ANNUAL REPORT 2016–2017

Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research Studies and Investigations GESTAR Staff Hanson, Heather Miller, Kevin Wen, Guoyong Achuthavarier, Deepthi Holdaway, Dan Mohammed, Priscilla Wiessinger, Scott Ahamed, Aakash Humberson, Winnie Monroe, Brian Wright, Ernie Amatya, Pukar Hurwitz, Margaret Moran, Amy Yang, Weidong Andrew, Andrea Ibrahim, Amir Ng, Joy Yang, Yuekui Anyamba, Assaf Jackson, Katrina Norris, Peter Yao, Tian Aquila, Valentina Jentoft-Nilsen, Marit Nowottnick, Ed Zhang, Cheng Armstrong, Amanda Jepsen, Rikke Oda, Tom Zhang, Qingyuan Arnold, Nathan Jethva, Hiren Olsen, Mark Zhou, Yaping Barker, Ryan Jin, Daeho Orbe, Clara Ziemke, Jerald Beck, Jefferson Jin, Jianjun Patadia, Falguni Bell, Benita Ju, Junchang Patel, Kiran GESTAR Integrated Belvedere, Debbie Keating, Shane Paynter, Ian Project Team (IPT) Bensusen, Sally Kekesi, Alex Pelc, Joanna Ball, Carol Bollian, Tobias Keller, Christoph Peng, Jinzheng Corso, Bill Bridgman, Tom Khan, Maudood Poje, Lisa Espiritu, Angie Brucker, Ludovic Kim, Dongchul Potter, Gerald Gardner, Jeanette Buchard, Virginie Kim, Dongjae Prescott, Ishon Houghton, Amy Carvalho, David Kim, Hyokyung Prive, Nikki Morgan, Dagmar Radcliff, Matthew Samuel, Elamae ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Castellanos, Patricia Kim, Min-Jeong Cede, Alexander Knowland, Emma Reale, Oreste Celarier, Ed Kolassa, Jana Rousseaux, Cecile Technical Editor Cetinic, Ivona Korkin, Sergey Sayer, Andy Amy Houghton Chang, Yehui Kostis, Helen-Nicole Schiffer, Robert Chatterjee, Abhishek Kowalewski, Matthew Schindler, Trent Graphic Designer Cheung, Samson Kucsera, Tom Seadler, Abigail Ryan Byrnes Chittimalli, Sandeep Kurylo, Michael Seegers, Bridget Cho, Naeyong Ladd, David Selkirk, Henry Cohen, Jarrett Lagomasino, David Sharghi, Kayvon Collow, Allison Lait, Leslie Shi, Jainn J. (Roger) Colombo, Oscar Lamsal, Lok Shi, Yingxi Concha, Javier Lawford, Rick Sippel, Jason Damoah, Richard Lee, Dongmin Soebiyanto, Radina de Matthaeis, Paolo Lee, Eunjee Sokolowsky, Eric Divakarla, Murty Lee, SeungKuk Soldo, Yan Draper, Clara Lee, Yuni Southard, Adrian Duberstein, Genna Leidner, Allison Stanley, Thomas Eck, Thomas Leitold, Veronika Starr, Cynthia Elkins, Kelly Lentz, Michael Steenrod, Stephen Errico, Ronald Li, Feng Strahan, Susan Estrada, Leann Li, Xiaowen Strode, Sarah Fitzgibbons, Ryan Liang, Qing Suarez, Max Follette-Cook, Melanie Liao, Jin Swanson, Andrew Freitas, Saulo Liao, Liang Taha, Ghassan Gallagher, Dan Lim, Young-Kwon Tao, Zhining Ganeshan, Manishan Lipschultz, Frederic Teinturier, Samuel Garner, Robert Liu, Fei Tian, Lin Gasso, Santiago Liu, Junhua Trapp, Cindy Gatebe, Charles Longo de Freitas, Karla Trossman, David Girotto, Manuela Lyu, Cheng Hsuan Ungar, Stephen Gong, Jie (Joseph) Unninayar, Sushel Graham, Steven Malanoski, Mark Van Oevelen, Peter Grecu, Mircea Malenovsky, Zbynek Vikhliaev, Yuri Gupta, Pawan Malespin, Charles Walker, Monique Gutierrez, Adriana Marchant, Benjamin Wang, James Manrique McGrath-Spangler, Erica Ward, Alan Han, Mei McLean, Debbi Weaver, Isaiah Handleman Seff, Mersmann, Kathryn Weaver, Kristen Michelle Meyer, Kerry Weir, Brad

2 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 TABLE of CONTENTS Letter from the GESTAR Director ...... 5

The GESTAR Team ...... 6

Technical Research ...... 7 Code 555: Microwave Instrument Technology Branch ...... 7 Code 606.3: Information Science & Technology Research ...... 8 Code 610: Earth Sciences Division ...... 9 Code 610.1: Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) ...... 10 Code 612: Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Laboratory ...... 34 Code 613: Climate and Radiation Laboratory ...... 41 Code 614: Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory ...... 48 Code 615: Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory ...... 75 Code 616: Ocean Ecology Laboratory ...... 77 Code 617: Hydrological Sciences Laboratory ...... 80 Code 618: Biospheric Sciences Laboratory ...... 87 Code 699: Planetary Environments Laboratory ...... 91

Delivering The Message ...... 95 Code 130 (Sponsors: W. Sisler and D. Kekesi) ...... 95 Code 606.4 (Sponsor: H. Mitchell) ...... 109 Science Communications Support Office (SCSO) (Sponsor: S. Platnick) ...... 120

Products ...... 125 Maniac Talks ...... 125 NASA Viz ...... 125

Student Engagements And Education/Public Outreach ...... 127 Student Engagement ...... 127 Education and Public Outreach ...... 127 Selected Items from NASA Earth Observatory (EO) ...... 130

Awards and Recognition ...... 131

Acronym List ...... 135.

Still from “Life of the Monsoon”, Lead Producer Ryan Fitzgibbons, one of the Top Ten short videos from the AGU Fall Meeting in December 2016. The video looks at the meteorological ingredients for the monsoon and the seasonal pattern’s influence on Southeast Asia and beyond. Image provided by R. Fitzgibbons.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 3 Gallery of items by Lead Visualizer Ernie Wright for the upcoming total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017, a major event for NASA Communications this year. Image provided by E. Wright.

Brian Monroe’s drawn vector art graphics were part of the animation style that brought to life the landscape and atmosphere of Venus in “Electric Wind of Venus”. Brian and Genna Duberstein received the DCSWA Newsbrief for Multimedia for this short video (see Awards section of this report). Image provided by B. Monroe.

4 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Letter from the GESTAR Director

We are pleased to offer this sixth NASA Goddard Earth Sciences, Technology, and Research (GESTAR) Cooperative Agreement Annual Report for the period 11 May 2016 – 10 May 2017. During this past year, NASA extended GESTAR for another five years to the team of Universities Space Research Association (USRA), Morgan State University (MSU), Johns Hopkins University (JHU), I.M. Systems Group (IMSG), and Global Science and Technology (GST).

During the past year, GESTAR continued to be among major NASA Goddard Space Flight Facility partnerships. Everyone at GESTAR worked diligently with our NASA sponsors/collaborators to ensure the success of critically important projects that support NASA’s mission in Earth Sciences and beyond. Their efforts have resulted in many substantive accomplishments, highlighted in this report. Our sincerest thanks go out to all for their commitment and professionalism.

This report summarizes multidisciplinary efforts of GESTAR-affiliated researchers, technologists, students, visitors, and staff. We describe accomplishments for the past year and technical progress in all research areas identified in the GESTAR Annual Research Program Plan, submitted to NASA on 31 July 2016. Within the report and its appendices are: a) abstracts and papers published by GESTAR-affiliated staff; b) GESTAR-affiliated presentations at conferences, seminars, and workshops; c) education and public outreach engagements by GESTAR-affiliated staff; d) awards received by GESTAR-affiliated staff; and e) engagement of GESTAR-affiliated staff in reviewing/ advising/committee participation activities.

With NASA’s extension of GESTAR for another five years (2016-2021), we look forward to applying our knowledge and experience in the upcoming year to ensure GESTAR continues to exceed all of our expectations.

William Corso

Darryn Waugh (Associate Director – Johns Hopkins University)

Daniel Laughlin (Associate Director – Morgan State University)

Le Jiang (Associate Director – IMSG)

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 5 The GESTAR Team

7178 Columbia Gateway Drive GESTAR MANAGMENT TEAM Columbia, MD 21046 GESTAR Director...... Dr. William Corso, USRA 410-730-2656 Associate Director ...... Dr. Darryn Waugh, JHU www.usra.edu Associate Director ...... Dr. Daniel Laughlin, MSU Associate Director ...... Dr. Le Jiang, IMSG http://gestar.usra.edu Business Manager...... Ms. Dagmar Morgan, USRA

Founded in 1969, Universities Space Research Association studies at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Morgan (USRA) is an independent nonprofit research corporation that State has continuously served the community with distinction conducts basic and applied research and operates programs and while meeting the educational needs of an increasingly diverse national facilities for government and industry, many of which are society. Designated as Maryland’s Public Urban University, MSU in support of NASA. USRA currently manages 20 programs and will continue its prominence in Maryland’s educational future. In facilities that employ more than 400 scientific, technical, and many fields, particularly in engineering and the sciences, MSU professional staff. With 105 university members, USRA provides accounts for large percentages of degrees received by African- a unique and special value that other research organizations do Americans from Maryland institutions. At the graduate level, it not. Only PhD-granting universities in Earth and space sciences awards doctoral and master’s degrees in several selected fields. with demonstrated outstanding research abilities are eligible for The University has made a major commitment to academic membership in USRA. USRA’s mission is to advance Earth and excellence, investing substantial resources to enhance its space sciences and exploration through innovative research, research infrastructure, and stimulate research development in a technology, and educational programs, and to develop and broad range of disciplines, especially STEM. operate premier facilities and programs by involving universities, the private sector, and governments. I .M . Systems Group (IMSG) has over 15 years of providing environmental, scientific, technical support to the U.S. Founded in 1876 as the first research university in the United government, as well as environmental services to government States, The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is one of the agencies in Africa and Asia. Over 60% of its workforce has leading research institutions in the nation. JHU is composed of advanced degrees with over 100 PhD researchers. IMSG is nine academic divisions, including Arts & Sciences, Education, NOAA’s largest support service, with its largest concentration of Engineering, the School of Public Health, plus JHU Applied researchers and support scientists in the Satellite Applications Physics Laboratory. The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences is Research Center and the NWS Environmental Modeling Center. the home of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. A major focus within this department is global change science, Global Science & Technology, Inc . (GST) was founded by with active research groups in atmospheric, oceanic, and three business associates; two of the founders remain with hydrospheric sciences as well as planetary geodynamics. The the company today. They believed that hiring the right people department maintains state-of-the-art design and engineering into a nurturing, collaborative environment would produce a facilities, as well as laboratories for high performance computing cutting-edge, innovative, and profitable company. GST provides and large-scale data analysis that are also being used for Earth superior service in the fields of science, engineering, Information system science. JHU’s Whiting School of Engineering consists Technology (IT), and technical support to worldwide government, of faculty who possess experimental, computational, robotic industry, and academic clients. GST has built a highly specified and modeling capabilities. Additionally, faculty at the School of workforce that includes experts in these key domains. From Public Health are involved with the application of Earth system projects such as instrument engineering for the Hubble Space science and remote sensing to the study and teaching of public/ Telescope program, to meteorology, software engineering, environmental health. and satellite communications—GST is committed to technical excellence and customer satisfaction. Morgan State University (MSU), founded in 1867, is one of the nation’s premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The University offers a comprehensive program of

6 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Technical Research

CODE 555: MICROWAVE INSTRUMENT Over the past year, radiometer data monitoring occurred by TECHNOLOGY BRANCH processing and observing instrument data from L1A radiometer and L1B_TB products. Automated reports are generated weekly Dr. Priscilla Mohammed (sponsor: J. Piepmeier) works on NASA’s and monitored to ensure normal instrument performance. In Soil Moisture Active and Passive (SMAP) Mission, the first of a addition, an automated data checker was created to perform series of Earth Science Decadal Survey missions, which was quick checks on L1B_TB files to check for data quality. Tools were launched January 31, 2015. The mission is providing global also written to bin and grid data. Weekly images of data were measurements of soil moisture and freeze/thaw state using (and continue to be) created to monitor changes in RFI globally. L-band radiometry. Dr. Mohammed works with a collaborative team at NASA Goddard to develop the L1B TB algorithm that RFI reports for China and Japan were written using SMAP converts radiometer data into calibrated estimates of brightness radiometer data for RFI reporting over Asia. While the SMAP temperature. The effort includes research and development radiometer ground processing algorithm includes RFI detection of radio frequency (RFI) detection and removal algorithms and and mitigation, high level RFI sources over Asia cause the prototype instrument algorithm code for the L1B TB algorithm algorithm to flag and remove significant portions of the spectrum, which is part of ground processing. Dr. Mohammed led an thus increasing the noise equivalent delta temperature (or article on the SMAP radiometer on orbit results focusing on the standard deviation of the measurement of interest) or wipe performance of the radio frequency interference (RFI) detection out the entire spectrum (as in the case of Japan), which leads and mitigation algorithms that was published in the October to data loss and no useable data for soil moisture retrievals. 2016 issue of the IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Separate reports were created for China and Japan which Sensing journal. A figure from the paper was selected for the highlight the significant RFI in SMAP data from these countries. issue cover. These reports include probability maps, geolocated RFI sources and spectral information for the RFI sources. Over China, there are 240 geolocated sources, and SMAP experiences the loss of data over most of Japan due to corruption from RFI. These reports were submitted to NASA personnel who will review and then contact necessary authorities to attempt to eliminate illegal transmitters at L-band in these countries. This will help to improve the electromagnetic environment within the protected Earth Exploration Satellite Service passive frequency allocation (1400-1427 MHz) over East Asia.

Work began on the development of RFI monitoring methods using SMAP radiometer data. The objective is to monitor the changing RFI environment at L-band and characterize the RFI sources. This work will continue into the next year.

Dr. Jinzheng Peng (sponsor: J. Piepmeier) also is part of the collaborative team on NASA’s Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) mission. In addition to researching and developing pre- launch and post-launch calibration theoretical bases, plans and activities, he is specifically responsible for developing the SMAP L1B correction algorithms, instrument calibration, calibration/ validation tools, and the Scanning Microwave Radiometer (SMiR- 7) polarization.

Figure: Image from an IEEE TGRSS article led by The SMAP L1B correction algorithms obtain the Earth P. Mohammed selected as cover image for Oct 2016 issue. surface brightness temperature (TB) from the calibrated and Image provided by P. Mohammed. RFI-free antenna temperature. Unwanted emissions in the

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 7 Dr. Peng co-authored a paper titled “SMAP L-Band Microwave Radiometer: Instrument Design and First Year on Orbit” that was published in IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Figure 1. SMAP radiometer calibration drift. Sensing journal. In addition, he presented his work on the SMAP Figure provided by J. Peng. radiometer calibration/validation at the 2016 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium in Beijing, China. antenna sidelobe from the Sun, the Moon, the galaxy, the One of the highlights from the past year was Dr. Peng receiving atmosphere, and Earth need to be removed from the radiometer awards as part of two SMAP teams. He was part of the SMAP measurements, and the effects of the atmospheric attenuation SDS Team that received a 2016 NASA Group Achievement Award and Faraday rotations to the radiometer measurement need “for outstanding achievement in the development of the SMAP to characterized and corrected. The correction algorithm was Science Data System and algorithm, producing science data successfully implemented into the SMAP L1B production code by for the science community and general public”, and a member the SMAP Science Data System (SDS) team for the radiometer of the SMAP Science and Cal/Val Team received a 2016 NASA L1B_TB data product since the SMAP mission launched on Group Achievement Award “for contribution to the preparation January 31, 2015. In the past year, Dr. Peng provided algorithm of science algorithm and calibration/validation activities for upgrade and support to monitor and verify the L1B_TB data the SMAP Mission”. His contributions to these teams included product. He also supported the algorithm development and data developing the SMAP radiometer L1B TA2TB (from antenna release to public for the radiometer enhancement data product temperature to the Earth’s surface brightness temperature) L1B_TB_E and validated it over ocean. algorithm and SMAP radiometer calibration/validation.

Calibrating a microwave remote sensing instrument after launch Dr. Peng also worked on the polarization of the SMiR-7 which is a involves calibrating instrument parameter(s) using external seven-channel microwave radiometer for measuring downwelling known targets so that the bias in the instrument measurement atmospheric radiance and then deriving precipitable water can be reduced or eliminated over the required dynamic range. vapor and liquid water path. Five of the seven channels are Dr. Peng calibrated the SMAP radiometer using the global centered at 22.2 GHz water vapor absorption line, and the other ocean and Cold Sky as the external calibration targets, and the two channels are centered at 36.5 GHz and 89.0 GHz. Among calibration result is being used by the SMAP radiometer L1B these channels, the 89 GHz channel increases the sensitivity data products (version 3) for science activities. In the past year, of the radiometer to liquid water, water vapor and significant Dr. Peng has been working on the SMAP radiometer calibration ice cloud. In order to support cloud science activities, such performance improvement. Validation activities will be performed as the microphysical properties of the frozen cloud particle and next version of the L1B_TB data product is expected to be which scattering is highly polarized, Dr. Peng has upgraded the released in 2018. hardware of the 89 GHz channel so that the 89 GHz channel has the ability of dual-polarized measurement. Verification tests show Prior to the mission’s launch, Dr. Peng developed the SMAP Level the polarization of the 89 GHz works as expected and calibration 1 TB forward simulator and its simplified version, and calibration is nearly complete for field deployment. drift monitoring tools. The simulators consider all the effects of the unwanted sources (except RFI) and propagation effects, and they are being used as major risk-reduction assets for SMAP radiometer L1B algorithm development/upgrade, post-launch CODE 606.3: INFORMATION SCIENCE calibration and validation. The simulation provided modeled & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH antenna temperatures (or expected antenna temperature) for instrument calibration and monitoring radiometer’s calibration Among her many objectives, Dr. Benita Bell (sponsor: J. drift. Figure 1 shows calibration drift over ocean since launch. Harrington) works toward strengthening STEM diversity The simulation also is used as ‘truth’ in new science algorithm and the STEM pipeline by developing research initiatives in development and performance evaluation. Currently the astrobiology, creating a STEM platform for global learning for simulation is being used in water body correction algorithm for faculty and students at underrepresented institutions through land TB measurements. interdisciplinary science learning, and broadening the impact

8 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 of astrobiology through partnerships, seminars, internships, entrepreneurship and mentorship module with People of Color mentoring and research collaborations among underrepresented role models from corporate, industry and the university (UNC- faculty and students at minority and majority institutions. At Chapel Hill). The goal for this five-week-long summer program, AbSciCon2017, Dr. Bell served as Organizer for the Minority which focuses on STEM and robotics, is to increase science Institution Astrobiology Collaborative (MIAC) Meeting, which and business literacy with the long-term goal of preparing aimed to convene all MIAC and Minority Institution Research underrepresented students with tools for sustained success in Support (MIRS) faculty from minority-serving institutions. She their careers. also served as Lead for planning the bi-annual MIAC meeting where MIAC/MIRS Faculty Fellows along with prior and current Fellows presented their research accomplishments and new initiatives in Astrobiology. Marketing strategies to strengthen CODE 610: EARTH SCIENCES DIVISION the program were discussed, curriculum development models for new astrobiology courses were shared, and future plans for Dr. Fredric Lipschultz (sponsor: J. Irons) aims to coordinate sustainability of the program were developed and reviewed. Federal climate activities, especially sustained climate assessment activities, that support place-based decision As a MIRS Faculty Fellowship Recruiter, Dr. Bell recruited making, while actively interacting with other U.S. Global Change three new faculty members for the MIRS 2017 summer Research Program (USGCRP) leaders to meet the broader faculty fellowship program. She assisted faculty in developing goals of the program. In addition, he supports USGCRP’s partnership projects with NASA scientists and university Arctic portfolio, bringing his expertise from the U.S. sustained scientists’ research laboratories. Dr. Bell has played a key assessment process to bear on Arctic programs such as the role in the advancement of astrobiology at underrepresented Arctic Council’s Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Plan (AMAP) institutions since its inception in 2002. Since 2002, there have program and, more recently, Canada’s climate assessment. been over 30 MIRS Faculty Fellows. MIAC/MIRS faculty and students at minority-serving institutions have been involved in Over the past year, Dr. Lipschultz actively participated in a range both domestic and international research projects that have of activities to plan and implement aspects of the USGCRP’s produced significant and impactful science outcomes. MIAC/ Sustained Assessment goal from its 2012 Strategic Plan and MIRS faculty have conducted research in Thailand, Mexico, 2016 Updated Strategic Plan, including the next quadrennial Vietnam, Puerto Rico, Australia, and India, among other report due in 2018. Having played a central role as the lead international locations. author for that goal on both Plans, he brings an extensive perspective to USGCRP’s efforts to achieve the goal’s objectives. For the Astrobiology Summer Immersion Internship Program A central component of the goal is the 4th National Climate at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Dr. Bell was Organizer Assessment, where he brings his experience from the 3rd NCA and Lead for this program in which underrepresented students to provide strategic vision for the current effort and help to guide (STEM majors) participated in a 5-week summer internship the development of the regional chapters. in Astrobiology. The program consisted of a literature review, research presentations, laboratory tours, google hangouts with Dr. Lipschultz spent considerable time working on issues STEM majors and renowned astrobiologists, faculty researchers, related to federal provisions of climate data and coordination seminars, and area technology CEO’s to broaden the students with federal agency efforts, especially in areas such as climate critical thinking skill sets to pursue employment and STEM adaptation and scenario development. As the leader for the careers. Participating students were from Morgan State interagency team developing the Climate Explorer, an updated University (MD), UNC-Chapel Hill, Georgia State University, UNC- tool for climate information that is a central component of Greensboro and Winston-Salem State University (NC). NOAA’s Climate Resilience Toolkit, he has played a crucial role that recently led to this tool’s nomination for the 21st Annual Additionally, Dr. Bell attended Science and Technology Week Webby Awards in the best visual design category. See http:// at North Carolina A&T State University where she met with webbyawards.com/winners/2017/websites/website-features- STEM faculty and developed a partnership within the School of and-design/best-visual-design-function/climate-explorer/. In Technology for middle school and high school underrepresented addition, he has led USGCRP’s new vision for a ”Resilience students. The partnership component will include an Enterprise” system of existing USGCRP programs that supports

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 9 collaborators such as ESRI and AGU in helping communities develop climate awareness and take action to adapt to climate variability and change.

On Arctic-related matters, Dr. Lipschultz supported the Executive Director of USGCRP, who recently stepped down as U.S. Head of Delegation to AMAP. His primary focus has been on increasing the usefulness of the Arctic Adaptation to Climate Assessment (AACA) reports, which are due in May 2017, for varied audiences Figure 1: Reforecast skill measured as square of correlation via improved communications. He also was recently assigned coefficient for 2-m temperature fields in (left) the new sub- leader of USGCRP’s Arctic priority task team, coordinating across seasonal version of the GEOS model, (middle) current seasonal other federal committees (IARPC & SOST) working on Arctic prediction version of the GEOS model and (right) difference issues. He recently was invited to join the newly formed advisory between the two. The rows represent three reforecast leads, committee for the Canadian Climate Assessment, which is due in where lead 1, lead 2 and lead 3 are average anomalies over 2021, bringing his deep understanding of climate assessment to 1-15, 16-30 and 31-45 days, respectively. The reforecasts are this new role. initialized on 6 dates in July, which are 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30. The reforecasts are conducted for the period 1999-2015. Over the next year, Dr. Lipschultz will remain heavily engaged in Figure provided by D. Achuthavarier. National Climate Assessment (NCA) activities as the fourth report moves towards a public draft. He will continue to lead the climate explorer task team for the CRT and lead strategic development January 2017, titled “Investigating Model Bias and Its Impact on of USGCRP’s Resilience Enterprise. For Arctic activities, he will MJO Hindcast Skill in the NASA GEOS-5 AGCM, Fifth Symposium continue his role within USGCRP’s Arctic priority, including the on Prediction of the Madden-Julian Oscillation: Processes, new engagement with the Canadian government. Prediction, and Impact”. In general, the results indicate that the mean climate bias correction produces noticeable improvements in the MJO skill.

CODE 610.1: GLOBAL MODELING AND As of July 2016, Dr. Achuthavarier began devoting time to ASSIMILATION OFFICE (GMAO) producing sub-seasonal hindcasts with the GMAO GEOS model for the NOAA sub-seasonal multi-model ensemble (MME) project Dr. Deepthi Achuthavarier (sponsor: S. Pawson) works on (Subx). The project’s first phase which consists of producing evaluating aspects of climate and weather variability in century- a series of weekly reforecasts for the period 1999-2015 was long simulations and decadal predictions made with the GEOS- completed as of March 31, 2017. This consisted of 45 day- 5 coupled atmosphere/ocean/land model. This includes an long reforecasts using the latest version of the NASA GEOS assessment of the leading modes of coupled variability, their atmosphere-ocean coupled model, initialized every 5 days, predictability, and their regional impacts. Areas of focus include with 7 ensemble members. Dr. Achuthavarier was involved in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), the Atlantic multi-decadal the overall management of the project activities in connection oscillation (AMO), and long-term variability in the Asian and with the coupled model and seasonal prediction experts at the American monsoons. The past year was the last and final year GMAO, along with coordinating with the NOAA Subx core team. In of the DYNAMO project (the Dynamics of the Madden-Julian addition, she took part in completing several technical aspects in Oscillation field campaign). Dr. Achuthavarier was first author on preparing the initial conditions that included performing a series an article in J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. and co-authored another of short ‘replay’ runs from the MERRA2 reanalysis data, and in Earth and Space Science related to this project. Inspired by conducting several test forecast runs. certain questions raised in this project, the team has extended the work to examine skill metrics for the Madden Julian Dr. Achuthavarier also was involved in the verification of the Oscillation (MJO) in the GEOS system in a series of bias-corrected re-forecasts as well as comparison with an older version of the re-forecasts. The findings were reported in a poster that she coupled model forecasts, which is currently being used for the co-authored, which was presented at the AMS annual meeting in seasonal prediction at the GMAO. Her analysis has provided

10 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 estimates of predictability in the sub-seasonal timescale and Dr. Nathan Arnold (sponsor: W. Putman) performs research and has shown that the new system behaves superior to the existing development activities with the GMAO’s high-resolution GEOS-5 older version, especially in circulation and 2-meter temperature general circulation model, in particular, the development and anomalies over land. As an example, Fig. 1 shows hindcast skill implementation of high resolution physics modules. Among other estimated as square of temporal correlation coefficient for 15 items, he addresses issues related to the scale dependence of day averaged 2-m temperature anomaly maps in the new sub- the atmospheric structure, such as examining improvements of seasonal system and the existing seasonal prediction version the simulations as resolution increases from 7km to 3.5km and of the GEOS model. It is evident from the different maps that beyond in global cloud-permitting simulations and limited area the new system behaves considerably better than the existing large-eddy simulations. This past year, Dr. Arnold implemented version of the model. Another aspect of the data diagnosis a shallow convection parameterization in the GEOS-5 model. involved examining the sensitivity of the skill to the number of Shallow convection produces generally non-precipitating cumulus ensembles. For that, a number of skill maps were produced for clouds in the lowest part of the atmosphere, and plays an varying number of ensemble members. Currently the focus of the important role in the transition between stratus and cumulus project is on developing several sub-seasonal data products and cloud cover, impacting the planet’s radiative balance. The current diagnostics. To this end, Dr. Achuthavarier has been working on GEOS-5 is unusual among global atmospheric models in lacking data analysis relevant to the MJO and other phenomena relevant a dedicated shallow cumulus scheme, which likely contributes in the sub-seasonal timescale. to many model biases, including an excessive amount of light rainfall in subtropical subsidence regions, and difficulty forming Dr. Achuthavarier also has been involved in a National Oceanic stratus clouds off the coast of California. The new cumulus and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) funded project, which parameterization has been coupled to existing microphysics resulted in her participation in the Climate Program Office’s modules in GEOS-5, and early results have been extremely Subseasonal to Seasonal (S2S) Prediction Task Force; she encouraging. The subtropical rainfall bias is now greatly reduced, began serving on the task force in Sept 2016 and will continue and GEOS-5 is able to produce realistic amounts of stratus for another three years. The goal is to facilitate collaborative clouds in coastal regions. Work continues on refining parameter research among NOAA-funded projects, and to improve the choices and retuning other aspects of the model to work with the S2S predictability in current models. In December 2016, she new scheme. attended the S2STask Force kick-off meeting held at Columbia University, Palisades, NY. Dr. Arnold also contributed to developing and testing a new configuration of GEOS-5 that allows the full physics of the global In the next year, Dr. Achuthavarier will continue the data atmospheric model to be run in a square, limited area domain diagnosis of the ongoing sub-seasonal reforecast runs, which – an atmosphere in a box. This simplifies analysis and greatly will involve producing a comprehensive assessment of the reduces the computational cost of certain experiments. For sub-seasonal scale skill in the GEOS system. She will work on example, the parameterized physics in GEOS-5 are designed correlation, root mean square error, Brier Skill Score (BSS) and to adapt with model resolution so that the simulated clouds, other metrics commonly used in reforecast data diagnosis. She precipitation, etc., remain statistically the same. Instead of also will examine phenomena such as the MJO, the North Atlantic testing this resolution-dependence in the full global model (a Oscillation (NAO), and annular climate modes, which are crucial computationally expensive task when using 7-km horizontal to the predictability in sub-seasonal timescale. Composites grid spacing), one can run in a limited area domain at a fraction based on these modes will be produced as a function of of the cost. This year, Dr. Arnold wrote an automated setup forecast lead. She also expects to write journal articles on the script that makes this configuration significantly easier to use. sub-seasonal results. Another task under the sub-seasonal The script allows users to specify model domains of arbitrary project would involve extracting a subset of model outputs and size and resolution, and automatically generates all required transferring the data to a common data repository outside of the files. He also tested the configuration with a set of simulations NASA; additionally, another aspect of the sub-seasonal project is at varying horizontal resolutions and domain sizes. These preparing the forecast system to conduct real-time forecasts, the experiments highlighted differences that can now be used to second phase of this project is slated to begin in June 2017. revise resolution-dependent model parameters. Dr. Arnold found that the organization of convection changes qualitatively as the domain size is increased, which has implications for theoretical

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 11 tropical meteorology. These results were presented at the AGU used. This past year Dr. Buchard has been working on evaluating Fall Meeting and in seminars at Harvard University and George aerosols in the MERRA-2 aerosol reanalysis, which is the GMAO’s Mason University; also, a manuscript describing them is currently latest reanalysis. She was involved in the publication of a NASA in preparation. Technical Memo providing a description of the system and an assessment of the quality of the data, which is available on the Dr. Arnold is the principal investigator on a NASA MAP proposal, GMAO website. In addition she is the lead author and co-author selected for funding this year, designed to improve the of three papers that were submitted to the Journal of Climate representation of convective processes important to the Madden- that summarize and illustrate the skills and deficiencies of the Julian Oscillation (MJO). The MJO is a 10,000 km envelope MERRA-2 aerosol reanalysis. Part of this work was presented by of enhanced rainfall that forms episodically over the Indian colleagues at conferences such as the Yoram Kaufman Memorial Ocean and affects tropical monsoons, hurricane formation, and Symposium which was held at NASA Goddard in June 2016. She weather extremes around the globe. Despite its importance, the also provided support to users of the MERRA-2 aerosol data. MJO is poorly simulated in most atmospheric models, and is exceptionally weak in the current version of GEOS-5. This funded In other work, the aerosol data assimilation scheme in GEOS proposal will support evaluation of GEOS-5 clouds, rainfall and is being upgraded to an ensemble Kalman filter-based scheme radiation against NASA satellite data, along with the development using an ensemble routinely produced by the meteorological and implementation of a cold pool parameterization. assimilation. She is currently working on the implementation and validation of the aerosol EnKF infrastructure in the model that Additionally, Dr. Arnold continued work in collaboration with will include various types of aerosol observations. In the coming Dr. Subramanian (Oxford University), studying the effect of El year, this work will continue and Dr. Buchard plans to present Nino events on the propagation of the MJO. The MJO is known preliminary results at the WMO symposium on data assimilation to propagate both faster and farther during El Nino events, in September 2017. but the mechanisms responsible are poorly understood. Dr. Arnold used MERRA-2 data to create composites of historical Dr. Buchard was asked to be a member of a NASA GOES-R MJO propagation during El Nino and La Nina years, and used science task group in order to help with the aerosol modeling composite budgets of moist static energy to understand the and assimilation part of a white paper. Additionally, she has processes important for propagation. Though work on this contributed to two papers submitted to AMTD, following her project continues, the early results suggest that differences in previous contribution to lidar simulators in support of the ACE eddy moisture transport around the dateline lead to stronger mission and following her work on radiative transfer simulation. propagation in El Nino years. Dr. David Carvalho (sponsor: R. Gelaro) conducts work related In the coming year, the GEOS-5 model will be tuned for optimal to the improvement and calibration of the GMAO OSSE code performance with the shallow convection scheme, in particular as well as verifying and testing its performance. He also works addressing a top-of-atmosphere radiative imbalance due on the MISTIC WINDS project, and provides expertise related to excessive shortwave cloud forcing. Dr. Arnold has a draft to modeling the OSSE Satwinds. Another element of his manuscript describing the organization of convection in the work involves the configuration for the GEOS5/GSI modeling idealized limited-area simulations, and will submit it to the framework to assimilate MISR AMV. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems after conferring with co-authors. He also plans to explore potential changes in the First, the interrelationship between the GEOS5 model and the parameterization of boundary layer turbulence, and begin model current Nature Run used by the GMAO OSSE team (made with the evaluation tasks under the recently awarded MAP proposal. GEOS5 model) constitutes a significant issue since insufficient model error is present in the background fields derived from the Dr. Virginie Buchard (sponsor: A. da Silva) works on the Nature Run to conduct OSSE’s. To address this problem, different development and evaluation of Ensemble Kalman Filter (newer) versions of the GEOS5 model have to be tested within algorithms for the assimilation of aerosol measurements in the OSSE framework to assess if successively newer versions of GEOS-5, which include AOD and eventually radiances from the GEOS5 model (increasingly different from the GEOS5 model MODIS, MISR, VIIRS, and the geostationary constellation. In version used to derive the Nature Run) are able to introduce addition, LIDAR data from CALIPSO, CATS and EarthCARE are additional model error to the OSSE’s background fields. For that,

12 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 the GSI configuration and simulation baselines using newer Observing System v5 (GEOS-5) aerosol data assimilation system. GEOS5 model versions within the OSSE environment have to be She and her sponsor have implemented the new Aerosol Robotic established. The GSI was configured to be used with the new(er) Network (AERONET) near real time aerosol optical depth (AOD) GEOS5 5.14.2 model version (2-moment physics) within the data stream in the GEOS-5 forward processing (FP) system, OSSE framework. GEOS5-GSI analysis with real and OSSE data and have conducted preliminary investigations on the impacts were produced. on forecast skill. She also updated and implemented a new version of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Dr. Carvalho contributed to the development, calibration and (MODIS) Neural Network Retrieval (NNR). The GEOS-5 aerosol validation of the OSSE modeling code version 3.9.9.16, which data assimilation system assimilates observed AOD that has is now publicly available (under the name GOWASP – Goddard been retrieved by a neural network applied on MODIS top of the Observing and Weather Analysis Software Package). This was the atmosphere (TOA) reflectance measurements, referred to as the first public release of the GMAO OSSE code. He also updated a NNR. The previous NNRv2 algorithm is based on Collection 5 version of the OSSE Satwinds code. Some issues were detected MODIS data. A new MODIS data stream, Collection 6, recently in the OSSE Satwinds, namely an inconsistency in the diurnal was released. The Collection 5 data stream now suffers from cycle of the simulated observations and in the observations calibration errors and is no longer being maintained by the counts. These issues were successfully addressed in the OSSE MODIS team; thus, a new NNRv3 algorithm for MODIS Collection code. 6 was developed to ensure a seamless transition in the aerosol forecast. Dr. Castellanos analyzed the aerosol forecast errors of Scientific support to the HQ-funded MISTiC Winds project was the new aerosol data stream in the MERRA-2 configuration of provided throughout the past year. Dr. Carvalho developed, tested GEOS-5 as well as the GEOS-5 FP system. and worked toward improving the atmospheric motion vectors (AMV) simulator, where cloud and water vapor features tracking In 2016, Dr. Castellanos participated in the Korea-U.S. Air Quality algorithms and codes were developed. Cloud and water vapor (KORUS-AQ) campaign, an international cooperative field study features AMV were derived from the Nature Run atmospheric focused on studying air quality over the South Korean peninsula fields, taking into account the MISTIC project instruments and that was held from April – June 2016. The campaign was based goals requirements. This AMV simulator was successfully tested out of Osan Air Base, Songtan, South Korea, and Dr. Castellanos and validated. After the computation of the AMV, this wind data provided aerosol forecasting support at daily flight planning was assimilated into the GEOS5/GSI modeling framework to meetings at the air base. Post-mission, Dr. Castellanos created assess the benefit of this observed meteorological data source. a global very high resolution (12.5 km) mini-reanalysis for the For that, the GEOS5/GSI modeling framework was configured and KORUS-AQ time period. She also created an accompanying full prepared to assimilate the MISTIC WINDS project AMV. chemistry simulation, and completed an initial validation of the model results using KORUS-AQ aircraft and ground observations. Dr. Carvalho will be submitting a scientific paper describing These results were presented at the KORUS-AQ Science Team and validating MISTIC AMVs simulator, and plans to prepare Meeting in Jeju, South Korea, and the data has been distributed and submit several research papers about the GMAO OSSE to to KORUS-AQ Science Team Members. scientific journals. He also plans to present the latest GMAO OSSE results at the next AGU and/or AMS meetings. Additionally, In the coming months, Dr. Castellanos will continue her work with a collaborative effort between NASA’s GMAO and NASA JPL Dr. da Silva on the development of the MODIS NNR, and create will begin, with Dr. Carvalho involved in the configuration and an OSSE framework for the retrieval, which will enable them to preparation of the GEOS5/GSI modeling framework to assimilate characterize the limitations of the NNR approach. Dr. Castellanos MISR AMV. Several experiments will be performed to assess its also will work on advancing capabilities to simulate polarized potential beneficial impact in the current NASA GMAO weather cloud and infrared TOA radiances within the geostationary forecasting skills. instrument simulator she previously developed. She also will extend the simulator to include low earth orbit (LEO) instruments Dr. Patricia Castellanos (sponsor: A. da Silva) works on with multi-angle measurement strategies. Finally, Dr. Castellanos developing and implementing an observing system simulation will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the recent on-line experiment (OSSE) framework for atmospheric composition, implementation of the GEOS-Chem chemical mechanism within including implementing new observations in the Goddard Earth GEOS-5 using the KORUS-AQ observational dataset.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 13 Dr. Yehui Chang (sponsor: R. Koster) contributes to the overall In the year ahead, Dr. Chang will continue to evaluate evaluation of climate variability and predictability at sub- atmospheric impacts on ENSO, which contributes to the GMAO seasonal-to-decadal timescales and the role of initialization in sub-seasonal to decadal prediction effort, and he will prepare improving prediction skill. He works on climate simulations and a related article for publication. He also will continue to assess attribution studies and conducts climate diagnostic studies using the impact of bias correction in the coupled GCM on the season the GEOS-5 model suite in the GMAO. Dr. Chang has studied the prediction, and again prepare related manuscript drafts. Further, impact of soil moisture anomalies on the atmospheric circulation. his work addressing the issue of drought will continue. Droughts In atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) experiments, are among the most expensive recurring natural disasters to imposing soil moisture dryness in the AGCM in different locations affect the U.S.; however, the model prediction of U.S. drought within the U.S. interior tends to produce the aforementioned is often adversely impacted by distinct mean model biases. pattern, along with an associated near-surface warming and Much of the mean bias in the NASA GEOS-5 AGCM relative precipitation deficit in the center of the continent. The AGCM to the MERRA-2 reanalysis was removed by applying 6-hourly experiments also suggest that dry anomalies imposed in the climatological corrections (relative to MERRA-2) to model basic lower Mississippi River valley have remote surface impacts of state variables within the freer running AGCM. This ongoing work particularly large spatial extent, and a region along the eastern will include a comprehensive process-level investigation of the half of the U.S.-Canadian border is particularly sensitive to dry impact of model mean bias on the simulation and prediction of anomalies in many remote areas. Overall, AGCM experiments U.S. drought. support the idea of a positive feedback loop operating over the continent: dry surface conditions in many interior locations lead To make NASA’s reanalyses more usable for the National Climate to changes in atmospheric circulation that act to enhance further Assessment (NCA), Dr. Allison Collow (sponsor: M. Bosilovich) the overall dryness of the continental interior. calculates climate indicators and specialized products from MERRA-2; evaluates MERRA-2 recent advancements in the He also has been testing the dynamic global vegetation model context of NCA; determines the ability of GCMs to reproduce in the GEOS-5 coupled model system. This study is to access drought processes over the U.S. focusing on NCA sectors; builds the model’s ability to extract forecast skill from the dynamic connections with NASA’s NCA PI’s and the national efforts in vegetation model in sub-seasonal to seasonal time scales. The the NCA process; and interacts with the NCA on regional climate model prediction experiments have been performed in spring issues and the ability of reanalyses to contribute to decision- transition seasons and summer season from 1999-2015. making and resource management.

Dr. Chang has been using MERRA-2 data to explore a novel A focus of Dr. Collow’s work this past year has been on extreme approach to reduce the model biases in a coupled ocean and precipitation events in the northeastern United States, where atmospheric general circulation model (CGCM). The seasonal according to observations there has been a statistically mean climate of a novel approach in this GEOS-5 AGCM significant increase in summertime precipitation and extreme represents a substantial improvement over the simulated precipitation events over the past two decades. Dr. Collow used a climate of the MERRA-2 version of GEOS-5 AGCM. Two CGCM composite analysis to examine the mean state of the atmosphere runs have been running from 1999-2015 at 0.5x0.5 resolution. before, during, and after an extreme precipitation event that The simulations of these experiments have been examined showed an increase in moisture being advected into the region in different spatial and time scales. This novel bias correction alongside a wave train of positive and negative anomalies in 500 approach in the GEOS-5 CGCM is used to assess the forecasting hPa heights and sea level pressure. The observed events were skills in the seasonal predictions. Dr. Chang as a Co-I will begin then divided by their meteorological cause, whether due to a work on the proposal “Regional drought over the Continental U.S. closed low pressure system, frontal system, tropical cyclone, or in a Changing Climate: An Investigation Using the NASA GEOS-5 a different type of influence. Although tropical cyclones can be Model and MERRA-2”, which has been selected for funding. responsible for the most intense extreme precipitation events in the region, the observed increase in extreme precipitation Dr. Chang gave an invited talk at the AGU Fall Meeting in events is because of a combination of increased events due to December, and presented a paper at the 97th AMS Annual closed low pressure and frontal systems. A composite analysis Meeting in January. He was a co-author on three papers, two that compared the first half of the MERRA-2 time period (1980- published in and one submitted to Journal of Climate. 1996) to the more recent time period (1997-2015) showed

14 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 that the track for closed low pressure systems associated with to exceed the 90th percentile. Dr. Collow presented this work extreme precipitation events in the Northeast has shifted to the at the CLIVAR workshop on Arctic Change and its Influence on south so that the system is in an ideal location in the more recent Mid-latitude Weather and Climate in Washington, DC in February time period for transporting moisture from the Atlantic Ocean 2017. into the region. Dr. Collow presented results from this study at the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, CA in December 2016 Dr. Collow will continue her research on large-scale and synoptic and a corresponding manuscript has been published in the influences on extreme weather events in the United States Journal of Hydrometeorology. A research brief on this topic also using MERRA-2 and M2AMIP. She plans to submit an abstract has been posted on the GMAO website (https://gmao.gsfc.nasa. to attend the 5th International Conference on Reanalysis where gov/research/highlights/Summertime-extreme-precipitation/ she hopes to present an analysis of global and regional energy Summertime-extreme-precipitation.pdf). budgets in MERRA-2.

Dr. Collow has been collaborating with Drs. Mike Bosilovich, Dr. Ronald Errico (sponsor: R. Gelaro) works on developing, Randy Koster, and Sarith Mahanama to write a NASA technical validating and applying an Observing System Simulation report that documents the relationship of the El Nino/Southern Experiment (OSSE) capability at the GMAO. During this past Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), North year, he developed the GMAO OSSE for Weather Analysis Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and Pacific/North American Pattern Software Package (GOWASP) for community use. Preliminary to study mean and extreme temperature and precipitation versions of the package have been computationally sped up in the U.S. using observations, MERRA-2, and the MERRA-2 by several factors, and most software redundancies have been Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (M2AMIP) Ensemble removed. Extensive testing has been performed, and internal Simulation. The goal of this work is to verify that the atmospheric documentation has been added. model used in MERRA-2 is able to replicate temperature and precipitation patterns that are correlated to teleconnections in He also developed new algorithms for simulating observation comparison to observations. For the most part, MERRA-2 and errors and determining error tuning parameters. Partitioning M2AMIP agree quite well with the observations, especially during of correlated and uncorrelated simulated observation errors the winter season; however, there is room for improvement, most has now been generalized so that spatial and radiance notably for extreme precipitation in the summertime in relation to channel correlations are introduced consistently. Additionally, El Nino/Southern Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. algorithms for determining the OSSE error parameters required to statistically match real innovation covariances have been As an extension of her work on extreme weather events in developed. For most observation types, the software to the U.S., Dr. Collow began investigating the role of decreasing determine these parameters has been automated. The general Arctic Sea Ice and amplified Arctic warming on extreme weather tuning procedure also has been greatly simplified, requiring half events. Diminishing Arctic sea ice and enhanced warming in the steps of the previous procedure. the Arctic, known as “Arctic Amplification”, can influence the weather in the Mid-latitudes; however, much uncertainty still Dr. Errico created a technical note describing the GOWASP remains on the direct impacts from Arctic Amplification and the algorithms and software in a 130-plus page draft document dynamical pathways that link the Arctic to the Mid-latitudes. Dr. that has been internally reviewed. It includes explanations of Collow created an additional ten-member ensemble of M2AMIP why particular algorithms and software designs were chosen covering a one-year time period initialized in spring of 2012 - this for simulating observations and their errors. General formulas time period was chosen since the minimum recorded extent of that describe more uncommon algorithms, such as those for Arctic Sea Ice was observed that fall. Based on this modeling creating spatially correlated random errors, are derived. One experiment, it was found that an increased number of days in chapter is devoted to explaining how to use the software scripts the Southern Great Plains had temperatures that exceeded the to create the simulated imperfect observations. Also, the general 90th percentile the following November. Above average heights procedure and scripts for tuning the parameters that define the at 500 mb were present just west of Alaska, where Arctic sea ice simulated errors are presented. Additionally, he created a new concentration was well below normal; this reinforced a wave train baseline set of tuned, simulated imperfect observations for the that placed high pressure over the Southern Great Plains and GMAO OSSE. GOWASP has been used to simulate imperfect reduced precipitation. A drier soil then allowed for temperatures observations for most current operationally used data types.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 15 Figure 1: Global precipitation for January 2016 as estimated by the TRMM (left) and simulated by the GEOS-5 global model using GF convective scheme (right). The units are mm day-1. In the upper left of each panel appears the precipitation global mean. Figure: S. Freitas.

The required simulated errors have been tuned to appropriately The scheme was tested on several model configurations match various performance statistics in real data assimilation and resolutions from c48 (~200km) to c1440 (~6km). The and OSSE contexts. This includes innovation and analysis scheme provided a stable (bounded) solution for several years increment statistics as well as measures of observation impacts. of integration (on c180). The preliminary evaluation showed a positive comparison with observational data. Results of Going forward, he plans to promote the GMAO OSSE for Weather this work were presented at the invited talk titled “The Grell- Analysis Software Package (GOWASP) as a NASA and community Freitas Convective Parameterization: Recent developments and resource. He also will evaluate current and proposed GMAO data applications within the NASA GEOS Global Model” during the assimilation systems using the GMAO OSSE as well as evaluate International Workshop on Physical Parameterization at the potential impacts of proposed observing systems on weather Indian Institute for Tropical Meteorology in February 2017 and analysis and prediction skills using the GMAO OSSE. as an internal seminar at a GMAO Science Theme Meeting. Also, recent results related to the improvements on the simulation of Dr. Saulo Freitas (sponsor: S. Pawson) works on implementing, the diurnal cycle of convection over the land will be presented at developing and evaluating an alternative convection the upcoming workshop “The Future of Cumulus Parametrization” parameterization for NASA’s GEOS-5 modeling system. This in The Netherlands. Manuscripts are being prepared for convection parameterization (Grell and Freitas, 2014, hereafter submission to the journals Geoscientific Model Development and GF) was implemented in the NASA GEOS model. The main Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems. In this report, characteristics of GF scheme are as follows: a stochastic approach adapted from the Grell- Devenyi (2002) scheme; a trimodal plume scheme representing the deep, ’congestus’, and shallow convection regimes; several closures suitable for the diverse regimes of convection; scale awareness through Arakawa’s 2011 approach; aerosol dependence (still experimental); transport of momentum, tracers, water and moist static energy and scavenging for aerosols and gases; mass conservative on machine precision, including water and tracers; new closure from Peter Bechtold et al. (2014) for non-equilibrium convection; and, Probability Density Functions (Beta type) to emulate the vertical mass flux Figure 2: Global simulation of precipitation by GEOS-5 applying the GF convection profiles, which provides an easier way to parameterization on low spatial resolution (c180, upper row) and high resolution (c1440, set the vertical location of the maximum lower row). The total precipitation for both grid configurations is on the left, while the heating. precipitation only from the convection parameterization is shown on the right side. Figure: S. Freitas.

16 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 CP is producing a smaller fraction (0.5 mm day-1), leaving to the microphysics scheme to respond to about 84% of the rainfall. Also, it is evident that the global distribution of the rainfall systems is very comparable in both grid configurations, showing Figure 3: Diurnal cycle of precipitation over the Amazon Basin a smooth transition from non-resolved to resolved scales in GF- for January 2016. Figure: S. Freitas. GEOS model.

Realistic simulation of the diurnal march of convection over land the authors present an overview of some capabilities of the new by low-resolution atmospheric models is a challenging task. In scheme. general, models that apply the CP to simulate the convective rainfall fail to predict the timing of the peak precipitation rate. A comparison of global precipitation as estimated by the Tropical The GF scheme implements a closure for non-equilibrium Rainfall Mission Measurement (TRMM, left) and simulated convection based on Bechtold et al. (2014) previous work, which, by GF in GEOS-5 model (GEOS-GF, right) for January 2016 is together with the trimodal approach, effectively improves this represented in Figure 1. GEOS-5 ran on c360 resolution (~25 model ability. Figure 3 presents GF-GEOS model results as well km), and the TRMM product is produced on 0.25 degree. The as precipitation estimation from three remote sensing-based simulated precipitation well resembles the general spatial products (TRMM, GPM and CMORPH). The curves represent the distribution of TRMM, with the model overestimating the diurnal cycle of precipitation averaged over the Amazon Basin precipitation rate on the Pacific ITCZ and underestimating on the and for January 2016. TRMM, GPM, and CMORPH present some East coast of North America, as well as over the South America. discrepancy on rainfall amount, but clearly show the peak of On global mean, TRMM estimates 3.03 mm day-1, while model rainfall during the late afternoon and early evening. Applying the simulates 3.01 mm day-1. Bechtold’s closure (red curves) GF-GEOS precipitation is shifted by 2-3 hours in comparison with the control simulation (green The scale-aware capability of GF scheme provides a smooth curves), which is a much closer observation. transition from non-resolved to resolved deep convective cloud systems in the NASA GEOS5 model, shown in Figure In the coming year, Dr. Freitas and colleagues will concentrate on 2. This feature applies an estimation for the fractional area the following: 1) evaluating the impact of the closure for non- covered by the active cloud draft (sigma) in terms of the local equilibrium convection on model simulation of the diurnal cycle entrainment rate and grid spacing. The sigma parameter is of convection; 2) including and testing a parameterization for then used to weight the mass flux at the cloud base, which convective transport and wet removal of tracers; 3) performing represents a measure of the intensity of the convection. At low quantitative skill evaluation of GF-GEOS model for weather and spatial resolution, sigma is ~1 and the scheme functions as seasonal time-scale applications; and 4) preparing manuscripts a conventional parameterization handling the effects of sub- for submission. grid scale deep convective clouds systems. At high resolution, sigma tends to zero, and the parameterization gives way to the microphysics scheme to explicitly resolve those clouds. In Figure 2 it is shown the precipitation simulated by GF-GEOS model on a Dr. Manuela Girotto (sponsor: R. Reichle) works on assimilating low-resolution configuration (C180, ~ 50km, upper panels) and satellite observations from the Gravity Recovery and Climate on relatively high-resolution (C1440, ~ 6 km, lower panels). On Experiment (GRACE), from the Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity the right appears the total precipitation (from the convection and (SMOS) mission, and from the Advanced Microwave Scanning microphysics parameterizations), and on the left the precipitation Radiometer (AMSR-E) into GMAO’s land surface data assimilation only from the convection parameterization (CP). MERRA-2 system. The goal is to assimilate both vertically integrated reanalysis was used as initial condition for model integration, terrestrial water storage (GRACE) and brightness temperature and the simulation results are presented as time average for 15- (Tb) to improve profile of soil moisture and snow estimates. Work 17 April 2000. On low resolution (upper row), the precipitation this past year focused on her implementation of a GRACE data from the CP (global mean of 1.8 mm day-1) dominates the total assimilation framework over India and she has investigated its amount (3.2 mm day-1). At high resolution (lower row), the changes in the water cycle. The consumption of groundwater simulated total precipitation is close (3.2 mm day-1), but now the for irrigation and other anthropogenic uses has unsustainably

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 17 SMOS data assimilation. To understand if these degradations were caused by the assimilation of SMOS observations, Dr. Girotto investigated assimilation statistics (such as spatial and temporal statistics of innovation and analysis) for several SMOS assimilations. It is expected that the merged SMOS+GRACE assimilation systems will benefit from the ad-hoc design of the perturbation characteristics. The ensemble spread was found to depend on the depth-to-bedrock model parameter. For this, Dr. Girotto has tested a few data assimilation experiments to test the benefits of providing a spatially variable model error structure. The data assimilation results suggested that very marginal and insignificant changes of the SMOS assimilation can be attributed to the spatial structure of the model errors. The spatial structure Figure 1: Trends in the (a,d,g) observed, (b,e,h) model-only, of the observations error also should be taken into consideration. and (c,f,i) data assimilation estimates of (a,b,c) TWS, (d,e,f) groundwater, and (g,h,i) evapotranspiration rate. Grey colors The Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and indicate non-significant trends (p$<$0.05).Figure provided by Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2) is an atmospheric reanalysis M. Girotto. product that also provides global, 1-hourly estimates of land surface hydrologic conditions for 1980-present. Dr. Girotto has completed the evaluation of MERRA-2 TWS estimates increased during the past decade in India. The depletion of the by comparing them to GRACE observations. The comparison groundwater is expected to affect other fluxes and components demonstrates clear improvements in MERRA-2 over MERRA in of the water balance. Dr. Girotto has quantified statistical skills South America and Africa but also reflects known errors in the of model and data assimilation simulations for the groundwater precipitation forcing. Results of the TWS validation are reported and terrestrial water storage (TWS) estimates in a peer- in a draft where lead author Dr. Reichle evaluates the hydrology reviewed article. The manuscript further highlights that the component of MERRA-2. assimilation introduces a negative trend in evapotranspiration due to the water limitation induced by the depletion of the Dr. Girotto was the lead author on two publications this past groundwater system. This negative trend in evapotranspiration, year, one in GRL, the other in Water Resources Research; she however, is likely overestimated because the model is also also co-authored four publications. She also was lead author missing the contribution of evapotranspiration from surface on four conference presentations, including one given at the irrigation, another unmodeled anthropogenic process. Figure AGU Fall Meeting in December 2016 and one given at the EGU 1 illustrates patterns and magnitudes of the trends reported Annual Meeting in April 2017, as well as co-author of three other in observed, modeled and assimilated TWS, groundwater and conference presentations. evapotranspiration. Details of the work were reported in Girotto et al., (2017). Results of this study suggest that anthropogenic In this next year, the research team will work on a manuscript processes need to be considered in modeling and assimilation to describe the team’s original contributions on GRACE and systems to improve the simulation of TWS and groundwater SMOS data assimilation. Also, the team will work toward the variations. assimilation of both GRACE and AMSR-E for improving snow estimates, and the team will investigate if GRACE observations Additionally, Dr. Girotto has completed the implementation of the can be used to improve depth to bedrock model parameters. multi-variate and multi-scale assimilation of SMOS and GRACE. The code has been shared with colleagues from UMD who Dr. Daniel Holdaway (sponsor: S. Pawson) works on developing will use the same framework for the integration of GRACE and advanced data assimilation methods. NASA’s Global Modeling AMSR-E observations for snow assimilation purposes. Dr. Girotto and Assimilation Office maintains tangent linear and adjoint demonstrated that SMOS data assimilation was not beneficial for versions of the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS). improving groundwater and TWS observations. Several regions’ This adjoint model is used to operationally track the impact groundwater and TWS model estimates were degraded upon of individual observations in the data assimilation system;

18 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 A single precision of the tangent linear model has been developed and tested, and it performed equally to the double precision version. A single Figure 2, two forecasts of Hurricane Joaquin. Figure provided by D. Holdaway. precision version of the adjoint has been developed and is undergoing testing. (See figure 1.) it also is used to examine sensitivity to initial conditions in a research environment and forms the basis of the 4DVAR data Dr. Holdaway also has begun working on developing a tool assimilation system. At present, a major upgrade to the finite for inversely estimating the surface fluxes of emissions of volume cubed sphere (FV3) dynamical core used in GEOS is constituents. Such a tool would help to reduce uncertainty underway. This new version supports non-hydrostatic dynamics, in concentrations of quantities such as dust, sulphates and single precision numerics and nested grids. Over the course of carbon dioxide. The first stage of this work, which is to develop the year, Dr. Holdaway has worked to develop the adjoint version the adjoint of the GEOS Chemistry Transport Model (GEOS- of this new version of FV3, including performing an extensive CTM), is underway. He has developed the advection, convection scientific analysis of the tangent linear model and completing the and diffusion components, and is now beginning work on the development of a double precision version of the adjoint model. chemistry components.

