been a major highlight and achievement of a decade- has been developed by a team member, Dr. Changwoo Ahn (SSAI), He evaluated the single-scattering albedo (SSA) retrieved from long Aura/OMI mission. Dr. Jethva has been placed in a lead will be modified in accordance with the results and suggestions OMI using ground-based AERONET inversions at wavelengths of Throughout this past year, Dr. Jethva gave several presentations role to develop, test, and deliver the global research product of made by Dr. Jethva. 500 nm and 675 nm. The goal of this task was to compare and and talks: he presented a first-author poster titled “Retrieval, aerosols above cloud. First, Dr. Jethva conducted an analysis of contrast the two independent retrievals at wavelengths other than Inter-comparison, and Validation of Above-cloud Aerosol Optical the global frequency of the occurrence of aerosols above clouds Dr. Jethva developed the ‘color ratio’ technique and applied it to the actual domain of their retrievals, which required extrapolation Depth from A-train Sensors” at the 13th Workshop on AEROCOM from OMI observations. This task was prompted by the results the satellite measurements made by OMI and MODIS; this has of OMI retrieval from near-UV region to the visible wavelengths. He held in Steamboat Springs, CO, and also presented this poster reported in a paper in ACPD which addresses the global fre- provided the unprecedented maps of above-cloud aerosol opti- carried out the comparative analysis for many important AERONET at the AEROCENTER poster bash. He presented a branch lunch quency measurements of ACA using A-train’s CALIOP lidar and cal depth. While the quantitative information on aerosol load- sites that span across major biomass burning and arid regions seminar titled “Characterization of aerosols above cloud from Pas- OMI observations. The author of this ACPD paper claims that the ing above cloud is now available from A-train sensors, a greater of the world. On the basis of this analysis, Dr. Jethva designed a sive Sensors” at the Atmospheric Chemistry & Dynamics Labora- frequency of ACA inferred from OMI tends to show a positive linear question remains ahead: How to validate the satellite retrievals proposed and improved wavelength conversion scheme for the tory on November 13th, 2014, wherein he highlighted his work on trend, whereas CALIOP did not show any significant trend in the of above-cloud aerosols (ACA)? Dr. Jethva carried out a first-of- carbonaceous aerosols that converts the actual near-UV retrieval detection, retrieval, and validation of above-cloud aerosols from same quantity. Dr. Jethva found that the results pertaining to the its-kind validation of the above-cloud AOT retrieval derived from to the ones at the visible wavelengths. The proposed scheme was satellite measurements. At the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting held in San OMI observations reported in the above-mentioned ACPD paper MODIS cloudy-sky spectral reflectance measurements using the tested over the major biomass burning regions of the world and Francisco, CA, he presented a talk titled “Validating Above-cloud require critical data filtering before one conducts the long-term AMES Airborne Tracking Sunphotometer (AATS-14) and Spec- is now ready for the use in the OMAERUV operational environ- Aerosol Optical Depth Retrieved from MODIS using NASA Ames trend analysis. The conclusion drawn about the OMI results in trometer for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research ment. Further, Dr. Jethva analyzed global OMAERUV aerosol data Airborne Sun Tracking Photometric and Spectrometric (AATS and this paper were misleading and need to be revised. A detailed (4STAR) sensors. A thorough search of past AATS data collected to study their dependency on viewing geometry. Specifically, the 4STAR) Measurements”, prepared a poster, and also assisted his response highlighting the results obtained by Dr. Jethva was pre- during different field campaigns revealed five events where bio- aim of this exercise was to compare the monthly mean values of colleague, Changwoo Ahn, on his poster titled “Assessment of 10-Year Global Record of Aerosol Products From the OMI Near-UV 46 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 47 Algorithm”; both posters were presented at AGU. At the AURA Sci- participated in the AeroCom phase II model experiments. By AQ Science Team Meeting, presenting an evaluation of the GCAS emission sectors that were used within the GOCART model. QFED ence Team Meeting in September in College Park, MD, Dr. Jethva examining model results, Dr. Kim found remarkable differences instrument’s aerosol detection capabilities and assisting in orga- fire emission products were stored and made accessible on local presented a poster titled “Global Assessment of OMI Aerosol among the simulated dust amounts and distribution. This study nizing the trace gas splinter group breakout session. linux cluster group workstation systems. These satellite-derived Single-scattering Albedo Using Ground-based AERONET and SKY- highlights the challenges in simulating the dust physical and opti- products consist of daily emission products; the available time NET Inversion”. cal processes and stresses the need for observable quantities to Mr. Kowalewski supported the NASA Flight Project Office as a period covered by this data is from the year 2000 up until the constrain the model processes. representative of the instrument science team during all phases middle of March 2015, inclusively. Over this past year, Dr. Jethva also was involved in several collabo- of tests and reviews for the JPSS OMPS Flight Model 2 (FM2) rations. The UV multi-filter shadow band radiometer (UV-MFRSR) In his study on the Sahelian dust in North Africa, Dr. Kim is investi- instrument suite, and participated in data analysis and program Mr. Kucsera also was involved in the Aura Project analysis. Test currently operating at Goddard provides the ground-based mea- gating a long-term relationship between vegetation and dust. The requirements for the Flight Model 3 (FM3) OMPS instrument. cases for evaluating pyrocumulus events, such as the Milford surements of aerosol optical depth and single-scattering albedo Southern North Africa range of 10°N to 20°N consists of the Sa- He directed the test and analysis efforts for evaluating the JPSS Flats fires in Utah that occurred in July 2007, were made. The at UV and visible wavelengths. Jungbin Mok, a graduate student hara desert, the Sahel, and the Savanna, and the abundant dust OMPS fold mirror reflectivity in vacuum while coordinating with ability to estimate the injection height of combustion-released at UMCP, is working on comparing the OMI single-scattering albe- from this region influences regional and global climate, human NASA JPSS Project and Code 618. This effort supported the aerosols and by-products is underway. Going forward, he plans to do retrieval with those of UV-MFRSR. Dr. Jethva provided him the health, and even the local economy. The goal is to better under- investigation into the OMPS instrument’s potential failure to meet generate trajectory analyses for numerous pyrocumulus cases, as OMI aerosol data for a few sites to facilitate the ground-satellite stand the role of surface condition and atmospheric circulation its wavelength dependent albedo calibration requirement. well as assist in determining and providing model volcano injec- comparison. He also discussed the outcome of the analysis and to dust emission, using a novel Sahel area map determined from tion heights. suggested him several improvements. He also interacted with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from satellite This past year, he began to support the lab’s involvement in the Rob Spurr, the developer of the VLIDORT radiative transfer pack- observations and a global aerosol model. North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) A series of a several GOCART modeling simulations were made age which Dr. Jethva utilizes for simulating above-cloud aerosols Earth Venture campaign. These preliminary efforts are related consisting of unique and specifically crafted scenarios for the scenario. The discussion included topics of simulation of Rayleigh Mr. Matthew Kowalewski (sponsor: S. Janz) provides scientific to developing concepts to integrate the GCAS instrument onto HTAP inter-comparison modeling program. Each scenario con- atmosphere, clouds with larger droplet size, and calculations for and engineering support to the Radiometric Calibration and the NASA Wallops C-130 aircraft and to define science require- sisted of 3 ½ years of model simulations with the 1.25x1 deg. spheroid particles using T-matrix module. And, Dr. Jethva collabo- Development Laboratory (RCDL) at GSFC. This support includes ments that drive the instrument operations. Mr. Kowalewski GOCART model. Multiple combinations of model-specified require- rated with the members of NASA’s Earth Observatory (EO) group proof of concept instrumentation, calibration standards, and tech- led the instrument team’s activities in determining preliminary ments and simulations were made on the NCCS supercomput- on an event of wildfire smoke above cloud that appeared as an nical guidance to the backscatter ultraviolet (BUV) community. requirements and starting to design and fabricate the neces- ers systems. Results from the offline GOCART simulations were Image of the Day (IOTD) on the Earth Observatory web portal. On Programs supported include GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollu- sary hardware for integration. He attended multiple integration compiled into CMOR compatible formats and then submitted to the basis of his data analysis, he provided his input and interpre- tion Events (GEO-CAPE), Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership concept meetings at Wallops and worked with the lead mechani- the HTAP archive. The resulting scenarios are being used in the tation of this selected event for IOTD. (NPP) and Joint Polar Satellite System’s (JPSS) Ozone Mapping cal engineers to design the aircraft interface. He continues to HTAP inter-comparison project. Also, the GEOS-5 global simula- Profiler Suite (OMPS), Deriving Information on Surface conditions develop the electrical, mechanical, and thermal requirements for tion model (Ganymed-4_0_BETA8 version) was acquired, com- Work in the coming months will involve three major upgrades for from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air the GCAS instrument. piled, and successfully run on the NCCS Super Computer Center. the next version of the standard OMAERUV aerosol product. This Quality (DISCOVER-AQ), and North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Typical baseline emissions and meteorological inputs were used includes implementation of the new Mie cloud-based Aerosol Ecosystems (NAAMES). The RCDL develops and maintains proto- Mr. Kowalewski completed a short-term research project for in generating this scenario. Index parameter, integration of the spheroid-based dust look-up- type instrumentation and components for use in solar backscat- Code 460 to determine the relative optical reflectivity of multiple tables, a new wavelength conversion scheme for the smoke mod- ter research. Mr. Kowalewski ensures that the lab’s technical sample materials used for their flight projects. A report comparing As part of his computer administration duties, several new laptops els, and use of new OMI-based surface albedo product. The entire activities are performed and meet the goals and direction of the relative reflectivity of multiple coating types over a small range were acquired and the mandatory NASA IT-required controls were record of OMI will be re-processed with the updated algorithm and lab’s Principal Investigator. The primary focus of RCDL was to suc- of viewing geometries was submitted. Also, he published two installed along with standard software products. The Lab’s poster analyzed and validated against ground-based measurements. cessfully test and deploy the Geo-CAPE Airborne Simulator (GCAS) papers, as first and secondary author, respectively: “Comparison plotter was added to the printer zone, along with other group ac- Most recently, Dr. Jethva has proposed a novel retrieval technique instrument as part of the DISCOVER-AQ Earth Venture campaign. of spectral radiance responsivity calibration techniques used for cessible printers and these required administrative changes on all for the estimation of the single-scattering albedo of above-cloud Serving as the lead systems engineer,he directed a diverse team backscatter ultraviolet satellite instruments” in Metrologia and group member machines. Windows 7 computers were made PIV- aerosols using airborne-lidar-passive sensor synergy. He will con- of mechanical and electrical engineers, technicians and analysts “Characterization and Calibration of ACAM Data for Trace Gas Mandatory, as required by Agency mandates. Software updates to tinue testing the newly developed algorithm on cases studies and in executing its (de)integration and checkout aboard the aircraft Retrievals during the 2011 DISCOVER-AQ Flight Campaign” in group computers and workstations were completed as necessary. likely submit a proposal in response to the ROSES-2015 call for and evaluating instrument performance during operations. In the Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. Mr. Kucsera managed and maintained group-owned Windows, Mac, and Linux workstations. expanding this work on a global scale. summer of 2014, GCAS was deployed to Denver, CO and success- Mr. Tom Kucsera (sponsor: M. Chin) supports global and regional fully operated during all flight hours of the mission. In addition Dr. Dongchul Kim (sponsor: M. Chin) investigates aerosol distribu- modeling and analysis of atmospheric aerosols and trace gases Dr. Michael Kurylo (sponsor: J. Rodriguez) provides support for to normal field campaign activities, Mr. Kowalewski assisted in and support NASA-sponsored observational programs. Among several national and international activities important to NASA’s tion using the NASA/GOCART model and multiple observations coordinating multi-aircraft inter-comparisons over the Denver area from space and ground-based remote sensing technique, and other responsibilities, he compiles observations from satellite, Atmospheric Composition Focus Area in Earth Science. This for the GCAS and Geostationary Trace gas and Aerosol Optimiza- ground-based, and in-situ measurements for model input, evalua- past year, Dr. Kurylo continued to serve as an Emeritus Member leads the dynamic dust source function development effort in the tion (GeoTASO) instrument. Software processing Improvements NU-WRF modeling system. Dr. Kim is developing a new dynamic tion, and improvement; executes and evaluates atmospheric mod- of the international Steering Committee (SC) for NDACC and is were made to the GCAS L1B geolocation algorithm by implement- eling codes; and performs software and hardware management, responsible for maintaining and updating the NDACC Measure- dust source function to improve the NU-WRF modeling system, ing a matrix-based calculation that utilizes pointing angles and which will be applied for several studies on aerosol-cloud-climate as well as computer administration duties. Over this past year, ments and Analyses (M&A) Directory based on presentations and improves geolocation accuracy by a factor of two. Mr. Kowalewski Mr. Kucsera generated re-gridded HTAP version-2 emissions and discussions at the annual SC Meeting and additional inputs from system and air pollution. A case study has been conducted with presented and published a summary of the GCAS instrument the Phoenix Arizona dust storm occurred on July 05, 2011. regional maps. The emission data products and regionally speci- NDACC scientists. As part of this responsibility, he worked with design and activities at the SPIE Photonics West conference in fied maps from the HTAP program’s repository were retrieved, and representatives from the eight NDACC Cooperating Networks to the fall of 2014, entitled “Remote sensing capabilities of the the products were re-gridded to 1.25x1 deg. resolutions for use in revise and update their network documentation for inclusion in Dr. Kim has led comparisons of the simulated dust aerosols over GeoCAPE Airborne Simulator”. He also traveled to the DISCOVER- North Africa and the North Atlantic from five global models that the GOCART model. These data sets consisted of multiple global the latest version of the M&A Directory. He assisted the SC Co- 48 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 49 Chairs in finalizing the agenda for the November 2014 meeting AGU meeting, Dr. Kurylo was a co-author on a poster presentation Parties to the Vienna Convention and the 26th Meeting of the ferents) associated with the AQS data. Using the improved trend of the committee, which he attended, and in representing NDACC highlighting NASA Data Panel activities. He participated in the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the model and the enhanced OMI data product, Dr. Lamsal found that activities in the Network for Remote Sensing (NORS) / NDACC May 2014 and February 2015 meetings of the Data Panel where Ozone Layer) in Paris, France in November 2014. These recom- both OMI and AQS data show substantial downward trends from / Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) international workshop that he presented (along with his NIST collaborator, Dr. Vladimir Orkin) mendations in the areas of Research Needs, Systematic Measure- 2005 to 2013, with an average reduction of 38% for each over occurred as an adjunct activity to the SC Meeting. This workshop a summary of their recent recommendation updates for approxi- ments, Data Archiving and Stewardship, and Capacity Building the U.S. He used OMI tropospheric NO2 columns and bottom- explored how the quality and validation of the products delivered mately 80 halocarbon reactions. He and Dr. Orkin have continued were derived in consideration of the findings of the 2014 WMO/ up NOx emissions in the GEOS-Chem model and CAMx regional by the Copernicus Atmospheric Service (CAS) could be improved re-evaluating hundreds of photochemical kinetic processes and UNEP Ozone Assessment and were recommended for acceptance model to infer top-down NOx emissions. He contributed to several using independent ground-based remote sensing data from the their associated documentation. This work is being accompanied by the Parties. At this Joint Meeting, Dr. Kurylo was asked to serve other studies examining the trends observed in emissions and NDACC. Following the SC Meeting, Dr. Kurylo assisted in the by complete structural and content revisions of the corresponding as a member of an advisory group for the General Trust Fund for surface concentrations. development of an Appendix to the NDACC Validation Protocol tables and notes. Dr. Kurylo also continued his collaboration with Research and Systematic Observations Relevant to the Vienna specific to the certification of frost point (water vapor) sondes, NIST scientists in laboratory studies to determine the atmospheric Convention. Dr. Lamsal applied a newly developed Goddard spectral fitting which were recently included as an NDACC measurement capabil- lifetimes and degradation mechanisms of ozone- and climate- algorithm to OMI measurements to retrieve NO2 from both OMPS- ity. On a related topic, he is working with the water vapor sonde related trace gases. He co-authored a poster presentation at the Dr. Lok Lamsal (sponsor: N. Krotkov) is involved the development covered UV (351-379 nm) and conventional visible (405-465 representatives on the NDACC Sonde Working Group to develop AGU meeting detailing the latest collaborative research on lifetime and improvement of NASA NO2 retrieval algorithm and evaluation nm) windows. He demonstrated that OMPS wavelengths can be of the OMI NO2 product. Ongoing projects include the develop- a long-term strategy for water vapor measurements within the determinations. used to retrieve NO2, but with decreased sensitivity compared to network. Further, he assisted the NDACC co-Chairs in preparing ment of a new spectral fitting algorithm, the evaluation of the visible wavelengths. Retrieval sensitivity is dependent on spectral Dr. Kurylo played several roles during all phases leading to the retrieved slant column densities with independent retrievals from a presentation on NDACC evolution for the 9th Meeting of Ozone contrast in the NO2 absorption coefficient and also on the scene Research Managers of the Parties to the Vienna Convention (9th finalization and release of the 2014 Ozone Assessment. As a other groups, and improved calculation of air mass factors (AMF). reflectivity. He adapted the spectral fitting algorithm for OMPS contributor to Chapter 1, titled “Update on Ozone-Depleting Using the new Goddard retrievals, he assessed the impact of sys- ORM). Finally, he drafted two brief articles for the NDACC Newslet- measurements. The preliminary NO2 retrievals from OMPS are Substances (ODSs) and Other Gases of Interest to the Montreal tematic high biases in slant columns from the current operational ter covering (1) the recommendations from the 9th ORM pertinent similar to those from the UV window of OMI. To retrieve NO2 from to NDACC goals and objectives and (2) actions and presentations Protocol”, he participated in an international review meeting algorithm developed by KNMI on the retrievals of tropospheric the airborne ACAM measurements, he conducted sensitivity stud- from the 2014 NDACC SC Meeting. for the Assessment at which the drafts of all five Assessment and stratospheric NO2 columns. Retrievals of both tropospheric ies of air mass factor below and above aircraft to several retrieval chapters (revised following their international written reviews) and stratospheric NO2 reflect high biases by 10-25% and 20- parameters, including solar and viewing geometries, height of were reviewed again and recommendations were made for their fi- 45%, respectively. He evaluated the current version of the Ozone Dr. Kurylo also continued to serve as an atmospheric observa- aircraft, surface reflectivity, aerosols, and NO2 profile shape. tions liaison for the SPARC project of the WCRP and for the GRU- nalization. He continued to contribute to Chapter 1 in response to Monitoring Instrument (OMI) tropospheric NO2 product (OMNO2, Accurate information in input parameters is critically important AN. In this capacity, he contributes to the coordination of common these decisions and subsequently participated in the final panel Version 2.1) using several independent observations. He im- for air mass factor below aircraft. This study allows estimation of review meeting for the Assessment in Les Diablerets, Switzerland proved the calculation of AMF by using monthly vertical concen- organizational and implementation aspects among various inter- uncertainties in the retrieval of NO2 from the ACAM instrument. at which the “Assessment for Decisions Makers” was drafted and tration profiles, a required algorithm input, from a high-resolution national measurement networks. Specifically, he assisted in the Manuscripts on ACAM NO2 retrievals are in preparation. Addi- drafting of GRUAN Report No. 3 on GRUAN Expansion Priorities, finalized together with its Executive Summary and supporting chemistry and transport model (CTM) simulation with varying tionally, a publication relevant to this research was published in presented an NDACC measurement capability status report at the Assessment highlights. Following his participation in this panel emissions (2005–2013). He examined the impact of neglecting 2015 in Atmos. Meas. Tech. titled “Characterization and verifi- 21st session of the SPARC Scientific Steering Group, and (as a co- review, Dr. Kurylo reviewed and commented on the final versions the time-dependence of the profiles and quantified the errors in cation of ACAM slit functions for trace gas retrievals during the author of Chapter 3, “Evaluation of Atmospheric Loss Processes” of these documents in preparation for their release to the Parties trend estimation, particularly in regions where emissions have 2011 DISCOVER-AQ flight campaign”. Upcoming work will involve to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone changed substantially. From this research, Dr. Lamsal published in SPARC Report No. 6, “Lifetimes of Stratospheric Ozone-De- conducting retrievals of NO2 from airborne spectrometers (ACAM, pleting Substances, Their Replacements, and Related Species”) Layer. He also provided comments to assist in the finalization of a first-author paper in Atmos. Chem. Phys. in 2014 titled “Evalu- GEO-TASO, and GCAS) during DISCOVER-AQ. worked with Chapter 3 co-authors in finalizing a research publica- an accompanying document (the 2014 Update on “Twenty Ques- ation of OMI operational standard NO2 column retrievals using in tion drawing upon the activities conducted in this chapter. tions and Answers about the Ozone Layer”). situ and surface-based NO2 observations”. Also he co-authored a Dr. Qing Liang (A. Douglass) determines the coupling between related paper titled “Revising the slant-column density retrieval of chemical composition and the climate system and investigates Dr. Kurylo continued his collaboration with National Institute of Dr. Kurylo attended and participated in the 9th Meeting of Ozone nitrogen dioxide observed by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument”, issues related to the role of ozone in the upper troposphere and Standards and Technology (NIST) scientists in evaluating at- Research Managers (9th ORM) of the Parties to the Vienna which is under review with J. Geophys. Res. lower stratosphere on climate. This past year, Dr. Liang published mospheric kinetic and photochemical data as a member of the Convention in Geneva, Switzerland at which he presented the her research in a first-author article in Geophysical Research NASA/JPL Panel for Data Evaluation. He met with other Panel recommendations from the 8th ORM, which he chaired. He was Dr. Lamsal quantified NO2 trends from 2005–2013 over the Letters (GRL) titled “Constraining the Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4) members at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting where they briefly re- subsequently nominated and unanimously elected as a Co-Chair U.S. using surface measurements from the U.S. Environmental budget using its global trend and inter-hemispheric gradient”. This viewed current progress on the next version of the Panel recom- of the 9th Meeting together with G. Coetzee of the South African Protection Agency (EPA) Air Quality System (AQS) and an improved research garnered much attention and was featured in a NASA mendations (“Chemical Kinetics and Photochemical Data for Use Weather Service. In this capacity, he and Mr. Coetzee presided tropospheric NO2 vertical column density (VCD) data product from & AGU Joint News Release titled “Ozone-Depleting Compound in Atmospheric Studies”) planned for release in late 2015. In over the assembly and led the Delegates in formulating an up- the OMI on the Aura satellite. He developed a trend model that Persists”, and she participated in follow-up interviews with USA this regard, he has continued in the re-evaluation of photochemi- dated set of recommendations in the areas of Research Needs, accounts for the non-linear dependence of NO2 concentration on Today, Science@NASA, Geochemical News, EARTH Magazine cal kinetic processes and their associated documentation in Systematic Measurements, Data Archiving and Stewardship, and emissions associated with the seasonal variation of the chemical (August 2014), as well as BBC Music & Radio (February 2015). his assigned topical areas. In the year ahead, work on this next Capacity Building. Dr. Kurylo then presented a synopsis of these lifetime, including the change in the amplitude of the seasonal This research was promoted further in a video for which Dr. Liang version will involve revisions to many pages of text and graphics recommendations to the Bureau of the 9th Meeting of the Confer- cycle associated with the significant change in NOx emissions. Us- and Dr. Paul Newman (GSFC) were interviewed. They worked in to document the recommendations. Further, the tables and text ence of the Parties to the Vienna Convention (9th COP). ing a CTM, he examined the theoretical relationship of the trends collaboration with Kayvon Sharghi and Joy Ng (both of Code 130) supporting the new evaluations will be undergoing major format estimated from NO2 VCDs to those estimated from ground-level and others; the video is available at http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi- changes for improved user capabilities. The completion of the As a Co-Chair of the 9th ORM, Dr. Kurylo was invited to report on concentrations. He explored some of the important factors affect- bin/details.cgi?aid=11626 and was featured on NASA Goddard’s the recommendations stemming from that meeting at the Joint full scope of this work will entail many months of effort. At the ing the relationship, including known problems (e.g., NOz inter- YouTube channel. meeting of the 10th COP / 26th MOP (10th Conference of the 50 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 51 Dr. Liang (PI) received funding for her proposal titled “Convective 5 CCM BrO abundance to the Harvard GEOS-Chem model simula- ated the GMI 20-year hindcast simulation based on selected presented her poster for the CCMI meeting at the 8th Annual SED transport of chemical compounds from the free troposphere to tions in simulating the tropospheric abundance of BrO as well as ozonesondes data from mid-latitude regions of the northern and New Year’s Poster Party. southern hemispheres, GMAO-assimilated column ozone based the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere: timescale, ef- its impact on tropospheric O3 and OH. ficiency, and climate impact”. She also was Co-I on two proposals on OMI/MLS, and variable satellite observations (UARS/MLS, Dr. Edward Nowottnick (sponsor: P. Colarco) evaluates Ozone selected for funding: “Characterizing Thawing Permafrost Carbon Her work on the ACCDAM Convection Project has included an TOMS/MLS, SUBV merged ozone data). Monitoring Instrument (OMI) aerosol products in the context of the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System version 5 (GEOS-5) mod- Emissions: An Integrated Pilot Study in Support of Satellite Evalu- examination of measurements of CO2, CO, various VOCs (C2H6, el, and provides Observing System Simulation Support (OSSE) ation/Design and Earth System Modeling Capabilities” (PI: Dr C2H2, C6H6) as well as CHBr3 and CH2Br2 from the NASA SEAC4RS Dr. Liu examined possible causes of the observed ozone variation Emily Wilson, GSFC), and “An examination of the global budget mission to look at the surface-to-UT/LS (upper troposphere and at Réunion Island using hindcast simulations by the fully coupled and data analysis for spaceborne and aircraft lidar systems. of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) using observations and models”, lower stratosphere) transport timescale and efficiency for air of stratosphere-troposphere GMI CTM for 1991-2011, driven by This past year, Dr. Nowottnick served as the interface between a NASA ACCDAM proposal. This past year, she was lead author different source origins (continental pollution vs. marine biogenic assimilated MERRA meteorological fields. Her analysis suggested the GMAO and the Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) lidar on three articles, one published in Atmos. Chem. Phys., another emissions). To evaluate model performance and determine likely that a large interannual variation (IAV) of upper tropospheric instrument team, which launched in January 2015 and had first published in GRL (mentioned above), and a third that has been reasons of the existing model biases, the aircraft measurements ozone over Réunion Island was driven by the large IAV of the light in February 2015. He has developed an automated system submitted to GRL. were compared with model output for the same time period stratospheric influence, which could be possibly related to large- that provides the CATS instrument team with daily meteorological and location. In addition, these measurements were compared scale changes in its surrounding meteorological regimes associ- forecasts, which are used for near-real time data processing. This Dr. Liang has been working in collaboration with several scientists against measurements obtained over the western Pacific during ated with the mean location changes in subtropical jet streams. system has broad applications and may be used in support of on a variety of projects. As a continuation of the FAA ACCRI proj- the ATTREX/CONTRAST missions to examine the regional differ- She compared model simulations with yearly varied and constant other satellite systems, ground-based observations, or field cam- ect, Dr. Liang works with Dr. Henry Selkirk (Code 614) in providing ences in convective transport. The analyses results were present- emissions to detect the influence from surface emissions. Her paigns. Work will continue with the CATS team to help interpret additional model runs for the FAA-led multi-model harmonization ed at the SEAC4RS science meeting in Pasadena, CA (Apr 30-May study suggested that the effects of increasing emissions were L1B data, and he will begin processing data using his L2 vertical project to examine the impact of aviation emission on surface 3, 2015). limited to the lower troposphere near the surface area in August feature mask algorithm. He has begun preparing his contribution ozone. She has finished the proposed two sets of GEOS-5 strato- - September. In the coming months, Dr. Liu will finish her analysis to the CATS Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD), which sphere-troposphere chemistry simulation in the REPLAY mode: Dr. Qing Liang (sponsor: E. Wilson) works on a second task, of the interannual variation and trends of tropospheric ozone over will be provided to the public upon first data release in late spring. supporting permafrost research which includes fingerprinting the first set is with free running 2H O, one simulation with aviation Réunion Island with GMI and observed dataset from satellite and carbon source types using suborbital measurements. This project Dr. Nowottnick’s study on using aerosol types provided by the NOx emissions and one without aviation NOx, and the second ozonesondes measurements, and will submit a related manu- involves a variety of analyses. Dr. Liang has performed an analysis Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) Vertical set is the same as the first set but with 2H O nudged to MERRA- script. of CH and CO mixing ratios characteristics as well as column Feature Mask (VFM) for evaluating global aerosol transport mod- assimilated H2O. The results from both sets of simulations were 4 2 abundance characteristics in various air masses observed during Also, Dr. Liu examined the variations of stratosphere and tropo- els was accepted for publication by Atmospheric Measurements assessed to quantify the impact of aviation NOx on tropospheric three NASA aircraft missions: ARCTAS-A, ARCTAS-B, and INTEX-A. sphere exchange on tropospheric Ozone IAV based on several and Techniques in December 2014. By identifying shortcomings O3 and OH, and the required model output was submitted to the FAA ATAC project for multi-model harmony analysis. In addition, This measurements-based information was compiled to generate GMI hindcast sensitivity simulations, a stratospheric tracer run of the CALIOP VFM, Dr. Nowottnick developed an improved VFM to be used by CATS that has enhanced aerosol typing capabilities. Dr. Liang has been working closely with PI Dr. Henry Selkirk and lower tropospheric CH4 versus CO2 concentration signatures for and observations from ozonesondes as well as satellite measure- Co-I Dr. Huisheng Bian, as well as other ATAC participants from anthropogenic air plumes, biomass burning air plumes and back- ments over the mid-latitudes in both hemispheres. Dr. Liu helped During NASA’s HS3 field campaign, Dr. Nowottnick served as a various institutions, in analyzing and interpreting the multi-model ground air. In addition, Dr. Liang has combined the information the GMI team to evaluate the tropospheric chemistry in the new meteorological/aerosol forecaster for each deployment (Septem- intercomparison results to quantify and harmonize the impact of from the field missions and the CO2 and CH4 abundance informa- GEOS-CTM model driven by MERRA2 by comparing the variable ber 2012-2014). Using his forecasts, mission scientists and flight aviation emissions on surface ozone and PM concentrations. tion from the Goddard GEOS-5 model to calculate CO2 and CH4 tracers including O between GEOS-CTM and GMI-CTM, as well as 2.5 3 planners were able to design flight plans and make mid-flight path The multi-model intercomparison results were published as a FAA column abundance in air masses of various origins. The column the ozonesondes data. Going forward, Dr. Liu plans to examine alterations (e.g., to fly directly over the eye of a hurricane) relevant report in April 2015. abundance calculation will make it possible to perform direct and evaluate the ozone simulation of the GMI-CTM new run driven comparisons with the upcoming field measurements that will be by MERRA2, which has the aerosol heating effects on the vertical to the scientific goals of the mission. From his experience as an For the ACMAP Bromocarbons Project, Dr. Liang has been con- collected in Alaska in summer 2015. transport. She is interested in examining the model’s perfor- HS3 forecaster and from his interest in potential dust-tropical ducting a set of GEOS-5 CCM simulations to quantify the contribu- mance during the Pinatubo Volcanic eruption period. cytogenesis interactions, Dr. Nowottnick performed several high- resolution GEOS-5 simulations of developing and non-developing tion of long-lived and very-short-lived brominated halocarbons to Dr. Liang will continue the CH4-CO2 tracer-tracer correlations anal- atmospheric BrO abundance, including sensitivity simulations of ysis. Also, she will extend the same analysis that was performed Dr. Liu attended and presented at several meetings. In May tropical storms to better understand how dust impacts tropical various seasonal variation in emissions of very-short-lived bromo- for the previous three missions to the remaining three missions 2014, she presented a poster at the 2014 Chemistry-Climate systems. This work was presented at the HS3 Science Team Meet- originally proposed: (1) INTEX-B, (2) ABLE-3A, (3) ABLE-3B. Infor- Model Initiative (CCMI) workshop at Lancaster University, England; ing at NASA Ames in early May 2015. Dr. Nowottnick will continue carbons, and newly proposed J(BrONO2)/k-BrO-NO2 reaction rates to examine their impact on atmospheric BrO abundance. These mation compiled from the campaigns will be compared with the her poster discussed quantifying the relative contributions of to work with Dr. Scott Braun and Dr. Donifan Barahona in perform- results were evaluated against AURA OMI BrO measurements proposed measurements collected in Alaska in summer 2015 for changes in stratospheric input and surface emission in determin- ing high-resolution NASA GEOS-5 simulations of HS3 case studies where dust was in close proximity to a developing cyclone. This to BrO abundance estimates. The modeled BrO, as well as the this project. ing the interannual variability of tropospheric O3 by using GMI hindcast simulations and a stratospheric ozone tracer, as well as work is expected to yield a publication later in 2015. very-short-lived source gases (CHBr3 and CH2Br2) were compared against aircraft field measurements collected during CONTRAST/ Dr. Junhua Liu (sponsor: J. Rodriguez) conducts research that observations from ozonesondes and satellite data. She attended Additionally, he will work with Dr. Peter Colarco on constraining ab- ATTREX, SEAC4RS and ARCTAS-A&B. The collective information focuses on quantifying contributions of the stratospheric intrusion the 2014 Young Scientist Forum at NASA GSFC in June, where sorbing aerosol properties in the NASA GEOS-5 model using OMI. gathered from these satellite, in situ and model BrO comparisons and biomass emissions to the observed interannual variations she gave a talk titled “Source attributions of tropospheric ozone (IAV) and trends in tropospheric O and precursors during the past Results are expected to improve the representation of smoke/ will be used to explain the current discrepancy between the BrO 3 interannual variability over mid-latitudes: stratosphere tropo- dust optical properties in GEOS-5. abundance estimates from various sources and potential causes. 20 years over the subtropics and mid-latitudes and investigating sphere exchange and surface emissions”. At the 2014 AGU Fall their interaction with the Earth’s climate. Dr Liu provides expertise Meeting in December, Dr. Liu gave an oral presentation and also Dr. Liang worked in close collaboration with Dr. Johan Schmidt Dr. Mark Olsen’s (sponsor: A. Douglass) research focuses on and Prof. Daniel Jacob (Harvard University) in providing the GEOS- on global chemistry-transport modeling (CTM), data analysis on co-authored a poster presentation. And in January 2015, she satellite measurements and surface observations. She evalu- the analysis of stratosphere-troposphere exchange, transport 52 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 53 in the lower stratosphere and troposphere, and the coupling of physical Research-Atmospheres in February 2015 that discusses at Costa Rica”. This paper analyzes joint balloon sonde profiles stratosphere and troposphere in both global atmospheric data the improvements to the assimilation of OMI and MLS ozone data of water vapor and ozone made in Costa Rica from 2005-2011 sets and output from global models. Global, regional and process and applications of the analyses in research. A first-author paper using compositing techniques, tracer-tracer diagrams and back- studies on seasonal, annual and longer time scales are used to based upon the investigation of ENSO-driven variability of tropo- trajectory methods. The analysis reveals important seasonal investigate topics concerning trends, exchange, circulation and spheric column ozone is in progress and Dr. Olsen plans to submit differences in structure in the upper troposphere and lower transport, influences of layers, and evaluation of models. Regard- this in summer 2015. Oral presentations on work completed this stratosphere. Water vapor amounts in boreal winter at Costa Rica ing ENSO and Tropospheric Column Ozone Variability, Dr. Olsen year were given at the Aura Science Team meeting held in College are much lower than expected from local ice saturation tempera- continued research on the tropical and middle latitude response Park, MD and at the AMS General Assembly/Middle Atmosphere tures. The boreal summer data show both higher average water of tropospheric column ozone to ENSO using analyses of OMI Conference held in Phoenix, AZ. Results from the study on the vapor amounts and a much higher level of variability than the and MLS ozone recently extended through mid-2014. The change tropical and midlatitude response of tropospheric column ozone winter data. To understand this seasonal contrast, three sources in the tropospheric column ozone was found to be linear with were presented at the Aura meeting, while the high-resolution of tracer variability were considered: wave-induced vertical motion respect to the Nino 3.4 index. In the tropical Pacific, the column ozone assimilation was discussed at AMS. across strong vertical gradients (‘wave variability’), differences decreases by up to 1.5 DU per degree increase in the index. Over in source air masses resulting from horizontal transport (‘source Indonesia and the Indian Ocean, the column increases by up to Over the next year, Dr. Olsen plans to complete an investigation of variability’), and changes induced along parcel paths due to physi- 1.2 DU per degree increase in the index. In the extratropics, the the variability in the meridional mixing in the lower stratosphere cal processes (‘path variability’). The winter and summer seasons sensitivity is smaller, yet statistically significant, and the changes that is correlated with the atmospheric index of refraction above show different mixes of these three sources of variability. in circulation patterns are closely aligned with the sensitivity of the subtropical jet and modulated by the phase of the Quasi- At the SEAC4RS Science Team Meeting in Pasadena, CA, April ozone to ENSO. Regions of negative sensitivity are co-located with Biennial Oscillation. Additionally, the study of the impact of 28-May 1, 2015, Dr. Selkirk presented his analysis of the water anomalous cyclonic circulations over the North Pacific, United high-horizontal resolution assimilation of ozone will continue in vapor data from both SEACIONS balloon sondes as well the NASA States, and North Atlantic that increase the upwelling and desta- the context of a jet-tropopause coordinate to quantify the impact ER-2 collected during the field phase of the SEAC4RS mission bilize the atmosphere to convection. Likewise, midlatitude regions of the resolution on ozone transport and exchange across the Figure 1: Profiles for SJ470, prepared by Prof. Gary Morris (St. at Ellington Field, Houston, TX in August and September 2013. of positive sensitivity are coincident with anomalous anti-cyclonic tropopause in the vicinity of the subtropical jet. Dr. Olsen also Edwards University). Image provided by H. Selkirk. A distinguishing feature of the water vapor profiles is that there circulation and downwelling. The impact of tropopause height will contribute work on the downward flux of ozone to the chapter is evidence of injection of water vapor well into the local strato- of the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR). In March 12-13, 2015, changes associated with ENSO is estimated to account for about “Extratropical Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere” in the sphere by deep convection upstream of both Houston and aircraft following the major Turrialba volcano eruption, Ticosonde in situ ¼ of the tropospheric column ozone response over the United report by the SPARC Reanalysis Intercomparison Project. flight legs over a wide range of mid-continental locations. In many measurements of SO validated satellite retrievals. In 2013, States. 2 For this task, Dr. Cynthia Randles (sponsor: P. Colarco) diagnoses instances, the deep convection sources could be traced to the Ticosonde added a capability to measure SO2 using a dual-sonde Dr. Olsen is investigating the impact of using a high horizontal uncertainty in the aerosol direct radiative effect with the NASA deep tropics. technique, and 14 of the 32 ozone sondes launched during this resolution general circulation model in the ozone assimilation GEOS-5 model and NASA satellite observations. Works involves period were dual sondes. Of these 14, nine showed discernible July 2015 marks the tenth anniversary of the Ticosonde sounding notches due to SO from the Volcán Turrialba. Dr. Selkirk is work- system. It is found that upper tropospheric/lower stratospheric examining the sensitivity of aerosol optical depth and forcing to 2 project in Costa Rica. Ticosonde has been a collaborative effort structures such as tropopause folds are better represented, plus GEOS-5 model resolution, as well as calculating forcing for various ing with Dr. Nickolay Krotkov (GSFC) and Dr. Can Li (UMCP) to use between NASA and Costa Rican scientists from the beginning, the structural integrity is better maintained, bringing both higher aerosol constituents as a function of model resolution. Since these measurements. and is the longest continuing series of water vapor/ozone profiles ozone and PV to lower altitudes. Less numerical diffusion at a work began on this task, she and her sponsor have completed in the tropics. In the past twelve months (May 2, 2014-April 23, higher resolution results in less ozone in the upper troposphere, six simulations, all of different horizontal resolutions, using the This capability has borne fruit time and again, and on March 12 2015), the team at the University of Costa Rica in San José has particularly around the regions of jets. The annual northern hemi- GEOS-5 model coupled to the GOCART aerosol transport model. and again on the morning of March 13, the stratovolcano Tur- added 32 more balloon sondes launches to the Ticosonnde data- sphere extratropical tropospheric ozone burden is reduced by 2% An offline forcing calculator was used to calculate aerosol forcing rialba, located approximately 35 km east of the researchers’ Tico- set. These yielded 32 ozone profiles and 12 water vapor profiles, - 5%, depending on latitude, and in the southern hemisphere, the as a function of resolution and for individual aerosol components. sonde balloon sonde launch site at the University of Costa Rica bringing the totals since 2005 to 442 and 182, respectively. reduced upper tropospheric burden is offset by increased ozone They found that sulfate forcing over Asia is particularly sensitive to (UCR) in San Jose, had the largest ash eruption since it became model resolution because changes in clouds change the aque- active again in the mid-1990s. On the morning of March 13, the in the lower troposphere. This hemispheric difference will be Upcoming plans include a presentation of results from his analy- ous production of sulfate aerosol from sulfur dioxide gas. These UCR team launched a dual balloon sonde, SJ470, which intercept- investigated in the coming year. sis of the SO2 soundings at the annual conference of the NOAA findings were reported at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting. A related ed the SO2 plume from the volcano in a 1-km deep layer centered Global Monitoring Division in Boulder, CO, May 2015. Dr. Selkirk Dr. Olsen produced a year-long assimilation of OMI and MLS manuscript is currently underway. at 2.7 km and a second minor layer close to 6 km. Single ozon- also plans to attend an open meeting entitled “Composition and ozone that incorporated explicit stratospheric chemistry into esondes are susceptible to cancellation of the ozone signal by Transport in the Tropical Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere” the assimilation system. The evaluation of this new configura- Dr. Henry Selkirk (sponsor: A. Douglass) performs a variety of du- SO2, and in their dual sonde payloads, Dr. Selkirk and colleagues in Boulder, CO in July 2015. He will travel to Costa Rica within tion focused on the representation of the Southern Hemispheric ties within this task. He is involved with characterizing the vertical take advantage of this by adding a second ozone sonde fitted the year to review the Ticosonde science program with Co-I Jorge polar ozone hole in the analyses. The timing of the Antarctic structure and variability of water vapor and ozone in the tropical with an SO2 filter. Careful differencing of the unfiltered and filtered Andrés Diaz and his team at the University of Costa Rica, and will ozone hole formation and break-up is nearly unchanged from the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere using balloon sondes, sondes yields profiles of both SO2 and ozone. The profiles for have discussions with the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional on perspective of zonal and column ozone. The greatest difference and analyzing transport and moisture processes in observations SJ470, shown in Figure 1, were prepared by Ticosonde Co-I Prof. progress to establish a GRUAN site in Costa Rica. in column ozone is found around the collar region of the Antarctic and models, plus providing scientific support to NASA airborne Gary Morris (St. Edwards University). The tropospheric column missions including ATTREX and SEAC4RS. This past year, Dr. Sel- density of SO from this in situ measurement was 1.7 DU. To com- vortex; however, the differences are less than the variability in In this second task, Dr. Henry Selkirk (sponsor: J. Joiner) has 2 kirk co-authored along with Dr. Mark Schoeberl and sponsor Anne pare this to the column density from the OMI instrument, six-hour that region. This evaluation is ongoing with an examination of the been making dual ozonesonde measurements of SO2 in Costa Douglass a manuscript submitted to the Journal of Geophysical HYSPLIT isentropic forward trajectories were run from the location chemical processes compared to the analysis increments. Rica over a two-year period. This work is in collaboration with Dr. Research titled “Sources of Seasonal Variability in Tropical UTLS of the sonde interception of the plume to the OMI overpass time Gary Morris of Valparaiso University and Dr. Jorge Andres Diaz Dr. Olsen co-authored a paper published in the Journal of Geo- Water Vapor and Ozone: Inferences from the Ticosonde Dataset of ~19 UT. The sum of the satellite columns at the two trajectory 54 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 55 endpoints for the main layer for the Global Modeling changes presented issues, and before and after these changes, bin/details.cgi?aid=11781) and on the NASA Goddard YouTube is ~1.5 DU. The upper layer is Initiative (GMI) investiga- Mr. Steenrod ran several simulations. One set of simulations was channel; it is also the subject of a Weathercasters video and was harder to discern as the tra- tions of chemical and used to look at the chemical reaction rate sensitivity of methane posted to Instagram. jectory endpoint is located in dynamical aspects of the oxidation. He also extended the existing long-term simulations strong gradient in the column middle and lower atmo- through 2014 and ran the tracer suite in conjunction with several The surprising source of the large interannual chlorine variabil- measurements. However, if sphere, which involves full chemistry runs; additionally, he developed and ran the GMI ity was identified as the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of the they assume a low value of the development, optimi- full chemistry model to support preliminary work in support of tropical stratospheric wind direction. The QBO, which has an 0.5 DU at this endpoint, then zation, multiprocessing, the upcoming ATom aircraft mission. These runs are designed to average period of 28 months, was found to cause stratospheric the total OMI column for the execution, and evaluation simulate the data that will be retrieved during the mission and composition variability throughout the extratropics (i.e., regions distributed sample volume is of atmospheric modeling to use the model to fully understand the many different influ- outside the tropics). Using a decade of NASA satellite observa- 2.0, about 20% higher than codes; development of ences on the chemistry that results in the measured species. Mr. tions, differing impacts of the westerly and easterly phases of the the in situ column value. diagnostic software for Steenrod continued with the CCMI simulation post-processing for QBO on the midlatitude values of long-lived trace gases N2O and analysis of model output submission to the CCMI repository. HCl were found in both hemispheres. In the southern hemisphere, At the present time, this task and satellite data; and the midlatitude QBO effects found in the middle stratosphere are has completed its funding al- Figure 2: Between 300 and 200 hPa, RHcrit was close to 90%, but above that development of general Further, his systems administration support included updating transported by the mean stratospheric circulation, first to polar level up to the tropopause, it increased to almost 100%. (H. Selkirk) and securing the operating systems of the Code 614 computer latitudes in summer and then down to the polar lower strato- location; however, SO2 sondes user software to allow purchased under this task simple access to large cluster, as well as updating and maintaining the hardware on sphere the following winter. This unexpected and coherent trans- will continue to be launched in Costa Rica under the auspices of central databases of model output. this cluster in a timely and unobtrusive manner. This included port pathway allows the dynamics of the tropical stratosphere the Ticosonde project of which this task’s activities have been an replacing computers and printers, adding new and replacement to impact the composition of the Antarctic ozone hole! Because integral part. This year, Mr. Steenrod worked on several issues with the GMI hard-drives, preparing for Goddard infrastructure changes and of greater dynamical variability in the northern hemisphere, this CTM model, including several enhancements to the model’s capa- helping users migrate to the new desktop environments on the coherent transport is not observed. This work was been accepted Dr. Henry Selkirk (sponsor: J. Joiner) also is tasked with improving bilities. In the work with the coupled aerosol-gas phase chemical cluster. These activities will continue, especially with regard to for publication in Geophysical Research Letters. the moist physics components in GEOS-5 by analyzing subor- mechanism, he added the ability to use a database of volcanic the OS security updates and installation of new and replacement bital water vapor and related tracer data, and then using these eruptions to emit sulfur dioxide into the model domain at the ac- hardware. As the Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) project manager, Dr. observations to inform improvements to GEOS-5 in collaboration tual locations in space and time. He added mixed phase aerosol Strahan has continued to oversee the integration of several multi- with Dr. Andrea Molod (GMAO/GSFC). For the first estimates of chemistry to the coupled aerosol-gas phase chemical mechanism, Dr. Susan Strahan (sponsor: J. Rodriguez) analyzes stratospheric decadal simulations that investigate how changing anthropogenic observations to improve the understanding of stratospheric trans- emissions affect atmospheric composition. Dr. Strahan also RHcrit (Critical Relative Humidity) using airborne measurements allowing for a more accurate representation of the aerosol inter- of horizontal variability of water vapor, Dr. Selkirk analyzed water actions, and he needed to add additional diagnostics of the sulfur port processes, their variability, and their effects on the chemistry participated in the development and evaluation of a new chem- vapor data from both the DC-8 and ER-2 during flights from the budget for this work too. Mr. Steenrod improved another aspect of of trace gases, including ozone. The results of observational istry transport modeling (CTM) effort in the GMAO (Code 610.1). analyses are used to evaluate the representation of transport This model, the GEOS-CTM, uses many of the same components TC4 aircraft campaign in Costa Rica in 2007. He estimated RHcrit the model: the ability to simulate the solar cycle in the photolysis directly from the horizontal variability in 100-km legs. Results in calculation for all chemical mechanisms. Also, he improved the and chemistry in NASA models, including the Global Modeling as the Global Modeling Initiative CTM. The new CTM is integrated Initiative (GMI) chemistry transport model and the GEOS Chemis- with GMAO meteorological reanalyses, such as MERRA and Figure 2 show that between 300 and 200 hPa, RHcrit was close capabilities of the off-line transport tracer suite by adding addi- to 90%, but above that level up to the tropopause, it increased to tional constituents. Two more species that other groups often run try-Climate Model (CCM). This past year, a study was completed MERRA2. Pending a successful evaluation, this model will serve almost 100%. Results such as these will help inform the choice of were added, an SF6 species with no loss and a CO -like tracer. Mr. that quantified interannual variability of inorganic chlorine inside as an updated replacement for the GMI CTM. The first round of 2 the ozone hole and determined its impact on Antarctic ozone testing identified significant tracer transport problems. Additional RHcrit in GEOS-5. Work will continue on analyzing water vapor mea- Steenrod developed a new set of tagged carbon monoxide tracers surements from aircraft to identify modes of horizontal variability that run separately to look at the regional influences of differ- depletion. For more than a decade, scientists have searched for constituent transport problems have been found and work diag- evidence that the Antarctic ozone hole was becoming less severe nosing their sources continues. It is hoped that this modeling tool for better estimates of RHcrit. ent source regions on atmospheric CO and ozone. In the coming months, work will continue on improving the GMI model and fixing due to declining stratospheric chlorine levels. This study deter- will be ready for scientific investigations later this year. Also, Dr. Selkirk and his colleague Michael Manyin have been con- issues as they are discovered. There are plans to implement the mined that large year-to-year chlorine variability complicates the Dr. Strahan accepted an invitation to join the steering commit- ducting sensitivity studies of the impact of changes in the upper latest version of the photolysis reaction rate calculation. He also detection of a decline in ozone hole severity. However, this study troposphere in the profile of RH on a single-column version of also revealed a linear relationship between O loss area and Cl tee of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition crit needs to solve a problem that currently prevents the coupled 3 Change (NDACC). This is an international group of atmospheric the GEOS-5 atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM). An in- aerosol-gas phase chemical mechanism from being run at a high (Chlorine) levels during very cold years in the Antarctic. On this crease of RH in the uppermost parts of the troposphere results basis, the study concluded that ozone holes smaller than 20-mil- scientists focused on making and analyzing ground-based atmo- crit resolution. in a clear increase of cloudiness in this region. A physical expla- lion square kilometers – an area exceeded for most of years since spheric composition measurements from a worldwide network of nation for this response is that by requiring a wetter atmosphere Mr. Steenrod, working with others, had to adapt the GMI model 1992 – will occur after 2040, no matter how cold the Antarctic observing stations. She will be working to support and advance for cloud ice formation, the ice clouds that do form will be less to run under the new mainframe hardware and software on the winter is. This work was presented at the Aura Science Team the use of NDACC ground-based data by providing model output likely to sublimate. As a result, clouds form less easily, but persist NCCS’ massively parallel computer system. The computer was Meeting (College Park, MD), the Network of Remote Detection to instrument teams and by using the NDACC data in model stud- longer. Going forward, they will analyze the interplay among heavily modified during the year, adding many new nodes and Workshop (Brussels, Belgium), and was published in the Jour- ies. (See Dr. Michael Kurylo’s report [also Code 614] for more GEOS-5 model variables to better understand the microphysical eliminating older ones, and the operating system was changed, nal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres. This research was information on the NDACC SC.) processes underpinning the increase of upper tropospheric cloud moving to the latest release after having been at an obsolete highlighted in a video titled “Big Ozone Holes Headed For Extinc- Over this past year, Dr. Strahan collaborated with NASA and coverage with increased RHcrit. version for a while. They moved the GMI model code to a new tion By 2040” that includes an interview with Dr. Strahan and was university scientists on several topics. The collaborations that release of the Fortran compiler, and they changed the version produced by Joy Ng and Kayvon Sharghi (Code 130). This video resulted in publications included the following: a study of the Mr. Stephen Steenrod (sponsor: J. Rodriguez) provides support control software that the model is stored under. Each of these is available on the SVS webpage (http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi- influence of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Madden- 56 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 57 Julian Oscillation (MJO) on simulated and observed tropospheric CCM with several chemistry options to probe how factors such as dence. This algorithm is used only for diagnostic studies. amplified the daily variations of air quality changes induced by the ozone variability (with Dr. Jerry Ziemke, Code 610); an evaluation simulated NOx concentrations affect the simulated CO and OH. transpacific aerosol, which ranged ±10 ppbv for ozone and ±6 µg/ He co-authored a paper titled “Ground-based assessment of of a new GEOS-5 ozone assimilation system (with Dr. Kris Wargan, Going forward, she plans to submit a paper on the implications of m3 for PM2.5. These results were presented at the 2014 AGU Fall SSAI/GSFC); and a semi-empirical determination of the current model biases in carbon monoxide. She also will be participating the bias and long-term stability of fourteen limb and occultation Meeting and at a GSFC’s AeroCenter Seminar Series. ozone profile data records”, published in Atmospheric Measure- lifetime of the trace gas nitrous oxide (N2O) and projection of its in the upcoming Atmospheric Tomography Mission (ATom). lifetime in a changing climate (with Dr. M. Prather, UC Irvine). Dr. ment Techniques Discussion. Also, he submitted two abstracts Also over this past year, Dr. Tao began a modeling study of the Strahan contributed GMI CTM simulations and their analysis to Dr. Ghassan Taha (sponsor: R. Mcpeters) leads Aura Validation titled “Validation of OMPS LP Ozone Profiles with Satellite, Saharan Air Layer (SAL) impact on cloud and precipitation. Taking these collaborations and assisted in writing and editing. Data Centre (AVDC) activities and supports various Aura and Ozonedondes and Lidar Measurements” and “OMPS LP Global advantage of the data collected during the Hurricane and Severe NPP calibration and validation activities. He also maintains and Aerosol Profile Measurements” to ATMOS Workshop 2015 and Storm Sentinel (HS3) campaign, he will evaluate the model per- Work for the year ahead will involve the utilization of the findings updates the AVDC software, hardware and web page, as well as ISARD-2015, respectively. Dr. Taha co-authored a poster pre- formance, identify its weakness, and hopefully improve the model on tropical wind (QBO)-driven composition variability to investigate provides support to the AVDC users. He has added and updated sented at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting titled “Evaluation of MLS representation. Preliminary results were presented at the HS3 trends in stratospheric composition. The QBO causes multi-year multiple satellite data and overpass files to the latest version. He mesospheric geopotential height profiles and improved altitude Science Meeting. variability that gives the appearance of a decadal scale trend. Us- expanded the AVDC database by adding OMI (SAO) ozone profiles registration of the OMPS Limb Profiler measurements”. ing satellite data sets from the early 1990s, Dr. Strahan and col- data, GOME-2 fluorescence data for L2 and L3, GMAO/GEOS5 Dr. Tao submitted two papers regarding aerosol-cloud-radiation leagues will expand the study of QBO-driven variability to include OMI/MLS assimilated ozone, and OMI (SAO) water vapor. Dr. Taha Work ahead will involve implementing and testing a modified interactions on U.S. air quality. He presented his research results more than two decades. This will better quantify the QBO’s impact also updated and expanded the ozonesonde and ground-based empirical straylight correction of OMPS LP radiances and testing at several international/national conferences and workshops, in- on trace gas variability and trends. This investigation is relevant database, and updated the AVDC webpage and data links. In its effect on ozone and aerosol retrievals. He also will finalize the cluding the 4th iLEAPS Science Conference, the 7th International to the detection of change in the stratospheric circulation caused July 2014, in support of the DISCOVER-AQ campaign, the AVDC OMPS LP ozone profile validation study to be presented at the Conference on the Global Water and Energy Cycle, AGU Fall Meet- by increasing greenhouse gases (GHGs). Increasing atmospheric provided OMI, MLS and OMPS FOV measurement predictions over upcoming ATMOS Workshop 2015, and will repeat the validation ing, the MICS-Asia Workshop, and others. At the iLEAPS confer- GHG concentrations are expected to produce long-term changes DISCOVER-AQ sites. study for the upcoming release of V2.5. Finally, he will conduct a ence, he chaired a session of “Bridging the gap between Hydro- in the stratospheric circulation, but phenomena like the QBO study of three years of OMPS LP records of aerosol index and ex- meteorological and Biogeochemical Land-Surface Modeling”. For create large variability and short-term trends. The investigation of Dr. Taha attended the CEOS Atmospheric Composition Constella- tinction coefficient global distribution, and will compare this to the a newly funded project that investigates the interaction between QBO variability over a period of more than 20 years will allow the tion Meeting, at NCWCP (MD) in June 2014, and the EOS Aura Sci- Goddard GEOSCCM model and other correlative measurements. Asian air pollution and Asian monsoon, Dr. Tao will assume the impacts of multi-year and decadal scale variability on long-term ence Team Meeting in September 2014, held in College Park, MD. leading role in NU-WRF simulation. trends to be quantified. These studies will use satellite data sets Dr. Zhining Tao (sponsor: M. Chin) leads the effort to integrate Work ahead will involve maintaining the AVDC web-page and the CASA-GFED CO fluxes and PCTM global model results into the Dr. James Wang (sponsor: S. R. Kawa) works on two tasks. This along with CTM simulations using the new MERRA2 reanalysis 2 systems; harvesting, hosting, and harmonizing correlative mea- NU-WRF framework and study the CO spatial-temporal variability first task is involved with inverse modeling of atmospheric CO meteorological fields. 2 2 surements needed for satellite validation; and, coordinating the using the high-resolution regional model. The developed model using satellite and in situ observations. Over this past year, his