Other work has focused on investigating the sensitivity to initial conditions for hard-to-forecast tropical cyclones and hurricanes. A particular example of interest is the case of Hurricane Joaquin in 2015. This was a category 4 hurricane that all forecast models had a very hard time forecasting. Although the storm never made impact on the Atlantic coast of the U.S., it was forecast to do so throughout the early stages of the storm development. Using the adjoint of the GEOS, it is possible to derive optimal perturbations to the model initial state and demonstrate the high sensitivity to small changes. In Figure 2 are two forecasts of Joaquin. At left, the actual track of Joaquin is shown in black and the forecasted track in blue. The contours show the sea level pressure for the five-day forecast of Joaquin. For the image at right, he and his team made very small changes to the initial conditions derived from the adjoint. In this forecast the initial winds are changed by around 1-2m/s and the temperature is changed by 1-2K. Clearly this produces a storm with very different characteristics and a storm that impacts the East Coast of the U.S. By repeating these experiments for different perturbations, they found strong sensitivity and interaction between intensity and track; also, small changes designed to reduce or increase strength affect the track, due to the depth of the storm and steering winds that Figure 1 shows the evolution of a dry baroclinic wave using the directed it. Forecast models will always struggle when there is nonlinear and tangent linear versions of FV3. The upper and this degree of sensitivity to initial conditions and demonstrates middle panels show the structure of the wave after 8 days in the need for more improvement to data assimilation systems for the wind and temperature fields. Left panels show the nonlinear tropical cyclones and hurricanes. model and right panels show the tangent linear model. The lowest panel shows the correlation between nonlinear and Over the next year, Dr. Holdaway plans to complete the tangent linear perturbations over a 15-day integration. Figure development of the first version of the adjoint of the most recent provided by D. Holdaway. version of the FV3 system. Ongoing work will be required to keep

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 19 the adjoint up to date moving forward, but this work should be record of over two decades. Therefore, they can potentially fairly minimal. Also, he plans to complete the development of improve the climatology data products made by GEOS-5. Dr. an adjoint version of the GEOS CTM and begin the development Jin will continue to assess and investigate these observations’ of the data assimilation system that will be used to assimilate impact on GEOS-5’s analysis and forecast. emissions. Dr. Min-Jeong Kim (sponsor: R. Gelaro) works on the Dr. Jianjun Jin (sponsor: R. Gelaro) develops and improves development and implementation of All-sky Microwave Radiance the procedure to assimilate cloudy microwave radiance Data Assimilation Configuration in GEOS-5 Atmospheric Data observations made by AMSR2/GCOM-W1 satellite with GEOS5 Assimilation System (ADAS). Various code changes were atmospheric data assimilation system (ADAS). Microwave required to run the all-sky data assimilation framework in the imager instruments have been observing Earth’s hydrological updated GEOS-5 ADAS system based on the hybrid 4D-EnVar cycle during the past three decades. These instruments can GSI algorithm, particularly the ADAS components (i.e. GMAO_ measure water vapor and cloud contents, rain, and snow. hermes and GEOSgsi_Coupler) coupling GEOS-5 model inputs/ They also can measure sea surface temperature and sea ice outputs and GSI inputs/outputs that did not have clouds and concentration. The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer precipitation variables. Code plumbing was necessary to properly 2 (AMSR2) is onboard the Japanese GCOM-W satellite. AMSR2 generate cloud and hydrometeor analysis increments. All the measures microwave radiance emission from Earth’s surface code changes were delivered as an EnADAS tag. and atmosphere by conically scanning Earth’s surface at dual- polarization frequencies range from 6.9 GHz to 89 GHz. As in Other work was focused on reconstructing static background other microwave satellite observations, its data bear sea surface error covariances for hydrometeors (liquid cloud, ice cloud, rain, temperature, atmospheric moisture, cloud, and rain information. and snow) using 24-hour and 48-hour forecasts generated by the Collaborating with a scientist at Joint Center for Satellite Data GEOS-5 Forward Processing system. The analysis control vector Assimilation (JCSDA), Dr. Jin produced an AMSR-2 BUFR in the current GEOS-5 FP system (GMAO’s near real-time global brightness temperature (Tb) data set that can be processed by forecast system) includes stream function, unbalanced velocity GEOS-5 ADAS and started testing AMSR2 data in the previous potential, unbalanced virtual temperature, unbalanced surface year. During this past year, Dr. Jin developed and improve the pressure, relative humidity, ozone mixing ratio, and surface assimilation algorithm including new satellite data thinning temperature. In order to assimilate all-sky microwave radiance procedure, tuning observation error, improving data quality data, cloud liquid, cloud ice, rain, and snow water mixing ratio are control in GEOS’s 3D ensemble variational data assimilation added as analysis control variables. With the newly added control system (3dEnVar) and 4D ensemble variational data assimilation variables, relevant background error covariances, both static system (4dEnVar). and flow-dependent, needed to be generated. Climatological statistics were estimated following the NMC method using pairs Dr. Jin presented his research at the 14th JCSDA Technical of 24-hr and 48-hr GEOS-5 forecasts between 1 June 2016 and Review Meeting & Science Workshop on Satellite Data 16 January 2017. (Ensemble covariances, on the other hand, are Assimilation at Moss Landing, CA, in early June 2016 and at derived using the spread of the 32 ensemble forecasts of each the 97th American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting at cycle from the hybrid GEOS-5 ADAS.) Seattle, WA, in January 2017. His research shows that AMSR2 has a positive impact in GEOS-5’s cloudy analysis, increasing The original Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) cloud stratocumulus clouds in the eastern Pacific and Atlantic. coefficients are composed of Mie scattering parameters. It is Cloud contents in GEOS-5 analysis are made closer to other known that Mie scattering parameters for frozen precipitation observational data. These AMSR2 data also improve moisture in cannot produce simulated radiances similar to the observations, GEOS-5’s analysis. especially at high microwave frequencies (> 85 GHz). In addition, the critical information on particle size ranges, particle shapes, Dr. Jin will continue to develop and improve the procedure to and particle size distribution assumed in generating those assimilate precipitation-related microwave radiance observations coefficient files are not available for CRTM users. These available data with GEOS-5. He will start working on historical microwave files then do not allow users the flexibility to choose a hydrometer satellite data made by other microwave satellite instruments such shape or particle size distributions. While CRTM developers at as SSM/I, TMI and AMSRE. These data have an observational JCSDA are currently working on improving the cloud coefficient

20 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 file development, it will take time for users to obtain new cloud less than 0.05, simulated cloud index (CIg) is less than 0.05, and coefficient files that include clear descriptions about the files. the difference between CIo and CIg is less than 0.005. Results In response, Dr. Kim developed the capability to generate CRTM suggested that the VarBC system is capable of removing biases cloud-scattering coefficients to provide users with the ability reasonably well and shifted the center of first-guess departure to choose particle shapes and size distribution in the cloud PDF to near zero; however, remaining biases associated with coefficients. Then, the new cloud coefficients in computing cloud thick cloud and heavy precipitations were identified. Therefore, and precipitation-affected GMI radiances could be applied into the mean of the observed and calculated CIs (CIavg) and the all-sky data assimilation experiments. CIavg2 were used as two additional bias correction predictors to correct the cloud amount dependent first-guess biases. The As mentioned, Mie scattering parameters present limitations bias correction coefficients for these predictors are set to be for frozen hydrometeors especially at high frequency microwave updated using only the data where both observed and simulated channels; therefore, the Discrete Dipole Approximation (DDA) cloud indices are greater than 0.05 and their difference is less method calculated scattering parameters for non-spherical frozen than 0.005. After adding this CI dependent bias correction, the precipitation from Liu (2008) were used to reconstruct a look up magnitude of the bias of first-guess departures was reduced to table (LUT) for the CRTM. In the scattering database described less than 2 K in all CI ranges both at low and high frequency GMI in Liu (2008), optical properties of randomly oriented snow channels. particles are tabulated as a function of frequency, temperature, and particle size for a variety of ice crystal shapes, such as Cycled experiments were implemented to assess the impact hexagonal ice columns, plates, rosettes, dendrites, etc. Optical of all-sky GMI data on GEOS-5 analyses and forecasts. GEOS-5 properties of 11 different non-spherical ice crystal shapes in ADAS based on Hybrid 4D-EnVar was employed and horizontal Liu’s database, in addition to scattering properties of spherical resolutions for analyses and forecasts used in the experiments ice crystal calculated with Mie method, are examined to find were in 0.5 deg and 0.25 deg, respectively. The control run an optimal choice of ice crystal shape to reconstruct CRTM assimilated all the data utilized in the current FP-system and cloud scattering coefficients to use as part of the GEOS-5 ADAS experiments used all-sky GMI data. Results demonstrated observation operator. For each ice crystal shape, a CRTM cloud that all-sky GMI improved the lower tropospheric humidity coefficient LUT was generated for 33 microwave frequencies and temperature forecast, especially near Tropics. In addition, from 10.65 GHz to 190.31 GHz, 7 atmospheric temperatures a noticeable positive impact of all-sky GMI assimilation on from 243 K to 303 K, and 405 effective radius sizes, beginning hurricane track forecasts was identified for Hurricane Melor with 0.005 mm. Maximum effective radius considered for rain in (December 2015) during the period of cycled experiments. the new CRTM coefficients of this study is 1.191 mm; for snow crystals, it ranges from 0.664 mm to 1.278 mm, depending on Dr. Kim has been extending the GEOS-5 ADAS all-sky snow crystal shape. After replacing original cloud coefficients configuration to assimilate all-sky AMSU-A and MHS radiance with new cloud coefficients constructed with DDA scattering data. First-guess departures statistics for AMSU-A and MHS were parameters, simulated GMI brightness temperatures were closer calculated using new CRTM coefficients as previously detailed to the observations and first-guess departure showed less bias in to construct all-sky observation error models for these sensors’ regions of precipitation. data. Going forward, the initial assessments of the data’s performance through cycled experiments in Hybrid 4D-EnVar Dr. Kim also worked on improving bias correction, especially for ADAS system are being prepared. data in regions with thick clouds and precipitation. For the all-sky implementation, two changes were made to the original VarBC: Dr. Emma Knowland (sponsor: L. Ott) works on improving the first, the retrieved cloud liquid water path was removed as a representation of atmospheric constituents in the GEOS-5 VarBC predictor, and second, only near-clear sky observations models and data assimilation systems, particularly transport with near-clear sky background were used in updating bias uncertainty in the models, including its dependence on spatial correction coefficients. For the process, cloud amount was resolution. As ensemble assimilation methods are developed, estimated with cloud index (CI) based on 37 GHz brightness she contributes to implementing suitable ensembles that span temperature differences between horizontal and vertical the range of constituent uncertainty in GEOS-5, followed by polarizations. Data used for bias correction coefficient updates constructing state-dependent background error covariances were restricted to the regions where observed cloud index (CIo) is that contain information about transport and source-sink

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 21 uncertainties. As a result of her research, she submitted a validating the GEOS-5 forecasts of stratospheric ozone intrusions; paper titled “The influence of mid-latitude cyclones on European with the retirement of Eric Nielsen on April 28, 2017, she also will background surface ozone” to the Atmospheric Chemistry and supervise running the GEOS-5 model forecasts. Physics (ACP) special issue “Global and regional assessment of intercontinental transport of air pollution: results from HTAP, Coming up, Dr. Knowland has a manuscript in preparation for AQMEII and MICS”. This paper quantifies the influence extra- publication on the stratospheric intrusion case studies over the tropical cyclones have on the temporal variability of springtime western U.S. which demonstrates that the MERRA-2 reanalysis surface ozone measured on the west coast of Europe, and can be used for large-scale studies of stratospheric intrusions. through case study analysis, using both the MACC and MERRA-2 She plans to continue to investigate how the different GMAO reanalyses and a GEOS-5 stratospheric influence tracer, products represent stratospheric intrusions, especially those demonstrates there are several transport pathways ozone- events which result in air quality ozone exceedances in the rich stratospheric air can take before eventually reaching the U.S. Using the objective feature tracking algorithm, TRACK, surface. Dr. Knowland presented results from the paper at a joint both upper-level and lower-level dynamical features are being workshop held by the U.S. EPA, the Task Force on Hemispheric examined on seasonal timescales and linked to the assimilated Transport of Air Pollution (TF HTAP) and the Air Quality Model MERRA-2 ozone concentrations and throughout the troposphere Evaluation International Initiative (AQMEII) titled “Air Quality in a and lower stratosphere. The end result will be a catalogue Changing World” held in April 2017 in Research Triangle Park, of stratospheric intrusions from the MERRA-2 reanalysis. Dr. North Carolina. The first day of this workshop was dedicated to Knowland is validating this catalogue against the current dataset the results from papers from the ACP special issue. of stratospheric intrusion-influenced air quality exceedance flags from the EPA. Work also will continue on evaluating tropospheric Dr. Knowland also presented her research via oral and poster and lower stratospheric transport of reactive gases in the presentations, including the GMAO meeting with the Science different products using the GEOS-5 models; in particular, she Theme of “Downscaled MERRA-2 replay run of GEOS-5”. During will aid in validating the MERRA-2 replay runs with GMI chemistry the presentation, Dr. Knowland highlighted differences in the by Luke Oman (Code 614). Dr. Knowland will focus on frontal representation of known stratospheric intrusions (which lead systems and the impact on the transport of trace gases at the to extreme ozone events in western USA) in the MERRA-2 different model resolutions. The major modes of variability of reanalysis and the higher horizontal resolution M2R12K dataset. the Northern Hemisphere, including the Pacific North American At the 2016 International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) (PNA) pattern and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), will be conference in September 2016, she presented two posters. In considered. She also hopes to present at the Fifth International the first, Dr. Knowland illustrated that stratospheric intrusions Conference on Reanalysis in November 2017. known to impact surface air quality are well represented in the MERRA-2 reanalysis and therefore, in the second poster, she was Dr. Eunjee Lee (sponsor: R. Koster) develops and evaluates able to use the MERRA-2 reanalysis to explore the variability of surface flux models for CO2 between the atmosphere and the the dynamical features of stratospheric intrusions over western land in GEOS-5. In studying the effect of the spatiotemporal and eastern USA for the recent 10-year period, 2005-2014. Her variability of atmospheric CO2 on land carbon fluxes, Dr. Lee work on “Regional differences in stratospheric intrusions over the investigated the impact of multifarious temporal variability, as USA investigated using the NASA MERRA-2 Reanalysis” was also well as spatial variability, of atmospheric CO2 forcing on the presented at the 2016 Young Scientist Forum (open to all early Gross Primary Production (GPP) of the terrestrial ecosystem. career scientists in Code 610), at the 2016 AGU Fall meeting, Using NASA GMAO’s offline Catchment-CN land surface model, and at the Code 600 Poster Party at NASA Goddard Space Flight the results highlight that the lack of representation of the diurnal Center. cycle of atmospheric CO2 leads to an over-prediction of the mean global GPP by 0.5 PgC per year through the CO2 rectifier effect. In January 2017, Dr. Knowland joined NASA Goddard Applied Seasonal variability and spatial variability of CO2 affect the Sciences’ Air Quality and Health working group. She is now pattern of the regional land carbon fluxes. The study suggests working on a new project, led by Bryan Duncan (Code 614), explicit representation of diurnal CO2 forcing for the offline in collaboration with other GMAO scientists and Code 614 land models and a sub-daily time-step for the coupling of the scientists, with the goal to provide UNICEF with global air quality carbon variables in the coupled land-atmosphere simulations. At forecasts using the GEOS-5 model. Her role is to assist in present, Dr. Lee is leading a manuscript in progress on the topic

22 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 of the effects of atmospheric CO2 variability on the land carbon an earlier occurrence of equatorial Pacific warming and was the fluxes. strongest event on record in the central Pacific, the 1997-1998 event exhibited a more rapid growth due to stronger westerly For her work examining CO2 coupling between the atmosphere wind bursts and Madden-Julian Oscillation during spring, making and land in GEOS-5, she has been developing a version of GEOS- it the strongest El Niño in the eastern Pacific. Compared to 1982- 5 that enables CO2 flux exchanges between the atmosphere and 1983 and 1997-1998, the 2015-2016 event has a shallower the terrestrial biosphere. The coupled model has been tested for thermocline over the eastern Pacific with a weaker zonal contrast investigating the feedback of the global carbon cycle. This work is of sub-surface water temperatures along the equatorial Pacific. in collaboration with Dr. Lesley Ott. Dr. Lim concluded that, while the three major ENSO events have similarities, each is unique when looking at the atmosphere and In October 2016, Dr. Lee presented her recent work at the ocean surface and sub-surface. A paper on this work has been Goddard Young Scientist Forum, and in December, she gave a accepted in a special MERRA-2 issue of Journal of Climate. short presentation at the SED Director’s seminar on the topic of “Land-Atmosphere Carbon Exchange using the Catchment- Dr. Lim investigated the factors impacting western U.S. winter CN model with MERRA-2”. She gave an oral presentation at precipitation during the 2015-2016 El Niño using the MERRA-2 the AGU Fall Meeting in December 2016, and in April 2017, data, and simulations with the NASA GEOS-5 AGCM forced with she gave a seminar about the response of the global terrestrial specified sea surface temperatures (SSTs). His results revealed carbon cycle to spatiotemporal variability of the atmospheric CO2 that the response to the tropical Pacific SST associated with concentration at the Center for Land-Ocean-Atmosphere Studies the 2015-2016 El Niño was to produce wetter than normal at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. conditions over much of the west coast including California – a result at odds with the weak negative precipitation anomalies This coming year, Dr. Lee will continue to investigate the observed over much of the southwest. This discrepancy is the carbon cycle feedback between the atmosphere and the land, result of two factors that acted to counter the ENSO response: and conduct scientific experiments in preparation of journal first, the response to the observed persistent warm SST in the publications and scientific meetings. She will explore the effect northeastern Pacific produced drying in the southwestern U.S. of the carbon cycle feedback in conjunction with the water by increasing sea level pressure, driving anticyclonic circulation cycle and the energy cycle at the land-atmosphere interface. In and atmospheric descent, and reducing moisture transport into addition to the CO2 flux coupling, she will develop a version of the that region; second, large-scale unforced (by SST) components of surface flux model that incorporates the indirect effect of carbon atmospheric variability (consisting of the leading modes of intra- species coupling through the change in radiation. In addition to ensemble variability) resembling the positive phase of the North her research activities, she will continue to organize the GMAO Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Arctic Oscillation (AO) are found carbon meeting every other month, which fosters discussion and to also contribute to the drying over the western U.S. by driving collaboration of the carbon cycle research at GMAO. high pressure and atmospheric subsidence. His results indicate that the unexpected failure of the strong 2015-2016 El Niño to Dr. Young-Kwon Lim (sponsor: S. Pawson) supports scientific alleviate the California drought is due in part to the potentially research on climate variability and weather extremes using predictable response to unusually strong and persistent modeling and assimilation tools developed by the GMAO. Dr. Lim warm waters just off the northwest coast and in part due to investigated characteristic atmospheric/oceanic features of the unpredictable (at seasonal time scales) atmospheric variability 2015-2016 El Niño over the tropical Pacific using the Goddard linked to the NAO/AO. A manuscript is currently under review with Earth Observing System (GEOS) data assimilation system. A main Journal of Climate. theme of the work was to compare and contrast it with two other strong El Niños, in 1982-1983 and 1997-1998. He found from Also, Dr. Lim explored interannual variations in seasonal tropical various atmospheric/oceanic structures that the 2015-2016 El cyclone (TC) activity (e.g., genesis frequency and location, track Niño maximized in the Niño 3.4 region, with the large region of pattern, and landfall) over the North Atlantic by employing warming over most of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The eastern observationally-constrained simulations with the NASA GEOS-5 tropical Indian Ocean, Maritime Continent, and western tropical AGCM. He found that the leading climate modes that significantly Pacific are found to be less dry in boreal winter, compared to determine seasonal TC activity are El Niño-Southern Oscillation the earlier two strong events. While the 2015-2016 El Niño had (ENSO), the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and the Atlantic

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 23 Meridional Mode (AMM). His results demonstrated that the over North America, high-latitude Eurasia and the Arctic region NAO and AMM can strongly modify and even oppose the well- near Barents/Kara Sea. Results of the study demonstrate that known ENSO impacts, like in 2005, when a strong positive AMM atmospheric teleconnections from the Atlantic contributed to (associated with warm SSTs and a negative SLP anomaly over warming over Eurasian high-latitude land surfaces, and El Niño- the western tropical Atlantic), led to a very active TC season with related teleconnections explain warming over southwestern enhanced TC genesis over the Caribbean Sea and a number Alaska and British Columbia, while warm anomalies over the of landfalls over North America, under a near neutral ENSO central Arctic are associated with physical processes including condition. On the other hand, the weak TC activity during 2013 the presence of enhanced atmospheric water vapor and an (characterized by a weak negative Niño index) appears to be increased downwelling longwave radiative flux. A related paper caused by a NAO-induced positive SLP anomaly with enhanced that Dr. Lim co-authored has been published in Geophysical vertical wind shear over the tropical North Atlantic. During 2010, Research Letters. the combined impact of the three modes produced positive SST anomalies across the entire low-latitudinal Atlantic and a weaker In the year ahead, the development of the new NASA GEOS North Atlantic subtropical high, leading to more early recurvers operational seasonal forecast model should be completed. and thus fewer landfalls, despite enhanced TC genesis. His study Numerous tests and evaluations are required to conclude if this provides evidence that TC number and track are very sensitive to new model is relevant for the next operational forecast model the relative phases and intensities of these three modes, not just in NASA. Also, Dr. Lim will continue to work on researching to ENSO alone, and that the TC tracks are primarily controlled the impact of SST-forced and unforced teleconnections on by largest-scales of the atmosphere consisting of wavelengths 2015-2016 El Niño winter precipitation over the western U.S. greater than about 4,000–5,000km over the Atlantic TC basin. Additionally, he will explore the NAO activity in a changing climate His examination of seasonal predictability reveals that predictive with a particular focus on the frequent occurrence of the negative skill of the three modes for TC season by GEOS-5 model is limited phase of the NAO in summer. Regarding the seasonality of the over tropics to sub-tropics, with the AMM having the highest temperature and precipitation in response to ENSO, anomalous predictability, followed by ENSO and NAO. A related paper has distributions of temperature and precipitation over North America been published in Journal of Climate. exhibit noticeable monthly variations during the ENSO winter season (December through March). Dr. Lim will try to identify the As a member of the seasonal prediction group in GMAO, Dr. possible mechanism that accounts for this monthly variation and Lim has been working on developing the new version NASA explore how the current global climate model can be improved to GEOS coupled model that will later replace the current-version realistically predict this monthly variation. operational seasonal forecast model. Recently, he found that most of operational seasonal forecast models involved in Dr. Karla Longo de Freitas (sponsor: S. Pawson) contributes National Multi-Model Ensemble project are unsuccessful in to GMAO’s constituent modeling and assimilation efforts, with realistically forecasting seasonal precipitation anomalies over a focus on using data from NASA’s field missions to assess the the western U.S. for 2015-2016 El Niño event. Encouragingly, quality of aerosol and trace gas distributions in GEOS systems. he found that the new version currently in development in this She utilizes historical observations to help evaluate reanalyses group has a potential to improve precipitation forecast over and the development of model transport algorithms to improve North America. He is also working on the model predictability of the representation of constituents, especially in the planetary the ENSO seasonality, large-scale teleconnections, and tropical boundary layer. Dr. Longo uses computing facilities in remote cyclone on seasonal time scales. environments as part of GMAO’s contributions to the field support of NASA aircraft missions. Dr. Lim worked with some of the IDS project members on the unprecedented warming over the Arctic that occurred in 2015- This past year, Dr. Longo de Freitas assisted with aerosol 2016 DJF season. He improved understanding of the role of forecasting and helping with flight planning as part of two large-scale teleconnections originating from the tropical Pacific missions: first, she participated in the deployment of KORUS-AQ (e.g., Pacific North American (PNA) and Tropical Northern (An International Cooperative Air Quality Field Study in Korea) Hemisphere (TNH)) and the extra-tropical Atlantic (e.g., North from May 27 – June 13, 2016, and next she participated in Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), East Atlantic/West Russia (EA/WR), the deployment of the ORACLES (ObseRvations of Aerosols and Scandinavian pattern (SCA)) in driving a strong warming above CLouds and their intEractionS) in Namibia from Aug 25

24 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 – Sept 13, 2016. In the coming year, she will participate in the Dr. McGrath-Spangler is preparing a draft manuscript, tentatively deployment of the second phase of the ORACLES mission in titled “Mid-day climatological boundary layer heights over land: Namibia in August 2017. Comparison of radiosonde, LiDAR retrievals, and reanalysis” by McGrath-Spangler and Denning. This work examines the Dr. Longo de Freitas has been contributing to the development of statistical relationship between two observational estimates of a new module for wet removal of aerosols in GEOS-5. In the first PBL depth and reanalysis. phase, work consisted of designing the theoretical framework for this new parameterization. Additionally, she has been performing Going forward, Dr. McGrath-Spangler will begin comparisons GEOS-5 simulations for the ORACLES 2016 period to test several among her GEOS-5 experiments testing the sensitivity of PBL configurations of the model. Going forward, Dr. Longo de Freitas depth and tracer transport to a temporal surface temperature will continue work on the wet removal of aerosols; she will trend consistent with increasing CO2 concentrations due to code and evaluate the new below-cloud aerosol removal that anthropogenic climate change. recognizes raindrops and aerosol sizes. Dr. Erica McGrath-Spangler (Program Manager: Dr. B. Lefer) also conducts work in support of research under NASA Grant NNH14CM13C (“Understanding Spatiotemporal Variability in Dr. Erica McGrath-Spangler (Program Manager: Dr. Eckman) Urban Mixed Layer Heights through Observations and Modeling”, performs research in support of NASA Grant NNX15AE62G PI: Dr. J. Hegarty). She participates in the science analysis (“Global planetary boundary layer depth trends and the and provides quality-controlled PBL height retrievals from the impact on atmospheric aerosols and greenhouse gases”, PI: CALIPSO satellite, refines these retrievals in light of the science Dr. McGrath-Spangler). She analyzes climatological planetary analysis (e.g., experiment with the different horizontal averaging boundary layer (PBL) depth trends in the GEOS-5 atmospheric windows), and places regional modeling results in the context of model and the CALIPSO satellite record and the impact on the global modeling efforts at the GMAO. atmospheric tracer concentration and transport. During the past year, she collocated PBL depth estimates from the CALIPSO Dr. McGrath-Spangler identified varying behavior of the PBL satellite, radiosondes, and global reanalysis data and compared depth as estimated by the parcel method based on whether these over Europe and Africa, locations for which the radiosondes an urban canopy model is activated in the model simulation. and CALIPSO observe roughly the same time of day. She is Use of the urban canopy model produces small, near-surface investigating the relationships among the multi-year probability temperature inversions in urban environments that unrealistically density functions over various regions and seasons. Additionally, limit the depth of the estimated PBL. Theories behind this she analyzed the seasonal cycle of PBL depth using radiosonde, behavior are that the urban canopy model introduces an elevated space-borne lidar, and reanalysis estimates in 7 different regions heat source associated with tall buildings and that the tall ranging from northern Europe to southern Africa. In general, buildings shade the surface and cool it relative to simulations estimates from CALIPSO captured the variability over the Sahara, without the urban canopy model. Since the estimated PBL depths but underestimated the annual cycle over cold, high latitude for simulations using the urban canopy model are unrealistically climates. The seasonal variability estimated by the reanalysis shallow, a perturbation temperature is added to the surface and satellite best matches the radiosondes, according to a Taylor estimated temperature and the PBL depth is re-estimated using diagram, over the Saharan region. the parcel method, producing greater and more realistic depths.

GEOS-5 AGCM experiments, representing the effects of Using model results and profiles from a high resolution anthropogenic climate change resulting from the observed radiosonde from the Sterling, VA launch site, Dr. McGrath- rate of increasing CO2 over a 35-year-long time period and Spangler investigated the gradient PBL depth estimation method. double this rate, were designed and completed by Dr. McGrath- The original method did not adequately capture the PBL depth Spangler. These experiments estimate a surface temperature diurnal cycle at Sterling, so modifications to the method were increase consistent with increases in greenhouse gases and explored, including estimating the method threshold using will be analyzed to estimate the impact on PBL depth and tracer the variability of the potential temperature profile below 5 km concentrations and transport. elevation. Alternative constant thresholds are currently being

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 25 tested after interpolating the observed radiosonde profile to the Meteorol. Soc., 142: 2505–2527, doi:10.1002/qj.2843, 2016; model vertical grid. Part 2: Sensitivity tests and results. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 142: 2528–2540, doi:10.1002/qj.2844, 2016. At present, Dr. McGrath-Spangler is assisting Dr. Hegarty with developing a manuscript detailing the team’s work evaluating the Drs. Norris, da Silva, Minnis and Auer submitted a third article spatiotemporal variability of PBL height in the 2011 Baltimore/ in the Monte Carlo Bayesian CDA series, currently undergoing Washington region during the DISCOVER-AQ field campaign. revision, on the radiative validation of the new CDA method. Additionally, she participates in regular teleconference meetings The CDA method leads to improved GEOS-5 outgoing longwave with the project team, providing feedback and suggestions for radiation (OLR) when validated against Clouds and the Earth’s future directions. Her research goals are to investigate various Radiant Energy System (CERES) satellite data, even without the PBL depth definitions and their impact on model estimates and typical radiative tuning of the model. However, the results in the to evaluate comparisons of the model and other observations to shortwave are mixed and have necessitated further work before PBL depth estimates from the CALIPSO satellite. publication. Despite the development of additional diagnostic tools, it has not yet been possible to explain the difference in TOA Dr. McGrath-Spangler was a co-author on an oral presentation albedo between the CDA-based TOA results and CERES retrievals. given at the AGU Fall Meeting in December 2016 and also for Dr. Norris has looked in detail at solar timing, the CERES Dr. Hegarty’s AMS annual meeting presentation held in January validation data set, and the GEOS-5 optical depth diagnostics, 2017, which was titled “Evaluating WRF Simulations of Planetary and is currently examining the assumed phase split in the model. Boundary Layer Processes during the Baltimore–Washington, This validation problem lies at the intersection of at least four DC DISCOVER-AQ Field Campaign”. These presentations components, each with their own idiosyncratic definitions and included results from her analysis of model-simulated PBL depth sources of error: the GEOS-5 solar radiation code, the Bayesian according to several definitions and her estimates from the Monte Carlo CDA system, the NASA MODIS optical cloud product CALIPSO satellite. being assimilated, and the NASA CERES Single Scanner Footprint (SSF) validation product. In the year ahead, Dr. McGrath-Spangler will analyze model output from a new three-year model simulation, diagnosing PBL Dr. Norris continued his development and run support for the depth using the gradient, parcel, and bulk Richardson number Multi-sensor Cloud and Aerosol Retrieval Simulator (MCARS) definitions. Additionally, she will collocate these outputs with system, in conjunction with Drs. Wind and da Silva. An important CALIPSO satellite-based estimates of PBL depth for comparisons second paper was also published this year: Wind, G., A. M. da among the various definitions and the observed estimates. She Silva, P. M. Norris, S. Platnick, S. Mattoo and R. C. Levy: Multi- will continue to participate in the overall assessment of the sensor cloud and aerosol retrieval simulator and remote sensing available PBL depth estimates from observations and model from model parameters – Part 2: Aerosols. Geosci. Model Dev., simulations and participate in the research team discussions. 9, 2377–2389, doi:10.5194/gmd-9-2377-2016, 2016. He also produced several simulations of marine stratocumulus clouds Dr. Peter Norris (sponsor: A. da Silva) uses retrieved cloud data off the African coast using MCARS for the study of aerosol-cloud to validate cloud properties within the Goddard Earth Observing interactions as part of the ORACLES (ObseRvations of Aerosols System (GEOS) model, to measure the capability of trial cloud above CLouds and their intEractionS) experiment. representations, and to assimilate cloud measurements directly into the GEOS data assimilation system. A major highlight from Additionally, Dr. Norris developed a tool that grids MODIS this year was the publication of the Monte Carlo Bayesian cloud (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) Level 2 data assimilation (CDA) work of Drs. Norris and da Silva in the satellite cloud products onto the GEOS-5 (Goddard Earth Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society as a two- Observing System Model, Version 5) grid for use in the validation part article, representing the culmination of several years of of the model’s cloud and radiation properties. The gridding tool research, development and testing: works within the overall GEOS-5 software environment.

Norris, P. M. and A. M. da Silva: Monte Carlo Bayesian inference In other work, Dr. Norris continued to analyze surface and top-of- on a statistical model of sub-gridcolumn moisture variability atmosphere radiative forcing calculations based on CDA output. using high-resolution cloud observations. Part 1: Method. Q. J. R. These were provided to Dr. Clara Draper for forcing the GEOS-5

26 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 land surface model as part of a project to study the value of by the OCO2 flux inversion group, which selected ODIAC data as CDA for improved land surface moisture and energy budgets. He a reference data. While ODIAC emission data has been widely also participated in writing a continuation proposal for the CDA used in global and regional flux inversion studies, ODIAC data work, which was subsequently funded. In December 2016, he was used extensively for studying local CO2 variability recorded presented a poster at the AGU Fall Meeting titled “Monte Carlo by OCO-2. Dr. Oda contributed the high-resolution OCO2 urban Bayesian inference on a statistical model of sub-gridcolumn plume modeling by Drs. Lauvaux and Ye at Penn State University moisture variability using high-resolution cloud observations,” (PSU). He also contributed to the urban CO2 projects led by Dr. which provided good exposure for the CDA work, and an Kort (University of Michigan) and Dr. Lin (University of Utah). opportunity to interact with colleagues on this and related topics. Those results were presented at the AGU Fall Meeting.

Work will continue in the year ahead with the TOA radiation Dr. Oda also examined the use of new nighttime light (NTL) validation of the CDA system, in preparation for resubmission data retrieved from data collected by the Visible Infrared of the third CDA article. He plans to continue the development Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi-National Polar- and use of new diagnostic codes to study the solar validation orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite in his emission model to discrepancy as well as discussions with the MODIS and CERES improve the emission spatial distributions and incorporate the retrieval teams; also, he will investigate optimal cloud optical changes in time. In collaboration with Dr. Miguel Román and thickness diagnostics for the GEOS-5 solar radiation module. his group at Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory, Dr. Continued validation of the surface radiation fluxes awaits Oda examined the impact of the new NTL data on the resulting resolution off the TOA validation issue. Additional work will focus fossil fuel CO2 emission fields in order to fully apply the NTL on the two GEOS-5 radiation codes: the operational Chou-Suarez data to the next version of ODIAC emission model. A preliminary system and the more modern RRTM-G (Rapid Radiative Transfer analysis showed that the new NTL data will greatly improve the Model -- Global Circulation Model version) system, currently spatial representation of the urban emissions and significant implemented as an option. Differences in GEOS-5 radiation due reduce the mapping bias that typically happen over areas with to these two codes are currently poorly understood, especially weak emissions. Dr. Oda presented these results at the 12th as they relate to cloud influence, particularly cloud overlap. International Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Measurements from Dr. Norris will work with Dr. Max Suarez to conduct software Space (IWGGMS-12), Kyoto, Japan. development and analysis experiments to compare these two codes under conditions of consistent cloud overlap. Also, Dr. Oda worked on quantifying the uncertainty associated with fossil fuel CO2 emission fields that are often imposed in Dr. Tomohiro Oda (sponsor: S. Pawson) worked on improving his many carbon flux inversions. Uncertainties associated with fossil global fossil fuel carbon dioxide (CO2) emission model (Open- fuel CO2 emissions are often not considered in many of carbon source Data Inventory for Anthropogenic CO2, or ODIAC) that source/sink analysis and thus the inclusion of the uncertainties produces global fossil fuel CO2 emission fields at a very high will be a key step to obtain robust estimates of carbon fluxes. spatial resolution (1x1km) on a monthly basis. In collaboration Dr. Oda used the spread of the difference in gridded emission with the Japanese National Institute for Environmental Studies inventories as a proxy for the uncertainty and then quantified (NIES) and Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center the potential uncertainties/biases in surface CO2 flux estimates (CDIAC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Dr. Oda from conventional flux inversion analyses. In collaboration with has produced an updated version (ODIAC2016) of the ODIAC Dr. Lesley Ott, Dr. Oda further expanded the uncertainty analysis fossil fuel CO2 emission data set. The ODIAC 2016 version of using the GEOS-5 model. Using the derived uncertainty estimates the ODIAC data set is based on the most up-to-date fossil fuel at a global 1x1 degree resolution, Drs. Ott and Oda simulated emissions estimates made by CDIAC/ORNL and statistical the uncertainty estimates as a tracer and studied its sensitivity data. The emission data set has been used for CO2 simulations to different observation systems, such as the conventional global implemented at GMAO for the analysis of CO2 data collected by ground-based reference network, and satellites, such as OCO2 NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO2). The data set was and Japanese Greenhouse gas Observation SATellite (GOSAT). also widely used by other international user communities, such The analysis suggested that the satellite inversions have unique as NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory’s CarbonTracker sensitivities to observations collected by different observation (http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/carbontracker/). Dr. Oda systems and are more sensitive to the uncertainty associated also has supported the flux inversion intercomparison activity with fossil fuel CO2 emission fields. Dr. Oda presented these

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 27 Figure 1. U.S. CO2 emission map based on Suomi-NPP/VIIRS night light data. U.S. EPA emissions were mapped at a 1x1km resolution using night light retrieval from Suomi-NPP/VIIRS. Image provided by T. Oda. results at the European Geoscience Union General Assembly in expand the fossil fuel uncertainty analysis in collaboration with Vienna. Dr. Ott and her GMAO CO2 team.

In collaboration with Dr. Lauvaux at PSU, Dr. Oda worked on the Dr. Clara Orbe (sponsor: S. Pawson) helps to support the urban emission spatial representation. He examined the use of evaluation and validation of large-scale atmospheric transport, landSat data and road-network geospatial data to better inform as simulated within the GEOS-5 general circulation model (GCM) an urban inversion using Dr. Lauvaux’s high-resolution inversion framework. She has been involved in adding passive tracers to system. Drs. Oda and Lauvaux have shown that the improved the standard model tracer suite in order to rigorously quantify prior emission field could be an alternative for fine-grained tropospheric transport in the model akin to similar stratospheric emission data sets that are often not available for many cities transport measures, e.g., the “mean age”, that have been and in a timely manner. The results was documented in the important tools for validating the GMI chemistry transport model manuscript titled “On the Impact of Granularity of Space-based (CTM) in its applications to studying stratospheric ozone and Urban CO2 Emissions in Urban Atmospheric Inversions: A Case climate. Her evaluations of GEOS-5 span multiple frameworks, Study for Indianapolis, IN”, which will be published in the journal ranging from free-running (internally generated meteorological Elementa. fields) and “specified-dynamics” modes (prescribed meteorological fields implemented both in “replay” and offline Throughout the year, Dr. Oda participated in meetings to (GMI-CTM and GEOS-CTM) simulations). Concurrently, she has represent GMAO’s CO2 team. He gave a talk titled “GMAO actively complemented her work on the GEOS model with similar Modeling in Support of ACT-America” at the ACT-America science analyses of multiple other chemistry-climate models (CCMs) team meeting in State College, PA, and also participated in the and CTMs participating in the recent international Chemistry OCO-2 science team meeting at National Center for Atmospheric Climate Model Intercomparison (CCMI) project, for which she is Research (NCAR), Boulder, CO. a working group leader. As such, her efforts are both to improve model performance within the GMAO as well as exploit the broad Upcoming plans include Dr. Oda presenting the recent version of range of atmospheric models to better obtain a fundamental ODIAC in a journal. In collaboration with Dr. Roman, Dr. Oda will understanding of atmospheric transport and its connection with deliver the first map of emissions data based on Suomi NPP NTL dynamics. Her efforts were rewarded in February 2017, when she to the research community, and a related publication will follow. was one of two recipients of the “Scientific Achievement” GMAO Along with improvements to his ODIAC model, Dr. Oda will further peer prize.

28 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 During this past year, Dr. Orbe published two first-author papers further experiments. Dr. Privé ran two OSSE control cases for the as well as two papers as second author. Additionally, she is first MISTiC Winds project, along with real data cases for validation author on three papers that are currently under review, one of and calibration. The baseline and verification included analyses, which is directly in support of model development at the GMAO forecasts, and observation impacts for the months of July and and two that contribute directly to CCMI. She is also second August. These runs are used to validate the OSSE and to provide author on one submitted paper and fourth author on two other a basis of comparison for experimental cases in which the submitted manuscripts. Additionally, Dr. Orbe attended two MISTIC instrument data are added. conferences and gave four oral presentations at institutions outside of NASA. Invited talks included presentations at Stanford Dr. Privé performed experiments in support of the NOAA Satellite University and George Mason University. Observing System Architecture (NSOSA) effort to develop a value model for the potential future global observational network. An Her service to the scientific community involved local idealized study using a high-resolution forecast of the GEOS-5 contributions, highlighted by her role as a co-organizer of the model to examine forecast error growth rates with nearly perfect GMAO Earth System Science Seminar Series, for which she has initial conditions and model skill was completed. A series of actively recruited and hosted visiting scientists to discuss a range experiments using an idealized radiance observational network of topics on atmospheric transport and dynamics. was performed with the GMAO OSSE framework; they tested the impact of different spatial distributions of radiance observations In addition to her ongoing role in model development within on analysis quality and forecast skill. Two preliminary reports and the GMAO, Dr. Orbe will be presenting at three upcoming a final report detailing the results of experiments using the GMAO conferences: the 8th International GEOS-Chem Meeting (IGC8) OSSE to investigate the effects of observation spacing in an at Harvard University, the 5th Chemistry-Climate Model Initiative idealized framework were submitted to the NSOSA team. (CCMI) Science Workshop in Toulouse, and the 21st Conference on Atmospheric and Oceanic Fluid Dynamics to be held in Updates to the GMAO OSSE system were tested. A new set of Portland, OR. synthetic observations, with newly calibrated observation errors, was tested in several configurations to determine the optimal Dr. Nikki Privé (sponsor: R. Gelaro) supports projects in datasets for the OSSE. Dr. Privé also conducted experiments atmospheric data assimilation, especially regarding the use of in which the GMAO OSSE framework was used to evaluate current and future space-based observations. The work involves the performance of the adjoint tool for estimating observation modifying, testing, and running suites of computer software, impact. Different verification datasets were tested to determine interpreting their output, and producing figures for presentation. the robustness of the adjoint tool. The testing and interpretation phases require applying theory and experience to explain sometimes unintuitive responses to often Dr. Privé gave several talks this past year at the following events: complex algorithms. the International Symposium on Data Assimilation in Reading, UK; the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, CA; at the GMAO MISTiC Winds is a proposed constellation of CubeSat satellites Earth System Science Seminar at NASA Goddard; and at George that would use MWIR spectrometers to measure temperature Mason University, Fairfax, VA. and humidity profiles, along with wind retrievals. An OSSE is being performed at the GMAO to estimate the potential impact Going forward, Dr. Privé will contribute material to a final report of MISTiC Winds on numerical weather prediction performance. on the results of the MISTiC Winds OSSE. For the upcoming Dr. Privé tested the GMAO OSSE system at a higher model TROPICS mission, she will attend a workshop. The first TROPICS resolution, with 0.25 degree horizontal grid (previous OSSE work CubeSats will be launched this summer, and Dr. Privé will assist has been done at 0.5 degree resolution) in preparation for the with experiments ingesting the TROPICS data into the GEOS-5/ MISTiC Winds OSSE. A sample baseline case was run at this GSI numerical weather prediction system to calculate the impact higher resolution to demonstrate the performance of the OSSE of the data on forecast skill. Also, experiments with the updated system. An alternate set of model physics including two-moment GMAO OSSE system will be performed. These experiments will microphysics was tested for performance in the OSSE. The include investigations of the performance of the adjoint tool for new physics showed better agreement between the OSSE and estimating observation impacts, and the behavior of the overall real data case, and were used for the MISTiC control case for data assimilation system.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 29 Dr. Oreste Reale (sponsor: S. Pawson) studies the impact of As part of the GMAO Monitoring Group activity, which produces climate variability on tropical storm characteristics using high- an ongoing assessment of GMAO products and of the resolution versions of the GEOS-5 atmospheric model developed performance of the GMAO always-evolving modeling suite, Dr. by the GMAO. In addition, he is involved in the GMAO monitoring Reale is actively involved in evaluation and diagnostic work, often effort, contributing to the ongoing evaluation and assessment in collaboration with Dr. Marangelly Fuentes (SSAI/GMAO) and of the GMAO modeling suite and other GMAO products. As other GMAO scientists. lead author, Dr. Reale had an article published in January 2017: Reale, O., D. Achuthavarier, M. Fuentes, and G. Partyka, Under NASA Grant #NNX14AK19G, Dr. Oreste Reale is the PI Tropical Cyclones in the 7km NASA Global Nature Run for use in (Program Manager: Dr. R. Kakar) and he partially supports Dr. Observing System Simulation Experiments. J. Atmosph. Oceanic Erica McGrath-Spangler and Dr. Radina Soebiyanto. This grant Technol., 34, 73-100, doi: 10.1175/JTECH-D-16-0094.1. The “Using AIRS data to understand processes affecting Tropical article investigates the realism of tropical cyclone activity in Cyclone structure and extreme precipitation in a global data the ultra-high resolution two-year long simulation produced by assimilation and forecasting framework” is near completion the GMAO and released to be used by the Observing Systems (06/10/14 through 6/09/17). The goal is to investigate the Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) worldwide community. The representation of tropical cyclone structure, the changes investigation examines TC frequency, distribution, tracks, and in structure, and TC forecasting ability, consequent to the structure on all basins, comparing those with reanalyses, and assimilation of AIRS data. The work is focused on assimilation of confirming that the NR is a valuable tool to produce OSSEs radiances affected by clouds and it includes the investigation of targeting tropical cyclones. The entire NR output is made the effects of AIRS data assimilation on precipitation forecast. available by the GMAO through an NCCS portal to the all OSSEs The research will also make use of the Hilbert-Huang transform investigators inside and outside the U.S. As such, this paper will to evaluate the spectral properties of analyses obtained by serve as an important reference for any OSSE developer. different assimilation strategies.

Another article that he co-authored was published in September Dr. Reale gave two talks to the AIRS Science Team meeting 2016 and describes the large-scale forcings exerting control in September 2016 (Dr. McGrath-Spangler was a co-author on Atlantic tropical cyclone activity. The study shows that these on both). The first talk described the outcome of several sets are much more complex than the current misperceived causal of experiments focused on the assimilation of cloud-cleared relationship between El Nino and hurricanes, since several radiances with variable density. The experiments were carried modes of variability other than El Nino are involved. The article out by Dr. McGrath-Spangler. Results demonstrated that cloud- was led by Young-Kwon Lim (IMSG/GESTAR) and co-authored by cleared radiances are a superior product, compared to clear- Dr. Schubert (retired NASA/GMAO), Dr. Reale, Dr. Molod (UMCP/ sky radiances, and can improve both hurricane representation GMAO at the time of the publication), and Dr. Suarez (GESTAR). and global forecast skill, as long as a much lower data density is used globally. The second talk focused on newly completed Dr. Reale has been continuing the investigation, in collaboration experiments assimilating AIRS cloud-cleared radiance data, with Dr. Fuentes (SSAI/GMAO), of the representation of combined with withdrawing data from the CrIS instrument hurricanes that occurred before the age in which operational onboard Suomi NPP and from the IASI instruments onboard data assimilation systems and forecast models had the ability Metop-A and Metop-B. The results show that the current density to represent tropical cyclones. As part of the research, to be of hyperspectral infrared data is excessive in a global data included in a comprehensive article, Dr. Reale has analyzed assimilation framework because instrument errors appear to be some hindcast experiments focused on Hurricane Juan (1985). correlated. The experiments demonstrate that MERRA-2 represent a set of initial conditions from which a modern forecast model could Dr. Reale has continued with preparing an article, written in predict that infamous storm better than any previous attempt. collaboration with Dr. McGrath-Spangler and a NASA Civil Servant Their findings suggest that MERRA-2 has a unique ability to (Dr. Will McCarty) on the effects of variable, event-focused, AIRS revisit these devastating systems and shed some light on the radiance thinning, to improve the representation of tropical potential for predictability. cyclones in global analyses. Thinning is the procedure that extracts a subset of satellite measurements that can be handled by an operational data assimilation system while bringing a

30 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 positive impact. Recent findings obtained from cloud-cleared thinned clear-sky radiances from the CrIS and IASI infrared radiances suggest that, as long as they are more aggressively satellites in the GEOS-5 data assimilation system. This included thinned than clear-sky data, these are substantially superior creating separate files for each instrument both within a domain to clear-sky radiances in their impact on forecasting skill, and surrounding tropical cyclones and elsewhere around the globe. should be used in the operational environment. She then ran a GEOS-5 simulation experiment assimilating adaptively thinned AIRS, CrIS, and IASI data. The purpose of this Dr. Reale coordinated the production of new experiments to experiment was to explore the effect of spatial error correlation investigate the interaction of AIRS cloud-cleared radiance data among the three satellites on global forecast skill and tropical with adaptively thinned data from the CrIS instrument onboard cyclone analysis and prediction. Suomi NPP and from the IASI instruments onboard Metop-A and Metop-B, in the attempt to devise a comprehensive adaptive Additionally, she performed six experiments examining the strategy for the 3 instruments together. All experiments were effects of data reduction among the three infrared satellite conducted by Dr. McGrath-Spangler. sensors. These experiments included testing the sensitivity of global forecast skill and tropical cyclone estimation using While studying the problem of correlated errors caused by AIRS clear-sky radiances, but without assimilating CrIS and suboptimal data sampling, Dr. Reale attempted to devise a IASI infrared radiances respectively; using AIRS cloud-cleared strategy to estimate the error correlation in various previously radiances, but without assimilating CrIS and IASI infrared sensors produced AIRS experiments. In collaboration with Dr. Ron respectively; an experiment without any AIRS radiance data Gelaro (NASA CS) and Dr. Daniel Holdaway (GESTAR), work has assimilated; and assimilation of AIRS, CrIS, and IASI radiance begun with the goal of using the adjoint methodology previously data at a reduced density relative to the operational data density. developed by Dr. Gelaro and his collaborators to evaluate All completed experiments included over two months of analysis, fractional AIRS impacts in different thinning situations. 10-day forecasts, and the calculation of global forecast skill statistics. Also, to examine the influence of microwave data, Dr. Additionally, Dr. Reale has been coordinating the testing and McGrath-Spangler performed experiments using two different implementation of HHT software within the GEOS-5 diagnostics cloud-cleared AIRS radiance data density while eliminating data framework, with the aid of Dr. Soebiyanto. She is an expert on from the AMSU-A instrument onboard Aqua. mathematical and statistical analysis and has been working closely with Dr. McGrath-Spangler to apply the HHT to the output Dr. McGrath-Spangler has been actively working with Dr. Reale on of our AIRS observing system experiments. Her current work a draft manuscript for the peer-reviewed literature that will detail is focused on the optimization of the 2D HHT on NASA HEC their work on the adaptive thinning approach and assimilation computing resources, in collaboration with NCCS personnel. of cloud-cleared AIRS radiance data. Results for this paper are from the data assimilation experiments run by Dr. McGrath- In the coming year, Dr. Reale will continue to analyze experiments Spangler using GEOS-5. As part of the project team, she has with other infrared sensors such as CrIS and IASI, with the goal worked closely with Drs. Will McCarty and Radina Soebiyanto of devising a comprehensive thinning strategy. He also plans to in addition to working directly with Dr. Reale. Her work with Dr. initiate the use of the Hilbert-Huang method, now implemented McCarty includes transforming IASI cloud-cleared radiance data on NCCS computers and ready to be tested, as an evaluation from its current format to one for assimilation into the GEOS-5 methodology in a data assimilation context. Work will continue DAS and assimilation of cloud-cleared and adaptively thinned on manuscripts on AIRS radiances adaptive thinning and include radiance data. Her work with Dr. Soebiyanto is part of an effort results from the adjoint methodologies. to implement a diagnostic tool based on the Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) on NASA high-end computing resources. She Under NASA Grant #NNX14AK19G, Dr. Erica McGrath-Spangler facilitates their analyses by providing model output, explaining (Program Manager: Dr. R. Kakar) supports the research of PI current results, and consulting on forward progress. Dr. Oreste Reale by contributing to the design, carry out, and analysis of numerical experiments focused on the impact of Future plans include working toward the publication of their different AIRS data types and assimilation strategies on the work on the adaptive thinning approach, assimilation of cloud- analysis and forecast of TCs in the NASA GEOS-5 system. This cleared AIRS radiance data, and the spatial error correlation from past year, she developed the capability to assimilate adaptively infrared satellite sensors. Also, Dr. McGrath-Spangler will work

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 31 with Dr. Reale to publish results from their various experiments Dr. Cecile Rousseaux (sponsor: W. Gregg) performs research showing the impact of spatial error correlation among the on ocean phytoplankton populations using the GMAO NOBM. infrared sensors AIRS onboard Aqua, CrIS onboard Suomi NPP, Over the last year, Dr. Rousseaux gave 15-plus presentations on and IASI onboard Metop-A and Metop-B. Additionally, she will her research findings at national and international conferences work closely with Dr. Dan Holdaway to develop the ability to apply plus workshops/meetings, including chairing a session and the GEOS-5 adjoint to the results from her forward-running GEOS- acting as a panelist at an international conference. She gave 5 DAS results. With this capability, the impact per observation several invited talks at different events, including but not limited and the fraction of beneficial observations can be ascertained. to the U.S. CLIVAR Workshop in August 2016, to ESA at the It is expected that these results will increase understanding of Color and Light in the Ocean (CLEO) Workshop in September spatial error correlation and the impact on global forecast skill. 2016, and at the USRA Board of Trustees meeting at USRA Headquarters in November 2016 in Columbia. In March 2017, Under NASA grant #NNX14AK19G, Dr. Radina Soebiyanto she also gave an invited talk at USRA Headquarters in honor of (Program Manager: Dr. R. Kakar, PI: Dr. O. Reale) provides Women’s International Day. At the PACE Science Team meeting guidance on the use of the Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) in January 2017, she delivered an update on the progress that for applications in data assimilation and global forecast. This the dataset subgroup she has been leading since 2014 has year her work focused on transferring the HHT code to another achieved; at the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and framework that would allow parallel processing and processing of Oceanography (ASLO) meeting in February 2017, she was a large datasets. As the first step toward this goal, she developed panelist for a workshop aimed at young career researchers titled the 1D algorithm, which has been completed and tested using “PhD, now what?”. In February 2017, Dr. Rousseaux participated AIRS assimilation dataset. The 2D algorithm is underway and in the International Ocean-Colour Coordinating Group (IOCCG) close to completion, pending testing and validation. Throughout Working Group Workshop in Hawaii; as part of this effort, she is this process, she has been working with the NASA High-End contributing to several chapters of the final report and gave an Computing resources at NASA Center for Climate Simulation update on some of her recent work that will be featured in the (NCCS) as well as with Dr. Erica McGrath-Spangler. report. She also contributed to a session proposal for the IOCS conference in May 2017 in Lisbon, Portugal, and co-authored an Dr. Soebiyanto is working with Dr. Jules Kouatchou (GMAO) to abstract that was submitted by Dr. Lesley Ott to the International set up the framework for concurrently executing a large number Carbon Dioxide Conference meeting. of signals for HHT on the NASA high-end computing resources at NCCS. She has currently set up the HHT-1D script for this This past year, Dr. Rousseaux submitted two proposals as concurrent processing using the Portable Distributed Scripts Principal Investigator and was co-investigator on another 4 (PoDS). The script has been tested and validated for several proposals. One of her PI proposals and two of her Co-I proposals time-series meridional wind data from AIRS. This effort is the (PI: Qing Liang and PI: Lesley Ott, GSFC) were selected for preliminary step toward parallelizing the 2D-HHT algorithm. In funding. A proposal that Dr. Rousseaux submitted last year (Feb order to test the existing HHT capability on a long time series, Dr. 2016) as Principal Investigator also was selected for funding. Soebiyanto decomposed MERRA’s 30-year zonal and meridional Additionally, she contributed to an IRAD proposal submitted wind dataset at several pressure levels. The decomposition to NASA GSFC titled “Design of Laser-based Remote Sensing revealed similar 3-5 days frequency pattern that was observed in Instrument for measuring Ocean Temperature and Salinity Depth the 3 months of data that were previously analyzed. In addition, Profiles” that was selected for funding (PI: Paul Stysley, NASA). with the MERRA dataset, she and her team were able to observe Additionally, she was co-author on three papers, two published the MJO oscillation through the decomposition. in Frontiers in Marine Science and one under review for Remote Sensing Letters. Dr. Rousseaux was selected to participate in Dr. Soebiyanto will complete the 2D HHT scripts and will work one of the chapters of the 2nd State of the Carbon Cycle Report with NCCS to parallelize the process. The 2D capability will be (SOCCR-2), and contributed as a co-author to a CLIVAR (Climate tested and validated using AIRS data. She also will continue and Ocean: Variability, Predictability and Change) report. to refine the script so as to be able to take different type of datasets/signals. In addition, Dr. Soebiyanto will continue to test For the second national Earth Observations Assessment (EOA the 2D HHT on MERRA datasets. 2016) performed by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Office (OSTP), Dr. Rousseaux was invited to

32 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 serve as a Science Expert Matter (SME). In this regard, she Wind-Wave Coupling”, and a co-I on a ROSES MAP proposal titled joined several meetings with OSTP to provide feedback and to “Improving the representation of ice sheet-ocean interactions in contribute to the EOA 2016 to coordinate the Earth observation global climate models”. Both of these proposals were selected for needs of other U.S. government agencies. For this task Dr. funding. Rousseaux was funded by NASA HQ to work directly with NASA Program Managers in assessing, reviewing and writing reports on A manuscript that he co-authored titled “Climate process team the various satellite needs reported by other agencies. on internal-wave driven ocean mixing” is now in press with the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Another In other achievements, Dr. Rousseaux was invited to become paper submitted to the Journal of Physical Oceanography with the NASA Goddard Representative for the Mentoring Physical several authors uses a high-resolution eddying ocean-only model Oceanographers to Increase Retention (MPOWIR) Program. and quasi-geostrophic models in doubly periodic and basin She also updated the latest forcing files and assimilation files configurations to examine why sea surface statistics are fairly needed to run the NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model (NOBM). insensitive to the amount of energy dissipation near the seafloor. Dr. Rousseaux created a video for the NASA Goddard Science Results showed that the roughness of the seafloor may be the Jamboree, and also participated in an interview for a Career primary reason for this insensitivity. Profile article in the Journal Oceanography (see http://tos.org/ oceanography/assets/docs/29-4_career_profiles.pdf). Dr. Trossman will continue working on two other manuscripts, and will complete the code for the new buoyancy budget In the coming year, Dr. Rousseaux will attend the IOCS meeting diagnostics that will be output with the MERRA-2-Ocean in Portugal in May 2017 where she will give a talk and co-chair reanalysis. He will continue to co-organize the research theme a session on “Assessing the requirements for obtaining viable seminar series and host the one on observation systems. hyperspectral data from space: How good is good enough?” She (Note: Dr. Trossman will begin a new position in June 2017.) also will work on a paper looking at distinguishing phytoplankton composition from hyperspectral data as part of her PI project Dr. Yury Vikhliaev (sponsor: W. Putman) performs research on PACE and will work on the other two projects for which she is and development activities with the GMAO’s coupled GEOS-5 the Principal Investigator as well as provide support and data for atmosphere-ocean general circulation model (GOES-5 AOGCM), proposals for which she is a Co-Investigator. focusing on the maintenance and development of the ocean model within this system. He interacts with the atmospheric Dr. David Trossman (sponsor: S. Pawson) works on the model development team to keep the coupled system up-to-date development of coupled ocean-atmosphere modules for the with the latest atmospheric model developments, and to provide GEOS-05 Earth System Model and data assimilation system. feedback regarding the impact of atmospheric model updates He presented his work on examining the large-scale ocean within the coupled system. He also addresses issues related to circulation’s role in assuaging the future deoxygenation of the coupled model within the GMAO’s subseasonal-to-seasonal the ocean at three venues: the Young Scientist Forum in forecast and analysis system. Additional attention is focused October 2016, the Atmospheres and Oceans Seminar at JHU on the status of the coupled system as it evolves within the in December 2016, and at the AGU Fall Meeting in December operational GEOS-5 analysis system looking toward a complete 2016. He also gave a poster on his recently published work on integrated earth system analysis. ocean circulation-cloud interactions at the AGU Fall Meeting. This year, the atmosphere component of the GEOS-5 AOGCM was In addition to his research, Dr. Trossman was the sole organizer upgraded from version Heracles-4.3 to Heracles-5.4p3. Twenty of the research theme seminar series in the fall; in the spring, multi-decadal climate simulations were performed and analyzed he was a co-organizer. The themes range from coupled data with following configurations: 1x1 (1 degree atmosphere, 1 assimilation, to observing systems, to forecasting system degree ocean), 1x0.5, 0.5x0.5, 1x0.25 and 0.5x0.25. The results updates, to physical parameterizations, etc. of these simulations are available online at the GMAO website. The 0.5x0.5 degree model is used for sub-seasonal and interim Dr. Trossman is a Co-I on a ROSES MAP proposal titled seasonal climate forecasts; the 0.5x0.25 degree model is “Implementing a Physically Motivated Source of Sea Salt for planned to be used in a future seasonal-to-interannual forecast Aerosol and Cloud Applications in GEOS-5 through Improved system; the 1x1 degree model is used for studies on climate

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 33 variability and climate change; and the 1x0.5 and 1x0.25 degree https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/eye-popping- configurations are used for basic model tuning. The model was view-of-co2-critical-step-for-carbon-cycle-science. In December, tested with two different cloud microphysics parameterizations, Dr. Weir presented a talk at the AGU Fall Meeting about the and based on the results of model validation, two-moment cloud progress of work assimilating satellite-based measurements of microphysics became the default scheme for the coupled model total-column carbon dioxide from OCO-2, and he presented an and replaced the older single-moment scheme. Fine-tuning of overview of GMAO’s work regarding OCO-2 at one of two science the model with Heracles-5.4p3 atmosphere and MOM5 ocean team meetings. components is currently in progress. In January 2017, Dr. Weir received the inaugural Piers J. Sellers Also, a new version of GEOS-5 AOGCM was integrated with sub- Award for Best Interdisciplinary Science poster at the Code 600 seasonal and seasonal climate forecasts systems. Sub-seasonal poster party, held at NASA Goddard. (See Awards section of this forecasts are currently in production. Test seasonal forecasts report.) with interim seasonal-to-interannual (SI) forecast system are currently underway. In the long-term future, an interim SI system Dr. Weir was involved with two NASA ROSES MAP proposals, as a will be replaced by a system which includes a coupled model Co-I on “A new look at stratospheric chemistry with multispecies with an eddy-resolving ocean component. A model with an eddy- chemical data assimilation” (PI: Krzysztof Wargan), and a resolving ocean component has been tested in a coupled mode collaborator on “A comprehensive state-of-science GEOS-Chem and is currently being tested in replay mode. capability for atmospheric chemistry in the GEOS Earth System Model (ESM) and Data Assimilation System (DAS) at GMAO” (PI: Going forward, Dr. Vikhliaev will continue collaborating with Daniel Jacob); both have been selected for funding. GMAO climate forecast and ocean data assimilation groups on developing the next seasonal-to-interannual climate forecast Future plans include the completion of two publications, one system. The interim (stop gap) SI system is scheduled for detailing the team’s efforts assimilating OCO-2 in the GEOS deployment in late 2017, and is currently in the test forecast system, and the other detailing the differences in the transport of phase. The long-term future forecast system will be deployed in CO2 between two well-validated atmospheric models. 2018 and will require significant re-factoring of coupling layer to include proposed changes as to how atmosphere, ocean and sea ice components communicate with each other. He also plans to expand a coupled model diagnostics suite to include major CODE 612: MESOSCALE ATMOSPHERIC modes of climate variability, including climate teleconnection PROCESSES LABORATORY patterns, Indian and Atlantic Ocean variability, and extreme events, and may add new validation data sets. Dr. Mircea Grecu (sponsor: R. Meneghini) conducts research to derive precipitation and latent heating estimates from satellite Dr. Brad Weir (sponsor: S. Pawson) works on assimilating radar and radiometer observations. Dr. Grecu developed an atmospheric CO2 observations into the GEOS-5 data assimilation optimal estimation-based methodology to estimate precipitation system. He develops and implements background error models from Ku-, Ka- and W-band airborne radar observations. The based on ensemble techniques and bias correction algorithms, methodology has been applied to both real observations and he participates in research studies aimed at evaluating from the Olympic Mountains Ground Validation Experiment observations from AIRS, GOSAT, and OCO-2 data using GEOS-5, (OLYMPEX) experiment and synthetic observations derived from applying these toward understanding the carbon cycle. cloud-resolving models. Observations suggest (and simulations confirm) that cloud liquid water can be reasonably estimated This year, Dr. Weir helped to develop many visualizations of from multiple frequency reflectivity. Dual frequency Ka-W the GEOS-Carb analysis of CO2 measurements from OCO-2. retrievals are less robust but consistent with Ku-Ka-W retrievals. The NASA GSFC Science Visualization Studio (SVS) developed While retrievals are sensitive to “a priori” assumptions, these two animations, including a 3-dimensional rendering. This assumptions can be tuned based on independent observations visualization was featured in a NASA press release, an AGU and post-analysis. Hyperwall presentation, a GMAO Research Theme Meeting, and GMAO science highlight. This OCO-2 research was featured here:

34 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Dr. Han applied IMERG and MERRA-2 data to examine the precipitation systems along the storm track in the Northern Pacific. With high temporary resolution (half-hourly), these data sets clearly depict the evolvement of the precipitation systems along with fronts and cyclones across the ocean basin (see Figure 1). They are manifested as bands/clusters and located in different sectors of the frontal cyclone. The DPR on GPM’s Composite of large-scale forcing indicative of atmospheric core satellite intersected the precipitation systems with 351 vertical motions at 500 mbar (the actual motions can be overpasses during January 2016. Dr. Han categorized the determined by solving the omega equation). Image provided by precipitation systems in the open ocean into different types (in M. Grecu. a way similar to their coastal/land counterparts documented in earlier literatures), which includes cold frontal bands, warm frontal bands, warm sector bands/clusters, occlusion bands, During the past year, Dr. Grecu developed a procedure to and post-frontal bands/clusters. She analyzed the distributions track mid-latitude storms based on the 850 mbar geostrophic of Ku band reflectivity and hydrometeor sizes for several vorticity. Specifically, the geostrophic vorticity from the 850 precipitation features sampled in these orbits, and found that mbar geo-potential data provided by the MERRA reanalysis is the cold and warm frontal bands and warm sector bands are calculated. The locations with vorticity above a given threshold strong and appear to have higher vertical extent. Occlusion and on a rectangular grid are determined every 6 hours and an open post-frontal bands/clusters are generally weaker with shallower source implementation of the connected-component labeling vertical extent. These characteristics are consistent with their algorithm is used to identify time-space contiguous areas with dynamic causes. The particle mass spectrum mean diameter geostrophic vorticity about the given threshold. The right-hand- sizes (Dm) of precipitation hydrometeors also was examined. Dr. side term of the 500 mbar omega equation is also computed as Han presented this study at the NASA Precipitation Measurement it provides information about atmospheric vertical motions. The Missions (PMM) Science Team Meeting in Houston, TX in October GPM radar and radiometer observations are casted in a storm 2016. reference framework, as additional information can be derived from their position relative to the storm center. Shown in Figure 1 Dr. Han also examined the retrieved precipitation type is a composite of the 500 mbar RHS in the omega equation. (stratiform vs. convective) for precipitation bands/clusters associated with extratropical cyclones, a critical component in Dr. Mei Han (sponsor: S. Braun) applies satellite-based the GPM algorithms. These findings included identifying the observations from NASA satellites (GPM and TRMM), misclassification of narrow cold front rainband as convective numerical models (WRF), and reanalysis data (MERRA) to by Ku and DPR algorithms, in addition to the misclassification study precipitation associated with extratropical cyclones of postal frontal cells as stratiform. Further investigations are over ocean and land, and to evaluate the performances of necessary to improve our understanding of this issue, which cloud and precipitation models and retrieval algorithms in the could help to refine the algorithms. middle latitudes. She has found that the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission is designed to better quantify From her understanding of individual storms and their precipitation characteristics at middle and high latitudes. The hydrometeors’ properties, Dr. Han has extended her efforts to GPM core satellite provides unprecedented highly accurate study the climatology of the storm structure and precipitation three-dimensional observations of precipitation over the mid- hydrometeors along the Northern Pacific storm track in winter latitude oceans. She utilized multiple GPM datasets, including with 3 years of GPM data. the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) and the level-2 Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) Precipitation By refining the implementation of new microphysics schemes, Feature (PF) databases, along with the second Modern-Era Dr. Han worked with Dr. Matsui to improve the computer code Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA-2) that represents snow and cloud in the Thompson microphysics to study the structure and characteristics of precipitation systems scheme in the Goddard Satellite Simulator Unit (G-SDSU) for associated with mid-latitude fronts and extratropical cyclones. both passive microwave imager and radar. She also worked on debugging the code for both the Thompson bulk and the Hebrew

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 35 In the coming year, Dr. Han will continue study the mesoscale and climatology aspects of the storm structure and precipitation hydrometeors over the mid- latitude oceans and report her findings in conferences and science team meetings. Her focus will be on analyzing Fig. 1: A half-hour composite of IMERG precipitation rate (shaded, mm h-1), MERRA-2 sea level statistics of storm vertical pressure (gray contours, 5 hPa) and potential temperature at 850 hPa (red contours, 5 K) at structure, melting level, Northern Pacific ocean near 10:30 UTC 17 January 2016. The cyan shade shows the GPM passive hydrometeor loading along the microwave imager overpass. Figure provided by M. Han. Northern Pacific storm track with the GPM DPR data.