Dr. Sarah Strode (sponsor: J. Rodriguez) contributes to the three- Generic Earth Observation Metadata Standard (GEOMS) work and has been used to perform a year-long simulation of CO2 variation research has resulted in publications and presentations; he also dimensional modeling efforts in Code 614, for both Chemical maintaining all required tools. over North America. Different large-scale driving meteorological was involved with proposal submissions. In June 2014, he was Transport Models and Chemistry Climate Models. She carries fields were explored to analyze their effects on CO2 transport. a Co-I on a NASA ROSES proposal titled “GEOS-Carb II: Deliver- out simulations for the Atmospheric Chemistry-Climate Model Dr. Ghassan Taha (sponsor: G. Jaross) works on a second task in- Preliminary results were presented at the 15th Annual WRF ing Carbon Flux and Concentration Products Based on the GEOS Intercomparison (ACCMI), and provides emission scenarios for vestigating SNPP OMPS Limb sensor data quality with the goal of User’s Workshop. Future work will involve developing the NU-WRF Modeling System” (PI: Lesley Ott), which was selected for funding. identifying improvements to current and future Limb sensors. His past and future simulations. This past year, she submitted a capability to temporalize the monthly global CASA CO2 fluxes with The second proposal titled “Improved Satellite- and Model-Based research focuses on alternative approaches to data reduction that paper entitled “Trends and Variability in Surface Ozone over the the NU-WRF meteorology. This way, CO2 flux and transport will be Estimates of Methane Emissions from Wetlands and Their Impact United States” to the Journal of Geophysical Research, and gave have potential implications for sensor and algorithm design. He driven by the same meteorology to reduce the model uncertainty. on Atmospheric Chemistry” (PI: Sarah Strode) was not awarded. a branch lunch seminar on this topic. Surface ozone in sum- also supports OMPS limb level 1&2 development activities. This Dr. Tao also plans to develop the NU-WRF capability to track mul- In the coming year, he will begin his work on the NASA Carbon past year, Dr. Taha performed a detailed comparison of OMPS LP mer over the eastern U.S. decreased over the past 20 years, but tiple CO2 tracers from difference sources, e.g., anthropogenic vs. Monitoring System proposal; this work extends his current global ozone profile version 2 with MLS, OSIRIS, MIPAS, SCIAMACY, GO- increases in ozone are seen at some sites in other regions and biomass burning vs. biogenic vs. oceanic, etc. CO2 inverse modeling analyses. He will begin to use a more seasons. She used hindcast model simulations to investigate MOS satellites, as well as lidar and ozonesonde measurements, sophisticated inversion technique and incorporate newly released in order to evaluate the accuracy of OMPS retrieval, tangent high Dr. Tao assisted in dynamic dust source map development and these trends and the year-to-year variability in U.S. surface ozone. OCO-2 satellite CO2 measurements in the analysis. offset, and slit differences. For an analysis of OMPS LP level 1, implementation in NU-WRF, as well as in the completion of a NU- Dr. Strode is using model simulations to investigate possible Dr. Taha investigated OMPS LP v2.X radiance gain differences to WRF-LIS test simulation of the 2011 Arizona dust storm. He took Dr. Wang presented a first-author poster titled “A Synthesis Inver- causes of the reported trends in carbon monoxide (CO) seen in estimate the tangent height offset between high and low gain. He part in the NU-WRF workshop in GSFC and held discussions with sion Analysis of Recent Variability in Natural CO2 Fluxes Using satellite observations. She gave a presentation entitled “Can the also derived an empirical straylight correction model, and ana- the AFWA dust and aerosol experts about the improvement of GOSAT and In Situ Observations” based on his CO2 inverse model- CCMI Simulations Reproduce the MOPITT CO Trends and Variabil- lyzed the resulting residuals. The proposed SL corrections were dust module in NU-WRF and the potential collaboration. ing work using GOSAT satellite and ground-based measurements ity?” at the Chemistry-Climate Model Initiative (CCMI) workshop tested using the ozone and aerosol retrievals. at two meetings. He presented this at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting and also presented this work at the Goddard Young Scientist Dr. Tao completed an impact study of transpacific aerosol (dust in San Francisco, CA, in December 2014, at the session titled Forum. Dr. Taha assessed OMPS LP aerosol profiles and evaluated the and pollution) on U.S. surface air quality using NU-WRF. Unlike “Using Atmospheric Measurements and Remote Sensing Data to accuracy of current aerosol products and compared it to OSIRIS previous investigations, he re-examined the problem from the Constrain Biosphere-Atmosphere Exchange Processes”, and then Chemistry climate models (CCMs) often show a low bias in carbon aerosol. Subsequently, Dr. Taha proposed an experimental algo- aerosol-cloud-radiation (ACR) interaction perspective and con- gave this presentation at the 5th North American Carbon Program monoxide at the high northern latitudes. Dr. Strode is investigat- rithm that improves the multi-wavelength aerosol profile’s retrieval cluded that the ACR effect would extend the transpacific aerosol Principal Investigators Meeting in Washington, DC, in January ing how this bias affects and is affected by the simulated concen- and extends the retrieval to lower altitudes, plus improves the impact on U.S. air quality well beyond the west coastal regions by 2015. trations of OH, an important atmospheric oxidant. She is using a cloud detection algorithm using the aerosol wavelength depen- influencing key meteorological processes. Such feedback greatly 58 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 59 A scientific paper titled “A Regional CO2 Observing System Simu- Dr. Wang contributed to a study presented in a poster at the of tests, the radiometers were shipped to Harris Corporation for most accurate snow depth on sea ice data sets. lation Experiment for the ASCENDS Satellite Mission” authored 2014 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, CA, in December titled integration with the radar, and in February 2015, the airborne test by Dr. Wang along with S. R. Kawa, J. Eluszkiewicz, D. F. Baker, “Model Analysis of the Factors Regulating Trends and Variability of campaign occurred over the Grand Mesa, CO region. He contrib- Dr. Brucker’s work over the past year has resulted in eight journal M. Mountain, J. Henderson, T. Nehrkorn, and T. S. Zaccheo, was Methane, Carbon Monoxide and OH”, by Y. Elshorbany, S. Strode, uted to this first assessment by measuring snow properties (grain publications, five invited oral presentations, two invited seminars, published in December 2014. ASCENDS (Active Sensing of CO2 J. S. Wang, and B. Duncan. The session was “Using Atmospheric size, density, temperature, near infrared reflectance) in multiple as well as participation in several other oral and poster presen- Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons) is a planned NASA Measurements and Remote Sensing Data to Constrain Biosphere- pits along a 40-km survey line. tations. He chaired sessions at the 2014 IEEE International Geoscience & Remote Sensing Symposium in Quebec, Canada mission. The authors’ simulations suggest that the column CO2 Atmosphere Exchange Processes” in the Atmospheric Science measurements could improve estimates of emissions and uptake section. The Greenland firn aquifer was discovered in 2011. Following two and at the International Satellite Snow Products Intercomparison by up to 50% at the weekly 1° by 1° scale, 40-75% at the annual recent campaigns in southeast Greenland, Dr. Brucker contrib- (SnowPEX) workshop in College Park, MD. Dr. Brucker also was a biome scale, and 65-85% for the whole of North America. The Dr. Wang has participated regularly in the activities of the Chang- uted to the interpretation of the measurements collected with collaborator on six proposals (these requests came from Canada, results depend on the laser wavelength used and the assumed es in the Arctic and Boreal System (CABS) task group, which fos- Dr. Miege (University of Utah) through a joint NASA/NSF project. Norway, and France). Additionally, following a professional devel- precision of the measurements. The resulting biome flux uncer- ters collaboration on this topic across the different departments This work led to an extensive manuscript that provides a thorough opment goal initiated in November 2014, Dr. Brucker obtained a tainties, 0.01-0.06 billion tons of C per year, would satisfy one of GSFC. He presented results from his research on wetland emis- study of the Greenland firn aquifer spatial extent and temporal Professional Certificate in Project Management from Georgetown definition of mission success. sions and the methane cycle at two of the meetings. variability derived from ground and Operation IceBridge airborne University, Washington DC in March 2015. Future plans include radar observations and that has been submitted to JGR. In ad- attending the “New Generation of Polar Researchers Leadership Dr. Wang also contributed to the planning and writing of a white Going forward, Dr. Wang will continue conducting the atmospheric dition, using airborne data from 1993, it was possible to identify Symposium” at USC Wrigley/Boone Center for Environmental paper for the planned NASA ASCENDS CO2 satellite mission. As methane-CO-OH chemistry and transport simulation work for Dr. the presence of the firn aquifer upstream of Helheim Glacier more Leadership, California. of April 2015, this paper was published and is available for public Duncan’s proposal. He will continue evaluating the wetland emis- than 20 years ago. Therefore, this analysis suggests that the firn comment. In preparation for its publication, Dr. Wang partici- sion parameterization that he implemented against atmospheric aquifer is not a recent feature associated to the last decade of en- Dr. Paolo de Matthaeis (sponsor: D. Le Vine) supports the pated in a two-day ASCENDS working group meeting at GSFC on methane observations, and compare the simulation with one hanced melt. Nonetheless, it was shown than the firn aquifer has Aquarius/SAC-D mission, whose goal is to provide global sea sur- Sept. 30-Oct. 1. He gave a presentation, and contributed to the using an alternative wetland emissions estimate. He will create tended to migrate toward higher elevation since 2008. This work face salinity maps from space for the study of large-scale ocean discussion and planning of future directions and the white paper. projections for the wetland emission calculations, and will attempt enabled discussions on firn aquifer stability, lateral flow of water, processes and climate change. The Aquarius science instruments He also participated in an ASCENDS working group meeting in to implement a version of the parameterization that can be run and impacts on Greenland ice sheet mass balance changes. include an L-band radiometer, whose received signal is sensitive Washington, DC on Jan. 28, 2015, where he was one of the note on-line. He plans to incorporate alternative interannually-varying to salinity, and a radar scatterometer that helps correct for the takers. methane emissions estimates for sources such as biomass burn- The Greenland ice sheet influences the Earth’s climate through effect of the sea surface roughness. Since July 2012, Dr. de Mat- ing into the group’s atmospheric methane simulation. He will the release of freshwater into the ocean. With an increasing melt thaeis has led the Aquarius RFI Working Group. He has introduced

Dr. Wang will extend his global CO2 inverse modeling to an almost consider creating predictive capability for those sources for future water runoff (estimated to account for more than 50% of the improvements in the algorithm to detect and remove RFI from the two-year analysis period to cover two growing seasons, comparing simulations. Greenland ice sheet mass loss), the freshwater input can change Aquarius Radiometer data. Based on this work, he gave presen- results obtained using different combinations of ground-based the salinity of the seas surrounding Greenland. In January 2015, tations at both the XXXI URSI General Assembly and Scientific Work will involve contributing to writing a scientific paper on our and GOSAT satellite CO2 measurements, and using yet other data Dr. Brucker contributed to presentations related to his activities Symposium (GASS) in Beijing, China, where he also organized and sets including aircraft measurements for validation. Results will group’s development and evaluation of the interactive methane- on this interdisciplinary project aimed at studying the impact of chaired a session, and the Aquarius/SAC-D Science Team Meet- be compared with those of other research groups. In June, he will CO-OH simulation, as well as a paper that focuses on the simula- changes in the Arctic. Specifically, he analyzed in-situ observa- ing in Seattle, WA. He is collaborating with ESA researchers from give a presentation at the 11th International Workshop on Green- tion of wetland and other climate-sensitive emissions. Dr. Wang tions and Aquarius satellite retrievals of sea surface salinity in the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) team to investigate house Gas Measurements from Space in Pasadena, CA, and he will begin planning and writing a grant proposal to support further conjunction with the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS-5) the still unknown cause of widespread RFI over Japan. also will prepare a manuscript on his results. Also, as part of development of simulations of climate-sensitive methane emis- assimilation and forecast model. An anomalous freshening was work funded by a 2012 NASA MAP grant (PI: S. Randolph Kawa), sions, possibly in collaboration with an outside expert. Specifi- identified in the Baffin Bay and Labrador Sea in 2012. The unusu- Dr. de Matthaeis attempted to estimate sea ice thickness using cally, he is looking for a collaborator who could provide a process- Aquarius radiometer data and compared his results with data Dr. Wang will evaluate high-resolution NU-WRF regional model CO2 ally large volume of freshwater that ran off the Greenland ice simulations over North America against GOSAT satellite observa- based model of wetland and permafrost methane emissions for sheet during the 2012 summer was advected southward by the from other instruments, and gave a presentation on this research tions. He also will obtain computer code for the STILT backwards- coupling with Goddard’s GEOS-5 climate model. west Greenland current and created a large freshwater intrusion at the International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium run Lagrangian model from the model developers, and will work to into the North Atlantic current. (IGARSS) 2014. Additionally, as a co-chair of Frequency Alloca- couple the model with meteorology from the NU-WRF model. For tions in Remote Sensing – Technical Committee (FARS-TC), Dr. de this second task, Dr. James Wang (sponsor: B. Duncan) began CODE 615 CRYOSPHERIC SCIENCES Other research involves studying snow depth on sea ice. At pres- Matthaeis organized and co-chaired the technical sessions and his involvement in a 2012 NASA MAP-funded project on modeling Dr. Ludovic Brucker (sponsor: S. Nowicki) conducts research to ent, only space-based microwave radiometers provide operational the FARS-TC Annual Meeting, at the International Geoscience and snow depth on seasonal sea ice retrievals. To provide the data Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) 2014. Work continues on interactive atmospheric methane (CH4), carbon monoxide, and advance and validate satellite-derived properties of snow and ice hydroxyl chemistry and their long-term variability and trends. He is on Earth using surface-, air-, and space-based microwave radiom- users with the best retrievals, Dr. Brucker worked on modestly implementing a RFI reporting tool on the FARS-TC website. working in collaboration with PI Bryan Duncan, and building upon eters and scatterometers. Since fall 2014, Dr. Brucker contributed refining algorithm coefficients based on the results from a previ- the work of a former post-doc. Dr. Wang has familiarized himself to different development phases of the Wideband Instrument for ous validation study using snow depths obtained with NASA’s Dr. Yan Soldo (sponsor: D. Le Vine) supports the Aquarius/SAC-D with the atmospheric chemistry and climate model, and has con- Snow Measurements (WISM), developed through a NASA Instru- airborne Operation IceBridge. The deliverable will be an up-to-date mission to map ocean salinity worldwide. He has been working on algorithm. Specifically, the coefficients are derived using the same a technical report on Radio-Frequency Interference (RFI) on the tinued the development and evaluation of a wetland CH4 emission ment Incubator Program (IIP). WISM operates dual-frequency parameterization and the overall simulation using ground-based (X and Ku bands) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and dual-fre- original methodology proposed by Markus and Cavalieri (1998) protected part of the L-band. This has been done by comparing but using NASA’s Operation IceBridge snow depth product avail- all available information on RFI contamination from the European atmospheric CH4 measurements. He is applying the wetland quency (K and Ka bands) radiometers for snow water equivalent parameterization to assimilated meteorology and free-running ver- retrievals. He led the testing of the radiometers, done in cold able with a high accuracy and fine spatial resolution. By doing so, SMOS mission and the Aquarius/SAC-D mission. This report also sions of the GEOS-5 atmospheric model. room in preparation of an airborne campaign. Following a series the algorithm will be designed for AMSR-E using the latest and is relevant with respect to the novel SMAP mission which operates in the same spectral frequencies. He presented on RFI contami- 60 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 61 nation in Aquarius and SMOS data at the Aquarius science meet- mental parameters and becoming acclimated with the instru- aim for a Grand Challenge Science Question and focus on topics plications and Water Cycle activities within the Group on Earth ing in Seattle, WA. In May 2015, he also will be presenting at the ment and initial method development for the photodregadation toward a larger goal, as opposed to working on a follow-on project. Observations (GEO) and in the wider community, a broad-based 2nd SMOS Science Conference in Spain. experiments, in order to determine the quantum photoproduction activity that requires substantial coordination and nurturing both efficiencies of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Dr. Manika Gupta (sponsor: J. Bolten) applies GRACE terrestrial within and outside the US. He is involved in maintaining the coor- Through his research, he has discovered that, when averaging water storage (TWS) anomalies to improve estimates of Avail- dination, reporting and synergies needed to advance NASA data large quantities of data from the Aquarius radiometers, biases able Water Content (AWC) in the Lower Mekong River Basin. products and water activities both in international GEO and in U.S. start to appear between the ascending and descending orbits and CODE 617: HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES LABORATORY These estimates of AWC will be used to improve modeled stream GEO, as well as developing applications of NASA data products in discharge. Dr. Gupta will assess the dynamic range and trends of areas of water resources management and other related societal between the three Aquarius radiometers. An empirical solution for Ms. Debbie Belvedere (sponsor: D. Toll) serves as a liaison for GRACE TWS and modeled TWS from the Land Information System benefit areas and enhancing the coordination of GEO water cycle this was proposed in version 3.0 of the Aquarius data. Dr. Soldo the NASA Energy and Water Cycle Focus Area and is part of the (LIS)-based Catchment Land Surface Model (CLSM) to character- activities in areas of interest to NASA (e.g., drought, precipitation, has shown that while this empirical solution generally improves GESTAR activity that supports scientific collaboration, cross- ize the maximum water storage over selected sub-basins in the soil moisture, groundwater, evapotranspiration, capacity building, the quality of the data, it does introduce errors; therefore, he has cutting and integration for NASA’s global water and energy cycle proposed a different approach consisting of a numerical minimi- Lower Mekong River Basin. These estimates of AWC were utilized user engagement, etc.). research initiatives introduced by inter-agency and government- to improve modeled surface and root zone soil moisture. The zation of these biases. He also has studied the sensitivity of the administrative science panels. She also represents the inter- biases to different geophysical variables. Catchment Land Surface Model integrated with Land Information Mr. Lawford has been involved with the U.S. development of its ests of the project both inside and outside the organization and System (LIS) has been utilized along with the GRACE terrestrial stronger coordination role for domestic GEO activities and inputs As a member of the Frequency Allocations in Remote Sensing reports to the NASA Program Manager. water storage TWS anomalies to improve the estimation of soil to the international GEO program. Strengthening the U.S. GEO moisture. She has implemented new soil hydraulic parameters in Water activity is an important part of this strategy. To this end, (FARS) IEEE Technical Committee, Dr. Soldo is working on a web- Each year, NASA HQ seeks publications that will support NASA’s the CLSM to improve soil moisture simulations through simultane- through the efforts of Mr. Lawford and several NASA colleagues, based tool to distribute information about RFI in L-band. He pro- contribution of scientific advancement against the following goal: ous utilization of Genetic Algorithm optimization approach along NASA is developing a plan for GEOGLoWS (GEO Global Water vided all relevant information from the SMOS mission and from to demonstrate progress in quantifying the key reservoirs and with the data assimilation of GRACE TWS anomalies in LIS. The Sustainability) Strategy. The plan was first drafted in the spring the Aquarius instrument. He has joined the SMAP RFI working fluxes in the global water cycle and in improving models of water results have been validated in the Oklahoma region and found of 2014, and Mr. Lawford provided a briefing to several NASA group, and is hoping to mentor a student intern on L-band RFI. cycle change and fresh water availability. Ms. Belvedere and useful for irrigation scheduling as soil moisture estimation was program managers to obtain feedback on edits for the docu- Dr. Robert Schiffer assisted HQ Program Manager by gathering found to improve, which is required for determining the irriga- ment. Based on this feedback, the revised report is now ready for publications and preparing documentation required by the ESS CODE 616 OCEAN ECOLOGY LABORATORY tion depth and irrigation timing. This study is useful as it helps circulation to agencies for a second round of comments. In order to review and evaluate ESD progress for FY 2014. The Annual to accurately quantify the soil moisture at a given time; under- to make the science community more aware of GEOGloWS and Dr. Andrea Andrew (sponsor: C. Del Castillo) works on determin- GPRA Report includes an overall summary, key accomplishments, estimation of soil moisture implies higher soil moisture deficit and GEOSS Water Strategy activities, a scientific session on interna- ing the quantum photoproduction efficiency of dissolved organic description of high-impact research results of the last year that thus results in employing higher irrigation quantity. The second tional and U.S. water strategy and related activities was held at carbon via photodegradation of colored dissolved organic matter appear in peer-review literature, and major programmatic accom- factor that also was compared in this study is the available water the 2014 Fall AGU meeting in San Francisco, CA. Mr. Lawford pre- (CDOM) in mangrove coastal environments. She conducts photo- plishments. She and Dr. Schiffer also worked on another publica- capacity, which again is required in determining the soil moisture sented a poster in this session and was a co-author on a poster by degradation experiments in the laboratory using a solar simula- tion, the NEWS 10-Year Summary Document, which showcases deficit. Promising improvements have been achieved following David Toll on GEOGloWS; also, he presented the strategy concept tor. Other efforts include capturing CDOM dynamics in marine/ the wonderful work that NEWS has accomplished to date. The the studied approach. This work was recently presented at EGU- at a GSFC seminar in June 2014 and to the NASA Water Appli- terrestrial aquatic environments, via the analysis of absorption document included 25 pages of publications, highlights, a press 2015, titled “Optimizing water available capacity using microwave cations PI meeting in March 2015. Over the past year, he has and fluorescence measurements as well as other parameters release, and pertinent text. At present, a draft is posted on the satellite data for improved irrigation management”. The approach distributed 80 copies of the full GEOSS report along with more including salinity, tidal patterns and location. Dr. Andrew uses air- NEWS website. borne and satellite ocean color data, radiative transfer modeling, has been further applied in the Lower Mekong River Basin and a than 150 copies of the Executive Summaries for the GEOSS Water photoproduction efficiencies of DIC and ancillary data to estimate Ms. Belvedere also contributed to several communication and related manuscript will be submitted. Dr. Gupta has assessed the Strategy Report and CDs of the full GEOSS Water Strategy. photoproduction rates in mangrove coastal environments. outreach efforts related to NEWS. She had a productive meeting trends of GRACE TWS and modeled TWS from the Land Informa- The Group on Earth Observations (GEO), founded by the U.S. with Ms. Pearce (GSFC) to discuss changes and new requirements tion System (LIS)-based Catchment Land Surface Model (CLSM) and other major countries to develop a Global Earth Observa- For this relatively new task, Dr. Andrew optimized the data col- for the NEWS website. Ms. Belvedere is currently working with the to characterize the maximum water storage over selected sub-ba- tion Systems of Systems (GEOSS), was very active in 2014- lection and analysis protocol for the spectrofluorometer and Web Software Engineer to update the NEWS website as NEWS sins. Furthermore, the work has shown a very promising potential 2015. NASA continued to play an active role in this international completed initial data collection and analysis of two sets of CDOM teams come and go, due to the span of their grant. Additionally, using the tools like data assimilation and the NASA Land Informa- program partly through Mr. Lawford’s efforts in coordinating the samples. She reviewed and supplemented the SOP/protocol Ms. Belvedere and Dr. Schiffer planned, hosted and attended tion System (LIS) platform. The ultimate objective is to further ex- GEO inputs from many NASA investigators in the water area. He for obtaining and analyzing excitation-emission matrix spectra the successful 2014 Annual NEWS Science Team Meeting. The tend this work and deliver a prototype product for the operational contributed to the U.S. leadership for GEO activities by contribut- (EEMS) using the Horiba Aqualog spectrofluorometer, and also agenda included opening remarks from Dr. Entin of NASA HQ use of this method and demonstrate its operational capability ing to the Societal Benefits Implementation Board (SBIB) and updated the software and host computer for the instrument. She followed by a Plenary Session and various presentations from implementation using GRACE, SMAP and NASA LIS system. In the the GEO Water Task. Also, as co-chair of the SBIB, he guided the collected optical measurements of fluorescence and absorbance invited guests and NEWS PIs. On the second day, Cross-Working coming months, she will conduct the analysis for the GRACE TWS Task Assessment activity and made the All Boards presentation for 68 CDOM samples from two cruises in the mangroves on the Group Coordination was discussed, followed by a spirited discus- assimilation in the LIS-CLSM for the Lower Mekong River Basin to the GEO Plenary in November 2014 on behalf the three GEO Coastal plain of Southwest Florida. She derived spectral slopes, sion regarding the possibility of a North American Water Program to improve the simulation of the streamflow discharge. Also, Dr. Implementation Boards. In particular, he prepared a preliminary slope ratios and quantum yield, and is working on data analysis (NAWP), NEWS working group coordination plans, and NEWS best Gupta will submit a chapter in Irrigation management using satel- assessment of the progress of the Water SBA Target, reviewed to assess trends between optical properties, salinity and location way forward. Further, in January 2015, a NEWS telecom with the lite soil moisture in upcoming book titled “Satellite Soil Moisture inputs from the eight other SBA groups, and worked with GEO (coastal intertidal trends). newly awarded team took place. After introductions, Dr. Schiffer, Retrievals: Techniques & Applications”. Secretariat to prepare and finalize an assessment report for the Ms. Belvedere and members discussed the idea of forming work- Under his task, Dr. Richard Lawford (sponsor: D. Toll) is involved November 2014 GEO Plenary. During 2014-2015, Mr. Lawford Future plans include the initial set-up of the solar simulator instru- ing groups and group leads to move projects along, a method with the development and coordination of water resource ap- continued to serve as the Point of Contact for the GEO Water ment, which will be done with assistance by a technician from the proven successful though the years. Team members agreed to vendor. Preliminary experiments will follow for optimizing experi- 62 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 63 Task and coordinated updates to the work plan documentation topic with a view to developing a Water-Energy-Food activity within assessment. He also worked closely with Dr. Sushel Unninayar and planned to correct input data issues for on-orbit processing for both international and U.S. activities twice during the year. At Future Earth (Co-PI: R. Lawford) was awarded funding. Activities to develop a matrix of variables available from Earth observa- ATMS TDR/SDR data products. He performed extensive research the GEO Work Planning Symposium, he gave two presentations related to this project are now underway as Mr. Lawford is work- tions and useful for calculating Water SDG indicators. The Earth on on-orbit data processing inputs and found that the warm bias on GEO Water activities, including an overview of the Water Task ing with Drs. Claudia Pahl Wostl, Anik Bhaduri and Rabi Mohtar Observation Task Team (EOTT) report was finalized and submit- correction terms adopted by the NPP/ATMS on-orbit processing and an overview of the GEOSS Water Strategy. After the publica- (Texas A&M University) in developing plans for the first workshop ted to the GEMI management team. Further, he gave a joint talk algorithm were not correct. He collaborated with the NPP/JPSS tion and distribution of the GEOSS Water Strategy, GEO, led by Mr. to be held in Washington DC in June 2015. He also began col- with Dr. Hossain on the role of Earth Observations in monitoring engineering management lead and presented a Discrepancy Lawford, launched an activity to address the recommendations laboration with Dr. Kym Watson (Fraunhofer Institute, Germany) to the Water SDGs at the GEO Work Plan Symposium, and attended Report to correct this issue. in this report. This included making presentations to raise the develop plans for the second workshop to be held in Germany in the SDG indicators meeting in Stockholm’s World Water Week awareness of content and needs of the GEOSS Water Strategy, November 2015. and presented the findings of the EOTT; these findings were also Dr. Lyu helped a JPSS/NPP project scientist with compiling a re- providing guidance on possible actions that could be undertaken presented at meetings in Kenya and Geneva. To raise awareness port on “J1 Mission System Integration Review”, a result of Dr. Lyu by groups and negotiating the actions of other groups. In addi- At the W-E-F Nexus at the Nexus Conference in Bonn, Germany for this activity, Mr. Lawford prepared an article for the GEWEX requesting, downloading, and processing ATMS RDR daily data tion, he co-chaired two sessions of the Symposium and developed in May 2014, Mr. Lawford gave a presentation on ways in which Newsletter describing the EOTT activities and recommendations. and Dwell and TDR data and generating ATMS NEdT monthly per- minutes from these meetings. He also developed and maintained Earth Observations could be used, and he co-authored a second Further, he participated in an International Council of Science formance trending reports. This report was presented in late Feb- the interest of the water community in GEO through the IGWCO paper on the role of GEO in this process. Several articles in the (ICSU) review of the Sustainable Development Goals and Targets, ruary 2015. Regular engineering performance reports were sent Community of Practice (COP), which he chairs. Membership in GWSP Newsletter highlighted this work as well as an interview for which he prepared a summary on the proposed Water SDG. to the JPSS ATMS instrument manager and to his sponsor. After the IGWCO has grown to more than 130, and the COP serves as on a similar topic. Working with collaborators from FAO (Lucie an extensive study of NPP/ATMS Scan Drive (SD) motor current an effective mechanism for coordinating inputs to the GEO Work Pluschke) and ESA (Dr. Catherine Downy), Mr. Lawford completed NASA program managers dedicated funds to raise the visibility of spikes and scan angle encoder issues, which happened in the Plan. He organized the 10th annual Integrated Global Water Cycle and electronically distributed the report from a W-E-F Security NASA programs and services with attendees at the World Water past three years, Dr. Lyu found unique SD issues (undiscovered by Observations (IGWCO) Community of Practice (COP) meeting, Nexus workshop held at FAO in Rome in March 2014. He also Forum (WWF) held in South Korea in April 2015. Mr. Lawford other teams) and sent a report to the JPSS & NPP management held in May 2014 at the University of Tokyo in Japan. He chaired helped to organize a special AGU Union session on Future Earth at worked to strengthen NASA’s role at the World Water Forum by teams. He found that before the encoder issue, the SD pointing sessions, gave three presentations and prepared a summary of the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting and gave an invited paper on Advanc- developing a proposal for a scientific theme session. The WWF began wobbling and the encoder was reset due to some unknown action items, as well as completed a report on the meeting. The ing Water and Water-Energy-Food Cluster Activities within Future organizers identified six speaking slots for NASA representatives. noise; the scan encoder then latched up, in one case, for about 11th annual IGWCO Community of Practice (COP) meeting will be Earth. He has drafted a discussion paper that is under review for In addition, NASA had a booth at the U.S. Pavilion and presented 21 scans, i.e., about 0.4 sec. Also Dr. Lyu worked with MIT-LL to held June 10-12, 2015 in College Park, MD; a website has been the UNU-Flores conference on climate and the Water-Soil-Waste three briefings. In September 2014, he participated as a member present a J1 ATMS TVAC retest plan, with test time-saving sug- launched to distribute information about the event. Nexus (a subset of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus). He continued of the Freshwater Panel held at the 65th Astronautical Congress gestions, and NGES, the instrument manufacturer, adopted this to participate in the Global Water System Project (GWSP) SSC in Toronto, Canada, which focused on the role of Space in ensur- proposed plan. A major success has been the engagement of the Committee planning activities for its transition into the Future Earth program. ing security for water. on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS) in providing inputs to the In the coming year, Mr. Lawford plans to develop the theme of Future plans involve possibly adding a new dG/G spec, which Implementation Plan. Mr. Lawford worked closely with Chu Ishida Earth Observations linkages to the W-E-F Nexus. These activities Going forward, Mr. Lawford will continue to contribute to the could guarantee that the striping would not be an issue for the (JAXA) in preparing rationale and briefing materials which Dr. will contribute to GEO-related aspects of monitoring for the Water development of NASA application priorities including drought, and new generations of ATMS. This work is still in progress, since Ishida presented to the CEOS Strategy Implementation Board and Sustainable Development Goal and Integrated Water Resources evapotranspiration, and support international Capacity Building results need to be validated after the J1 ATMS rework. Dr. Lyu the CEOS Plenary. CEOS has established a Study Team to review Management. activities by creating opportunities for NASA and U.S. scientists to will prepare for on-site monitoring of the upcoming J1 ATMS TVAC responses to 22 of the recommendations. A similar approach is participate in international capacity building efforts and, as time re-test. He will continue to coordinate with all ATMS SDR team being developed for recommendations of interest to the Global Mr. Lawford, working with others, led the assessment of the po- permits, work on the framework for Earth Observations. members, including NOAA/STAR, MITLL, Space Dynamics Lab, Terrestrial Network in Hydrology. Additionally, Mr. Lawford gave tential role of Earth Observations in the assessment of indicators NGAS and Raytheon to support JPSS/NPP/ATMS calibration and presentations on the opportunities to respond to the GEOSS Wa- for the targets of the proposed Water SDG. The report has con- Dr. Cheng-Hsuan (Joseph) Lyu (sponsor: E. Kim) supports NPP/ validation activities. He plans to study ATMS SDR data quality flag ter Strategy to the World Bank and at NASA Goddard Space Flight tributed to the preparation of a proposal by UN Water for Global ATMS & VIIRS pre-launch testing and post-launch sensor cali- issues related to Lunar Intrusion found in data products and to Center. He also held discussions with AfriGEOSS, the U.S. govern- Expanded Monitoring Programme for Indicators (GEMI). Working bration/validation and algorithm development and subsequent send a report to the JPSS/NPP ATMS SDR & management team. together with Drs. Rifat Hossain (WHO) and Sushel Unninayar Joint Polar Satellite System/Advanced Technology Microwave ment, and German representatives, and organized and chaired a GEWEX Water Side Event on the GEOSS Water Strategy Implementation (Code 610.2), Mr. Lawford led a community effort to assess the Sounder (JPSS/ATMS) sensors testing, characterization and/ Plan at the November GEO Plenary and presented an overview of feasibility of using Earth Observations (especially satellite obser- or algorithm development. Dr. Lyu supported several meetings: vations) in monitoring UN Water indicators for the Open Working NPP weekly tag-up team meetings, biweekly ATMS SDR telecons, The Global Energy and Water EXchanges (GEWEX) Project of the the Water Task (note, a significant portion of this work was funded World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) brings together a by JAXA). Group’s proposed water Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ATMS meetings on on-orbit code updates and data anomaly Initially, he engaged several experts in discussions on the pro- investigation related issues. He also supported next-generation significant component of the world climate community in joint posed UN proposed water SDG; subsequently, he was invited to J1 ATMS Rework & Failure and Anomaly Report (FAR) meetings. initiatives to advance understanding of the coupled hydrologic Water, energy and food are interconnected in many ways and are and atmospheric processes on a global scale and to apply global critical for sustainable development. For example, food produc- serve as a consultant to the WHO-HABITAT-UNEP study of a GEMI He analyzed ATMS EMI/EMC (Electro-Magnetic Interference and/ monitoring system proposal for the Swiss government. As part or compatibility) test data and sent his analysis report to the J1 water cycle understanding, observations, and models to the tion uses 70% of the water that is consumed by human activities problems of climate and water resources around the world. Scien- while approximately one-third of the world’s energy is consumed of this effort, he organized two meetings on the Earth Observa- ATMS management team. Further, after reviewing J1 and/or J2 tions, Novel Data and Data Integration Task Team (EOTT) in Tokyo, ATMS Performance Requirement Documents and Configuration tists from over 45 countries participate in major GEWEX projects in providing operations, fertilizers for crops, crop harvesting and aimed at quantifying the hydrologic cycle and energy fluxes by food transportation and processing. Mr. Lawford has successfully Japan (May 2014) and College Park, MD (August 2014). NASA sci- Change Requests plus Math Model documents, Dr. Lyu discovered entists made substantial contributions to the workshop in College significant findings; corrections were made to the J1/J2 Math means of global measurements of atmospheric and surface prop- increased understanding and raised awareness of the role of erties; modeling the global water cycle and its role in the climate Earth Observations in the Water-Energy-Food (W-E-F) Nexus. The Park. He consolidated the materials from both meetings in a Task Model (used for about the past 10 years) and he sent his com- Team meeting report which became the guiding document for the ments to the JPSS management teams/lead. Dr. Lyu also found system; developing the ability to predict variations of global and most significant progress came as a Belmont proposal on this regional hydrologic processes and water resources and their re-