University Cloud Model (HUCM) bin schemes in order to compare Dr. Hyokyung Kim (sponsor: R. Meneghini) provides the the simulated brightness temperature to MODIS and GOES at the operational support of GPM radar algorithm in Level 2 and Level IR wavelength. 3 and conducts research on assessment and improvement of radar retrieval algorithm to estimate more accurate global Dr. Han conducted a major revision of the manuscript precipitation. Since GPM Level 2 data in version 04 was released “Comparisons of bin and bulk microphysics schemes in to the public, radar algorithm teams have been updating and simulations of a winter storm with radar and radiometer testing new algorithms and preparing for the public release of measurements”, which she co-authored with Drs. Braun, the new version (V05). There were a couple of major changes in Matsui, and Iguchi. This study exploited hydrometeor particle V05 related to her work. One was the change of the normalized size distributions (PSDs) in bin and bulk microphysics schemes surface cross-section measurements, sigma0, at both Ku- and to demonstrate the influence of a varying mass spectrum on Ka- frequency, which gave rise to a reconstruction of reference modifying reflectivity and scattering simulations. Additional look-up tables of rain-free sigma0. For the past year, Dr. Kim analysis and sensitivity tests were carried out to address reconstructed these temporal reference databases for each test questions and comments from reviewers; however, based upon version and successfully delivered to the algorithm team the new an editor’s suggestion, she will submit the manuscript to another databases that will be included in the package codes. The other journal for a better alignment with the scope of the study. change was to modify the SRT (Surface Reference Technique) codes to provide more accurate path attenuation estimates For the GPM senior review proposal, Dr. Han worked with the by means of sub-categorizing the surface types. The current GPM project and senior scientists to collect and review scientific operational radar algorithm in version 04 was conducted under papers. After reviewing 200+ papers, she summarized their three categorized surface types: Ocean, Land and Coast. Due to scientific contributions to highlight the accomplishment of the GPM’s broader latitudinal coverage than the TRMM PR observed GPM project in the past three years, starting from its launch in over the regions of the tropics and subtropics, the adequacy Feb 2014. Additionally, Dr. Han worked with Dr. Braun and other of these three categories for GPM have been questioned. Dr. scientists to propose a winter storm field campaign to the Earth Kim updated the SRT codes to ingest two additional surface Venture Suborbital (EVS) program. She analyzed the biases of categories: snow-covered land and sea-ice using NOAA global total precipitation and snow in MERRA data/GEOS-5 model in the multi-sensor daily datasets. She demonstrated the remarkable winter months for the past decade; results showed 50-100% over boundaries of sigma0 1) between frozen and unfrozen ocean prediction of snowfall in the upper Midwest to the East Coast of and 2) between snow-covered land and uncovered land over high the U.S., and along the coastal mountains of western Canada. latitude areas. She implemented testing to see if this separation She also contributed to defining the campaign concepts. will substantially contribute to the variance reduction of sigma0 and improvement of precipitation estimate for GPM radar.

36 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 In addition to improving the Level 2 radar algorithm, Dr. Kim Dr. Xiaowen Li (sponsor: W.-K. Tao) uses the Goddard Cloud also updated the Level 3 algorithm codes to fix minor bugs Ensemble (GCE) model and satellite/field campaign observations and provided the algorithm to the codes integration team. She to study cloud microphysics and dynamics, aerosol-cloud- conducted research on statistical methods for space-time precipitation interactions, as well as their implications in averaged rain rate estimation applied to the DPR using Level 3 global climate. She also develops, tests and improves cloud- datasets. Statistical methods for estimating space-time averaged resolving model(s). She has been running the GCE model with rain rates have been shown to be accurate if the set of rain ultra-high resolution (up to 250m) and large domain size (up measurements to which the methods are applied is sufficiently to 4096x4096x106 grid points) to study sensitivities of cloud large. Using TRMM/PR Ku-band data, her sponsor Dr. Meneghini processes (e.g., hydrometeor distributions and convective showed that the methods offer the potential of reasonably updrafts) during the Dynamics of Madden-Julian Oscillations accurate estimates of mean rain rate over large areas and time (DYNAMO) field campaign. One of the challenges in this type of scales even when higher rain rates are undetectable because ultra-high-resolution simulation is that data processing becomes of signal attenuation. Dr. Kim has looked into applying these a limiting factor due to the high volume of both modeling I/O and methods to data taken by the DPR. She has investigated whether post processing. Dr. Li and her collaborators have been working the statistical methods can be applied with the same accuracy to on an innovative and efficient solution for this challenge by the Ka-band as they are to the Ku-band data. using the HADOOP cluster at NASA’s NCCS center. The goal is to take advantage of a commercially successful big data solution For the past year, Dr. Kim has been exploring possible ways to and apply it to a scientific problem, in this case the ultra-high- create a temporal reference database of sigma0. Presently, in the resolution cloud simulations. This work is supported by a NASA TRMM and GPM algorithms, statistics of rain-free sigma0 data, AIST-funded proposal. Dr. Li’s main responsibility in this work accumulated over a fixed latitude-longitude grid of 0.5 degree, includes but is not limited to conducting GCE cloud-resolving are used as the temporal reference. Although the fixed grid simulations with both ultra-high resolution and long-term database is convenient to use and update, it is not necessarily simulations, for the purpose of generating both large-domain and the best. She introduced the variable averaging procedure that long-term case studies for testing data processing on HADOOP begins with the statistics over a 0.25 x 0.25 degree grid. If the clusters; providing scientific support for data manipulations number of samples at cell is too few, the area is expanded, cell within the HADOOP system, e.g., algorithms of data statistics, by cell, choosing the cell that minimizes the variance of the data. data sub-setting strategy, as well as visualization of different The advantage of variable spatial averaging is that the average cloud processes; and developing a cloud website that can be standard deviation can be reduced, relative to the fixed grid, linked to the HADOOP system operation and provide intuitive and while satisfying the minimum sample requirement. interactive data manipulation tools. The website can be accessed here: https://cloud.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.php?section=46. In addition to the variable-averaging procedure is a second alternative that involves overlaying orbits with similar trajectories. In other work, Dr. Li has been working on aerosol-cloud- Although the GPM satellite does not have an exact orbital repeat precipitation with the spectral bin microphysical scheme with cycle, for any given orbit we can usually find one or more orbits two different cases: the tropical TWP-ICE case with 3D cyclic that are well matched to the target orbit in the sense that each boundary condition, and the PRESTORM and TOGA COARE scan line and viewing angle in the matched orbit is within less case with 2D open boundary condition. The first case involves than 1/2 field-of-view (2.5 km) of the target orbit. Moreover, analyzing previous simulations. It has been found that more as more data are acquired, the probability increases that at aerosol loading produces stronger convective updraft core least one orbit can be found that is well-matched to a given strengths. The enhanced latent heating due to increased aerosol orbit. In some sense, these nearly-matched orbits provide an loading is the main reason for this convection invigoration. ideal temporal reference in the sense that the spatial variations These results were presented at the Yoram Kaufman Memorial between sigma0 measured within and beyond the rain area are Symposium in June 2016. In addition, a paper on aerosol-cloud- minimized. As the rain-free databases derived from the fixed precipitation interaction mechanisms that Dr. Li co-authored with grid, the variable grid and the overlay orbits will differ, the path her sponsor, which was published in JGR in March 2016, was attenuations derived from them will differ as well. selected as a Code 613 Research Highlight in April 2017.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 37 Dr. Xiaowen Li (Program Manager: R. Kakar) also has begun work on a three- year NASA PMM grant titled “Constraining the Ice-Particle Collection Efficiency Using TRMM/GPM Observations, Field Campaign Data, and Cloud Models with Explicit Bin Microphysics”. She is working with Dr. Taka Iguchi to carry out spectral bin microphysical simulations for the MC3E May 20 Mesoscale Convective System simulations. Sensitivity tests were performed using Figure 1: The attached plot shows an example of the vertical velocity simulated using the ultra- different collection kernels. high-resolution GCE model. The panel at the left is the image of the vertical velocity at z=4km. The simulated ice particle size At right is the blow-up of the red frame, which shows the details of individual advection and distributions were matched and gravity waves generated by these convections. Image provided by X. Li. compared with in-situ airplane observations. Results showed that the model used collection Dr. Xiaowen Li (Program Manager: R. Kakar) has been efficiencies that were too large, especially at temperatures below working on a NASA Weather Program grant titled “Improve -20 Celsius. These results were reported at the PMM Science MJO Simulations Using CYGNSS Data Products: DYNAMO Case Team Meeting in October 2016 in Houston, TX. Studies”, which is in its last year. Dr. Li and her collaborators have successfully simulated two MJO events during the DYNAMO Dr. Liang Liao (sponsor: R. Meneghini) conducts research on field campaign period, using the coupled atmosphere-ocean- a variety of topics associated with airborne and spaceborne wave model, COAWST. The COAWST model data and in-situ ship- weather radar analysis generally and the TRMM Precipitation borne measurements were compared to validate the ocean and Radar (PR) and GPM Dual-Wavelength Precipitation Radar wave component of the COAWST model, as well as the surface specifically. The work includes single- and dual-wavelength radar sensible and latent heat fluxes. Dr. Li also has studied the wave analysis of hydrometeor profiles, simulation of polarimetric model output and how to use simulated wave spectra to derive radar signatures in rain and snow, retrieval of the microphysical the mean square slope (MSS) of the waves. The MSS is directly properties and characteristic parameters of drop size distribution related to the future CYGNSS satellite measurement where the using data from dual-wavelength airborne weather radar, and the reflected GPS signal cross section is proportional to the MSS. validation of the TRMM standard products using ground-based measurements. In addition to coupled COAWST model simulations, the GCE cloud-resolving model also has been used to simulate one of An important goal of the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar the MJO events during DYNAMO. Three different radars - the (DPR) onboard the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) surface-based S-POL, C-band radar, and the space-borne TRMM core satellite is to derive rain rate by estimating parameters PR - are used to validate the GCE model simulations. From of the rain drop size distribution (DSD). Since the DPR suffers this study’s results, Dr. Li has completed a manuscript entitled attenuation while propagating in rain, its signal loss needs to be “Precipitation Structure Evolution during the November DYNAMO compensated for the radar echo at gates where rain estimates MJO Event: Cloud-Resolving Simulations Compared with Radar are made. A variety of approaches have been proposed to Observations”. derive DSD parameters for single- and dual-wavelength radar. Because of spatial and temporal variations in DSD and since retrieval problems are under-constrained (i.e., more variables

38 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 than measurements), none of the retrieval methods are perfect. lead to somewhat different results. Realistic storm structures Their accuracies depend on several factors, such as DSD observed from ground-based radar were used to examine its parameterization, vertical homogeneity of DSD profiles and effectiveness and issues resulting from these reconstruction accuracy of the path integral attenuation (PIA) estimates, plus procedures. the nominal radar-hydrometeor relations used for retrieval. A physical evaluation of these techniques is necessary not only Additionally, the feasibility of a Ku-band and Ka-band for understanding the uncertainties in rain rate estimation spaceborne/airborne dual-wavelength radar algorithm has been but also in gaining insight into ways to improve the algorithms. studied to discriminate various phase states of precipitating In this study, Dr. Liao investigated the performance of rain hydrometeors. A phase-state classification algorithm was estimates using single- and dual-wavelength radar techniques developed from the radar measurements of snow, mixed phase, with various assumed DSD models by comparing the radar and and rain obtained from stratiform storms. The algorithm, which hydrometeor parameters retrieved with those directly derived is presented in the form of a lookup table that links the Ku-band from DSD measurements. The robustness of the algorithms with radar reflectivity and dual-frequency ratio to the phase states of respect to SRT errors was also studied. To construct realistic hydrometeors, is checked by applying it to the measurements of hydrometeor profiles used for this evaluation, the measured DSD the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, data acquired from a variety of storm systems were used. To test using Airborne Precipitation Radar Second Generation (APR- the algorithms for a wide range of vertical rain inhomogeneities, 2). In creating the statistically-based-phase lookup table, generated hydrometeor profiles were grouped into categories the attenuation-corrected (or true) radar reflectivity factors with various degrees of vertical correlations, i.e., from perfectly are employed, leading to better accuracy in determining correlated, partially correlated and uncorrelated DSD profiles. the hydrometeor phase; however, in practice, the true radar The relationships between radar reflectivity factors and specific reflectivity is not always available before the phase states of the attenuations at the Ku- and Ka-band frequencies at which the hydrometeors are determined. Therefore, it is desirable to utilize DPR operates, along with hydrometeor bulk and characteristic the measured radar reflectivity in classifying the phase states. size parameters, were derived and applied to the algorithms that To do so, phase identification that uses only measured radar require this information. The DSD data used include the multiple reflectivity is proposed, and then the procedure is tested using Parsivel2 and 2DVD observations acquired during the Iowa APR-2 airborne radar data. The analysis of the classification Flooding Studies (IFloodS), the Integrated Precipitation Validation results in stratiform rain indicates that the regions of snow, mixed Experiment (IPHEx) and data from NASA Wallops Flight Facility phase, and rain derived from the phase identification algorithm in Wallops Island, VA as well as the Olympic Mountains Ground coincide reasonably well with those determined from the Validation Experiment (OLYMPEX) field campaign. measured radar reflectivity and linear depolarization ratio.

Collaborating with NCAR scientists who create data that Dr. Jainn Jong (Roger) Shi (sponsor: W.-K. Tao) studies physical collocate dual-wavelength airborne radar and in-situ snow and dynamical processes related to convective-to-regional-scale particle measurements during field campaigns, Dr. Liao made precipitation systems. Regarding his study on aerosols impact forward modeling computations of radar reflectivity factors using on cloud microphysical and radiative processes in Hurricane measured snow size spectra; the model computed reflectivities Nadine (2012) using the NASA Unified Weather Research and were then compared with corresponding measured reflectivities. Forecasting (NU-WRF) Model, there are conflicting views on role By doing this, the assumptions (such as particle shapes, of the SAL dust during pre- and post-genesis of tropical cyclones. orientations and densities as well as associated scattering Early dust-impact studies claimed negative impacts, but had tables) made in the models could be evaluated. unrealistic dust distributions. More recent works with more realistic dust suggest possible positive impacts in some cases. Dr. Liao also worked on a supporting study that investigated However, aerosol (e.g., dust, pollution, biomass burning, sea salt) the feasibility of “interpolated approach” that tends to recover radiative and microphysical effects on hurricanes have usually high-resolution data from low-resolution measurements on the been considered separately and independently, and there is a path integral attenuation (PIA). As anticipated, the success need to study them together, given the opposing microphysical of such Non-Uniform Beam Filling (NUBF) correction highly and radiative effects aerosols have on deep warm-base depends on the level of spatial (more specifically, horizontal) rain convective clouds. In this latest model development, the Goddard distributions, although different interpolation schemes might microphysics and long-wave/short-wave schemes in NU-WRF

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 39 environment along four north- south flight legs centered on a non-developing tropical wave. In order to better understand the impact of Saharan dust on the thermodynamic conditions within the SAL and impacts on the near environment, Dr. Fig. 1 caption: Time-series of the distribution of MSLP differences between (a) CTRL (no aerosol Shi and collaborators used the coupling) and AERO (coupled with all aerosols) (b) CTRL (no aerosol coupling) and DUST (coupled Goddard version of the WRF with dust aerosol only) from all 30 ensemble-members. The blue box includes 50% of all model with interactive aerosol- members. (c) and (d) are same as (a) and (b) except for the distribution of wind speed difference. cloud-radiation physics, and Figure provided by J. J. Shi. employed a factor separation method. Four different simulations were conducted: are coupled in real-time with the Goddard Chemistry Aerosol one fully coupled run including aerosol- microphysical-radiation Radiation and Transport (GOCART) in WRF-Chem to account (AMR) effects, runs with aerosol-microphysics (AM) or aerosol- for the direct (radiation) and indirect (microphysics) impact. A radiation (AR) effects only, and one control run with no explicit series of 7-day simulations using NU-WRF and WRF-Chem were aerosol effects (NoAMR). Results show that the NU-WRF conducted to study the impact of different types of aerosols simulations generally captured the major features of the August (i.e., dust, sea salt, and carbon) on Hurricane Nadine (2012), 2013 SAL event during the HS3 campaign. with certain simulations only using one type of aerosols. When all aerosols were used, results showed that NU-WRF driven by The impact of Saharan dust on the distributions of cloud and GEOS-5 global aerosol analysis simulated the aerosol distribution precipitation hydrometeors (AM effect) was dominated by reasonably well as compared to MODIS AOD, CALIPSO, and HS3 two effects. First, AM effect led to a lowering of the top of the CPL and dropsondes. Results also revealed that Saharan dust boundary layer cloud deck north of the ITCZ, resulting in a seems to have a positive impact on the intensity of Nadine after reduction of cloud water near the top of the cloud deck and 4-5 days of the model integration possibly due to the increase of an increase in cloud water within the cloud deck. Second, the production in cloud graupel and snow when only the dust aerosol changes in vertical motions discussed above led to increases effect was included in the simulation, while both carbon and sea in cloud and precipitation in areas of enhanced ascent and salt have reduced the production of cloud snow and graupel. In decreases in areas of enhanced descent. The presence of May 2017, these results will be presented at the 2017 JPGU- Saharan dust also directly and indirectly (via changing the cloud AGU Meeting in Tokyo, Japan, and a peer-reviewed publication structure) changed atmospheric radiative heating profiles within from this study is underway. (Note: this task will be ending. No and beyond the SAL. The direct effect of the aerosols led to weak future work is planned except for working on the peer-reviewed warming of the dust layer. Because the AR (no microphysics publication.) coupling) effect also modified vertical motions and cloud and precipitation hydrometeors in the ITCZ and tropical anvils that On a second task, Dr. Jainn Jong (Roger) Shi (sponsor: S. Braun) extended to ~24°N, these effects also produced changes to conducts simulations of hurricanes and their interaction with radiative heating above 400 hPa. Microphysical effect (AM) the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) using the GSFC NU-WRF regional produced larger impacts on radiative heating profiles, with model. The modeling will include aerosols and their impacts on increases at the top of the boundary layer and decreases within cloud microphysics and radiation. The simulations are analyzed the boundary layer as a result of the lowering of the tops of the and compared to observations from the Hurricane and Severe low-level cloud deck. A peer-reviewed publication from this study Storm Sentinel (HS3) investigation. A Saharan Air Layer (SAL) will soon be submitted. outbreak during August 24-25, 2013, was sampled during the HS3 campaign by the NASA Global Hawk aircraft equipped with Dr. Shi and collaborators used the Goddard version of the a dropsonde system and cloud lidar. The aircraft observations Weather Research and Forecasting model with interactive characterized the vertical structure of the SAL and its near aerosol-cloud-radiation physics to identify the role of Saharan

40 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 dust using three 30-member ensemble simulations of Nadine: Another focus of Dr. Tian’s research has been on airborne radar one ensemble with aerosols of all types (dust, pollution, biomass data processing and distribution, identifying the cases that are burning, sea salt), one with dust only, and one without aerosol valuable for science communities for studying the microphysical interactions. Perturbations were added to NCEP GFS analysis/ and dynamics structures of cloud and precipitations. Dr. Tian forecast to create initial/boundary conditions for 30-member received a team award for high altitude radar from NASA. ensemble in order to study how Nadine would respond to different atmospheric environments. The role of the SAL is mainly assessed through a correlation analysis relating relevant fields (temperature, humidity, winds) to the intensity of the simulated CODE 613: CLIMATE AND storms averaged over the final three days of simulation. The RADIATION LABORATORY impacts of Saharan dust and other aerosols are evaluated by looking at the differences between CTRL (with no aerosol Dr. Nayeong Cho (sponsor: L. Oreopoulos) works toward coupling) and either AERO (coupled with all aerosols) or DUST enhancing the understanding of cloud structure and cloud (coupled only with dust aerosol) ensemble members. Results interaction with their environment by using the concept of “cloud show that Nadine ensemble intensities were about evenly regimes” as a basis for performing comparison and compositing strengthened and weakened by SAL dust (Fig 1-b and d), while analysis on a suite of spatiotemporally matching observational most intensities (> 75%) are more significantly weakened when datasets. As a result of her research and analysis throughout all aerosols are included (Fig. 1-a and c). Results also suggest the past year, she was involved with two publications, one in JGR that the upper-level trough interaction with Nadine may play a and the other in JGR-Atmospheres. She attended and presented central role in aerosol sensitivity. Correlation analysis suggests at several meetings and workshops, including the 2016 MODIS/ that weaker troughs or troughs moving more slowly eastward VIIRS Science Team Meeting in June 2016, the 10th Anniversary lead to greater weakening of storm intensity when all aerosols Yoram Kaufman Memorial Symposium in June 2016, the 2016 are included. A peer-reviewed publication from this study is also NASA Sounder science team meeting in Sept 2016, the 2016 being prepared. AGU Fall Meeting in Dec 2016, and the 2017 A-Train Symposium in April 2017, plus a meeting at NASA’s CPC (Cloud-Precipitation Dr. Lin Tian (sponsor: G. Heymsfield) conducts research to Center) in April 2017. Dr. Cho was recognized for Outstanding improve satellite rain retrieval algorithms. Her efforts have been Performance Science, “For performing high quality analysis on directed toward improving microphysical assumptions, such as coincident data from A-train and other datasets”. particle size, phase, and distributions, for GPM rain retrieval algorithms, through airborne radar and radiometer, aircraft in- In the coming year, Dr. Cho will continue to study cloud structure situ microphysics, and ground-based measurements. She also and cloud-aerosol interaction with their environment, inferred focuses on airborne radar data processing and distribution, from other coincident measurements. The coincidence of identifying the cases that are valuable for science communities microphysical variables (such as cloud optical depth, cloud for study the microphysical and dynamics structures of cloud effective radius, and cloud fraction) and aerosol optical depth and precipitations. Over the past year, Dr. Tian took the lead on according to the cloud regimes will give confidence to support analyzing multiple ground-based polarimetric radars and airborne invigoration and suppression of cloud by aerosols. radar measurements to understand multi-frequency (X, Ku, Ka, and W) observations in deep convective storm. These efforts Dr. Manisha Ganeshan (sponsor: D. Wu) works toward advancing resulted in a published peer-reviewed journal paper, and two satellite-based retrievals of atmospheric boundary layer peer-reviewed papers under review. properties in polar regions primarily using the high-resolution GPS radio occultation (RO) measurements. She uses ground- To evaluate the particle models to be used for radar-radiometer based observations for algorithm development and validation, combined algorithm, Dr. Tian worked in collaboration with Dr. and compares the RO-derived boundary layer properties to Grecu and scientists from other institutions to analyze airborne model and reanalyses estimates in order to identify missing radar-radiometer, aircraft microphysics data from the GPM (TC4, processes as well as improve the turbulent physics and cloud MC3E, IPHEX, Olympex) field campaign, in order to derive the parameterization schemes in polar climate models. Her research particle-size parameters used to validate the theoretical model. A resulted in a first-author article titled “The open ocean sensible related paper is in progress. heat flux and its significance for Arctic boundary layer mixing

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 41 during early fall” that was published in the journal Atmospheric structure and function, snow and ice, albedo, and feedbacks to Chemistry and Physics. This study investigates the surface climate. Activities range from building an airborne dataset on sensible heat flux and boundary layer height variability over the surface bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) to Beaufort and Chukchi sea regions that have seen recent changes conducting elaborate experiments and developing new methods in cloud cover and sea ice. Multi-year observations from cruise to define important surface and atmosphere radiative transfer ships suggest that although the boundary layer height may be functions, plus improving remote sensing retrievals of aerosols increasing, there is no significant contribution from surface and clouds using laboratory, ground-based, airborne and satellite sensible heat flux. remote sensing. This past year, a major undertaking was the SnowEx campaign. SnowEx is a multi-year project to prepare Dr. Ganeshan applied for and received travel support from U.S. for a future snow satellite mission. Dr. Gatebe is the Deputy CLIVAR to participate in the Early Career Scientist Symposium Project Scientist - Year 1, in which this first year focuses on as part of the CLIVAR Open Science Conference in Qingdao, testing multiple sensing techniques in forested environments— a China. As a member of the Climate and Ocean Dynamics working challenging situation for snow retrievals. Overall, more than 100 group, she participated and presented “How is the atmospheric people from NASA and other government agencies, universities, boundary layer responding to the dynamic new Arctic Ocean?”, and other countries participated. The main winter campaign took which was one of 8 selected abstracts out of 200 submitted to place Feb 5-25, 2017. the “Understanding Ocean and Climate Processes” session. She also presented a poster representing her work on the boundary Dr. Gatebe presented research results at several meetings layer’s variability over Greenland’s ice sheet. As Co-I on a recently during the 2016 Fall AGU Meeting in Dec 2016: “Characterizing funded ROSES CALIPSO/CloudSat proposal, she will lead the the solar reflection from wildfire smoke plumes using airborne analyses of atmospheric boundary layer processes and variability multiangle measurements,” “Assessment of Satellite Albedos over Antarctica. Using NASA-CAR Airborne Data,” “Radiative characteristics of Clouds embedded in and occurring beneath Smoke Dr. Ganeshan has been chosen as the 2017 IASC (International analyzed using airborne multiangular measurements,” and Arctic Science Committee) fellow to join the Atmosphere Working “PolarBRDF: A general purpose Python package for visualization Group. She has received travel funding for two consecutive Arctic and quantitative analysis of multi-angular remote sensing Science Summit Week (ASSW) for the years 2017 (Prague) measurements.” and 2018 (Davos). IASC Fellows are early career researchers who actively participate in scientific and other activities of the He was also involved as co-author on several papers published IASC Working Groups. They will also help with reporting to the in Applied Optics, Acta Astronautica, JGR-Atmospheres, Remote IASC Secretariat. Each year IASC selects one new early career Sensing of Environment, Environment Research Letters, scientist Fellow per working group (up to five in total). This year, Computers and GeoSciences, and the IEEE Journal of Selected Dr. Ganeshan was chosen as fellow to the Atmosphere Working Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing. Dr. Group. She attended the Arctic Science Summit Week in Prague Gatebe was also a co-author of the article “Coastal observations where she presented a talk titled “The atmospheric boundary from a New Vantage Point: The NASA GEO-CAPE ocean mission,” layer response to the dynamic new Arctic Ocean during fall”. selected as a feature article in EOS: Earth and Space News, 98(1), Nov 2016. In the year ahead, Dr. Ganeshan will primarily work on observing the Antarctic boundary layer and blowing snow properties using This coming year will involve continued SnowEx activities, such ground and satellite-based measurements. She will compare the as the IGARSS 2017 Meeting, Fort Worth, Texas, in July and observed estimates with reanalyses data. In the latter half of the the SnowEx Workshop Boulder, Colorado, in August. He will year, she will study the surface radiation budget using a radiative also attend the 2017 AGU Fall Meeting, New Orleans, LA, in transfer model. Work will continue on manuscripts in progress December. Additionally, Dr. Gatebe will continue to lead the and she will participate as member of a task force team in the effort to develop new angular distribution models for satellite Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP). assessment of direct radiative forcing by wildfire aerosols derived using multi- angular/spectral airborne measurements and 3D Dr. Charles Gatebe (sponsor: C. Ichoku) also works toward radiative transfer modeling. This project is in collaboration with improving the knowledge of clouds, aerosols, ecosystem Tamas Varnai (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) and

42 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Ritesh Gautam and Manoj Kumar (Indian Institute of Technology, MODIS cloud data and TMPA precipitation data, and examined Bombay). cloud-precipitation co-variability at grid-level. For utilizing the benefit of higher resolution of TMPA data, he suggested the Dr. Jie Gong (sponsor: D. Wu) works on developing retrieval concept of “rainfall histogram,” which provides more information techniques and the delivery of retrieval products (such as cloud about sub-cell variability compared to the conventional approach ice water path, cloud top height, ice particle size) of AMSUB/MHS of grid-mean. Dr. Jin found significant differences in the cloud- onboard NOAA satellite series. She compares correlative datasets precipitation relationship between tropical land and ocean, to evaluate retrieval performances and uncertainties. Dr. Gong and results were submitted to the Journal of Climate. Further, was first-author on a paper published in ACP titled “Microphysical in December 2016, Dr. Jin presented a poster about the study properties of frozen particles inferred from Global Precipitation of cloud-precipitation co-variability at the AGU Fall meeting. In Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) polarimetric addition, he gave an oral presentation at the cloud-precipitation- measurements”. This work was highlighted in the Earth Science center (CPC) seminar in September 2016 and at the 3rd Division’s monthly highlight in April 2017. For this paper, Dr. Gong International Workshop on “Short-Lived Climate Pollutants in was recognized with a Best Paper Award by her lab. Additionally, Asia” in February 2017. her excellence in working on the gravity wave field was featured in the journal Nature (http://www.nature.com/news/glider-aims- This coming year, Dr. Jin will expand the analysis of cloud- to-break-world-record-and-boost-climate-science-1.20386). precipitation relationship by adding the condition of aerosol optical depth (AOD) in order to investigate the effect of aerosol Dr. Gong has attended and presented in three international on the cloud-precipitation relationship. He also will examine the conferences and four local meetings. In particular, she cloud simulating performance of various AGCMs, particularly was invited to give a talk on the 2016 SPARC Gravity Wave focusing on the tropical deep convection. Previously it was Symposium. She also participated in writing two proposals as reported that the general performance model is quite good PI and one proposal as Co-I. The PI proposals were submitted regarding simulations of deep convections in the annual mean. to NASA ROSES Citizen Science call and USRA IRAD call. The Dr. Jin will examine this with a more detailed performance, e.g., proposal on which she is Co-I was recently awarded, and the seasonal cycle. team will investigate the role of thin cirrus cloud in regulating the cross-tropopause water vapor transport using A-Train data and Dr. Sergey Korkin (sponsor: A. Lyapustin) works on the comparing the observations with model outputs to shed light on development of the numerical algorithm for retrieval of the model improvements. atmospheric and surface properties using the effect of light polarization. Using his vector (polarized) radiative transfer code Going forward, Dr. Gong will continue to study the ice particle IPOL, Dr. Korkin generated look-up tables (LUTs) for polarization polarization using lidar, IR and MW observations, and also will correction of his sponsor’s algorithm MAIAC. The LUTs are study and obtain information from the Icecube measurement. generated for a variety of optical properties of the atmosphere Their Cubesat mission - Icecube - was released from the to allow for global application of the algorithm. Dr. Korkin also International Space Station in early May 2016, and they has included a pseudo-spherical model to account for the Earth anticipate receiving and subsequently analyzing this data. She curvature, which is important for observations at high altitudes also plans to attend project-related conferences (e.g., AGU, AMS, and/or low view zenith angles. This past year, in recognition of his middle-atmosphere dynamics conference, etc.) and present the work, Dr. Korkin has received the 2016 Elsevier/JQSRT Richard progress updates. Finally, Dr. Gong is participating in writing a M. Goody Award in Atmospheric Radiation and Modelling (see MEASURES proposal to synergize multiple microwave remote Awards section of this report). sensing measurements of ice water path to create a global 3-hourly ice water path observation for model comparison. For the upcoming year, Dr. Korkin has started to modify and translate his vector radiative transfer (RT) code IPOL from Dr. Daeho Jin (sponsor: L. Oreopoulos) aims to develop a Fortran 90 into C/C++ to naturally integrate the RT code in the set of advanced diagnostic frames for evaluating cloud and MAIAC algorithm. The work is planned to be completed in the precipitation simulation performance of GEOS-5 AGCM and other year 2017-2018. He plans to collaborate with colleagues from AGCMs in the Coupled-Model Inter-comparison Project (CMIP). the State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research Dr. Jin performed temporal and spatial grid-matching between (SKLEC), East China Normal University (ECNU) (english.sklec.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 43 ecnu.edu.cn). He will use his radiative transfer codes to study sampling algorithm was developed using collocated MODIS- how diffused (scattered) light propagates in the ocean and CALIOP data to construct a learning and testing database, which influences the ocean temperature and biology. He also plans is an important step to train the machine-learning framework. to collaborate with NASA Goddard colleagues from Code 614/ His research also included the development of a Bayesian Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamic Laboratory. The goal is to inference framework based on the Metropolis-Hastings Algorithm validate their radiative transfer codes against the ones developed to improve the cloud optical products. The Bayesian inversion by Dr. Korkin, in particular, the model that accounts for the Earth scheme has been implemented and tested for a couple of MODIS curvature. Other activities include studying Python programming granules; the next step will be to conduct comparisons between as a convenient tool for data analyses and plotting, and Bayesian, frequentist or deterministic inversion. beginning to process the POLDER satellite data and to develop a convenient model for the surface polarization reflection to be Another research activity he is conducting involves evaluating used in NASA JPL’s MAIA space polarimeter. MODIS multilayer cloud products through CALIOP comparisons. This research was presented at the AGU 2016 fall meeting in San Dr. Sergey Korkin (program manager: L. Tsaoussi) also works on Francisco in Dec 2016. Dr. Marchant also provides support to NASA grant #NNX15AQ23G, which involves the development of the scientific community by developing python codes to visualize a fast polarized (vector) radiative transfer (RT) code for Version data. 3 AERONET reprocessing. In collaboration with the NASA GSFC AERONET team, Dr. Korkin continuously supports implementation Dr. Falguni Patadia’s (sponsor: R. Levy) research activities of his vector RT code SORD in the AERONET retrieval algorithm. include the evaluation the MODIS AOD product to quantify the In particular, he helps to modify the code to be used on the uncertainty in the product and identify sources of error, plus NASA supercomputer and with different Fortran compilers (ifort, performing sensitivity studies using RT models for AOD retrievals. gfortran, pgf90). Additional work involves performing atmospheric corrections and radiative transfer (RT) calculations for aerosol retrievals. From his grant work, Dr. Korkin has one paper in review with JQSRT and has published two papers in SPIE Proceedings: For her work in evaluating seasonal uncertainties in MODIS AOD, “Accuracy of RT code for nonuniform multilayers scattering for the 10 km MODIS aerosol retrieval, pixel level uncertainties and absorption atmosphere profiles” and “Performance of the were calculated for four months over the entire globe. These dot product function in radiative transfer code SORD”. He has uncertainties are from four different sources: atmospheric given several presentations as first author at the Anniversary gas corrections applied to reflectance; wind speed used in Yoram Kaufman Memorial Symposium in June 2016, at the SPIE aerosol retrievals; heterogeneity of reflectance in the 10 Conference in Sept 2016, at the 4th Annual Young Scientists km retrieval region; and variance in the top solutions of the Forum in Oct 2016, Greenbelt, MD at the 16th Conference on retrieval algorithm. For the four months, uncertainties from Electromagnetic & Light Scattering in March 2017, at the 2016 all four sources were estimated using two models. Dr. Patadia AGU Fall Meeting in Dec 2016. His poster which he has delivered analyzed the global distribution of the individual uncertainties, at several talks titled “RT Code SORD” is currently on display their seasonal differences and the differences between the two in the Code 613 hall at NASA Goddard, Bldg. 33, 3rd floor, approaches. She also analyzed the pixel level uncertainties to C-wing. Upcoming plans include participation in the International examine regional differences. Symposium “Atmospheric Radiation and Dynamics”, June 27-30, St. Petersburg, Russia. Dr. Patadia generated aerosol optical depth retrieval Look Up Tables for Himawari 8 retrievals, and calculated atmospheric Dr. Benjamin Marchant (sponsor: S. Platnick) conducts research correction coefficients for these Himawari retrievals. Also, LUTs activities in developing new algorithms to improve cloud products were updated to retrieve at MODIS wavelength (554 nm). She for passive sensors such as MODIS, VIIRS or eMAS, including will continue to further analyze the pixel level uncertainties the development of a machine-learning framework based on to look at regional differences; examine similarities between Gaussian processes for the classification problem, in particular, uncertainties calculated from two methods; and validate the the cloud thermodynamic phase classification for which he uncertainties against ground-based observations globally. received a best first-author award for the previous works published in ACP earlier in 2016. This year, a weighted reservoir

44 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 As in previous years, Dr. Andrew Sayer (sponsor: N.C. Hsu) has oral presentation at the 2017 AMS Annual Meeting (Seattle, applied much of his efforts on the ‘Deep Blue’ aerosol project USA), and an invited oral presentation at the 2017 EGU (https://deepblue.gsfc.nasa.gov), led by his NASA sponsor. Deep Annual Meeting (Vienna, Austria). He was a co-author on other Blue uses satellite measurements from various instruments to presentations at these and other conferences. He was also an determine aerosol loading globally (e.g., from mineral dust, sea invited visitor to the University of North Dakota, hosted by Prof. spray, wildfire smoke, volcanic ash, industrial haze), which is J. Zhang, where he gave a seminar about his research and met important for applications such as hazard avoidance, air quality/ with faculty and students to discuss collaborations and future human health, and climate change. research opportunities.

A major milestone this year has been the release of Deep Blue As part of the Seven South-East Asian Studies (7-SEAS) project, aerosol data products from a subset of the AVHRR satellite the Biomass-burning Aerosols & Stratocumulus Environment: sensors (available from https://portal.nccs.nasa.gov/datashare/ Lifecycles and Interactions Experiment (BASELInE) was AVHRRDeepBlue/). The AVHRR satellite record spans almost carried out in spring 2015 to improve our understanding of 40 years, and this new data set demonstrates for the first time physicochemical processes, interactions, and feedbacks related the potential for retrieving aerosol loading over land from this to biomass burning aerosols and clouds in southeast Asia. Dr. sensor, a major new capability. Dr. Sayer led the development of Sayer has been involved in the ongoing analysis of ground-based over-ocean aerosol retrievals in the new data set, building on the and remotely-sensed data collected during this campaign, and work he has done for over-ocean aerosol remote sensing for the various analyses were published in a special issue of the journal SeaWiFS and VIIRS sensors within the Deep Blue aerosol project. Aerosol and Air Quality Research dedicated to this experiment. He also assisted in over-land retrievals and performed validation Dr. Sayer is lead author of one study in this special issue and a exercises on both the land and ocean data to demonstrate that co-author on four others. the retrieval techniques perform well. This work is documented in two studies currently under review in the Journal of Geophysical Work will continue on the Deep Blue aerosol project. The main Research. A second important milestone has been work on a goals for the year to come are the release of the VIIRS Deep Blue paper to cross-calibrate the VIIRS sensor against the MODIS and MODIS Collection 6.1 data sets, as well as the publication instrument on the Aqua platform. VIIRS is known to have some of papers and oral/poster presentations related to these. Time limitations in the absolute calibration of some of its bands. Dr. will be spent assessing and improving the quality of the data Sayer’s cross-calibration brings the sensors into radiometric sets, developing improvements, maintaining and delivering code, alignment, and he demonstrated that this also improves the and assisting data users as needed. Dr. Sayer will continue to retrieval of aerosol properties from VIIRS, which is important collaborate with others and find opportunities to present his for maintaining data quality and continuity between multiple research to further NASA’s and GESTAR’s aims. satellite sensors. This paper is currently in press in the journal Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. Recently, in support Dr. Yingxi Shi (sponsor: R. Levy) supports global aerosol of an upcoming reprocessing of the MODIS Atmospheres data retrievals from currently flying MODIS and VIIRS satellite sensors, products suite, Dr. Sayer has been involved in developing, testing, along with developing algorithms for near-future (e.g. PACE, and assessing Deep Blue algorithm and code improvements EPIC/DSCOVR) and far-future (e.g. ACE) sensors. Work includes and delivering these to the group responsible for large-scale validation and statistical analysis of existing and new production data processing (MODAPS). The new version, Collection 6.1, is data against a wide range of other data sets, plus manipulating expected to be processed later this year. In addition to the above, large satellite data sets to merge, collocate, and compare various much effort was put into assisting data users with their analyses products. This past year, Dr. Shi developed a research algorithm of Deep Blue products, and making presentations about Deep based on the operational MODIS Dark Target aerosol retrieval Blue at national and international meetings. algorithm. The research algorithm retrieves under very optically thick smoke conditions with a synergistic use of OMI AI, MODIS Over the past year, Dr. Sayer has given numerous invited cloud product, and MODIS observations. A smoke model was presentations at national and international meetings, developed using AERONET inversion data over this region during mostly related to his work on the Deep Blue aerosol project. the 2015 forest fire period to represent the aerosol properties Specifically, he delivered oral and poster presentations at the during this event. An updated cloud mask with the combined use annual AEROCOM/AEROROAT meeting (Beijing, China), an of cloud mask from operational MODIS DT algorithm and several

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 45 QA metrics from MOD06 cloud product was developed to identify type over each AERONET site. The bias and the comparisons very optically thick smoke from clouds. Additional evaluations between MODIS DT over land product and AERONET data were of this research product were done using AERONET version 3 analyzed based on each dominate IGBP surface type. The study level 1.5 product, and results showed that the research product revealed that MODIS DT over land algorithm does well over with the new cloud mask provided a much wider data coverage mixed dark vegetated areas. Surface types that lead to higher over the optically thick aerosol plumes over the Indonesia region bias in comparison are tropical forest and open shrubs. Further during the forest fire season. The research product also showed investigations are ongoing. a lower bias over the high AOD regime when validated against AERONET and when compared with operational C6 DT product. This past year, Dr. Shi presented research results at multiple Regional aerosol statistics also were computed to understand the conferences, including the 15th AeroCom and 4th AeroSat impacts of missing retrievals over very thick part of the plumes. conferences in September 2016, the AGU Fall meeting in An increase of an average over-land AOD of 0.2 was found, when December 2016, the American Meteorology Society 2017 annual using the research algorithm during months of severe fires. conference in January 2017.

Dr. Shi studied the uncertainties in aerosol direct radiative Dr. Shi plans to finish her paper on the event-based aerosol effects over the Indonesia region using this newly developed product over the Indonesia region during the 2015 forest fire research algorithm. As mentioned, the newly developed MODIS season. Using this new product to estimate the regional aerosol DT aerosol research product provides a wider data coverage climate impacts, her study of further improving the MODIS DT over the optically thick aerosol plumes over Indonesia during aerosol retrieval coverage will be continued over Beijing. She also the forest fire seasons. The monthly mean over land AOD from will work on the validation paper of MODIS C6 DT aerosol product the research product increases by about 15% when compared based on the AERONET IGBP surface type. with the operational product; this change in aerosol regional climatology alters the regional radiative balance. Dr. Shi studied Dr. Guoyong Wen (sponsor: A. Marshak) studies the radiative the change in aerosol regional direct radiative effects (ADE) transfer of solar radiation in the atmosphere, specifically the using the libRadtran Radiative Transfer Model (RTM), and study of the 3D cloud radiative effects on aerosol retrieval in the conducted sensitivity studies to understand the uncertainties vicinity of clouds for MODIS aerosol retrievals and research on in the estimated ADE. The uncertainties are estimated as Sun-Climate relations. Dr. Wen developed a correction for cloud functions of aerosol properties, aerosol optical depth, surface 3D radiative effect for eMAS images; this correction algorithm properties, and other radiative transfer model setup-related was applied to eMAS images acquired during the SEAC4RS uncertainties. Impacts from each component were tested against campaign. Dr. Wen was first author on two research-related the AERONET inversion product as well as cloud-cleared and papers, one published in the Journal of Space Weather Space scene-restrained CERES SSF product. The major uncertainty Climate and the other in JGR-Atmospheres. Additionally, as PI, sources are surface properties. When aerosol loading is low (AOD Dr. Wen’s NASA ROSES proposal titled “Using the 2017 Eclipse = 0.2), the uncertainties in the calculated aerosol climate forcing viewed by DSCOVR/EPIC & NISTAR from above and spectral contributed by surface is high. Under the study’s conditions, radiance and broadband irradiance instruments from below when the averaged aerosol loading is higher (AOD=2.5), the to perform a 3-D radiative transfer closure experiment” was uncertainty in the estimated aerosol direct forcing that is related selected for funding. to the surface is much smaller. Dr. Weidong Yang (sponsor: A. Marshak) supports the analyzing Dr. Shi developed a collocation system to efficiently collocate and understanding of surface hyper-spectral observations on the MODIS aerosol products with ground-based measurements cloud properties in the transition regions. The study also involves such as AERONET and MAN. A 14-year-long database of Terra testing and developing algorithms to qualitatively study the cloud and 12-year-long of Aqua was built with selected MODIS aerosol transition zone. In addition, his work supports the understanding product parameters and observations from AERONET/MAN along and retrieval of the aerosol property variations near cloud by with data statistics. A post-process system was developed for using optical imaging and laser lidar instrumental measurements user flexibility in choosing the data subset, depending on their onboard MODIS, CALIPSO and other satellites. Dr. Yang’s work selection criteria. Additionally, Dr. Shi conducted an evaluation resulted in a first-author publication in Atmospheric Research of C6 MODIS over land product based on the IGBP surface titled “Observation of the spectrally invariant properties of

46 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 clouds in cloudy-to-clear transition zones during the MAGIC field improve the understanding on the variation features of the EPIC campaign.” He also participated in preparing a proposal as Co-I observations by comparing it with other satellite instruments, and to use the spectrally-invariant method to study the cloud and air he will perform regional reflectance studies in preparation for the mixing and entrainment. He co-authored a related presentation calibration comparison with other satellite instruments. delivered at the 10th Anniversary Yoram Kaufman Memorial Symposium in June 2016. Dr. Yaping Zhou (sponsor: R. Levy) studies interactions of cloud, aerosol and precipitation with remote sensing data from MODIS, Dr. Yang was involved with analyzing the hyper spectrum TRMM, CloudSat/CALIPSO and their changing characteristics features of clouds during the cloud to clear sky transitions with climate variability. She worked on developing an algorithm that were observed from different sites of SGP and MAGIC, for dust identification and dust aerosol retrieval under the and he compared them with the SBDART simulation results framework of the MODIS dark target algorithm. Based on the by considering the aerosol absorption features. Additionally, evaluation of existing dust detection techniques, Dr. Zhou was he participated in the data testing of Version 4 L2 products of able to select a combination of non-dust aerosol index (NDAI) CALIOP. and a brightness temperature difference of BT8.7-11um as a basic dust identification scheme that utilizes dark blue, near In the year ahead, Dr. Yang will conduct further research on the infrared and thermal infrared characteristics of dust. This dependence of near-cloud behavior observations on variables algorithm has been tested on selected granules to effectively such as aerosol types, seasons, regions, aerosol loading and detect dust pixels while avoiding smoke pixels; it is currently other meteorological conditions. He also plans to develop being tested on an operational MODIS dark target algorithm. methods to reduce the effects of variables on the statistical A non-spherical dust model using optical properties from results of aerosol near-cloud observations, and compare the databases of Tri-axial ellipsoidal particles is being developed and results with the measurements from other satellite and/or will be implemented to the current MODIS aerosol models. This ground-based instruments. work was presented at the MODIS science team meeting in June 2016 and at the AGU Fall Meeting in December 2016. EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) is a 10-channel spectroradiometer (317 – 780 nm) onboard NOAA’s DSCOVR Dr. Zhou along with Dr. Karen Mohr also investigated interactions (Deep Space Climate Observatory) spacecraft, located at the between African Easterly Wave (AEW), Sahel Air Layer (SAL), Earth-Sun Lagrange-1 (L-1) point, providing a unique angular precipitation and aerosol interaction in Tropical West Africa. perspective to study globally the daily changes in the spectral A NOAA AEW database from different reanalyses has been features of atmosphere and surface of the sunlit half of the examined for AEW characteristics and distribution. An event- Earth. For his second research activity, Dr. Weidong Yang based precipitation database derived from daily TRMM TMPA (sponsor: K. Blank) supports this study by using radiative data also was examined in association with AEW and SAL. transfer model simulations to estimate DSCOVR EPIC Cloud Height Index, Cloud Mask Index, Normalized Vegetation Index, Also, two papers from Dr. Zhou’s previous PMM project were Blue-Green Index and the RGB Images. In addition, he will test published: one in Journal of Hydrometeorology, the other in the proposed simplified algorithms with simulated data and by the International Journal of Climatology. This second paper, combining radiative transfer modeling, to study the aerosols and “The relationships between the trends of mean and extreme cloud physics of O2 absorption. This past year, work has involved precipitation,” which she co-authored with Dr. K.-M. Lau, was studying the variation features of earth reflectance observed by selected as a research highlight for the Climate and Radiation EPIC, particularly their relations with the molecular scattering, Branch in February 2017. land-ocean ratio, and clouds, etc. He found that the variabilities of daily averaged reflectance are mostly determined by the Dr. Zhou will continue working on aerosol and precipitation cloud latitude distribution structures and land-ocean ratios. He interactions in association with AEW and SAL with a focus on also participated in data sanity checks and data testing before western African region. She is planning to complete the MODIS the release of L-1a and L-1b of EPIC data. A related manuscript dust identification and dust model implementation. A more regarding the EPIC observations is underway, and Dr. Yang comprehensive validation with CALIPSO and AERONET data will was lead author of a related presentation given at the AGU Fall be conducted. Meeting in December 2016. In the next year, he will continue to

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 47 CODE 614: ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY data processing software has reached an operational level; AND DYNAMICS LABORATORY additionally, the Pandora laboratory calibration procedures have been revised and improved to make the lab-calibrations more Dr. Valentina Aquila (sponsor: P. Colarco) works on developing efficient and consistent. stratospheric aerosol and chemistry modules in the NASA GEOS CCM modeling system. She devises, conducts, and analyzes Dr. Edward Celarier (sponsor: N. Krotkov) develops new experiments made with the NASA GEOS CCM modeling system code for operational production of NO2 data from OMI, to investigate the various roles of stratospheric aerosols and updates operational algorithm code to implement algorithm chemistry in Earth’s climate system, and uses NASA modeling enhancements developed by other OMI NO2 team members, and remote sensing tools to carry out these investigations. This examines test data from the operational OMI NO2 algorithm, past year, Dr. Aquila co-authored five papers, whose topics span writes documentation of the algorithm and software, and volcanic eruptions, geoengineering, and changes in stratospheric communicates with OMI NO2 team members. climate over the past 50 years. Dr. Aquila coauthored two reports to NASA Headquarter on how to organize a field deployment Many important improvements were made to the OMI NO2 in case of a volcanic eruption. One report focuses on the Slant Column Density retrieval algorithm, such as an improved modeling aspect of the preparation, the other includes also the algorithm for estimating the uncertainties in the retrieved observational aspect. quantities, improving the microwindow wavelength shift estimation algorithm, and implementing several operational Outside of her research, Dr. Aquila taught the course options to control the algorithm used for that estimation. A “Introduction to Climate Change” for retired and semi-retired study is in progress to evaluate the effectiveness of different individuals at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. About 60 combinations of the operational options to improve the stability people attended the course, which was very well received by the and robustness of the wavelength shift algorithm. audience. The Team Leader of Computing Facility and Science Investigator In next few months, Dr. Aquila plans to submit two papers that Processing System for OMI data processing made several summarize the model development and application that she changes, all at once, including the operating system, the fortran performed during the past year. (Note: Dr. Aquila will transition to compiler, the support libraries, the file system, and support a professorship position at American University in August 2017.) utilities (e.g. for configuration management) within the span of a few weeks. These have necessitated extensive modification and Dr. Alexander Cede (sponsor: J. Gleason) calibrates and analyzes retesting of all Apps, including all three principal NO2 Apps, and the PANDORA and CLEO spectrometer systems to measure the subsidiary Apps (OMNO2IRR, OMNO2G and OMNO2d). trace gases in the atmosphere (e.g., O3, SO2, HCHO, BrO, NO2, H2O) that have absorption spectra in the 300-525 nm spectral The revision and testing of the OMNO2B Application was range. He writes and deploys the necessary automated software undertaken, and the code was adapted to the new multi-App needed for Pandora operation and data analysis, and compares processing scheme. Problems with producing metadata were the resulting measured trace gas amounts with AURA/OMI resolved. The OMI Mission data were completely reprocessed measurements to determine the validity of the OMI spacecraft with the updated algorithm, and was promoted to forward retrievals. Ground campaigns will be conducted at multiple sites processing. Additionally, the I/O portions of the OMI NO2 vertical in coordination with independently funded aircraft campaigns. column density algorithm (OMNO2) Application were completed, Twelve or more Pandoras will be deployed at multiple sites during to conform to the new multi-app processing scheme. The individual campaigns – over the past year year, campaigns identification of row anomaly-contaminated cross-track positions, included KORUS and CINDI, among others. unflagged by the standard procedure upstream, was studied. A statistical model was constructed but is still being examined. A Several steps of the Pandora L1 data correction have been simpler, brute-force method was implemented as a stop-gap, and improved: blind pixels and dark map have been added to the a problem with producing metadata was solved. The data from dark correction; linearity correction was extended to better match the entire OMI mission was reprocessed and the OMNO2 App was low counts; latency correction was analyzed; and radiometric promoted to forward processing. sensitivity was included. Also, the new operation, filepush and

48 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 The OMI NO2 standard product is a widely used, high-visibility From DISCOVER-AQ - Maryland modeling and analysis, her data product. Version 3.0 is a major release of this product. colleague Christopher Loughner has conducted “air quality It incorporates many changes, including a completely new avoided” sensitivity simulations using the CMAQ model to algorithm for the retrieval of nitrogen dioxide slant column quantify the benefits of emissions reductions over the Eastern densities, retrieved from OMI-measured spectral radiances. U.S. for air quality in this region. Dr. Follette-Cook has used Supporting documentation (file descriptions and Readme files) the EPA software package BenMAP to quantify the benefits of were written and published along with the data product itself. emissions reductions with respect to lives and money saved. A (Note: this task has ended, and no further work is planned.) manuscript of this work is in preparation.