64 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 65 sponse to environmental change; and fostering the development were six categories of funding: Pan-GEWEX Meeting, Pan-CLIVAR issues. of observational techniques, as well as data management and Meeting, Early Career Scientists and Students, Developing Coun- assimilation systems. GEWEX activities involve understanding and tries, and GEWEX Summer Sessions. Support was based upon the Dr. Schiffer assisted in coordinating the modeling land-atmosphere coupling and cloud system processes, applicant’s abstract rating by the session conveners and his/her planning for the North American Water global data set development, water resource applications, and the qualifications within a particular category. IGPO also coordinated Program (NAWP) through developing effective use of Earth Observations in climate science. Dr. Robert the joint GEWEX Hydroclimatology Panel (GHP) annual meeting documentation to be used for solicit- Schiffer (sponsor: D. Toll) serves as the Principal Investigator and International Global Drought Information System Workshop: ing Federal Agency support. NAWP for the NASA Grant covering the operation of the International Next Steps, held in Pasadena, CA at the California Institute of coalesces an interdisciplinary, interna- GEWEX Project Office (IGPO). The IGPO facilitates and coordinates Technology in December 2014. tional and interagency effort to make GEWEX research across GEWEX studies, activities, and products, significant contributions to continental oversees the implementation of recommendations given by the IGPO also is responsible for providing several communication to decision- scale hydro--climate sci- GEWEX Scientific Steering Group (SSG), and plays a central role in products. IGPO develops, publishes, and distributes GEWEX ence and solutions. The objective of the outreach of GEWEX through its website, quarterly newsletter, News, a quarterly published newsletter with a distribution of NAWP is to entrain, integrate and coor- and through the organization of science conferences and work- approximately 2,000. For every issue of the newsletter, IGPO dinate the vast array of interdisciplinary shops. IGPO also provides an interface between GEWEX and other determines the newsletter content; solicits articles; and collects, observational and prediction resources WCRP activities, as well as other global environmental science edits, and formats these for layout in the newsletter. All past is- available to significantly advance skill programs and the space sciences. sues of the newsletters are available on the GEWEX website. The in predicting as well as assessing and August 2014 newsletter features results from the 7th International managing variability and changes in Over the past year, the Science and Technology Corporation (STC) GEWEX Conference and associated GEWEX meetings held after North American water resources, as provided directly or indirectly the support required to meet the the conference. Also, IGPO periodically distributes an electronic an integral part of the global climate obligations and responsibilities of IGPO and its Director, Dr. Peter newsletter that includes recent news of interest to the GEWEX system. The mission is to advance van Oevelen (sponsor: D. Toll). For activities related to the GEWEX community that is time sensitive, including calls for papers and measurement and prediction of North Scientific Steering Group (SSG), IGPO coordinated a one-day Joint research and position announcements. IGPO hosts (including American energy and water variations, GEWEX/CLIVAR SSG meeting that was held in The Hague after the domain registration), maintains, and updates the GEWEX website trends, and extremes, thereby provid- 7th International GEWEX Conference on July 19, 2014. IGPO also (http://www.gewex.org), which provides recent GEWEX science ing scientific underpinnings of future coordinated the SSG meeting held January 26-30, 2015 in Medel- results, overviews of the structure and organization of GEWEX climate services and water resource lin, Colombia. IGPO is now coordinating the next full meeting of and its projects, access to GEWEX reports and publications and reliability. NAWP would exploit the vast the SSG, which is scheduled for 25-29 January 2016 at the ETH, GEWEX data sets, updates on recent and planned activities, Image credit: T. Stanley North American observation networks Zurich, Switzerland. and a calendar of project meetings and conferences. IGPO is in to understand a wide variety of regional the process of revamping the GEWEX website into a responsive Washington, DC to discuss the creation of a US GEWEX Project climates and enable science, tech- th For the 7 International GEWEX Scientific Conference on the design that is easy to read on tablets and cell phones. In addition, Office. Topics discussed included the expectations of the agencies nology and solution transferability across these regions. This Global Water and Energy Cycle and Associated Meetings held at IGPO developed a stand-alone website to handle the registration, and the scientific issues that GEWEX is attempting to address. program would build upon previous North American contributions The World Forum, The Hague, The Netherlands, from July 14-19, collection of abstracts, and requests for travel funding for GEWEX The US agencies confirmed their interest in supporting a US to the Global Energy and Water Cycle Exchanges (GEWEX), but 2014, IGPO was responsible for planning, coordinating, making conferences and meetings. Project Office and further planning is to take place at subsequent will include the broader climate, carbon, ecology, and decision logistical arrangements, and providing onsite support for all as- meetings. communities. As such, it will address more than just the physical pects of the Conference and associated meetings, which were at- IGPO is supporting the development of a new CLIVAR/GEWEX task Earth System and include human impacts and infrastructure. It Under a second task, Dr. Robert Schiffer (sponsor: D. Toll) pro- tended by over 560 scientists from 45 countries. There were 218 group on extreme weather and climate that was requested by the is anticipated that NAWP will provide an integrating continental vides technical, administrative and managerial support and assis- students and early career scientists at the Conference, and of JSC. Dr. van Oevelen, Director of IGPO, co-chairs the International scale framework for both large scale studies, and basin and field tance to the Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters on all those who participated in the Presentation Competition for Young Soil Moisture Working Group, one of the drivers in establishing scale projects. Scientists, there were 38 winners from 12 countries. Prior to the the global soil moisture in situ network, and supports the ESA aspects of energy and water cycle related research. He provided Conference, IGPO coordinated the GEWEX Summer Sessions Water Cycle Multi-Mission Observation Strategy (WACMOS) as support through contributions to planning the annual NEWS Sci- Mr. Thomas Stanley (sponsor: D. Kirschbaum) develops online held at Delft University of Technology, July 10-12, 2014. After the the Chair of the Advisory Board. He supports the European Union ence Team meeting, held at GSFC in late May 2014. This meeting decision support system prototypes that government agencies, Conference, GEWEX and CLIVAR held joint sessions, followed by a project Global Water Scarcity Information Service (GLOWASIS) was structured to embrace the 18 NEWS science investigations relief organizations, insurers and other stakeholders may use to meeting between the scientific steering groups of both projects to as a scientific advisor and is a member of its Science Advisory selected by NASA as a result of the ROSES-2011 solicitation. He manage landslide risk. Currently, he is responsible for the calibra- outline joint activities that would make important contributions to Board. Dr. van Oevelen also serves on the Executive Board of the assisted in the oversight and coordination of restructured NEWS tion and testing of prototype landslide models. During this past the WCRP Grand Challenges. IGPO also organized the Pan-GEWEX Science Committee for the Integrated Global Water Cycle Observa- Science Working Groups (Climate Shift, Evaporation & Latent year, Mr. Stanley calibrated and tested Landslide Hazard Assess- Meeting, where discussions included plans for a new high-resolu- tions (IGWCO) Community of Practice (COP) of the Group on Earth Heating, Clouds and Radiation, and Extremes), responded to ment for Situational Awareness (LHASA), a new dynamic land- tion modeling initiative and new themes for GEWEX, and activi- Observations (GEO). He also provides inputs to the Water Cycle routine NASA HQ requests, including assisting in compiling the slide model. He created a landslide susceptibility map of Central ties to be proposed as part of the soon-to-be-formed US GEWEX Societal Benefit Area under GEO, and he serves on the Board of annual GPRA reports. Following the December 2014 selection America and the Caribbean Islands that was compiled from data project office. the FP7 Project Earth2Observe Project. of new NEWS investigations, he assisted in organizing a series of on the geographic distribution of roads, geologic faults, steep telecons with the goal of establishing two new Working Groups hillsides, and soils. (Landslide susceptibility maps represent the At the request of WCRP and via a “Letter of Agreement” between Graeme Stephens, the GEWEX SSG Co-Chair and Dr. van Oevelen on Water and Energy Budget, and Atmospheric Dynamics and hazardous conditions that allow landslides to occur, rather than USRA and STC, IGPO handled the processing of travel claims and met with US Agency representatives from DOE, NASA, NOAA, NSF, Precipitation. Subsequent discussions may lead to a further reor- the immediate cause, such as an earthquake.) This map was distribution of WCRP travel funds for approved candidates. There USGCRP, and the US CLIVAR Project Office in late September in ganization of the working groups stressing contemporary scientific 66 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 67 calibrated and tested against the Global Landslide Catalog (GLC), educators and scientists throughout the campaign period taught a record of landslides from 2007 to 2013, as well as three other students about the mission and precipitation measurement landslide catalogs. In order to obtain an independent validation concepts, as well as how to access data for students to perform dataset, Mr. Stanley updated the GLC to cover the years 2014- their own analyses. Data was reported from over 217 sites around 2015 with the assistance of two summer interns. The most cur- the world, blog posts were viewed by 4600 people (to date), and rent version of the GLC can be viewed online (http://ojo-streamer. webinars were attended by 200 teachers and students from 24 herokuapp.com/), and the catalog can be downloaded in various U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and 17 non-U.S. countries. formats. The landslide susceptibility map also can be viewed at this website. The public is encouraged to report landslides at the Upcoming outreach activities include Weather and Climate Day site as well. A paper describing the landslide susceptibility map at the National Aquarium on May 16th, and, along with education of the Caribbean has been published in the journal Landslides. specialists from other NASA Earth science missions, Ms. Weaver will travel to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals May 20-23 to After the susceptibility map was completed, it was incorporated host a table at their Creativity Festival, share hands-on activities into LHASA, a model developed at NASA Goddard Space Flight with students in a NASA classroom, and give presentations about Center by Dr. Dalia Kirschbaum, Mr. Stanley, and Jack Simmons. NASA Earth science topics. Also, the GPM Education Team with LHASA uses a decision tree to evaluate whether conditions are other Earth Science Education Specialists from Goddard and Wal- hazardous in near real-time by accessing NASA’s 3B42RT data lops will hold a summer institute for Maryland teachers focused product. If current daily rainfall is above a locally determined on how NASA studies the Chesapeake Bay region. The 25 attend- threshold and the ground is susceptible, a “nowcast” is issued for ees were competitively selected out of 150 applicants. that site. This output is shown as a map on the natural hazards website. Currently, the prototype system produces both a “moder- ate” hazard nowcast and a “high” hazard nowcast for cases of CODE 618 BIOSPHERIC SCIENCES extreme rainfall. Mr. Stanley calibrated the thresholds for Central Dr. Assaf Anyamba (code 618, sponsor: C. Tucker) conducts Figure: Potential El Niño regional teleconnections with patterns of vector-borne disease, rodent-borne disease, water-borne disease, America with the GLC for 2007-2013, and then evaluated the research using time series satellite vegetation index measure- and environment-linked respiratory illness patterns. Source: Chretien et al., Global Climate Anomalies and Potential Infectious Disease model’s performance with landslide reports from 2014. Then, he ments from various satellite instruments including MODIS, SPOT Risks: 2014-2015, PLoS Current Outbreaks. Image provided by A. Anyamba. evaluated the effect of spatial error in validation datasets upon Vegetation, NOAA’s Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer model evaluation results. Mr. Stanley also advised DEVELOP’s Hi- (AVHRR), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and associ- year project on Rift Valley fever (RVF) in South Africa funded by container breeding mosquito habitats. One well-known driver of malayan Disasters team on the adaptation of LHASA to the Koshi ated ground-based rain gauge measurements. His research also the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), led by EcoHealth such global scale climate fluctuations is the ENSO phenomenon River basin, which spans China, Nepal and India. In the coming focuses on land surface response to interannual climate variabil- Alliance in collaboration with South Africa’s Center for Emerg- that is exemplified by periodic extreme warming and cooling of the months, in cooperation with the International Centre for Integrat- ity associated with El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), drought ing and Zoonotic Disease National Institute for Communicable eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean with attendant consequences ed Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Mr. Stanley will adapt LHASA pattern analysis, and infers long-term trends and dynamics of Diseases (CEZD-NICD) and GIMMS Group (618). The project’s aim on precipitation and temperature worldwide especially across to conditions in the Himalayan region (Afghanistan, Pakistan, vegetation patterns, development of long-term data records of the is to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the relationship the global tropics. Such extremes include flooding as a result India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh). biosphere and links between climate variability and vector-borne between mosquito abundance and succession, rainfall and ecol- of persistent and above-normal rainfall and drought resulting disease outbreaks. Dr. Anyamba leads and develops research ogy dynamics (via satellite-derived vegetation indices), wild and from extended periods of below-normal rainfall and above- Ms. Kristen Weaver (sponsor: D. Kirschbaum) is an Education analysis and applications development for global agricultural and domestic ruminant immunity to the virus at multiple scales and normal temperatures. Extremes in regional climate can create Specialist for GPM, which involves managing and supporting drought monitoring for the USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service, in multiple species and a better understanding of the patterns ecological conditions that influence the emergence of mosquito multiple projects within the GPM E/PO portfolio. She works with climate variability and vector-borne disease prediction mapping of human infection with RVFV in South Africa. This research also vectors, their distribution and abundance, population dynam- the GPM E/PO team to implement new initiatives that align with in support of the Department of Defense Global Emerging Infec- provides the critical data needed to better predict the spread of ics, and transmission of mosquito-borne disease. Dr. Anyamba GPM’s E/PO plan and lead or supports E/PO projects. Over this tions Surveillance and Response System (DoD/GEIS) and the the virus should it ever be introduced into the United States. co-authored “Climate Teleconnections, Weather Extremes, and past year, Ms. Weaver has run or helped run 30 distinct educator U.S. Department of Agriculture/Center for Medical, Agricultural & Vector-Borne Disease Outbreaks” in a publication by The Insti- professional development sessions reaching over 850 partici- Veterinary Entomology (USDA/CMAVE) and in the geospatial risk Fluctuations in climate lead to extremes in temperature, rainfall, tute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies, in which the pants, ranging from K-12 classroom teachers, librarians, and assessment of plant pathogens in support of the Food and Drug flooding, and droughts, and these extremes create ideal ecologi- authors show that outbreaks of Rift Valley fever and chikungunya, informal educators. Formats ranged from one-hour webinars to Administration (FDA). cal conditions that promote mosquito-borne disease transmis- two important emerging mosquito-borne diseases, are coupled to several-hour-long in-person workshops, and included presenta- sion that impact global human and animal health. For example, specific climate anomaly patterns. They also describe significant tions and posters at conferences of the North American Associa- This past year, Dr. Anyamba conducted fieldwork in several abnormally high temperatures can affect mosquito populations worldwide weather anomalies that impacted vector-borne disease tion for Environmental Education and the National AfterSchool regions. For much of August 2014, Dr. Anyamba and Dr. Richard by reducing mosquito survival, altering susceptibility of mos- outbreaks during 2010–2012. Utilizing 2000–2012 vegetation in- Association. Damoah (Code 610) travelled to Kenya to service in-situ meteo- quitoes to pathogens, increasing mosquito development rates, dex (NDVI) and land surface temperature (LST) data from NASA’s rological equipment at four sites for an NIH-funded Chikungunya changing their seasonal activity, increasing pathogen replication satellite-based MODIS, they mapped the magnitude and extent of Ms. Weaver coordinated the first-ever GPM-GLOBE Student Field Project and to work with collaborators at USAMRU-K. Also, from and shortening the extrinsic incubation period in the mosquito, weather anomalies for diverse regions including the continental Campaign for schools to get involved in their own version of satel- late October to mid-November, Dr. Anyamba conducted fieldwork and change disease transmission patterns and seasonality. United States, Russia, East Africa, Southern Africa, and Australia, lite ground validation using a simple rain gauge mounted at their in South Africa to survey and identify field sites for intensive Elevated rainfall may increase immature habitats for mosquitoes and demonstrated that shifts in temperature and/or precipita- school. The data, collected from February 1st to April 15th, are mosquito sampling, rainfall, and NDVI measurements in the Free and elevated humidity can increase mosquito survival. Drought tion have significant impacts on ecology patterns with attendant reported into the GLOBE database, and webinars and blogs by State Province. The fieldwork is a critical component of a five- conditions can change immature mosquito habitats and enhance consequences for public health. Weather extremes resulted in

68 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 69 excessive rainfall and flooding as well as severe drought which susceptible to RVF and serve as amplifying hosts for the virus. Dr. was recently published in Carbon Balance created exceptional conditions for extensive mosquito-borne Anyamba co-authored a review, currently in press with the Annual and Management. In March 2015, Dr. Leitold disease outbreaks of Rift Valley fever, Murray Valley encephalitis, Review of Entomology (ARE), that highlights recent research on spent two weeks at the EMBRAPA Satellite dengue, West Nile virus disease, and air pollution associated with RVF, focusing on vectors and their ecology, transmission dynam- Monitoring Center in Campinas, Brazil to extensive fires and high temperatures. They described climate ics, and use of environmental and climate data to predict disease meet with Amazon Project collaborators. Each teleconnections between several vector-borne, rodent-borne, and outbreaks, as well as important directions for future research. participant gave a short presentation on cur- environmentally-linked diseases, and discussed how risks may rent tasks and preliminary results and future develop if El Niño conditions develop in the winter of 2014 and Future plans include continued work on both Global Teleconnec- collaboration efforts were discussed and spring of 2015. tions Mapping using the new AVHRR NDVI3g data set and Environ- planned. She also presented research results mental and Meteorological Indicators of Agricultural Pathogens. at the XVII Brazilian Remote Sensing Sympo- As mentioned, ENSO is a global climate phenomenon that im- Dr. Anyamba and collaborators of EcoHealth will travel to South sium in late April in Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil. pacts human infectious disease risk worldwide through droughts, Africa to attend the Rift Valley Fever project meeting and conduct floods, and other climate extremes. Throughout summer and fieldwork in late May 2015. He also will present findings at the Over this past year, Dr. Hank Margolis (spon- fall 2014 and winter 2015, NOAA issued El Niño Watch, which 36th Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing in June. sors: R. Nelson and B. Cook) has processed assessed likely El Niño development during the Northern Hemi- and analyzed airborne data from a campaign sphere’s fall and winter, persisting into spring 2015. Geographic Dr. David Lagomasino (sponsor: T. Fatoyinbo) processes and in Mexico. Maps were created, and he as- regions were identified where environmental conditions may analyzes satellite imagery to develop forest function and structure sisted the US Forest Service personnel with increase infectious disease transmission, if the predicted El Niño models to estimate mangrove tree height and biomass at various understanding the data set. Additionally, he occurs, using El Niño indicators [Sea Surface Temperature (SST), field site locations across the Americas, Africa and Asia. Over the estimated the aboveground carbon stocks Outgoing Long-wave Radiation (OLR), and rainfall anomalies] past year, he has provided expertise on the current state of the in the North American Boreal Forest, analyz- and a literature review of El Niño-infectious disease associations. Everglades as part of a NASA instrument collaboration between ing results, making figures and tables, and SSTs in the equatorial Pacific and western Indian Oceans were Biospheric Sciences and Ocean Ecology. Selected sites and timing writing, submitting and revising a manuscript anomalously elevated during August-October 2014, consistent of flight acquisitions were primarily based upon his knowledge for the Canadian Journal of Forest Research with a developing weak El Niño event. Teleconnections with local of the region. Dr. Lagomasino is helping to facilitate additional reporting on results using a spaceborne climate are evident in global precipitation patterns, with positive collaborations with local Everglades Researchers from Florida sensor (GLAS). For the June 2014 meeting of OLR anomalies (drier than average conditions) across Indonesia International University, Everglades National Park, and other the Mexican Carbon Program held in Merida, and coastal Southeast Asia, and negative anomalies across north- institutions. Yucatan, he prepared an abstract describing ern China, the western Indian Ocean, central Asia, north-central the AMIGA-Carb-Mexico mission and data set. and northeast Africa, Mexico/Central America, the south-western A new signal analysis technique, ensemble empirical mode He also presented a conference talk on re- United States, and the north-eastern and south-western tropical decomposition (EEMD), has been applied to a set of long-term search results for the Forest Carbon Session Pacific. Persistence of these conditions could produce environ- water level datasets in the coastal Everglades. This is one of the of the IGARSS-2014 Congress in Quebec City. mental settings conducive to increased transmission of cholera, first long-term water level datasets that has been analyzed with In January 2015, he wrote an abstract on dengue, malaria, Rift Valley fever, and other infectious diseases this technique. Dr. Lagomasino is working on a manuscript that research results and presented at the North in regional hotspots as during previous El Niño events (see compares the EEMD method with Fourier analysis, and highlights American Carbon Program (NACP) meeting in the importance of long-term data to identify accelerations in sea figure). The development of weak El Niño conditions may have Image provided by D. Lagomasino Washington, DC and at the NASA Joint Car- significant potential implications for global public health in winter level for coastal areas. bon Cycle Science and Ecosystems meeting 2014-spring 2015. Enhanced surveillance and other prepared- Dr. Veronika Leitold (sponsor: D. Morton) participates in research in College Park, MD. From the stereophotogrammetry of sub-meter resolution World- ness measures in predicted infectious disease hotspots could studies of tropical forest ecology and ecosystem structure. She View 2 spaceborne imagery, Dr. Lagomasino processed this mitigate health impacts. This research resulted in a 2015 publi- leads the analysis and interpretation of LiDAR and field data to Dr. Hank Margolis (sponsor: B. Cook) also works on a second imagery and published a related manuscript featuring one of the cation in PLoS Current Outbreaks that Dr. Anyamba co-authored. characterize Amazon forest structure, function and dynamics; task in which the aim is to develop a methodology for a moni- first high-resolution mangrove canopy height maps generated. explores opportunities for lidar and optical data fusion, including toring system of carbon and biomass using airborne lidar and Dr. Anyamaba and fellow researchers also study Rift Valley fever Findings from this manuscript serve as proof of concept and lay data from Goddard’s Lidar, Hyperspectral, and Thermal (G-LiHT) hyperspectral remote sensing data in North America. He assisted (RVF), a mosquito-borne zoonotic emerging infectious viral dis- the foundation for a series of manuscripts that will investigate bio- Airborne Imager as well as Landsat time series; and models light with the flight planning of the G-LiHT campaign in Alaska, and ease caused by RVF virus (RVFV) (Bunyaviridae: Phlebovirus) that mass, land cover and geomorphic processes. (See image.) Future interception and utilization in forest ecosystems with sophisti- in the coming year, he plans to work with G-LiHT Alaska data to presents significant threats to global public health and agricul- collaborations are planned with Everglades researchers, and Dr. cated 3D radiative transfer models (e.g., DART). Her work involves determine the extent to which shrubs are detectable and aboveg- ture in Africa and the Middle East. Listed as a select agent with Lagomasino will help process and disseminate Goddard’s Lidar, the organization, quality check, processing and analysis of multi- round biomass can be estimated. Other work involved refining significant concern for international spread and use in bioterror- Hyperspectral, and Thermal (G-LiHT) products. Many aspects of temporal airborne lidar data from 15+ study sites across the and implementing techniques for cleaning bad data from airborne ism, RVFV has caused large, devastating periodic epizootics and the Everglades can be compared with other coastal wetlands. Ad- Brazilian Amazon. The objective is to estimate key characteristics lidar data collections to derive robust estimates of forest biomass epidemics in Africa over the last ~60 years, with severe economic ditionally, new findings have been accepted to IGARRS 2015 and of Amazon forest disturbance and recovery processes over large and carbon content. and nutritional impacts on humans from illness and livestock loss. will continue to be presented at other remote sensing and coastal areas (1,000 ha) and thus complement data from forest inventory In the last 15 years alone, RVFV caused tens of thousands of hu- science conferences. Globally, Dr. Lagomasino and others are plots (1 ha) for improving ecosystem models. Research results Dr. Margolis helped to prepare a Notice of Intent and full proposal man cases, hundreds of human deaths, and >100,000 domestic helping with forest inventories in Bangladesh and accounting for were presented at the NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Sci- on the role of shrubs in boreal forest and Arctic tundra carbon dy- animal deaths. Cattle, sheep, goats, and camels are particularly carbon in East Africa. ence Workshop in College Park, MD. Additionally, a related paper namics for the ABOVE (Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment) An-

70 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 71 nouncement of Opportunity within ROSES. He also assisted with Mars on August 6, 2012. drill samples and analyze them along the way. As Curiosity climbs pulse using Mars mix (a gas composition simulating the Martian a white paper describing NASA priorities for research for the next up Mt. Sharp, SAM will be used to analyze samples, which will atmosphere) is shown in Figure 1 with predictions by the pirani decade in terrestrial ecology, carbon cycle science, land use/land This past year, as a result of many exciting discoveries by SAM, require the development of new techniques. Dr. Malespin will lead sensor and a much larger commercial reference gauge. A related cover change, and biodiversity for the TECLUB effort. He served Dr. Malespin was a co-author of several publications. First, the the testing and development of these experiments on the SAM paper is in progress. as member of the core sub-group for the carbon cycle science SAM instrument onboard the Curiosity rover made detections of testbed. A more detailed analysis of the SAM testbed work will be section and provided input to different portions of the document, Martian methane, the first positive measurements made on the presented at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Dr. Southard’s work on OASIS (Organics Analyzer for Sampling and attended a workshop at NASA Goddard to support this effort. surface in situ. These detections were discussed and published in icy surfaces) resulted in a publication that described how the a paper in the journal Science. Dr. Malespin helped develop the As product development lead of the MEMS pirani pressure sensor OASIS microchip enables electrospray or thermospray of analyte Dr. Tian Yao (sponsor: J. Masek) estimates vegetation structure, experiment using the SAM testbed at NASA GSFC. Additionally, of the MOMA instrument for the ExoMars 2018 rover, Dr. Adrian for subsequent analysis by the OASIS time-of-flight mass spec- biomass and carbon fluxes by using remote sensing data and the SAM instrument onboard Curiosity made the first definitive Southard (sponsor: S. Getty) is chiefly re- land surface model CLM. From her research results, she present- detection of organics on Mars in the form of chlorobenzene and sponsible for flight qualifying a miniature ed a poster at the American Meteorological Society’s 2nd Con- dichloroalkanes in a Sheepbed mudstone sample. Dr. Malespin pressure gauge to the MOMA integra- ference on Atmospheric Biogeosciences in May 2014, another and several other SAM team members co-authored a related tion team for eventual use on the 2018 presentation at the AGU 2014 Fall Meeting in San Francisco, CA, article that was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research. Exomars rover (a joint ESA/ROSCOSMOS and participated in the 2015 NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Finally, the SAM instrument onboard Curiosity measured the mission). Other tasks include designing, Workshop in April 2015. She is working on a manuscript, submit- ancient D/H ratio in a Martian Clay sample. These results were modeling, and testing a liquid chromato- ting an abstract for the 2015 AGU Fall Meeting. published in an article in the journal Science. Dr. Malespin was graph - mass spectrometer interface for responsible for developing this experimental procedure on the the OASIS (Organics analyzer for sampling Dr. Qingyuan Zhang (sponsor: E. Middleton) supports the two SAM testbed at NASA GSFC. Further, a recent SAM experiment icy surfaces) instrument. He also sup- NASA hyperspectral satellite missions: the Earth Observing One measured Xenon in the Martian atmosphere. Dr. Malespin devel- ports the design, modeling, and testing (EO-1) satellite mission and the Hyperspectral Infrared Imag- oped and tested the experiment using the SAM testbed at GSFC of a high energy electron gun array for an ing (HyspIRI) satellite mission. His findings resulted in several over the course of several months before it was run on Mars. x-ray instrument. publications and presentations. He has had three lead author publications that were related to research on the estimation NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover has reached the Red Planet’s Mount The MOMA-MS (Mars Organic Molecular of crop gross primary production (GPP), two in Agricultural and Sharp, a Mount-Rainier-size mountain at the center of the vast Analyzer Mass Spectrometer) instrument Forest Meteorology and one in Remote Sensing of Environment, Gale Crater and the rover mission’s long-term prime destination. uses a novel approach to analyzing Mar- and one he co-authored that was related to light use efficiency This was a major milestone for the mission and occurred at the tian soil for organic content. It uses laser and fPAR parameterization on GPP modeling in Agricultural and start of the first ‘extended mission’ for Curiosity. The MSL will desorption ionization mass spectrometry Forest Meteorology. Additionally, presentations were given at drive up the mountain over the next several years, stopping to (LDI-MS) and ingests volatiles through an the AGU Fall 2015 meeting in San aperture valve that is pulsed open and Francisco, CA and at the 2015 Carbon closed. After being closed, pressures are Cycle and Ecosystem Joint Workshop too high for the mass spectrometer to op- in MD. In summer 2015, Dr. Zhang will erate (the Martian atmosphere is around attend an experimental field campaign 10 torr), so a pump must reduce the pres- to measure corn chlorophyll content, sure inside the MS. In addition, volatiles leaf fluorescence, soil moisture, and formed via an LDI process are not stable canopy height, etc. for long; hence, a powerful pump was required to reduce the pressure quickly. A MOMA-MS pressure pulse using Mars mix, with predictions by pirani sensor. Image credit: Ideally, the mass spectrometer should be A. Southard. CODE 699: PLANETARY turned on as soon as the pressure is low ENVIRONMENTS enough for it to operate. This requires a fast-responding pressure trometer (TOF-MS). Electrospray of buffer solution containing the gauge that can work in the torr to sub-mtorr pressure range under nucleobase adenine was performed using the microchip and Dr. Charles Malespin (sponsor: P. Ma- Martian atmospheric conditions. The MOMA-MS also required detected by a commercial TOF-MS. Future testing of thermospray haffy) works on the development and accurate slow pressure prediction under helium flow to accommo- and electrospray capability will be performed using a test fixture testing of experimental procedures for date gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Dr. Southard and and vacuum chamber developed especially for the optimization of the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) in- his “pirani team” demonstrated that a MEMS pirani sensor could ion spray at atmosphere and in low pressure environments. Dr. strument suite. He is the lead testbed achieve the fast response time needed and could be calibrated Southard will be presenting OASIS-related work at ASMS 2015 operator for the SAM testbed at GSFC. to predict pressures from ambient temperatures varying from -20 and Abscicon 2015. Dr. Malespin is also part of the MSL to 80 degrees Celsius and with different gas compositions. The Science and Tactical team and serves team showed that the sensor passed flight tests including lifetime Dr. Samuel Teinturier (sponsor: P. Mahaffy) supports SAM (Sam- as the SAM strategic science lead. The “Need to Know: Sample Analysis at Mars Findings”, video produced and edited by David Ladd testing, radiation exposure, vibration, shock, and thermal testing, ple Analysis at Mars) by working on the development and testing Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) was (Code 130), featuring MSL scientist Daniel Glavin. Image: D. Ladd. and could be integrated into MOMA-MS’s electronics without loss of experimental procedures for SAM. He assists Dr. Charles launched in November 2011 and the of sensitivity or accuracy. An example of a MOMA-MS pressure Malespin with writing and developing scripts, with conducting Curiosity rover landed in Gale Crater,

72 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 73 DELIVERING THE MESSAGE

tests and experiments on the SAM Testbed, and with reviewing and analyzing the data. He is also part of the MSL Science and Tactical team. Dr. Teinturier worked for five years in France on the French team with scientists and engineers who built the Gas Chro- matograph, one of the main parts of the SAM experiment, thus he is particularly involved in experiments on SAM or the Testbed concerning rock pyrolysis analysis by gas chromatography, or by wet chemistry experiments. He has led and developed a pyrolysis analysis using the presence of vapors of MTBSTFA (a fluid known as N-methyl-N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide, used to preserve and identify suspect carbon-containing components in samples drilled out from rocks). Dr. Teinturier has conducted the reviews and experiments on the Testbed for this new kind of analysis, and then helped analyze the data to improve the experi- ment, and to run it on Mars. This work was presented during the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston, Texas, by Dr. Daniel Glavin. Dr. Teinturier also participated in the Mars Conference, in Pasadena, CA last July, and at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, CA. Work will continue regarding the development of a new method for using the Gas Chromatographic columns during pyrolysis analysis.