Dr. Melanie Follette-Cook (sponsor: B. Duncan) performs As part of the NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences regional air quality modeling in support of the analysis of Team (HAQAST), Dr. Follette-Cook is assisting with the evaluation DISCOVER-AQ data, and participates in DISCOVER-AQ field of the GEOS-5 air quality forecast. She is currently evaluating the deployments as part of the forecasting/flight planning team; she PM2.5 forecast as well as comparing overlapping variables from is also involved in other DISCOVER-AQ activities. She will also the GOCART and GEOS-Chem aerosol modules. participate in activities under NASA’s Air Quality Applied Science Team. In the coming year, Dr. Follette-Cook will participate in the following activities for DISCOVER-AQ: submitting a manuscript Dr. Follette-Cook has been conducting spatial and temporal on multi-campaign variability; completing an epidemiological structure analyses in support of planning activities for NASA’s analysis of the benefits of emissions reductions and contribute GEO-CAPE and TEMPO satellites. In an earlier paper, Follette- to the manuscript by Christopher Loughner; and contribute to a Cook et al. (2015, doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.07.024), she manuscript describing simulations conducted for TEXAS AQRP concluded that the precision requirements developed for the and DISCOVER-AQ by Christopher Loughner. Other work will GEO-CAPE and TEMPO science traceability matrices are well- involve participation in several new projects, such as the new equipped to answer the air-quality relevant science questions Aura/ACMAP funded project titled “Deriving Surface NO2 from they are tasked to address for the Mid-Atlantic region. She Orbital and Suborbital Observations: Maximizing the Use of has expanded that analysis to include all four DISCOVER-AQ Current and Future NASA Data for Tropospheric Composition and campaigns: Maryland, California, Texas, and Colorado. Overall, Air Quality Studies” (PI: Dr. Lok Lamsal (GESTAR)), and the NASA this analysis aims to quantify the variability that a hypothetical HAQAST funded project titled “A Satellite-Based Global Health Air geostationary instrument would observe. Using four month- Quality Index (HAQI): Development and Assessment” (PI: Bryan long high-resolution model simulations corresponding to each Duncan). DISCOVER-AQ campaign, she first examined how well each model simulation was able to capture the variability observed in the On a second task, Dr. Melanie Follette-Cook (sponsor: B. high-resolution DISCOVER-AQ aircraft and surface data. Then, Duncan) develops webinars and conducts training sessions on using the model output, she quantified how often spatial and the use of satellite data for air quality applications under the temporal gradients that would be resolved by these hypothetical NASA Applied Sciences ARSET project. The goal of this project is instruments were observed. The previous comparison against to increase utilization of NASA remote sensing data sets among observations was used to assign uncertainties to the frequency air quality scientists at universities, other federal agencies, of observable gradients calculated using the model output. This state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and foreign analysis was conducted for spatial gradients, as well as temporal entities. The content of these course materials will be based on gradients on timescales of both hours and days. This work was collaborative research on tropospheric chemistry observations presented at three scientific meetings and is the subject of a from satellite to be conducted between Dr. Follette-Cook and civil manuscript in preparation. servant scientists in the Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory at Goddard. Dr. Follette-Cook has also contributed analyses of ozone and PM2.5 violations during each campaign. This analysis will be Dr. Follette-Cook and Dr. Pawan Gupta (GESTAR) organized and included in a DISCOVER-AQ manuscript written by the PI of instructed a NASA Applied Remote Sensing Training (ARSET) DISCOVER-AQ, James Crawford. program three-week webinar series entitled, “Satellite Derived Annual PM2.5 Data Sets in Support of United Nations Sustainable

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 49 Development Goals.” Preliminary estimates indicate this each file took about 1 to 4 hours each with an accumulated total training was attended by 333 participants representing 230 of 250 hours. Due to the length of time, it was decided that the organizations from 58 countries. This course was supported code will be translated into more efficient and faster computer by Brock Blevins (614/JCET) and Elizabeth Hook (614/ language and will be run in a faster cluster. The design of these SSAI). The United Nations has established 17 Sustainable codes in Fortran 90 and Python is still ongoing. Dr. Gassó also Development Goals (SDGs) that cover a broad range of social carried out additional computations of CAI calibration coefficients and environmental issues. Goal 3 (Good Health and Well Being) for the year 2009 by collocating with OMI observations. This and Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) specifically comparison resulted in a 2009 calibration constant for CAI address the need to reduce air pollution. According to a World similar to the one reported by the CAI science team. This exercise Health Organization (WHO) report, air pollution is responsible for demonstrated the feasibility to the methodology to calibrate CAI one in every nine deaths, or about three million people, annually. level 1 radiances at 382nm by comparing with OMI. The results This webinar series instructed users about how NASA satellite of this comparison were presented at the AGU Fall Meeting in can and is being used in the estimation of near surface PM2.5, December 2016 in the poster titled “An Examination of the which was identified by the UN as an indicator of air pollution for Impact of Pixel Size in the Upwelling Radiance of two operational Goals 3 and 11. UV Detectors (OMI and GOSAT-CAI).”

Dr. Follette-Cook’s upcoming plans include being involved in two Dr. Gassó provided support to Dr. Peter Colarco to interpret in-person planned trainings, one in India and one at the South OMAERUV research version code outputs, which were generated Coast Air Quality Management District in California, as well as after inputs using synthetic radiances from MERRAero created by future unplanned trainings. She will continue to assist Dr. Gupta, Dr. Colarco. Dr. Gassó assisted him with interpreting the retrieved the Health and Air Quality ARSET lead. Aerosol Index by the algorithm and the same parameters computed within MERRAero. They found that the Aerosol Index Throughout a variety of research activities, Dr. Santiago Gassó currently derived by the OMAERUV algorithm is sensitive to the (sponsor: O. Torres) works toward obtaining a continuous record surface pressure assumption. Currently the algorithm assumes of aerosol optical depth over land using past and present satellite a fixed pressure over the oceans and a topography dependent observations in the UV through multi-satellite approach. To surface pressure over land; there is no dependency on synoptic evaluate cloud contamination in the retrieval of single scattering conditions. This analysis resulted in a manuscript that is currently albedo (SSA) by OMI, he carried out collocated comparisons of under review with a refereed journal. This task was carried out aerosol SSA retrievals between OMI and AERONET. One year of twice for two versions of the OMAERUV code (versions 1.6.2 and observations over the AERONET sites located all over the world v1.7.3.1) which required modifications to ingest the simulated were collocated with MODIS Cloud Fraction information from synthetic radiances. the MODIS products MYD06 and MYD04, collection 6. Unlike a similar comparison of AODs previously conducted, the SSA TEMPO, a geostationary satellite with the same spectral bands comparison indicated that OMI SSA retrievals do appear to be of OMI, will be deployed two years from now and will scan the biased by cloud contamination. Outliers were found in conditions CONUS every hour. It will be the first geostationary satellite of low and high cloud fractions. to provide pollution measurements hourly, thus providing an unprecedented level of information about trace gases and Dr. Gassó evaluated radiances from the Cloud and Aerosol aerosol evolution during the daytime. Synthetic measurements Imager (CAI) with collocated OMI observations to create a map of at TEMPO-viewing geometries were generated by Dr. Arlindo high-spatial-resolution LER at 382nm for the U.S. This past year, Da Silva’s group using GEOS-5 model outputs. This year, the a map of lambertian equivalent reflectances (LER) was created goal was to modify the OMAERUV research version code to by processing one month of radiances for all overpasses over the ingest these synthetic TEMPO observations and derive aerosol Continental U.S. by the CAI sensor. This map is the first high- retrievals. The OMAERUV Res code was modified to ingest spatial-resolution (500m) at 380nm ever created. Generating it synthetic radiances for the TEMPO channels and spatial was a test to evaluate the time it takes to process and obtain an resolution. They ran the OMERUV code and the aerosol optical idea of the final product; eventually CAI data for more than one properties were stored and compared with the same optical year will be processed. The LER were computed using a Matlab properties used in the MERRAer2 model. The input radiances script and about 250 files were processed. Processing time for utilized were provided by Dr. Colarco for a four-month time period

50 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 and for the whole world. This task was carried out twice for two Congress and 9th CAA Better Air Quality (BAQ) Conference, at the versions of the OMAERUV code (versions 1.6.2 and v1.7.3.1), Department of Atmospheric Science at Pusan National University which required modifications to ingest synthetic radiances for the in Busan, South Korea. The training focused on the applications TEMPO channels and spatial resolution. The comparison resulted of satellite data for air quality monitoring in Asian countries. in differences between OMERUV and MERRAer2 AODs and was Attendees included 22 participants from 15 organizations documented. In October, analysis results were presented at and nearly 10 countries around Asia. The hands-on training the monthly TEMPO group meeting as “Aerosol Retrieval by the workshop on ‘The Practical Use of Satellite Observations for OMI Algorithm using Radiances generated by GEOS-5 at TEMPO Visibility and Air Quality Analysis” was held at the Atmospheric geometries.” Optics: Aerosols, Visibility, and the Radiative Balance conference on September 26, 2016, in Jackson Hole, WY. Air and Waste Going forward, additional analyses of the OMAERUV aerosol Management Association organized the conference. The training retrieval code using synthetic radiances from MERRAero will was conducted in partnership with University of California at be performed. The next step is to assess the differences in Davis. Dr. Gupta provided tutorials in this workshop remotely. optical properties retrieved by OMAERUV and those assumed He also led the hands-on training workshop on “Application of by MERRAer2 to compute the upwelling radiances. Additionally, Satellite Remote Sensing Data for Fire & Smoke Monitoring” there will be more analyses of radiances from the CAI with held at the 2nd International Smoke Symposium on November collocated OMI observations. Dr. Gassó will create a high-spatial- 14, 2016, in Long Beach, CA. The training was conducted in resolution map of LER with CAI observations over the U.S. for partnership with International Association of Wildland Fire. several years of data.

Dr. Pawan Gupta (sponsor: B. Duncan) supports the development of remote sensing trainings for the NASA Applied Sciences Program in the area of air quality applications. The goal of this project is to increase utilization of NASA remote sensing data sets among applied professionals. Dr. Gupta creates and makes available educational and training materials and Figure 1. Training participants in South Korea. Image provided by P. Gupta. provides training workshops and seminars. He will provide expertise in the field of aerosols and air quality for incorporation Wildland fires present a number of critical issues, including into the training modules; specifically, activities will include loss of human life and property and increased in air pollution. developing training materials on the use of data products Professionals can use satellite remote sensing data to track relevant to air quality applications from the OMI, MISR and active fires, monitor resulting smoke, forecast air quality, and MODIS instruments. map post-burn severity. NASA ARSET offered a day-long workshop focusing on satellite data applications for fire and smoke Dr. Gupta has organized and led several NASA Applied Remote detection and monitoring. Sensing Training Program (ARSET) training workshops on application of satellite data sets for air quality monitoring. On Dr. Gupta organized and led NASA ARSET online webinar series August 28-29, 2016, Dr. Gupta led the NASA ARSET hands- on application of satellite data sets for air quality monitoring. on training titled “NASA Earth Observations, Data, and Tools The program conducted its first webinar on ‘Fundamentals of for Air Quality Applications.” The two-day training was held as Satellite Remote Sensing for Health Monitoring” during June a pre-conference event for the 17th IUAPPA World Clean Air 2-20, 2016. This introductory webinar course provided an

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 51 overview of environmental parameters available from NASA Earth organized by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), Bureau of Science useful for monitoring and predicting health for decision Intelligence and Research, Washington, DC. Through the DOSAir support. There are many different data sets and sources from program, DOS is monitoring air pollution levels in cities that different satellite missions, sensors and models, and sessions have U.S. diplomatic missions, and where data availability is will outline their features, strengths and limitations. Dr. Gupta limited. DOSAir aims to inform and protect the health of U.S. gave a lecture on fundamental of remote sensing during the first personnel located in these cities. Dr. Gupta joined a team of week of webinar. Another online training session on ‘Introduction environmental, atmospheric, and environmental health subject to Satellite Remote Sensing for Air Quality Applications’ was matter experts to discuss the risks, vulnerabilities, and the future held over five weeks, a one-hour session each Wednesday from of air quality, air quality science, and air quality policy. At a series July 6 - August 3, 2016. Dr. Gupta and guest speakers Bryan of workshops on ‘Combating air pollution in Northern India’, held Duncan (GSFC/614) and Aaron Naeger (University of Alabama over two weeks in India, Dr. Gupta gave invited talks. Pollution -Huntsville/MSFC) provided tutorials on the basics of satellite in northern Indian cities exceeds the national standards, more remote sensing of aerosols and trace gases., satellite images than 90% of the time. According to the recent released World and data access using online tools, and their applications in Health Organization’s (WHO) urban air quality database, totally, air quality monitoring. Over 185 participants representing 150 four Indian cities are among the world’s ten most polluted cities, organizations attended the training from around 48 countries. 10 out of the top 20 are also in India. Recognizing the serious A three-week-long webinar series on “Satellite Derived Annual adverse health impacts of air pollution, the objectives of these PM2.5 Data Sets in Support of United Nations Sustainable workshops are to strengthen the collaboration between air Development Goals” was held in March 2017. Approximately 333 quality experts in the USA and Indian stakeholders and help participants representing 230 organizations from 58 countries identify best practices to reduce air pollution in North India. He attended. This training was organized and led by Dr. Gupta and also presented at the TEMPO Application Workshop at University Melanie Follette-Cook (GESTAR/MSU). The United Nations have of Alabama – Huntsville; the workshop described TEMPO established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that products and engaged user communities to prepare to enable cover a broad range of social and environmental issues; two of science across the NASA Applied Science focus areas of health these goals specifically address the need to reduce air pollution. and air quality planning and assessment, disaster response, According to a WHO report, air pollution is responsible for one in emissions, exposure, and ecological impacts. At the 17th every nine deaths, or about three million people, annually. This IUAPPA World Clean Air Congress and 9th CAA Better Air Quality webinar series instructed users about how NASA satellite can (BAQ) Conference, he presented a talk and co-hosted a session and is being used to estimate near surface PM2.5, an indicator of “Satellite Observations of Air Quality Around the World: Methods, air pollution. Applications and Future Opportunities” in Busan, South Korea. In February 2017, Dr. Gupta gave a presentation on NASA ARSET at Throughout the past year, Dr. Gupta attended and presented the NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Science Team meeting. invited talks at many national and international meetings about The HAQAST2 team meeting aimed to build dialogue between NASA resources for air quality monitoring and ARSET training HAQAST research team members and organizations related to program. health and air quality, including local/state/federal agencies, businesses, non-profits, educators, and other organizations. He presented an invited talk on ‘Current and Future Satellite Capabilities for Air Quality Applications’ at workshop on Air In May 2016, Dr. Gupta visited the Indian Institute of Remote Quality Monitoring and Health Impacts hosted by World Bank, Sensing (IIRS) in Dehradun, India, a premium capacity building Washington DC, on June 20, 2016. The workshop aimed to institute of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The engage researchers, practitioners and development partners goal was to discuss collaborative opportunities between ISRO’s in discussing current issues in combining the use of satellite- and NASA’s ARSET program. Dr. Gupta presented a seminar on derived and ground level monitoring data for air quality ‘What do satellites observe and how do we use this information monitoring and in estimating the health impacts of air pollution for air quality applications’ and interacted with the students and in developing countries, particularly in dusty areas. He also faculties from the IIRS. Additional activities include participation presented “The Global Airscape: Satellite view of Global Air at the Air Quality and Health Showcase held on November 17, Pollution and Future Capabilities” at a forum on the topic of 2016 at NASA Goddard. Also, NASA Goddard’s Air Quality and ‘From Global to the Individual: the Health Impact of Air Pollution’ Health Working Group (AQWG) organized a day-long showcase to

52 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 increase the visibility of NASA Goddard’s air quality-related data will be performed for entire mission of the two MODIS sensors products, training resources and scientists; identify cases where (1999-current). Dr. Gupta is specifically analyzing data related to NASA data products are being successfully applied and/or used land cover type along with aerosol data sets. to support decision-making; identify the stakeholder community’s needs in terms of data products and scientific support; and From this work, he was co-author and lead author on four enhance the network of air quality and health professionals in published articles with Aerosol Air Qual. Res. (1) and Atmos. the Washington area. About 70 professionals from the various Meas. Tech. (3). Dr. Gupta also was a Co-PI on a NASA CSESP federal, public and private agencies participated in the event. Dr. proposal titled “Can Citizen Science and Low-Cost Sensors Gupta, an active member of AQWG, helped organize the event. Help Improve Earth System Data: Implications to Current and Also, he participated in the annual ARSET retreat meeting, where Next Generation Space-Based Air Quality Measurements?” (PI: attendees reviewed the previous fiscal year activities, planned P. Doraiswamy, RTI), which has been selected for funding. At for the next year, and discussed the ARSET program’s vision and present, Dr. Gupta is working with Dr. Levy (PI) to submit multiple mission statement and best practices. proposals to the ROSES 2017 call. Dr. Gupta attended two meetings this year: the MODIS-VIIRS Science Team Meeting, Work from this past year will continue with presentations and Silver Spring, MD, June 6-10, 2016, and the Yoram Kaufman training in the coming year, including Air Quality Training in India, Memorial Aerosol Symposium, GSFC, Greenbelt, MD, June 21-23, May 2017; Air Quality Training in CA, September 2017; Webinar 2016. Also, Dr. Gupta is leading a session at the upcoming AOGS series on advanced tools to access aerosol data sets, October conference to be held in Singapore during August 2017. 2017; and planning and conducting training activities for year 2017-2018. Looking ahead, work will continue on research and development projects within MODIS dark target algorithm. Dr. Gupta will On his second task, Dr. Pawan Gupta (sponsor: R. Levy) continue working on research articles for publications, will conducts research on aerosol properties and satellite retrievals contribute to multiple proposals, and will chair a session at the of aerosol properties over urban areas, including characterizing AOGS conference. uncertainties within current aerosol retrieval algorithms, and proposing improved algorithms for urban aerosol retrieval. For his Dr. Hiren Jethva (sponsor: O. Torres) works on several projects research on atmospheric aerosols retrievals, Dr. Gupta is involved within his task. These include the OMI cloud-free Aerosol Project, in multiple research projects with MODIS dark target aerosol the OMI Above-Cloud Aerosol Product, the MEaSUREs Aerosol retrieval team. The following items are some of the examples Project, and the DSCOVR-EPIC Aerosol Project. from the past year. Dr. Gupta has developed a new surface scheme for MODIS dart target algorithm over urban areas. This Dr. Jethva conducted several studies towards the improvements works has been published and is now being implemented in in the standard OMI cloud-free aerosol algorithm and product. MODIS operational algorithm. These corrections will be part of During past year, several different research versions of OMI/ MODIS Collection 6.1 data processing. He also is evaluating the OMAERUV algorithm were processed. He contributed significantly MODIS 3km aerosol product using global AERONET network for towards improving the accuracy of aerosol retrievals by the two MODIS sensors onboard Terra and Aqua satellites. The providing critical suggestions and performing radiative transfer 3km aerosol product has been released specifically to serve calculations (look-up-tables), data analysis, and validation the needs of global air quality community. A journal manuscript activities. Currently, the latest research version # 1.8.6 of the on this research is under development. This is an ongoing OMAERUV is under processing which is likely to be assumed project and will continue in the coming months as well. Dr. as the next public version of the OMAERUV aerosol product. Gupta is working with the MODIS dark target aerosol retrieval Additionally, he created and delivered a database of the team to implement the algorithm on Japan’s geostationary standard OMAERUV aerosol product in a prescribed format for satellite HIMAWARI as well as the recently launched NOAA’s the AEROCOM group for the performance evaluation of their GOES-R satellite. Dr. Gupta is helping in developing new surface numerical models. Dr. Jethva carried out an in-depth analysis characterization for the algorithm as well as evaluating it against of the A-train based satellite retrievals of aerosol and trace MODIS and AERONET data sets. Furthermore, he is supporting gases amounts in conjunction with PM2.5 measured at the U.S. an effort to validate MODIS 10km aerosol product from Terra Embassy site in New Delhi with a focus on the post-monsoon and Aqua satellite using global AERONET network. The validation agricultural fires concentrated over the northwestern India. This

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 53 In relation to his second activity, the public release of the OMI above-cloud AOD global product was a major achievement of the past year. Dr. Jethva applied several upgrades to the OMACA research algorithm and re-processed the entire record of OMI observations, i.e., from Oct 2004 to present, with the updated version of the algorithm. He carried out a thorough analysis of the OMACA product in terms of monthly and seasonal means, regional time-series, and radiative effects of aerosols above cloud using combined OMI-CERES observations. The results were presented at the Yoram Kaufman Symposium 2016 held at NASA Goddard in June 2016, and at the 3rd A-train International Symposium held in Pasadena, CA in April 2017. (See Figure 1.) His research results were published in the Proceedings of SPIE Asia-Pacific Remote Sensing Symposium 2016, titled “A ten-year global record of absorbing aerosols above clouds from OMI’s near-UV observations “, doi:10.1117/12.2225765. Further, after several revisions and improvements applied to the research-level OMACA algorithm and resultant product, Dr. Jethva successfully delivered the global product (version 1.0.9) of above-cloud aerosol optical depth to the community. The product Figure 1 shows the monthly climatology of OMACA above-cloud is freely available at the NASA’s Aura Validation Data Center web aerosol optical depth retrieved from the 12-year long (2005- portal at the following link: http://avdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/data/ 2016) near-UV observations made by OMI. Figure provided by satellite/Aura/OMI/V03/L2/OMACA/. Along the same project H. Jethva. line, Dr. Jethva published a paper highlighting the validation results of the MODIS-based above-cloud AOD in Atmospheric Measurements Techniques titled “Validating MODIS above-cloud analysis unambiguously showed a strong correlation between aerosol optical depth retrieved from “color ratio” algorithm using the crop-residue fires of the post-harvesting season over Punjab, direct measurements made by NASA’s airborne AATS and 4STAR India and the resulting aerosol loading (UV-AI, AOD, AAOD) and sensors”. trace gases amounts (NO2, HCHO). A manuscript highlighting this research has been submitted to the journal of Remote Sensing The MEaSUREs aerosol project is aimed to create a long-term of Environments titled “Crop Residue Burning in North-Western database of cloud-free aerosol retrieval product using near- India Elevates PM2.5 Concentration over New Delhi: A Synergistic UV observations made from Nimbus-7/TOMS (1979-1992), Analysis using NASA’s A-train Satellite Record and Ground EarthProbe/TOMS (1996-2006), and Aura/OMI (2004-present). Measurements” authored by Dr. Jethva, Pawan Gupta, Falguni Under the MEaSUREs aerosol project, Dr. Jethva carried out Patadia, Duli Chand, and Omar Torres. On the same topic, Dr. radiative transfer calculations required to generate look-up tables Jethva was interviewed by the journalists of the Hindu publication of molecular atmosphere, cloud, and aerosols for their use in in India and was asked for his insights on the 2016 anomalous the N7AERUV algorithm. In addition to this, he also worked on fires and the resulting poor air quality over northern India. Two developing a scheme that relates the near-UV Aerosol Index articles highlighting Dr. Jethva’s analysis and interpretation of derived from two pairs of wavelength in the near-UV spectral 2016 post-monsoon fires and air quality were published in two region. The developed relationship will be useful to create a separate publications. See http://www.thehindu.com/news/ uniform and consistent global time-series of UV Aerosol Index. cities/Delhi/%E2%80%98Crop-fires-in-Punjab-and-Pak.-fuelled- Delhi-pollution%E2%80%99/article16233823.ece and Dr. Jethva also works on the DSCOVR-EPIC Aerosol Project. EPIC http://www.frontline.in/the-nation/hazy-winter/article9373831. onboard the DSCOVR satellite is an Earth-looking multi-spectral ece. sensor taking snapshots of the entire sunlit side of the Earth at temporal gaps every 1 to 2 hours. This aerosol project, funded under the EPIC Science Team, aims to deliver an above-cloud

54 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 of the OMAERUV (version 1.7.4) aerosol retrievals to Mian Chin (GSFC/614) for a comparative analysis that evaluates OMI and AERCOM model simulation results against AERONET direct measurements. He provided the MODIS monthly aerosol and OMI UV aerosol index data sets to Dr. Lin Jiao (GESTAR) for her research on correlating fires, formaldehyde, and aerosols over the U.S. He also provided requested information and guidance to the research group at IISc. in Bangalore, India, regarding the use and interpretation of the OMAERUV aerosol product. In a collaborative work with the OMI Ozone group, Dr. Jethva provided Figure 2 shows the retrieval image of a case study showing UV the requested set of aerosol models for the aerosol-O3 joint Aerosol Index (top-left), true color RGB (top-right), retrieved radiative transfer calculations. above-cloud aerosol optical depth (bottom-left) and aerosol- corrected cloud optical depth (bottom-right) for the EPIC Dr. Jethva was involved with several publications, including one observation taken on Aug 05, 2016. Image provided by as lead author titled “Validating MODIS above-cloud aerosol H. Jethva optical depth retrieved from “color ratio” algorithm using direct measurements made by NASA’s airborne AATS and 4STAR sensors” published in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. In aerosol product for which Dr. Jethva took a lead role in developing addition to the publication led by Dr. Zhang in JGR-Atmospheres, a global algorithm (EPICAERAC) and software package. The he also was co-author on papers published in PNAS and EPICAERAC is built upon the combination of EPICAERUV (UV Scientific Reports. Aerosol Index algorithm for EPIC) and OMACA (OMI above-cloud aerosol package). The algorithm structure, retrieval flow, quality Upcoming plans for the EPIC Aerosol Project include revising flags, and the retrieved quantities are alike the ones from OMI/ and delivering the EPICAERAC package for its use in the OMACA however adjusted to the near-UV wavelength bands of operational production of above-cloud aerosol retrievals from EPIC (340 and 388 nm). The radiative transfer calculations DSCOVR-EPIC For the MEaSUREs Aerosol Project, Dr. Jethva is required Dr. Jethva to generate the look-up-tables for molecular expected to refine the scheme of UV Aerosol Index conversion atmosphere, clouds, and aerosols above cloud were carried out. using Nimbus-7/TOMS data and apply it to the entire record of The EPICAERAC and software code has been successfully tested Nimbus-7, EarthProbe, and OMI in order to derive a long-term on many snapshots of sunlit side of the Earth seen by EPIC homogeneous time-series of Aerosol Index. And, for the OMI and has delivered expected results that are consistent with the Aerosol Project, prior to its public release, Dr. Jethva will conduct coincident retrievals from OMI. At present, the algorithm is nearly a thorough analysis of the finalized OMAERUV aerosol product. ready for the operational processing of global EPIC observations. This task includes analyzing monthly and seasonal maps and (See Figure 2.) carrying out the validation of the retrieved product.

During past year, Dr. Jethva participated in several collaborative Dr. Dongchul Kim (sponsor: M. Chin) investigates aerosol tasks which included exporting the requested datasets, providing distribution using the NASA/GOCART model and multiple interpretation of results, and co-authoring the research articles. observations from space and ground-based remote sensing Some highlights include his work with Li Zhang, a researcher techniques. He leads the high-resolution dynamic dust source at the University of Colorado, on a paper led by Dr. Zhang that function development effort in the NU-WRF modeling system. Dr. highlights a decadal trend in the aerosol absorption properties Kim is developing a new dynamic dust source function to improve over the United States; this paper was published in the Journal of the current modeling system, which will be applied for several Geophysical Research (Atmospheres). studies on aerosol-cloud-climate system and air pollution. The product from this work will greatly improve the current available He exported the latest version of the OMI above-cloud AOD data, which is static and in quarter-degree resolution. A case retrievals to a research group at NASA Langley for the comparison study has been conducted with the Phoenix, Arizona dust storm against the HSRL-2 measurements taken during the ORACLES that occurred on July 05, 2011. field campaign. Also, he exported the monthly gridded dataset

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 55 Dr. Kim also is investigating a long-term relationship between vegetation and dust. The Southern North Africa range of 10°N to 20°N consists of the Sahara desert, the Sahel, and the Savanna, and this region’s abundant dust influences regional and global climate, human health, and even the local economy. The goal of this study is to better understand the role of surface condition and atmospheric circulation to dust emission, using a novel Sahel Photo taken after the instrument test flight at Osan Air Base, area map determined from the Normalized Difference Vegetation Korea in preparation for the KORUS-AQ (Korean US Air Quality) Index (NDVI) from satellite observations and a global aerosol study. Science flights lasted from May 2 - June 10, 2016. model. The research results were published in Atmospheric From left to right: Bill Good (Ball Aerospace), Kurt Blankenship Environment in March 2017. (NASA/GRC), Taylor Thorson (NASA/LaRC), and Matt Kowalewski (USRA). Photo provided by M. Kowalewski. Upcoming plans include investigating aerosols using NASA models and various observations. Dr. Kim will continue to study to better understand the Saharan dust over source and over post-doctoral students in the use and analysis of the team’s the Northern Atlantic Ocean. He will continue to investigate instrument data. the relationship between vegetation and dust. Dr. Kim also will continue developing the dynamic dust source function for NU- In addition to the EV-S missions, Mr. Kowalewski and the RCDL WRF model and validate that with available observations. team successfully demonstrated the operation of the GCAS instrument on the high-altitude ER-2 platform in Fall 2016. These Mr. Matthew Kowalewski (sponsor: S. Janz) provides scientific test flights proved that the instrument was capable of providing a and engineering support to the Radiometric Calibration and unique data set during NOAA’s GOES-R calibration and validation Development Laboratory (RCDL) at NASA GSFC. This support study in the southeastern U.S. in Spring 2017. Through the includes proof of concept instrumentation, calibration standards, team’s efforts and collaboration with University of MD, College and technical guidance to the backscatter ultraviolet (BUV) Park, a unique data set is being created through observations community. Programs supported include GEO-CAPE, TEMPO, of lightning-produced NO2 and the effects of convective storm NPP and JPSS OMPS, Pandora, and multiple Earth Venture transport. Suborbital campaigns. The primary focus of Mr. Kowalewski’s work over the past year has been the support and execution of During the upcoming year, Mr. Kowalewski will continue deploying multiple airborne remote sensors on two NASA Earth coordinating the instrument team in its deployment in multiple Venture Suborbital (EV-S) campaigns and conducting test flights airborne remote sensing campaigns. These deployments include of an instrument on NASA Armstrong’s ER-2 aircraft in support two for the NAAMES Earth Venture Suborbital (EV-S) campaign of collaborative science flights with NOAA and the University of that utilizes the GeoCAPE Airborne Simulator (GCAS) in Fall 2017 Maryland. and Spring 2018. In addition to NAAMES, the group is fielding the GeoTASO instrument as part of the Lake Michigan Ozone Study In late Spring 2016, Mr. Kowalewski led the RCDL instrument (LMOS) in late Spring 2018 in collaboration with the EPA and team in the simultaneous preparation, deployment, and recovery NOAA. Also, during the next year, Mr. Kowalewski will support the of the GeoCAPE Airborne Simulator (GCAS) in NASA’s North pre-launch Acceptance Test Program (ATP) of the second JPSS Atlantic Aerosol and Marine Ecosystem Study (NAAMES) in St. OMPS instrument in order to ensure that it meets science and Johns, Newfoundland as well as the Geostationary Trace gas performance requirements. and Aerosol Sensor Optimization (GeoTASO) instrument in the Korea US Air Quality (KORUS AQ) campaign in South Korea. Both Mr. Tom Kucsera (sponsor: M. Chin) supports global and regional missions were executed successfully with no loss of data and modeling and analysis of atmospheric aerosols and trace on-time delivery of the team’s science data products. Through gases and supports NASA-sponsored observational programs. these campaigns and his attendance at the KORUS-AQ Science Among other responsibilities, he compiles observations from Team Meeting, Mr. Kowalewski helped to establish collaborations satellite, ground-based, and in-situ measurements for model with colleagues in South Korea at Yonsei and Ewha Womans input, evaluation, and improvement; executes and evaluates University in Seoul by providing assistance and mentorship to atmospheric modeling codes; and performs software and

56 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 hardware management, as well as computer administration At the request of the AERONET project, Mr. Kucsera added 40 duties. more AERONET sites to the twice-a-day trajectory analyses; this makes the total number of sites being processed now at 570 Mr. Kucsera generated research products for the AeroCom sites. The results from these continuous and ongoing analyses project and from satellite data products. These were archived along with the associated generated graphics are made available on the ACD Unix cluster. Access to products was made available to the project through an interactive website. by Mr. Kucsera to group members through locally established accounts. For global collaboration, AeroCom post-processed Computer administration and support was routinely provided to modeling products and analyses were made available to local LInux, Mac and Windows systems. Mr. Kucsera completed the and international colleagues by Mr. Kucsera through a locally following online training computer IT security courses mandated developed, maintained and internet accessible website. He by NASA policy for his re-enrollment, since his approximate three- also created a website for the AEROCOM-III project to highlight year enrollment term was about to expire: Mac OS X Security, and disseminate the results of the nitrate experiment model Linux Security, Protecting Windows 7 against Malware and inter-comparisons. Many model specific parameters and model Vulnerabilities, IT Security for Systems Administrators - Beginning inter-comparison results are depicted in the webpage tables. Level, and IT Security for Systems Administrators – Intermediate Clicking within the tables launches a separate browser tab that Level. displays the images and the inter-comparison plots. Additional developments and products were later incorporated into the Dr. Michael Kurylo (P. Newman) provides support for several AeroCom-III inter-comparison website on an as-needed basis. national and international activities important to NASA’s Atmospheric Composition Focus Area in Earth Science, including Mr. Kucsera processed a full year’s worth of PARASOL satellite participation in the programmatic leadership of the Network data (Dec 2007-Nov 2008). Derived products for the emissions for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) of organic carbon and black carbon were produced. Daily gridded and service as an atmospheric observations liaison to various data products from 2.5 degrees longitude by 2 degrees were international projects and institutions. These include the SPARC generated for use in the GOCART online model. Daily model (Stratosphere- troposphere Processes And their Role in Climate) input data files were generated to allow for suitable spin-up and Project of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) model end date of July 2007 to the end of December 2008. and the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Reference Multiple atmospheric model runs and sensitivity case scenarios Upper Air Network (GRUAN). Consultancies are also provided were made. Included in the input data stream was the creation to the Ozone Secretariat of the United Nations Environment of a GEIA terpene input data product that had no emission of Programme (UNEP) and to the World Meteorological Organization terpene from this climatological data set over the African region. (WMO) on activities associated with the Vienna Convention for A vertical dust-scaling factor scheme over the African region also the Protection of the Ozone Layer and its Montreal Protocol on was made available and implemented into the case study model Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Further, Dr. Kurylo simulations and analyses. collaborates with scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Mr. Kucsera retrieved the ADEOS-2 GLI level-1 data products Administration (NOAA), the NASA JPL, Universities, and Private from the JAXA data storage in Japan. Thirteen TB of data were Research Institutions in the evaluation of photochemical retrieved in stages onto the available temporary storage area of and kinetic data for national and international assessments a local workstation; then, all data were ported over to the Maiac of changing atmospheric composition and for the periodic workstation for group members of that system to have local assessments by the NASA Panel for Data Evaluation. Additional access to do future processing on the data. The data products collaborations exist with NIST scientists in studies of the from the Aura satellite Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) atmospheric degradation of ozone- and climate-related trace and Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) from combined retrieval gases. Lastly, the task covers special projects formulated under profiles were processed for the years 2008-2010. Daily files for the direction of NASA Headquarters. these years were generated, and results were stored on the local computer cluster and made available to group members. Dr. Kurylo continued to serve as an Emeritus Member of the international Steering Committee (SC) for NDACC and is responsible for maintaining and updating the NDACC

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 57 Measurements and Analyses (M&A) Directory based on observations liaison for the SPARC project of the WCRP and for presentations and discussions at the annual SC Meetings and the GRUAN, Dr. Kurylo contributed to the coordination of common additional inputs from NDACC scientists. Together with the organizational and implementation aspects among various manager of the NDACC Data Host Facility, Dr. Kurylo completed international measurement networks. In particular, he worked the 2016 M&A Directory update and gave a presentation on with the NDACC SC Co-Chairs on a presentation for the November the revisions at the 2016 SC meeting. He also was responsible 2016 meeting of the SPARC Scientific Steering Group, updating for writing a comprehensive overview article on NDACC and NDACC activities and their role in supporting SPARC initiatives. its completion of 25 years of enabling and enhancing global atmospheric research. After completing the article in consultation As a Co-Chair of the 9th ORM Meeting in 2014, Dr. Kurylo with the SC Co-Chairs, he worked with NASA’s Earth Observer worked with WMO and UNEP Ozone Secretariat representatives (EO) Newsletter editorial staff prior to its appearance as the to finalize the agenda for the 10th Meeting of Ozone Research feature article in the September-October 2016 issue of the EO Managers (ORM) of the Parties to the Vienna Convention held (https://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/eo_pdfs/ in March 2017. He co-authored two presentations summarizing Sept-October%202016%20color%20508.pdf). At the 2016 SC (1) the different, but highly complementary, roles of the meeting he presented a summary of this article as well as on Recommendations of the Ozone Research Managers and the the finalization of the SPARC study on the Mystery of CCl4 in the WMO/UNEP Assessment Reports, and (2) the Recommendations Atmosphere for which he was a participant, a session rapporteur, from the 9th ORM Meeting in the areas of Research Needs, and a report co-author. Additionally, Dr. Kurylo co-authored Systematic Observations, Capacity Building, and Data Archiving an overview article on the history, status and perspectives of and Stewardship. He served as a discussion leader for the the NDACC that will serve as the introductory paper in a two- recommendations in the area of Research Needs and worked journal special issue commemorating the 25th anniversary of with other delegates to draft the full recommendations section of the NDACC. This article is undergoing final review prior to its the 10th ORM Meeting Report. submission for publication. Dr. Kurylo continued to serve as a member of the Advisory Dr. Kurylo was also tasked by the NDACC SC Co-Chairs with Committee for the Trust Fund for Research and Systematic reviewing and updating the NDACC Protocols for (1) Steering Observation under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of Committee Elections and Appointments, (2) Data Providers and the Ozone Layer. He prepared written reviews of the proposals Data Users, (3) Measurements, (4) Instrument Intercomparisons, that were submitted for considered support and attended the (5) Validation of Instruments and Data Analysis Methods, (6) 3rd Meeting of the Advisory Committee in Geneva, Switzerland Theory and Analysis, and (7) Cooperating Networks. Inherent at which funding recommendations were drafted. He prepared in this review and editing were the removal of redundancies comments for discussion at that meeting regarding a long-term among the protocols plus rewording and reformatting them for strategy and an associated action plan for the Vienna Convention consistency and inter-protocol referencing, thereby producing Trust Fund (VCTF). The recommendations from the Advisory a more user-friendly and useful set of network documents. He Committee will be presented at the joint 11th Meeting of the COP worked with representatives from the various network Working to the Vienna Convention and the 29th Meeting of the Parties Groups and other SC members to finalize the revisions. The to the Montreal Protocol (11th COP/29th MOP) in Montreal in updated protocols have been posted on the NDACC website. He November 2017. also worked with the Instrument Working Group Representatives to update the Instrument-Specific Appendices associated with In December, at the AGU Fall Meeting, Dr. Kurylo served as a the Validation Protocol. All but one of these have been finalized Co-Chair of one of three joint sessions on Atmospheric Trace and posted online. Species (two oral and one poster) that he organized together with several members of Code 614 and other international scientists. As an NDACC representative for the WMO Global Atmospheric The presentations were exceptionally well attended and included Watch (GAW) Programme, Dr. Kurylo organized a session on information on satellite systems, aircraft observations, ground- Integrated Observations at the 2017 GAW Symposium. He based networks, balloon-borne measurements, models, etc. subsequently worked with session participants to import Dr. Kurylo co-authored one of the oral presentations in these summary material from the presentations and discussions into joint sessions, and also co-authored two poster presentations revisions of the GAW Implementation Plan. As an atmospheric (one with NIST scientists and one with GSFC scientists) at other

58 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 sessions. Also during the AGU Fall Meeting, as a member of the Plans were incorporated into briefing materials and other files NASA/JPL Panel for Data Evaluation, Dr. Kurylo participated in a distributed to ATom science team members. Dr. Lait also created meeting of several panelists at which two topics were discussed. timeline diagrams and scheduling spreadsheets to aid in tracking The first was the status of the heterogeneous section of the the complex series of flights across multiple time zones. Between evaluation and possible future directions in this area (such experiments, he analyzed flight data to better characterize the as aerosol properties) that would best serve the atmospheric performance of the DC-8 with the ATom payload and thereby science community. The second centered on web site improve flight planning accuracy. Also post-mission, he created development and the work that will be involved in establishing plots to put each flight into its broader meteorological context. a datasheet format from the current evaluation format. He In preparation for ATom-3, he evaluated climatological statistics subsequently participated in a panel teleconference to discuss relating to a proposed flight over Antarctica. He also participated the scope and timeline for the next evaluation. in ATom planning teleconferences.

This coming year, Dr. Kurylo will continue as an Emeritus During the ATom-1 and ATom-2 missions, Dr. Lait provided Member of the international SC for NDACC. Activities will include support for science operations, preparing and delivering the following: work on the 2017 update of the NDACC M&A meteorological briefings and assisting the chemical modelers in Directory based on information provided following the 2016 SC preparing for their briefings. He set up automated procedures to meeting; utilization of the revised protocol documents together provide low-bandwidth subsets of meteorological and chemical with selected components of the NDACC feature article from forecast fields in forms usable onboard the aircraft. He also the October 2016 issue of NASA’s Earth Observer to draft a provided forecast temperatures and winds along planned flight set of introductory PowerPoint charts for generic use by NDACC tracks to the DC-8 flight crew. For ATom-1, he helped make scientists; and, addressing any other action items assigned by low-bandwidth versions of certain satellite imagery products the SC Co-Chairs. available, and for ATom-2 he helped integrate satellite imagery from NASA Langley into ATom operations. During the ATom Dr. Kurylo will continue to provide consultancies to the Ozone flights, Dr. Lait participated in remote real-time monitoring and Secretariat of the UNEP and to the WMO on activities associated meteorological support from GSFC. For ATom-2, he traveled to with the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer the NASA Palmdale facility in California, where he assisted with and its Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone mission preparations and provided meteorological guidance Layer. In particular, he will continue to serve as a member of onboard the NASA DC-8 during a test flight and the first science the Advisory Committee for the VCTF, and also will serve at the flight. request of UNEP and WMO as a reviewer of the 2018 Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion. Further, his participation will In addition to ATom, Dr. Lait provided a lower level of support for continue on the NASA/JPL Panel for Data Evaluation and he will several other airborne field campaigns. For the WB-57 POSIDON provide reviewing expertise for the next evaluation document. experiment in Guam, he subsetted meteorological fields, made improvements to the flight planner software, and trained mission Dr. Leslie Lait (sponsor: P. Newman) investigates the dynamical personnel in using the software. For the Global Hawk SHOUT context of atmospheric measurements, to aid in their experiment, he ran his model of aircraft fuel temperatures to interpretation. Data from satellite, balloon-borne, aircraft, and identify cold-temperature issues for a planned flight. For the ground-based instruments are analyzed. In addition, support Sherpa CARAFE mission to sample the boundary layer over is provided to aircraft field experiments, including the use of forests in Maryland’s Eastern Shore, he created sample flight forecasts and modeling results to aid in planning aircraft flights plans, briefing materials, and plans for test flights. He also to maximize the scientific return and test the feasibility of various worked up plans for NASA ER-2 test flights for two Goddard flight path scenarios. For Atom missions, Dr. Lait provided instruments. Additionally, Dr. Lait added two new modules for planning support for ATom-1 (July 29 - August 23, 2016), ATom-2 flight maneuevers to the new web-based flight planning software, (January 26 - February 21, 2017), and the upcoming ATom-3 and he developed an undo/redo stack mechanism to be used in (September-October 2017) field experiments. He created sets editing flight plans. As a co-investigator, Dr. Lait wrote a section of flight plans of the NASA DC-8 for each mission, revising them for a NASA Ames proposal, “Meteorological and Flight Planning repeatedly with changes in meteorological and operational Support for NASA Upper Atmosphere Composition Observations conditions and in coordination with the DC-8 flight crew. Airborne Field Missions”, which was selected for funding.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 59 Dr. Lait was involved with examining data and simulations. He documentation are publicly available from the NASA Goddard analyzed radiosonde data from several equatorial sites, verifying Earth Sciences Data and Information Services (GESDIS) Center the unusual nature of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) in (https://disc.gsfc.nasa.gov/uui/datasets/OMNO2_V003/ late 2015/early 2016, and calculated zonal wind acceleration summary). The major improvements include a new spectral fitting terms from two different meteorological data sets for comparison algorithm for NO2 slant column density (SCD) retrieval, plus the with each other and with previously published results. As a use of higher resolution (1° latitude and 1.25° longitude) a priori result of this work, he co-authored a paper by Newman, et al., NO2 and temperature profiles from the Global Modeling Initiative “The anomalous change in the QBO in 2015-2016” published (GMI) chemistry-transport model with yearly varying emissions in Geophysical Research Letters, and a paper by Coy, et al., to calculate air-mass factors (AMFs) required to convert SCDs “Dynamics of the Disrupted 2015-16 Quasi-Biennial Oscillation”, into vertical column densities (VCDs). Initial evaluation over which will be published in Journal of Climate. Dr. Lait continued unpolluted areas has shown that the new SPv3 products working with other Code 614 Laboratory members to examine agree better with independent satellite and ground based global chemistry model simulation output with and without the measurements. Dr. Lamsal was a co-author on four related effects of the April 2015 Calbuco volcanic eruption in South articles published in AMTD, ACPD, and Atmos. Meas. Tech. America. He implemented procedures to extract subsets of data from the massive model output in the NCCS systems, for analysis Dr. Lamsal developed an algorithm to retrieve tropospheric on local systems. He compared MERRA-2 assimilation data to NO2 column data from the Airborne Compact Atmospheric the Calbuco model results, and devised improved procedures for Mapper (ACAM), flown onboard the NASA UC-12 aircraft during plotting Eliassen-Palm flux vectors. the DISCOVER-AQ-Maryland field campaign (July 2011). This algorithm will be used to process other similar measurements Dr. Lait migrated the Code 614 web servers to a new version made during other DISCOVER-AQ and KORUS-AQ campaigns. of the Apache httpd software, extensively revising local Briefly, the algorithm includes high resolution information for configuration files to conform to new format conventions. He also surface reflectivity (MODIS bidirectional reflectance distribution configured the Lab’s public-facing web server to use encrypted function (BRDF)) and vertical distributions of NO2 and aerosols, communications, after setting up procedures to obtain web and information on temporal variation in atmospheric NO2. The certificates automatically. In addition, he revised the local ACAM NO2 data were evaluated with measurements from in-situ software that automatically creates system configuration files monitors onboard NASA P3B aircraft, ground-based Pandora, and from host descriptions, to accommodate the IPv6 networking space-based OMI. He led a 2017 article on this research titled protocol. He then enabled IPv6 on the Lab’s web server. He “High-resolution NO2 observations from the Airborne Compact migrated local software packages to use “git” repositories and Atmospheric Mapper: Retrieval and validation,” published in J. documented the new installation procedures, and also wrote Geophys. Res. new software to perform an initial installation of a new system automatically, based on a host description file. Dr. Lamsal used OMI NO2 data to analyze changes in urban NO2 levels around the world; this study found complex heterogeneity Upcoming plans include preparing for the ATom-3 field in the changes. NO2 changes were found to relate with several experiment and Dr. Lait will provide support from GSFC in factors including environmental regulations, economic growth, September-October 2017. He will continue development of the energy-related activities, and civil unrest. Spatial heterogeneity new web-based version of the flight planning software, and within several megacities reflects mixed efforts to cope with air continue to work on improvements to the current version of the quality degradation. He also contributed to a study exploring the flight planner software. Dr. Lait will assist in preparing the Code utility of OMI-retrieved NO2 and HCHO data together with GEOS- 614 Unix Cluster for an upcoming IT security audit. Chem model to determine the effective strategy for mitigating surface ozone pollution. This study revealed earlier spring Dr. Lok Lamsal (sponsor: N. Krotkov) works on developing and transition to NOX-limited regimes over some megacities (e.g., improving the algorithm for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from space- New York, Tokyo, Paris) between 2005 and 2015. Increasing NOX and air-borne sensors, evaluating products and interpreting sensitivity implied that NOX emission reductions will improve O3 observations. Dr. Lamsal and his team released the new air quality more now than it would have a decade ago. From this version 3.0 NASA Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) standard research, five articles were published in J. Geophys. Res. (3), ACP nitrogen dioxide (NO2) products this past year. The products and (1), and Geosci. Model Dev. (1).

60 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Dr. Lamsal was involved in five successful proposals that of stratospheric ozone and water vapor in the stratospheric included two Co-I proposals for NASA HAQAST, two Aura/ACMAP chemical feedback. The proposed work will also quantify the proposals, and a PI proposal for USRA IRAD. He is the PI of an drivers of stratospheric water vapor and ozone responses to Aura/ACMAP proposal that will develop surface NO2 product from global warming and characterize their links. Observed decadal satellite observations. His other Aura/ACMAP proposal (PI: Dr. variations in stratospheric water vapor and surface warming will Nickolay Krotkov) will improve operational OMI NO2 products. His be used to evaluate and constrain the simulated stratospheric HAQAST proposal (PI: Dr. Bryan Duncan) will develop satellite- ozone and water vapor changes and their climate impact. based health air quality index (HAQI) and will partner with UNICEF to disseminate information through mobile devices in an effort to He is also PI on the proposal titled “Understanding Antarctic sea protect public exposure to harmful air pollutants. ice change in a warming climate,” which was selected for funding by ROSES MAP. The Co-Is are Drs. Richard Cullather (610.1/ Other activities included 1) applying OMI NO2 algorithms UMD), Margaret Hurwitz (610/SSAI), Paul Newman (614) and for other space-based sensors (e.g. GOME-2, OMPS-NM); 2) Yury Vikhliaev (610.1/USRA). Collaborators include Drs. Steven enhancing the accuracy of OMI NO2 retrievals; 3) being involved Pawson (610.1), Judith Perlwitz (NOAA/Univ. of Colorado) in TEMPO-related studies; and 4) mentoring a GESTAR intern, and Bin Zhao (610.1/USRA). This four-year project aims to who analyzed NASA OMI water vapor retrievals and compared advance the understanding of Antarctic sea ice change and to them with independent retrievals from Harvard Smithsonian improve the representation of Antarctic sea ice in GEOS-5 using Astrophysical Observatory (SAO). coupled replay simulations and observations. The proposed work will 1) identify the impact of atmospheric circulation In the coming months, Dr. Lamsal will develop a surface biases on Antarctic sea ice change; 2) isolate and constrain NO2 product from OMI and retrieve NO2 from ACAM/GCAS/ the effects of oceanic processes on Antarctic sea ice change; GEOTASO measurements during DISCOVER-AQ and KORUS-AQ 3) understand the internal multidecadal variability of Antarctic campaigns; also, he will maintain and improve operational OMI sea ice; and 4) investigate the influences of Antarctic sea ice NO2 algorithm. He will continue to conduct science studies by changes on the atmospheric circulation. Their research aims to interpreting observations from satellites and other sensors. Dr. reduce uncertainties in Antarctic sea ice simulation and guide Lamsal will submit a MEaSUREs proposal in May 2017. the improvements of Southern Hemisphere atmosphere and Southern Ocean processes in GEOS-5. Dr. Feng Li’s (sponsor: P. Newman) research activities focus on stratosphere-troposphere coupling and atmosphere-ocean Dr. Li is a Co-I on a ROSES MAP proposal titled “Global modeling interactions. Using the GEOS-5 model with coupled ocean of nitrous oxide and its isotopologues in the GEOS-5 atmosphere- and interactive stratospheric chemistry as the main tool, Dr. Li ocean model” (PI: Dr. Qing Liang (GESTAR)). This project investigates chemistry-climate interactions, more specifically, will develop a nitrous oxide (N2O) chemistry capability and how atmospheric processes particularly the stratospheric ozone simulate atmospheric and oceanic N2O and its isotopologues depletion/recovery affect the ocean circulation and sea ice, with the GEOS-5 model. The proposed work will improve model and how oceanic processes influence the atmosphere. Another representation of N2O and its interaction with climate in GEOS-5. objective of his research is to improve our understanding of stratospheric dynamic and transport processes. At the AGU Fall Meeting in December 2016, Dr. Li presented a poster titled “A large stratospheric chemical climate feedback in Dr. Li’s proposal titled “Understanding stratospheric water vapor GEOS-5,” which shows that the stratospheric chemical feedback and ozone feedbacks and their impacts on global warming” causes a 10% (about 0.5 K) decrease of the equilibrium climate was selected for funding by the ROSES 2016: Atmospheric sensitivity in GEOS-5. The mechanisms controlling the magnitude Composition: Aura Science Team and ACMAP. The proposal team of the stratospheric chemical feedback also were investigated, includes Drs. Paul Newman (Co-I, 614) and Margaret Hurwitz and it was found that the magnitude of stratospheric chemical (collaborator, 610/SSAI). The proposed work will quantify and feedback is smaller than the stratospheric water vapor feedback. constrain the stratospheric water vapor and ozone responses Additionally, a research-related paper titled “Early action on and feedbacks to global warming using the coupled Goddard HFCs mitigates future atmospheric change” was published in Earth Observing System Model and NASA satellite observations. Environmental Research Letters, with Dr. M. Hurwitz as lead Sensitivity simulations will be performed to separate the roles author; Dr. Li was a co-author. Using the GSFC 2D chemistry

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 61 model simulations, this study showed that hydrofluorocarbons presented several oral and poster presentations discussing (HFCs) could substantially contribute to upper troposphere and her research findings on the following topics: convective lower stratosphere (UT/LS) warming by the middle of the 21st transport of short-lived hydrocarbons to the upper troposphere century. Several HFC mitigation scenarios were tested and results and lower stratosphere (UT/LS), the impact of very-short-lived indicated that earlier restrictions on emissions considerably bromocarbons (VSLB) on stratospheric composition: Present and reduce HFC impact on atmospheric temperature. In the coming future, and the CCl4 budget mystery. months, Dr. Li will be submitting two manuscripts: one on separating the effects of ozone depletion and greenhouse gas As part of the scientific community, Dr. Liang worked with Dr. increases on stratospheric circulation change, and another on Paul Newman (GSFC) and Dr. Stefan Reimann (SWISS EMPA), the impact of ozone recovery on Southern Hemisphere climate the SPARC organization, and 40+ scientists from 16+ countries change in the 21st century. and delivered a SPARC report as an Editor titled “SPARC Report on the Mystery of Carbon Tetrachloride”, SPARC Report No. 7, Dr. Qing Liang (sponsor: P. Newman) conducts 3-D Chemistry WCRP-12/2016. This report is of significance to the WMO/UNEP Climate Model simulations using the GEOS-5 CCM and performs in the regulation of ozone depleting substances. Dr. Newman analyses to understand the budget and transport of these was required to report on the findings of the SPARC report at the ozone-depleting substances and to examine their impact on Meeting of Parties held in Rwanda in October 2016 and Dr. Liang atmospheric composition. As a continuation of last year’s was invited to discuss this report at the NASA Goddard Code progress, Dr. Liang completed a major update of the GEOS-5 100 Science 7 meeting in October 2016. She also was invited to StratChem chemistry package. The updated version of the model participate in the preparation of the 2018 UNEP/WMO Scientific was delivered to Eric Nielson of the GMAO and implemented Assessment of Ozone Depletion as a Review Editor for Chapter into the GEOS-5 standard model. This new update includes: an 1 Ozone-Depleting Substances. The main responsibilities of extension from the original 35 transport species to 52 chemical the Editors are to ensure that review comments are adequately compounds; new chemical capabilities including surface fluxes- and appropriately addressed, and to assist the Chapter Lead based compounds, surface ocean and land losses for CH3CCl3 Authors in coordinating their content with other chapters. She and CH4, updated tropospheric chemistry when appropriate; a also continued to serve as an Executive committee member on new wet-scavenging scheme for soluble inorganic bromine; and, the NASA Langley Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC) User new output diagnostics for reaction rates. Working Group (UWG), whose principal purposes are to firmly establish science user involvement in the planning, development, In the past year, Dr. Liang submitted two PI proposals to the and operations of the ASDC (located at NASA LaRC, Hampton, NASA ROSES-2016 call and both proposals were selected. Her VA) and to represent the science user community in reviewing first proposal titled “Constraining the global and hemispheric and guiding ASDC activities. abundances of the hydroxyl radical (OH): A search for methyl chloroform (CH3CCl3) alternative” was selected by the ACMAP/ Dr. Liang’s research efforts will continue in the coming year, AURA program. The second proposal titled “Global modeling of specifically toward the following items: the analysis of the GEOS-5 nitrous oxide and its isotopologues in the GEOS-5 atmosphere- CCl4 simulation to understand CCl4 spatial distribution, temporal ocean model” was selected by the MAP 2016 program. She also variability and evaluate its sources and sinks; the analysis of worked on eight peer-reviewed publications, including both first the GEOS-5 CO2 and SF6 simulation in evaluating atmospheric author and co-author papers. Among these publications, Warner transport, lifetime and age of air tracers; the continued analysis et al. (2017) was featured in a joint press release “Study finds of CFC-11 and its emissions from the Asian continents; and the hotspots of airborne ammonia over world’s major agricultural implementation of HDO in GEOS-5 StratChem package. areas” by NASA JPL/AGU/Univ of Maryland. This paper’s citation is Warner, J.X. Warner, R.R. Dickerson, Z. Wei, L.L. Strow, Y. Wang, Dr. Jin Liao (sponsor: T. Hanisco) deployed instruments (e.g., and Q. Liang, “Increased atmospheric ammonia over the world’s CAFE and ISAF) to measure ambient formaldehyde in the field major agricultural areas detected from space”, Geophys. Res. and analyzed the data for scientific goals. She also combined Lett., doi: 10.1002/2016GL072305, 2017. Dr. Liang attended in-situ measurements data and satellite data to develop a space- four scientific conferences (the Quadrennial Ozone Symposium based organic aerosol proxy. Dr. Liao deployed the Compact 2016 at Edinburgh, the IGAC 2016 Conference at Breckenridge, Airborne Formaldehyde Experiment (CAFE) instrument in the the AGU Fall Meeting, and the AMS 2017 Annual Meeting) and field to measure ambient formaldehyde and to analyze the data.

62 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 She participated in the KORUS –AQ field campaign in May-June presented at the AGU Fall Meeting and KORUS-AQ Science Team 2016 to study the air quality over the South Korea Peninsula. Meeting in 2017. During KORUS-AQ, she was in charge of in-situ formaldehyde measurements by the NASA CAFE instrument onboard Korea Dr. Liao is participating in ATom-1 and analyzing the ATom field Hanseo King Air. In addition to advising a South Korean graduate campaign data. She calibrated the NASA ISAF instrument before student on maintaining and operating the CAFE instrument, Dr. the field campaign and operated the instrument to measure Liao also troubleshot and repaired the instrument. During the formaldehyde onboard NASA DC8 for two flights during ATom-1. field campaign, high levels of formaldehyde out of petrochemical After the ATom field campaign, she ran the F0AM box model to facilities were detected, and Dr. Liao analyzed and presented calculate the formaldehyde concentrations based on methane preliminary formaldehyde data and plume chemistry in Science and other VOCs as inputs and to compare to formaldehyde Team Meetings. She further analyzed the complex plume measurements. To speed up the model running with large structure after the field campaign. She used an 0-D model to dataset, she added parallel computing to the model, which simulate the initial volatile organic compounds levels near the increased the speed nearly proportional to CPU cores. She is source that can produce such high levels of HCHO downwind examining factors leading to the differences between measured for high NOX and low NOX plume sections, assuming minimum and model HCHO. She added an aerosol uptake test module to dilution for the morning flight. These results were presented in a the box model. HCHO loss due to aerosols uptake is calculated to KORUS-AQ Science Team Meeting in JeJu, South Korea in Feb- be relatively small. Dr. Liao is investigating the effects of model Mar, 2017. inputs such as NOX, CH4 and non-methane VOCs on modeled HCHO levels. These results will be presented at the ATom Science Formaldehyde and organic aerosols are both formed from volatile Team Meeting in July 2017 by her group. organic compounds (VOCs) oxidation. In-situ formaldehyde and organic aerosols data usually have good correlations. Moreover, From previous research, Dr. Liao had a first-author paper titled formaldehyde is one of the few VOCs that can be seen from “Single particle measurements of bouncing particles and in-situ space. Organic aerosols formation is complicated and accurately collection efficiency from an airborne aerosol mass spectrometer modeling of global organic aerosols is challenging. Furthermore, (AMS) with light scattering detection” published in Atmospheric currently no organic aerosols measurements from space are Measurement Techniques Discussion. available. Dr. Liao has been working on developing a space- based organic aerosol proxy using satellite formaldehyde data In the coming year, Dr. Liao will continue analyzing the ATom and relationship between in-situ formaldehyde and organic field data and prepare a manuscript about the formaldehyde aerosols. She analyzed data from several field campaigns, budgets in the remote regions worldwide. She also will continue such as SEAC4RS, DC3, CalNex, and KORUS-AQ, to extract the the development of a space-based organic aerosol proxy. She relationship between in-situ formaldehyde and organic aerosols will further investigate how to minimize the impact of different over a variety of sources such as biogenic sources (southeast lifetimes of formaldehyde and organic aerosols on this method. U.S.), biomass burning sources, and anthropogenic sources (South Korea) and conditions such as high NOX and low NOX. Dr. Junhua Liu (sponsor: B. Duncan) works toward understanding These relationships between formaldehyde and organic aerosols the processes affecting atmospheric composition in the were applied to satellite formaldehyde data to the derived troposphere and lower stratosphere, specifically the sources, organic aerosol proxy. The derived organic aerosol proxy over chemical evolution and transport pathways. She examines U.S. generally agreed with ground-based IMPROVE Network quantifying contributions of the stratospheric intrusion, surface organic aerosol measurements from multiple years from summer biomass emissions and lightning to the observed interannual and a better agreement compared to the correlation between variations (IAV) and trends in tropospheric O3. satellite AOT-derived extinction and IMPROVE Network organic aerosols. The correlation between derived organic proxy and Dr. Liu gave chemistry forecasting briefings using GEOS-5 NIER ground sites’ organic aerosols measurements over South forecasting simulations for the ATom-1 and ATom-2 Campaigns. Korea was not as good compared to U.S. regions, most likely due Their chemical forecasts from the GEOS-5 model provided insight to less data points and more coastal areas where there are large into the chemical environments and source contributions for uncertainties in converting satellite column to mixing ratios using the diverse regions sampled by the ATom campaign. Dr. Liu is mixing boundary layer height from MERRA-2. These results were analyzing the statistics of GEOS-5 model performance to test the

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 63 representativeness of ATom measurements. Her analysis focuses In the coming year, Dr. Liu will perform the sanity check of on examining reports of CO from GEOS-5 along the flight track the StratO3 tracer from two new runs with the old hindcast compared to larger regions, and she will prepare a related paper. simulation and examine the global distribution of STE. She will Dr. Liu also is working with colleagues on a chemical composition start preparing a manuscript on the global distribution of STE paper for ATom mission. She is also working with Code 614 and its temporal changes; first, she will evaluate the model with Laboratory colleagues in Lab 614 and GMAO on validation for ozonesonde and surface sites observations. She will work with new hi-res (0.25x0.25 deg) GMAO forecasts for UNICEF. She is Joanna Joiner on setting up the radiative transfer model. Work evaluating the model ozone and CO with observations. will continue on evaluating troposphere chemistry for variable model simulations, including GMI-CTM, CCM and GEOS-5 for She completed her analysis on controlling factors of the observed UNICEF forecast, with observations. The final goal of this work is Southern Hemisphere (SH) tropospheric ozone maximum using to construct a chemistry evaluation package. GMI-CTM model output. Her work on this project was published in ACP in January 2017. She also conducted evaluations of the Dr. Edward Nowottnick (sponsor: P. Colarco) evaluates Ozone tropospheric chemistry (including CO, ozone, NO, NO2, isoprene) Monitoring Instrument (OMI) aerosol products in the context in Pan, et al., of variable new simulations of GMI-CTM, including of the NASA GEOS-5 model and provides Observing System the latest simulations for GMI-CTM MERRA2, GEOS-CTM, with Simulation Experiments (OSSE) support and data analysis for satellite and in-situ observations. She identified and helped spaceborne and aircraft lidar systems. to solve the extremely low CO and isoprene problem found in the new hindcast simulation. Dr. Liu was involved in preparing Dr. Nowottnick has circulated a draft of his manuscript titled and evaluating the GEOS-5 Replay high-resolution simulations “Dust Impacts on the First Weakening Phase of Hurricane Nadine (MERRA2-GMI run). She was involved in solving various problems during the NASA HS-3 Field Campaign” to his co-authors for in the test simulations of this run (e.g., underestimates of comments. This work shows that simulated hurricane tracks tropospheric ozone in the winter season of southern hemisphere, that develop in close proximity to the dusty Saharan Air Layer overestimates of StratO3 tracer in the troposphere, HO2 are sensitive to the treatment of dust optical properties and the chemistry, ozone dry deposition, lightning parameterizations). degree of interaction with cloud microphysics in a global aerosol transport model. This work will be submitted to the HS-3 special Dr. Liu was first author on “Causes of interannual variability issue of the Journal of Atmospheric Sciences. This work was over the southern hemispheric tropospheric ozone maximum” presented as an oral presentation at the 2016 AGU Fall Meeting published in Atmos. Chem. Phys., and co-author on two other in San Francisco, CA, a Code 614 Laboratory Seminar in August papers, one published in ACPD and the other in review with 2016, and the Yoram Kaufman Symposium in July 2016. Atmos. Meas. Tech. She also was PI on the awarded NASA ROSES ACMAP proposal “Quantifying the effects of stratosphere Dr. Nowottnick has continued to improve the CATS Mode 2 - troposphere exchange on tropospheric ozone interannual aerosol typing algorithm for the upcoming release of CATS Mode variability and trends, radiative forcing, and air quality”. 2 Version 2 Data. The new algorithm reduces biases in aerosol typing and aerosol optical thickness compared to Version 1 Dr. Liu participated in the two-day Atmospheric Tomography data. Dr. Nowottnick’s new algorithm is the first to incorporate Mission (ATom) science team meeting and discussed her simulated aerosols from a global aerosol transport model to modeling activities to the ATom project on Nov 2016. She also help classify aerosol type observed by spaceborne lidars. In gave a talk at the 19th Conference on Atmospheric Chemistry the new algorithm, GEOS-5 aerosols have been incorporated to in Seattle, WA. She also co-authored two abstracts, one for the discern between smoke and polluted continental aerosols, which AOGS meeting titled “The extreme biomass burning events during was previously determined using aerosol plume thickness and 2002-2015 in tropical region associated with ENSO: impact elevation. He presented this work at the Young Scientist Forum at on aerosols and the tropospheric concentration of greenhouse NASA Goddard in October 2016. gases” and one for the Quadrennial Ozone Symposium titled “A Comparison of Ticosonde-SHADOZ Ozone Profiles to Large-Scale In the past year, Dr. Nowottnick developed a 1-D ensemble Analyses and Satellite Data”. She also gave a talk at a branch technique for assimilating vertical profiles of aerosols observed seminar in June 2016. by CATS (or other spaceborne lidars) into GEOS-5 to help improve simulated vertical aerosol distributions. This new

64 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 approach utilizes GEOS-5 ensemble members to characterize instrument onboard the CALIPSO satellite, and will prepare a modeled error in simulated aerosol distributions, and uses related manuscript. CATS observations to correct biases. Dr. Nowottnick’s technique is flexible and can be applied in both extinction and total For work on his NASA ROSES grant, Dr. Edward Nowottnick attenuated backscatter space. He presented this work at the (Program Manager: L. Chambers) investigates biases in aerosol 97th AMS Meeting in Seattle, WA in January 2017. properties used in the NASA GEOS-5 model using NASA ground- based, airborne, and space borne lidar observations. Once As part of the GOES-R Field Campaign, Dr. Nowottnick was aerosol optical properties are properly constrained, GEOS-5 involved with supporting the Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL) onboard will be used to explore the optimal configuration (wavelengths, the NASA ER-2 aircraft. Duties included preparing the instrument depolarization) to enhance aerosol typing capabilities for for each flight, as well as analyzing and processing data. He also future spaceborne lidar systems. In year one, Dr. Nowottnick has been helping to coordinate ER-2 underpasses of the ISS, obtained NASA spaceborne lidar datasets from the Cloud Aerosol which will be extremely valuable to validating CATS observations Transport System (CATS) and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal from the ISS using CPL. Polarization (CALIOP) and airborne lidar data sets from the High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) and the Cloud Physics Dr. Nowottnick also has been involved in both NASA Earth Lidar (CPL) and organized them by region/case studies that are Venture Instrument (EVI) and Earth Venture Suborbital (EVS) dominated by a specific aerosol type (e.g. dust). The GEOS-5 proposals. The EVI proposal, for an instrument named CATS-i model was sampled according to these datasets for comparison (CATS instrument), is a follow-on to the current CATS instrument to the lidar datasets. operating on the ISS. His experience with developing aerosol typing algorithms and obtaining near-real time data from After binning lidar aerosol observations by region/case studies, the GEOS-5 model with the CATS instrument has led to the Dr. Nowottnick compared observed quantities to those simulated role of Applications Lead for CATS-i. For the EVS proposal, from GEOS-5. The best match with observed quantities Dr. Nowottnick will serve as the modeling lead for CLARINET (backscatter coefficient, depolarization ratio, and lidar ratio) was (Cloud Aerosol Radiation Experiment). The proposal is still in found for sulfate aerosols, followed by dust, seasalt, and then development phase, but has cleared center approval and will carbonaceous species. The preliminary evaluation highlighted the be submitted in late 2017/early 2018. The proposal focuses need to incorporate non-spherical optical properties for sulfate, on understanding how dust interacts with clouds, radiation, and sea salt, and carbonaceous species. weather in the Caribbean and draws on his experience as a dust model and field campaign forecaster/flight planner. In the next year, it is anticipated that the evaluation of simulated aerosol optical properties using lidar case studies will be In the coming year, the CATS team will run a test month of their complete. Results from the evaluation and bias correction are new version 2 Mode 2 algorithms and will analyze the data for expected to be presented to the NASA GEOS-5 aerosol modeling biases and errors before reprocessing the entire dataset (March group to determine which corrections should be implemented 2015 - Present). CATS Mode 2 version 2 data is expected to be into the model. Additionally, results from this stage of the released in June. Dr. Nowottnick will present the CATS instrument proposed work are expected to be presented at the 2017 AGU and observations of Patagonian dust transport at the High Fall Meeting. Additionally, Dr. Nowottnick will conduct a thorough Latitude and Cloud Climate Dust workshop in Reykjavik, Iceland evaluation of spaceborne versus airborne aerosol typing from in May 2017. He will update his changes to the algorithm to the the HSRL instruments as part of next year’s efforts to determine CATS Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD), which details where current spaceborne aerosol typing algorithms fail. This all steps and processes for data processing. He also will continue work will be expanded to different regions to test the feasibility of to develop more advanced techniques for assimilating CATS data using a global aerosol typing algorithm. into the NASA GEOS-5 model by working with Dr. Arlindo da Silva. This work is expected to be presented at the 2016 International Dr. Mark Olsen (sponsor: A. Douglass) focuses on the analysis Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction Meeting in Lille, France in June of stratosphere-troposphere exchange, transport in the lower 2017. And, Dr. Nowottnick will begin comparing CATS aerosol stratosphere and troposphere, and the coupling of stratosphere type and optical thickness values to those from the CALIOP and troposphere in both global atmospheric data sets and output from global models. As an extension of previous work,

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 65 Dr. Olsen used GEOS-5 analyses of OMI and MLS ozone water vapor), in addition to the normal dynamical quantities, observations to investigate the influence of the Quasi-Biennial greatly improves the agreement. Replaying water vapor in the Oscillation (QBO) and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on lowest resolution simulation shows even better agreement with the variability of ozone in the upper troposphere and lower MERRA-2 than the highest resolution simulation that doesn’t stratosphere (UTLS). The assimilated ozone fields were used replay water vapor. in a jet coordinate system based upon the horizontal and vertical distance from the subtropical and polar jets (STJ and PJ, In addition to assessing the simulated transport in the replay respectively) in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Since mode of the GEOS-5 system, Dr. Olsen is evaluating the UTLS the jets commonly divide the UTLS into distinct air masses with fine-scale structure of ozone in the MERRA-2 GMI replay similar characteristics, this significantly reduces the variability simulation. This simulation is being created to provide the best introduced from the use of a geographic coordinate. Regression available, consistent model simulation through the satellite analysis was used to determine the spatial distribution of era and is intended for release to the scientific community. the variance and sensitivity of UTLS ozone that is uniquely Comparisons with high vertical resolution ozone observations attributable to the QBO and ENSO time series relative to the from the HIRDLS instrument on the Aura satellite demonstrate jets in both hemispheres. ENSO is shown to dominate the ozone that the simulation does an excellent job in reproducing the response around the STJ compared to the QBO; however, the fine-scale structure found in the observations. Thin, dynamically QBO influence can significantly reduce or strongly reinforce the formed laminae in the UTLS agree well with the spatial extent, response depending on the relative phase to ENSO. There is magnitude, and location of these features in the HIRDLS evidence of a positive correlation of ENSO to tropopause folding observations. The comparisons show that the simulation will be a and stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) around the STJ valuable tool for process and transport studies in the important on global scales, but both the sensitivity and explained variance UTLS region. is small. The response is much stronger over smaller regions, although the QBO impact remains small below the altitude of the During the next year, Dr. Olsen plans to complete the study on STJ. In contrast to the STJ, both the ENSO and QBO influence in the ozone variability due to the QBO and ENSO relative to the the troposphere is generally small and statistically insignificant subtropical and polar jets. He will continue the evaluation of the relative to the PJ. ENSO has little impact in the stratosphere MERRA-2 GMI replay simulation and contribute to preparing the around the PJ, while the QBO influence agrees well with previous simulation and documentation for release to the community. studies that show the QBO impacts ozone variability in the polar Dr. Olsen will begin working with the team of a newly funded stratosphere. Some results from this study were presented at the MAP proposal to develop the capability to assimilate additional AGU Fall Meeting and an article is currently being prepared for important chemical species into the GEOS-5 data assimilation submission. system. He also will contribute transport evaluations and STE studies to work on a new ACMAP grant to quantify the The STE and diabatic transport of mass and ozone is being stratospheric impact on tropospheric ozone variability and trends. evaluated for the replay mode of the GEOS-5 system. Significant differences have been identified between the replay simulations Under his first research activity, Dr. Henry Selkirk (sponsor: A. and direct calculations of the transport from the MERRA-2 Douglass) works on a variety of subtasks, including characterizing forcing meteorology. Most notably, the magnitude of the annual the vertical structure and variability of water vapor and ozone diabatic mass flux across the 380 K potential temperature in the tropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere surface in the lower stratosphere is significantly higher in the (UTLS) using balloon sondes, analyzing transport and moisture replay simulations compared to the MERRA-2 flux. This also processes in observations and models, and providing support increases the amount of ozone flux compared to MERRA-2. The to NASA airborne missions including the Airborne Tropical greatest differences occur during the summer, particularly in the Tropopause Experiment (ATTREX) and the Studies of Emissions Northern Hemisphere. Sensitivity tests reveal how the horizontal and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by resolution of the replay simulations impacts the magnitude of the Regional Surveys (SEAC4RS). flux. Increasing the resolution improves the agreement, although the fluxes in the replay simulations still remain higher when TICOSONDE kicked off its 4-year NASA renewal with the 5th run at the same resolution as MERRA-2. Further tests reveal Ticosonde Workshop at Universidad de Costa Rica. In February that replaying radiatively important constituents (particularly, 2017, NASA awarded USRA its budget in full for the first year

66 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 assistance to make the project’s work more widely known in the Central American region.

The Turrialba Volcano, just 35 km east of the Ticosonde launch site, had a major ash eruption on the morning of May 20, 2016, with significant ashfall over the San José metro area and the Central Valley downwind. Ticosonde’s scheduled ozonesonde launch that same morning encountered a deep layer of SO2 Fig. 1 Ticosonde Workshop attendees, Universidad de Costa extending from just above 2 km to 6 km. Fig. 2 shows the ozone Rica, 15 March 2017. First row (from left): Daniel Paleo, IMN; profile from the launch. Gary Morris, St. Edwards University; Henry Selkirk, USRA; Kelsey Emmons, St. Edwards University. Second row (from left): The past year has been one of the most productive in nearly Paul Nord, Valparaiso University; Holger Vömel, NCAR; Megan 12-year history of the Ticosonde balloon sounding program. The Damon, SSAI; David Diaz, Universidad de Costa Rica. Third row Ticosonde launch team made a total of 49 launches in the twelve (from left): (unidentified); Geoffroy Avard, OVSICORI/Universidad months ending April 21, 2017. These included 12 water vapor Nacional; Marcial Garbanzo, Universidad de Costa Rica. Fourth launches, 32 ozone sonde launches and 5 dual sonde launches row (from left): Ernesto Corrales, NTCR; Jorge Andrés Diaz, Universidad de Costa Rica; Elian Conejo, Universidad de Costa Rica; and Alfred Alan, Universidad de Costa Rica. Image provided by H. Selkirk. of the proposal “TICOSONDE: Balloon Sonde Observations of Tropical Water Vapor and Ozone at Costa Rica in Support of Continued Capability for Calibration and Validation of Satellite Measurements”. In March, Dr. Selkirk visited Co-I Dr. Jorge Andrés Diaz and his team at UCR along with Science PI Holger Vömel of NCAR and collaborators Dr. Gary Morris and Mr. Paul Nord. There, the team and their Costa Rican partners participated in the 5th Ticosonde Workshop at UCR. In addition to the Ticosonde team, presentations were made by Dr. Geoffroy Avard of OVSICORI, the Costa Rican volcanological institute at the Universidad Nacional, and Mr. Danel Paleo of the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN)). Workshop presentations included reviews of the water vapor, ozone and SO2 profiling that have been carried out by Ticosonde since 2005 as well as new projects going forward, such as a collaboration with the IMN to fly the CFH in tandem with the Vaisala RS-41 radiosonde. This activity will be an opportunity to compare the relative humidity measurement of this new world-standard radiosonde against an in-situ reference instrument such as the CFH in the very cold conditions near the tropical tropopause. Also discussed was the commitment of Ticosonde to launch sondes to help validate water vapor and ozone profiles from the SAGE-III ISS mission which only the week before had had first light. About 20 people attended the workshop (see Fig. 1), and among the attendees Figure 2, Ozone profiles from Ticosonde’s launch on the was a representative from the U. S. Embassy in San José who same day as the Turrialba Volcano eruption. Figure provided was very excited about the work and pledged the Embassy’s by H. Selkirk.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 67 for SO2. The total count of Ticosonde ozone profiles now stands at 539, with 204 water vapor profiles and 41 dual sondes.

In the coming year, Ticosonde will initiate a series of joint balloon launches with the Instituto Meteorologico Nacional (IMN) flying Figure 1: Comparison of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) the CFH water vapor instrument in tandem with the Vaisala RS- between the control simulation (mp1; red) and the two-moment 41 radiosonde. With the CFH water vapor profile as a reference, microphysical scheme (mp2; blue). Preliminary results for a this project will afford the opportunity to assess the performance single month in boreal summer. Figure provided by H. Selkirk. of this new state-of-the-art radiosonde under the uniquely cold and dry conditions in the tropics. This will study will fill a needed gap in the testing of this widely-used radiosonde. In a study of Ticosonde-SHADOZ ozone profiles compared to MLS, MERRA-2 and GMI, in collaboration with Dr. Junhua Liu (GESTAR) In March 2017, the SAGE-III ISS instrument was successfully and others, Dr. Selkirk compared in-situ ozone profile values installed on the International Space Station and is on track to from Costa Rica to MLS v4.2 ozone from the upper troposphere producing its unique high-resolution solar occultation profiles to the middle stratosphere. Similar comparisons were made of water vapor, ozone and aerosols. The Ticosonde team will to the ozone in the MERRA-2 reanalysis and the GMI Chemical be working closely with the SAGE-III project to coordinate water Transport Model. The results of the inter-comparison suggest vapor and ozone launches to produce validation datasets for this that MLS is well correlated with the balloon sondes at Costa important space-based instrument. Rica in the stratosphere, although it has a tendency to have a high bias. In the troposphere (i.e., below 100 hPa), where the Dr. Henry Selkirk (sponsor: A. Douglass) also works on a task soundings are noisier, the high correlations break down. This where the goal is to improve the moist physics components in relationship is essentially mirrored in comparisons between the GEOS-5 by analyzing suborbital water vapor and related tracer sounding data and the MERRA-2 reanalysis. This is not surprising data and then using these observations to inform improvements since the reanalysis assimilates the MLS ozone. However, the to GEOS-5 in collaboration with Dr. Andrea Molod (GMAO). A two- GMI model, which computes ozone from its continuity equation moment microphysical scheme was developed for the GEOS-5 without any satellite data input, also displays a high bias in the atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM), and Dr. Selkirk lower stratosphere. Whether or not the commonalities in the and colleagues conducted free-running simulations to evaluate meteorology in the GMI model and the MERRA-2 reanalysis the performance of the model with regard to the changes in both might play a part in the high biases seen in each merits further the moisture and the radiative budgets of the model when this investigation. This study was presented as a poster at the scheme is used. While changes in relative humidity in the upper Quadrennial Ozone Symposium in September in Edinburgh, troposphere are relatively modest, the impact on large-scale and Scotland. convective cloudiness is profound. In the control case with the conventional single-moment scheme (i.e., with ice cloud particles Upcoming work includes, among other items, the completion of a fixed at a radius of ~20 µm), the convective cloud fraction in the manuscript draft based on his 2015 AGU poster that compares tropics maximizes at ~200 hPa and the large-scale cloud fraction local profiles of water vapor from the Ticosonde dataset with at ~125 hPa. With the two-moment scheme, the large-scale co-located cluster profiles from the MLS instrument and local grid are drastically reduced above 200 hPa and convective clouds averages from the MERRA 2 reanalysis. increase. Indeed, there is substantial convective cloudiness at 100 hPa in the two-moment scheme, where there was virtually Mr. Stephen Steenrod (sponsor: L. Oman) supports the none in the conventional scheme. Among other things, these Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) investigations of chemical and changes have an impact of the outgoing longwave radiation. dynamical aspects of the middle and lower atmosphere. This Figure 1 shows the meridional profile of outgoing longwave for effort includes development, optimization, multiprocessing, the two simulations. The figure shows a higher outgoing longwave execution, and evaluation of atmospheric modeling codes; flux in the tropics with the two-moment scheme. This is likely due development of diagnostic software for analysis of model output to warmer emission surfaces of the lower large-scale clouds in and satellite data; and development of general user software to the two-moment scheme. These results were presented at the allow simple access to large central databases of model output. 97th AMS Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA in January. This year, Mr. Steenrod worked on several issues with the GMI

68 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 CTM model, including several enhancements to the model’s 614 atmospheric scientists to monitor ozone levels and capabilities. The most important fix was a long-standing error in meteorological conditions in the polar stratosphere. The group the call to the photolysis routine that was being called with the monitored the development of the 2016 Antarctic ozone hole and model gridbox mid-point pressures, but should have been called submitted an article on this to the Bulletin of the AMS special with the gridbox edge pressures. Also of high importance was the issue ‘State of the Climate 2016’. The 2016 O3 hole was average implementation of an update to the chemical reactions important in size, consistent with Antarctic temperature and chlorine in tropospheric chemistry. This update eliminated five species levels observed during polar winter. NASA produced a short and 16 reactions and brought it closer to the current GEOSChem video based on the group’s article that explains observations mechanism. He also updated the reaction rates in the model to of the 2016 Antarctic ozone hole: https://www.youtube.com/ the JPL15 recommendations. Mr. Steenrod also implemented watch?v=eHOjzuQFAjk. other important improvements, including adding a solar cycle to the latest photolysis code and changing the wet and dry At the Quadrennial Ozone Symposium, Dr. Strahan presented deposition parameters. In his work with the coupled aerosol-gas observational evidence from the NASA Aura Microwave Limb phase chemical mechanism, Mr. Steenrod updated the nitrate Sounder (MLS) instrument showing that Antarctic O3 loss has aerosol chemistry routines, added new tracer species, and fixed trended downward over the past decade. Concurrently, MLS N2O some long-standing minor issues with the model’s output stream. measurements were used to infer chlorine levels, which also show a decline over the past decade. The greatest challenge to Mr. Steenrod supported the ATom aircraft mission by running the attributing the recovery of the O3 hole to declining chlorine is GMI full chemistry model in several ways. His support involved that year-to-year temperature variations in the Antarctic play an runs to simulate the data that will be retrieved during the mission outsized role in determining the extent of O3 depletion. Additional and to use the model to fully understand the many different years of observation are needed to confirm ozone’s response to influences on the chemistry that will result in the measured declining chlorine and thus attribute the recovery to the 1987 quantities. The GMI model output needed to be post-processed Montreal Protocol. into a standard form; further, the GMI model also needs to be run with prescribed temperature, moisture and constituent fields. Dr. Strahan collaborated with scientists at NASA GSFC, Johns Additionally, to increase the versatility of GMI, Mr. Steenrod Hopkins University, and NCAR to investigate how a unique added the capability to use GEOS5CCM and MERRA2 met fields perturbation in tropical stratospheric winds impacted trace gas and create new boundary condition files, including using the distributions throughout the stratosphere. This never-before- MERRA2-assimilated tropospheric aerosol fields for use in their observed perturbation in the descent of tropical wind regimes, runs. called the Quasi Biennial Oscillation (QBO), caused subtropical column O3 levels to fall to near-record low levels during the His administration support included updating and securing the northern summer. It is unknown whether the wind perturbation is operating systems of the Code 614 computer cluster regularly, as an indication of changing stratospheric climate. well as updating and maintaining the hardware on this cluster in a timely and unobtrusive manner. This included fixing or replacing As Project Scientist and Manager of the GMI chemistry failed hard-drives, graphics cards, monitors, UPS batteries and transport modeling effort, Dr. Strahan continued to manage damaged printers. new simulations in support of many projects. She oversaw testing and evaluation of numerous model updates and code In the coming months, Mr. Steenrod will continue work corrections, leading to the production of a new hindcast on improving the GMI model and fixing issues as they are simulation for 1980-present. This simulation, integrated with the discovered. There are current plans to continue support the GMAO’s MERRA2 reanalysis product, is freely available to the ATom aircraft mission and to submit GMI CTM model results to atmospheric science community. Drs. Strahan, Sarah Strode, CCMI. His computer cluster group leader activities will continue, Junhua Liu, and Mr. Stephen Steenrod continue to support especially with regard to the OS security updates and installation the NASA ATom airborne mission by providing specialized GMI of new and replacement hardware. simulations to quantify the effect of anthropogenic climate forcers O3 and CH4 on global tropospheric composition. Dr. Susan Strahan (sponsor: P. Newman) continued to And, finally, the GMI web site (https://gmi.gsfc.nasa.gov) collaborate with Dr. Paul Newman and a group of Code was completely updated. Scientists interested in using GMI

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 69 simulations can now find up-to-date information on simulation the causes of the observed trends. She found that the emission details and availability, as well as references for GMI publications changes assumed in a commonly-used emission inventory can over the past 20 years. explain the MOPITT trends over the U.S. and Europe, but cannot explain the trend over China. She published a paper on this topic Dr. Strahan works as a Theory and Analysis Co-chair on the entitled “Interpreting space-based trends in carbon monoxide Steering Committee of the Network for Detection of Atmospheric with multiple models”; she also updated this work using a more Composition Change (NDACC). She provides GMI model outputs recent version of MOPITT data and presented the results at the formatted for use by NDACC instrument scientists and is AGU Fall Meeting. currently creating new outputs using recent GMI MERRA2 results. In October 2016, she attended the annual NDACC Steering Convection affects ozone concentrations in the middle and Committee meeting in Bremen, Germany where model support upper troposphere by lifting low ozone values from the surface requirements were discussed with the instrument working over clean marine regions, and by lifting ozone precursors over group co-chairs. She is using the simulated variability of trace polluted regions. Dr. Strode, collaborating with GESTAR colleague gas distributions to identify desirable locations for additional Dr. Ziemke, developed a method to compare chemistry climate NDACC measurement stations. She is also collaborating with model output to observations of in-cloud ozone from the OMI and Dr. Anne Douglass (GSFC) to use the existing long-term NDACC MLS instruments in order to evaluate the relationship between data sets to understand stratospheric dynamical variability over clouds, convection, and chemistry in a global CCM. Using the the past 30 years in order to explain observed O3 trends. This model, she found that large-scale atmospheric dynamics are the study uses the NDACC observations to critically evaluate whether largest factor in the temporal changes in ozone in most regions time-dependent biases affect the stratospheric circulation of the on a daily time scale, but the relative importance of chemistry MERRA2 reanalysis. increases when averaging over longer time scales. She gave presentations and posters on this topic at several meetings, and Future plans include development of methods to combine is submitting a paper describing this work. model hindcast simulations with satellite and ground-based (i.e., NDACC) long-term data sets to estimate global budgets and The Atmospheric Tomography (ATom) Mission is investigating decadal trends for important species such as O3 and HCl. Dr. the chemistry of the remote atmosphere using an aircraft Strahan will continue working with Code 614 scientists to monitor that circles the globe. Dr. Strode provided chemistry forecast ozone depletion in the Arctic and Antarctic, and additionally, briefings to the ATom team for the ATom-1 campaign in identify methods and data sets that may allow attribution of August 2016 and the ATom-2 campaign in February 2017. increasing O3 levels to the Montreal Protocol. The goals are to The forecasts used output from NASA’s GEOS-5 model. She understand the roles of chemistry and dynamics in controlling is also working with the GMI CTM team to provide a hindcast the extent of ozone loss each season, and to communicate this simulation of the ATom-1 period, and gave a presentation on information to the public through press releases and scientific GMI capabilities at the ATom electronic science team meeting. publications. Additionally, work will continue on managing the Dr. Strode is currently using tagged tracers from the GEOS-5 GMI modeling effort to provide new simulations for use by the model to assess the contributions of different source regions atmospheric composition community, the NDACC measurement to the ATom observations. She also is using multiple years of network, and the NASA ATom airborne campaign. satellite observations to examine how representative the ATom period is of the long-term climatology, as well as collaborating Dr. Sarah Strode (sponsor: B. Duncan) contributes to the three- with GESTAR colleague Dr. Junhua Liu on analyzing the spatial dimensional modeling efforts in the Atmospheric Chemistry and representativeness of the ATom measurements. Dynamics branch, both for Chemical Transport Models CTM) and Chemistry Climate Models (CCM). She conducts simulations for Dr. Strode contributed to a high resolution global atmospheric the Atmospheric Chemistry-Climate Model Intercomparison, and chemistry simulation of the MERRA-2 period, led by Dr. Oman provides emission scenarios for past and future simulations. (NASA GSFC), by providing year-specific emission files and input In her work on interpreting CO trends, the MOPITT instrument on useful chemistry diagnostics. She is currently working on on the Terra satellite provides observations of the trends and analyzing the tropospheric ozone budget in this simulation. year-to-year variability in atmospheric CO concentrations. Dr. Strode used a series of CTM and CCM experiments to analyze

70 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 and then designed and had mounting fixtures fabricated for his group’s instruments. Utilizing the data collection and control deck Photo demonstrates CAFE loaded into the NASA ER-2 port that he helped to completed for the project in 2015, he then wingpod in preparation for high altitude test flights on helped to integrate his research group’s instruments aboard the November 3, 2016. Attached exterior of the wingpod can be NASA Wallops C-23 Sherpa in August 2016. In June and July seen the particle rejecting ram air sampling probe that Andrew 2016, Mr. Swanson engineered a custom gas sampling probe for engineered and developed specifically for CAFE and the ER-2. the mission, which was also integrated into the C-23 in August Photo provided by A. Swanson. and utilized for the 2016 field campaign; it is intended to be used in the 2017 field campaign as well. In Winter 2017, he aided with instrument/rack configuration for the upcoming 2017 campaign In the coming year, Dr. Strode plans to continue supporting the and engineered instrument supporting fixtures. In April 2017, he ATom effort, providing chemical forecasting for the upcoming traveled back to Wallops and assisted with integration. ATom-3 campaign. She will also continue developing and analyzing GMI simulations to support ATom. She also will For the Atom field campaign in June 2016, Mr. Swanson aided continue to analyze the ozone budget and its variability in the in planning and sorting out In Situ Airborne Formaldehyde high resolution CCM replay simulation. (ISAF) instrument configuration along with its gas sampling probe. This consisted of configuring the rack locations for the Mr. Andrew Swanson (sponsor: T. Hanisco) provides mechanical research group’s instruments, control and data collection boxes, engineering and design support in the development of novel and other accoutrements, and then developing mechanical in-situ atmospheric measurement instrumentation to include the fixtures that abided by the NASA DC-8 flight requirements that development of custom optical systems, LIF measurement cells, were used in the campaign. In July 2016, he traveled to NASA instrumentation chassis and the packaging of accompanying Armstrong and assisted in instrument integration in preparation electronics. He also participates in the fabrication, bench, and for the campaign. In October 2016, Mr. Swanson designed a field testing of newly developed instrumentation. In collaboration new control box for the upcoming ATom-2 campaign along with with his research group, Mr. Swanson completed the Compact Airborne Formaldehyde Experiment (CAFE) in the fall of 2016. The engineering, design, and development of CAFE took a little over a year to complete and was ready in time for participation in the KORean U.S. Air Quality (KORUS-AQ) Study in Spring 2016. However, the development of CAFE was funded through the Airborne Instrument Technology Transition (AITT) program with NASA Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) and included functionality demonstration aboard the NASA ER-2 high altitude research aircraft. A custom air sampling probe was developed for CAFE between April and September 2016, which was used in conjunction with CAFE on ER-2 test flights out of NASA Armstrong in November 2016. Mr. Swanson and his research group successfully demonstrated the intended functionality of CAFE and its sampling probe, and the two are intended to be utilized in future field campaigns for measuring upper troposphere and stratosphere formaldehyde concentrations.

Mr. Swanson provided engineering and mechanical support for the Green House Gas (GHG) measurements of the CARbon Atmosphere Flux Experiment (CARAFE) 2016 campaign and he has continued to do so for the 2017 campaign. He planned the Photos demonstrate 2016 CARAFE integration and layout of the group’s instrumentation, ensured that such was instrument configuration of GHG measurements. with the payload limits of the aircraft and instrumentation racks, Photos provided by A. Swanson.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 71 new instrument mounting fixtures to accommodate the new profile measurements in the stratosphere”. In September, he CAFE instrument in conjunction with ISAF. The instrument rack presented a poster at the Quadrennial Ozone Symposium, and configuration was again planned out, and in December 2016 he also was a co-author on a talk as well as two other posters. returned to NASA Armstrong to help with integrating CAFE and ISAF into NASA DC-8 for the ATom-2 campaign. Upcoming plans include publishing the OMPS LP v1.0 aerosol validation study and collaborating with the GEOES-5 stratospheric In the following months, Mr. Swanson will be engineering and group on the validation of their model with OMPS, OSIRIS, and developing a new mechanical mounting and tracking system CALIPSO measurements. for the GSFC Pandora Spectrometer Instrument. Dr. Nader Abuhassan, a fellow engineer in 614, would like to upgrade their For work on his second task, Dr. Ghassan Taha (sponsor: current fleet of sun tracking mechanisms due to issues with R. Mcpeters) leads the Aura Validation Data Center (AVDC) them failing prematurely. Additionally, his sponsor, Dr. Hanisco, activities, supports various Aura and NPP calibration and is in need of a sun tracker for a new Hydroxyl instrument that is validation activities, and maintains web content and related currently being developed within their lab under a GSFC IRAD. system hardware management activities. He continued collaboration activities with the European Validation Data Center Dr. Ghassan Taha (sponsor: G. Jaross) investigates SNPP (EVDC), which includes regular delivery of ozonesondes and OMPS Limb sensor data quality with the goal of identifying ground-based HDF files to EVDC, and maintaining the GEOMS improvements to current and future Limb sensors. His research codes and templates. Additionally, Dr. Taha modified the AVDC focuses on alternative approaches to data reduction that have web-pages to switch from HTTP to HTTPS, in compliance with the potential implications for sensor and algorithm design. Dr. Taha OMB mandate that all publicly accessible Federal websites only performed a detailed comparison of the newly released OMPS LP provide service through a secure connection. aerosol V1.0 with the previous version V0.5 and the University of Saskatoon 2-Dimensional retrieval of OMPS aerosol and OSIRIS Dr. Taha co-authored a paper titled “Validation of 10-year aerosol retrieval. He analyzed the effect of the instrument-viewing SAO OMI Ozone Profile (PROFOZ) Product Using Ozonesonde geometry on the retrieved aerosol and the ascending/descending Observations” that was submitted to AMT. He also presented a differences. He also compared it with CALIPSO stratospheric poster titled “The Aura Validation Data Center (AVDC): Current aerosol profiles and found a good agreement between the two and future activities” at the Quadrennial Ozone Symposium. measurements, which can be improved even further by adjusting the lidar ratio. Work also involved OMPS special measurements, Dr. Taha will continue leading the AVDC support to various in which Dr. Taha analyzed the radiances and derived aerosol scientific and validation groups, as well as maintaining the index of a specially measured orbit where fast successive AVDC web-page and systems. He will collect, convert, and host measurements are taken along the orbit, and he identified issues various correlative measurements needed for satellite validation that require reprocessing. Further, Dr. Taha derived an empirical studies. He plans on expanding the AVDC role to support SAGE III model for the excess straylight caused by the solar intrusions. He validation activities. successfully tested the corrections on sample L1G radiances and its effect on the ozone retrieval. Dr. Zhining Tao (sponsor: M. Chin) works on developing the regional chemistry transport models (NASA Unified WRF, NU- Dr. Taha co-authored two papers that were published in WRF), examining biosphere-atmosphere interactions, and Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, one titled “Ground-based investigating the role of aerosols and trace gases (e.g., CO2 assessment of the bias and long-term stability of 14 limb and and ozone) in climate change and air quality through global/ occultation ozone profile data records”, the other titled “Altitude regional modeling studies and data analysis. This past year, Dr. registration of limb-scattered radiation”. He attended the second Tao led the regional modeling effort to study the impact of Asian Stratospheric Sulfur and its Role in Climate workshop and monsoon on regional air quality. The year-round simulations of presented a talk titled “OMPS LP aerosol extinction coefficient a strong monsoon year and various sensitivity experiments have measurements”. He also presented at the 10th Anniversary been completed. The outcomes and analysis were presented Yoram Kaufman Memorial Symposium. In August, Dr. Taha at several national/international meetings including the 13th attended the 2016 STAR JPSS Annual Science Team Meeting AOGS’s (Asia Oceania Geoscience Society) Annual Meeting and presented a talk titled “OMPS Limb Profiler aerosol extinction in Beijing, China, the 8th MICS-Asia Workshop held at the

72 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis near Vienna, versions of the NASA GEOS-5 general circulation model. He Austria, and the 97th AMS Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA. had been conducting atmospheric methane simulations using Fortuna; in the meantime, significantly enhanced versions He also led the modeling and analysis effort to study a Saharan of GEOS-5 were being developed. To take advantage of the Air Layer (SAL) event sampled during the Hurricane and Severe improved atmospheric physics and advanced parallel computing Storm Sentinel (HS3) campaign using the high-resolution NU- embodied in the new versions, Dr. Wang merged his changes WRF modeling system. This effort was funded by NASA’s HS3 and to the methane emissions and chemistry module in Fortuna MAP programs. A summary paper on the investigation of the role with the Heracles model. He had to verify the correctness of of dust on Saharan Air Layer and its structure using NU-WRF and the calculations of methane and carbon monoxide mixing ratios the data collected from ground, airplane, and satellite is ready for that take advantage of the new feature of conservation of dry submission to a peer-reviewed journal. air mass. Plus, the very latest Heracles version differs from the previous one in allowing for greater flexibility in specifying the Dr. Tao led the effort to couple the CASA CO2 flux with NU-WRF emissions and providing general ease of adding new inputs. to study the CO2 transport with a high-resolution model. He Finally, Dr. Wang has begun running the simulation at a higher conducted a 3-year simulation (2010-2012) that covered both spatial resolution, and on a “cubed-sphere” grid rather than a normal and drought conditions over the North America. He latitude-longitude grid. Tests demonstrated that the new versions collected the observational CO2 data from station and tower provide expected results. Dr. Wang has also identified likely measurements and compared them to the modeling results, causes of differences in the simulated methane between the which showed that CASA_NU-WRF is capable of faithfully Heracles and Fortuna models. capturing the spatial and temporal variations in CO2. In December, Dr. Wang attended the Permafrost Carbon Network As PI, Dr. Tao led a proposal on improving the chemical lateral annual meeting that was held the day before the start of the boundary conditions for the National Air Quality Forecasting AGU Fall Meeting. He listened to the presentations and had Capability. The research team is compiled of scientists from discussions with potential research collaborators. USRA, UMBC, NASA, UMD, and NOAA; this proposal was selected for funding by NOAA. As Co-I, Dr. Tao will be working on the Dr. Wang was involved with various proposals, which were NASA-funded proposal titled “Analysis of teh representation of not selected for funding. He was PI on a NASA MAP proposal the vertical structure of the Saharan Air Layer over northern that would have extended his current MAP-funded methane Africa and the eastern Atlantic using MERRA-2 and NU-WRF”. research. As a Co-I, Dr. Wang contributed to a proposal titled Dr. Tao was a co-author on a 2017 paper titled “Development of “Climate Variability and Amazon Drought: Implications for high-resolution dynamic dust source function - A case study with Methane Emissions from Wetlands and Biomass Burning” (PI: a strong dust storm in a regional model” that was published in Sarah Strode (GESTAR)). He also was a Co-I on a NASA IDS Atmospheric Environment. proposal titled “Advancing an Observing Strategy for Methane: Constraining Methane Sources and Sinks in the NASA GEOS-5 Dr. Tao will wrap up several projects currently funded by NASA’s Earth System Model” (PI: Bryan Duncan (GSFC)). MAP, ACMAP, and HS3 programs. Papers summarizing the findings from the aforementioned studies are expected to be Looking ahead, Dr. Wang will continue to evaluate a submitted to peer-reviewed journals. Work will begin on the parameterization for wetland methane emissions using surface newly funded NASA’s MAP project analyzing the vertical structure and satellite observations of atmospheric CH4. He will extend of Saharan Air Layer over the northern Africa and the eastern the wetland emission calculations and atmospheric simulations Atlantic. into the future (projections). He will also provide guidance to the modeling group in updating the 17-year-old chemical In his study of simulating atmospheric methane, Dr. James parameterization for atmospheric hydroxyl concentrations. Wang (sponsor: B. Duncan) he uses the computationally-efficient Finally, he will train a fellow GESTAR scientist in using the GEOS- methane-CO-OH option of the GEOS-5 atmospheric general 5 climate model, and the methane-carbon monoxide-hydroxyl circulation model (AGCM) and wetland emission parameterization simulation in particular. He also will continue to collaborate to simulate atmospheric methane from 1980-2050. This year, Dr. with colleague Dr. Sarah Strode on simulations of atmospheric Wang migrated from the “Fortuna” to several newer “Heracles” methane (CH4) concentrations and isotopic composition using

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 73 the GEOS-5 model. They will run multi-decadal simulations with flux estimates using NASA’s GEOS-Carb modeling system”, whose two sets of wetland CH4 emissions estimated by two different first author was Lesley Ott (GSFC). The Global Environmental wetland models, and will evaluate results against measurements Change session was titled “Carbon Monitoring Systems Research of atmospheric CH4 and isotopic composition. They plan to and Applications”. He also helped to staff the USRA booth in the prepare a manuscript on this work. exhibition hall at this conference.

Dr. James Wang (sponsor: S. R. Kawa) works on another task In the year ahead, as part of work funded by a NASA MAP grant studying the transport of carbon dioxide. Dr. Wang has completed (PI: S. Randolph Kawa), Dr. Wang will continue working to couple a couple drafts of an important paper titled “A Synthesis the STILT backwards-run Lagrangian transport model with Inversion Analysis of Recent Variability in Natural CO2 Fluxes meteorology from the high resolution NU-WRF regional model. Using GOSAT and In Situ Observations” that he will be submitting He will continue to conduct STILT simulations in a test year for for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. His primary co-authors each of various ground-based CO2 observation sites in North are S. Randolph Kawa (Code 614) and G. James Collatz (Code America. He will then analyze the resulting surface “footprints” 618). Dr. Wang used a unique inverse modeling approach of the observations, and possibly compare them with the to optimally estimate CO2 emissions and uptake around the footprints derived using a lower-resolution global meteorological world using the satellite and ground-based observations of data set. He will continue to participate in the larger group atmospheric CO2 together with an atmospheric transport model; effort of evaluating multi-year CO2 simulations carried out with results were evaluated against independent data including the NU-WRF model against ground-based, aircraft, and satellite aircraft observations. The results indicate a significant terrestrial observations. This group will be writing a paper reporting the sink for carbon, especially at higher latitudes of the Northern model development and evaluation. Hemisphere, that appears to have been smaller in 2010 than in 2009 because of extensive heat waves and drought in 2010. In other activities, Dr. Wang will continue work outlined in a Dr. Wang has received comments on the paper from external funded NASA Carbon Monitoring System proposal, on which collaborators, including scientists at NOAA Earth System he is a Co-I. This work extends his current global CO2 inverse Research Laboratory and Colorado State University. After modeling analyses. He will begin using a more sophisticated writing some additional analysis results and addressing other inversion technique, and then compare results with those using comments, he plans to submit the paper. a more computationally expensive and exact technique that he has written up in a manuscript that is about to be submitted Dr. Wang coupled the STILT Lagrangian atmospheric transport for publication. He also plans to begin incorporating recently model to the NASA Unified Weather Research and Forecasting released OCO-2 satellite CO2 measurements in the analysis. He (NU-WRF) model and was able to run the resulting model to plans to present results from this work at the 10th International completion. This effort required bringing in the STILT model from Carbon Dioxide Conference in August. outside of NASA and processing the meteorological output from the in-house NU-WRF model to get it in the proper format for use Dr. Jerald Ziemke (sponsor: P. Newman) develops long-record as input to STILT. Dr. Wang visualized the results of the coupled (1979-current) tropospheric and stratospheric ozone products model and verified that they were reasonable. The ultimate by combining measurements from TOMS and OMI v9; derives goal of this work is to generate transport functions for use in OMI/MLS tropospheric ozone using TOMS/OMI v9 retrievals; CO2 flux inversions, taking advantage of the high-resolution develops a continuous tropospheric ozone product from OMPS meteorological fields provided by NU-WRF. Dr. Wang’s work is part nadir mapper and limb profiler and a tropospheric ozone product of a NASA MAP program-funded project led by PI Randy Kawa of from the new EPIC measurements on the DSCOVR spacecraft; NASA GSFC. and produces a new tropospheric ozone product from combining measurements from the NPP OMPS nadir mapper and limb In December, Dr. Wang gave a poster presentation at the AGU profiler and MERRA-2. From his research activities this past Fall Meeting titled “An Inversion Analysis of Recent Variability in year, Dr. Ziemke was a lead author on three manuscripts, one CO2 Fluxes Using GOSAT and In Situ Observations” as part of the published in State of the Climate in 2016 Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Atmospheric Science session “Remote Sensing of CH4 and CO2 Soc., one in press with BAMS, and one in review with AMT. He from Space: Moving toward an Observing System”. He was a co- also co-authored four published articles and was a contributor author on a poster, “Reconciling bottom-up and top-down carbon to chapters in the Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report

74 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 (Contributions to Chapters 2, 6, and 7) on tropospheric ozone (in depth measurements). Both remote sensing and in-situ data will review). Dr. Ziemke also participated as PI and Collaborator in be archived and publicly distributed by the National Snow and Ice four proposals (none selected for funding). Data Center (NSID C). For this mission, Dr. Brucker established a budget estimate, collected and organized information from the In the coming year, Dr. Ziemke will continue with producing ozone seasonal snow on land community, obtained a consensus from data products, attending meetings, writing proposals, publishing the community on the instrumentation needed, designed a local science papers, and contributing to national/international scale observation site, and contributed to designing the in-situ reports. activities. In October, following a training day at NASA Wallops Flight Facility to learn how to install instruments for characterizing liquid and solid precipitations (used by GPM Ground Validation), Dr. Brucker installed instruments in Colorado. He worked on CODE 615: CRYOSPHERIC campaign planning and execution in close partnership with SCIENCES LABORATORY colleagues from multiple institutions (U.S. Forest Service, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, and Boise State Dr. Ludovic Brucker (sponsor: S. Nowicki) conducts research to University). advance and validate satellite-derived properties of snow and ice on Earth using surface-, air-, and space-based microwave For his work on snow remote sensing, Dr. Brucker became a sensors. His work over the past year has resulted in eight journal member of the new NASA GSFC Snow Science Task Group. The publications and more than a dozen presentations. He co- objective is to unite the separate GESTAR/USRA and GSFC 610 authored three publications on remote sensing of snow on land, snow scientists in interdisciplinary discussions to explore joint which were all published in Remote Sensing of Environment. The methods for improving our understanding of both surface snow first one carried out a thorough assessment of the snow water and falling snow via measurements (satellite, aircraft, ground, equivalent from the GlobSnow-2 database over an eco-climatic and field campaigns), algorithms, and models at micro to global latitudinal gradient in Eastern Canada; the second one compared scales. Further, he contributed to the Snow Thickness on Sea several commonly-used microwave radiative transfer models Ice Working Group (STOSIWG), whose objective is to advance for snow remote sensing; and, the third developed how passive activities aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of snow microwave radiation measured from satellite is impacted by the thickness on sea ice retrievals and measurements via strategic occurrence of rain-on-snow events and ice layer formation. collaborations. Along with Alvaro Ivanoff (GSFC), he submitted a product of snow thickness on sea ice from NASA’s Operation For NASA’s SnowEx mission in Colorado, Dr. Brucker led all IceBridge radar measurements. A presentation assessing ground-based remote sensing activities and managed the Local IceBridge snow depth retrievals over Arctic sea ice using Scale Observation Site (LSOS). SnowEx, which combines airborne estimates from multiple sources was given by Dr. Kwok (JPL) and field campaigns, has an overarching goal of estimating how during the North American CryoSat-2 workshop in Banff, Canada. much water is stored in Earth’s terrestrial snow-covered regions. This effort will lead to several publications. To that end, two fundamental questions drive the mission objectives: (a) What is the distribution of snow-water equivalent Dr. Brucker contributed to three publications on the Greenland (SWE), and the snow energy balance, among different canopy firn aquifer. In summer time, snow melts and gravity leads and topographic situations?; and (b) What is the sensitivity and meltwater downward into the firn. In Southeast Greenland, high accuracy of different SWE sensing techniques among these winter snow accumulation helps retain much of the meltwater in different areas? In-situ, ground-based and airborne remote firn aquifers. The volume of water stored by the aquifer varies in sensing observations were collected during winter 2016 – time and space, which was investigated during the past year to 2017 in Colorado to provide the scientific community with data determine the physical processes at play and future contributions needed to work on these key questions. An intensive period of to sea level. observations occurred in February 2017 during which over 30 remote sensing instruments were used. Their observations were For his involvement in studying contemporary changes in the coordinated with in-situ measurements from snowpits (e.g., Arctic and as part of the funded Interdisciplinary Science project profiles of stratigraphy, density, grain size and type, specific “Feedbacks, Processes and Impacts of Contemporary Changes surface area, temperature) and along transects (mainly for snow in the Arctic”, Dr. Brucker co-authored two publications. The first

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 75 analyzed the conditions in the Earth system that may explain why TC, Dr. de Matthaeis presented the work of FARS-TC on the the winter 2016-2017 was surprisingly warm in the Arctic, and development of RFI observations database at the 36th annual the second addressed improving sea ice fraction characterization meeting of the Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG-36) for L-band observations from the Aquarius or SMAP radiometers. in Mainz, Germany. In May, he was invited to give a 30-minute presentation on this second topic at the joint Canadian Meteorological and Finally, he took part in organizing the RFI 2016 workshop held Oceanographic Society and Canadian Geophysical Union in October 2016 in Socorro, NM as general technical chair for meeting in Fredericton, NB, Canada. Also, he was invited by the remote sensing, where he gave a presentation titled “L-Band International Space Studies Institute to join a new working group RFI in Japan” authored by Y. Soldo, himself, and D. Le Vine. on remote sensing of sea ice; he participated in the first meeting Additionally, he co-authored a journal article titled “L-Band RFI in Bern, Switzerland where he gave a presentation. Detected by SMOS and Aquarius” that was published in the IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing. Going forward, Dr. Brucker will wrap up the SnowEx 2017 activities. To that end, he will remove all instruments from Going forward, he plans to explore the potential of combining the local scale observation site, evaluate the quality of some SMAP data with measurements from other sensors to improve observations, and publish overview papers of the campaign. He sea ice monitoring capabilities. also will continue to focus his activities on remote sensing of the cryosphere and conduct research to develop, assess, and Dr. Yan Soldo (sponsor: D. Le Vine) supports the Aquarius/SAC-D interpret remote sensing products for studying the cryosphere. and the SMAP missions to map ocean salinity and soil moisture worldwide. He works toward improving the quality of salinity Dr. Paolo de Matthaeis (sponsor: D. Le Vine) supports the retrievals from raw satellite data. From his research this past Aquarius/SAC-D mission, whose goal is to provide global sea year, he has published a paper in TGRS and another in RSE. He surface salinity maps from space for study of large-scale ocean also authored or co-authored four proceedings papers. Many processes and climate change. The Aquarius science instruments of his results were presented by him or other Aquarius/SMAP include an L-band radiometer, whose received signal is sensitive team members at several conferences (IGARSS, AGU, Cal/Val to salinity, and a radar scatterometer that helps correct for the meetings, RFI 2016, etc.). effect of the sea surface roughness. Even though Aquarius has ceased operations in June 2015, calibration/validation (CAL/ For his work with Aquarius, he discovered an issue with the VAL) activities are still taking place to deliver a final version of the clocking angle by identifying a misalignment of the Aquarius data products. antennas. The correction was about 0.5 degrees, i.e. ~10% of the polarization rotation at Aquarius’ frequency. Also, Dr. Soldo Dr. de Matthaeis is working on the improvements for the has developed a new model for the land emissivity, which final version of Aquarius data. He generated updated maps has been implemented operationally in the latest versions of of Aquarius radiometer and scatterometer Radio Frequency Aquarius data. Further, he identified RFI signals that were not Interference (RFI) for the Aquarius website, available at two being detected by the RFI algorithm used in Aquarius. After he links: http://aquarius.umaine.edu/cgi/gal_radiometer.htm characterized the undetected signals, he was able to devise and http://aquarius.umaine.edu/cgi/gal_scatterometer.htm. an approach to detect them. This new approach has been In January 2017, he presented the results of his estimation implemented in the operational processing of Aquarius data. of Aquarius radiometer RFI statistics and missed detection at the Aquarius Calibration/Validation meeting in Santa Rosa, CA. Dr. Soldo has developed an approach to use SMAP data to He also attended the 2016 IEEE International Geoscience and localize RFI sources on the ground. This approach has been used Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS 2016) in Beijing, China, by the NASA Spectrum Management Office to report the location where he organized an invited session on RFI, co-chaired the of RFI sources in China and in Japan. Following NASA’s report, annual meeting of the Frequency Allocations in Remote Sensing many of these RFI sources have been switched off. Technical Committee (FARS-TC) and presented his progress on the work on RFI detection and mitigation for Aquarius in a In the coming year, Dr. Soldo will work on setting up the presentation titled “Analysis of RFI Statistics For Aquarius RFI automatic production of monthly maps of RFI locations affecting Detection And Mitigation Improvements”. As co-chair of FARS- SMAP measurements, and will produce figures for the Aquarius

76 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 webpage showing the effect of his modifications to the Aquarius During the last four cruises, CDOM samples were collected in RFI algorithm. the mangroves, and Dr. Andrew is currently preparing to (and will continue to) perform additional analyses, including Black Carbon Analysis (Solid Phase extraction, Microwave Digestion and HPLC) and Lignin Analysis (Microwave Digestion and GC- CODE 616: OCEAN ECOLOGY LABORATORY MS). All materials, standards and re-agents have been procured and software has been upgraded. A literature review to update Dr. Andrea Andrew (sponsor: C. Del Castillo) works on protocols is in progress. Additionally, Dr. Andrew attended capturing colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) dynamics a workshop focused on sample preparation for microwave in the mangrove forest of Southwest Florida coastline, via the digestion. She completed an Introductory Matlab course at the analysis of absorption and fluorescence measurements as University of Maryland in order to improve her data analysis skills well as other parameters including salinity, tidal patterns and and become more efficient in managing large data sets, and also location. Over the past year, Dr. Andrew successfully developed participated in several Matlab webinars. an irradiation set up and protocol after testing at least four different experimental configurations. Upon irradiation of CDOM, Future plans include completing the analysis of optical data for linear absorbance loss has been observed with irradiance all remaining CDOM samples, and incorporating this data set exposure / time; however, areas of concern remain regarding the into previous data from earlier field work, and produce a related measurement of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) produced post- manuscript on the distribution and dynamics of CDOM in the irradiation. The solar simulator has been fitted with a sample Everglades. Dr. Andrew will perform troubleshooting activities to holder (made with a Styrofoam box and wooden skewers). resolve the issue with DIC measurements, which may be a result This set up accommodates six custom made 10cm cylindrical of DIC loss or the inability to measure small production over a cuvettes (thicker windows) in a vertical position, allowing for large background. Also, she plans to perform complete irradiation irradiation of CDOM samples. The probe to hold the fiber optic experiments, to confirm that there aren’t other issues to resolve cable securely and firmly inside the solar simulator was modified within the protocol, and thus obtain DIC production rates for at and the fiber optic cable was changed, which resulted in lower least one set of CDOM samples. standard deviations (< 2%) among irradiance measurements. The complete irradiation protocol has been performed several Dr. Ivona Cetinic (sponsor: J. Werdell) supports the Ocean times, and results have been shown to be reproducible and Ecology Laboratory with processing and distributing satellite absorbance losses greater that 50% have been observed with ocean data records and conducting related oceanographic over 10-15 hours of irradiation. While absorbance loss increased research. Her work on the SeaBASS database has continued, and with irradiation time, DIC measurements do not show the same she has contributed to PACE-associated science trade studies trend. DIC values were constant despite increases in absorbance and communication efforts. She continued her work on SABOR, loss with irradiation exposure. Efforts are underway to identify and co-hosted a method development workshop at NASA GSFC. and resolve issues regarding the DIC measurements, including Dr. Cetinic delivered many oral presentations and participated the use of a syringe pump for gas-tight transfer of the irradiated in a NASA hyperwall presentation, and she presented posters at sample to CO2 Coulometer and the use of butyl rubber/PTFE two conferences. She was first author on one paper, and she co- septa to reduce sample loss at the injection site. authored seven others. Along with her colleagues, she finalized the implementation plan for the EXPORTS (EXport Processes in Two field campaigns to collect CDOM samples in the mangroves the Ocean from RemoTe Sensing) campaign. During the past year, of the Everglades in Florida occurred in Oct 2016 and March Dr. Cetinic became the chair of the Ocean Optics conference. 2017, with over 80 samples collected. Dr. Andrew organized supplies, instruments and logistics for these field campaigns, Dr. Cetinic prepared for and led a month-long field study titled and a graduate student and post-doctoral student were trained “Sea to Space Particle investigation”; she was the lead on the to use all instruments and to perform sample collection and proposal funded by Schmidt Ocean Institute that resulted in this storage. Measurements of absorbance, DOC and fluorescence campaign. The team collected a suite of optical biogeochemical are being completed and analyzed for these samples. and physical measurements along a Hawaii-to-Pacific Northwest transect. The oceanic pool of particles is diverse and contains living organisms (such as phytoplankton and bacteria), organic

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 77 Image of various phytoplankton obtained from the Sea to Space Particle Investigation, Jan-Feb 2017. Credit: I. Cetinic. and inorganic detritus, microplastics and other debris. In the coefficient of chromophoric dissolved organic matter at 412 open ocean, phytoplankton dominate the particle pool and are nm (a_CDOM(412)) and remote sensing reflectances (Rrs) responsible for majority of ocean color signals. Data collected over the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI)’s footprint during this experiment will be used to validate current and region (Yellow Sea) in order to find matchups for GOCI. This future ocean color algorithms targeting phytoplankton diversity work helped to validate ocean biogeochemical products. NASA’s and its role in oceanic carbon cycle and marine ecosystems, atmospheric correction algorithm that is included in the SeaDAS/ ensuring better understanding and management of Earth’s l2gen package was applied to GOCI data and compared to living marine resources (such as fisheries and harmful algal in-situ observations from the AErosol RObotic NETwork-Ocean blooms) and the role that the ocean plays in supporting life on Color (AERONET-OC). Different statistical parameters were used this planet. Presently Dr. Cetinic is working on data processing to evaluate the atmospheric correction performance, such as and dissemination. She also gave several webinars and seminars the Mean of the absolute percentage difference (MAPD), the as part of this field campaign. This campaign was highlighted room mean squared error (RMSE), among others. In general, in a feature on the NASA Goddard website: https://www.nasa. good agreement was found between in situ data and the gov/feature/goddard/2017/taking-stock-of-phytoplankton- satellite-derived values. Subsequently, Level 1 GOCI data were populations-in-the-pacific. processed to Level 2 in order to analyze the diurnal variability of absorption coefficient of chromophoric dissolved organic Dr. Javier Concha (sponsor: A. Mannino) works toward matter (a_CDOM) using the l2gen processing tool, specifically understanding marine biogeochemistry and ecosystem the algorithm developed by Mannino et al. 2014 based on dynamics, including short-term temporal variability on regional multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis. To accomplish this, and global scales. His research emphasizes the marine carbon the atmospheric correction algorithm in l2gen was applied to cycle and the interactions and feedbacks between biological, GOCI for the complete mission in order to analyze uncertainties chemical, and physical processes, and works with results from associated with the atmospheric correction over a low productive model datasets and satellite data products from a geostationary region. The assumption is that the variability in the study area is orbit, such as the Korean GOCI sensor and Landsat 8 OLI. Dr. mostly caused by the atmospheric correction and geometry and Concha organized field observation datasets including absorption not by changes in the water composition. The analysis over the

78 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 complete GOCI mission was improved by adding a better filtering such as the Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO), criterion in order to assure the quality of the data. Finally, remote Airborne Visible / Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS), and sensing reflectances were compared with the MODIS Aqua and for the future PACE mission. Dr. Ibrahim has been actively Suomi NPP VIIRS sensors. Dr. Concha is preparing a manuscript participating in the sensor design and requirements tradeoff about GOCI temporal analysis for submission to a scientific studies for the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) onboard the journal. Additionally, he will present his research on GOCI data at planned PACE mission. The studies include performing extensive the 2017 International Ocean Color Science meeting in Lisbon, Radiative Transfer simulations, processing hyperspectral airborne Portugal. sensors, and defining scientific and engineering requirements for the success of the PACE mission. He also provided support to Dr. Concha organized data from the AERONET-OC dataset and AVIRIS-OCI proxy data by improving the atmospheric correction from in-situ data submitted to SeaBASS in order to validate algorithms for hyperspectral processing. He worked with a Landsat 8’ Rrs from SeaDAS/l2gen. Other observations include team to supply the scientific community a PACE proxy dataset the absorption coefficient of chromophoric dissolved organic based on the AVIRIS instrument for algorithm developments for matter (a_CDOM) and chlorophyll-a concentrations. Several the PACE mission. Additionally, a new atmospheric correction atmospheric correction schemes were used to compare algorithm called “spectral matching optimization” was developed with in-situ data; e.g., the band combination for the aerosol for operational processing of various airborne and spaceborne selection was NIR-SWIR2, SWIR1-SWIR2, and the correction sensors including MODISA, VIIRS, HICO, and AVIRIS. The was studied with and without iterative NIR correction. The algorithm shows a potential improvement over operational algorithm performance was evaluated using different statistical standard algorithms currently used. parameters, such as the RMSE, the slope of the regression line and the R^2 value. Good agreement was found between Within the Ocean Ecology Laboratory, Dr. Ibrahim established the in-situ data and satellite-derived data. In the coming an extensive work-study group that he co-leads in order to better months, the Landsat 8 Ocean Color data along with in-situ understand, document, and develop machine learning algorithms observations will be used to validate the retrieval algorithms for for remote sensing applications. The group meets regularly, absorption of chromophoric dissolved organic matter at 412 nm several times per month. The discussion and documentation (a_CDOM(412)) and remote-sensing reflectance (Rrs) from data have been fruitful, showing the potential advancement in acquired over the Arctic region. algorithm developments.