From “A Selective History of Sea Ice Observations”, Image Credit: J. Beck. Members of GSFC’s Scientific Visualization Studio (Code 606.4, on search committees for new team members, including a new sponsor H. Mitchell), the Office of Communications (Code 130, GOES and JPSS producer and a new Multimedia Fellow. As of sponsor W. Sisler), the Science Program Support Office (POC: Win- February 2015, he assumed the responsibilities of the Operation nie Humberson, GST; sponsor: S. Platnick), and High-Performance IceBridge E/PO lead, while a search is underway. He provided Computing (Code 606.2, sponsor: P. Webster) have all supported much support to OIB this past year, producing seven live action an incredible amount of missions and events, and have pro- videos, four of them utilizing footage from his previous campaign duced products to engage and convey the discoveries from NASA to McMurdo Field Station. He also documented integration efforts research. The team’s products are distributed on a variety of for a sister campaign called ARISE and visited Wallops Flight social media platforms and quite often make an impact through Facility to produce a video on the first-ever instrument integra- high-profile news media outlets. Visualizations and animations tion for IceBridge on a NASA C-130. As the storytelling focus for are searchable by keyword or by name at http://svs.gsfc.nasa. IceBridge continues to shift toward science results, Jefferson gov/ and the SVS continues to showcase work by its partners: the oversaw the production, scripting, and narration of data visualiza- Conceptual Image Lab, Goddard Multimedia Studios, and Scien- tions, including a video exploring the first 3D map of the layers tific Hyperwall Presentations. Hyperwalls were in high demand within the Greenland ice sheet. This video was viewed more than this past year, most notably at the SMAP launch, at Earth Day at 150,000 times and was selected as Wired’s Science Graphic of Union Station, and at national and international workshops and the Week. conferences, and close to home at Goddard’s NCCS in Building 28. The Office of Education (Code 160, sponsor: J. Harrington) While Jefferson directed the overall visual outreach efforts for the also works to engage students and the public on certain goals. In mission, he helped select two producers to capture the action in fact, throughout this annual report, collaborative efforts are rep- the field, and supported their efforts from the home office. In his resented as scientific research is translated and shared through role as the temporary IceBridge E/PO lead, he coordinated exter- technology, animation, visualization, and interviews. nal media visits for the Arctic field campaign, including a photog- rapher, a noted author, and National Geographic film crew, and CODE 130 (Sponsor: W. Sisler) also provided daily social media postings including photographs Jefferson Beck supports the NASA Goddard Office of Communi- from the field and flight plans. During the Antarctic deployment, cations and NASA Earth science outreach efforts with a variety he provided visuals and logistical support for a Google Hangout of multimedia products. Additionally, Jefferson again served featuring NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan and the U.S. Ambas-

74 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 75 sador to Chile, Michael Hammer, and actually undergoing integration and participated in the event himself, providing a testing (I&T) at Goddard, which “day in the life of IceBridge” perspective. requires Ryan to coordinate with the project managers and SOLARIUM Jefferson often covers topics related to sea videographers in order to docu- ice and this year he helped support a live shot ment significant milestones in Solarium is large-scale digital art that features footage from the Solar Dynamics Observatory campaign on the Arctic minimum, produced a ICESat-2’s prelaunch phase. He (SDO). Curated by Genna Duberstein and Scott Wiessinger, Solarium has been installed at video on a record low Arctic sea ice maximum, documented such events as the the following venues: King Street Arts Festival (Alexandria, VA), Georgia State University’s The and produced a popular two-part video entitled optics bench fit test, thermal vac- Window Project (Atlanta, GA), The American Museum of Natural History (New York, NY), The “A Selective History of Sea Ice Observations”, uum testing for the avionics, and Center for Creative Photography (Tucson, AZ), NASA’s Goddard Visitor Center (Greenbelt, MD which broke new ground with its documentary installation of the sunshade for – permanent exhibition). Future exhibitions include the Louisiana Art and Science Museum spirit. the main telescope. In addition, (Baton Rouge, LA), the Virginia Air and Space Center (Hampton, VA), and The World Science Ryan produced 30- to 60-second Festival (New York, NY). The project was featured on WJLA, ABCnews.com, Architectural This year Jefferson produced a string of four highlights of these I&T mile- Digest, newsweek.com, Good Morning America, and weather.com. According to Scott, “So- consecutive Earth science videos in a two- stones for ICESat-2’s Facebook larium helps [people] make an emotional connection with the sun and NASA.” In her TEDx month period that all received 150,000 hits or feed. Finally, Ryan has produced Peachtree talk titled “Can the Sun Rekindle Our Sense of Wonder?”, Genna explains how more on YouTube and were picked up by mul- part one of three videos focusing this concept came to be, from her view of one of Scott’s SDO visualizations and the subse- tiple media outlets, including NBC News, Popu- on the ATLAS instrument, titled quent plan to “create a space of science and art where we can feel curious again” in a new lar Science, CBS News, The Guardian, Smithso- “Laser Focus,” which should see and engaging way. For more information, please visit http://www.nasa.gov/solarium/ or view Video Credit: R. Andreoli; Image provided by R. Fitzgibbons. nian, Popular Mechanics, The Huffington Post, release in May or June. Genna’s talk at http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/Can-the-Sun-Rekindle-Our-Sense. National Geographic, USA Today, Scientific Newsweek.com, during a segment on FOX News, YahooNews.com, American, and the Washington Post. Two of those videos were in and ABC 7 Chicago. With the public release of the support of an AGU press conference on NASA’s ability to see the Integrated Multi-satellite Re- world’s holiday lights from space. His Spanish language version of On May 12, 2014, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden came to trievals for GPM (IMERG), Ryan that video garnered nearly 200,000 views. Another video covered Goddard to view the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) headed the media product push model predictions that the American Southwest was likely to spacecraft and meet the mission team. Genna produced the in order to introduce the global experience more severe droughts by the end of the century than visuals for the event, including “MMS Mission Overview” to play precipitation maps to the public. at any other time in the last 1,000 years. Also, he produced his for the administrator. The MMS mission launched on March 14, In tandem with the first anniver- third annual “Earth from Orbit” highlight video in conjunction with 2015. Genna was responsible for all of the webshorts for the sary of the GPM launch, Ryan NASA’s Earth Day and the Earth Right Now campaign and activi- mission, and also produced visuals for the three pre-launch press produced a 90-second narrated ties. This video was broadcast on NASA TV, used on the hyperwall conferences and supported the NASA Social at Kennedy Space tour of the new IMERG global at Union Station, was quite popular on Facebook, and was picked Center. maps. Currently, at 111,000 up by Wired UK, which called it “gorgeous, but harrowing.” views, this video became GPM’s Other video productions for Genna over the past year include most viewed video to date, As Lead Multimedia Producer for Heliophysics, Genna Duber- “MMS Science Overview” and “How will MMS Launch and De- doubling the views of the original stein maintains hands-on creative responsibilities, and organizes ploy?”, along with other MMS Press Briefing videos and a mis- rocket launch in February 2014. the overall multimedia team and plans media campaigns and sion trailer, “Five X-class Flares”, “Late Summer M5 Solar Flare”, Ryan also produced a more in- release strategies. Genna is also the lead producer on Solarium “EUNIS Sees Evidence for Nanoflare Coronal Heating”, “Firework depth video, “A Week in the Life (see sidebar), an exhibit created from SDO solar images. In the Flare”, “SDO Sees Largest Sunspot Liveshots”, “Comparing of Rain”, which used the IMERG coming year, she will continue to search for venues for Solarium. CMEs”, “IRIS Sees its First CME”, “STEREO Solar Conjunction”, maps as a jumping-off point for This past year, Atlanta’s local TED affiliate, TEDx Peachtree, “Water in the Solar System Press Briefing”, and “The Mysterious looking at the variety of precipita- invited Genna Duberstein to present about Solarium. The October Holes in the Atmosphere on Venus”. A selection of Genna’s pro- tion events occurring throughout 2014 event was held before a sold-out crowd at Atlanta’s historic ductions can be viewed at http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/search/Person/ the globe over one week. This Image provided by G. Duberstein. Buckhead Theater. Other work that involved the SDO included the DubersteinGenna.html. video has become GPM’s third- videos “SDO 5 Year Time-lapse” and “Holiday Lights on the Sun”. most-viewed video. Additionally, The sun emitted an X1.8 solar flare, peaking at 7:24 p.m. EST Ryan Fitzgibbons supports the GPM and ICESat-2 missions in he oversaw the production of on Dec. 19, 2014. Genna edited a video of the event, as seen by all multimedia needs, including the documentation of mission over a dozen new data visualiza- NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. The piece caught the atten- milestones, production of web videos and live press events, and tions for the IMERG release. the newly launched GPM mission. Ryan oversaw the “first light” tion of USA Today and Yahoo!News; the latter outlet interviewed support for the Education/Public Outreach (E/PO) programs. and subsequent visualizations which focused on hurricanes, Genna about the video. The time-lapse video featured one frame Ryan began to support the ICESat-2 mission with documentation This last year saw a steady output of 3-D storm visualizations us- super typhoons and snow storms. These visualizations allowed for every 8 hours of SDO’s five years of solar imagery. It ran on and production needs. ICESat-2’s ATLAS instrument is currently ing the combination of the microwave imager and radar data from the public to see inside these storms at a much higher resolution

76 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 77 and to view the frozen layers atop hur- as with the PI of the OSIRIS-REx visible ricanes. Also during 2014, Ryan sup- and infrared spectrometer. He will ported the Hurricane and Severe Storm work with Goddard Planetary Scientist Sentinel (HS3) campaign, producing Veronica Pinnick to produce instrument three videos, a campaign kick-off and animations and footage of the Mars two instrument-focused videos. Organics Molecule Analyzer (MOMA), which will be carried aboard ESA’s In the coming year, Ryan will increase ExoMars Rover. MOMA builds on God- his support of the ICESat-2 mission, dard’s heritage of mass spectrometers, which will include documenting its such as the Sample Analysis at Mars departure from Goddard to Orbital (SAM) instrument aboard Curiosity, in Arizona, and also complete the while incorporating new laser desorp- next two videos in the ATLAS series. tion technology. He plans to film MOMA Materials will be produced to expand at Goddard before the instrument ships on the IMERG/Week in the Life of to Europe in mid-2016. Rain product. Ryan will work with the outreach team to create modules that Robert Garner is involved in multime- incorporate the near real-time data and dia science communication including that reach student audiences. He also the creation of data visualization, sci- plans to support a GPM-focused live From “Targeting Mars”, a video on NASA’s MAVEN mission. Image provided by D. Gallagher. Credit: NASA/GSFC, Walt Feimer (HTSI); Producer & Editor: Dan Gallagher; Scientists: Geronimo ence illustration, multimedia and video shot campaign that will occur during Villanueva and Mike Mumma. programs, interactive web and software org. Excerpts of this video also were posted to Facebook, and the products, and web features. This past the 2015 hurricane season. for the habitability of ancient Mars. Drs. Villanueva and Mumma video received coverage by Gizmodo and Universe Today. To date, year, after months of preparation, the redesign of NASA.gov was announced their findings in the March 2015 issue of “Science.” it has received 118,000+ views on NASA Explorer. Online articles launched on April 20, 2015. The new nasa.gov design represents As a multimedia producer, Dan Gallagher produces and ed- Dan interviewed them, wrote and recorded narration, and worked are available here http://sploid.gizmodo.com/why-nasa-is-sending- the most significant overhaul of the agency’s website in a decade. its videos that inform the public about missions and scientific with animators in the Conceptual Image Lab to create three ed- a-spacecraft-to-an-asteroid-to-brin-1660154762 and here http:// Under Robert’s direction, the Office of Communications’ Web research being conducted at Goddard Space Flight Center. As ited videos supporting the result: a long video, a short video, and www.universetoday.com/116192/osiris-rex-the-audacious-plan-to- Team of four manually rebuilt some 750 individual webpages to the lead video producer for the Planetary Department at GSFC, a Spanish-language video. The Mars ocean story was featured by scoop-an-asteroid-and-fly-back-to-earth/. ensure Goddard (as well as Goddard-managed missions) had a Dan provides video support for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter CNN, io9, Space.com, and Engadget. To date, the long video has wide share of the new landscape of nasa.gov. Additionally, Robert (LRO), MAVEN, and OSIRIS-REx missions, as well as for general received 607,000+ views on NASA Explorer (YouTube). See it here planetary research at Goddard. In September 2014, Dan wrote, Dan produced, narrated, and edited a short video about the worked to redesign the Hubble Space Telescope page on NASA. on the SVS Archive: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/goto?11796. th produced and edited a short video explaining how NASA’s MAVEN historic close encounter between Comet Siding Spring and Mars, gov (see sidebar on the Hubble’s 25 anniversary). and NASA’s efforts to observe the flyby with its Mars Fleet and a mission traveled from Earth to Mars according to the laws of Also in March, Dan produced and edited a video featuring the Lu- host of assets at Earth. The video features artists’ concepts of the As part of the MAVEN communications and outreach team, Rob- orbital mechanics, and how MAVEN used its thrusters to enter nar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) principal investigator, flyby seen from the surface of Mars and from the vantage point of ert received a 2014 Robert H. Goddard Honor Award for his role. Martian orbit once it arrived. The video includes new spacecraft Mark Robinson, talking about his team’s discovery of present-day NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft, animated by the Goddard CiLab. The He assisted with live online coverage of the mission’s arrival and animations from Goddard’s Conceptual Image Lab studio and vi- impact craters on the Moon. Dr. Robinson’s team compared re- video also features several data visualizations of Comet Siding successful orbit insertion at Mars in September. Robert traveled sualizations by the SVS depicting MAVEN’s trajectory before, dur- cent pictures of the lunar surface with pictures of the same sites Spring, Mars, and NASA’s Mars fleet, animated by the Goddard to Wallops in July and October 2014 to provide real-time coverage ing, and after the MOI maneuver. The video was posted on NASA taken earlier in the mission, in order to search for subtle changes SVS. “Observing Comet Siding Spring at Mars” was released on for nasa.gov of Orbital’s CRS launches (Nos. 2 and 3). He main- Explorer (YouTube), nasa.gov, and the SVS archive on 09/08/14, on the lunar surface. This technique led the LROC team to discov- NASA Explorer (YouTube), nasa.gov, and the SVS archive, and has tained the launch blog for both missions, the first (and second) and has received over 105,000 views to date on NASA Explorer. er over 25 small, new impact craters on the Moon, including an received over 246,000 views to date on NASA Explorer: http:// time this function was carried out by Goddard. Traffic grew from “Targeting Mars” was also broadcast on NASA TV during MAVEN’s 18-meter diameter crater caused by a lunar bright flash observed youtu.be/FG4KsatjFeI. about 25,000 launch-day page views for CRS-2 to about 100,000 arrival at Mars on 9/21, and the new animations were reposted on March 17, 2013. “New Craters on the Moon” was released on for the first attempt of CRS-3. Although the ultimate launch cir- on multiple websites including Slate. NASA Explorer (YouTube), nasa.gov, and the SVS archive, and has In spring 2015, Dan produced, edited, and released three cumstances for CRS-3 were unfortunate, the launch blog served a received over 57,000 views to date on NASA Explorer. In November, Dan co-produced and co-wrote “Asteroid Bennu’s “Measuring Mars’ Ancient Ocean” videos to support a new mea- vital role in communicating contingency and area safety informa- Journey”, a signature animation showing the formation and surement of the volume of water that existed on ancient Mars. tion. Scientists Geronimo Villanueva (Catholic Univ.) and Mike Mumma Looking ahead, Dan will produce new science operations video for evolution of the solar system as witnessed by near-Earth aster- MAVEN, as he works in collaboration with MAVEN Principal Inves- (NASA/GSFC) used ground-based telescopes to measure the ratio The photo archives Robert has developed in earnest over the oid Bennu, the target of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. The video tigator, Bruce Jakosky. Dan interviewed Dr. Jakosky in December of heavy to light water in Mars’ present-day ice caps, allowing past several months have been relied upon to locate imagery to was animated at the Goddard Conceptual Image Lab (CiLab) 2014 to discuss MAVEN’s upcoming stellar occultation cam- them to determine that Mars once possessed an ocean covering support a variety of functions, including the Nimbus 50th anni- studio. “Asteroid Bennu’s Journey” was posted to NASA Explorer paigns, deep dip maneuvers, and early science results. Also, new approximately 20% of its surface. This new measurement is con- versary, a documentary crew’s search for images of Sen. Barbara (YouTube), nasa.gov, the SVS archive, Facebook, and the official animations and instrument footage will be developed for OSIRIS- siderably wetter than many previous estimates, raising the odds Mikulski’s visits in the 1990s (tied to Hubble), and the agency’s OSIRIS-REx website of the University of Arizona, asteroidmission. Rex, as Dan works with animation lead Walt Feimer (HTSI) as well 78 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 79 exhibit on its morning shows. Next, 10/17/14. These broadcasts connect with some of WJLA’s meteorologist Eileen Whalen and the country’s biggest news stations and television mar- the station’s senior producer highlighted kets, as well as international channels and websites. locations inside the Visitor Center includ- ing the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Michael Lentz creates animations and visuals to exhibit and the Science on a Sphere support NASA Goddard missions, science and edu- theater. Upcoming media campaigns will cational outreach for the office of communication in include the September 28th Supermoon addition to providing creative and technical advice to Image of revamped NASA.gov site provided by R. Garner. and total lunar eclipse happening the the Conceptual Image Lab. This past year, Michael has tribute to Leonard Nimoy, as well as a recent spate of historical same day, the Arctic sea ice minimum Scientist Compton (Jim) Tucker (GSFC) interviewed by NBC Nightly News. Image been involved with the OSIRIS-Rex mission. OsirisRex stories about Apollo-era activities. Prior to the catalog Mr. Garner in August, and a campaign focusing on technology in October. provided by M. Handleman Seff has become a tent pole to push the Conceptual Image Michelle will continue to build her media base as she reaches out Labs animation capabilities. The plan is to refine the developed, supporting these activities and events would not have million views on the NASA Goddard YouTube page and continues to non-television outlets include more radio stations and online animation pipeline and push the look and feel of visual storytell- been possible. to gain viewers. See it here: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/de- media outlets like Mashable.com. Also, she plans to explore ing even further through the OsirisRex mission. “Bennu’s Journey” tails.cgi?aid=4253. Michelle Handleman Seff coordinates and produces satellite more ways of integrating radio and in-person interviews into her was released in the fall and had over 12.5 million views on the satellite media tour campaigns. Goddard Facebook page in the first week of release. This was media tours across the spectrum of science disciplines at God- David also was the Producer and Editor on the video “Need to another ambitious animation project with many complex visual dard Space Flight Center. She produces short news videos and Know: Sample Analysis at Mars Findings”. Released in conjunc- David Ladd is a Video Producer with Goddard Television, working elements. Michael created 23 of the 31 animations used in the b-roll material for This Week @ NASA and NASA TV, as well as tion with NASA’s presentation at the AGU conference, this video in the Planetary Science division. David produces and edits vid- 6-minute-long film. The animation was created in UHD 4k and Goddard’s website, server and social media pages, and assists revealed the most recent findings by the Curiosity rover’s SAM in- eos for numerous NASA missions, including but not limited to the was an important project in designing a pipeline for creating high- the media and documentary filmmakers with interview and file strument suite: variations in methane levels in the Martian atmo- Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, and OSIRIS-Rex. David resolution animations in the Conceptual Image Lab. The anima- video requests. This past year, she organized a successful satel- sphere and the first definitive detection of organic molecules on th th produced and edited two videos for “The Moon As Art” campaign. tion shows the formation of the solar system and how the aster- lite media tour on April 24 to celebrate the 25 anniversary of the Red Planet. (More information on SAM is presented in this re- The first was a short promotional video designed to encourage oid Bennu came to be and why OSIRIS-Rex will be going there to the Hubble Space Telescope’s launch into space (see sidebar on port by Dr. Charles Malespin (Code 699).) The video can be seen viewers to visit the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter website to vote take a sample to return to Earth. Michael is creating concept art Hubble). Michelle also conducted a satellite media tour on the on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN0Zj4SIz1A or is for their favorite image of the moon in the LRO collection. The for the next OsirisRex animation “Journey to Bennu”. breaking news that 2014 was the warmest year on record. She searchable on the NASA Goddard SVS page. booked 23 interviews for her three scientists on this topic, and public could vote on five images selected by the LRO team. The second was the feature video which explained the contest, show- Michael created several animations for the MAVEN mission highlights included features on NBC Nightly News; LiveScience. David consistently helps produce and organize visuals for God- cased the collection, and announced the winning image, avail- to show its launch and deployment as well as the Mars Orbit com; Reuters, CNN with Chad Myers; New York’s CBS 2 News and dard Television’s “Live Shot” news productions; this past year, able here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGn2TuMF5rY. Insertion (MOI). Another animation explained MAVEN’s deep Telemundo Los Angeles. She also helped organize interviews on Live Shots included the Meteor Shower production, 5/23/14; dip orbital maneuver and showed the passing of comet Siding Telemundo Dallas and BBC World News. the Supermoon production, 8/8/14; the Maven Orbit Insertion David was the Producer and Editor for “Goddard In the Galaxy”, a Spring. Another animation was one Michael created to show the production, 9/19/14; and, the Comet Siding Spring production, Michelle produced a satellite media tour to promote the Soil music video that highlights the many ways NASA Goddard Space laser scattering from the Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission ahead of its launch. Flight Center explores the universe. In making this promotional module to be launched and installed on the She booked 23 interviews for the two mission scientists she was video, David worked with the world-renowned band Fall Out Boy ISS in addition to showing how the single working with. Highlights included two hits with the Weather Chan- and their management team to obtain the licensing rights to laser is split into three beams. The animation nel, CBS News Radio; Fox NewsEdge affiliate service and seven their song, “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark/Light ‘Em “Neutron Star” created by Michael explained interviews with top 20 television markets. Up.” Fall Out Boy liked the video so much that they shared and new observations on why the polar jets from a Michelle conducted live shots to promote the Magnetospheric promoted it on their main Twitter page, and some band members neutron star can dim at certain times. Multiscale (MMS) mission the morning of its launch. She orga- put it on their personal pages. Launched in conjunction with Cel- Future work will involve creating 4k animations nized 23 radio and satellite interviews as well as one in-person ebrate Goddard Day, the video was shown on Goddard’s campus as more animations are starting to be created interview for the three scientists participating in these live shots. various locations. The video is now featured on NASA Goddard’s in this high-resolution format in the Concep- Highlights include interviews on: WTOP radio, Washington, D.C.; website in the “About Goddard” section, and is being used by the tual Image Lab. Michael will be pushing the Telemundo national morning news; Fox NewsEdge affiliate service NASA Recruitment and Outreach office. look of animations in the CiLab, an example and radio Caracol, which is based out of Miami but also serves of which is spacecraft being shown to scale listeners in Spain and Colombia. In addition, six of the interviews For the video “A View from the Other Side”, which showcased with people, using different visual styles and conducted that day were with television stations in the Top 20 visualizations of the far side of the Moon, David served as Pro- creating more photo real imagery. Additionally, markets nationwide. ducer and Editor. Within a week of its online launch, this video Michael is currently training on zBrush, a new went viral, and was picked up by Huffington Post, CBS News, 3D sculpting program in the CiLab, which will On two separate occasions, Michelle coordinated interviews NBC News, BBC News, NPR, CNET, Weather.com, Universetoday. eventually be used to model 3D objects from at Goddard’s Visitors Center for Washington, D.C. ABC affiliate com, Engadget.com, The Guardian, Discovermagazine.com, The terrain to spacecraft. “Journey to Bennu” is Image Provided by D. Ladd WJLA/News Channel 8. First, WJLA highlighted the new Solarium Telegraph, India Today, and Yahoo.com. The video has nearly 2 the next big animation project coming through

80 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 81 forest/2015/03/02/bd037b1a-bc75-11e4-bdfa-b8e- ence, Joy used GIFs on different soft- 8f594e6ee_story.html) and many other news outlets. this format to ware. To promote the In the coming year, Brian will continue developing report NASA Earth use of GIFs, she led a new and interesting styles for animations and to draw science results workshop for internal the viewer into the subject through the visual treat- and create further staff ranging from sci- Laser scattering from the CATS module. Image created by M. Lentz. ment. Through new programs and plug-ins, many new outreach for exist- ence writers to video techniques will open up and the potential to work on ing NASA God- producers to education the CiLab, and Michael will be playing a key role in developing the more 4K content with systems that can now handle dard campaigns. outreach specialists. look of the animations. the resolution. Each Instagram She highlighted the video has gained advantages of creating In his role under the Scientific Animation Fellowship, Brian As the Earth Science Multimedia Fellow within the NASA Goddard 10,000-17,000 GIFs to support writ- Monroe has supported the Conceptual Image Lab to produce a Earth Science News Team, Joy Ng reports on new Earth science “likes” and pro- ten articles, YouTube number of animations for press releases, conferences, and live results at NASA Goddard and from external researchers that use moted conversa- videos, and education studio productions. The objective was to bring a different style NASA satellite data. Joy transforms science research into acces- tions of up to 300 outreach, and also how and technique to the portfolio of Conceptual Image Lab while sible short-form web video stories for YouTube, Instagram, and comments. Since to create effective GIFs. helping with some of the visual workload that the lab takes on weathercasters videos for broadcast television. All videos support the release of Joy helped to create so- with each year. In early September 2014, Brian helped create a the mission to inspire audiences with NASA’s innovative and Instagram videos cial media shareables stylized timeline for “A Selective History of Sea Ice Observation”, a unprecedented research in Earth science. Over this past year, in July 2014, NASA during NASA’s Earth video produced by Jefferson Beck that recounts significant events through working with mentor Kayvon Sharghi, science writers, Goddard’s Insta- Day campaign in col- and pioneers in the subject over the millennium. The task was to NASA Goddard scientists, and animators from CILab and the gram account has laboration with NASA’s create a unique look for the timeline that would engage and keep Scientific Visualization Studio, Joy has created numerous unique gained 500,000+ Jet Propulsion Labora- the viewer’s attention over the course of the animation and visu- multimedia products that support Earth science field campaigns followers. As tory. Going forward, Joy ally help the viewer with the sequence in which they occur. and unsupported airborne and satellite missions and research. A well as reporting Image provided by B. Monroe. is particularly interested Brian helped create several animations for use in Thomas Madura total of 32 multimedia products (9 YouTube, 23 Instagram) have on Earth science in using NASA’s unprece- and Francis Reddy’s presentation at AAS in January on the latest been researched, produced and edited by Joy. Through NASA’s results, Joy used this dented imagery to create findings of the Eta Carinae nebula. The video short produced by YouTube and Instagram accounts alone, these products have platform to create trailers for the pre- release of the six-minute a three-dimensional interactive experience. Scott Wiessinger showcases these animations and has received reached more than 1.2 million people, and also have captured film titled “Bennu’s Journey”. These short trailers helped draw over 200,000 views on NASA Goddard’s YouTube channel. The the attention of journalists and have been re-distributed by many people towards the longer film once it was released. The short Matthew Radcliff supports Earth science communications, video was highly praised at the AAS conference for its visuals. news organizations. Joy’s video titled ”How Do Active Volcanoes trailers were also used in other social media platforms such as and serves as the Lead Producer for the Landsat program and See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rJQi6oaZf0. Change Clouds?”, which features Dr. Andy Sayer (Code 613), was Flickr and Facebook. Lead Producer for Goddard Earth Science Division (Code 610). For Paul Mahaffy and Sushil Atreya’s presentation at the 2014 shared by The Discovery Channel on Facebook, which reached He prepares videos for the press and the general public about AGU Fall Meeting on Curiosity finding organic chemistry on Mars, out to more than 1.5 million viewers. She also supported two Meteorologist Howard Joe Witte initiated a new project this year Goddard’s Earth science research and missions, and among Brian helped to turnaround a diagram depicting potential sources NASA releases on the Antarctic and Arctic sea ice. She produced to create 30-second videos for weathercasters to use on national other responsibilities he represents Goddard Multimedia on its of methane of Mars for use in the presentation and in the media two videos, both of which supported a larger campaign, includ- television. Joy has been an integral role in this project, supporting agency-wide campaign for Earth science, “Earth Right Now.” (see image). The result was used in Wikipedia, Cosmos Magazine, ing a written article and live television interviews with scientists. Joe in constructing each video, dealing with all technical queries Matthew participates in the campaign’s planning sessions and and several news sites. Additionally, Brian developed an anima- One video gained over 100,000 views within 24 hours, and both and as a visual creative consultant. Working with the news cycle, has produced several videos and multimedia products. He has tion for a video production by Dan Gallagher in which the amount gained sufficient attention from external press sources such Joy responds efficiently to Joe’s requests and ensures high-quality created social media “shareables” and short animations for the of water that once was present on Mars was revealed to be of a as NBC News, Washington Post and Space.com. Another video editorial control throughout. Over the past year, 30 Weather- campaign, from the yearly progression of the Antarctic ozone hole larger volume than previously believed. The video has 600,000+ titled “Satellite Tracks Saharan Dust to Amazon in 3-D” also was casters videos have been produced and have covered a range to the yearly minimum amounts of Arctic sea ice. He has also views on NASA Goddard’s YouTube channel and has been shared re-distributed to organizations including TIME, Mashable, The of topics from Arctic Sea ice to air quality to satellite launches. produced a set of “bumpers” showing the Earth Right Now logo through articles on https://cosmosmagazine.com, www.space. Los Angeles Times, The Weather Channel, Wired and Popular One such Weathercasters video is featured in the sidebar on the and tagline (“Your planet is changing. We’re on it.”) for use at the com, and nbcnews.com. Mechanics. Joy’s video titled “2014 Warmest Year on Record” Hubble Space Telescope. end of videos to brand the campaign. was featured in The Washington Post, The Verge, The Daily Mail, Brian produced several animations visualizing the movement of The Huffington Post, Gizmodo, National Geographic, Al Jazeera In addition to her main projects, Joy has created many effec- During the past year, Matthew supported visits from several sand from the Sahara to the Amazon, used in a short produc- America and many others. tive media shareables for different social media platforms. For outside film crews who came to Goddard to conduct interviews. tion developed by Joy Ng. The story itself may be picked up and NASA’s article titled “Earth from Space: 15 Amazing Things in 15 The programs ranged from Fox’s teen-oriented Xploration Station used in the magazine Wired (UK) and the video has received over Joy worked with video producer Kayvon Sharghi and social media Years”, Joy created GIFs to accompany the article on nasa.gov to PBS’s NOVA. Matthew worked with the producers in advance 486,000 views since its initial release in early March. The pro- specialist Rebecca Roth to initiate a new strand of 15-second (see https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/earth-from-space- to prepare visual material for the program and operated the hy- duction and animations were published by the Washington Post videos for the application Instagram. Instagram is primarily an im- 15-amazing-things-in-15-years). This created a more interactive perwall during the interviews. In addition, he was involved in the (http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/a-na- age sharing platform, but since 2013, a 15-second video feature and visually attractive way to guide the reader through the article. early stages of planning NASA’s involvement in the World Science sa-video-shows-how-dust-leaves-the-sahara-and-floats-to-amazon- was made available. To cater to the viewing habits of this audi- Subsequently, Joy created instruction guides on how to create Festival in New York City at the end of May 2015.

82 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 83 water into the Lower Colorado River, and how it improved the veg- dard. In that role, he produced videos on some new instruments WFIRST mission at the Boston American Astronomical Society Matthew produced nine new videos or multimedia items about etation along the course of the river. Additionally, he supported built at Goddard: the microwave radiometer for the SMAP mission, (AAS) conference in June 2014. For the January AAS conference, Landsat science that were distributed through Landsat social me- Dr. Allison Leidner’s presentation at the World Parks Congress. and the CATS instrument that is operating from the ISS. He also Scott created or supervised 11 hyperwall-resolution animations dia channels, the Goddard YouTube channel, and NASA’s Earth In the year ahead, he plans to produce videos on Landsat’s role recorded an interview with Dr. Gavin Schmidt for a new episode of for a lecture by Neil Gehrels. Scott’s largest achievement of the Observatory website. One of the videos illustrated how a pixel in developing habitats for birds migrating through California, “Ask A Climate Scientist”. year was co-producing the digital art installation called Solarium. on a Landsat sensor is the same size as a baseball diamond. monitoring water usage by agriculture in Nebraska, and determin- The installation uses SDO data and opened at the Goddard Visi- Another showed how Landsat uses the moon as a calibration ref- ing the amount of biomass in our nation’s forests. He also will Kayvon Sharghi oversees multiple storytelling projects and wears tor Center in February 2015. Venues across the country are now erence. Others covered water quality, environmental monitoring, work on producing a series of short videos featuring images from many hats to guide each project toward achieving its goals. inquiring about it and beginning to install their own versions. Scott volcanoes in Siberia, and the changing date for snowmelt in the Landsat. Projects include reporting on NASA Earth science findings through continued his focus on creating illustrations and animations this mountains of Wyoming. In support of a press conference at the digital media communication platforms and strategic online cam- year, but also did much more specific-venue-based production. annual AGU conference in December 2014, Matthew produced Beginning with Fiscal Year 2015, Matthew assumed a new role of paigns, and managing the editorial content and release of stories Although this resulted in a slight decline in the absolute number a video explaining Landsat’s role in monitoring a unique flow of Lead Producer for Code 610, the Earth Science Division at God- on the NASA Visualization Explorer app. As editor of the NASA Viz of videos released, he has done more with longer-form videos and app, Kayvon manages all aspects of the editorial process, includ- continues to expand his skill set. ing the scheduling, production and release of two new stories each week. In the past year, he directed the release of more than Scott has taken a smaller role overall with heliophysics and a 100 new stories. larger one within astrophysics. In the last year he has produced a Hubble Space Telescope Celebrates 25 Years great deal of content for the upcoming WFIRST mission, including On April 24, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched from Kennedy Space Center, and went on to provide observations As Earth science producer, Kayvon produces video and animation a publicly released trailer, the six-minute booth video, and nearly and discoveries beyond the imagination. This year marks the 25th anniversary of this historic launch and NASA Goddard was in- products in support of NASA Earth Science news releases. This seven minutes of hyperwall content. Additionally, Scott has been volved in several related events to share the celebration locally and internationally. As Video Editor, Joy Ng worked with Producer year he worked on multiple projects, many of which went viral on engaged by the LISA gravitational wave group to produce a booth Howard Joe Witte on “Weathercasters: Hubble Space Telescope Celebrates 25 Years of Exploration”, a 20-second video available the web. video and, potentially, other content for them. He is advising on here: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=11863. the astrophysics-themed National Air and Space Museum event In addition to these projects, Kayvon directed the activities of in late September, is supporting all the high-energy astrophys- Michelle Handleman Seff organized a successful satellite media tour on April 24th, booking 30 live or taped satellite interviews, 2014 Earth Science Multimedia Fellow Joy Ng. He oversaw the re- ics science results, and is supporting the WFIRST, Fermi and six radio interviews and two in-person interviews on live shot day. Highlights included two interviews with the international media lease of more than 50 video products created by her in support of Swift presence at the IAU and AAS meeting in Hawaii this August. SkyNews; ABCNews.com; CNN Espanol; the Weather Channel with Al Roker; FOX NewsEdge; and Radio Caracol, whose listen- communicating NASA Earth science results. He has participated Scott’s complete collection of work can be found here: http://svs. ers reach Miami, South America and Spain and 12 top 20 markets. She coordinated in-person interviews in the Hubble Control in selecting and hiring a 2015 Multimedia Fellow to assist him in gsfc.nasa.gov/search/Person/WiessingerScott.html. Room at NASA Goddard with WJZ-13 Baltimore and Prince George’s County Community television. She also booked interviews the creation of products. In preparation for the Fellow’s arrival, with reporters from Mashable.com and Globo, one Kayvon drafted a 12-month work plan that details monthly objec- Scott had two large heliophysics accomplishments this year. The of Brazil’s largest news organizations, and coor- tives and expected output. first is the release of the fifth annual Solar Dynamics Observatory dinated in-person interviews ahead of the anni- compilation video, titled “SDO: Year 5”. This video came out along versary with CBS Newspath and CNN Newsource. Kayvon also worked on the branding and launch of NASA On Air, a with other products to celebrate SDO’s fifth launch anniversary new platform for delivering NASA stories in short video packages and was a huge success. It currently has 3.6 million views on Robert Garner prepared www.nasa.gov/hubble that local and national TV weathercasters can insert into their YouTube, is Goddard’s third-most-viewed video, and was featured for the overall nasa.gov web redesign, and he daily broadcasts. In June, Kayvon will present a talk about the across the internet on sites like Slate, CNN, Huffington Post, io9, assisted with Goddard’s Hubble 25th Anniver- project at the 2015 American Meteorological Society meeting and Mashable and NPR. Scott has worked with SDO footage start- sary activities, most notably the NASA-Newseum will meet with weathercasters from across the country. ing with the very first images sent down after launch and is very social media event on April 23, 2015. But the proud to have this fifth-anniversary culmination of his work. celebration did not end in April; related events Scott Wiessinger provides visual support for the WFIRST mission are ongoing throughout the year! Visit http:// and Heliophysics and Astrophysics divisions at Goddard, which As mentioned above, Scott’s other major accomplishment was hubble25th.org/ for more information. includes producing short videos, creating static graphics, guid- the opening of the Solarium installation at the Goddard Visitors ing the creation of animations and data visualizations, creating Center. This installation has been four years in the works, ever animations, providing materials to outside media and producers, since Scott and Genna Duberstein came up with the concept. collecting, creating and organizing visuals for press conferences, There were numerous technical and creative hurdles to overcome, and curating visuals online. Over the past year, Scott produced, but the final product is worth it, and many other institutions have co-produced, edited and/or animated 22 released videos, which shown interest in it: the American Museum of Natural History, the Image from “Weathercasters: Hubble Space Telescope Celebrates 25 videos ranged from animations, to breaking news footage of solar Virginia Air and Space Museum, The Center for Creative Photog- Years of Exploration”, credit NASA Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio. flares and CMEs, to narrated features about science results. raphy in Tucson, and the Louisiana Art and Science Muesum. As of April 25, 2015, these videos accounted for a cumulative Solarium shares the incredible imagery that SDO creates with a 5.2 million YouTube views. Additionally, Scott produced several new audience and presents it in a way never before experienced products for specific events. He produced a booth video for the (see Sidebar on Solarium).