During the past year, Dr. Concha was part of the science team Dr. Bridget Seegers (sponsor: J. Werdell) supports the that participated in the 12-day field campaign Cyanate cruise in Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN) Project, a multi- the coastal waters of the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Bights. agency (EPA, USGS, NOAA, and NASA) effort to demonstrate that He helped to collect optical data, phytoplankton taxonomy satellite data can be used to identify and monitor cyanobacteria data and biogeochemical samples (POC, DOC, CDOM, filter blooms in U.S. inland lakes and water bodies. During the past pad particle absorption, phytoplankton pigments) that will be year, Dr. Seegers traveled to the EPA in North Carolina twice analyzed in the laboratory and used for protocol development to work with EPA, USGS, and NOAA collaborators on the CyAN and validation of satellite data. He also participated in a project. The multi-day meeting focused on the CyAN project field campaign in the mangroves of the Everglades National direction and future manuscripts. She also spent time at NOAA Park in Florida in collaboration with the University of Hawaii. discussing more robust statistical approaches to algorithm Water samples were collected to obtain absorption of CDOM, assessment and outlining the supporting related manuscript. particulate absorption and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). She was a Co-Investigator on the submitted CyAN proposal to fund Years 4-5. Dr. Amir Ibrahim (sponsor: B. Franz) supports NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission and its Science Dr. Seegers has familiarized herself with SeaDAS which is Team activities to develop and evaluate atmospheric correction software for the processing, display, and analysis of ocean methods for the derivation of ocean color from a hyperspectral color data. She has successfully processed data and produced radiometer and combined multi-angle polarimeter. He plans to images and will continue to develop these skills. She coordinated improve hyperspectral atmospheric correction capabilities of the and guided content development of two SeaDAS trainings for Level 1 to Level 2 processing code of space-borne radiometers, the CyAN project. SeaDAS is a comprehensive NASA software

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 79 package with a focus on ocean color data, although it can be vibrant international GEO initiative. After the decision to make used for many satellite-based earth science data analyses. GEOGLOWS international, Mr. Lawford updated the background The first training was for the CyAN Science Team; the second GEOGLOWS document to make it relevant for the international training was for CyAN stakeholders including water managers community. He led the development of a GEOGLOWS initiative and other agencies. In late October, she presented a poster at proposal, which was accepted by the GEO program committee, the International Ocean Optics Conference XXIII in Victoria, BC, and he provided an initial set of deliverables and milestones for Canada, which led to discussions and the possibility of future the 2017-2019 GEO Work Plan including input from NASA PIs. collaborations. To organize the inaugural GEOGLOWS meeting at the National Water Centre in Tuscaloosa, AL, Mr. Lawford worked with NOAA Upcoming plans include co-chairing a session on Multi-water and NASA. At the inaugural meeting the new Steering Committee algorithms and performance assessment at the International and Working Group structure will be unveiled. Mr. Lawford Ocean Color Science (IOCS) meeting in May 2017 in Lisbon, also organized a Town Hall at the 2016 AGU Fall meeting and Portugal. Also, along with the CyAN Project Team, she will release a Side Session at the GEO Plenary in St. Petersburg, Russia. the full continental U.S. 10 years MERIS time-series of estimated He gave several GEOGLOWS talks and contributed to other cyanobacteria blooms and concentrations in lakes, rivers, and talks and a conference paper prepared for the World Water reservoirs. She also will contribute to and/or lead manuscript Congress in Cancun, Mexico. He also worked with colleagues drafts related to the performance of remote sensing ocean color from the Universities of Minnesota and North Dakota to lead the algorithms and the CyAN Index algorithm. development of a proposal for a joint GEOGLOWS/NextGEOSS information system for WEF Nexus activities in the Basin of the Red River of the North.

CODE 617: HYDROLOGICAL As chair of the Integrated Global Water Cycle Observations SCIENCES LABORATORY (IGWCO) Community of Practice (CoP), Mr. Lawford coordinates a large community of international water experts to exchange Mr. Richard Lawford (sponsor: J. Santanello) is involved with information and collaborate on GEO-related work in water developing and coordinating water resource applications and resources. This past year, he organized, chaired and documented water cycle activities within the Group on Earth Observations several IGWCO CoP teleconference calls dealing with new (GEO) and in the wider science community, a broad-based GEO developments, actions on the GEOSS Water Strategy, activity spans the globe. This past year, the GEO Global Water the GEOGLOWS business and IGWCO annual meeting and the Sustainability (GEOGLOWS) Initiative emerged as the main CEOS Water Strategy Implementation Study Team (WSIST). He mechanism for achieving this goal. Mr. Lawford assists in also organized the 12th annual IGWCO CoP meeting, with help developing the GEOGLOWS initiative by preparing and developing from the Federal Institute of Hydrology staff; Mr. Lawford gave various documents and proposals, as well as enhancing several overviews and updates, developed a list of decisions and communication efforts to publicize efforts and results. Among subsequently prepared minutes of the meeting. This meeting other responsibilities, he is tasked with developing the theme of was held in Koblenz in June together with the Aquawatch initial Earth Observations linkages to the Water-Energy-Food (W-E-F) meeting. He further supported the CEOS WSIST with evaluating Nexus as part of a Future Earth W-E-F cluster project, which the feasibility of a “Water Train” or constellation of water will involve organizing, chairing and participating in regional satellites the potential synergies of water missions. Initially, workshops and completing workshop reports. Also, he will precipitation and soil moisture were assessed in order to develop support efforts and initiatives that strengthen GEOGLOWS in a multivariate methodology which could then be applied to areas related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), evapotranspiration, river discharge/surface water storage, and water assessments, risk-based drought monitoring, international groundwater. Mr. Lawford developed a matrix to help analyze capacity building, and promotion of NASA support for general and visualize these synergies and provided extensive input to water issues. the Feasibility Study report and to regular presentations at CEOS meetings. The report was approved by the October 2017 CEOS The GEOGLOWS strategy is a broad coordination framework Plenary meeting. being developed for water activities related to GEO. The focus of efforts for 2016-2017 was to turn GEOGLOWS into a

80 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Working closely with the GEO Secretariat and Activity leads, Mr. made. Work is underway to prepare a special journal edition of Lawford helped to identify which GEO Water Community Activities the W-E-F Nexus in the Mekong Basin. As a result of this W-E-F should become part of GEOGLOWS. He also worked with Dr. Nexus Cluster project, more people have seen and understand Charles Vorosmarty (CUNY) to develop a plan and descriptive the value of the W-E-F Nexus approach for resource management text for a new community activity on Earth Observations and the and sustainability. W-E-F Nexus and water assessments. He also contributed to and collaborated on two GEO-related proposals for the ROSES GEO Other work involved monitoring Sustainable Development Goals call: one proposal addressed mapping the landscape of data (SDGs) including Sustainable Water Futures, SDG Indicators and users in the water sector, and the other proposed to develop Drought Risk. In total, 17 SDGs have been approved, including indicators for an operational system assessing water resources one that is totally devoted to water (SDG6). Earth Observations in countries around the world. Overall, the IGWCO CoP continued play a role in the monitoring assessment processes but nations to develop linkages between data providers and water science and organizations need help in using them. Mr. Lawford programs, successfully streamlined GEO water community participated in the SWFP Water Assessment workshop held in activities being incorporated into GEOGLOWS. March 2017 and provided input on products and services that could contribute to the UN high-level panel undertaking a study In other efforts, the Future Earth W-E-F Nexus Sustainability of ways to monitor SDG6 (Water). He also participated in the cluster project is developing a research plan for using integrated GEO Stakeholders workshop on SDGs held at the University of information systems (and Earth observations) and improved Berkeley in December 2016, which featured discussions on governance to strengthen W-E-F Nexus sustainability. This past the indicators that were proposed for the SDGs as well as ways year, the final regional workshop was held and reports from the to use Earth Observations for assisting adaptive management second, third and fourth workshops were completed. The report in support of sustainable development. Mr. Lawford gave two from the second Future Earth WEF workshop held in November presentations, one on the background to the data needs in 2015 and titled “Assessment of the state of knowledge related achieving the Water SDG and another on W-E-F Nexus studies to science, integrated observations, and governance in the and their contributions to the Food, Water and Energy SDGs. W-E-F Nexus” was completed and distributed. The report Additionally, he participated in the UN High Level Water Panel from the third workshop, held in April 2016, was published in meeting held in Budapest, Hungary in November 2016 and he December 2016 under the title “Governance transformation contributed to a UN/World Bank workshop on data monitoring. and integrated information for the W-E-F Nexus.” Mr. Lawford assisted in organizing the fourth (and final) regional workshop In July 2016, Mr. Lawford participated in a Sustainable Water held in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa in November 2016, and Future Programme (SWFP) planning meeting held in Koszeg, followed by a two-day Science Policy Dialogue in Johannesburg. Hungary and he agreed to serve as the chair of the SWFP Data This workshop focused on the links between the WEF Nexus Committee. He developed terms of reference for the committee and the SDGs in terms of both monitoring and governance. and members are joining the committee, which is in the process He presented several overview and summary talks and gave a of establishing a pilot project with the SWFP Working Group summary of the draft discussion paper entitled “Contributions on the Water SDG. He gave a seminar on SWFP and held of W-E-F Nexus studies to challenges of the SDGs.” The report discussions with WMO and GEO staff in Geneva. He organized a for the fourth WEF workshop was edited by Mr. Lawford with workshop to assess the potential to develop a Canadian prairie assistance from the University of Kawazulu-Natal and has been node for the SWFP. After a two-day workshop in Saskatoon, circulated to participants. The completion of these regional Saskatchewan in May 2016 and the approved continuation of workshops marks the end of information gathering; a preliminary the Global Institute for Water Security, an MOU for a Canadian draft for the final synthesis report is being drafted. Further, Mr. node between the University of Saskatchewan/Global Water Lawford promoted the WEF topic by presenting it at the AGU Sustainability Institute and the SWFP was signed. In response to Fall Meeting 2016. Additionally, he and Charles Vorosmarty an invitation from the Oxford University Press, Mr. Lawford and (CCNY) organized a SWFP workshop on World Water and WEF Dr. Unninayar prepared a manuscript on the global water cycle as Assessments in January 2017 in College Park, MD. The meeting a science framework; this paper was published in April 2017 by identified a core group of data providers who could contribute to the Oxford University Press Encyclopedia. the water assessment activity, and preliminary arrangements for collaborations for the WEF pilot project in the Mekong Basin were

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 81 In May 2017, Mr. Lawford participated in two submissions for to the JPSS 1 Mission Operation Support Team (MOST). proposals for scientific sessions to the AGU fall meeting and These PLT documents included an alternate lunar mitigation contributed to a special session at World Water Week. He and algorithm, nadir stare to determine geolocation, environmental others also organized sessions at the 2016 AGU Fall meeting on characterization, noise characterization (dG/G) and radiometric remote sensing applications for water resources management sensitivity. Additionally, on a monthly basis, he performed ATMS which he assisted in chairing and organizing the poster session. monthly sensor performance trending reports. He would request, download and process ATMS RDR, dwell and diagnostic daily In the next year, work will continue on all of the aforementioned data, and generate these reports, which were sent to the JPSS activities, supporting the development of GEOGLOWS and related ATMS instrument manager and to Dr. Lyu’s sponsor. USGEO and international water activities, continuing to represent NASA interests to GEO through the review of input, coordinating Dr. Lyu provided support to several papers, documents and activities to address the recommendations in the GEOSS Water reports. He collaborated with other NASA science team members Strategy, organizing IGWCO CoP activities, and participating in to work on a 2017 IGARSS poster paper and was involved with workshops related to the GEO Water Task and capacity building; reviewing many J1 ATMS Performance Requirement Documents further developing the theme of EO linkages to the W-E-F Nexus (PRDs), Calibration Data Book and Math Model, among other as part of a Future Earth W-E-F cluster project, GEO, GEOGLOWS items. Additionally, during the Satellite-level EMI/EMC testing in and the Sustainable Water Future Programme; anticipating Boulder, NG found serious problems with J1/ATMS; they needed the acceptance of a proposal for a special issue of a journal to de-integrate it from J1 s/c and conduct significant rework with on the W-E-F Nexus; contributing to the development of NASA ATMS. The sensor was shipped to Azusa, CA for troubleshooting. application priorities including initiatives related to the SDGs, Dr. Lyu had to support several Test Anomaly Report (TAR) a risk based approach to monitoring drought for GEOGLOWS, meetings and discussions on performing additional tests before support for the data aspects of the SWFP, and support for shipping ATMS back to Boulder, CO for more satellite level TVAC international Capacity Building activities. He will also finalize a testing prior to the upcoming J1 launch. proposal for a workshop on indicators for SDG goals and targets creating opportunities for applications of Earth observations. In the coming year, he will continue with the above activities, generating ATMS monthly trending reports, supporting JPSS/ Dr. Cheng-Hsuan (Joseph) Lyu (sponsor: E. Kim) supports NPP/ NPP/ATMS calibration and validation activities, and supporting J1 ATMS and VIIRS pre-launch testing and post-launch sensor ATMS 2nd Satellite level TVAC test data analysis and monitoring calibration and validation and algorithm development, as well ATMS sensor performance before J1 launch in September as subsequent JPSS/ATMS sensors testing, characterization 2017. He also will discuss with NG their J1 ATMS short-term and/or algorithm development. This past year, Dr. Lyu supported gain fluctuation algorithm and issues as well as discuss related satellite-level and instrument testing. He analyzed spacecraft documents and reports. (s/c) Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and visited Ball Aerospace and Technologies GEWEX Corporation (BATC), Boulder, CO, to monitor EMI/EMC testing activities in late June 2016. He supported meeting The Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX) Project of the discussions about EMI test results. During EMI testing, issues World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) brings together a were discovered with one of the channels of the Advanced significant component of the world climate community in joint Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), and it was shipped initiatives to advance understanding of coupled hydrologic and back to Northrup Grumman (NG), Azusa, CA, to rework and redo atmospheric processes from regional to global scales and use another instrument level testing around Feb. 2017. Dr. Lyu then observations and models to address the problems of climate supported satellite level testing of another ATMS during April and water resources around the world. Scientists from over 2017. 45 countries participate in major GEWEX projects aimed at quantifying the hydrologic cycle and energy fluxes by means of Before launching Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) 1 to orbit global measurements of atmospheric and surface properties; around September 2017, Dr. Lyu had to compile the J1 ATMS modeling the global water cycle and its role in the climate system; Post-Launch Template (PLT) activation and calibration and developing the ability to predict variations of global and regional characterization test plans/documents, which he submitted hydrologic processes and water resources and their response

82 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 to environmental change; and fostering the development of Among tasks undertaken this past year, the IGPO planned and observational techniques, as well as data management and supported the SSG meeting, which was hosted by the Chinese assimilation systems. GEWEX activities involve understanding Academy of Sciences in February 2017 in Sanya, China. and modeling land-atmosphere coupling and cloud system IGPO activities included coordinating travel grants with WCRP, processes, global data set development, water resource developing the agenda in coordination with the SSG Co-Chairs, applications, and the effective use of Earth Observations in and implementing and maintaining the meeting website, which climate science. contained logistics information, GEWEX Panel status updates, and copies of the presentations. IGPO is preparing the meeting Dr. Robert Schiffer (sponsor: J. Santanello) leads Science and report and action items. For WCRP-related activities and the Technology Corporation (STC) in covering the operation of the WCRP Joint Scientific Committee (JSC), GEWEX is leading two of International GEWEX Project Office (IGPO), and facilitates and the six WCRP Grand Challenges. IGPO is assisting the GEWEX coordinates GEWEX research, activities, and products. IGPO SSG Co-Chairs in designing and outlining activities related to oversees the implementation of recommendations given by these Grand Challenges, as well as working with the GEWEX the GEWEX Scientific Steering Group (SSG) and plays a central Panels in aligning their activities to them. In support of the role in the outreach of GEWEX through its communications GEWEX-led WCRP Grand Challenge on Water Availability (“Water and science conferences and workshops. IGPO provides an Availability for the Food Baskets of the World”), IGPO assisted interface between GEWEX and other WCRP activities, as well the GEWEX Hydroclimatology Panel (GHP) and Global Land/ as other global environmental science programs and the space Atmosphere System Study (GLASS) Panel in organizing the sciences programs. This past year, STC provided directly or workshop entitled “Including Water Management in Large Scale through access to the necessary facilities and staffing the Models” held in Gif-sur-Yvette, France in late September 2016. support required to meet the obligations and responsibilities IGPO is supporting the development of a new CLIVAR/GEWEX JSC of IGPO and its Director, Dr. Peter van Oevelen (sponsor: J. task group on extreme weather and climate, and Dr. van Oevelen Santanello). Examples of this support include but are not limited attended the JSC meeting held in April 2017 in Paris, France. to the following: supported the GEWEX SSG and its Co-Chairs; assisted with the coordination and implementation of the Third For the GEWEX Panels’ annual meetings, IGPO tracks travel Phase of GEWEX (post-2013) through GEWEX Panels, Working grants, sends invitations, assists with logistics and planning, Groups, and the SSG; coordinated the formation of new working and creates meeting websites with registration and venue groups, panels, and related activities in areas of GEWEX requiring information. IGPO hosted the annual GEWEX Data and further support; reported on and assisted others in reporting Assessments Panel (GDAP) at its offices in Washington, D.C., in on GEWEX activities to international bodies and government November 2016 and GHP in Gif-sur-Yvette, France, in October agencies; provided direct support to WCRP on all aspects of 2016. Prior to the GHP meeting, IGPO assisted with arranging GEWEX and its implementation; facilitated the development for a workshop titled “Including Water Management in Large of cross-cutting issues and the linkages of GEWEX with other Scale Models”. In support of a new GHP Regional Hydroclimate programs such as Future Earth and the Intergovernmental Panel Project (RHP) in the Tibetan Plateau, IGPO’s Director attended on Climate Change (IPCC); reviewed plans from WCRP and other the International Workshop on Land Surface Multi-spheres environmental programs, provided inputs to planning documents Processes of the Tibetan Plateau in August 2016 in Xining, for WCRP and other programs, and responded to numerous China. IGPO is investigating the possibilities for an RHP in this requests for information about the GEWEX program and data region as well as an RHP located in the Andes-Amazon region. sets; and represented WCRP in the International Global Water IGPO is coordinating the development of a North American RHP Cycle Observations Community of Practice (IGWCO-COP) theme in cooperation with U.S. agencies, and is assisting the Global and Science Advisory Group through the provision of secretariat Atmospheric System Studies (GASS) Panel in its reorganization services and contributions to the Group on Earth Observations and plans for a Pan-GASS Meeting in 2017. IGPO developed a (GEO), where appropriate. (Note: in the coming year, there meeting registration website for the GLASS Panel’s co-sponsored are plans for U.S. GEWEX Project Office and participating U.S. 4th International Symposium on Hydrology delivers Earth System agencies have selected someone for the position of USGCRP Sciences to Society (HESSS4) and also created a website for the Coordinator on Extremes and Water Cycle.) 2017 GLASS Panel Meeting to be held in conjunction with the symposium.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 83 IGPO provides several communication items for GEWEX, Cycle Multi-Mission Observation Strategy (WACMOS) as the Chair including GEWEX News, a quarterly published newsletter with of the Advisory Board. He serves on several boards as well: the a distribution of approximately 2,000. For every issue of the Executive Board of the Science Committee for the IGWCO COP of newsletter, IGPO determines the newsletter content; solicits the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), and provides input to the articles; and collects, edits, and formats these for layout in the Water Cycle Societal Benefit Area under GEO; the Board of the newsletter. All past issues of the newsletters are available on the Helmholz Alliance as a user group representative; and the Board GEWEX website. The 32-page November 2016 issue highlighted of the FP7 Project Earth2Observe Project, for which he attended the extensive results achieved in the past 10 years by the an Advisory Board meeting in Athens, Greece, in March 2017. recently completed Monsoon Asian Hydro-Atmosphere Scientific Research and Prediction Initiative (MAHASRI), an RHP of the IGPO staff supported or attended the following meetings in the GHP. Also, IGPO periodically distributes an electronic newsletter past year: in May 2016, Water Availability Grand Challenge for that includes recent news of interest to the GEWEX community North America Workshop*, USRA, Columbia, MD; 6th Third Pole that is time sensitive, including calls for papers and research Environment Workshop*, Columbus, OH; in June 2016, 2nd and position announcements. Additionally, IGPO hosts (including PannEx Workshop on the Climate System of the Pannonian domain registration), maintains, and continually updates Basin, Budapest, Hungary; GEWEX Hydro-Climate Sensitivity the GEWEX website (http://www.gewex.org), which provides Workshop*, Exeter, UK; GEWEX-SoilWat Initiative: First Planning recent GEWEX science results, overviews of the structure and Workshop, Leipzig, Germany; in July 2016, 9th International organization of GEWEX and its projects, access to GEWEX reports Cloud Modeling Workshop*, Exeter, UK; in August, International and publications and GEWEX data sets, updates on recent Workshop on Land Surface Multi-spheres Processes of and planned activities, and a calendar of project meetings and Tibetan Plateau and their Environmental and Climate Effects conferences. IGPO has worked closely with the GEWEX Panel and Assessment*, Xining, China; in September, GEWEX Convection- project leaders to include the latest information on the website. Permitting Climate Modeling Conference*, Boulder, CO; 3rd The affiliate GEWEX website, gewexevents.org, was redesigned to Satellite Soil Moisture Validation and Applications Workshop, better host information for meetings and workshops coordinated New York, NY; Workshop on Including Water Management in by IGPO. Large Scale Models*, Gif-sur-Yvette, France; in October, GHP and GLASS Meetings*, Gif-sur-Yvette, France; in December, GDAP IGPO has begun planning the next international GEWEX Meeting*, Washington, DC; AGU Fall Meeting*, San Francisco, Conference, tentatively scheduled for 29 April–4 May, 2018, CA; in January, 97th AMS Annual Meeting Seattle, WA; in in Banff, Canada. IGPO staff visited Banff in April 2017 to February, GEWEX SSG-29 Meeting*, Sanyu, China; in March, review potential venues. IGPO has hosted several planning Earth2Observe Advisory Board Athens, Greece; 3rd PannEx teleconferences with the members of the Program and Local Meeting, Cluj Napoca, Romania; and in April, ACPC Workshop, Organizing committees, and tracks all actions arising from the Bad Honnef, Germany; 38th Session of WCRP JSC*, Paris, discussions. France. (*Staff member made or gave a presentation either oral or poster.) IGPO promotes collaborative activities, and this past year, they encouraged the involvement of young scientists in GEWEX/WCRP Dr. Robert Schiffer (sponsor: J. Santanello) provides technical, activities by inviting the Young Hydrologic Society and the Young administrative and managerial support and assistance to the Earth System Scientists Community to contribute one-half page Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters on energy and in each issue of GEWEX News to advertise their activities. IGPO water cycle-related research as part of the NASA Energy and also is assisting in the planning of cross-collaboration activities Water Study (NEWS) program. The overarching goal of NEWS of GEWEX and the integrated Land Ecosystem-Atmosphere investigations is to integrate Earth Science components to make Processes Study (iLEAPS), the importance of which was decisive progress towards the NEWS challenge. To achieve this highlighted by the signing of a MOU between WCRP and iLEAPS. objective, NEWS investigations integrate and interpret past, current, and future space-based and in-situ observations into In addition to his work with aforementioned activities, Dr. van assimilation and prediction products and models that are Oevelen as the IGPO Director co-chairs the International Soil global in scope. This past year, the NEWS Science Team met at Moisture Working Group, one of the drivers in establishing the Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, MD in April global soil moisture in situ network, and supports the ESA Water

84 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 2017 to review the team’s progress within their working groups’ To be clear, the interest is in how these tie to extreme events goals. rather than typical events. Specific topics include the energy and water budgets, water provenance, scale interactions (large Regarding “Uncertainties of Vertically Integrated Water & Energy scale to small; local and remote), identification of key factors Budget Components”, the team developed a concise data in formation, links to ocean forcing (and ideally prediction); definition document to support the consolidation of numerous monsoon topics include impacts on soil moisture, drought, remote sensing, modeling, and in-situ (if available) data sets into flooding, and ideally agriculture and infrastructure impacts. a common data grid (space and time), format (e.g., netCDF-4), Atmospheric rivers topics will include a breakdown of the and consistent units. They generated and archived water and previous topics for difference parts of the atmospheric rivers and energy budget component estimates from associated datasets possible connections to low level jets. Additionally, the NEWS through a central NEWS-PI accessible repository. They also Project Office organized a session at the AGU Fall meeting. From created uncertainty estimates associated with each component this session, “How understanding / quantifying the effects of based on the available data sets within the NEWS-data water and energy exchanges in the current and changing climate repository, and developed and applied downstream analyses to can be improved and how the uncertainties can be conveyed the uncertainty estimates of WEC components. to society” have been identified as key science questions by both the WCRP Global Energy and Water Cycle Exchanges When considering the “NEWS Synthesis: Water and Energy Project (GEWEX) and NEWS. New approaches, which are being Cycle Variability”, the team members addressed issues such developed to investigate water cycle behavior across various as structural interconnections of the variability (transports, spatial scales (e.g., atmospheric rivers and water isotopes), may interconnections), how Water Energy Cycles (WEC) balances potentially provide new insight into the complex hydrological change over times, and the examination of any trends. They cycle. This AGU session addressed uncertainty in current data aim to examine linked water and energy cycles, learn how to sets, consistency among water and energy budget components, manage uncertainties using closure, and make predictions from and how these factors relate to our understanding of recent change, and also determined a Shared Data Structure, including climate variability. reprocessing all data to monthly, 1x1 degree. using conservative interpolation, including monthly statistics if available, and utilizing Mr. Thomas Stanley (sponsor: D. Kirschbaum) develops, tests, a central repository for comparisons, area averages and closure and expands a rainfall-triggered landslide model that provides optimizations. Also, the “NEWS Indicator Project” will develop real-time and forecasted estimates of potential landslide activity and test a set of specialized indicators of water and energy cycle at a regional and ultimately global scale. One of his main goals variability that include ratios, durations of phenomena, seasonal is to aid in evaluating model outputs and providing improved phases, and metrics of extreme events. The hypothesis is that characterization of landslide hazard and triggering conditions. He such indicators may be more effective than assessments of the also manages and updates a landslide database of events and primary fluxes in capturing water and energy cycle consequences evaluating and improving landslide inventories. of climate change. This integration team needs indicator and statistics experts as well as scientists who are knowledgeable This past year, his work involved analyzing precipitation time about the various data products. The expected outcomes are the series from the 3B42 dataset across High Mountain Asia. Storms identification of a set of water and energy cycle indicators that were assigned to known historic landslides, in order to discover are determined to be sensitive to climate variability, which can the characteristics of landslide-triggering events. Mr. Stanley also be applied with modern observational datasets going forward, conducted an initial study of landslide susceptibility throughout plus one or more publications describing the indicators and any Oregon and Washington. The results indicated that a larger and trends that they reveal. less biased inventory is necessary to obtain reliable statistic models of landslide susceptibility. Further work in this region The fourth goal, “Energy and Water Cycle Budgets”, aims involved his assessment of the effects of inventory bias, which he to characterize and understand the energy and water cycle observed by truncating synthetic and historic landslide catalogs budgets of specific phenomena strongly associated with extreme for the Pacific Northwest and then fitting logistic regression events. Specifically, this goal will involve investigating the Indian models. This work will be presented at the Third North American Monsoon, North American Monsoon, Mesoscale convective Symposium on Landslides. systems over the U.S. mid-west, and selected atmospheric rivers.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 85 As a simple prototype of a landslide forecast, TMPA precipitation Coordination continued with United Nations Environment data was replaced with GEOS-5 forward processing data. Results Programme’s (UNEP) global web portal (UNEP-Live) for science- suggested that global landslide forecasts may be feasible, but based data and information for use by international resource more extensive development is needed. As a result of his studies, managers and decision makers. Examples of NASA remote Mr. Stanley’s paper titled “Approximating long-term statistics sensing and model products include the following: GRACE- early in the Global Precipitation Measurement era”, a case study based ground water and root-zone soil moisture monitoring for on adapting a landslide model from TRMM to GPM inputs, was drought/wetness assessments and indicators (daily); near-real published in Earth Interactions. time Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG), a product produced using data from the GPM satellites calibrated Future plans include analyzing landslide-triggering storms in High with measurements from the GPM Core Observatory; flood and Mountain Asia, with downscaled MERRA2, updating the global drought monitors; SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite) landslide nowcast to IMERG version 4, and estimating landslide soil moisture data sets; Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) susceptibility across the Pacific Northwest from improved data global water cycle data sets; and, natural disasters, including inputs. floods, wildfires and other water-related extremes. Currently, the UNEP-Live web portal for “water” is under discussion to explore Dr. Sushel Unninayar (sponsor: J. Santanello) supports NASA the improved use and application of remote sensing-based HQ in a variety of NASA/SMD-ESE’s internal, interagency, and Earth observation products that address user needs in water international programs and activities, such as: The Global sustainability and monitoring of the UN SDG-Water. Change Research Program (GCRP), the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) that coordinates the Global Observing In the area of the United Nations Sustainable Development System of Systems (GEOSS), the GEOSS Integrated Global Water Goals (SDGs)-Water, Dr. Unninayar continued with the review Cycle Observations (IGWCO) Community of Practice (CoP), and development of examples for the use of Remote Sensing GEO Global Water Sustainability GEO-GLoWS), UN Sustainable Earth Observations (EO) for monitoring indicators of progress in Development Goals (SDGs), UNEP-Live, Future Earth, Committee achieving the targets set by the UN SDGs. On March 10, 2017, on Earth Observations Satellites (CEOS) among others. the UN Statistical Commission adopted the SDG framework, providing the international community with a robust structure for Dr. Unninayar continued work on several themes of the GEOSS keeping track of progress made on achieving the goals set by 17 Water Strategy including the development of specifications for sustainable development goals. SDG 6 (i.e., ensure access to Essential Water Variables (EWVs), and the adequacy of remote water and sanitation for all) deals broadly with water resources sensing observing systems for the detection and monitoring management, water availability, water stress, water quality, of water cycle extremes (WCEs). The global water cycle is wastewater management, health and sanitation, and others; to characterized by the transport of water and energy between support this, especially for non-traditional data such as remote the land, the oceans, and the atmosphere on time-scales sensing, there is a need to comprehensively map satellite Earth ranging from seconds to days to years, decades, and longer. observations with the SDG monitoring goals. When considering Spatial scales and gradients vary from the microscopic to the Water-Energy-Food (W-E-F) nexus, it becomes equally local to regional to continental and global. Such broad space/ important to address all sectors which intersect with water in all time scales pose significant challenges to both observing and forms. modeling systems. One of the strategic priorities identified for the IGWCO by GEO is that Members address WCEs due to their He continued exploring opportunities for collaboration between disproportionate impact on social, economic, and ecological Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the NASA-ESE’s systems. Major deficiencies remain in existing observing and international projects that use satellite and model data for Earth monitoring systems. In planning for GEOSS, the GEO included science applications. NASA had expressed an interest in looking requirements for derived data products and information delivery for areas of collaboration similar to the cooperative projects systems that meet the needs of users and stakeholders within with US-AID. Examples from the NASA-DEVELOP program were various Societal Benefit Areas (SBAs). This activity also supports submitted to the MCC, which included satellite-derived products the activities of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites that may be useful for planning economic development projects (CEOS). involving water resource management infrastructures. This and other satellite products were considered possible areas

86 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 of interest to the newly established division of the MCC for interest in producing a book or special edition of their journals geographical information systems (GIS)-based environmental based on these AGU sessions. Additionally, Dr. Unninayar was and social performance monitoring. MCC is an U.S. Govt. invited to chair a session titled “Energy and Water Cycling: program which manages an alternate model (from US-AID) for Regional to Global Variability and Water Security” in place of Dr. international development assistance. Their focus is on poverty Jared Entin (NASA-HQ), who was unable to participate. reduction and economic development. Projects range in size between $60 million and $700 million. This coming year will bring continued coordination with NASA- HQ regarding implementing the GEOSS Water Strategy and At the Water Assessment and Water-Energy-Food Nexus promoting the use of NASA remote sensing and data assimilation Information Systems Workshop, Dr. Unninayar gave an invited model data in research and applications that serve multiple end presentation in January 2017. Workshop participants examined user communities. NASA has substantial interest in showcasing the information systems required to assess requirements for opportunities for the use of remote sensing and modeling Earth observations that address the W-E-F nexus issues. They technologies that are available at NASA centers. The discussion recognized the importance of optimizing the use of remote will continue regarding products for NASA’s contribution to sensing observations for data and information on EWVs and to UNEP-Live, in particular, exploring the processing of data and support integrative studies at the interfaces between the water, production of global monitoring information and graphics on a energy, and food systems. regular basis for delivery to UNEP-Live’s international distribution and access portal. For WCVs, work will continue with developing He assisted with the efforts to further develop a cohesive observational and modeling requirements. Dr. Unninayar also strategy for the GEO Global Water Sustainability program will continue work on the UN SDGs, especially water-related, (GEOGLOWS), which emphasizes the use of remote sensing for with an emphasis on addressing the need to comprehensively the monitoring of water availability and sustainability among map satellite Earth observations with the SDG monitoring others such as water stress, water use efficiency and water goals. Further, the topic of GEOGLoWS implementation will be quality. GEOGLOWS is a new initiative of GEO to integrate various discussed in May 2017 at the National Water Center, Tuscaloosa, elements of the GEOSS Water Strategy and bring to end users Alabama. Looking ahead, a session will be proposed for the the benefits of advanced observing and data/information AGU 2017 Fall meeting on “Remote Sensing Applications for systems that help resolve problems of regional and global water Water Resources Management Including Droughts, Floods and security and water sustainability. As a cross-cutting theme Associated Water Cycle Extremes.” between the IGWCO and GEOGLOWS, he proposed a focus on further defining EWVs, water cycle extremes, and relevant remote sensing observing systems. The identification of gaps in observing and modeling systems along with deficiencies in CODE 618: BIOSPHERIC SCIENCES LABORATORY the characterization of WCEs currently limits both water cycle research and applications. Dr. Assaf Anyamba (sponsor: C. Tucker) conducts research using time-series satellite vegetation index measurements from At the AGU Fall meeting in December 2016, Dr. Unninayar was various satellite instruments. His work focuses on land surface the primary convener of five sessions--four oral sessions and one response to interannual climate variability associated with El poster session. The major theme covered was Remote Sensing Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), drought pattern analysis; for Water Resources Management, Including Irrigation, Droughts, and it infers long-term trends and dynamics of vegetation Floods, and Associated Water Cycle Extremes. Ninety abstracts patterns, development of long-term data records (LTDRs) of were submitted. This session attracted the largest number of the biosphere and links between climate variability and vector- abstract submissions to AGU’s Fall meeting and highlighted borne disease outbreaks. He leads and develops research advances in the use of satellite, airborne and ground-based analysis and applications development for global agricultural sensor networks to measure the quantity/quality of hydrologic and drought monitoring for the U.S. Department of Agriculture/ resources domestically and globally. Key objectives were to Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS), climate variability improve the provision of information to water managers to and vector-borne disease prediction mapping in support of the improve water resources management and to support risk-based Department of Defense Global Emerging Infections Surveillance decision making. Two international publishers expressed an and Response System (DoD/GEIS) and the USDA Center for

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 87 Medical, Agricultural & Veterinary Entomology (USDA/CMAVE) as use high-resolution imagery to study various aspects of dry land well as global monitoring and risk assessment for Chikungunya use and tree cover dynamics. outbreaks in support of Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). He attended the annual EcoHealth Alliance Scientific Committee in October 2016 to work with colleagues to explore and advance At the Workshop on Big Data and Analytics for Infectious Disease current and new project ideas at the intersection of ecology and Research, Operations, and Policy, he presented on Satellite health through developing concept notes, planning and preparing Data Applications in Vector-borne Disease Research organized papers (scientific and policy) and presentations, targeted by the Forum on Microbial Threats of the National Academies discussions that allow for greater depth than the full meeting of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) and hosted allows, discuss grant proposals, develop outreach or media at Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) headquarters in materials, and more (whether directly related to the project or to Washington D.C. last May. The workshop engaged experts from facilitate linking on other initiatives). Each SC Member designed the federal government, academia and industry to discuss and a One Health Connections video with the assistance of EcoHealth explore topics, including: preventing, detecting, and responding Media Staff. The videos will be posted at http://www.futureearth. to infectious disease threats using big data and related analytics; org/onehealth/. varieties of data (e.g., demographic, geospatial, behavioral, syndromic, and laboratory) and their broader applications; means In April 2017, at the DTRA/Cooperative Biological Engagement to improve their processing, utility, and validation; approaches Program (CBEP) All Hands Meeting, Dr. Anyamba gave an invited that can be learned from other sectors to inform big data presentation on “Remote Sensing and Climate Data Applications strategies for infectious disease research, operations, and policy. in Vector-Borne Disease Surveillance”. This talk was aimed at More information is available at http://www.nationalacademies. building new research collaborations with the CBEP; program org/hmd/Activities/PublicHealth/MicrobialThreats/2016- members are interested in how NASA Science, Technology May-10.aspx#sthash.Yvrp8YRA.dpuf. and Applications can contribute to their mission space and engagements in various regions around the world. In June 2016, in Boston, MA, Dr. Anyamba was a co-convener with Prof. Vincent Emery (University of Surrey, UK) of the In the coming year, Dr. Anyamba will be submitting research- Symposium on “Surveillance for the 21st Century” during the related manuscripts, writing proposals for continued research, ASM Microbe 2016 Conference. He also presented on “Satellites and participating in the Rift Valley fever in South Africa Project and Vector-Borne Viruses” during the symposium. This was Meeting, Pretoria, South Africa and possibly the 2017 Chemical aimed at exposing the broader ASM community on how satellite and Biological Defense Science & Technology (CBD S&T) technology can aid in monitoring vector-borne virus infections in Conference. concert with other traditional tools of surveillance. Dr. Richard Damoah (sponsor: C. Tucker) addresses several In August 2016, Dr. Anyamba travelled to Dar es Salaam, items of research. He supports the STANFORD project led by Dr. Tanzania to attend the NOAA Climate and Health Workshop Anyamba to investigate the burden of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) where presented on Climate Teleconnections and Rift Valley and Dengue virus (DENV) transmission, infection and disease Fever Outbreak Patterns and chaired a session on Climate and in Kenya. With his expertise in meteorology and climate, his role Health Case Studies. The workshop was sponsored by NOAA in STANFORD is to extract, process and analyze NOAA’s ARC and organized by Dr. Wassila Thiaw, Team Lead, International (African Rainfall Climatology) rainfall data at the study locations Desks, NOAA Climate Prediction Center (CPC), National Centers and make the data available to the project members. He also for Environmental Predictions (NCEP). This is one in a series of supports the EcoHealth project, also led by Dr. Anyamba, in workshops aimed at sensitizing Meteorological Departments to which they investigate the Rift Valley Fever in South Africa. As tailor climate and weather information to meet growing needs of with STANFORD, he extracts, processes and analyzes NOAA’s the health sector for climate and weather sensitive pathogens ARC rainfall data at the study locations and makes the data and diseases. He then travelled to Nairobi, Kenya to establish available to the EcoHealth project members. Dr. Damoah is the links with prospective collaborators at the World Agroforestry Lead Investigator for the NASA AERONET Station at All Nations Centre (ICRAF) and International Livestock Research Institute University College (ANUC), Koforidua, Ghana. He is using the (ILRI) on a project led by Compton Tucker (NASA GSFC) on the

88 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 of Engineering and Technology at Saint Monica University in Cameroon, and in April 2017 was appointed as the interim Fig. 1: Seated at the table are the Presidents of ANUC and MSU Director for the Space Systems Technology Laboratory at All at the signing of the MOU, Morgan State University, Aug 2016. Nations University College in Ghana. Image provided by R. Damoah. In the coming year, Dr. Damoah will give an invited talk during COSPAR’s Capacity building workshop in June 2017 in Ghana AERONET instrument including model simulations to characterize (see https://feer.gsfc.nasa.gov/meetings/COSPAR2017/, will the aerosol pollution in the region. participate as a council member in the Maryland Science Center Scientific Council meeting in May 2017, and will be visiting his From his research results, he has given several presentations collaborators at ANUC in Ghana in July as part of his Carnegie throughout the past year, including but not limited to those African Diaspora Fellowship (see the Awards section of this delivered at the International Space Science and Satellite report). Technology Applications (SSSTA) conference, June 2016, Koforidua, Ghana; at the Rift Valley Fever workshop in South The primary motivation for investigating the optical properties of Africa; at the AGU Fall 2016 Meeting, San Francisco, CA; at atmospheric aerosols within AERONET is for the application to the Spring Germinate workshop, University of Illinois Urbana- studies of the effects of aerosols on the atmospheric radiation Champaign, IL; and, at the HBCU/NASA Network Professional balance and climate, and for the validation of satellite retrievals Development workshop hosted by Morgan State University. of aerosol properties. Mr. Thomas Eck (sponsor: B. Holben) conducts research centered on the analysis of measurements Dr. Damoah has been involved in several collaborations with made by automatic sun-sky scanning radiometers that are Morgan State University during the past year. He has been globally distributed as a part of the NASA-managed Aerosol collaborating with Dr. Nkwanta at the MSU mathematics Robotic Network. The measurements of spectral direct sun department on a DHS-funded project to examine climate intensity and sky radiance distributions are utilized to infer a data and Malaria outbreaks in the U.S. With Dr. Peters at complete description of the column-integrated optical properties MSU’s education department he has been collaborating on a of the aerosols. These ground-based remote sensing retrievals of NASA-funded project to provide climate change professional aerosol optical properties are analyzed to better understand the development to pre-service teachers. Also, as part of MSU’s dynamics of aerosol properties as a function of source region, physics department, Dr. Damoah has been teaching meteorology transport, aging processes, and interaction with clouds. to undergraduate students. Of significant note, Dr. Damoah’s efforts led to the signing of an MOU between Morgan State This past year, Mr. Eck was involved in several field campaigns. In University (MSU) and his collaborators All Nations University May 2016, he participated in the KORUS-AQ campaign in South College in Ghana and Saint Monica University in Cameroon on Korea where he assisted in AERONET instrument maintenance, August 8, 2016 (see Fig. 1). In June 2016, he was part of the primarily for sites that were under the DC-8 aircraft flight profiles. team from NASA that held a two-day collaborative meeting with He made presentations at two elementary schools regarding the the team from West African Science Service Center on Climate campaign (the instruments were on the roofs of these schools) Change and Adapted Land Use at WASCAL headquarters in and about general NASA activities. These presentations were Accra, Ghana (see http://www.wascal.org/special-pages/ a requirement for installing monitoring equipment on these newsdetails/news/showNews/News/bilateral_workshop_ school rooftops. In early 2017, Mr. Eck participated in a KORUS- between_wascal_and_nasa_held/). Also, Dr. Damoah is AQ Science Meeting and Conference in South Korea, where he collaborating with the remote Sensing, GIS and Climate Centre presented a poster showing statistics of the AOD and differences of GSSTI on a publication to investigate the Drought Indicators in between the AERONET Version 2 database and the new Version Western Central Africa. 3 data, and discussed the Chinese air pollution transport event in late May 2017 that was accompanied by extensive cloud cover. Along with his conducting research, Dr. Damoah was appointed to the 24-member Scientific and Educational Advisory Council From Sept 19 – Oct 1, 2016, Mr. Eck participated in the NASA- of the Maryland Science Center (MAC), was appointed Adjunct led ORACLES field campaign in Namibia. He was primarily Associate Professor of Environmental Science in the Department involved in the AERONET project known as Distributed Regional

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 89 Aerosol Gridded Observation Network (DRAGON) of six sun-sky rainfall climatology)), land surface temperature and vegetation radiometers that were deployed in the Henties Bay region, inland index from NASA MODIS. Her work supports studies funded by from the coast ~5-20 km in the desert. He packed up these six the Department of Defense (DoD)–Global Emerging Infections sites and shipped the AERONET equipment back to the U.S. at Surveillance (GEIS) and Defense Threat Reduction Agency the conclusion of the campaign. (DTRA). The resulting risk map as well as climatic maps will be provided to DoD and other concerned federal government As a result of his campaign involvement and instrument agencies such as the USDA, Department of Homeland Security maintenance and expertise, Mr. Eck was co-author on two (DHS) and the interagency Pandemic Preparedness Forecasting publications, one in Atmospheric Research and one in Scientific Science and Technology (PPFST) Working Group. Reports, both published in Nov 2016. He is currently working on a paper titled “The Interaction and Transport of Fine Mode Dr. Soebiyanto analyzed the climatic pattern during vector-borne Aerosols with Cloud and/or Fog in Northeast Asia from Aerosol diseases outbreak clusters immediately following the 2015-2016 Robotic Network (AERONET) and Satellite Remote Sensing” El Niño events. Preliminary analyses indicated that land surface and another titled “Remote sensing measurements of biomass temperature pattern around the outbreak areas are region- burning aerosol optical properties during the 2015 Indonesian specific (anomalously high in some countries in Southeast Asia burning season from AERONET and MODIS satellite data”. In and Africa, while anomalously low in some states in the U.S.). August 2017, he will attend the Asia Oceania Geophysics Society Her analysis also showed that dengue incidents in Southeast (AOGS) meeting in Singapore from Aug 6-11, 2017, and give a Asia countries and Brazil were preceded by anomalously low presentation titled “The Dynamics of Fine Mode Aerosol Optical rainfall, whereas hantavirus and plague in the western U.S. were Properties in South Korea from AERONET Observations with a preceded by anomalously high rainfall. Focus on Cases with Large Cloud Fraction and/or Fog during KORUS-AQ”. She has been working on assessing the relationship between climatic anomalies (rainfall and land surface temperature) Dr. Junchang Ju (sponsor: J. Masek) works on creating a global- and Chikungunya outbreaks in the Americas during 2013- scale Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel surface reflectance data 2014 outbreaks as well as Rift Valley Fever in several African set in support of applications requiring frequent and consistent countries. Research results were presented by Dr. Anyamba at moderate-resolution surface reflectance measurements. The the 47th Annual Society of Vector Ecology (SOVE) Conference in HLS project provides more frequent, fused measurements Anchorage, AK, in September 2016. Dr. Soebiyanto’s analysis from Landsat and Sentinel-2 sensors by applying the same showed that Rift Valley fever outbreaks in the majority of atmospheric correction algorithm, the same view-angle African countries occurred when land surface temperature normalization algorithm, accurately co-registering images of the was anomalously low and rainfall was anomalously high. Drs. two sensors, and correcting the spectral band-pass difference Anyamba and Soebiyanto along with Dr. Kenneth Linthicum between the two sensors. Version 1.1 data were made publicly (USDA/ARS) gave an Annual Briefing and Progress Report on available on September 1, 2016 and Version 1.2 on March 1, the Rift Valley fever Monitor Project to the Program Management 2017. The HLS can be downloaded at https://hls.gsfc.nasa.gov/ of the Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response data/. Both versions support 12 research investigations globally. System (GEIS) at the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch, In the coming year, Dr. Ju will be migrating the HLS production Defense Health Agency (DHA) in March 2017. system from NASA Earth Exchange (NEX) to Amazon cloud for global seamless land data production. Dr. Soebiyanto is working toward creating an application for a climate-based Chikungunya risk map. In support of this study Dr. Radina Soebiyanto (sponsor: C. Tucker) works toward that develops the ecological analytics capability to monitor and quantitatively determining the association between climate map global areas at risk of Chikungunya, she compiled various variability and vector-borne diseases (Rift Valley Fever in Africa datasets including MODIS LST and NDVI, rainfall from the GPCP. and the Middle East; dengue and chikungunya in the Americas, She has begun to characterize the climatic condition during Caribbean, Africa and Asia), which further serves as the basis Chikungunya’s initial outbreaks in the Caribbean countries (in for developing a climate-based disease risk map for these 2013) as well as perform lag analysis to determine whether vector-borne diseases. Climatic data used include rainfall (from (and how long) the same climatic anomaly pattern occurred. GPCP (Global Precipitation Climatology Project) and ARC (African Preliminary analysis indicated that precipitation was anomalously

90 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 low and land surface temperature was slightly higher than mission. He provides support to the EO-1 Mission Science Office normal during and preceding the initial Chikungunya outbreaks in in the areas of imaging spectroscopy and advanced multispectral December 2013. sensor systems, and retrieval of biophysical parameters with images from such systems for earth science investigations. Also In February 2017, Dr. Soebiyanto and Dr. Anyamba attended the he collaborates with the EO-1 Mission Science Office by supplying DTRA Biosurveillance Ecosystem (BSVE) Technical Interchange detailed expertise in the following areas: atmospheric correction, Meeting, which brought together participants of DTRA-BSVE- radiative transfer modeling, and retrieval approaches. funded application projects and users/analysts from various agency partners including National Biosurveillance Integration As a result from his research, Dr. Zhang gave a talk on Center (NBIC-DHA), Defense Health Agency (DHA), United States “Uncertainties in estimates of fAPAR for photosynthesis when Pacific Command (USPACOM) and U.S. Department of Health and approximated with fAPAR_canopy, NDVI and EVI” at the 2016 Human Services (HHS). They presented a poster and lightning MODIS/VIIRS science team meeting. At this annual event, MODIS talk of their funded project, titled “CHIKRISK: Global Monitoring science PI’s update project progress and engage in discussions. & Mapping of Chikungunya Risk”. They also participated in User Dr. Zhang reported on the status of his project and presented Engagement/Feedback and Developer Roundtable sessions to his scientific findings, which will advance understanding of discuss user needs, future capabilities and data sets needed for the carbon cycle and climate change. Also, two manuscripts project success. Additionally, Dr. Soebiyanto was on a recently were produced: one was published by Remote Sensing of the funded ROSES proposal titled “Mosquito Mappers” (PI: Russane Environment, the other by Journal of Photogrammetry and Low, IGES); along with Dr. Anyamba, they plan to use mosquito Remote Sensing. data collected by citizen scientists as a complementary dataset in their research on mapping climate-based risk of mosquito- borne disease. CODE 699: PLANETARY Dr. Tian Yao (sponsor: J. Masek) uses a land surface model to ENVIRONMENTS LABORATORY estimate vegetation carbon flux based on atmospheric forcing data and remote sensing data from MODIS and EO-1 Hyperion, Dr. Yuni Lee (sponsor: P. Mahaffy) works in collaboration to to evaluate MODIS and EO-1 Hyperion fAPARchl products, and to provide support to the Neutral Gas and Ion Investigation (NGIMS) improve the algorithm of the products. During the past year, Dr. of the MAVEN Mars Orbiter mission, specifically in the areas of Yao evaluated the MODIS fAPARchl/LAIchl product in selected mission operations and data analysis. Dr. Lee investigated the AmeriFlux Tower sites covered by cropland, forest and grassland seasonal and spatial variation of the M2 layer of the Martian by using the land surface model. She also optimized the fAPARchl ionosphere using the in-situ measurements taken by the Neutral computer algorithm with parallel computing approaches to speed Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS) onboard MAVEN. These up remote sensing data processing. Dr. Yao was a Co-I on a NASA results will be presented at the International Conference on Mars 2016 TE proposal, collaborating with Dr. Q. Zhang, Dr. Masek and Aeronomy 2017 in May. Dr. Guoqing Sun, and she gave an invited talk at the 2016 AGU Fall meeting in San Francisco, CA. From her research, in January 2017, Dr. Lee presented her poster that described the effect of using angular differential cross In the coming year, Dr. Yao will continue working on optimizing section for collisions between hot O and neutral background the fAPARchl code with parallel computing approaches to on the escape of O at Mars at the 1st Annual 690 Postdoc and produce MODIS fAPARchl product, and will continue working Early Career Scientist poster session and at the annual Sciences on estimating terrestrial vegetation carbon fluxes by integrating & Exploration Directorate New Year’s Poster Party. She also co- MODIS fAPARchl product into land surface models. She will authored two related articles as well as an abstract that will be present her work in 2017 IEEE International Geoscience and presented at the AOGS 14th Annual Meeting in August 2017 in Remote Sensing Symposium. Singapore. Her work was also presented as two posters, one at the 48th Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS)/ 11th European Dr. Qingyuan Zhang (sponsor: E. Middleton) supports both Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) joint meeting in October the Earth Observing One (EO-1) satellite mission and the 2016 and at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2016 Hyperspectral Infrared Imaging (HyspIRI) concept satellite meeting in December 2016.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 91 Upcoming plans include working with a group in France to compare the M-AMPS code and EGM code to discover issues that may result in discrepancies in the results from both models. Dr. Lee will study the ancient Mars’ hot O corona by conducting a series of simulations using the M-GITM and MF-MHD model outputs as inputs to the M-AMPS code.