84 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 85 complex, used 11 CODE 606.4 (sponsor: H. Mitchell) from the geomagnetic field as well as drift motions in the appro- In addition to these two major interviews with sci- priate directions. He integrated this particle set into the rendering This past year, Tom Bridgman generated products that covered accomplishments, Scott also entists in the U.S., system and also included the radiation belt model from a previous a broad scope of NASA missions. It was recently reported that release for the Van Allen Probes. A release involving the plasma- had several releases that gar- England and Italy. a July 22–23, 2012 coronal mass ejection (CME), which struck sphere was scheduled, and Tom adapted the above framework to nered a lot of attention. In Oc- Some of these sci- the STEREO-A spacecraft, had such high speed and intensity that include the plasmasphere boundary into a visualization for this tober, he released an image of entists have been it might have been similar to the Carrington Event of 1859 that release. Development will continue on the ring current component the sun that resembled a jack- with Swift from the disrupted early electrical networks. Since this was an event that as time permits. See http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/goto?4241. o’-lantern. The timing before beginning, and the would probably be referenced extensively in future stories and Halloween was good, and the longer-format video releases, Tom requested and received an Enlil model run of the Using the particle simulation code employed in the radiation belt image received terrific exposure, addressed the event from the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC). and plasmapause model release mentioned above, Tom gener- featured by the following: The history, accom- Image provided by S. Wiessinger. He rendered a version of this dataset using the quick-turnaround ated five simple simulations of positive- and negative-charged Wall Street Journal, Huffington plishments, and space weather pipeline. With this event also being observed by particle motion in several basic electric and magnetic field Post, Mashable, Gizmodo, Discover Magazine, The Weather Chan- future of Swift with a personal touch. The Swift anniversary was the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), STEREO-A, and STEREO-B, configurations. While such animations of basic plasma processes nel, HLN, ABC, CNN, Slate, CBS News, and USA Today. It even also the spark to begin the creation of an infographic about Swift. Tom retrieved these datasets and generated several animations had been discussed, there had not been much commitment. Tom showed up on television, when it was featured on the Today show. After many iterations and additions, the infographic is about to be with them. The animations are regarded as largely complete, but opted to do this during the quiet time between major projects. In January, for SDO’s 100 millionth image, he created a photomo- released as an image and poster. The poster will receive a 2,500 are awaiting an opportunity for a coordinated release. (On the The following five visualizations were released on the Heliophysics saic, which also did well online. copy print run and will appear at the August IAU/AAS meeting. SVS, animation IDs are 4167, 4172, 4177, and 4178.) See http:// Education Resources web page (http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/Gallery/ svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/search/Series/TheCarrington-ClassCMEof2012. HeliophysicsEducationResources.html): Gyromotion-2D (#4261), This year’s astrophysics releases were primarily results-driven In addition to his regular high-energy astrophysics work, Scott html. Additionally, two CCMC scientists generated a BATS-R-US Gyromotion-3D (#4262), Magnetic Gradient (#4263), E & B and quite varied in nature. The first release of the year, on May spent most of May and December 2014 working on products for (Block-Adaptive-Tree-Solarwind-Roe-Upwind-Scheme) model run Parallel=Birkeland Current (#4264), and E-cross-B drift (#4265). 13th, also turned out to be one of the largest. Scott edited a WFIRST. He supervised animations, created a dramatic “trailer” of Earth’s magnetosphere under the impact of a Carrington-Class video using 4k-resolution frames of a supercomputer simulation for the upcoming mission, made a booth video which included CME. Tom completed a project using this simulation. To make the Other work outside of generating these products included Tom’s showing the merger of two neutron stars. The video now has new animations and animated titles, and created or supervised product useful for comparisons, December 2006 BATS-R-US data work on maintaining the SVS Heliophysics Website Gallery with 500,000+ views on YouTube. The variety of stories in high-energy a series of hyperwall-resolution animations. Later, he made a of a smaller CME was used for a matching visualization. The prod- new releases (http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/Gallery/NASAsSun- astrophysics along with time constraints and budget constraints similar booth video for the potential Laser Interferometer Space ucts were released in late September 2014 as part of CME Week. EarthGallery.html). Several SVS resources of more general have led Scott to be flexible and creative with producing visuals. Antenna (LISA) mission that will search for gravitational waves in Tom was also asked to narrate a short audio clip for the release. interest that illustrate more general concepts and principles See http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/search/Series/ComparativeMagneto- He has produced animations using an outside freelancer and in- space. The use of that video was delayed, but there are plans for were collected into a Heliophysics Education Resources Gallery spheres.html. house animators, and on his own. The animations he has created it in the future. (http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/Gallery/HeliophysicsEducationResources. html). Also, some Heliophysics producers have expressed interest include one of particles exchanging charge in the solar wind, an In support of Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Mission Media active galactic nucleus changing from one type of emission to an- Finally, Scott worked with Neil Gehrels on developing a side proj- in implementing the Noise-Adaptive Fuzzy Equalization (NAFE) Day, held October 17, 2014, Tom collected and organized media image-processing algorithm for SDO images, which appears to be other, and another active galaxy nucleus having an outburst that ect: a video series in which Neil has conversations with notable into playlists for the NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS) a reliable way to enhance faint variations in the imagery (http:// ripples through the galaxy, shutting down star formation. Scott scientists about interesting topics, such as exoplanets, black hyperwall. For this effort, he also continued development on a iopscience.iop.org/0067-0049/207/2/25/, http://www.zam.fme. also has made several illustrations, either as the primary visual holes, and the end of the universe. They have shot two sets of short script to convert hyperwall playlists into a more human- vutbr.cz/~druck/Nafe/Index.htm). Tom’s initial implementation in for a story, or to compliment other story products, like videos or conversations so far, one with Mario Livio, and one with Michelle readable report linking the hyperwall playlist entries to the entries Python works well but is single processor and very slow compared animations. These illustrations include a flaring red dwarf star, Thaller. They plan to shoot one more before beginning to release on the SVS website. Additionally, in preparation for the launch of to the author’s highly optimized multicore version written for white-dwarf novae, and neutron stars experiencing “star quakes”. the videos. the MMS mission, there was interest in a visualization of a July Windows. Tom’s attempts to optimize will continue, specifically 2012 CME that struck Earth’s magnetosphere. Tom requested with work on a multicore version that can process a wider variety There were many standard video releases as well this year. Two Upcoming projects include a gamma-ray constellation interactive a model run from the CCMC of the event. Using the framework of image formats than the author’s version and run on the SVS noteworthy ones were about the Eta Carinae binary star system for Fermi, as well as several videos about a groundbreaking new being developed for standardizing the magnetosphere visualiza- rendering cluster. and nebula. These videos included 3D-printed and animated technique to process the Fermi data. Scott has been working on tions, Tom completed a visualization that was released just prior models of the system and interviews with the scientists involved. products for several upcoming releases including a simulation to MMS launch. See http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi¬bin/details. Leann Johnson provides the Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS) One dealt with the best-ever 3D map of the nebula and the other of dark matter orbiting a black hole, a fluctuating pulsar, and a cgi?aid=4279. with requested software to aid the functionality and productiv- dealt with supercomputer simulations of the interactions of the flaring blazar. He also will be producing content for the upcom- ity of the group. Software development is focused on but not two incredibly massive stars at the center of the nebula. This sec- ing IAU/AAS meeting. For WFIRST, Scott will be updating the GSFC’s Heliophysics writers and producers have expressed inter- limited to the database, website, and hyperwall systems. This est in having a good visualization for explaining the ring current ond video has over 200,000 views on YouTube, which is excellent hyperwall animations and booth video for the IAU/AAS confer- past year, Leann aided in the completion of the transition of the in Earth’s magnetic field. Attempts to get a modern model run of for the usually complicated topic of astrophysics. ence. During the conference, in Hawaii, he will visit one of the entire SVS website from static HTML webpages to a combination this phenomenon have proved difficult, but Tom had an old ver- facilities constructing elements for the WFIRST spacecraft to film of static and dynamic HTML5/CSS3 webpages using the Boot- sion of the Milillo model in the SVS deep archive from 2005 that This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Swift satellite’s interviews and some of the engineering and construction of those strap 3 framework. A new help page was created for the public might allow testing. Retrieving this model, he found that some launch. Scott worked hard to produce videos commemorating the elements. user that combines several pages’ worth of content from the old data components were usable but they would require updating to website into one consolidated page in the new design. Leann also event. One video showcased some of the important results from use with the newer rendering configuration. Working with a small Swift over the last 10 years, while another, that was much more developed a dynamic script to display the top and bottom naviga- simulation, he generated a particle set that displays gyro-motion tion bars that appear on every web page to maintain consistency 86 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 87 across the entire site, and developed a personalized set of web propriate missions. To encourage use of this new feature, Leann Obama viewed the exhibit with a Japa- pages from supplied design mockups for one of the SVS partners, implemented an automatic mission detection tool that will pop up nese astronaut (see image below). the Conceptual Image Lab. She also drafted design ideas for with mission suggestions as users enter related metadata. three new SVS gallery page templates, in an effort to make the Additionally, Alex supported the GPM First gallery pages more consistent and utilize new features of the Bug fixes and feature additions were made to several pieces of Anniversary Media event and iMERG Live Bootstrap framework. Leann began creating HTML mockups of existing software, including the animation project tracking system, Shot Campaign by creating 12 new ani- these ideas for presentation. Going forward, she will continue animation database interface, and cleanup scripts. Leann also mations for these well-received events. developing these mockup templates, and after three templates expanded Pixar’s ptinfo program, which prints information about a Overall, Alex was involved in creating 38 are chosen from these mockups, she will begin implementing the point cloud file written in Pixar’s Renderman format, to print more visualizations (both directly and indirect- data entry and web page generation of the templates for dynamic data to be used by SVS animators. She added many features to ly) in support of the GPM mission during use. the SVS movie-encoding program “svsmovie”. She implemented the past year. the ability to use wildcards so that users can encode movies from Leann end-to-end implemented a new search page for all SVS a subset of frames and have the ability to add a watermark for Future plans include an enhancement content that provides trickle-down filtering support, as seen on drafting purposes. She also added the ability to encode frames to the GPM’s pipeline by incorporating most e-commerce websites. Special attention was given to both in any order, with added support for encoding higher-resolution the ability to visualize multiple swathes. guiding and orienting the user during their search. Since the MPEGs, including 4K and UltraHD. The implementation of these This could prove useful for the upcoming release of the search page, Leann has worked to significantly de- features ultimately made svsmovie faster and more robust. 2015 hurricane season, allowing viewers crease the response time, which she accomplished by limiting the to see multiple 3D volumetric snapshots Image from “GPM Examines East Coast Snow Storm”; among others in credits, A. Kekesi, http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/ scope of the search results and optimizing the MySQL performed Several updates were made to the graphical hyperwall editing of hurricanes through time. Alex is work- Lead Animator; T. Schindler, Animator; R. Fitzgibbons, Producer. See goto?4173 according to MySQL best practices. software for greater efficiency and stability. Leann updated the hy- ing closely with other visualizers to inte- . perwall show writer to incorporate changes that Eric Sokolowsky grate semi-automated hurricane tracking ducted two different sessions of training on the creation and use Leann completed implementing the second version of the graphi- made to the underlying tools. Special character support was also techniques into the GPM visualization pipeline. of hyperwall technology. cal hyperwall editing software, which allows users to create added. Leann supported new and existing hyperwall content for and edit hyperwall shows without having the detailed technical various demonstrations held at NASA or at off-site locations, Eric Sokolowsky continued to develop and maintain software for Eric also continued to maintain the Web Map Service (WMS) that knowledge of hyperwall systems. The new software focuses on which included creating or updating hyperwall shows and facilitat- running the hyperwall, a cluster of machines connected to a tiled has been developed for use by NASA Center for Climate Simula- simplicity and speed. Leann also added a preview feature that ing metadata entry with other team members into the current display used to convey NASA science to the public. He updated tion (NCCS) and its customers and users. The NCCS runs an gives users a conceptual idea of what a show will look like before hyperwall database system. In particular, Leann assisted Horace the Digital Earth PC program (used to show much of the hyper- Earth system model called the Goddard Earth Observing System they create it or save any new changes. With all data migrated to Mitchell in developing an automatically updating hyperwall show wall content) to use the newest versions of FLTK, a programming the version two structure and end-to-end testing complete, Leann from IMERG data. Additionally, Leann supported the operation of graphical interface toolkit, and OpenSceneGraph, a graphics ren- released the software and made it available to all users, and cre- the hyperwall at the Earth Day event in Washington, DC. dering toolkit. He also built virtual machines to make the building ated a web-based user guide that addresses potential conceptual of all the hyperwall software and other support software easier and practical questions regarding this new software. Alex Kekesi provides visualizations and is the lead data visualizer to automate and standardize. He completed the adaptation for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission team. of bigview, a program developed for hyperwalls by NASA Ames Leann created a new pipeline that results in a movie being Alex was a key player in providing visual content for many of the Research Center, to the hyperwalls used at NASA Goddard Space automatically created after a render on the SVS render farm GPM outreach activities, which led to NASA Goddard granting Flight Center. He also completed a program to create text caption completes. Users can view the progress of their movie encoding, a 2014 Robert H. Goddard Honor Award to the GPM Outreach images dynamically and automatically, making it much easier as well as view the final movie, on the web-based viewer inter- Team. During this reporting period, Alex not only halved GPM to create and update captions shown at hyperwall events. He face. This transition changed how data was released to the live animation turnaround times from 12 to six hours (thereby making added a way to more easily change the orientation of the master web server; therefore, Leann re-designed and implemented the quick-turnaround visualizations possible within a single 8-hour screen on each hyperwall, since sometimes a portrait orientation data-releasing pipeline to fit the new requirements for efficiency work day), but he also added the capability to visualize GPM/ is needed and other times a landscape orientation is needed. He as well as encompass extra desired features such as frequent, DPR’s complex volumetric radar data in a unique new way. Alex also fixed many bugs and added many other small features to the parallel, and automatic copying. Another pipeline was developed also trained new SVS hire Kel Elkins to act as backup for the GPM hyperwall software. as well, a new web statistics-processing pipeline for internal web visualization pipeline to ensure GPM visualization products are hits reporting. She wrote a collection of tools that gather the hit turned around quickly and consistently if Alex is not available. In Much effort went into getting new machines to work with the counts at a granularity of one day for the various types of SVS web fact, within days of arriving, Kel was able to generate an anima- hyperwall. NASA purchased new machines by Xi3 Corp. that are pages. Additionally, she wrote a flexible reporting tool that queries tion of Typhoon Vongfong using the pipeline Alex developed. A very small and efficient, ideal for use when traveling, and Eric in- Photo courtesy of U.S. State Department; Photographer: William the data, with features for grouping and sorting results as well subsequent animation of Typhoon Hagupit was chosen by WIRED stalled Fedora 20 Linux on these machines; they have been very Ng. (Photo provided by A. Kekesi.) as many options for controlling the display of output. All regular Online as their “Science Graphic of the Week” (see http://www. successful at running the hyperwall. The older Mac Minis running reports that the SVS generates have been converted to use this wired.com/2014/12/science-graphic-week-3-d-cutaway-video- Fedora 17 have been discontinued since the new machines are new pipeline. She also added the capability to connect anima- super-typhoon-hagupit/). much faster and more reliable. He provisioned three sets of the Model 5 (GEOS-5), simulating weather and other Earth system tion entries to specific NASA missions in the SVS database. This new machines for use when traveling. Also, in order to foster processes. The WMS is a “window” into the climate model, show- involved facilitating data entry, displaying the mission data on the Visualizations by Alex appeared in a variety of places, such as the communication among hyperwall content developers and users, ing users visualizations of the various parameters and processes. animation web pages, as well populating existing entries with ap- television show Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Season 2, Episode Eric created a mailing list through the NASA mailing list facility. Eric enabled the WMS to provide imagery from a new version of 8, as well as in the Miraikan Exhibit in Japan, where President At the request of Goddard TV, Eric and other team members con- data files that has been made available recently. 88 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 89 Eric continued to travel to conferences and meetings in support of deeply below sea level, thereby making any possibility for stopping animation were provided to the scientists for review. Revisions were used in outreach to the general public, and the entire GPM the hyperwall and NASA’s public outreach efforts. NASA routinely the retreat of the ice sheet unlikely. The result was titled “West were made based on their recommendations; Cindy then finalized outreach team was later awarded the 2014 Robert H. Goddard travels with the hyperwall system on display at various scientific Antarctic Collapse” (see http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details. and released the animation, and generated a hyperwall version of Exceptional Achievement Award for Outreach for outstanding meetings where NASA scientists explain their research in front of cgi?aid=4168.) Cindy provided two versions of the animation to JPL this animation. educational and public outreach activities to support the GPM an audience. Eric provided support to load presentation material, editors, who in turn generated two narrated movies. “West Ant- mission. Beyond creating storm visualizations, Kel also cre- ran the presentations on behalf of the presenters, and provided arctic Glaciers: Past the Point of No Return” used a collage of live Cindy worked on several more animations related to sea ice. She ated a process to predict storm overpasses in order to support technical support for the hyperwall system. This past year, he footage and animation segments to explain the changes that are created an animation comparing the area, volume, and depth of the GPM visualization pipeline. Using his STK (Systems Tool Kit) traveled to the following meetings with the hyperwall system: the occurring on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. “Runaway Glaciers in the average September Arctic sea ice in 1979 and 2013 using background, Kel developed a process to predict GPM storm over- Japan Geoscience Union Meeting, Yokohama, Japan; the launch West Antarctica” was an edited version of the original animation. data from the Pan-Arctic Ice Ocean Modeling and Assimilation passes in order to improve the project scheduling process. Using of the Orbital Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2), Vandenberg, CA; System. She obtained the data from Horace Mitchell, who had this predictive process, the studio was able to determine which the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society Annual Meeting, Sapporo, Cindy developed an animation in support of the Operation Ice- prepared the data for the animation. She generated several storms would yield data that could be visualized by the SVS. Japan; the Supercomputing (SC14) Conference, New Orleans, LA; Bridge science team depicting the age structure of the Greenland iterations of the animation before a final look was approved. the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ice sheet. Joseph MacGregor (University of Texas, Austin) provided For AMSR-2 Sea Ice Animations (see http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Kel created a visualization depicting three years of Sea Surface (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) meeting, Lima, Peru; the 3D data that depicted the age of the ice sheet from the present cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=4191, http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/ Salinity data collected by the Aquarius satellite; this visualiza- AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA; the American Meteorological back to 130,000 years ago. Cindy wrote several programs in IDL details.cgi?aid=4219 and http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details. tion was an update to a previous visualization depicting one year Society Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ; the National Council for Sci- to process the raw data into a format that could be used in the cgi?aid=4281), Cindy used the AMSR-2 daily sea ice concentra- of data. Several variations of this visualization were produced ence and the Environment Meeting on Science, Policy and the En- animation software. She integrated this data into her scene and tion and the 89 GHz brightness temperature data to generate an including both 2D (rectangular and mollweide projections) and 3D vironment, Crystal City, VA; and the NASA-run Earth Day event at generated two cutting planes, reflecting the age of the ice sheet animation of the melt of the Arctic sea ice during the summer of representations. High-resolution (5760 by 4240 pixels) Hyperwall Union Station, Washington, DC. He also helped prepare machines on the cutting planes. She derived two surfaces from the age 2014. She used similar data for the South Pole to generate an versions also were created. and content for use at many other meetings held around the data depicting the ice remaining from the last ice age (more than animation of the growth of the sea ice to the Antarctic maximum world. After each meeting he brought the content changes back to 11,700 years ago) and also from the Eemian period (more than in September 2014, and she developed an animation showing In February 2015, Dr. Hongbin Yu (an atmospheric scientist at the main server to be archived or reused at future events. 115,000 years old). She incorporated two 150-meter resolution the growth of Arctic sea ice to its maximum extent in February University of Maryland, Baltimore County who works at NASA datasets of surface elevation and bedrock provided by Mathieu 2015. Goddard) published a paper providing the first satellite-based Future work will involve the exploration of using CentOS 7 to see if Morlighem (University of California, Irvine). She created a lofted estimate of phosphorus dust transport between Africa and South it will be suitable for use on the traveling hyperwall systems. Cen- surface based on an OIB flight over the northern part of Green- Since joining the Science Visualization Studio (SVS) in October America. To support this publication and the associated NASA tOS is maintained longer than the Fedora Linux currently used on land and mapped the radiostratigraphy data from the flight onto 2014, Kel Elkins has created several visualizations to support press release, Kel developed a series of visualizations depicting the hyperwall systems, and using CentOS should provide a more its surface. She generated curves from the dataset defining 156 NASA’s earth science missions and research. Kel has visualized dust in the atmosphere travelling from Africa across the Atlantic stable platform for longer use and easier updates; also, all of the traces through the radiostratigraphy data and added them to the data from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), Aquarius, Ocean towards South America. He developed a method to visual- machines will be able to use CentOS, reducing effort in maintain- scene, and corrected and incorporated the P3 aircraft object into and CALIPSO satellites. He also has worked on development proj- ize data curtains collected by the CALIPSO spacecraft to show the ing multiple operating systems. Eric still plans to experiment with the scene. ects to improve visualization processes within SVS. profile of dust in the atmosphere. He also developed a method running multiple screens from a single machine, reducing power to visualize dust flux – showing the seasonal variations in dust requirements and transportation costs, and also aims to finish Several rough-cut versions of the animation were created for Kel produced ‘quick-turn’ storm visualizations using data from quantities transported through a region. Dust routes were also vi- the development of a tool to enable text to be displayed across review in order to solicit suggestions and comments from the the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite for storms sualized in a way that could be compared to CALIPSO data. Some multiple screens of the hyperwall. A newer version of bigmovie scientists and other SVS visualizers. She incorporated the feed- including Typhoon of these images has been developed at NASA Ames that could significantly reduce back into the product design, improving the quality of the final Hagupit, Typhoon were used in Dr. the amount of hard drive space required for hyperwall content. animation. She received an updated dataset of the surface, bed Vongfong, Typhoon Yu’s published Eric plans on adapting this newer software for use on the NASA and thickness of the Greenland ice sheet from Morlighem, and Maysak, and sev- paper, and many Goddard hyperwalls. incorporated the new data into the scene. The producer provided eral snowstorms of the visualiza- the final narration in early December 2014 and Cindy revised the that occurred over tions were used Cynthia Starr works on visualizations, primarily on but not animation to match the timing of the new audio track. The final the eastern United in a short video limited to Greenland and Antarctica. In support of the Opera- animated frames were delivered to the producer to be integrated States in 2014 and that was released tion IceBridge science team, Cindy worked cooperatively with with live footage into the final movie. Cindy prepared and submit- 2015. These ‘quick- by the Goddard the producers at JPL and with glaciologist Eric Rignot to provide ted a revision of this animation to the 2015 SIGGRAPH Computer turn’ visualizations Media Studio. animations for a news release about research showing that the Animation Festival. depict both Earth The dust trans- collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet is inevitable. She focused surface and volu- port story, along the animation on the area around the Amundsen Sea, identifying Cindy designed an animation to portray the snow cover over North metric precipitation with supporting the glaciers and ice shelves in the region, and incorporated veloc- America and the ice that formed on the Great Lakes during the measurements graphics and ity flows along with data showing an increase in ice sheet velocity. cold 2013–2014 winter (see http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/ taken by GPM, and videos, was pub- She used vector data of grounding line locations derived by the details.cgi?aid=4256). Data was downloaded and processed for allow the viewer lished on many scientist from differential interferograms to show how the ground- the snow cover and the lake ice, and Cindy created a Maya scene to understand media websites, ing line of the Smith glacier had retreated inland over time. A and shader networks to access the data. She created appropriate the 3D structure including Time, cutting plane was used to remove the ice sheet in order to reveal outline masks of the US state and Canada provincial lines as well of a storm. Kel’s the Washington how the bedrock under this portion of Antarctica sloped inland as an outline of the Great Lakes. Several rough-cut versions of the visualizations also Aquarius Sea Surface Salinity. Image provided by K. Elkins Post, and the

90 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 91 Huffington Post. scientists. In the maga- the rate of CFC emission into the atmo- zine, Cheryl Lykowski, a sphere is assumed to be that of the period Upcoming plans include work on a visualization comparing early second grade teacher in before regulation as a result of the Montreal data from the CATS instrument onboard the International Space Lambertville Michigan, Protocol, and the ‘projected’ case (World Station with similar data from the CALIPSO satellite, and an air- shared this about the Expected), which assumes the current rate craft that was flown under both satellites on a mission to validate NASAViz: “NASA adds of emission, post-regulation. Both cases the data. Kel is working on a method to automate the creation of new articles and visuals extrapolate to the year 2065. The new ani- storm routes and labels within the SVS visualization pipeline using twice a week, creating mation incorporates chlorine into the date. external storm track data. He will be providing early visualization the most-up-to-date app Trent will continue to provide visualization support for the Joint Solar Satellite System (JPSS) mission. a teacher could dream support to the SVS, while working towards of.” a master’s degree in International Science Helen-Nicole Kostis continues to serve as the Project Manager and Technology Policy at George Washington of the NASA Visualization Explorer (NASAViz), a free iPhone, iPad, NASAViz was featured University. and iPod app that provides access to visualizations of current at the Earth Day 2015 NASA research. Through the app, two visualization-based science events at the National Ernest Wright has greatly expanded LRO’s stories are released per week about cutting edge research efforts Mall (April 17-18, 2015) presence on NASA’s hyperwall display sys- in Earth and Planetary science, Heliophysics, and Astrophysics. and at the Union Station tem. The hyperwall is used to exhibit NASA The stories present the data visualization work of many NASA events (April 21-22, mission data, visualizations, and supercom- groups, including NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio, Earth 2015). Thousands at- Air Quality Improvement. Image by T. Schindler. puter simulations. The NASA Center for Cli- Observatory, JPL and the Space Telescope Science Institute. The tended the events, and mate Simulation (NCCS) hosts a permanent app’s archive of 391 stories (as of 04/25/15) includes anima- tailored presentations hyperwall installation in GSFC’s building 28. tions, explorable images, and descriptive text. The NASA Viz app were provided to teach- a poster; 4) a lenticular bookmark; and 5) design (wireframes and Hyperwalls also travel to scientific and pub- and content are developed and produced in-house by an interdis- ers and students. To photoreals) of the new ICESat-2 website. From mid-February to lic outreach events around the world. LRO hyperwall content was ciplinary team. In addition to search capabilities, the app includes read more about the Na- early April 2015, Helen-NIcole worked with three SCAD students used at the AGU Fall Meeting in December 2014 and at the April teacher-requested features, such as the ability to save stories for tional Mall events and for the development of a double-sided poster with original artwork 2015 Earth Day event at Union Station in Washington, DC. offline use and to create, save, and share custom playlists of sto- a review of the NASA for the ICESat-2 mission. ries. The app includes social networking interfaces to Facebook and NASAViz presence, Over the past year, Ernie has created the cover art for several Upcoming events and plans include participation at the World and Twitter for easy sharing of stories. The project is comprised please see the article publications, including the May 28, 2014 Geophysical Research Science Festival, NY, NY, in May 2015, where she and Kayvon of two teams: I) Software Development and User Interface Design “NASA among Rock Letters, the October 2, 2014 Nature, and the December, 2014 Sharghi will showcase the NASAViz, a redesign of the app’s User and II) Editorial (Editor: Kayvon Sharghi). Stars at DC Earth Day Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. These are searchable Interface, and an expansion of collaborations and partnerships concert”: http://www. on the SVS page at http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html respec- within the NASA ecosystem. Helen-Nicole will continue to assist Over this past year, NASA Viz released two updates. On August spaceflightinsider.com/ tively at 4175, 4218, and 4258, respectively. th the NASA ICESat-2 EPO team and lend Product Management 29 , Version 1.9.2 update was released to address bug fixes and editorial/nasa-rock-stars- skills for the development of digital media products. For the IC- a revised mechanism for parsing stories within the app. On March dc-earth-day-concert/. He also created visualizations of the Apollo 11 landing site, the 10th, Version 1.9.3 update added push notifications, improved the Image of ICESat-2 poster provided by H.- ESat-2 Collaborative Project, she will continue to develop collabo- appearance of the Moon’s phases on the side never seen from appearance on iOS8, added Apple Share Sheet support on iOS8, Last year, Helen-Nicole N. Kostis. rations with academic institutions and students for the develop- Earth, and seen in the figure below, the shadow of the Moon and improved the parsing of stories within the app and addressed launched the ICESat-2 ment of innovative outreach media. crossing the Earth during the March 20, 2015 total solar eclipse. various bug fixes. Ninety-seven visualization-based stories were Collaborative Student As with the above visualizations, these are available on the SVS Trent Schindler translated research from Lok Lamsal (Code 614) released covering all NASA Science themes: Earth, Planets, Sun Project. For the purposes of this project, she collaborates with page at 4185, 4253, 4275 (solar eclipse), and 4193, 4236, and others that demonstrated a reduction in nitrogen dioxide and the Universe. digital media faculty and students from academic institutions for 4237, and 4242, respectively. across the U.S. into a set of visualizations. He created a visualiza- the development of innovative outreach concepts and products tion showing tropospheric column concentrations of nitrogen di- The NASAViz was recognized with two awards this year. At the for the ICESat-2 mission. During the past year, Helen-Nicole Since joining the Science Visualization Studio (SVS) in January oxide as detected by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument on NASA’s 2015 Vizzies, NASAViz won the NSF and Popular Science People’s worked in collaboration with Bowling Green State University. 2015, Cheng Zhang has created several visualizations to support Aura satellite, averaged yearly from 2005-2011. These visualiza- Choice Award for Games & Apps. The National Science Founda- From the end of August to mid-December 2014, she worked NASA’s earth science missions and research, including Mega- tions immediately went viral and were published in blogs such as tion Vizzies (Visualization Challenge) honors work that visually and with faculty member Bonnie Mitchell and a group of students. At droughts, CCMP - Wind over Ocean Salinity, and The Lightning Popular Science, Discover, BoingBoing, Smithsonian, Gizmodo, successfully communicates science and engineering research the end of this period, the students presented seven proposals Project. For the Megadroughts project, Cheng created an anima- and CNN, among others. Work was also highlighted on NASA God- and phenomena. The Vizzies recognize the finest illustrations, to the ICESat-2 team. Additionally, she worked in collaboration tion visualizing droughts in the Southwest and Central Plains dard’s website: http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/new-nasa- st photographs, videos, graphics and apps, whether produced by with the Savannah College of Art & Design. From September of the United States in the second half of the 21 century, drier images-highlight-us-air-quality-improvement/#.VWiq989VhBd. academic researchers, artists or hobbyists. (More information is 1st-December 18th, Helen-Nicole led the production develop- conditions longer than experienced in the past 1,000 years. listed in the Awards section.) Additionally, NASAViz received the ment of outreach media in collaboration with SCAD students and Trent also created a visualization showing soil moisture measure- Teacher’s Pick Award from Scholastic Instructor (Magazine and a faculty member. On December 18th, Helen-Nicole delivered to CCMP -- Winds over Ocean Salinity is an ongoing project led by ments taken by NASA’s Aquarius instrument from September Website). Following the award, NASAViz was featured in Scholastic the ICESat-2 team the following products: 1) an animation (1.5 Jessica Hausman and David Moroni at JPL. The goal is to visual- 2011 to September 2013. And he created an updated version of magazine as a STEM staple that inspires the next generation of mins) - SD resolution; 2) 2 characters/mascots for the mission; 3) ize the motion of wind, changes of ocean salinity, and the poten- an animation showing two cases: the ‘World Avoided’ case, where tial relations between the winds and ocean salinity. Cheng has

92 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 93 nology (GST) staff members, provided international Earth-observation and climate science programs. 14 hands-on activities and 21 short lectures prepared by NASA’s support on three different tasks. The NASA presenters included Dr. Michael Freilich, Director of NASA’s Earth Day team. success of these endeavors requires Earth Science Division, and Dr. Jack Kaye, Associate Director for Several communications products were developed in the past Images provided by and created by E. Wright. contributions from the entire team, Research, NASA’s Earth Science Division. In December 2014, at which includes Winnie Humberson The 20th Conference of the Parties (COP 20) held in Lima, Peru, year. On the EOSPSO web site, a new slideshow feature was finished two preliminary animations -- the winds over salinity of (lead), Ryan Barker, Sally Bensusen, SPSO worked with NASA HQ management and the DoS to formu- launched for the eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov landing page to highlight the entire earth range and those of the selected region. The Light- Steve Graham, Heather Hanson, Marit Jentoft-Nilsen, Mark late NASA’s contribution to the U.S. Center exhibit which included new content more prominently on the home page. SPSO staff ning Project is led by NOAA scientist Scott Ludlosky. The research Malanoski, Debbi McLean, Kevin Miller, Amy Moran, Ishon several hyperwall presentations. Images from the Global Pre- collaborated with Paul Przyborski on this project. Also, SPSO staff focuses on the evaluation of ground-based lightning detection Prescott, Cindy Trapp, and Alan Ward. cipitation Measurement (GPM) mission of Typhoon Hagupit as it successfully developed and produced the ISS CATS: Measuring networks relative to satellite observations, and the development approached the Philippines were featured on the hyperwall within Clouds and Aero- and evaluation of operational lightning products including the days of being acquired. This kind of up-to-date display helped to sols brochure un- detection of wildfires from space. Cheng has provided visual highlight the important role satellites play in monitoring the Earth. der a short notice support to the research and public outreach with regards to the NASA’s delegation consisted of Dr. Jack Kaye, Dr. Michelle Gierach and tight dead- coming storm season. During her work on this project, Cheng has (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)), Dr. Piers Sellers (GSFC), line. A 508-com- encountered several challenges, such as simulating the lighting and Daniel Irwin (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center). SPSO pliant and iBooks that occurs in a lightning event, but the goal will be achieved. staff members also were in California in late January 2015 when version also has the SMAP Mission launched. As part of the Soil Moisture Active been posted to On February 9, 2015, Cheng gave a talk titled “Enhancing Learn- Passive (SMAP) Mission Launch Guest Operations in Buellton, CA, the EOSPSO web- ing Experiences in Interactive Digital Media” hosted by the Pro- the team provided support which included writing, design, and site. An exciting gram of Art and Technology at the University of Texas at Dallas. production of the SMAP mission brochure, as well as support of venture has been She introduced her research in virtual reality, game design, and the “L-minus-2” guest event prior to launch. SPSO staff worked the development dynamically immersive attention grabbers in digital media. Two closely with the SMAP Education and Public Outreach team from by SPSO staff of months later on April 16th, she gave a seminar titled “Enhancing JPL and GSFC to organize a slate of speakers to give hyperwall iBooks versions Learning Experiences in Digital Media” at the School of Interac- presentations at the guest briefing. These activities were tweeted of several existing tive Games and Media at Rochester Institute of Technology. In Image provided by C. Zhang, Co-Visualizer on “Megadrought” on through the @NASAhyperwall Twitter account. products. These this talk, she discussed the research and work from the Scientific the NASAViz and other products in the Megadrought series. are now publicly Visualization Studio at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Future SPSO staff worked to secure an agreement for “Our Planet Earth” available: eospso. plans involve the submission of a book chapter for “Geogames The first task is acting as the primary point of contact for NASA’s display, an Earth science exhibit at Dulles Airport. They devel- gsfc.nasa.gov/pub- and Geoplay: Game-based Approaches to Geo-Information” in Earth Science Division’s science exhibit outreach and product oped and designed the science stories (adapting some existing lications/59. (See June, participation in the workshop “Introduction to IDL” in July development. For the ESD, the team provided support to several material) and oversaw installation of the display in the train path images included.) and participation in the SIGGRAPH conference in August. conferences over this past year. In June 2014, Our Oceans Con- to the A gates at Dulles. This exhibit will be on display from April Another major ference was hosted by the Department of State (DoS) in Wash- 12 until at least May 29. Also in Washington, DC, for Earth Day accomplishment ington, DC. The U.S. DoS chose NASA’s hyperwall as one of the 2015, SPSO staff played a lead role in coordinating NASA’s activi- was the comple- exhibits at the Ocean Science Meeting hosted by Secretary John ties for the 45th Earth Day. NASA had activities at two different tion of the SPSO’s Dr. Eric Lindstrom (NASA HQ) discusses his Kerry. The SPSO organized the NASA team, working closely with venues: one at the Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day on April 17–18 firstAnnual Re- hyperwall presentation with Secretary John senior management from ESD at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight on Monument grounds, and another at the kickoff for the official port as requested Kerry and Leonardo DiCaprio, an environmen- Center (GSFC) and with External Affairs at NASA Headquarters 2015 Earth Day observance at Union Station on April 21–22. by NASA HQ. This tal activist and film actor. (Image credit: SPSO to identify existing NASA science content that could be used to Over 500 students visited the NASA tents on April 17 for science report summa- staff) support the themes of the conference. One highlight was when education through hands-on engagement. On Saturday April 18, rized the scope of Secretary Kerry and Leonardo DiCaprio stopped by Eric Lind- an estimated one-million-plus people attended this public event their work, recent results, and deliveries for 2014. strom’s presentation. on the Mall, with more than 10,000 visiting and participating in NASA’s hands-on activities. Also the SPSO staff worked closely SPSO staff work in collaboration with science writers and other At the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) Mission Launch, with Earth Day Network and NASA HQ’s Office of Communication contributors to produce the Earth Observer Newsletter six times Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, June 28–July 1, 2014, the SPSO to secure a high-profile stage time for NASA’s Administrator to ap- a year. Each newsletter begins with an article from Steve Plat- team provided support, which included writing, design, and pear on the Global Citizen stage with “will.i.am” to deliver a short nick, EOS Senior Project Scientist, and includes feature articles, production of the OCO-2 mission brochure and lenticular card, as message to the public on the importance of understanding our national and international meeting summaries, and a NASA Earth well as administrative, technical, science visualization, and logis- own planet. GSFC’s Piers Sellers joined the VIP backstage Climate Science in the News section. Shadow of the Moon. Image by E. Wright. tical support for the “L-minus-2” guest event prior to launch. In Change roundtable discussion. On April 22, the Acting Assis- October 2014, at The Climate Symposium, Darmstadt, Germany, tant Secretary for Ocean Environment and Space of DoS, FEMA, The hyperwall was the centerpiece of many of the previously men- they organized a joint international hyperwall presentation for the General Manager of Union Station, and President of Earth Day tioned exhibits, and the SPSO team works toward developing new content and maintaining the system. During the past year, staff Science Program Support Office (SPSO) symposium. Interagency and international participants included Network joined NASA’s Director of SMD, NASA’s Chief Scientist, NOAA, the European Space Agency, EUMETSAT, and other inter- and the Director of ESD to kick off 2015 Earth Day on NASA’s members developed content for the DoS Our Oceans meeting; Over the past year, the Science Program Support Office (SPSO) national partners. The objective was to convey the importance of hyperwall stage. GSFC organized 120 students to participate in developed new visualizations of global ocean inorganic carbon (sponsor: S. Platnick), which consists of Global Science and Tech- and phytoplankton blooms off the Argentine coast; coordinated 94 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 95 with Lesley Ott (GSFC GMAO) to generate a hyperwall with standing-room-only Calendar, wrote and edited the captions, and then worked with plied Sciences at NASA Headquarters), and Ali Omar (NASA Lang- version of a new GEOS-5 global atmospheric carbon every evening. In December representatives from each division at NASA HQ on final reviews. A ley Research Center) gave hyperwall presentations ranging from dioxide visualization; and created several new hyper- 2014, at the 2014 American 508-compliant electronic version was prepared for posting on the aerosols in the atmosphere to an overview of NASA’s Air Quality wall stories and posted them on the SVS hyperwall Geophysical Union (AGU) EOSPSO website. research programs. In early October, the World Congress hosted website. These stories include Projected Suitable Fall Meeting was held in the International Union of Forest Research Organizations XXIV in Habitats for Whitebark Pine; Climate Change in Yel- San Francisco, CA, the SPSO SPSO staff worked together to produce multiple items and Salt Lake City, UT. During this conference, SPSO staff explained lowstone; ENSO Sea Surface Temperature Anoma- team coordinated a 40x50- signage for the 2014 Fall AGU Meeting, including hyperwall Applied Sciences in relation to forestry as a 55˝ plasma displayed lies: 2009-2010; ENSO Sea Surface Anomalies: foot interagency science ex- agenda posters, kiosk agenda displays, and the events program. various visualizations of NASA data. One month later, the World 1997-1998; Global Sea Surface Temperature and hibit that was staffed by over A detailed design and layout for NASA’s 40x50- foot exhibit space Parks Congress met in Sydney, Australia from November 12–19. Winds; North Atlantic Sea Surface Temperature and 40 exhibitors from NASA HQ, was created for the event contractors as well as the exhibit staff. The SPSO team coordinated NASA’s science exhibit and served as Winds; Surface Winds Colored by Velocity; Global GSFC, GRC, ARC, WFF, and Additionally, SPSO Staff created an iBook Hyperwall QR code NASA’s POC at the conference venue. Additional support included Surface Winds; and California Drought. They also JPL. Fourteen missions and advertisement for the hyperwall, included in video loops during coordinating the hyperwall speakers and playlist plus assisting created the following: a new graphic for use on the programs were represented conferences. the speakers with their content. NASA’s science exhibit attracted hyperwall for a presentation on Earth’s Complex along with other NASA- a distinguished audience that included Dr. Sylvia Earle, a re- Natural Systems; new visualizations showing sea- funded institutes. Thirty The hyperwall was the centerpiece of the meetings described nowned American marine biologist, and the Honorable Maggie sonal land cover change in Hokkaido, Japan using hyperwall stories and 47 above, and much effort has been devoted to developing new Barry, New Zealand’s Minister of Conservation. NASA’s hyperwall Landsat-8 imagery; a nighttime image of Japan us- in-booth talks on a variety of content and maintaining the system. SPSO staff have generated presentations were very well attended throughout the conference. ing the most recent Suomi NPP VIIRS day night band subjects were very well at- a hyperwall version of a popular morph of Hubble Monocerotis Another popular feature of NASA’s science exhibit was a tour of nightlights mosaic from May 2014; and an updated tended. Hyperwall present- images, and added four new images to the Universe section science visualizations presented to a group of 30 students from of the hyperwall catalog. They also visualization of global NO2 from OMI. Further, a ers included Dr. Michael Sydney Girls High School, an hyperwall version was created of an SVS visualiza- Freilich, Director of NASA provided hyperwall content for the GSA academically selective State tion that showed the improvement in U.S. air quality Earth Science Division; Annual Meeting, where there were girls’ school. In addition to pro- between 2005 and 2011, and SPSO staff coordi- Dr. Jack Kaye, Associate 10 hyperwall presentations covering viding meeting and conference topics such as meteorites, caves on nated with GMAO modelers to have a new global CO2 Director for Research, NASA support, SPSO staff created visualization created for the hyperwall. Earth Science Division; the Moon, and results from the Mars and produced a 3D lenticular Piers Sellers, Deputy Direc- rover, Curiosity. After the conference, card/ruler for the World Parks SPSO staff members are preparing for many upcom- tor, Sciences and Explora- about 20 high-resolution images from Congress held in Australia. ing meetings and symposiums in the coming year: the tion Directorate at GSFC; Jim the presentations were added to the International Symposium on Remote Sensing and the Environ- hyperwall catalog for future reuse. Ad- Green, Director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA HQ; During the past year, SPSO ment (ISRSE), Berlin, Germany, May 11–15; the XXVI General ditionally, they provided a caption for a and Jeffery Newmark, Director of the Heliophysics Division at staff assisted hyperwall Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics new hyperwall show: Hubble Sees Rare NASA HQ. In addition to the science exhibit, staff organized a presenters with preparing (IUGG) Prague, Czech Republic, June 22–July 2; the International Stellar Light Echo. Community Meet and Greet for all the NASA exhibitors. This infor- content for the A&WMA Annual Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), Milan, mal gathering was an opportunity for the exhibit staff to come to- Work is already underway for three up- meeting, operated the hyper- Italy, July 26–31; the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS), gether and share information and lessons learned from previous coming conferences: the International wall during presentations, and Singapore, August 2–7; and the Conference of the Parties (COP- AGU Meetings. A Q&A discussion featured Jack Kaye; Lawrence Astronomical Union (IAU), Honolulu, HI, acted as hyperwall docents; 21), Paris, France, November 30–December 11. Staff members Friedl, Director, Applied Sciences Program, Earth Science Divi- August 3–14, 2015; the GSA Annual they created new time-series are adding to the Understanding Earth series of booklets, and sion; and Dr. Ming-Ying Wei, Manager of Education Programs, Conference, November 1–4, 2015; and visualizations for the World work will continue with upcoming issues of the Earth Observer Office of Earth Science. Most recently, in January 2015, the the 2015 AGU Fall Meeting, December Parks Congress showing defor- Newsletter, which is published six times a year. For the hyperwall, American Astronomical Society (AAS) Annual Meeting was held 14–18, 2015. As with last year’s meetings, graphic products estation in Indonesia, phytoplank- SPSO staff will create visualizations that feature data from new in Seattle, WA. The SPSO team organized and managed NASA’s will be developed for conferences. With regard to the hyperwall, ton blooms around the Galápagos at the end of the 1997–98 El missions (such as GPM, OCO2, SMAP, CATS, RapidSCAT, etc.); science exhibit and served as NASA’s POC at the conference. efforts will be on covering data/subjects not currently covered Niño, and the retreat of the Upsala Glacier in Argentina; and, they update popular but older visualizations with current data; and Seven NASA programs participated, including NASA’s Astrophysics by SVS and other partners, and keywords and metadata will be wrote and edited hyperwall captions for new shows at the World address the Earth Right Now campaign messages. Division and NASA’s Postdoctoral Program. Hyperwall topics orga- added to existing content so information can be found in the new Parks Congress conference on the following: Tesso Nilo National nized by SPSO included Hubble, James Webb Space Telescope, version of the online hyperwall catalog. Park, Upsala Glacier Retreat in Argentina, and Galapagos Blooms Under their second task, SPSO staff (sponsor: S. Platnick) acts as WFIRST, Sofia, Kepler, NICER and Herschel, and ranged in scope the primary point of contact for NASA’s Science Mission Direc- After El Niño. from Dr. Frank Summers’ dramatic 25 Years of Hubble and Dr. For the third task, SPSO staff (sponsor: S. Platnick) acts as torate’s science exhibit outreach and product development. In Looking ahead, the team is creating products for upcoming con- Ira Thorpe’s approachable Listening to the Universe with Gravita- primary point of contact for NASA’s Applied Sciences Division’s October 2014, the Geological Society of America’s (GSA) Annual ferences, working on visuals for the hyperwall, and preparing for tional Waves to the more detailed presentations such as Dr. Eric science exhibit outreach and product development. In June Meeting was held in Vancouver, Canada. Science Program Sup- the 108th A&WMA Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NC, June 22–25; and Smith’s James Webb Space Telescope. 2014, the Air and Waste Management Association (A&WMA) An- port Office (SPSO) support for NASA’s science exhibit included the GEO-XII Plenary and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico City, nual Meeting was held in Long Beach, CA, and support included organizing the hyperwall presentations, creating announcements SPSO staff created communication products in addition to provid- Mexico, November 11–13, 2015. organizing NASA’s science exhibit and the hyperwall speakers. and display slides for the hyperwall, and providing technical ing support, as described above. Again this year, they created Matthew Turner (University of Boulder Colorado), John Haynes assistance to the speakers. The talks were very well attended, the interior and exterior design and layout of the 2015 Science (Weather, Public Health & Air Quality Program Manager for Ap-

96 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 97 CODE 606.2: HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING cess_stories.html. with NCCS lead Dan Duffy. Onsite activities included organizing archive page, worked with NCCS staff to simplify and clarify NCCS media activities with NASA Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) procedures on the Getting Accounts page, and posted the latest Under this task, various GST staff members including Jarrett In media relations, Jarrett collaborated with CISTO and NCCS Facility personnel, developing a script for Dan Duffy to introduce Funding Opportunities. Cohen and Maria Ealey (sponsor: P. Webster) provide commu- senior staff and computer vendor SGI on the news release “NASA the exhibit during a VIP tour group and a video interview, taking nications, outreach/engagement, and allocations support for Chooses SGI Compute Solution to Power Climate Research,” numerous photographs of presenters for tweets and other media, Within a day of HEC Program Manager Tsengdar Lee’s request, NASA’s High-End Computing (HEC) Program. Note: HEC Program which elicited coverage by computing publications. Providing tweeting on the @NASA_NCCS feed, and arranging a visit by a lo- Jarrett developed a draft page simplifying the explanation of staff joined GESTAR on October 1, 2014, and this report reflects key support to an international documentary on climate change, cal high school. standard billing units activities since that date. Jarrett arranged access to NCCS facilities for a video journalist’s (SBUs) and subse- January visit, assembled a hyperwall playlist of illustrative visual- Jarrett managed quently incorporated For the NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS) and Compu- izations, ran the hyperwall during interview segments with God- High-End Computing management edits tational and Information Sciences and Technology Office (CISTO), dard Institute for Space Studies Chief Gavin Schmidt, recruited an (HEC) Program par- before publishing at: GST staff developed engagement products for distribution at Fall NCCS staff member to serve as an “actor” to enliven supercom- ticipation in the ever- http://www.hec.nasa. 2014 conferences and later events. The “Mission-Driven Climate puter footage, answered modeling and visualization questions, popular NASA exhibit gov/user/policies/ Computing at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center” wall poster and arranged access to HD visualizations. at the 2014 AGU Fall sbus.html. Also, to displays the 50-year-plus history of Earth science satellite and Meeting, which fulfill CISTO manage- modeling missions and growth in high-end computing and mass GST staff also provided support to Conferences and Events over attracted a record ment’s request, Jarrett storage. The poster development team of then-NASA sponsor Jim the past several months. Jarrett coordinated GSFC participa- 25,000+ attendees transitioned from Fischer (author), Laurie Graham (graphic designer), and Jarrett tion in NASA’s exhibit at the Supercomputing (SC14) confer- to San Francisco, the paid Google Site Cohen (editor) collaborated closely on presenting complex details ence, which drew nearly 10,200 attendees to New Orleans, CA, from December Search to the freely in an attractive layout. Laurie’s innovative design transformed LA, in November. He supported 10 demonstrations from GSFC 15-19. Pre-meeting, available Search USA/ and expanded the original PowerPoint slide that inspired the and one from NASA Headquarters (HQ). Pre-conference, Jarrett he submitted edited DigitalGov Search. He poster. Laurie and Jarrett worked with GSFC’s Technical Informa- edited presenters’ content, worked with presenters and Scientific abstracts for four optimized the search tion and Management Services (TIMS) Branch and the printing Visualization Studio (SVS) staff members to compile hyperwall side-event presen- experience by custom- company on specifications and formats. The NCCS Fun Facts playlists, wrote the news release and coordinated its distribution tations, helped to izing the search engine Lenticular Ruler showcased Discover supercomputer and hyper- with NASA, developed the backgrounder “Our Planet – Letting recruit hyperwall page appearance, wall photos and science results using a “four-flip” format. The Nature Run Its Course” on the 7-kilometer Nature Run simulation, presenters, and adding related social lenticular back features two NCCS fun facts and a link to a web and reached out to media professionals and scheduled interviews scheduled CISTO and media accounts, and page with supplemental information: NAS staff to cover the “masking” the domain http://www.nccs.nasa.gov/funfacts. HEC table. Onsite, he so that users appear html. Michael Marosy of TIMS adapt- Dr. William Putman, GSFC Code 610.1, delivers a hyperwall presentation at 2014 AGU worked at the HEC to stay within the NASA ed a design by Kevin Miller. Jarrett Fall Meeting. Image credit: J. Cohen. table, distributing domain rather than go compiled lenticular and web page engagement products to an external website. content and coordinated production. and talking with visitors; took photographs of all presenters for Maria Ealey handled Allocations Coordination by processing Continuing a series he initiated, Jar- Twitter and reporting; and tweeted on @NASA_NCCS. For the AGU just over 450 requests submitted for NASA HEC Resources for rett developed three NCCS Success Scientific Program, he edited and arranged printing of eight CISTO SMD Supported Research during the FY15-Q1 & Q3 open calls. Stories: “Modeling in the Field for posters. This effort included analyzing the number of SBUs requested by GPM” explained the support of two Jarrett also supported GSFC’s 8th Annual Sciences and Explo- principal investigators, the number of SBUs available on the NAS Global Precipitation Measurement ration Directorate (SED) New Year’s Poster Party Blowout on Pleiades and Endeavour supercomputers and the NCCS Discover (GPM) mission field campaigns; January 31, 2015 by helping to hang CISTO posters, supplying supercomputer, and previous usage on established projects. She “Women’s History Month: NCCS handouts, taking photos of researchers presenting posters and met with Discipline Leads at NASA HQ in October 2014 and April Women Reflect on Careers and Influ- at the hyperwall, and tweeting selected photos on @NASA_NCCS. 2015 with recommendations for annual allocations awards. Also, ences” featured five current NCCS Additionally, for NASA’s Earth Day event on April 22nd at Wash- she worked on questions submitted to NAS and NCCS regard- staff members; and “NCCS Triples ington, DC’s Union Station, Jarrett recruited SVS Director Horace ing modifications to current SMD allocation awards as well as Supercomputer Performance for Mitchell to serve as a hyperwall speaker and took photographs for requests submitted for limited out-of-cycle awards. Earth Science Modeling” provided a Twitter and reporting. behind-the-scenes look at installing Going forward, support will continue regarding communications, the newest Discover supercomputer Another facet of this task is Website Management. On the HEC event, and website activities, as well as allocations activities. units and described science applica- website (http://www.hec.nasa.gov), Jarrett posted 25 news items Jarrett plans to develop additional NCCS success stories; sup- tions. Jarrett interviewed staff mem- and event summaries, created 2014 News & Publications archive port events including Explore@NASA Goddard, the SC15 confer- bers, wrote the text, produced the pages, updated About Us section pages with the latest NAS and ence, and the 2015 AGU Fall Meeting; document new NCCS and layouts, took photos, and processed NCCS supercomputer performance information, refreshed the Im- HEC-related hyperwall shows; and refresh and refine the HEC imagery. Stories are available online: “Mission-Driven Climate Computing at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center” wall poster. Image age Gallery with new NCCS supercomputer and hyperwall photos, website. Maria will continue to respond to allocation modification http://www.nccs.nasa.gov/nccs_suc- provided by J. Cohen. posted Request Computing Time deadlines and created a 2014 requests, analyze current usage data of projects allocated SBUs 98 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 99 PRODUCTS

MANIAC TALKS for percentage of use versus allocation, and prepare for the next and the development of sustainable indigenous communities The GESTAR Maniac Talks offer the opportunity to open call for SMD HEC allocations. in the U.S., India, Malaysia and Mexico. Other areas of student “discuss and learn”. The Maniac Talks “… promote research include biofuel suitability, analysis of tribal plants and scientific interaction between young and experi- crops, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of traditional-use CODE 160: OFFICE OF EDUCATION enced scientists in order to learn/improve/revise the plants, genetics and the prevalence of common bovine diseases knowledge of basics/fundamentals of science and Astrobiology, a multidisciplinary science that explores whether in tribally-owned cattle and changes, and availability of water re- scientific methods for research.” Charles Gatebe there are other life forms in the universe, is a field that continues sources and more. The idea of Indigenous Americans interacting continues to be instrumental in hosting and maintain- to be a useful research tool to bring together students and faculty with indigenous communities from around the world in research ing this exciting series. Since late May 2014, speak- from diverse cultures and backgrounds to address key scientific that merges traditional knowledge with modern science provides ers have included the following from NASA GSFC: questions. Astrobiology also stimulates student and faculty inter- a research platform to engage indigenous scientists with main- James Garvin, Aprille Joy Ericsson, P.K. Bhartia, Brian est in the exciting field of space science.Dr. Benita Bell (sponsor: stream researchers. This model is a unique and transformative Dennis, Jim Irons, John Mather, Paul Newman and J. Harrington) aims to strengthen existing initiatives in the field of approach towards the global effort to more effectively understand Richard Stolarski (Emeritus). Speakers from outside astrobiology and further develop new global initiatives in the field our planet, its resources and the changes that we are facing as NASA/GSFC included Jack Kaye (NASA Headquarters), of astrobiology among minority-serving institutions (MSIs). The fo- a global community. This summer, 11 students will conduct re- Michael Mishchenko (NASA GISS) and Eugenia Kalnay cus has been identifying colleges and universities, both domestic search in Malaysia. Drs. Bell and Ceballos will assist the students (University of MD, College Park). The Maniac Talk blog and international, with research capabilities and a mutual interest with follow-up data analysis. contains a schedule of upcoming speakers as well in astrobiology and potential partnership development projects. as videos of previous talks: http://maniactalk.gestar. The Minority Institution Astrobiology Collaborative (MIAC) and the The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) provides an excellent opportunity for students to strengthen science and usra.edu/. This past year, a new website for the Mani- NASA Astrobiology Institute Minority Research Support Program ac Talks was developed and is supported by Susannah (NAI-MIRS) have been two pivotal programs that continue to lead research literacy. Global and cultural diversity is a key focus of the program. Dr. Bell served as both Recruiter and Collaborator for Pearce (GSFC/613), Web Software Engineer: http:// a national minority effort in astrobiology. NAI-MIRS, the faculty atmospheres.gsfc.nasa.gov/ext/maniacs/. research sabbatical program in astrobiology for faculty at minority the 2015 REU International Summer Internship Program Malaysia institutions, has existed for over a decade. Dr. Bell focuses on the and Mexico. Students selected will be from minority-serving insti- additional involvement of the K-12 STEM Community within the tutions. For the 2015 summer internship program, students will NASA VIZ two programs. conduct research in Malaysia and Mexico with a research focus on astrobiology-related projects, climate change and sustainable The NASA Visualization Explorer (NASA Viz) app AbSciCon, the national astrobiology conference, has a powerful agriculture among indigenous communities. Native American continues to excite, educate and engage audiences and significant presence of both oral and poster presentations students, Hispanic students and African-American students will through its media rich content and stories. Since the from faculty and students from MSIs. This will be the largest pres- jointly participate in this international research program. REU will app’s launch on July 26, 2011, it has received more ence of MSIs and presentations in the 10 years of MSI involve- be led by Dr. Michael Ceballos, University of Minnesota at Morris. than 1.43 million unique downloads, and currently ment in the field of astrobiology. As Co-Chair of the MIAC Work- ranks as the #1 NASA app on the App Store on iTunes. shop at AbSciCon 2015, Dr. Bell’s role is to develop the agenda In other activities, Dr. Bell was involved with InRoads in col- The app continuously receives positive ratings and re- for the workshop which will highlight the research conducted by laboration with NASA Ames to advance internship opportunities, views, and has been featured in tech blogs and news faculty. The conference will take place in June 2015 in Chicago, mentorship opportunities and professional development models websites. This year the NASA Viz app won the NSF and Il. MIAC is a virtual collaboration of minority universities with the for undergraduate and graduate students. The broad goal is Popular Science People’s Choice Award for Games goal of generating research opportunities for faculty and students career development for undergraduates and graduate students and Apps at the 2015 Vizzies. The award was featured in the area of astrobiology. As Co-Director of MIAC along with Dr. to ensure student placement in professional job careers. She in the March 2015 print issue of Popular Science mag- Todd Gary of Fisk University and Dr. Michael Ceballos of University also has been working with the Principal of North Carolina A&T azine, and on the magazine’s and NSF’s websites. NASA Viz wins People’s Choice Award for Games and Apps at the 2015 Vizzies. State University Early Middle College to incorporate an astrobiol- Image provided by K. Sharghi. of Minnesota-Morris, Dr. Bell’s role is to serve as a key collabora- As of late May 2015, more than 400 stories have tor to develop research partnerships. Currently over ten institu- ogy research component for the annual international trip to Costa been published. The collection of stories highlight This year the NASA Viz software development team released three tions are in the collaborative, and Dr. Bell works toward expanding Rica (in progress). Early Middle College is an African-American findings from all four NASA science themes—Earth, Heliophysics, app updates to address new features within the app and provide the collaborative to include more underrepresented institutions. all-male school; each year, students take an international trip but Planetary, Astrophysics—and includes contributions from NASA adapt to the new iOS 8 requirements and guidelines. NASA VIz MIAC members consist of several Hispanic-serving institutions to date there has been no research emphasis. Additionally, Dr. Earth Observatory and NASA’s science mission outreach teams. released a responsive and mobile friendly website where all the and Native American Institutions as well as NAI-MIRS Fellows. The Bell has been involved in acting as a recruiter for the NAI-MIRS Through the ongoing efforts of GESTAR team members Helen-Ni- content available on the app is featured on the web. In addition, first Native American Research Laboratory (NARL) was estab- Faculty Sabbatical Program and as a representative for the NASA cole Kostis (NASA Viz project manager) and Kayvon Sharghi (NASA NASA Viz collaborated with the MSFC/CIMA team to provide push lished by Dr. Michael Ceballos, an NAI-MIRS Fellow and MIAC Goddard African American Advisory Committee. Viz editor), two new stories appear in the app each week. Among notification capability within the app with an update. In the next member, who received the Obama Singh 21st Century Knowl- the highlights from this past year: the NASA Viz app was displayed year, the team will add High-Definition capabilities within the app, edge Award. Dr. Ceballos is engaging Native American students to the public at an exhibit at the 2015 Earth Day Festival at the will work on redesigning the user interface and will run a pilot and other students from historically underrepresented groups in National Mall (April 17-19) and Union Station (April 21-21), in project for the development of interactive stories. cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in three different countries. Washington, D.C.; the NASA Viz App received Teacher’s Pick Award The students conduct research focused on the impact of climate 2015 and was featured ing the Instructor Scholastic magazine, change and changes in socio-economic structures on traditional Spring 2015 Issue; and the app was nominated for NASA Goddard agriculture, ethnobotany, regional biodiversity, animal husbandry Software of the Year 2015 Award. 100 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 101 STUDENT ENGAGEMENTS and EDUCATION/PUBLIC OUTREACH