Dr. Adrian Southard (sponsor: S. Getty) works on the development of the Organics Analyzer for Sampling Icy Surfaces (OASIS), including the modeling and simulation of candidate ion “Two simulations are performed to determine the transmission spray interfaces between an on-chip liquid chromatograph and efficiency of a hexapole (six rod) ion guide. The first (above) uses the ion source of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. He also a direct solution by Monte Carlo (dsmc) method to determine supports flight- or proto-flight mass spectrometer projects. Work the flow of neutral gas through the hexapole. The second (below) throughout this past year has involved modeling the vacuum utilizes the results of the flow simulation and the local electric interface for OASIS to examine tradeoffs associated with power, field to determine the trajectories of ions which impacts their transmission efficiency, and level of effort. He has incorporated transmission efficiency.”Text and image provided by A. Southard. the influence of gas flow and electric fields to achieve a more realistic simulation of ion transfer using both Comsol and ds2v for handling continuum and molecular flow regimes, Dr. Southard has been testing novel carbon nanotube field respectively. He presented work done on the OASIS project at emitters for the MiniEPMA project leading to the development the 2017 Instruments for Planetary Missions workshop, which of a new fixture for efficiently testing 12 devices at a time. This included a discussion of chiral separation of amino acids was found to be a necessary task to more quickly determine without derivatization using an on-chip, liquid chromatograph. optimal materials and methods for growth of carbon nanotubes. This separation was an important step for eliminating the He supported recent integration of the first field emitter array to contamination risk and potential planetary protection risk control circuitry in preparation for testing the addressing of each associated with bringing organic derivatization compounds to an of the 100 pixels in the field emitter array. icy body, such as Europa or Enceladus. Going forward, Dr. Southard will be following up on work with Also, Dr. Southard studied the influence of several aspects of OASIS, AROMA, and other projects. Plans for OASIS include injection ions from a Kimball physics ion gun into a D30 orbitrap moving forward with one of two optimized designs for the vacuum mechanical offset, timing, energy of ions, and focusing voltages interface and testing performance with a mass spectrometer. from an ion gun to an orbitrap mass spectrometer (AROMA). This will include measurement of vacuum pressures, ion currents This work was presented by Ricardo Arevalo at the 2016 throughout the interface, and production of a mass spectrum Instruments for Planetary Missions workshop. Dr. Southard also using the OASIS time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Also, his design modeled transmission from the MOMA linear ion trap (LIT) into for the AROMA LIT-orbi interface is close to completion, and he the orbitrap and is responsible for the ion optics that transmit will support testing the interface in preparation for delivery of the ions from the linear ion trap to the orbitrap. This ongoing work is interface and ion trap to the Cosmorbitrap team in France in fall close to completion and was part of a presentation at the 2017 2017. Additionally, Dr. Southard will use the newly developed test Astrobiology Science Conference. fixture for characterizing novel field emitters for the MiniEPMA project and use these results as a screening process to select Dr. Southard’s work on a pirani pressure sensor for the MOMA- the material/methods used for creating the carbon nanotube MS instrument was published as part of the use of laser field emitter array. Finally, he plans to investigate ways to stabilize desorption ionization mode in the MOMA-MS instrument. the transmission of liquid through high vacuum for the Macros Integration and testing has been proceeding and the MOMA-MS project. The challenges involve freezing/clogging of lines due to team is on track to deliver all hardware for integration by early significant evaporative cooling at the transfer tip. 2018. For another project, Dr. Southard will continue to support IRAD efforts and developments (PI: C. Kotecki), such as the HIPPOC

92 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 device which uses an electro-osmotic pump to push liquids Dr. Teinturier designed and wrote another version of the through a liquid chromatograph, a key development in the opportunistic derivatization, an experiment performed on Mars miniaturization of a Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer in early 2017. The first experiment of this kind was done two (LC-MS) system. years ago with Curiosity, but this new opportunistic derivatization was designed to optimize the detection of MTBSTFA residual Dr. Samuel Teinturier (sponsor: P. Mahaffy) works on developing vapor reaction products with refractory organic compounds and and testing experimental procedures for the Sample Analysis at other complex molecules present in the sample studied. The Mars (SAM) instrument suite, and on GCMS lab experiments in data look promising, but more lab experiments and analyses are order to analyze and interpret the results from Mars. He utilizes necessary. the SAM Testbed at Goddard and is part of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Science and Tactical team. Dr. Teinturier A new dune sample campaign was planned on Mars with MSL, has been working on a new experiment that addresses a key and Curiosity obtained a few new samples for SAM. Dr. Teinturier objective for SAM and MSL: it involves the ability to use a helped to design the experiments with SAM: he wrote the scripts chemical compound inside some of the cups on Mars. The liquid with the help of the entire SAM science team, and he ran the is a derivatization agent, which will help to identify complex experiments on the SAM Testbed at NASA Goddard to validate organic molecules in the Mars samples. Several laboratory the data. He wrote some of the ActIDs, the planning documents experiments have been performed, especially on chemical the JPL uses before uplinking the activities on Mars. Dr. Teinturier devices close to the ovens and cups the team has on Mars. will be one of the data analyzers when these experiments are SAM contains a sample manipulation system that is a wheel executed by Curiosity. He expects this will be one of the most of small cups for samples: 9 cups contain calibration samples active campaigns on Mars for SAM. and 9 are filled with chemical solvents for lower-temperature wet chemistry experiments, while another 59 quartz cups are In the coming year, in addition to working on new campaigns on small ovens for heating the powdered samples to extract gases. Mars, Dr. Teinturier will participate in many new SAM Testbed The first experiments on the SAM Testbed were completed in experiments to better understand the science results from Mars. summer 2016; much work is required before the team runs the first wet chemistry experiment on Mars to better understand the necessary analyses to be conducted.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 93 Image from “The Changing Arctic”, credits include producer Matt Radcliff (USRA), visualizer Cindy Starr (GST), and USRA scientist Junchang Ju. Image provided by M. Radcliff.

94 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Delivering the Message

In 2015, ash and sulfur dioxide gas rose from the Calbuco volcano in Chile and were transported by the winds. The information collected by the Suomi NPP satellite helped scientists to create improved forecasts of where the volcanic cloud was spreading. Visualizer/Animator Kel Elkins provided graphics (including this image) for “Tracking Volcanic Ash”; the story was co-written and produced by Matthew Radcliff, and the video was narrated by Jefferson Beck.Image provided by K. Elkins.

Members of the Office of Communications (Code 130, sponsors Geophysical Union meeting (Japan). Ongoing collaborative W. Sisler and D. Kekesi), the Scientific Visualization Studio (Code efforts combining scientific research with technology, animation, 606.4, sponsor H. Mitchell), and the Science Program Support visualization, and interviews continue to engage and inform. Office (POC: Winnie Humberson, GST; sponsor: S. Platnick) have provided support to a variety of events and missions, and have continued to generate products to convey the discoveries from NASA research. Products are distributed on a growing variety of CODE 130 (Sponsors: W. Sisler and D. Kekesi) social media platforms and are often picked up by high-profile news media outlets. The SVS website http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov This past summer, Jefferson Beck traveled to the Fairbanks, offers improved search capabilities and showcases work by Alaska region in support of the Arctic Boreal Vulnerability its partners: the Conceptual Image Lab, Goddard Multimedia Experiment (ABoVE) campaign. While there he documented Studios, and Scientific Hyperwall Presentations. Hyperwalls were seven different research projects, collecting a wealth of 4K video again a key part of several events this past year, domestically footage in the process, as well as substantial 360-degree (360) and internationally: the 2016 AGU Fall Meeting (California), the footage. He produced several short video packages in the field AMS Meeting (Washington), the USA Science & Engineering and supported a Facebook Live event that garnered 150,000 Festival and NASA’s Earth Day events (Washington, DC), plus views, the most yet for the NASA Earth account. Returning to the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (Morocco), and the Japan Goddard, Jefferson continued to tell ABoVE stories, including

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 95 science news results, and the USRA Communication Group that Images above are examples of a variety of 360-degree footage. Jefferson manages, he will continue his work on the support of a Provided by J. Beck. groundbreaking new study to be released in coming months with a longer-format video and suite of support for press events. a social-media-optimized video on Alaska’s bubbling methane Genna Duberstein is the Lead Multimedia Producer for lakes, which was viewed 180,000 times on Facebook and was Heliophysics, maintaining hands-on creative responsibilities and selected as a featured video by National Geographic’s website working to organize the overall multimedia team and plan media and Facebook account. campaigns and release strategies. She also manages Solarium, a large-scale video art project that uses ultra-HD footage of Jefferson supported Operation IceBridge with daily social the sun from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. Genna was media postings for four of the mission’s field campaigns over involved with scheduling, booking and following the installation of the Arctic and Antarctic and oversaw the progress of two major Solarium at many venues this year. As part of a grand reopening, data visualizations and a suite of conceptual animations. Other the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake City, Utah, added Solarium highlights included creating overview videos for the campaigns, a to their exhibit space. Unveiled on October 22, 2016, the social-media-optimized video combining the lead up to the Arctic installation will run for the next 10 years. In the roughly two years sea ice minimum with IceBridge science, which garnered more since Solarium’s launch, this is the third long-term commitment than 500,000 views on Facebook, and providing footage to a from a partner institution. Solarium also appeared at the Dutch TV station for a program that regularly receives 3 million American Museum of Natural History (NY, New York), the Aldo viewers. This year, he also provided an unprecedented amount of Leopold Nature Center (Monona, WC), The Filmatic Festival (San logistical support for visiting media on IceBridge flights, including Diego, CA), and the Louisiana Art and Science Museum (Baton media from Getty Images, the New York Times, CNN/Great Big Rouge, LA). Story, National Geographic, and many more. He also supported the visits of NASA Goddard’s lead Earth scientist and NASA’s Roughly 13 times per century, Mercury comes between the deputy administrator. Earth and the sun. In May 2016, the planet’s 7-hour transit was captured in NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory’s video Also breaking new ground, Jefferson worked with IceBridge and “NASA’s SDO Captures Mercury Transit Time-lapse.” Using the Wallops Flight Facility to install a 360 camera on the exterior of higher resolution material available later, Genna also cut a NASA’s P-3 aircraft, and this spring while flying over Greenland, 4K video of the transit. Many news sites featured the videos, he shot the agency’s first ever 360 video clips from that vantage point. He also worked extensively with a NASA JPL producer and his hired team of 360 film producers on a major Virtual Reality (VR) film project which will highlight IceBridge. Also on that deployment, Jefferson traveled to Svalbard, Norway for the first time, documenting a whole new theater of operations for the mission.

In October Jefferson produced a narrated version of a new data visualization showing the declining age of Arctic sea ice over the satellite record. This video was picked up by multiple major news outlets and has garnered more than 600,000 views on YouTube alone. In fall 2016, Jefferson produced a video on NASA’s planned fleet of small satellites (sometimes called cubesats or nanosats) which was picked up on news outlets like the Christian Science Monitor.

In addition to providing continuing support for Operation IceBridge, the agency-wide Earth Right Now campaign, Earth Image from 360 camera of Greenland. Provided by J. Beck.

96 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Huffman. The video is available at the SVS (http://svs.gsfc.nasa. gov/12254), and the AGU playlist is found here: https://www. youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Ihm2Mh3MZ6qzztKKypNFhB6jAB joHoH. (To clarify, Matt Radcliff is credited as Lead Producer on the AGU site since he submitted the video on behalf of Goddard Image of Solarium at American Museum of Natural History, New Multimedia.) York, NY. Provided by G. Duberstein. Ryan worked on several Hurricane Matthew Multimedia Products, visualizations and videos, as Hurricane Matthew made landfall in including Mashable, USA Today, Engadget, Gizmodo, and Popular the U.S. in October 2016. The Global Precipitation Measurement Mechanics. (GPM) mission made several passes over the slow-moving hurricane, creating a wealth of data that Ryan and others turned With over 5 million views and counting, an ultra HD video of solar into media products. Ryan produced several passes of the footage has become the second most-watched NASA YouTube hurricane with visualizer Alex Kekesi. These visualizations formed video of all time. Produced and edited by Genna along with Scott the basis of several short video products. Joy Ng also produced Wiessinger, the ambient video features 30 minutes of footage a short text-on-screen style video, which was released while from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. Matthew headed for Florida. Ryan produced a similar video that incorporated the later GPM passes, as well as footage of the A major highlight was the selection of “Electric Wind of Venus” subsequent flooding, which was released a short while after the by the DC Science Writers Association for its 2017 Newsbrief hurricane dissipated. Award (see Awards section). Genna produced and Brian Monroe animated the video. The video explains that Venus has an Ryan, along with Alex Kekesi, also produced a longer multi- “electric wind” strong enough to remove the components of satellite visualization of Hurricane Matthew, which looked at wind water from its upper atmosphere. This action may have played a speed, wind direction, sea surface temperature, soil moisture, significant role in stripping the planet of its oceans. and accumulated rainfall over the life of the hurricane. The visualization was primarily produced as a hyperwall presentation On July 19, 2016, Goddard’s annual film festival had two for use by George Huffman at the American Meteorological showings, both to a crowded Building 3 auditorium. Again this Society’s January 2017 meeting. year, Genna produced the festival, featuring 17 videos about Goddard’s latest scientific and engineering accomplishments. In an effort to increase focus on the GPM satellite’s capability This year’s attendance set a new record. Lisa Poje created the of measuring snowfall, Ryan produced a couple of videos that introduction animation. discuss observing winter weather. These videos include a review of why snowflakes have six sides and a look at the April Fool’s Upcoming plans include work on web shorts, another video and Day Nor’easter in New England. work on Solarium in Quebec. Additionally, Ryan produced the third and final installment in the Ryan Fitzgibbons supports the GPM and ICESat-2 missions in ICESat-2 “Laser Focus” series. This video “Timing Is Everything” all multimedia needs, including the documentation of mission hosted by engineer Phil Luers and animated by Adriana Manrique milestones, production of web videos and live press events, and Gutierrez looks at how the transmitter and receiver subsystems support for the Education/Public Outreach (E/PO) programs. come together to time the flight of a single photon, which in turn The American Geophysical Union Cinema Group selected Ryan’s allows us to measure elevation. production of “Life of the Monsoon” as one of their Top Ten short videos from the AGU Fall Meeting. This short video was Over the next year, Ryan will ramp up production for ICESat-2 released summer of 2016 and features many data visualizations as it nears its year out to launch. He will produce several core that Ryan produced with the SVS. The video looks at the animations, including one on ice sheet atmospheric processes meteorological ingredients for the monsoon and the seasonal and an updated albedo animation, and also will produce short pattern’s influence on Southeast Asia and beyond, and includes videos utilizing the animations. For the GPM mission, Ryan will interviews with scientists William Lau and GPM Scientist George produce a narrated version of the multi-satellite look at Hurricane

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 97 Multi-satellite visualization used in a hyperwall presentation at Image from OSIRIS-REx L-14. Provided by D. Gallagher. AMS, Jan 2017. Image created and provided by R. Fitzgibbons.

Matthew, which was previously produced for a hyperwall built at Goddard Space Flight Center. OSIRIS-REx is a mission to presentation. Also, he will produce short videos that look at the explore asteroid Bennu and return a sample to Earth in 2023. applications of GPM and/or TRMM data which will include uses The video features interviews with Dennis Reuter and Amy in agriculture and disease monitoring. Simon (instrument scientists for OVIRS), along with footage and animations of the spectrometer. As a multimedia producer with Goddard Media Studios, Dan Gallagher creates videos that inform the public about missions Dan provided materials for OSIRIS-REx Science Press Briefings. and scientific research being conducted at NASA Goddard For the OSIRIS-REx L-14 (launch-minus-fourteen) press briefing Space Flight Center. As the lead video producer for the Planetary at NASA-HQ on August 17, 2016, he supported all six presenters Department at GSFC, Daniel provides video support for the with graphics, including animations, HD video, and stills, and MAVEN and OSIRIS-REx missions, as well as for general planetary published the graphics for download on the SVS OSIRIS-REx research at Goddard. gallery. The briefing outlined the science goals and timeline of the OSIRIS-REx mission to asteroid Bennu, and was broadcast Dan produced and edited an interview with Juno Deputy Principal live on NASA Television during the run-up to launch. Information Investigator Jack Connerney in the video “Exploring Jupiter’s on this OSIRIS-REx L-14 Press Briefing is here: https://youtu.be/ Magnetic Field” (http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12296). Juno is oeXlI5ndaCk. peering beneath Jupiter’s clouds to investigate its composition and magnetic field. A pair of twin magnetometers, built at To support the OSIRIS-REx launch, Dan prepared animations, Goddard Space Flight Center under Dr. Connerney’s direction, data visualizations, video, and archival photographs for the L-2 provides scientists their first look at the dynamo that drives science briefing at NASA Kennedy Space Center on September 6, Jupiter’s vast magnetosphere. 2016. Project Scientist Jason Dworkin and his fellow presenters discussed the science goals of the OSIRIS-REx mission, and Dan released “OSIRIS-REx Tech – Surveying an Asteroid with the value of returning a sample of asteroid Bennu to Earth for Light,” which is the second in the OSIRIS-REx technology series, detailed study. The science briefing was broadcast live on NASA and focuses on the OVIRS visible and infrared spectrometer Television and the graphics were released for download on the SVS OSIRIS-REx gallery. Information on this OSIRIS-REx L-2 Science Briefing is here: https://youtu.be/Fu2Z5ZC1HBo.

Dan produced and edited “Searching for Earth’s Trojan Asteroids,” a video interview with NASA’s Director of Planetary Science, Jim Green. In mid-February 2017, OSIRIS-REx searched for Earth’s elusive Trojan asteroids as the spacecraft passed by our planet’s L4 Lagrange point. In addition to Dr. Green’s expert interview, the video features new graphics and animations by NASA Goddard and the University of Arizona, and was released on NASA Explorer (YouTube), nasa.gov, and the SVS archive on February 9, 2017 (http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12504).

Work in the year ahead will include a video and data visualization of the Martian moon Phobos and its dynamic processes, which Dan will work on with Goddard planetary scientist Bill Farrell Image provided by D. Gallagher. and data visualizers in the SVS. Dr. Farrell is co-author of an

98 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 upcoming Museum of Science Fiction) on a tour of Goddard’s spacecraft testing and integration facilities on June 30; providing Image from OSIRIS-REx L-2. Provided by D. Gallagher. editorial assistance to July 22 Hubble-Star Trek “Frontier Fields” liveshots; and aiding in the escort of 25 guests for half of NASA’s two-day Star Trek social at the center on July 27. upcoming paper investigating Phobos. He also will continue with media support for the MOMA instrument, including filming Goddard Communications leadership requested that Rob serve integration and testing of the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer on a small team tasked with creating a new “about Goddard” (MOMA) instrument at Goddard. He will work with MOMA team exhibit for the Visitor Center. His main contributions were the members Rick Arevalo and Veronica Pinnick to prepare MOMA “mission life cycle” theme (sourced from the center’s old virtual animations, videos, and footage for public release. tour), selecting imagery for the exhibit and copy-editing proofs. After several months in development, the “about Goddard” Dan will continue to work with Conceptual Image Lab and exhibit was installed March 20, 2017. Scientific Visualization Studio animators to produce an end-to- end mission video for OSIRIS-REx, from launch in 2016 through For the Antares rocket’s return to flight on Oct. 17, 2016, sample return in 2023. The video will support education and Rob traveled to Wallops for his usual role in authoring public outreach efforts by the OSIRIS-REx principal investigator, the launch blog. His work contributed to the second- NASA, and the University of Arizona. Data visualizations for highest one-day traffic for blogs.nasa.gov throughout the whole the video were completed in late March 2017. Conceptual of 2016 (bested only by Scott Kelly’s return from the “Year in animations are currently in production. Space” on March 1, 2016). NASA blog traffic records begin in February 2013; since then, Antares’ return to flight was the No. From summer 2016 through present, Robert Garner has been 10 all-time spike. involved with and supported a variety of events and responded to requests from NASA Goddard and NASA HQ. Goddard During this past year, Rob received a 2016 Office of the Director Heliophysics tapped Rob to support NASA Science Day on the Peer Award (see Awards section of this report). Additionally, in Hill in June 2016. He spoke for several hours to dozens of April 2017, the NASA website itself received the 2017 People’s Capitol Hill interns and staffers about the agency’s heliophysics Choice Webby Award (Government & Civil Innovation category) in efforts, particularly the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission. His April 2017. efforts — which included a chat with Rep. Brian Babin, chairman of the House Science Subcommittee on Space — received compliments from Michelle Thaller (assistant director for science communication at Goddard) and Peg Luce (Heliophysics Division Deputy Director in the Science Mission Directorate at Headquarters).

In response to NASA Headquarters’ desire for agency-wide video greetings from employees for Star Trek’s 50th anniversary (Sept. 8, 2016), Goddard Executive Producer Wade Sisler arranged a video shoot at the center on Aug. 26. Rob wrote the script for Goddard’s participants. In the resulting “happy anniversary” video (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJYzUimSaDA), Goddard’s portion appears first among the field centers’ segments—and it has more overall air time than any other facility, Headquarters included. This culminated Rob’s summer spent on various Star Trek projects, which also included: accompanying Rod Roddenberry (son of Star Trek’s creator and the executive producer of the 2017 TV series), Jamie Anderson (son of the From “Happy Anniversary, Star Trek.” Image provided by creator of “Space: 1999”), and Greg Viggiano (director of D.C.’s R. Garner.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 99 For the coming year, mission websites for Lucy and Solar Probe Plus will likely get published in the summer. Rob expects to participate in a workshop on effective science communications (led by Jefferson Beck and Genna Duberstein) in May. He will be training the newest member of the Goddard web and social media teams on the functions and procedures associated with the www.nasa.gov content management system. Also, with additional Antares launches planned from Wallops in the coming year, Rob expects to travel to the sites for his usual support role.

Michelle Handleman Seff is lead producer for the satellite media tour program that highlights the broad spectrum of science and technology being done at Goddard Space Flight Center. In addition to pitching story ideas and scheduling live shots, she holds media training sessions with scientists to prepare them Image from Antares rocket launch, Oct 2016, Wallops, VA. for interviews, in addition to creating web pages on the Scientific Image provided by R. Garner.

HIGHLIGHTING GODDARD’S HISTORY

Rob Garner continued to play a role in communicating Goddard’s historic roles. In July 2016, he fielded a request from a documentary team about the early communication satellite Syncom. Conducting research through local collections, Rob provided photography and video to The Documentary Group, a New York-based production company working on films to complement their February release of a five-part documentary series called “The Age of Aerospace.”

In October, Rob arranged Goddard tours and presentations for Space historian, blogger and “Vintage Space” video producer Amy Teitel. He served as Ms. Teitel’s sole escort for the second half of her day-long visit, which included a stop in the Hubble Space Telescope Operations Control Center and a brief presentation by Rob on Goddard’s continuous role in space communications. He also provided ideas for future broadcasts, as Publicity photo of the Syncom satellite. Provided by R. Garner well as collections of Goddard multimedia resources. (Photo credit: NASA)

In January, Rob provided imagery and video resources to a Smithsonian Channel TV series crew about the Space Age’s “great structures,” specifically, materials pertaining to the Goddard-managed Orbiting Astronomical Observatories (OAO), which were spiritual predecessors to Hubble and the largest satellites of their era. In March (with approval from Goddard Communications leadership), Rob repatriated issues of a historic NASA Headquarters newsletter to the agency’s Dr. T. Keith Glennan Memorial Library.

100 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 for the interviews, and canned interviews were prepared for the media to download. CBS This Morning in the Hubble Control Room. Image provided by M. Handleman-Seff. On April 14, 2017, CBS News network’s show “CBS This Morning” did a live shot from the Hubble Control Room through Michelle’s efforts. CBS wanted to follow up on the newly released news Visualization Studio specifically for the media to easily download about water plumes on Europa and Enceladus. This was a material for their newscasts. last-minute request, but Michelle worked with the Hubble team to coordinate having CBS correspondent Jan Crawford and the Michelle led a satellite media campaign on behalf of the NASA CBS News team out for their early show. This provided a great agency in support of the TRAPPIST exoplanet announcement in opportunity to talk about Hubble’s portion of the Europa results. February. She worked with scientists from Goddard, the Space Telescope Science Institute and NASA’s chief of the astrophysics Michelle also coordinated a live shot opportunity showing NASA’s division Paul Hertz on this campaign. she booked 40 interviews latest views of Hurricane Matthew as it was approaching the with outlets including the Weather Channel; 20 stations in top coast of Florida. She booked 48 interviews where scientists were 20 TV markets and FOX NewsEdge affiliate service which feeds able to show NASA’s view of the storm and talk about how NASA soundbites to FOX stations across the country. She also booked studies hurricanes. Due to the high interest in this topic, Michelle six radio stations including WBAL radio that broadcasts locally coordinated interviews from 5:50am to 2:45pm. Highlights in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area. Michelle was able to include: 15 stations in top 20 markets including two New York highlight NASA’s full suite of current and future missions that stations (#1), Los Angeles (#2) and Chicago (#3); MSNBC (twice); will further explore these exoplanets including the Spitzer Space the Wall Street Journal, FOX NewsEdge, LiveScience.com and Telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope, Transiting Exoplanet Discovery News. She also booked five radio interviews. Survey Satellite and the James Webb Space Telescope. For the year ahead, Michelle is preparing for Hubble live shots on Michelle coordinated a live shot campaign highlighting the May 5th highlighting a new Frontier Field image. She is working upcoming total solar eclipse and NASA’s efforts to better with scientists from NASA and the Space Telescope Science understand the sun with the new mission Solar Probe Plus. Using Institute on this campaign. Additionally, she is planning to have the spring equinox as a news hook, she booked 46 interviews two more campaigns this year about the upcoming solar eclipse with television and radio stations nationwide to discuss the in August 2017. eclipse and how NASA studies our sun, and how this data is important for studying exoplanets orbiting other stars. She booked 11 radio stations for this campaign, the highest amount booked for a live shot. Those radio interviews were typically longer and allowed the scientists to get into more detail about the eclipse. Additional highlights include CNN Espanol (three different shows); FOX NewsEdge affiliate service division, 15 interviews in top 25 markets.

Michelle orchestrated a campaign highlighting a new Hubble image of Jupiter on April 7, 2017, when the planet was at opposition. She booked 28 interviews for the four scientists participating in the live shots. Interview highlights include: FOX NewsEdge and CBS Newspath affiliate services; WJZ Boston radio; Mississippi Public Broadcasting; Space.com, nine stations in top 20 markets across the country, including a canned interview for TV Azteca in Los Angeles (#2 market). Michelle worked with the scientists to hold rehearsals to prepare them Coverage of Hurricane Matthew via Live Shots. Image provided by M. Handleman-Seff.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 101 Broadcasting from the OSIRIS-REx launch. Image provided Image provided by D. Kim. by K. Jackson.

As science video producer for the Hubble Space Telescope and Katrina also produced a science results video about USRA planetary science, Katrina Jackson coordinates with project Postdoc Ottaviano Ruesch finding evidence from NASA’s Dawn leads and communications officials to provide multimedia in mission that the mountain on Ceres, known as Ahuna Mons, is support of mission goals and communication campaigns. From actually a cryovolcano that formed within the past billion years. her work with HST, this past year she produced and hosted eight Hubble science results videos on topics such as water vapor Going forward, Katrina plans to continue supporting the Hubble plumes on Europa, spectroscopic measurements of atmospheres Space Telescope project by producing videos to accompany of Earth-sized exoplanets, and a rogue supermassive black science result press releases, finding ways to keep showing hole. All of these videos received hundreds of thousands of the public that Hubble is still going strong and returning great views on YouTube and Facebook and were shared by outlets science, and gathering both historical and new media resources such as Space.com, The Washington Post, GeekWire, and more. as Hubble approaches its 30th anniversary in 2020. She will also Along with the science result videos, Katrina was in charge of support other planetary science and astrophysics projects as graphics for five Hubble live shot campaigns and one press needed, and continue to craft Goddard space science stories into conference. Each live shot campaign reached dozens of news videos to share with large, diverse audiences. networks and used hooks, such as movie premieres or night sky viewing opportunities, to draw people in to the Hubble science Dongjae “Krystofer” Kim creates animations and visualizations and imagery. Katrina provided other multimedia support to as a part of Conceptual Image Lab to help visualize NASA’s the Hubble Space Telescope project by providing informational science discoveries and missions for internal and external footage and a promotional video for the Hubble Traveling Exhibit, communication. This past year, Krystofer created graphics for capturing 4K b-roll of Hubble facilities, producing a promotional the event at the National Air and Space Museum, including the video for the #SpotHubble social media engagement effort, introductory and transition animations for the speakers as well creating a Valentine’s Day video on the Space Telescope as some infographics in the presentations. Operations Control Center, delivering media requests to outside documentaries, and overseeing the hiring of a Hubble video Krystofer also illustrated and animated a promotional video for archivist. the search for the Ninth Planet via Backyardworlds.com.

From efforts with Planetary Science Multimedia, Katrina Work will continue with the CILab on upcoming videos, such as supported the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission the Lunar Eclipse and other events and research findings. leading up to its launch in September. She produced an instrument profile video on the Canadian Space Agency’s OSIRIS- David Ladd is a Video Producer who works in the Planetary REx Laser Altimeter (OLA), a narrated dramatic overview titled Science division. He produces and edits videos for numerous “To Bennu and Back” using Goddard’s new 4K animations, and NASA missions, including the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, a quick-turnaround video interviewing NASA Social participants MAVEN, and OSIRIS-REx. A major highlight from this past year watching the OSIRIS-REx launch at Cape Canaveral. Katrina also was the video “The Moon and More”, which David produced, provided graphics support for the press conferences leading directed and edited. This educational music video starred up to the launch and compiled resource reels of interview clips. musicians Javier Colon (the season 1 winner of NBC’s “The For her efforts, the International Astronomical Union named an Voice”) and Matt Cusson, and was created for the Lunar asteroid after Katrina: asteroid 120353 Katrinajackson, a main Reconnaissance Orbiter mission. The video and accompanying belt asteroid discovered in 2005 by the Catalina Sky Survey (see written feature premiered in October 2016. The video was https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=120353). reported on by numerous news outlets, and was featured at events across the country and world as a part of

102 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 2016 and is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=xh8t8FpekH4. Still from the education video “The Moon and More.” Provided by D. Ladd. For “A Titan Discovery”, David worked with CI Labs animator Michael Lentz. David produced and edited the video in collaboration with scientist Maureen Palmer, whose team at NASA Goddard made an exciting discovery with astrobiological implications on Saturn’s largest moon. The video will premiere at the time Dr. Palmer’s science paper is published in 2017.

Using visualizations created by Ernie Wright, David produced and edited a series of short videos for the LRO mission called “Moon Features.” The first video showcased the visualization of the Vera volcanic depression and Rima Prinz rille channel on the nearside of the moon. The second video featured Reiner Gamma, which is a lunar swirl. David created both English and Spanish-narrated versions of the videos, which were released in August 2016 and March 2017, respectively. Their YouTube links are https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=zKhXc9wKe_Y and https://www.youtube. Images from “Moon Features.” Provided by D. Ladd. com/watch?v=-q6UW2MqBzE, with Spanish versions here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GKYJXH5nmQ and https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEMZd6Ovbcg.

David produced and edited the video “Planetary Fieldwork: A HI-SEAS Adventure”, which features the HI-SEAS research crew, situated on the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii, conducting field tests with the Miniaturized Laser Heterodyne Radiometer (mini-LHR), an instrument developed and built by NASA Goddard scientists. The video launched in April 2017.

In September 2016, Michael Lentz became Art Director of the Conceptual Image Lab. The need for an Art Director has never been more pressing, as the lab has nearly tripled in size since 2013. At that time, lab resources were limited and we produced less animation. However, that has grown to 7 people who are HI-SEAS research crew on the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii working to produce numerous animations per year. Many of from “Planetary Fieldwork: A HI-SEAS Adventure”. Image the animation projects are becoming larger and more complex, provided by D. Ladd. involving multiple artists on a project. Having consistent guidance and standards in place to help manage this work will be critical as the department grows and more producers create International Observe the Moon Night. The video and feature their own graphics and animation. Michael oversees the day-to- article can be found here: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ day creative process and work of artists and offers guidance as goddard/2016/lro-presents-the-moon-and-more. needed. He assists producers who are using CIL animation, to make sure they have guidance for how best to utilize our work, David produced and edited the video “OSIRIS-REx Technology: in addition providing guidance on graphics and animation they REXIS” for the OSIRIS-REx mission. This video was an instrument create themselves. Additional opportunities will be provided to profile piece on the Regolith X-ray Imaging Spectrometer that foster creativity and collaboration among staff. is aboard the spacecraft. This video was released in July of

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 103 “Titan Azotosomes.” Image created by and provided by M. Lentz. Posters for internal use on a series of environmental tests on an instrument for ICESat-2. Provided by A. Manrique Gutierrez.

Michael is art directing other artists for JWST. This is a large project over the coming year and will involve a number of artists. Several animations have been delivered with others in various states for production. For the OSIRIS-REx mission, he has been creating and art directing many animations, which will continue to be produced throughout the coming year.

Michael created a short animation to show how certain molecules found on Saturn’s moon Titan could combine to form the early building blocks of life.

For work ahead, Michael is evaluating the transition of the Conceptual Image Labs render farm from the Mental Ray Still from “Photon Jump.” Provided by A. Manrique Gutierrez. renderer to Pixar’s Renderman as the primary renderer for the lab and to better align with the SVS rendering capabilities. He also is researching how Virtual Reality can be incorporated into Adriana also completed the animated movie showcasing JWST’s the Conceptual Image Labs production pipeline and how it can mirror phasing sequence. She was in charge of the second be used to tell NASA stories in a new and compelling way. In June phase of storyboarding, animation, lighting, texturing and motion 2017, a new animation Fellow will be joining the Conceptual graphics, and has been tasked with optimizing the 3D model Image Labs as part of the Lab’s yearly fellowship program offered to be used in future outreach products. This film is yet to be to recent animation graduates. released to the public by the mission.

Adriana Manrique Gutierrez is part of the Office of Adriana also completed a series of animations for OSIRIS-REx Communications and works with the Cryospheric Sciences detailing different mission phases and the satellite’s different Branch with Thorsten Markus. She creates multimedia for the instruments. She was responsible for various tasks, including ICESat-2 mission and is an animator at the Conceptual Image animation, modeling, texturing, lighting and compositing. Lab. This past year, she created posters for the team of engineers and scientists tasked with performing a series of environmental This summer, Adriana will attend SIGGRAPH to attend workshops tests on the ATLAS instrument for ICESat-2. The idea behind and lectures and to learn about new and upcoming technology these is to portray each test as a horror movie; the posters were and processes that would enrich her work. Along with the CiLab intended for internal use only and not for public release. team, she will help implement new software and procedures for a more efficient production pipeline. She and other members of Adriana also completed the production of a promotional video, the team have begun testing new software and hardware with the animated short film “Photon Jump”; she served as producer an aim to expand the lab’s capabilities. She will continue to and also received help from students and faculty from the support ICESat-2’s EPO team by assisting them during events Savannah College of Art and Design. This short film has been like AwesomeCon, Goddard’s Science Jamboree, and more. As featured in space.com (http://www.space.com/35940-student- their multimedia specialist, Adriana will continue to produce a nasa-film-stars-adorable-photon.html), was included in AGU’s top wide variety of outreach products from printed materials to digital short films of the year (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL media. With ICESat-2’s launch day approaching quickly, she has 7Ihm2Mh3MZ6qzztKKypNFhB6jABjoHoH) , and has been shared been tasked with updating and creating several new products for by several of NASA’s social media accounts in addition to ICESat- its outreach campaigns. 2’s accounts.

104 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Upcoming plans also include producing many animated clips and selected this time, it is likely to be resubmitted in the near future. short films for the JWST mission. The main goal is to showcase Meanwhile, materials and assets from that project will be used in the inner workings of JWST and its instruments and technology. future spacecraft visuals developed through CI Lab. One of the main animations has been finished and is awaiting public release; a second animation is currently in production. For an upcoming science release on a discovery made in The number of visuals to be created for this mission is expected northern Greenland, Brian created several visuals, making to rise drastically as JWST hits more landmarks and approaches use of a diorama-like style of animation. These graphics use completion and launch. shallow depth-of-field and miniature-like modeling (exaggeration of proportions and texture scale) to lend itself to a museum Brian Monroe provides visual support, including animation, exhibit feel to the animation. The models are stationary and still imagery, and overlays, for NASA Goddard science releases, the camera does most of the movement, to really hit home the mission highlights, and other media productions. The visuals idea of a moment frozen in time. Animation is being produced developed through the Conceptual Image Lab help to highlight at 4K resolution to capture the textural quality of these models. key scientific results, instrumentation of current and future NASA When the findings report is released, sometime in the summer, spacecrafts, and general physics concepts.

Working with Genna Duberstein to create a short video about the electric field of Venus, Brian developed an interesting drawn and vector art style of animation that allowed the landscape and atmosphere of Venus to come to life. The video, “Electric Wind of Venus”, had reached Gizmodo and space.com during its initial release and in early April 2017 received the DC Science Writer Association’s Newsbrief Award for Multimedia (see https:// dcswa.org/winners-announced-for-2016-dcswa-newsbrief- award). The story-telling techniques and unique visuals will hopefully inspire other short form animated pieces in the greater science community and bring attention to Goddard Media and to the research of Venus going on right now.

Since first being published in October 2015, the massive black Image from animations for the DAVINCI proposal. Provided by hole shredding a star animation that Brian had done has become B. Monroe. the fourth most popular video on NASA Goddard’s YouTube channel with 4,610,384 views (and counting). It continues to be a popular visualization of Astrophysics that does an effective job of boiling down this very massive and complicated event in space and in a way that is visually amazing to watch. As studies and science releases continue to need visuals to pair with the findings, the animation will only continue to gain exposure over time.

In late fall of 2016, Brian had worked on a long sequence of animations for a proposal mission to Venus called DAVINCI. Working with Conceptual Image Lab animator Lisa Poje, Brian had developed at least ten animated shots that highlighted DAVINCI’s instruments and functions. The effort required coordination with the DAVINCI proposal team, producer Dan Gallagher and animator Lisa Poje in making the edit and visual Image of visuals from Greenland, which will accompany a to-be- style of the sequence cohesive. While the proposal was not released press release. Provided by B. Monroe.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 105 it should pick up a good deal of attention from various science news outlets. For now, the techniques learned through this Still from “How a NASA Science Flight is No Ordinary Journey.” project will be used in JWST animations and future semi-realistic Provided by J. Ng. visuals that the lab will be creating.

Going forward, Brian will utilize techniques developed in the the campaign to provide to external news outlets. She also longer term animations he has worked on throughout the last supported a SnowEx Media Day held at Peterson Air Force year on some of the upcoming long campaigns of similar visual Base that attracted a dozen print journalists, bloggers, and TV style. Shallow DOF and realistic materials will be used for the broadcasters. In addition, Joy also produced two videos titled rocket deploy animation that he will be creating for the JWST “NASA Investigates Water Supply in Snow” (https://svs.gsfc. suite of visuals. With the new animation Fellow starting in June, nasa.gov/12511) and “How a NASA Science Flight Is No Ordinary Brian hopes to work with the new addition to CI Lab in creating Journey” (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12549) that gained roughly more stylized 2D motion graphic pieces and hopefully continue to 320,000 views and around 8000 reactions on social media. bring outside attention and recognition to the great work that is The campaign was covered by Voice of America, Associated coming out of Goddard Media. Press, Live Science, Business Insider, and other news outlets. She also wrote a blog post for NASA’s Earth Expeditions website. As a multimedia producer within the NASA Goddard Multimedia Furthermore, Joy also produced several social media products Team, Joy Ng produces media products for NASA’s Global including Snapchat and Instagram stories, and a live-streamed Precipitation Measurement Mission, social media team, video on Facebook Live at the Peterson Air Force Base, where a heliophysics team, and on other NASA Earth science research. tour of the P-3 aircraft was given. Overall, these gained roughly She transforms research into web video stories for NASA.gov, 1.5 million views across these platforms. YouTube, Instagram, and broadcast television. Joy released a Science On a Sphere (SOS) production, which is a In the past year, Joy has released 12 Earth science-related film projected onto a spherical screen developed by NOAA. The multimedia products and 23 heliophysics-related multimedia SOS film (http://sos.noaa.gov/Datasets/dataset.php?id=610) products that have gained a total of more than 7 million showcased GPM’s IMERG satellite data as well as wind and sea views. The multimedia products were made for a variety of surface temperature data, and was distributed to the Science On platforms including NASA.gov, YouTube, Instagram, Tumblr, a Sphere community and Museum Alliance group. Twitter, Snapchat, and Science On A Sphere. One notable video was “SDO Witnesses A Double Eclipse” that was covered by This past year, Joy initiated Goddard’s first-ever Facebook Live numerous news outlets, such as AOL News, Mashable, CBS event that reached more than 1.9 million people. The 30-minute News, EarthSky, New Scientist, and others. Another notable event involved a tour of the GPM Mission Operations Center, GIF/Image-related feature includes “ESA’s, NASA’s SOHO Sees three scientists answering questions live from the public, and Bright Sungrazer Comet” (https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/ then an offline Q&A with the help of seven scientists from goddard/2016/esa-nasa-s-soho-sees-bright-sungrazer-comet). Goddard and Marshall. She also implemented a Facebook Live In the week it was released, this was the agency’s top story of event titled ‘NASA helps Cities Address Climate Risks’ that was the week with more than 50,000 views on the NASA.gov website. filmed in New York with scientists from GISS, NASA Goddard, This led to news coverage in The Boston Globe, Mashable, and people from City Hall in New York and the Rio de Janeiro City The Verge, Wired, Gizmodo, CNET, Voice of America, Discover Government. Joy has been involved with 10 Facebook Live events Magazine, Astronomy Now, AOL, EarthSky, and others. The at NASA Goddard in the past year. corresponding Instagram video also received more than 76,000 views. A video titled “NASA-funded Balloon Recovered after a Lisa Poje supports NASA with animation across all four science Year in Antarctica” received around 350,000 views and around themes; Earth Science, Planetary Science, Astrophysics, and 8000 reactions on social media and was re-purposed by The Heliophysics, working with scientists and producers to illustrate Weather Channel and The Discovery Channel. complex scientific ideas and new found discoveries in an interesting, easy to understand way. In February 2017, Joy supported the SnowEx field campaign in Colorado. She gathered broadcast-quality footage from

106 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 This past year, Lisa created the introduction animation for the and experience the globe as an interconnected system of 2016 Goddard Film Festival. For the NASM 2016 event, she systems. Matthew was instrumental in crafting the experience helped to create supporting illustrations and animations. For the and preparing the video elements to send to the contractors OSIRIS-REx Mission, Lisa created a mission trailer, which was responsible for the programming. The visitor center will also released shortly before launch. feature a mini-theater, where visitors can select from a list of videos about NASA science at Goddard. He has been curating the Lisa created an animation illustrating how a cryovolcano works, menu of videos and collaborating with the designers on the look such as the one named Ahuna Mons on Ceres, and she created and functionality of the mini-theater. an animation showing findings that came back from a sounding rocket mission, showing the diffused x-ray emissions and how it At the 2016 AGU Fall Meeting, Matthew produced two press relates to Earth. (Note: Lisa’s task ended May 5, 2017.) conferences on Goddard-related science. One press conference featured a team of scientists from around the world who are Matthew Radcliff provides support to the Office of using data from the NASA/USGS Landsat program to track how Communications, particularly regarding Earth science fast glaciers and large ice sheets are moving. The dataset they communications. Among other duties, he serves as the Lead unveiled gives a seasonal view of the dynamics of every glacier Producer for the Landsat program and for NASA Goddard’s Earth in the world, allowing scientists to understand what is causing Science Division (Code 610). He prepares videos for the press changes in movement of glaciers and ice sheets. The second and the general public about Goddard’s Earth science research press conference was on a new method developed by Goddard and their Earth science missions, leads the creation of videos researchers Robert Tyler and Terence Sabaka, relating the and visualizations that showcase Landsat science, and also heat content of the ocean to the magnetic fields generated by represents Goddard Multimedia on Agency-wide campaign for ocean tides. As the salty seawater cycles through the tides, it Earth science, “Earth Right Now.” introduces small perturbations in Earth’s magnetic field, which can be measured from orbiting satellites. The amount of the To facilitate the many interview requests from journalists who perturbation is linearly related to the heat content of the ocean. want to talk to Goddard scientists about NASA Earth science, The method is still in development, but could be a valuable Matthew has coordinated with outside reporters and film crews new dataset for understanding how the planet is affected by a to find and prepare interview locations, and worked with Goddard changing climate. (See related video here https://svs.gsfc.nasa. scientists to prepare visual material for the broadcast. Over the gov/12456.) past year, he assisted with interviews for Miguel Román, Paul Newman, Kelly Brunt, Joey Comiso, Lesley Ott, John Bolten, Rob In support of NASA’s agency-wide communication campaign Levy, and Peter Colarco. The interviews were with the Washington known as Earth Right Now, Matthew produced several videos Post, BBC, CNN, and Britain’s ITV news service, among others. for social media on the ATom mission. The mission was being Additionally, Matthew worked with the DC Environmental Film promoted as part of the agency’s Earth Expeditions series. Fest to have Lesley Ott on a panel discussion of the Leonardo DiCaprio documentary titled Before The Flood, which included a In the year ahead, Matthew will be developing a video series scene with Piers Sellers. for the Landsat program, intended for social media, making use of the long archive of data stretching back more than As the video producer for Goddard’s Earth Science Division (Code 40 years. A second video series will take a detailed look at 610), Matthew created videos commemorating the 17-year the data contained in a single Landsat image. He also will mission of the EO-1 satellite, on NASA’s view of wildfires around support multimedia communications for the team building the globe, Goddard’s forecast of El Niño and La Niña conditions the new Landsat 9 satellite. Matthew will continue to support in the south Pacific, and a mid-year look at global climate trends. communications for Goddard’s Earth Science Division, Additionally, a new exhibit on NASA Earth science is coming to highlighting the science research published by Goddard the Goddard visitor center, featuring an interactive display of scientists. For the upcoming annual event at NASM, Matthew NASA Earth science data visualizations. The interactive focuses will produce the program, which will feature guest speaker (and on the themes of Water, Air, and Life, and uses visualizations former NASA Goddard scientist) Marshall Shepherd. created by the SVS (including members of GESTAR). Utilizing a touch-screen display, visitors will be able to explore the data

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 107 Scott Wiessinger is Goddard’s lead multimedia producer for astrophysics and the WFIRST mission. He is also a producer for heliophysics. His projects include producing short videos, Image from “X-ray ‘Tsunami’ Found in Perseus Galaxy Cluster”, static graphics, hyperwall content, 4k media, and digital art which Scott produced. Provided by S. Wiessinger. installations, directing the creation of animations and data visualizations, creating animations, providing materials to outside media and producers, as well as collecting and creating additional social media content, and curating visuals online. Regarding his work with Heliophysics, Scott was instrumental in Scott coordinates and collaborates with science writers and the initial planning of a STEREO 10th anniversary event at the scientists to produce accurate and accessible materials timed National Air and Space Museum (although the event fell through to coincide with press releases, other announcements and at the last minute). He conceived of the format for the event, and presentations. worked on a number of visual packages for it. Scott released one video for STEREO’s 10th anniversary. Because STEREO is the only Scott produced, co-produced, edited and/or animated 17 videos mission that allows a stereoscopic view of the sun, Scott and SVS released during this past year. These videos were primarily visualizer Tom Bridgman created a video that featured the sun as animations, visualizations, and interviews or narrated features 3D video. This has never been done before at 4k resolution and about science results and missions. Pieces that Scott either with such complete sequences. collaborated on or produced individually now occupy the top four spots on Goddard’s YouTube channel and those four videos alone Scott made the 7th annual SDO anniversary video, his sixth account for 15% of the total views for the entire channel. Scott’s time doing so. It is one of his favorite projects each year. See complete collection of work can be found here: http://svs.gsfc. https://youtu.be/kJPz-oRnRDE. Since the decline in solar nasa.gov/search/Person/WiessingerScott.html and his YouTube activity, the challenge has been finding fresh ways to showcase videos produced during the 2016-2017 year can be found here: SDO’s impressive abilities. This year, Scott used imagery from a https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7XDpO8SEcdiQOJIRGR different instrument—HMI instead of AIA—and showed a time- L5o3pnVxa8rKGY. lapse of all 7 years in visible light to display the rise and fall of the solar cycle. Although this was possible before with the SOHO He continued working on hyperwall content this year and spacecraft, it has never been visible at such high resolution. created or “refurbished” many visuals at a 3x3 hyperwall size of 5760x3240 pixels. He worked on a new WFIRST presentation Shortly after SDO’s anniversary, there was an abrupt increase for Neil Gehrels at the January 2017 AAS meeting. Scott created in the interest for the sixth SDO anniversary video that four brand-new videos, updated two more, and also made demonstrates the long life these videos can have. On February five new still images. The contents of the presentation are 13, there was a ten-fold increase in download traffic on the SVS. now available to the public on the SVS (https://svs.gsfc.nasa. It went from a daily average of 2TB up to 24TB. This increase gov/12417). Scott is using 3D animation software more often, was due to downloads from a single page. The SDO: Year 6 page and in October he released a video built around an animation he had 1.2 million hits from over 700,000 different IP addresses created of a binary star system. In addition to animation, Scott (https://youtu.be/8MImmQvqCSg). Forty-six percent of these pushed through several other firsts, including a release of the hits were from reddit; while it is not clear why there was such a first stereoscopic solar footage in 4k, the first SDO 4k time-lapse strong surge in attention, this does illustrate why it is so useful to using visible light imagery of the sun. archive projects and make them publicly available.

Solar footage from SDO continues to drive interesting projects. This year’s astrophysics releases were quite broad in scope. The Science Museum in London is creating a sun exhibit Because of very limited funding, Scott evaluated stories to best and recently re-established contact with Scott to advise on play to their strengths, get the most out of existing materials, and possibly contribute to the final show piece. Scott also and stretch funding for animation as far as possible. For a Swift collaborated with Genna Duberstein to create a special edit and Kepler story about merging binary stars, Scott created his of the Thermonuclear Art video for the University of Mary first animation in full 3D animation software. He also created an Washington. The video was displayed on a non-rectangular animation for a video about the ill-fated Hitomi mission. Scott screen in the Hurley Convergence Center for April 2017. made a couple videos about the LISA Pathfinder mission as well

108 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Plans in the coming year will include continued work on Solarium. For work on science results for astrophysics, the Fermi group has Still from “Swift Charts a Star’s ‘Death Spiral’ into Black Hole”, been very enthusiastic about Scott’s work on the hyperwall and produced and animated by S. Wiessinger. Image provided by on videos for wide release, so he expects more work with them. S. Wiessinger. Additionally, Scott will be producing narrated videos, interview videos, hyperwall content and an increasing amount of social media content for WFIRST. To jump-start promotion of dark as a very well received video about echoes from black holes. It energy research, Scott conceived of Dark Energy Week, slated for is now up to 200,000 YouTube views and was featured on The October 2017. Verge, Popular Science and Scientific American.

This was the first year that Scott made text-on-screen videos, which are currently very popular since viewers are consuming CODE 606.4 (Sponsor: H. Mitchell) more videos without sound. Scott made three videos in this style. He also made a few videos that show a simulation or Tom Bridgman produces a variety of visualizations for the NASA animation with some limited on-screen labeling. One, which GSFC Office of Communications. To support science releases featured an animation Scott made of different forms of light around the MMS set of spacecraft, he generated several emitted from a black hole tidal disruption event, was surprisingly visualizations; the most complex version actually presented successful, collecting about 165,000 views between YouTube, MMS data as vectors attached to the spacecraft as they pass and Facebook. Scott also worked with animator Krystofer Kim through the magnetopause and the magnetic reconnection to create a unique animated promotion video for a new citizen region, released in May 2016 (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/ science project called Backyard Worlds. The site allows users search.cgi?series=378). With completion of the dayside science all over the world help sift through WISE data to look for nearby phase, Tom generated a visualization showing the orbit transition brown dwarfs and the recently postulated Planet Nine. It was to nightside science, released in February 2017 (https://svs. Scott and Krystofer’s first foray into character animation, and gsfc.nasa.gov/4549). He developed another visualization to it turned out really well. Another project that Scott worked on illustrate particle trapping in kinetic Alfven waves using the was for PRAXyS, an X-ray telescope. It wasn’t funded, and so the ParticleSimulator code, released in March 2017 (https://svs. video wasn’t released, but it was shown to several audiences at gsfc.nasa.gov/4561). Goddard, where it received excellent reviews from NASA officials, including Colleen Hartman and John Grunsfeld. Scott enjoyed For the Van Allen Probes, Tom released two new visualizations working on the project, which utilized animations from CI Lab and supporting science stories. One visualization generated a “pulse” some creative videography by Scott to illustrate the concept and of accelerated electrons that drifted around Earth to strike Probe effect of polarization. B multiple times during the course of several minutes. This was released in August 2016 (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/ This past year had a great amount of work for WFIRST, although details.cgi?aid=4480). A second visualization using Van Allen most of it has not come out through publicized channels. Probe data illustrates the formation and slow decay of a new belt Scott supervised many new animation products, including new of high-energy electrons in the inner region of the radiation belts animations of the spacecraft to reflect a design update. He (released March 2017, https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4557). produced animations of the two main instruments and created narrated videos to explain how they work. For the January AAS Tom worked with Lynn Wilson (NASA/GSFC) on developing a meeting, Scott updated some hyperwall animations, created particle visualization for a NASA release related to a paper in others and further unified the look of the products. He also publication. Dr. Wilson generated the particle trajectories while updated the teaser trailer to be 4k resolution and have the new Tom implemented the Plasma Zoo framework to present them spacecraft design. For a South by Southwest (SXSW) talk, Scott in video format. This acceleration mechanism is called shock responded to a request from one of the NASA panelists and drift acceleration (SDA) and was added to the Plasma Zoo modified a universe pie chart graphic that he created for an visualization collection (released November 2016, https://svs. earlier hyperwall presentation. Finally, Scott made a 4k WFIRST gsfc.nasa.gov/4513). overview video, which should be released in summer 2017.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 109 2012 to use for generating more polished products for the 2016 Mercury transit that was visible from SDO. Full disk 4K Still from MMS visualization. Developed and provided by (Ultra high-definition) content was released (https://svs.gsfc. T. Bridgman. nasa.gov/4461). Also, in October 2016, the STEREO mission celebrated its 10th Anniversary. Tom revisited and revised the STEREO movies generated in the early phase of the mission, and Tom generated multiple visualizations illustrating the orbit retrieved original data from the time frame of the first release and science data collection process of the upcoming ICON and processed it with the latest data cleanup algorithms for (Ionospheric Connection Explorer) & GOLD (Global-scale STEREO. The updated visualizations were finalized and released Observations of the Limb and Disk) missions. This effort as part of a press release (see http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12393). required accessing several new reference models such as Additionally, for the Astrophysics Division, Tom developed a visual the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI), the Horizontal of the WFIRST trajectory from Earth to the Sun-Earth Lagrange Wind Model (HWM), and the International Geomagnetic Two location using a preliminary launch ephemeris (https://svs. Reference Field (IGRF). These were combined into mission- gsfc.nasa.gov/4470). specific visualizations (http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/search. cgi?series=382) plus additional versions presenting just the Tom was also involved with several presentations and provided models to illustrate our current understanding of the ionosphere hyperwall support at various events and venues: the 25th (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4539, https://svs.gsfc.nasa. Anniversary of the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory; the Winter gov/4540). He also generated these as image sequences for use American Astronomical Society (AAS) meeting; the Science on the Dynamic Planet and Science on a Sphere displays. Mission Directorate (SMD) Poster Session; Global Design Marriott International; presentation to CCMC students; and To support a release acknowledging the Solar Dynamics Annapolis Midshipmen visit. Observatory’s seven years of operation, Tom retrieved nearly seven full years of data from the HMI (Heliospheric Magnetic Work will continue on the Outer Planet Magnetospheres project, Imager) to illustrate the visible light changes in the sun and revitalized by the arrival of the Juno spacecraft at Jupiter and the sunspot cycle over this time period. Sampling data every 12 upcoming 40th anniversary of the Voyager missions. At present, hours required retrieving nearly 5,000 4Kx4K image data files the Io ring current and planetary satellites have been added, but in a sequence that was not optimal for the data archive—and requests have been made for additional characteristics of the several retrieval retries had to be done manually. The QuickLook Uranus magnetosphere. Tom is revisiting the Aurora Formation. 171A AIA data was also retrieved over much of the same time This first animation depicting formation of the aurora is rather frame. Tom also generated a couple of graphs of the sunspot old and still only available for standard definition display devices. number variation, and Scott Wiessinger (GESTAR) composited them into a final product. The basic visuals were released on February 11, 2017, https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4551, with Scott’s polished composited product released under https://svs.gsfc. nasa.gov/12500.

In other activities, Tom provided support to several smaller projects this year, and a few are highlighted here. He worked on an update to the Enlil New Horizons space weather visualization, the goal being to de-emphasize the STEREO missions, which were out of communication with Earth during much of the time frame of the visualization (and STEREO-B has not yet been fully recovered as of this writing). A new orbit layer was generated without the STEREO spacecraft and composited and posted under the same visualization entry. The individual layers (data and orbits) were made available to facilitate use by other Image from a particle visualization. Developed and provided by producers. Tom also dusted off the Venus transit code from T. Bridgman.

110 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 For database support, Leann made several updates to the story page metadata entry GUI that populates the SVS website. The Still from “Exploring Earth’s Ionosphere.” Generated and software checks that pages meet a set of requirements before provided by T. Bridgman. they are released. This validation was broken and is now fixed. These validation checks now run upon the page’s initial release, as well as on subsequent edits, and include a requirement that Tom and colleagues are looking at updating it to illustrate more a story must be tagged with a NASA Science Discipline keyword processes and leverage newer rendering and display capabilities. (Sun, Earth, Universe, Planets and Moons). She implemented a pipeline that allows special types of movies used on the story Leann Estrada provides the Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS) pages to immediately be encoded by employing the SVS render with requested software to aid the functionality and productivity farm. Leann also improved the gallery metadata entry GUI by of the group. Software development is focused on but not limited reorganizing buttons for clarity and implementing improved error to the website, database, and hyperwall systems. catching and more input validation. She worked with system administrators to test and deploy a new, more secure, database For website support, the main SVS search page received several server. Various sets of testing were also performed on test new features, including new filters based on media type and platforms as specific SVS servers were upgraded. resolution, lead credits, and project funding source. MySQL “stopwords” were disabled in the SVS databases to improve For work on internal and other software, the mirroring pipeline, search accuracy. Looking towards improving search performance, which copies data from the development webserver to the live Leann did extensive research on optimizing MySQL queries and webserver, every 10 minutes on a first-come first-serve basis, specific methods used for faceted searches in industry, and was updated to be more robust, provide better logging, and offer subsequently she compiled a list of various potential methods a command line utility. to use for the SVS search. She began benchmarking the performance times of these methods to determine the fastest Leann overhauled the interface of the SVS movie encoding method to implement. On the SVS story pages, she added software, svsmovie, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. support for multiple subtitle caption tracks, overriding system- Extra features were added to pre-analyze input frame sets chosen preview images, and accurate Apple ProRes file labeling. and easily encode multiple similar movies; encodings are now Leann also performed extensive testing on the new development launched to the SVS render farm. She added initial support for webserver. She tested and made alterations to the website after EXR frames, including “filtered” frames generated by Pixar’s a security system, ModSecurity, was implemented on the live de-noising software. Significant research on mitigating artifacts webserver. Finally, she implemented the tracking of data sent in EXR encodings led to implementing a solution that involves and received between the development and live webservers to converting the frames to a slightly different EXR format. Leann help estimate costs of using cloud services in the future. Several also added 4K support to automatic post-render encodings. new pages were created for the SVS website. She developed Further, a segfault bug was fixed in ptcmake (software that a new Data Set Search page that relies heavily on JavaScript, generates files used for volumetric rendering), allowing two improving performance dramatically. Leann created a set of three animators to meet visualization deadlines. To aid the SVS pages that focus on Earth Science material, and developed a visualizers in their transition to the latest rendering software “preview” page to showcase 360 video projects on which SVS released by Pixar, Leann began implementing ptcmake’s staff members are currently working. successor, vdbmake, which uses the OpenVDB file format.

To support the NASA Visualization Explorer app (NASA Viz) and its Leann provided support to hyperwall systems and users. She new Android release, Leann added Apple Store and Google Play trained several users on the hyperwall data input software as links to three pages and updated text for various websites to be a part of a larger training session on using the hyperwall, along inclusive of the Android version. Leann also performed testing with SVS staff members Eric Sokolowsky and Lori Perkins. She of YouTube video uploads in preparation for the newly released also supported operating the hyperwall at the Science Jamboree SVS YouTube channel. She created a forward link to the channel at Goddard as well as Earth Day at Union Station in Washington, (svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/youtube) and advertised the channel on the DC. Additionally, she aided with content preparation for various SVS home page. conferences, including AGU and the Conference of Parties (COP).