Student Engagements HFC-related literature. In spring 2015, Dr. Hurwitz’s intern will modeling of the carbon cycle as well as helping him to learn new At the Ron McNair Research Symposium, an annual Commemo- write an introduction section based on this literature review, and scientific and computational skills through a number of assign- rative Conference to honor Astronaut Ron McNair, held at North Benita Bell has served as a mentor to many students ranging will give a short presentation at the monthly GEOSCCM group ments. Carolina A&T State University, students from area colleges and from high school to post-doctoral. She has mentored three Mor- meeting. universities as well as area K-12 schools presented their STEM re- gan State University STEM Majors to assist in securing internships Education/Public Outreach search projects. Benita Bell attended this conference and spoke and career development. Students shadow her involvement in Hiren Jethva helped a graduate student at the Indian Institute with undergraduate and graduate students. STEM-related projects and events. She also mentors a NASA of Science in his project that deals with the spectral irradiance Deepthi Achuthavarier was invited to write a popular science Goddard Spaceflight Center post-doctorate whose studies relate data measured by a ground-based instrument at Bangalore, south feature on ENSO in Srote, a magazine published by Eklavya, a Benita Bell gave a STEM-related talk to students at Southeast to Astrophysics. Others she mentors are STEM Early College Stu- India. Dr. Jethva collected these dataset while pursuing his Ph.D. non-profit organization working on science and education in India. Middle School, Greensboro, NC. dents (9th -10th Grade) at North Carolina Agricultural and Techni- at the same institute and is now providing remote guidelines on The article, translated to Hindi, appeared in the September 2014 Benita Bell gave a talk on Astrobiology and NASA Technologies cal State University, and STEM majors at Morgan State University, how to process and interpret the results. issue of the magazine. Spelman College and NC A&T State University. to students at STEM Early College, a merger and collaboration Hiren Jethva is supervising two Morgan State University students, Drs. C. (Jim) Tucker and Assaf Anyamba hosted the NGA/FAS/ between Guilford County Public Schools, NC A&T State University Ludovic Brucker mentored seven students from every academic who have begun work on their projects. NASA Quarterly Technical Exchange Meeting (TEM) at NASA God- and Corporate Partners. The School is specifically targeted toward level. Students working with him throughout the academic year dard Space Flight Center as part of Global Agricultural Monitoring highly motivated and high performing junior and senior high were from Morgan State University (three), University of Maryland Hiren Jethva provided the latest OMI research version retrievals (GLAM) activities on March 24, 2015. The meeting showcased school students interested in science, technology, engineering College Park (one), and University of Sherbrooke, Canada (one). to Jungbin Mok, a graduate student at UMCP, for his ground-satel- research and applications presentations from Goddard Scientists and mathematics. The students are fully integrated into college Two summer interns also worked with Dr. Brucker in 2014, and lite comparative analysis of aerosol absorption for Goddard, Santa including Land Information System (Amy McNally), GRACE and courses and focus on one of 3 STEM pathways: biomedical sci- they presented their project during the NASA GSFC summer intern Cruz Bolivia, and Thessaloniki, Greece. He also helped Li Zhang at Agriculture (Matt Rodell), Soil Moisture Measurements (John ences, renewable energy and engineering. The STEM curriculum day. Natasha Chenot (Haskell Indian Nations University) worked Colorado State Univ. in interpreting the global OMAERUV monthly Bolten), Land Degradation (Jim Tucker), Downscaling the GEOS-5 incorporates courses such as robotics and scientific visualization. on the assessment of the CryoSat-2 elevation retrievals over the aerosol data files. GCM (Steve Pawson) and GSFC’s Mass Spectrometer on Mars Benita Bell is an NSF Transforming Undergraduates in Science, West Antarctic ice sheet using surface- ased GPS measurements (Melissa Trainer). Drs. Tucker and Anyamba conducted a tour of Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (TUES) Proposal Team recorded during the Satellite Era Accumulation Traverses (SEAT) Matt Kowalewski continued his mentorship of a Morgan State GSFC Testing and Integration Facilities for the ~30 TEM partici- Member. in 2010 and 2011. Irma Caraballo Alvarez (University of Puerto graduate student. The purpose of this internship is to build upon pants. Rico) worked on the assessment of Aquarius sea surface salinity previous work related to motor control and support circuitry and Benita Bell was an invited attendee for the media coverage and retrievals in cold waters using ship-borne measurements along create a prototype sun tracker for use with fiber coupled remote Assaf Anyamba participated in a Q & A session at the Cosmos press conference for STEM Early College Award NASA Student the coasts of Greenland and between Tasmania and Antarctica. sensing instrumentation. Club, Washington, D.C. in June 2014 following a presentation Spaceflight Competition, for which 64 proposals were submitted. by Dr. Rostal (EcoHealth) on Rift Valley Fever: An EcoHealthy Six STEM Early College students submitted a proposal entitled Richard Damoah helped established a GESTAR Student’s training Tom Kucsera assisted three summer students: Zachery Fasnacht Approach to Preventing a Deadly Disease. This was the public pre- “Geotropism in Microgravity” and won the NASA Student Space- Laboratory on Morgan State University campus where he contin- (a UMD student of Anne Thompson – Code 614), Caitlin Schae- sentation to kick start the work on Understanding Rift Valley Fever flight Competition. The experiment is scheduled to be conducted ues to train students for NASA internship. Over the past year, he fer (a summer intern for Cynthia Randles (GESTAR/MSU), and Ty in Republic of South Africa funded by Defense Threat Reduction aboard ISS. The students will proceed to the Governor’s Cup has provided training to 13 MSU students and assigned them to Limpasuvan (a student of Dong Wu - Code 613). Agency (DTRA). NASA scientists to work as intern students as part of the GESTAR STEM competition in Washington, DC. program. Tom Kucsera also worked with two other summer students, Valentina Aquila created and taught a course titled “Freshman In March 2015, Benita Bell participated in Morgan State Univer- Heather Chen and Bryan Howl. Their project consisted of digitizing Seminar: Introduction to Climate Change” at Johns Hopkins Uni- sity Innovation Day (MID) 2015, hosted by Morgan State University Richard Damoah’s three intern students participated in the MSU MISR observed volcanic plumes. versity during the Fall semester 2014. graduate and undergraduate research symposium under his su- at the State Capitol Building in Annapolis, MD. The purpose of the pervision on April 14, 2015. Two of these students received best Falguni Patadia worked on a collaborative research project with Valentina Aquila gave a 30-minute-long introduction on how event was to highlight groundbreaking, innovative research and oral and best poster presentation awards in the Earth Science PhD student Jhuma Biswas from Dibrugarh University. climate data can be used in health science during the project its economic impact on the State of Maryland. division during the MSU Graduate and Undergraduate Research JumpStart (held at University of MD, College Park), a 2-week Cecile Rousseaux collaborated with a PhD student from the Uni- On October 4, 2014 Richard Damoah participated in the 2014 Symposium. summer camp for high school students sponsored by the Howard versity of Western Australia on the effect of climate variability on Morgan State STEM EXPO Fair, and he participated in the MSU- Hughes Medical Center. Charles Gatebe participated in Sreeja Nag’s doctoral thesis de- phytoplankton stocks in the waters off Western Australia. Maryland Science Olympiad on March 7, 2015 held on MSU fense on Friday, April 17, 2015 at the Massachusetts Institute of Valentina Aquila gave a lecture followed by a Q&A session on campus. Kayvon Sharghi launched two student writing internships in Technology, Boston, Massachusetts. Sreeja defended her doctoral volcanic eruptions, climate, and geoengineering at the Rockville partnership with the University of California, Santa Cruz, Science Richard Damoah proposed and supervised the installation of thesis successfully. Committee members are: Prof. Oli de Weck Science Café. RSC is held on the third Tuesday of every month as Communication Program. Kayvon worked with multiple graduate Morgan State University’s Weather Station on September 3, (Chair), Prof. David Miller (NASA Chief Technologist), Prof. Kerri part of the Rockville Science Center, Rockville, MD. Science Cafés students on the creation of nearly two dozen stories published in 2014. The new station received campus-wide recognition that led Cahoy, and Dr. Charles Gatebe (USRA & NASA). Sreeja started her are live events in casual settings, are open to everyone, and fea- the app. to a press release by the director of public relations and com- doctoral work at GSFC, Code 613 in the summer of 2012, funded ture a scientist engaging and leading the discussion to encourage munications about the weather station. Data from the station will by GESTAR/USRA. conversation, debate, and interaction. Successful cafés create an During summer and fall 2014, James Wang worked with intern be used in the meteorology course that Dr. Damoah is teaching, atmosphere that reaches out to everyone, and typically reaches Kelechi Nwachukwu, a Master’s student at Morgan State Univer- climate-related research on campus, and weather reports by the Margaret Hurwitz supervised a GESTAR/MSU undergraduate out to people who don’t typically get involved in scientific discus- sity, on modeling of the global carbon cycle and data process- campus radio and TV stations. intern beginning in January 2015. Her intern reviewed previous sions. ing. Dr. Wang educated Kelechi on the general subject matter of 102 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 103 Ron Errico and Nikki Privé worked together to organize the Work- David Lagomasino served as a judge at the 2015 NASA Interna- shop on Sensitivity Analysis and Data Assimilation in Meteorology tional Space Apps Challenge held at Johns Hopkins University’s Global Energy Crisis”, to present an overview of climate change and Oceanography, to be held June 2015 in Roanoke, West Virgin- Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, MD. This hackathon is a and the types of related research done at Goddard. ia. Also known as the “10th Adjoint Workshop”, this will convene 2-day global event that occurred in over 138 cities with 12000+ Nikki Privé was a co-presenter at the Northeast public library 60 scientists from eight countries. Dr. Privé created a website for participants worldwide during the weekend of April 11-12, 2015. in DC on the use of satellites in weather forecasting as part of the workshop and is maintaining a database of all attendees. Two local presentations at APL went on to the Global Competition: a summer lecture series. The presenters included Nikki Privé, 1) Water Finder app—a tool to help end-users and super-users Clara Draper, and Paolo de Matthaeis. Manuela Girotto is a committee member responsible for GMAO at locate areas of potable water, and 2) Mars Lava Tubes: Survival the Young Scientist Forum that will be held at GSFC on July 14-15, Game—kid-friendly game where the object is to survive in the Nikki Privé and Ron Errico attended Morgan Innovation Day in 2015. harsh conditions on Mars. (2015.spaceappschallenge.org) Annapolis, Maryland, on March 19, 2015 to showcase GESTAR Jie Gong served as a board member of the Chinese-American David Lagomasino served as a judge for the STEM Fair at Green- projects to members of the Maryland state legislature. They dis- Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (COAA) and is in charge of belt Middle School, Greenbelt, MD. cussed Observing System Simulation Experiments and numerical the quarterly newsletter. weather prediction research at GMAO with attendees. David Lagomasino volunteered as Coordinator for the Outstand- Cecile Rousseaux Hiren Jethva was interviewed by NASA’s Earth Observatory ing Student Award Presentation for the Education Session of the worked with several other Earth Science personnel, Adam Voiland, for the Image of The Day (IOTD) that AGU Fall Meeting 2015. In this position, he helped to recruit, Goddard employees (Dorothy Zukor, Anne Douglas, Gail Jackson, etc.) to develop a new concept of Informal mentoring lunches at appeared on their web portal (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/). organize and assign judges to student presentations. (E. Wright at Earth Day, Union Station, Washington, DC) Three topics or IOTD were broadcasted during Oct – Dec 2014; Goddard. Dr. Rousseaux was also the lead organizer of the 2014 two of these highlighted Dr. Jethva’s work on characterization of Allison Leidner gave a hyperwall talk at the public festival for the Science Jamboree. This included organizing the display as well as having a staff to showcase the display on the day of the event. held at NASA Goddard in July 2014. Other GMAO scientists who aerosols above cloud and seasonality of aerosols over the north- IUCN World Parks Congress in Sydney, Australia, held from Nov assisted with this event include Manuela Girotto, Min-Jeong Kim, ern India region. See his work at the following sites: 13-19, 2014. Yury Vikhaliev and Dan Holdaway. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=84557 Kayvon Sharghi supported outreach activities at the 2015 Earth http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=84731 Xiaowen Li organized and participated in the Morgan State Day festival on the National Mall and at Union Station. He talked to hundreds of people about the NASA Viz app and NASA’s explo- Ernie Wright presented his work in talks at technical conferences http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=84862&eoc University Innovation Day in Annapolis, MD on March 19, 2015, (SIGGRAPH 2014) and at public outreach events, such as 2014 n=home&eoci=iotd_image where she presented an exhibition titled “What makes rain?” ration of the solar system and beyond. In May, Kayvon will speak to attendees at the 2015 World Science Festival in New York. International Observe the Moon Night and 2015 Earth Day at Union Station (see image). Helen-Nicole Kostis served as a MUSE 2014 Jury committee On March 31, 2015, Erica McGrath-Spangler served on a peer Sarah Strode attended a Town Hall Meeting on the Future of At- (American Association of Museums) Media & Technology Commit- review panel for the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship In December 2014, Teppei Yasunari contributed to marking the tee for the category: Interpretive Installations. awards. mospheric Chemistry presented by the National Research Council in Washington, DC. students’ presentations for Outstanding Student Paper Awards http://www.mediaandtechnology.org/muse-awards/ (OSPA) as a judge at AGU Fall Meeting 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Erica McGrath-Spangler volunteered at the Goddard Visitor Cen- Brad Weir At ACM SIGGRAPH 2014, Helen-Nicole Kostis served as a SIG- ter Sunday experiment hosted by GPM and organized by Kristen organized the constituent assimilation meeting, GRAPH Late-Breaking Juror for the selection of Posters, and also Weaver on March 15, 2015. contributed a slide for and helped out at the Science Jamboree, served as a Student Research Competition Juror. Erica McGrath-Spangler interacted with high school junior and Matt Kowalewski served as a community scientist for the 3rd sophomore women at the Women in Engineering Developing annual Linton Springs Elementary Science Fair (Eldersburg, MD). Revolutionary Engineers And Mentors (WIE DREAM) conference He interacted with the elementary school students learning about information fair held at the University of Maryland, College Park their projects and answering questions regarding his involvement on February 14, 2015. The DREAM conference had over 690 par- at NASA. ticipants with the mission to recruit, retain, and advance women in STEM fields. David Ladd attended the National Association of Broadcasters conference, where he spoke to vendors about products needed Erica McGrath-Spangler was responsible for collecting outreach by Goddard Television. NAB is the world’s largest electronic media materials and engaging the public at the Women@NASA booth show covering filmed entertainment, and the development, man- at the National Air and Space Museum’s Women in Aviation and agement and delivery of content across all mediums. Space family day.

David Ladd served as a Goddard Space Flight Center represen- At the NASA Education Resource Center, Greenbelt, MD, Kerry tative at the annual NASA DTV Working Group meeting in April Meyer discussed clouds and satellite remote sensing at a work- 2015. This conference has representatives from each NASA shop for 5th grade science teachers. center and focuses on video and imagery needs throughout the agency. Mark Olsen was invited to provide a lecture for the University of Maryland, College Park class, “Physics for Decision Makers: the

104 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 105 Awards and Recognition

In August 2014, both Valentina Aquila and Richard Damoah tations.” For Science and Technical Support (SMAP Team): Ga- Michael Kurylo (sponsor: J. Rodriguez) was recently informed and her outstanding scientific productivity (authored and co-au- were each awarded the NASA Group Achievement Award, for brielle De Lannoy: “For outstanding contributions in the science he has been selected for inclusion in the NIST Portrait Gallery of thored more than 30 publications since GESTAR inception).” outstanding accomplishments during their participation in development and technical implementation of the algorithms to Distinguished Scientists, Engineers and Administrators. His career the SEAC4RS project, Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric generate the SMAP Level 4 soil moisture and carbon data prod- with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Ryan Fitzgibbons (code 130, sponsor: W. Sisler): “From launch Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Survey ucts.” For Outstanding Scientific Contribution by a New GMAO began over 40 years ago. The NIST Portrait Gallery, established in coverage, including a live broadcast, to developing a new treat- (SEAC4RS). Member: Brad Weir (sponsor: S. Pawson): “For outstanding the early 1970s to honor NBS/NIST alumni for outstanding career ment for visualizations of hurricanes and storms, Ryan has scientific achievement in advancing the carbon data assimilation contributions to the work of the NBS/NIST, now includes approxi- worked at a consistently high level of excellence.” On August 26th, at the 2014 Hydrospheric and Biospheric Scienc- capability in support of GMAO’s contributions to NASA’s carbon mately 300 people. NIST was formerly known as the National es (HOBI) Annual Awards Ceremony, cryospheric scientist Ludovic monitoring activities.” For Outstanding Scientific Contribution by Bureau of Standards.) Along with six others, Dr. Kurylo will be in- Alex Kekesi (code 606.4, sponsor: H. Mitchell): “He has made Brucker (sponsor: S. Nowicki) was recognized “for his excellent New GMAO Members: Min-Jeong Kim (sponsor: R. Gelaro) and ducted in an official ceremony on October 9, 2015. Portraits and key contributions to the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) and innovative work advancing microwave research over the cryo- Jianjun Jin (sponsor: R. Gelaro): “For a focused effort to success- biographies of those selected will be on display in the main cor- Outreach Team. As the leader for SVS GPM visualization efforts, sphere from multiple sensors and through field work”. fully introduce new microwave radiance data from the TRMM/ ridor leading to the NIST cafeteria (NIST, Gaithersburg, MD), and Alex developed and refined the GPM visualization pipeline that he GPM platforms into the GEOS-5 data assimilation system.” in the Digital Portrait Gallery at the NIST Gaithersburg and NIST and SVS colleagues have used continuously since the March 25, At the Earth Sciences Division - Atmospheres (Code 610AT) Boulder sites. His citation reads as follows: “Michael J. Kurylo th 2014 first light release to create world-class GPM visualizations.” Awards Ceremony held on Wednesday, August 27th, three GESTAR On Friday, February 13 , two GESTAR members were recognized (Materials Measurement Laboratory: 1969-2003): For leadership members were honored with Contractor Performance Awards. for their efforts at Goddard’s Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes in the measurement and critical evaluation of gas phase kinet- Joseph Lyu (code 617, E. Kim): “For his support of JPSS/NPP For Best Senior Author Publication, Hiren Jethva (sponsor: O. Laboratory (Code 612) awards ceremony. Kristen Weaver (spon- ics, photochemical, and spectroscopic data of trace atmospheric ATMS/VIIRS Cal/Val & Algorithm Development. He works as both Torres) was recognized “For the development of a remote sens- sor: D. Kirschbaum) was honored with a Contractor Award for chemical species related to the ozone layer and environmental a senior scientist and a senior system engineer.” ing approach to retrieve optical depth of aerosols above clouds Outstanding Service: “For Outstanding Service and Innovation as change.” using MODIS visible observations”. For Outstanding Performance a GPM Education and Communication Specialist.” Mircea Grecu - Technical Support, Tom Kucsera (sponsor: M. Chin) was recog- (sponsor: R. Meneghini) was honored with a Contractor Award for Yuekui Yang (sponsor: A. Marshak) was recognized in April 2015 Nikki Privé (code 610.1, sponsor: R. Gelaro): “During the past nized “For outstanding support of global modeling, satellite data Exceptional Scientific Achievement: “For Outstanding Scientific with an award from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for con- year, Nikki has made outstanding contributions to the GESTAR retrieval, data analysis and management, and IT administration”. Contributions and Dedicated Efforts in Developing the GPM Com- tributing to the DSCOVR launch. He was presented by NASA with task of developing a framework for conducting Observing System For Outstanding Performance - Science, Xiaowen Li (sponsor: bined Radar/Radiometer Algorithm.” a plaque, signed by Albert Vernacchio (DSCOVR project manager) Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) at NASA Goddard’s Global Mod- W.-K. Tao) was recognized “For her outstanding scientific research and Adam Szabo (DSCOVR project scientist), with this citation: eling and Assimilation Office (GMAO).” in using sophisticated microphysical processes to improve our un- In late February 2015, Popular Science teamed up with the “In recognition and appreciation of your outstanding contribution derstanding of the interactive processes between cloud, precipita- National Science Foundation to award the Vizzies, announcing the to the successful launch of the Deep Space Climate Observatory, Andrew Swanson (code 614, sponsor: T. Hanisco): “Andrew has tion and aerosols.” winners in the article “The 10 Best Science Images, Videos, and enabling continued space weather forecasting and unique Earth been working on new technology development projects for in Visualizations from the 2015 Vizzies”. The NSF Visualization Chal- science observations.” situ aircraft instrumentation. He has supported GSFC Internal On Thursday, October 30th, 2014 at the NASA Headquarters Hon- lenge awards work that visually and successfully communicate Research and Development (IRAD) and Earth Science Technology or Awards Ceremony, Allison Leidner (sponsor: J. Richards) will be science and engineering research and phenomena. The Vizzies In May 2015, nine GESTAR members were recognized with a Office (ESTO) projects developing new instruments for the in situ recognized with a Special Service Award, “For her leadership role recognize the finest illustrations, photographs, videos, graphics GESTAR 2015 Exceptional Service Award. detection of formaldehyde and methane flux.” in support of NASA’s involvement in the Third National Climate and apps, whether produced by academic researchers, artists or hobbyists. This year, the NASA Visualization Explorer (project man- Assessment for the U.S. Global Change Research Program”. The Richard Damoah (code 610, sponsor: C. Tucker): “For his person- Stephen Ungar (code 618, sponsor: E. Middleton): “For his ager: Helen-Nicole Kostis, sponsor: H. Mitchell) won the People’s Special Service award recognizes Headquarters contractors (indi- al initiative to install a meteorological/climate observatory at MSU sustained contributions to the Earth Observing-1 Mission (EO-1) Choice Award for Games and Apps. For more information, see viduals or teams) who have made significant contributions to the that will benefit students and university for many years to come. satellite and the Hyperspectral Infrared (HyspIRI) imager.” http://www.popsci.com/2015-vizzies-science-visualizations-video- mission of Headquarters or to the welfare of Headquarters em- His initiative to identify, train students and build partnerships with images or http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/scivis/win- ployees. GESTAR congratulates Dr. Leidner on her work with NASA other GESTAR scientists at Goddard that contributes towards the Kristen Weaver ners_2014.jsp. (code 612, sponsor: D. Kirschbaum): “For her and the USGCRP and the release of the 3rd NCA in May 2014. development and advancement of STEM education at MSU.” outstanding and innovative contributions to the communication of The NASAViz also received the Teacher’s Pick Award from Scholas- NASA’s science mission to the public.” Frederic Lipschultz received an Award for Excellence from the Of- tic Instructor (Magazine and Website). Following the award it was Gabrielle De Lannoy (code 610.1, sponsor: R. Reichle): “For her fice of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) at the White House featured in the magazine as a STEM staple that inspires the next extraordinary contribution to the success of the SMAP Mission for his work on the Third National Climate Assessment Report. Dr. generation of scientists. Lipschultz was responsible for coordinating 10 of 30 chapters and was an author on two chapters of this highly influential report. For his participation in the MAVEN communications and outreach team, Robert Garner received a 2014 Robert H. Goddard Honor On Monday, February 2nd, four GESTAR scientists were recognized Award for his role. at the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) annual Awards Ceremony. For Scientific Achievement:Gabrielle De Lannoy (sponsor: R. Reichle): “For exceptional scientific achieve- For providing visual content for many of the GPM outreach activi- ments, including authoring two papers, co-authoring six scientific ties, Alex Kekesi and Kel Elkins were recipients of a 2014 Robert articles as well as the SMAP Handbook, and making nine presen- H. Goddard Honor Award presented to the GPM Outreach Team. 106 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 107 ACRONYMS

2DVD Two-dimensional Video Disdrometer 4STAR Spectrometer for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research AACA Arctic Adaptation to Climate Assessment AATS-14 AMES Airborne Tracking Sunphotometer ABL Atmospheric Boundary Layer ACAM Airborne Compact Atmospheric Mapper ACCRI Aviation Climate Change Research Initiative ACMAP Atmospheric Composition: Modeling and Analysis Program ADAS Atmospheric Data Assimilation System AERONET Aerosol Robotic Network AGCM Atmospheric General Circulation Model AGU American Geophysical Union AIRS Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder AMM Atlantic Meridional Mode AMS American Meteorological Society AMSR-E Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS AOD Aerosol Optical Depth AOGCM Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Model AO Arctic Oscillation AOT Aerosol Optical Thickness ARCTAS Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellite ARSET Applied Remote Sensing Training program ASCENDS Active Sensing of C02 Emissions over Nights, Days and Seasons ATom Atmospheric Tomography ATMS Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder ATTREX Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment AVDC Aura Validation Data Center AVHRR Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer AWC Available Water Content BACAR BRDF, Albedo, Cloud and Aerosol Radiometer BATS-R-US Block-Adaptive-Tree-Solarwind-Roe-Upwind-Scheme CAI Cloud and Aerosol Instrument CALIOP Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization CALIPSO Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation CC&E Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems CCMI Chemistry-Climate Model Initiative CDA Cloud Data Assimilation CDC Center for Disease Control CDOM Colored Dissolved Organic Matter CEOS Committee on Earth Observation Satellites CERES Clouds and Earth Radiant Energy System CFH Cryogenic Frostpoint Hygrometer CHORI Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland CIL Conceptual Imaging Lab CINDY2011 Cooperative Indian Ocean Experiment on Intraseasonal Variability in Year 2011 CLIVAR Climate Variability and Predictability project CLM4 Community Land Model version 4 CMAVE Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology CME Coronal Mass Ejection 108 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 109 CMIP Coupled Model Intercomparison Project GEWEX Global Energy Water Cycle Experiment CMS Content Management System GIMMS Global Inventory Monitoring and Modeling Systems COP 10th 10th Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention GLS-IMP Global Land Survey and Impervious Mapping Project COSMIC RO Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate GLOWASIS Global Water Scarcity Information Service COT Cloud Optical Thickness GMAO Global Modeling and Assimilation Office CRM Cloud-Resolving Model GMI GPM Microwave Imager DART (NCAR) Data Assimilation Research Testbed GOCART Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport DAS Data Assimilation System GOES-R Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R Ddep Dew Point Depression GOSAT Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite DFR Differential Frequency Ratio GOSWIM Goddard Snow Impurity Module DISCOVER-AQ Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations GPM Global Precipitation Measurement Relevant to Air Quality GRACE Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment DISORT Discrete Ordinate Radiative Transfer model GRUAN GCOS Reference Upper Air Network DOD Department of Defense GSDSU Goddard Satellite Data Simulation Unit DOE Department of Energy GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center DFR Differential Frequency Ratio GWC Global Water Cycle DPR Dual-frequency Participation Radar GWSP Global Water System Project DRAGON Distributed Regional Aerosol Gridded Observation Network HS3 Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel DSD rainDrop Size Distribution HyspIRI Hyperspectral Infrared Imager DYNAMO Dynamics of the Madden Julian Oscillation ICESat Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite E/PO Education/Public Outreach IGARSS International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium EA/WR East Atlantic/West Russia IGPO International GEWEX Project Office ECMWF European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast IGWCO Integrated Global Water Cycle Observations EEMS Excitation-Emission Matrix Spectra IMERG Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM data product EMAS Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator IMPROVE Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments ENSO El Niño/Southern Oscillation IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change EPIC Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera IRAD Internal Research and Development Program EPOD Earth Science Picture of the Day IRIS Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph ESA European Space Agency IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature ESMF Earth System Modeling Framework JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency FAS Foreign Agricultural Service JCSDA Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation FDA Food and Drug Administration JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory FOV Field of View JPSS Joint Polar Satellite System G-LiHT Goddard’s Lidar, Hyperspectral and Thermal airborne imager JSC Joint Scientific Committee G5NR GEOS-5 Nature Run JWST James Webb Space Telescope GCAS GEOCAPE Airborne Simulator KSC Kennedy Space Center GCE Goddard Cumulus Ensemble LDAS Land Data Assimilation System GCOM-W1 Global Change Observation Mission for Water – 1 LDCM Landsat Data Continuity Mission GCPEx GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment LDI-MS Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry GCRP Global Change Research Program LHASA Landslide Hazard Assessment for Situational Awareness GEMI Global Expanded Monitoring Programme for Indicators LISA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna GEO Group of Earth Observations LRO Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter GEO-CAPE GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events LROC Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera GEOMS Generic Earth Observation Metadata Standard MACC Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate GEOS-5 Goddard Earth Observing System Version 5 MAVEN Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission GEOS-AOCCM GEOS Coupled Atmosphere Ocean Chemistry Climate Model MC3E Middle Latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment GEOS-CCM GEOS Chemistry Climate Model MEaSUREs Making Earth Science data records for Use in Research for Earth Science GEOSS Global Earth Observation System of Systems MERRA Modern Era Retrospective-Analysis for Research and Applications GESTAR Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research MHS Microwave Humidity Sounder 110 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 111 MISR Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer QBO Quasi-Biannual Oscillation MJO Madden-Julian Oscillation RCDL Radiometric Calibration and Development Laboratory MLS Microwave Limb Sounder RFI Radio Frequency Interference MMF Multi-scale Modeling Framework RMSE Root Mean Square Error MMS Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission RO Radio Occultation MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer RT Radiative Transfer MOMA Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer SAFARI-2000 Southern African Regional Science Initiative-2000 (SAFARI-2000) MOPITT Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere SAM Sample Analysis at Mars MRMS Multi-Radar-Multi-System SAR Synthetic Aperture Radar MSL Mars Science Laboratory SBM Spectral Bin Microphysics NAAMES North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study SCAR-B Smoke, Clouds, and Radiation-Brazil (SCAR-B) NAI NASA Astrobiology Institute SDO Solar Dynamics Observatory NAI-MIRS NASA Astrobiology Institute Minority Institutions Research Support Program SDSU Satellite Data Simulation Unit NAO North Atlantic Oscillation SEAC4RS Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys NASA Viz NASA Visualization Explorer app SHEBA Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean (a ship-based observational campaign that collected NASM National Air and Space Museum radiosonde data over the North Pole in 1997-1998) NAWP North American Water Project SLP Sea Level Pressure NCA National Climate Assessment SMAP Soil Moisture Active/Passive NCAR National Center for Atmospheric Research SMOS Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity NCCS NASA Center for Climate Simulation SOS Science on a Sphere NCEP National Centers for Environmental Prediction SPARC Stratospheric Processes And their Role in Climate NDACC Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change SRT Surface Reference Technique NDVI Normalized Difference Vegetation Index SSG Scientific Steering Group NEWS NASA Energy and Water Cycle Studies SST Sea Surface Temperature NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration STE Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange NOBM NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics NPP NPOESS Preparatory Project SVS Scientific Visualization Studio NPP OMPS NPOESS Preparatory Project’s Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite TC Tropical Cyclone NSIDC National Snow and Ice Data Center TMI TRMM Microwave Imager NU-WRF NASA Unified Weather Research and Forecasting TOA Top of the Atmosphere OASIS Organics Analyzer for Sampling Icy Surfaces TOMS Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer OCO-2 Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 TRMM Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ODIAC Open-source Data Inventory for Anthropogenic CO2 USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture ODS Ozone Depleting Substances VIIRS Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite OIB Operation IceBridge VLIDORT Vector linearized radiative transfer model OLR Outgoing Longwave Radiation WCRP World Climate Research Program OMAERUV OMI/Aura level-2 near UV Aerosol data product W-E-F Water-Energy-Food OMI Ozone Monitoring Instrument WFIRST Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope OSIRIS-REx Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer WISM Wideband Instrument for Snow Measurements OSSE Observing System Simulation Experiments WMS Web Map Service OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy (at the White House) WRF Weather Research and Forecast PACE Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and ocean Ecosystem PBL Planetary Boundary Layer PDO Pacific Decadal Oscillation PIA Path Integrated Attenuation PICARD Pushbroom Imager for Cloud and Aerosol Research and algorithm Development PIP Precipitation Image Probe PPS Precipitation Processing Systems PSD Particle Size Distribution 112 | GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 GESTAR Annual Report 2014 - 2015 | 113 7178 Columbia Gateway Drive 410-730-2656 www.usra.edu

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