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 111 Going forward, Leann will complete the benchmarking of various search implementation methods. She will then implement the chosen method based on those results, along with other Still from the updated “Global Terrestrial Water Storage Anomaly JavaScript and asynchronous improvements, in order to (March 2015 - March 2016)”, lead visualizer Alex Kekesi. significantly improve the performance of the search page. As Image provided by A. Kekesi. always, Leann will continue to address the programming needs of the SVS and its partners. One of the SVS’ primary visualization tools is Pixar’s RenderMan Alex Kekesi provides a variety of visualizations for the NASA software. Three years ago, Pixar made a strategic decision GSFC Office of Communications. In addition to regular quick- to develop an entirely new rendering system that was not turnaround GPM outreach products, Alex provided daily GPM backwardly compatible with their previous “Reyes” system. data visualization updates throughout the Hurricane Matthew This change was originally communicated at the annual live shot campaign. Alex also developed a comprehensive Special Interest Group on GRAPHics (SIGGRAPH) Conference hyperwall show for George Huffman to present at the 2016 AGU that the SVS regularly attends. However, the SVS missed that Fall Meeting. This new hyperwall show not only incorporated year’s conference due to funding cuts in government travel GPM data, but also included model runs for pressure, wind and therefore was not notified until the following year of this speed, and wind vectors as well as additional datasets for Sea significant change to one of their main tools. Since then, the Surface Temperature, IMERG, IMERG accumulation, Goddard soil SVS has been scrambling to prepare for the replacement of the moisture, CPC cloud cover composites, and hurricane tracking old “Reyes” system with the new “RIS” system. After carefully information. Dr. Huffman’s presentation was then recorded considering other visualization solutions and balancing the and used as the basis for a formal script. Working closely with amount of effort it would take to transition to a completely new GESTAR colleague Ryan Fitzgibbons, Alex helped edit the script, system, along with the cost of different tools, it was decided that which is now being used to carefully create a fully narrated piece it was in the group’s best interest to transition existing rendering using many of the above-mentioned datasets to tell the life cycle tools to the new Pixar “RIS” system. In making this decision, story of Hurricane Matthew. Alex also created the imagery used the SVS team impressed upon Pixar that the transition would for GPM’s Senior Review cover. progress faster with their help; Pixar agreed to help and the transition is underway. Alex also created several new visualizations in support of the GRACE mission for use on multiple outreach platforms, such as Earlier this review cycle, the SVS hosted two Pixar employees the web, broadcast, and hyperwall. and held a week-long meeting concerning issues related to the “Reyes” to “RIS” transition. Two of Pixar’s engineers reviewed Another key data visualization that Alex created this year involved issues the SVS was experiencing, and working with Pixar a scientific paper where NASA scientists marked a substantial was invaluable. The SVS team has been porting over many loss in sea ice data due to a low-pressure system that pulled visualization pipelines to the new RIS system. Since that initial warmer air into the Arctic region, facilitating rapid reduction in meeting, two SVS representatives have presented SVS work at Arctic sea ice. This resulted in the SVS visualization “Early 2016 Pixar Animations Studios and one Pixar engineer has returned Winter Storm Melts Arctic Sea Ice”. to the SVS for follow-up transition work. Pixar is now extremely aware of what we do and very interested in our use of their tool. During the past year, Alex worked closely with Greg Shirah Recent face-to-face interactions with them have proven to Pixar (NASA) in developing a visualization pipeline for rendering large that we push their software in ways they had never considered, point cloud datasets. Initially, the system was developed for which is of value to Pixar, as it allows them to enhance their RenderMan Reyes and has since been ported to RenderMan’s software, and extremely valuable to us, as we now have an in- new RIS rendering system. The catalyst for this project is a road to their development cycle and the ability to request new NASA science paper yet to be published. However, much of the features within their tool. pipeline has been adopted for use with other projects currently in development. Upcoming plans for Alex include refining the lidar visualization pipeline within RIS now that the hard work of porting the initial code has been completed. Other SVS members have successfully

112 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 they could prevent events from taking place as desired. Formerly, the traveling hyperwall systems were running the Fedora Linux Winter Storm Warms the Arctic. Image provided by A. Kekesi. operating system, which has a relatively short release cycle of only one year. Eric upgraded all of the hyperwall systems to use CentOS 7 Linux, which has a much longer release cycle. He used the base code Alex and Greg developed to successfully also updated the hyperwall software to use the latest release of visualize other point cloud datasets. He also will create new data OpenSceneGraph, a graphics toolkit used to show animations on visualizations in support of SeaWiFS’ 20th anniversary. the hyperwall.

Visualization support will be provided to the GPM team as To support hyperwall outreach efforts, Eric traveled to several needed. He plans to transition the RenderMan Reyes-based GPM venues and events, including but not limited to the USA visualization pipeline to RIS. This new rendering system should Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, DC; the Japan speed up volumetric renders and eliminate some of the artifacts Geophysical Union Meeting in Chiba, Japan; the United Nations inherent with Reyes. Once the GPM project has been ported to Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference RIS, Alex plans to generate 360 degree movies using the GPM of Parties (COP) in Marrakech, Morocco; the Supercomputing data as proof-of-concept for future heads-up display technologies. (SC16) conference in Salt Lake City, UT; the AGU Fall Meeting in A previous prototype visualization was started using Reyes, and San Francisco, CA; and the AMS Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA. initial renders were promising; however, Alex determined that He also helped prepare disks and computers for use at many future development needed to occur under RIS, since Reyes is other events. In order to stay current in the graphics field, Eric now effectively a dead end. He and the SVS team will continue to attended the GPU Technology Conference, San Jose, CA, and the work closely with Pixar in transitioning all pertinent visualization SIGGRAPH computer graphics conference, Anaheim, CA. tools to RIS. The team looks forward to meeting with Pixar colleagues at SIGGRAPH 2017 in Los Angeles this summer. This year, Eric will continue working on the software to play very large movies across multiple screens on the hyperwall. Eric Sokolowsky develops and deploys software to run on This software, called bigmovie, was developed at NASA Ames hyperwall systems in order to showcase NASA science at Research Center, and needs to be adapted to the Goddard meetings and on tours. He also prepares hyperwall hardware hyperwall environment. Eric also intends to update the hyperwall systems for testing and deployment accomplishments. During the documentation to be more useful and accessible, and will past year, Eric improved the hyperwall GUI by allowing it to be run continue to update the software as needed. Travel with the on a system that is not a hyperwall. This allows users to create hyperwall will continue to be part of his efforts in supporting and review playlists for later use on a hyperwall, without requiring NASA’s outreach efforts. He will continue to support other them to be logged in to the hyperwall. Eric added the ability for meetings by preparing disks, updating and packing machines a user to mark an animation as permanent so it would not be to control the travel hyperwall, and copying changed and new removed from the animation cache, making it instantly available content after such meetings conclude. at all times. He improved the stability of the hyperwall software by fixing some very subtle bugs that would sometimes cause Cynthia Starr worked on visualizations this year that ranged from the software to crash, and significantly increased performance, Africa to the Arctic. The visualization “Monitoring and Forecasting particularly for long hyperwall animations. He also wrote a new Chimpanzee Habitat Health in Africa” (https://svs.gsfc.nasa. way to display very large images faster and more robustly. gov/4483 and https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12487) came about from a partnership between the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) and Eric spent a significant amount of time developing the ability NASA scientists, who assisted in the monitoring, forecasting, for users to identify content in the GUI. He added much new and conservation of natural resources in regions surrounding information to the display—show length, show title, resolution, the Gombe National Forest in Tanzania. From 1972-1999, number of frames, content types, and other information—to make significant deforestation occurred in the regions outside the it easier to develop playlists for particular events. He also spent Gombe boundary to the detriment of the region’s chimpanzees time creating audit programs that identify problems in hyperwall and villagers. In 2005, JGI initiated a forest monitoring program, content. He constantly monitored these programs, which were training and equipping community members with GPS-enabled run automatically every day to identify and fix problems before Android smart phones and tablets for capturing observances

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 113 Image from Gombe flyover view of forest cover.Created and Image of Arctic Sea Ice Age. Created by and provided by C. Starr. provided by C. Starr. of forest use. Combining NASA remote sensing data with has a unique pattern of flow variation through the seasons. Cindy citizen science observations facilitated villages developing worked with complex data provided by the researchers showing land use plans, leading to improved decision making and new seasonal velocity over several Greenland glaciers, trying to format conservation areas. it in a manner suitable for a flow visualization. She wrote several IDL programs to analyze and combine data files, developing a The Metropolitan Group developed a video detailing the technique later adopted by the researchers themselves. She motivation of this NASA-JGI project and the resulting success created a visualization of the seasonal speed variation in the of land management employed in Tanzania. Cindy contributed flow on the Heimdal Glacier between October 2013 and October a series of animations in collaboration with Metropolitan Group 2016, providing a hyperwall visualization for a 2016 American producers and JGI scientists. Cindy provided a subset of the Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting presentation. (See https:// Landsat Orbits animation generated from available hyperwall svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4528, https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4529.) frames. She also developed an initial set-up shot that zoomed from a global view to the area surrounding Gombe and compared Similar to the previous work, Cindy generated several sea ice the forest cover change between 1972 and 1999, and she animations using two JAXA AMSR-2 datasets: 10-km daily sea ice created a short Gombe flyover using IKONOS data and a pull-out concentration and 10-km daily 89 GHz Brightness Temperature. from Gombe to a global view. Two animations were of daily Arctic sea ice showing the melt cycle over the summer of 2016, the first running from March to In recent years, the Arctic region has seen a rapid decline in August and the second running from March through the sea ice perennial sea ice, also known as multi-year ice, which is the minimum on September 10. A still image appeared in the Sunday portion of sea ice that survives the summer melt season. It New York Times on September 25, 2016. Cindy also completed may have a life-span of nine years or more and represents the an animation of sea ice from September 7, 2015, its minimum thickest component of the sea ice. Cindy developed several extent, through March 19, 2016, its maximum extent. Finally, visualizations of sea ice age showing the difference between the Cindy generated an animation of the daily Arctic sea ice showing thinner, first-year ice and the thicker, longer-lasting perennial the cycle of advance and retreat over January 2013 through sea ice. These visualizations showed the change in sea ice September 2016 with a global orientation over Scandinavia for a age between 1984 and 2016 on both a weekly and an annual polar museum exhibition in Tromso, Norway. basis. She developed a look for the sea ice age animation that portrayed annual steps showing a graduation in color and For a visualization of northwest Greenland, Cindy located and thickness based on the ice age. (See https://svs.gsfc.nasa. obtained 44 high-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) gov/4489, https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4509, https://svs.gsfc. tiles of Ellesmere Island, developing a mosaic displacement nasa.gov/4510, and https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4522.) She texture for the island. She located and obtained Landsat scenes created two animated bar graphs controlled by the weekly sea and developed several natural color image mosaics. She also ice area by age. One reflected the square kilometers of sea obtained Landsat scenes of two cities to be used in a size ice covered by each age category of the perennial sea ice; the comparison along with shape files of political boundaries, rivers, second showed the percent of the Arctic Ocean covered by each and roads. Using Esri software, she created a geo-registered, age category. She rendered the animation and composited the natural color image mosaic of Washington, DC, and Paris, France, graph overlays, and generated a hyperwall show of each. cropping them by the boundaries extracted from the shape files. She obtained the radar data of the ice sheet and developed The NASA/USGS Landsat 8 mission has allowed new views of several programs to extract the data, create textures, and import the Earth’s glaciers. By tracking displacement of local surface the location variable arrays into Maya to generate lofted surfaces features through the seasons on outlet glaciers from the large on which to map the data. She also obtained the high-resolution ice sheets, researchers have been able to show that each glacier topography file generated as a result of the mapping mission

114 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Suite (OMPS) instrument on the Suomi NPP satellite from the same time period. The visualization supports work done by Image from Heimdal Glacier flow.Created and provided by NASA scientist Nickolay Krotkov, who is developing a new way to C. Starr. map the full three-dimensional structure of the volcanic cloud following an eruption. and incorporated it into the scene. Cindy modified the Maya Kel also created visualizations describing the May 2016 Mars scene previously used for a Greenland Ice Structure animation, opposition and close approach (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4465) incorporating the above-mentioned data. She modified the and the April 2017 Jupiter opposition (https://svs.gsfc.nasa. camera motion, clipping planes, and expressions to develop the gov/4567) events. Opposition occurs when a planet and the sun requested animations. Visualizations were completed for scenes are positioned on opposite sides of the Earth. Due to the elliptical 1 and 13 of the script. These animations were approved by the shape of some planet orbits, close approach does not always science team, and she currently is creating the final visualization coincide with opposition. These visualizations were used during for scene 7. live shot interview campaigns hosted by the Goddard Media Studios. (Author’s Note: the members of the Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS) work as a team to produce visualization To support a NASA press release about a dinosaur print that was products supporting NASA’s scientific community. Many of found on the NASA Goddard campus, Kel created a visualization the visualization techniques developed and refined have been in which modern climate data is compared to the Cretaceous- a collaborative effort and are a credit to the talents of the era climate to describe how the Earth has changed since the animators/programmers and technical support staff working dinosaur print was left 100 million years ago. Several images together. Many of my accomplishments described in this report from this visualization will accompany a physical display case at are based on techniques developed by my colleagues. –CS) Goddard that houses the dinosaur print.

Over the past year, Kelly Elkins has created several visualizations supporting both Planetary and Earth Science missions. Kel created a series of visualizations to support the OSIRIS-REx launch on September 8, 2016. The visualizations were used to help communicate the complexity of the mission and explain how NASA plans to study the asteroid Bennu, take a sample of the surface, and return that sample safely to Earth. Kel’s visualizations depict several aspects of the mission including the satellite orbit trajectory, maneuvers upon arrival to Bennu, data collection, sample collection, and return to Earth. These visuals were used during several pre-launch press conferences and across NASA Goddard’s social media channels. Following the launch, Kel continued to work with the OSIRIS-REx mission Image from visualization about OSIRIS-REx. Created and to create additional visualizations that depict intricate scanning provided by K. Elkins. sequences that will occur while the spacecraft is at Bennu, and visualizations that describe the several orbits utilized over the course of the mission. A gallery of Kel’s OSIRIS-REx visualizations Kel created a series of visualizations depicting NASA’s CATS can be found here: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4482. (Cloud-Aerosol Transport System) instrument onboard the ISS observing volcanic plumes, wildfire smoke, hurricanes, and Kel created a visualization depicting volcanic ash and sulfur dust plumes from orbit. The visualizations were created for a dioxide spreading through the atmosphere following the Hyperwall talk at the 2017 AMS conference. A gallery of Kel’s Calbuco Volcano eruption in April 2015 (https://svs.gsfc. CATS visualizations is available here: https://svs.gsfc.nasa. nasa.gov/12246). In the visualization, GEOS-5 model data is gov/4542. compared with observations made by the Ozone Mapping Profiler

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 115 The NASA Viz app and its content are developed and produced in-house by an interdisciplinary team. In addition to search Image from opposition events. Created and provided by K. Elkins. capabilities, the app includes teacher-requested features, such as the ability to save stories for offline use and to create, save, and share custom playlists of stories. The app includes social networking interfaces to Facebook and Twitter for easy sharing of stories.

The project is comprised of two major teams. The Software Development and User Interface Design (for iOS and Android) members include Carl Hostestter (Code 587), iOS Developer; Troy Ames (Code 587), iOS Developer; Matthew Brandt (Code 587), Android Developer; and, Helen-Nicole Kostis (606.4, SVS), Project Manager. The other team is the Editorial Team: Kayvon Sharghi served as the Editor of the app from May 11 - October 13, 2016, and Ellen Gray was appointed as the new NASA Viz Editor in December 2016. NASA Viz resumed releasing stories in January 23, 2017. Image from smoke plumes from CATS. Created and provided by K. Elkins. Helen-Nicole supervises software development for iOS and Android, supports the Editor and leads social media activities for NASA Viz. At the end of October 2016, the team was informed by As the Scientific Visualization Studio begins creating content for supervisors that the app will proceed in maintenance mode and virtual reality (mostly in the form of 360-degree videos), Kel will software development is suspended until further notice due to continue to develop and test the visualization pipeline to ensure unclear funding issues. Since then, the team members address that the studio has the capabilities and expertise necessary to mostly major bugs and monitor the app for software development provide virtual reality products to its customers. He is currently issues. The app continues to release stories every other Monday. working on a visualization depicting communication between the TDRS constellation and its customers. The final products During June-August 2016, the NASA Viz software development will include both a standard video format and a 360-degree team finalized the Android development and locked the app video. Also, work will continue on an HS3 visualization depicting for release to the public. The Android version was completed humidity measurements taken by a Global Hawk UAV flying over on September 30, 2016 and was put on hold until a better Hurricane Edouard in 2014. understanding about funding and editorial was in place.

Helen-Nicole Kostis serves as the NASA Visualization Explorer Throughout the past year, the team accomplished the following Project Manager and provides visualization expertise to SVS. various tasks: received End User License Agreement from NASA; This past year saw many developments and achievements with completed all paperwork for release (NTR, Software Release) and the NASA Visualization Explorer app. Helen-Nicole Kostis serves received approvals (IPP Office and Office of Communications); as the Project Manager of the NASA Viz, a free iOS and Android completed UI/UX styleguide (with support from NASA Viz intern: app that provides access to visualizations of current NASA Kathryn Roberts); implemented UI/UX refinements; completed research. Through the app, visualization-based science stories testing; soft-release to the public on Feb 28, 2017 (NASA are released about cutting-edge research efforts in Earth and Viz 0.9); update released on May 1, 2017 (NASA Viz 0.91); Planetary science, Heliophysics, and Astrophysics. The stories and issued a NASA Press release on May 2, 2017, available feature data visualization work of many NASA groups, including here: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/nasa- NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio, Earth Observatory, JPL visualization-explorer-app-now-available-for-android. The app and the Space Telescope Science Institute. The app’s archive is developed to support phones, phablets and tablets running of 527 stories (as of 05/15/17) includes data visualizations, Android 5.0 and later. animations, videos, explorable images, and descriptive text.

116 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Computer Graphics and Scientific Visualization Fields by serving as SIGGRAPH SRC Chair at ACM SIGGRAPH 2016, July 24- 28, Anaheim, CA, and participating in the IEEE Vis 2016, held October 23-28, Baltimore MD. She has been a NASA Information Science & Technology Colloquium Committee Member since 2008; this past year, she hosted Tamara Munzner (University of British Columbia) and Chu Tang (Pixar). In addition, Helen-Nicole worked toward a book publication with CRC Press in collaboration with professionals and pioneers from the field of the computer graphics and visualization.

In the year ahead, she will continue to serve as the NASA Viz Project Manager, assuming the project receives the necessary support and the required resources have been allocated. She will resume data visualization work and continue to learn the new RIS (Renderman infrastructure). She also will contribute to her field by serving on the IEEE Vis 2017 International Program Committee and the NASA IS&T Colloquium Committee.

As Science Visualizer, Trent Schindler created a visualization of global wildfires which occurred during the years 2015-2016. The animation was used for both a press release and a live shot. See https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12344. NASA Viz for Android on Google Play.Image provided by H.-N. Kostis. He also created an animation showing the daily Arctic sea ice and seasonal land cover change progress through time, from January 18, 2016, through July 7, 2016. Additionally, he created Helen-Nicole released NASA Viz for Android beta on February 28, images using MODIS snow cover data for a live broadcast 2017 via the Google Play store. The team decided to do a “soft regarding the SnowEx campaign. release” of the app, due to the wide gamut of Android devices and OS versions that are available for the Android market. The NASA Viz team for Android is small and consists of one Android Developer (Matthew Brandt, Code 587) and Helen-Nicole. For this reason, she felt that a soft release would allow the team to test the app in the hands of the public and monitor the app for bugs without broadcasting publicly via NASA channels.

Helen-Nicole presented NASA Viz at NASA Earth Day 2017 Events and Activities at the Union Station, Washington, DC, and it has been featured by AAAS as an educational app.

A paper Helen-Nicole co-authored was published under ACM titled “Collaborative computer graphics product development between academia and government: a dynamic model” in SIGGRAPH ASIA 2016 Symposium on Education (SA ‘16), https://doi.org/10.1145/2993352.2993358. The paper was presented by co-author Deborah Fowler on December 5, in Image from World On Fire. Created and provided by T. Schindler. Macao. Helen-Nicole also contributed in various ways to the

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 117 Image from Correlation Visualization. Created and provided by Image from Reiner Gamma. Created and provided by E. Wright. T. Schindler.

A relatively new activity this past year was the 360-Degree conversion of domemaster format planetarium shows for VR viewers. Trent created a pipeline to convert pre-existing domemaster content that was originally meant for display in planetarium shows to 360-degree videos to be used in virtual reality displays. The domemaster format is a 180-degree polar- stereographic projection. Custom IDL and Imagemagick scripts reproject the domemaster frames into a rectilinear 360-degree format, rotating the center of interest through 45 degrees to aid comfort of viewing. When viewed through a virtual reality viewer, the effect is of being at the center of a sphere, with the upper rotated hemisphere preserving the “surround” effect of a real planetarium dome. Future work will increase this illusion by adding a modeled theater with seats, etc. to give the impression Image from “Irrigation and Groundwater Depletion.” Provided by of being seated in a planetarium. E. Wright.

Trent created a visualization showing the correlation between citizen science observations of cloud cover over the period from teams), and Homestead National Monument in Nebraska. He has October 1-22, 2016, and NASA satellite observations of the presented at American Astronomical Society eclipse workshops same area. The visualization draws together observations from in Carbondale, IL and Columbia, SC. He will be participating in the Global Learning and Observations for the Benefit of the NASA-supported events at Homestead in the days prior to the Environment (GLOBE) program, as well as the MODIS, CALIPSO, eclipse and plans to observe the eclipse from that location. and CloudSat missions. This visualization was used as part of a UNESCO presentation recognizing International Science Center Ernie’s eclipse work is in collaboration with Lunar and Science Museum Day. See https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4524. Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), NASA’s heliophysics and planetary divisions, and the Heliophysics Education Consortium Ernest Wright provides scientific visualization products in (HEC). His visuals are available for Web, HD and UHD TV, support of communications and public outreach for Lunar hyperwall, and spherical displays such as Science on a Sphere Reconnaissance Orbiter and other missions. This year, Ernie has and Dynamic Planet. He is working with NASA TV to provide a remained actively involved in outreach for the August 21, 2017 real-time display of the umbra location for NASA’s live coverage total solar eclipse, a priority-1 event for NASA communications. of the eclipse. (See the gallery here: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/ As a widely recognized subject matter expert on the August Gallery/suneclipse2017.html.) eclipse, he has assisted and received inquiries and interview requests from a number of organizations, including but not Ernie’s releases for the LRO mission include Reiner Gamma limited to the (San Francisco) Exploratorium, NPR’s Science (4468), gardening rates (4505), Rima Prinz (4444), and Friday, PBS Nova, Curiosity Stream, National Geographic, Sky and Orientale for the October 28, 2016 cover of Science (4499). His Telescope magazine, the Department of Energy’s Solar Energy annual moon phase and libration visualization (4537 and 4538) Technologies Office, the Kentucky Space Grant Office, Western remains the most popular page on the SVS website. Kentucky University, Southern Illinois University, NASA’s Earth to Sky, the Night Sky Network, a Wyoming office of the Bureau of Ernie also has led or contributed to releases for several science Land Management, the St. Louis Eclipse Task Force, the Salem- results and missions. His visualization of global irrigation and Keiser Volcanoes, the Columbia Fireflies (minor league baseball groundwater depletion models (4523) was part of a video

118 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 on the NASA Aqua spacecraft. For comparison, it is overlain by a graph of the seasonal variation and interannual increase of CO2 This image from KORUS-AQ shows the distribution of surface observed at the Mauna Loa, Hawaii observatory. The two most ozone over Asia and the North Pacific on June 5, 2013. The notable features of this visualization are the seasonal variation color indicates the amount of ozone in parts per billion by of CO2 and the trend of increase in its concentration from year to volume (PPBV) from low (white-blue) to high (yellow-green). year. The global map clearly shows that the CO2 in the northern Image provided by C. Zhang. hemisphere peaks in April-May and then drops to a minimum in September-October. Although the seasonal cycle is less pronounced in the southern hemisphere, it is opposite to that in highlighting results published in the March 30, 2017 issue of the northern hemisphere. This seasonal cycle is governed by the Nature. He visualized the permanently shadowed regions of growth cycle of plants. The northern hemisphere has the majority the asteroid Ceres (4475), and he calculated ephemerides for of the land masses, so the amplitude of the cycle is greater in visualizations of the flight paths of OSIRIS-REx, MAVEN, and that hemisphere. The overall color of the map shifts toward the the Earth orbital fleet. (Note: all 4-digit identifiers listed are red with advancing time due to the annual increase of CO2. searchable on the SVS website and link to visualizations.) Cheng worked on a visualization titled “Ocean Tides and Cheng Zhang provides visualization support for earth science Magnetic Fields”. Earth’s magnetic field is built up from many missions and research. This past year, such efforts included contributing sources ranging from the planet’s core to the visual support for the KORUS-AQ campaign, an international magnetosphere in space. Untangling and identifying the different cooperative air quality field study that combines observations sources allows geomagnetic scientists to gather information from aircraft, satellites, ships and ground stations with air quality about the individual processes that combine to create the full models to assess and monitor air quality across urban, rural and field. One contributor is the ocean, but how do the tides affect coastal areas. Data from June 2013 were used to create visuals Earth’s magnetic field? Seawater is an electrical conductor in anticipation of the 2016 field campaign. The four data sets and interacts with the magnetic field. As the tides cycle around (including Surface Ozone, CH2O, Total Tropospheric Ozone, and the ocean basins, the ocean water essentially tries to pull the NO2) were selected to illustrate the importance of this study. geomagnetic field lines along. Because the salty water is a good (but not great) conductor, the interaction is relatively weak. The Hurricanes and Climate Modes is about the simulation models strongest component is from the regular lunar tide that happens of seasonal tropical cyclone led by Dr. Young-Kwon Lim about twice per day. Other contributors are from ocean swells, (GESTAR/610.1). Interannual variations in seasonal tropical eddies, and even tsunamis. The strength of the interaction also cyclone (TC) activity (e.g., genesis frequency and location, depends on the temperature of the ocean water. Scientists are track pattern, and landfall) over the Atlantic were explored by now able to determine how much heat is being stored in the employing observationally-constrained simulations with the NASA entire ocean, from wave top to sea floor by observations of the GEOS-5 atmospheric general circulation model. The climate Earth’s magnetic field. See https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4541. modes investigated were El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and the Atlantic Meridional Cheng has updated the famous “Blue Marble” using Suomi NPP Mode (AMM). The study provided evidence that TC number and satellite images; Suomi NPP is the first of a new generation of track are very sensitive to the relative phases and intensities of NASA satellites that observes many facets of our changing Earth. these three modes, and not just to ENSO alone. An examination Suomi NPP is carrying five instruments onboard, and one is the of seasonal predictability revealed that predictive skill of the Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). three modes is limited over tropics to sub-tropics, with the AMM having the highest predictability over the North Atlantic, followed This coming year, Cheng will work on The Malaria Project, an by ENSO and NAO. ongoing research activity led by Professor William Pan (Duke Global Health Institute) and Professor Ben Zaitchik (Johns The visualization “Carbon Dioxide Time Series -- Atmospheric CO2 Hopkins University). The scientists will use satellite data from from AIRS 2012-2016” is an update of the global distribution NASA to help health officials pinpoint where to deploy resources and variation of the concentration of mid-tropospheric carbon and what resources to deploy during a disease outbreak. The dioxide observed by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) existing malaria surveillance system in Peru is a time-series

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 119 Science Communications Support Office (SCSO) (Sponsor: S. Platnick) Image shows the hurricanes and climate modes in 2010 nature run. Image created and provided by C. Zheng in support of Over the past year, the Science Communications Support Office research by Young-Kwon Lim (GESTAR/IMSG). (SCSO), which consists of Global Science and Technology, Inc. (GST) staff members, served as point of contact for science exhibit outreach and product development for the NASA’s Earth Science Division (ESD), Science Mission Directorate (SMD), and Applied Sciences Program (ASP). Each “customer” falls under a different task and activity under each task is summarized below. The success of all these endeavors requires contributions from the entire team, which includes Winnie Humberson (lead), Ryan Barker, Sally Bensusen, Steve Graham, Heather Hanson, Marit Jentoft-Nilsen, Mark Malanoski, Debbi McLean, Kevin Miller, Amy Moran, Ishon Prescott, Cindy Trapp, and Alan Ward. (Note: the name of the office has changed since last year when it was the Science Program Support Office (SPSO).) More information on conferences supported, products developed, and other activities of the SCSO during this time period can be found in the 2016 Science Communication Support Office Image from the Carbon Dioxide Time Series. Created and Annual Report, available here: https://eospso.nasa.gov/sites/ provided by C. Zhang. default/files/publications/AnnualReport2016_508.pdf. NASA’s Hyperwall is a video wall capable of displaying multiple high- definition data visualizations and/or images simultaneously model that does not provide region-specific data. They hope across an arrangement of screens. For more information, visit that this new system will use NASA satellite data to measure https://eospso.nasa.gov/content/about-nasas-hyperwall. factors like climate, land cover and population density, which could then be used to simulate how people, the environment and mosquitoes might be interacting within that region. Such a simulation would help to more strategically determine where to Earth Science Division deploy their health care resources. As a part of this team, Cheng is responsible of visualizing their work by combining satellite The team provided support to numerous ESD-related events imagery and public health data to show how these factors affect over this past year both in the United States and abroad. SCSO the outbreak and evolvement of the disease. traveled to Beijing, China, in late July-early August to support the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) Annual Meeting. Other plans include attending the SIGGRAGH conference in Over five days, there were 18 Hyperwall presentations, including summer 2017, investigating RenderMan RIS, and working on VR an Education and Outreach Special Session. Earth science content. Also, Cheng’s work titled “Geocaching on the Moon”, topics included measuring carbon dioxide with OCO-2, the 10th a chapter in “GeoGames and GeoPlay” is forthcoming. She has anniversary of CloudSat and CALIPSO, and ozone recovery. written about a geocaching, multiplayer, mixed reality game Presentations were well attended with more than 80 attendees that brings the Moon down to the Earth so that people can have listening at a time. In late August, SCSO staff supported the access to it. Using the most up-to-date scientific data, players American Chemical Society’s Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, can explore the virtual lunar world as if they were the astronauts PA, which attracted approximately 15,000 attendees. The NASA exploring on the Moon. The location-based mapping scheme booth featured the Hyperwall; Earth science topics included maps a lunar location to places on the Earth, so people can atmospheric chemistry and Earth at Night. In September, SCSO explore the Moon in the virtual world while moving around on the staff supported the Our Ocean Conference. The Honorable Earth. John F. Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, hosted this “high-profile” meeting at the State Department. (This is the second such

120 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 meeting; the first took place in 2014.) NASA participated and remote sensing training programs. In April, SCSO travelled in the U.S. Center with five Hyperwall presentations that to Vienna, Austria for the European Geosciences Union Annual showcased NASA’s Earth Science Program and its activities Conference. The Director of Earth Science Division addressed relating to the oceans. The highlight of the event was Secretary the Union Session, and SCSO staff helped him prepare his Kerry’s ten-minute visit to the Hyperwall. When there were presentation. They also presented four Hyperwall presentations not presentations, the Hyperwall looped through over 60 to packed audiences (more than 70) during the meeting. In unique NASA ocean-related visualizations. Several SCSO staff May, SCSO supported the Maryland Library Association Annual travelled to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, for Conference in Cambridge, as well as the Japan Geoscience the White House Frontiers Conference in October. The White Union Annual Conference Chiba, Japan. NASA and the Japan House co-hosted this event, along with Carnegie Mellon and Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) worked together on JpGU. the University of Pittsburgh, to explore the future of innovation. SCSO organized a joint storytelling agenda for the JpGU exhibit; The conference included topics inspired by the November issue they also organized a two-day NASA–JAXA joint-lecture program of WIRED (which was guest-edited by President Obama) on for local high schools. SCSO staff coordinated with NASA’s the theme of “Frontiers.” The conference focused on building International Affairs to help the Directors of the Earth Science U.S. capacity in science, technology, and innovation, and the and Planetary Sciences Divisions fulfill logistical requirements for new technologies, challenges, and goals that will continue to their invited presentations at the meeting. shape the 21st century and beyond. In November, SCSO staff travelled to Marrakesh, Morocco to support the 22nd Conference When not on the road, SCSO staff are busy creating products of the Parties (COP-22). The U.S. Department of State hosted to support the activities planned for the future. The oldest the U.S. Center, and the NASA Hyperwall and Dynamic Planet continuous product produced by our office is The Earth Observer were used for 30-minute single-presenter talks as well as side- newsletter, which began in March 1989. Content comes from event presentations—60-90-minute talks generally given by a a variety of sources and several staff collaborate on editing small panel. Ali Omar, John Reager, Lesley Ott, and Dan Irwin and design to produce six issues each year. Each newsletter represented NASA at the meeting; all delivered presentations begins with an editorial from EOS Senior Project Scientist, Steve at the NASA Hyperwall and/or side-events. The year ended Platnick, and includes feature articles, national and international with SCSO staff providing guest operations support at NASA’s meeting and workshop summaries, and a NASA Earth Science in Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL, December 11 the News section. The publication is black and white but pdfs of and 12, for the launch of NASA’s Cyclone Global Navigation color issues can be downloaded from http://eospso.nasa.gov/ Satellite System (CYGNSS), which was delayed from December earth-observer-archive. The 2016 SPSO Annual Report, referred 12 to December 15. Earth Science Division Director Dr. Michael to previously, highlights some of the more noteworthy articles Freilich spoke at the launch as did CYGNSS Principal Investigator, from The Earth Observer. Dr. Christopher Ruf, from University of Michigan. The NASA Hyperwall showed Earth Science visualizations during the launch SCSO continues its long history of producing “pre-launch” weekend with SCSO staff providing technical support. brochures for upcoming missions. This year, staff worked on brochures for the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 Turning the calendar to 2017, SCSO staff supported two ESD- (ICESat-2) mission and have begun work on a brochure for the related conferences that occurred during the same week Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment–Follow On (GRACE–FO) in January. Several staff supported the NASA exhibit at the mission. Meanwhile, the CYGNSS brochure, which was produced American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting, which as a print product previously, is now available as an iBook. Staff featured the Hyperwall and Dynamic Planet. The meeting also worked with Stephanie Schollaert–Uz, a Senior Support attendance was 4,450, an annual meeting record for AMS. At Scientist at GST, to develop the brochure titled “What Color is the exhibit, a total of 24 Hyperwall presentations were spread the Ocean?” While the brochure has an educational focus, it also out over four days. The National Conference on Science and highlights the upcoming PACE mission (as of this writing, funding the Environment (NCSE) overlapped with AMS. Other SCSO announcements had not been made). A one-page version of this staff supported this meeting, and, similar to AMS, the Hyperwall information was also created for use at conferences. was the centerpiece of the exhibit. The lineup of presentations covered topics relevant to the meeting including: how NASA SCSO staff contributed to the content development and design measures air quality from space, applications for public health, of several lenticular cards. One was a 6-in x 6-in, 4-stage flip

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 121 lenticular card to promote the GRACE-FO mission. It shows how gsfc.nasa.gov/30791), as well as updates with current data the twin spacecraft vary in their separation, as they fly over for Ozonewatch, Sea Surface Temperature and Temperature varying masses on Earth’s surface. Another was an An Epic View Anomaly, El Niño Watch/Sea Surface Height Anomaly, and El of Earth, a four-flip lenticular that promotes the EPIC instrument Niño Precipitation Anomaly. on DSCOVR. SCSO staff also worked with members of the Aura Mission to update the Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Nightlights Recent exhibits have featured visualizations and imagery adapted Lenticular Card. The three flips that make up the front of the from articles from The Earth Observatory (EO) website, the card were replaced with updated and reprojected images. The NASA website, and the Planetary Photojournal for the Hyperwall. images on the back were also updated along with new caption Examples include: Sprawling Shanghai (https://svs.gsfc.nasa. information. gov/30874), Landsat Spots the ISS (https://svs.gsfc.nasa. gov/30798), Paris at Night (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30790), SCSO added two new topics to its Understanding Earth series, and Ice Loss in Glacier National Park, astronaut photographs of bringing the total number of “story booklets” to six. Working with the National Parks, Atmospheric CO2 trends. scientists and other key members of the Global Precipitation Measurement Missions Science Team, SCSO staff developed and designed “What’s Up with Precipitation?” They also worked with Program Managers at NASA HQ to develop “Our Ocean,” which Science Mission Directorate gives a thorough overview of the subsystems comprising Earth’s ocean and how these subsystems collectively affect Earth’s In terms of SMD-related support, SCSO staff supported climate and human life. A 508-compliant PDF version of each quite a few conferences during the last year, beginning with publication has been created and posted online. Also an iBook the Geological Society of America’s annual meeting in late version of “What’s Up with Precipitation?” has been created. September. The exhibit featured the Hyperwall with four well- attended presentations held at the evening opening and a full The Hyperwall continues to be the centerpiece of many of the lineup of science and technical presentations during the week. SCSO’s recent outreach efforts for all three tasks. Items beyond Many attendees (students among them) expressed interest those specifically referenced in this report can be found at http:// in internships and working for NASA. Participants always look svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/hw. Those interested in keeping up with the forward to the debut of the SMD Calendar for the coming year. latest plans for Hyperwall show releases can subscribe to the Hyperwall Content listserve at http://go.nasa.gov/28MqpiG. The primary event SMD event that SCSO supported this past year was the AGU Fall Meeting. The meeting took place in mid- With regard to ESD- December, but SCSO spends months preparing for this event related content, several each year. SCSO staff are responsible for coordinating every new visualizations based aspect of planning and logistics for the exhibit (hosting planning on data from Landsat, telecons); other staff develop products and many of the graphics GRACE, TRMM, and VIIRS, shown at the exhibit; and several staff travelled to San Francisco, among other missions, CA, to staff the exhibit at this year’s meeting. On the Sunday have been created. A before AGU, SMD held its annual Communications Meeting at majestic Blue Marble a hotel near the AGU venue. More than 100 NASA employees 2015 has been used and contractors attended the day-long event. The attendees by many outlets (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30763). Other heard from Kristen Erickson, Director of Science Engagement highlights include a new visualization of Greenland Ice Loss and Partnerships at NASA HQ, Sandra Smalley, Director of the from 2002-2016 using GRACE data (https://svsdev.gsfc.nasa. Joint Agency Satellite Division, and each of the four SMD division gov/30879) and a Monthly Cloud Visualization using MODIS heads. In addition, there were presentations on the 2017 total data from Aqua (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30839). Other new solar eclipse event and about the agency’s social media efforts Hyperwall content created for ESD activities include Landsat 8 and future plans. Following the lunch social and SMD breakout Views the Soberanes Fire (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30797), sessions, NASA Associate Administrator for SMD, Thomas NASA Spots Single Methane Leak from Space (https://svs.gsfc. Zurbuchen, shared his thoughts on communicating science and nasa.gov/30787), and Algae in Lake Okeechobee (https://svs.

122 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 fielded various questions from the attendees, talking with the of their visit. Each group completed several hands-on activities group for over an hour. and listened to a variety of Science Stories in front of the Hyperwall, including a talk titled “Reach for the Stars” given by In January, SCSO staff supported the American Astronomical former NASA Astronaut Scott Altman, where all 350 participants Society (AAS) Annual Meeting. This year’s exhibit combined gathered at once. At the end of their visit, each student collected space for a Hyperwall display with display tables for Physics of a NASA draw-string bag that contained a variety of NASA Science the Cosmos, James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Wide Field resources. It is estimated that ~20,000 others passing through Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), the Exoplanet Exploration Union Station also witnessed the event. Just two days after Program and the Balloon Program. Over the five days the exhibit Earth Day, SCSO staff supported the National Math Festival in was open, many AAS attendees stopped by to ask questions Washington, DC. There were three hands-on activities at this about NASA activities and programs, and 30+ scientists gave event including: Dynamic Planet, What Color is the Ocean?, and Hyperwall presentations, covering a full range of existing and Precipitation Towers (related to GPM). The event lasted all day proposed NASA astrophysics missions. Also in January, SCSO and attendance was about 20,000-40,000 people. staff supported the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) Exhibition and Family Science Day, a widely As with ESD, SCSO staff have worked on developing a variety of recognized global science gathering, bringing thousands of products to support SMD activities. A significant output this year scientists, engineers, policymakers, educators, and journalists was production of the 2016 NASA SCSO Annual Report. The together to discuss the most recent developments in science and report focuses on different products and services that our team technology. Several representatives from NASA, and one from the provides in terms of conference and event support. It includes European Commission, showed science results on the Hyperwall. at-a-glance diagrams to explain the SCSO team approach for Topics included observing Earth from space, El Niño and La Niña creating Hyperwall content, speaker support, and science cycles, precipitation measurement science, ozone recovery, the conference planning and support. This year, the focus was how Earth at night, and more. the SCSO supports our speakers at these events, providing detailed guides and webpages to help them produce their own In late March, SCSO supported the NASA exhibit at the National presentations. Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Annual Conference. For this meeting, Dynamic Planet was the showcase of the NASA A major deliverable for SMD exhibit; it was used to display NASA science data on a variety of each year is the annual Science topics, including the upcoming August 2017 total solar eclipse, Mission Directorate calendar. precipitation, clouds, and current weather. (Dynamic Planet is a Every year at the Fall AGU 32” spherical display system that puts a spin on science. This meeting, crowds gather at the illuminated visualization platform provides a unique and vibrant NASA exhibit in anticipation of global perspective of Earth, our sun, various planetary bodies being among the first to get the in our solar system, and the universe, to increase and improve new calendar. SCSO staff work scientific understanding.) In April, the SCSO participated in Earth together with NASA Headquarters Day at Union Station in Washington, DC. NASA offered a full personnel to select and compile 12 feature images and compose schedule of Science Stories on the Hyperwall, with participation the accompanying captions (one image per month, three per from the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and U.S. Geological SMD division). The featured images were incorporated into vivid Survey (USGS). There were also 20 hands-on activities, and a photo illustrations for the cover and opening spread. special appearance by Former NASA Astronaut Scott Altman, who held a one-hour autograph signing session. Throughout the SCSO custom-designs the content for the exhibit space at many day, there were 22 Hyperwall presentations, each 15 minutes of the meetings in which they participate. As an example, one long, covering a variety of topics including Earth science, the of the themes at this year’s exhibit at the Fall AGU was Ocean 2017 solar eclipse, planetary exploration, and the universe. Worlds. The activity focused on ocean science and water in the More than 350 middle and high school students, teachers, and universe. SCSO staff created a display that used color Plexiglas chaperones (from New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia) to simulate ocean waves and included a large cloth banner of came to participate in the event. The students were divided into the Ocean Worlds artwork as a backdrop. Questions directed to small groups and followed a rotation schedule for the duration the exhibit-visitors were designed to inspire thoughtful answers

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 123 written on fish-shaped Post-It notes that they could attach to the exceeded 10,000 people. At the request of the U.S. Department Plexiglas waves as part of the exhibit. (The idea builds on the of State, the NASA Hyperwall was the centerpiece of the U.S. Tree of Thoughts concept developed for last year’s AGU meeting.) Pavilion, and NASA had a table with hands-on activities. A major activity for NASA was an hour-long event at the U.S. Pavilion As with ESD, the Hyperwall is also a featuring Jane Goodall, attended by hundreds. Dr. Goodall centerpiece at many SMD exhibits. provided inspiring remarks during her talk highlighting the New SMD content has been added importance of new technologies, including remote sensing for over the past year. SCSO staff conservation. She then took part in a panel discussion along developed Hyperwall presentations to with Lilian Pintea, Vice President for Conservation at the Jane be used at the Geological Society of Goodall Institute (JGI), and Woody Turner, Program Manager America’s Annual Meeting, featuring for Ecological Forecasting at NASA HQ. A total of 21 Hyperwall images from the Curiosity Rover, presentations were given. NASA personnel also presented to recent results on Mars geology, hundreds of students during Student Day. Dawn discoveries on Ceres, and NASA/National Park Service (NPS) In late October, SCSO travelled to Denver, CO, to support collaborations (e.g., https://svs.gsfc. the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) Annual nasa.gov/30800). They also updated Meeting. Several Hyperwall presentations were given during the Venus Texture for the existing Our Solar System Hyperwall the meeting as well a variety of Earth science visualizations show (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30710). In support of AGU, shown, particularly those specific to air quality, harmful algal they created content and updated existing visuals for several blooms, and precipitation and land surface temperature and speakers at AGU and created content for the Ocean Worlds kiosk their relationship to mosquitos and the Zika virus. In May, SCSO display, which included a slideshow based on the Ocean Worlds staff travelled to Tshwane, South Africa to support the 37th website. They also produced a slideshow using a series of MODIS International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment and Suomi-NPP ocean color images and a movie incorporating (ISRSE-37). There were two formal presentations as well as loops a video about the PACE mission (as of this writing, funding had showing data relevant to the activities of the ASP. Additionally, not been determined). SCSO staff also worked with Hyperwall SCSO develops products to support the ASP meetings in which speakers to prepare event talks for the AAAS conference. They it participates. Staff developed a brochure to describe the also are working on an animation for the Hyperwall and Dynamic images shown on the Hyperwall at the IUCN WCC and APHA, and Planet comparing various Mars datasets; the animation will be ISRSE-37 meetings. similar in concept to the existing Earth: A System of Systems animation (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30701). SCSO staff The Hyperwall was featured prominently at the ASP events also created Hyperwall shows for images related to the recent described above and new material has been created for TRAPPIST-1 Exoplanet announcement. They also produced fleet this year. SCSO staff worked with speakers to help prepare images for Planetary, Heliophysics, and Astrophysics Divisions Hyperwall content for IUCN WCC event. They also created two (see https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30835, https://svs.gsfc.nasa. new visualizations for use during APHA 2016 meeting and at gov/30822, and https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30834, respectively) future air quality and health-related events: Mosquito Spread and similar to those that exist for the ESD. Health (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30824) and Algae Bloom on Lake Erie 2016 (not yet published as of this writing). They also developed Hyperwall content to support the ISRSE-37 meeting around the theme of “Earth Observation for Development and Applied Science Division Adaptation to a Changing World.”

As with the other two tasks, SCSO support for ASP activities In the coming year, SCSO will continue to support these three included participation in several conferences this year. SCSO tasks. This will involve a full slate of conferences to attend under staff were part of the U.S. Pavilion, led by the State Department, each task and staff as well as development of exhibits, print at the 2016 International Union for Conservation of Nature products, and Hyperwall content to support these meetings. (IUCN) World Conservation Congress (WCC); attendance

124 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Products

MANIAC TALKS by civil servant software developers Carl Hostteter, Troy Ames and Matthew Brandt (Code 587.0). Among the highlights from The GESTAR Maniac Talks offer the opportunity to “discuss and this past year: the NASA Viz app was featured by AAAS as an learn”. The Maniac Talks “promote scientific interaction between Educational Tool for Grades 6-12; the app team participated young and experienced scientists in order to learn/improve/ at the NASA 2017 Earth Day event in Union Station (April 20, revise the knowledge of basics/fundamentals of science and 2017); and the app was highlighted in the 2016 Goddard Annual scientific methods for research.” Charles Gatebe, along with Report by Educational Networks and Blogs. Some changes Assaf Anyamba and Bill Hrybyk, continues to be instrumental in occurred this past year: in October 2016, Kayvon Sharghi, former hosting and maintaining this exciting series. NASA Viz Editor, left NASA/GSFC to join NASA/Ames, and around that time the NASA Viz project was reduced to maintenance Throughout the past year, speakers from NASA Goddard Space mode, which resulted in the team focusing mostly on releasing Flight Center included the following: stories and handling only major app issues, due to funding • Charles Ichoku • Michael Kurylo issues. In December 2016 Ellen Gray (Code 130) was appointed • Stephen Ungar • Arlin Krueger as NASA Viz Editor and the project resumed releasing stories on • Alexander Kashlinsky • Michelle Thaller January 23, 2017. Since then the app has been releasing stories every other Monday. Speakers came from outside NASA GSFC as well: • Richard Fisher {NASA HQ) • J. Vanderlei Martins A major highlight from this past year was the release of the • Cynthia Rosenzweig (University of Maryland, Android beta version for the app by the NASA Viz software (NASA GISS) Baltimore County) development team. On February 28, 2017 NASA Viz 0.9 for • Venkatachalam • Sara Ann Tangrey Android went live in the Google Play Store. The team opted Ramaswamy (NOAA & (University of Maryland for a soft release due to wide range of Android devices and Princeton University) Extension) operating systems available in the mobile market and the limited resources available within the NASA Viz team. The team Goddard staff wrote a feature on Dr. Gatebe and the Maniac performed an extensive Quality Assurance (QA) phase during Talks that was presented in Nov 2016: https://www.nasa.gov/ May-September 2016 for the Android version of the app; the feature/goddard/2016/charles-gatebe-and-his-not-so-maniac- QA phase was well planned and executed. The soft release was talks. The schedule and videos of the Maniac Talks are available successful and no major issues or bugs were encountered. For at http://atmospheres.gsfc.nasa.gov/ext/maniacs/. this reason, the team moved forward with an official NASA press release and announcement via social media outlets on May 2, 2017: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/nasa- visualization-explorer-app-now-available-for-android. The Android NASA VIZ version of the app has been greatly received by the Android user community. Users have been reporting enthusiastically via The NASA Visualization Explorer (NASA Viz) is a free app available email, social media and the Google Play store about the app. The in the iTunes and Google Play store. The app continues to excite, app has been installed (as of 05/15/17) to approximately 20K educate and engage audiences through its media rich content devices and has received 4.8 out of 5 stars from 98 reviewers. and stories. Since the app’s launch on July 26, 2011, the app For more details please visit: https://play.google.com/store/ has released 527 stories (as of 05/15/17). The collection of apps/details?id=gov.nasa.gsfc.nasavizprod&hl=en#details- stories highlights findings and research efforts from all four NASA reviews. science themes—Earth, Heliophysics, Planetary, Astrophysics— and includes contributions from NASA’s science mission The iOS Universal app has received more than 2.55 million outreach teams. unique downloads and continuously receives positive ratings and reviews from the general public, educators and tech websites. Through the ongoing efforts of GESTAR team member Helen- The iOS version of the app released three updates to address Nicole Kostis (NASA Viz project manager), Kayvon Sharghi mostly bugs and to restore compatibilities with devices and and Ellen Gray (NASA Viz Editorial Team), stories are visualized, older operating systems. The NASA Viz project includes also a edited and released to the public, and the app is maintained responsive and mobile friendly website to feature all the content

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 125 that is available on the app, including links to source and related • Web: http://nasaviz.gsfc.nasa.gov/ material. See http://nasaviz.gsfc.nasa.gov/. • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NasaViz • Twitter: https://twitter.com/nasaviz. NASA Viz is available at the following sites: • iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nasa-visualization- explorer/id448700202?ls=1&mt=8 • Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov. nasa.gsfc.nasavizprod

Highlights of NASA Viz for Android. Image provided by H.-N. Kostis.

126 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Student Engagements and Education/Public Outreach

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT Carolina at Chapel Hill. Both students are doctoral students and awardees of NASA Advanced Computing in Earth Sciences Ludovic Brucker mentored several U.S. Naval Academy (ACES) Scholars Program. Levon worked on improving midshipmen during the USNA Polar Science & Technology statistical modeling of extreme precipitation for a TRMM Program (USNA-PS&TP) Ice Experiment (ICEX) in Thule, extreme precipitation monitoring project. Manuel worked on a Greenland. This experiment was organized in conjunction with hurricane water and energy cycle project. Levon’s work from his NASA’s Operation IceBridge. The overall goal was to expose summer project won the very prestigious AGU’s student paper midshipmen to fieldwork safely in a polar environment and to award at the AGU Fall Meeting held in San Francisco, CA, in collect measurements of snow and ice thickness to investigate December 2016. A manuscript from this work titled “Improving further the airborne observations. the statistical modeling of the TRMM Extreme Precipitation Monitoring System” and authored by L. Demirdjian, Y. Zhou and Ludovic Brucker co-advised two students this year: a Ph.D. G. Huffman was submitted to Journal of Applied Meteorology and candidate and a graduate student. Each will present a thesis in Climatology. 2017.

Richard Damoah has been working with two Morgan State University students, Bashan Prah and Isaiah Weaver, and one EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH high school student, Joshua Choi, from Reservoir High School in Howard County, MD. Bashan and Joshua each presented a poster Andrea Andrew volunteered as a STEM fair judge at an on their summer research work during NASA’s student intern elementary school science fair. poster session in August 2016. In June 2016, Bashan presented a poster on her work during the All Nations International Assaf Anyamba gave a presentation on “Climate Teleconnections Space Science and Satellite Technology Applications (SSSTA) and Vector-borne Disease Outbreaks” on June 28, 2016 to high conference held in Koforidua, Ghana. She also presented a school teachers attending the Eastern Shore Goddard SEAP EPD poster during CCICADA’s (Command, Control and Interoperability Earth Science Workshop at Goddard Space Flight Center. Center for Advanced Data Analysis) Retreat at Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ. On Sept 21, 2016, Assaf Anyamba was interviewed by Benjamin Thompson of the British Microbiology Society as a follow-up to Jie Gong supervised a summer intern, Victoria Tsai, during the his presentation at the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) summer of 2016. Outcomes from the intern’s work include a Microbe 2016 in June on “Conference on Satellites and Vector- stand-alone software interface to semi-autonomously pick up Borne Viruses”. The interview focused on a brief history of Rift thin cirrus cloud from CALIPSO images. This work was a major Valley fever, impacts on livestock and human health and the use part of a related ACMAP proposal, which was selected for funding of satellite data in early warning systems for Rift Valley fever. by NASA. Victoria is now attending Stanford University and will The story appears at https://microbepost.org/category/on-the- return in summer 2017 to continue her work. horizon/.

Tom Kucsera worked with two University of Maryland College Assaf Anyamba contributed a brief on “How Earth Observation Park students, C.J. Vernon and Ryan Bolt, on the near real-time Data Reduces Mortality from Disease” to the UN Office for digitizing of the MISR data using the MINX software package. Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR): Live to Tell Campaign: Raising Aerosol plumes from volcanos, fires, and dust storms that were Awareness, Reducing Mortality. During the International Disaster observed by the MISR instrument were digitized. Risk Reduction Day 2016 on October 13, 2016, UNISDR used this and other briefs to inform the world what is being done to Tom Kucsera also worked with a NASA-sponsored student, implement the “Health in the Context of the Sendai Framework Alexander Coy, who successfully completed his summer 2016 for Disaster Risk Reduction” in order to reduce mortality and internship at NASA Goddard. improve health outcomes from disasters.

Yaping Zhou mentored two summer students, Levon Demirdjian Assaf Anyamba gave a presentation on “Climate Teleconnections from UCLA and Manuel Hernandez from University of North and Potential Infectious Disease Risks” to a group of visiting

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 127 National Institutes of Health (NIH) College Interns on August 4, Javier Concha hosted an Ocean Ecology Laboratory table as part 2016. This educational program is designed to provide these of NASA Goddard at Maryland Day at the University of Maryland college visitors with a perspective of the NASA GSFC capability College Park held April 29, 2017. in the use of remote sensing technologies and data related to public health concerns. Javier Concha participated in Earth Day at Union Station and World Ocean Day at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural Assaf Anyamba and John Bolten (GSFC) hosted Robert Tetrault, History. Deputy Director, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Office of Global Analysis/International Production Assessment Division On April 22, 2017, Katrina Jackson gave a half-hour talk (OGA/IPAD) on September 29, 2016 at NASA Goddard. Compton providing an overview of the Hubble Space Telescope to the Tucker (GLAM GSFC Project lead), Iliana Mladenova (UMD) and Men’s Breakfast Group at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Alessandra Herman (USDA-FAS) also participated. They updated Woodbridge, VA. (Note: some women attended as well.) Director Tetrault on Global Agricultural Monitoring (GLAM) MODIS Vegetation Indices and for SMOS/SMAP soil moisture data sets From July 11 – Aug 12, 2016, Katrina Jackson participated in and portals in support of USDA/FAS agricultural monitoring and the NASA GIRLS virtual mentoring program, based in Washington, planning for 2017 activities. DC (http://women.nasa.gov/about-nasa-girls/). NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS are virtual mentoring programs using commercially On April 12, 2017, Assaf Anyamba, John Bolten (GSFC) and available video chat programs to pair NASA mentors with young Compton Tucker (GSFC) hosted Ronald Frantz - Director, Robert students anywhere in the country. There are many different fields Tetrault - Deputy Director, and Curt Reynolds - Co-PI Global and NASA wants to show how they all contribute to science, Agricultural Monitoring (GLAM) Project, International Production technology, engineering, and math. Katrina was paired with a Assessment Division (IPAD), Office of Global Analysis, Foreign 13-year-old girl in Ohio and chatted with her over Skype for an Agricultural Service/USDA for the Annual USDA-NASA GLAM hour a week over five weeks. The sessions are themed each Project Spring Meeting at NASA Goddard. Wade Crow (USDA/ week - science, technology, engineering, math, with the fifth week ARS), a member of the Soil Moisture GLAM Team, also attended. open for more in-depth discussions based on whatever them the Updates and presentations were given by various scientists. student liked best (Katrina’s student selected science). She was This meeting provided an opportunity to brief IPAD on project able to share information about NASA missions, technology, and progress, data sets and portals in support of USDA/FAS global science, and introduce her mentee to the wide variety of topics agricultural monitoring and planning for near-term project and career options relating to space and NASA. As a contractor, activities. Katrina volunteered her own time for this program.

Benita Bell attended the Women in Science Program at In December 2016, Emma Knowland volunteered to judge nine North Carolina A&T State University; the event honored the student posters at the 2016 AGU Fall Meeting as part of the accomplishments of STEM women of color. Topics of discussion Outstanding Student Paper Awards (OSPA). The posters she included Physics Day, STEM mobile labs, Engineering Technology, judged were diverse in the field of Atmospheric Sciences. Chemistry, Biology and Graphic Communication Systems Day, Demonstrations and Tours, Math Day, Information Technology Day. On August 4, 2016, at the 2016 student intern poster session at NASA Goddard, Emma Knowland served as a judge. At this Ludovic Brucker gave a 90-minute education and outreach event, students presented posters in Science, Engineering, presentation at the French International High School (Lycee Center Services and Software. She represented Code 610/Earth Rochambeau) in Bethesda, MD on May 11, 2016. This Sciences Division and judged 7 student posters in 90 minutes. presentation on satellite remote sensing of polar ice and snow Together with the other judges she nominated the winner and two was specifically made to fit into the senior curriculum of Physics. runner-ups for the Science category.

Javier Concha represented the Ocean Ecology Laboratory on Helen-Nicole Kostis served as Interpretive Installations July 27, 2016, at the Science Jamboree held at NASA Goddard’s Committee & Awards Presenter at the 2016 Media & Technology Building 28 Atrium. MUSE Awards Ceremony, sponsored by the American Alliance of Museums and held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, Washington,

128 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 DC in May 2016. She served in these same roles at the 2016 Erica McGrath-Spangler volunteered in the Escape Velocity SIGGRAPH Student Research Competition at the SIGGRAPH event held at National Harbor, MD from July 1-3, 2016. Goddard Conference held in July 2016. See http://s2016.siggraph.org/ Earth Science outreach personnel hosted a table as part acm-student-research-competition. of a larger NASA presence at Escape Velocity, the inaugural convention/festival of the Museum of Science Fiction. Visitors Helen-Nicole Kostis served as an Education Committee Member learned how satellites use the electromagnetic spectrum to and Reviewer at SIGGRAPH Asia 2016. She also was invited to collect data and communicate with ground stations, including serve in the ACM SIGGRAPH Asia 2017 as a Committee Member a demonstration of how GPM’s precipitation radar works using on the Symposium on Education and Posters Program Reviewer. a LEGO model of Typhoon Hagupit. Staffing at the table was provided by Ginger Butcher and Mike Taylor (both SSAI), and Helen-Nicole Kostis served on the 2017 MUSE Awards Jury in Kristen Weaver and Erica McGrath-Spangler (both USRA) as well February-March 2017. The purpose of the awards is to recognize as volunteers from other divisions. outstanding achievement in Galleries, Libraries, Archives or Museums (GLAM) media. The international Alliance Media & On November 20, 2016, Erica McGrath-Spangler participated Technology Professional Network’s annual awards are presented in the Sunday Experiment held at the Goddard Visitor Center to institutions or independent producers who use digital media to that focused on the theme of weather. During this event, she enhance the GLAM experience and engage audiences. The MUSE interacted with the public, answering questions on weather awards celebrate scholarship, community, innovation, creativity, and her career and research with USRA and NASA. The event education and inclusiveness. For more information about the attracted approximately 120 adults and children. MUSE Awards, please visit: http://aam-us.org/about-us/grants- awards-and-competitions/muse-awards. Joy Ng gave an online presentation to a group of students in Alaska about the SnowEx field campaign. Helen-Nicole Kostis was invited to serve in IEEE Vis 2017, as International Program Committee (IPC) Member for Scientific Joy Ng was invited to speak at a video conference at the Visualization Papers Track, as of March 2017 (ongoing). For more University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she discussed information about the IEEE Vis 2017 conference, see science communication through video and how she uses this http://ieeevis.org/. medium to create public discourse about NASA’s science research. Matt Kowalewski participated in two K-12 events. First, he served as a community scientist, discussing the science fair Nikki Privé was a judge of student presentations for the projects of Linton Springs Elementary School of Eldersburg, MD. Outstanding Student Presentation Awards at the American Second, he presented at Sykesville Middle School’s 8th Grade Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. Career Day, providing background on what is involved in pursuing a career in physics as well as describing the type of work he On July 27, 2016, Sarah Strode joined a lunch discussion performs in his GESTAR work. with high school students participating in the “Girls Who Code” Summer Immersion Program at Georgetown University, On May 15, 2016, Erica McGrath-Spangler participated in the Washington, DC. “Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum” Sunday Experiment at the Visitor’s Center at NASA Goddard. Participants learned David Trossman spoke at the Koshland Museum three times about the electromagnetic spectrum and technologies that NASA last year. First, he spoke with the public about what a climate uses to “see” beyond the visible. This event included volunteers scientist does all day. About a dozen people showed up to ask from across science and engineering disciplines at Goddard about topics ranging from how we know that humans have played and included a variety of presentations and demonstrations. a role in changing Earth’s climate, how much time a climate Participants were able to see near-infrared waves reflecting off scientist spends behind a computer screen, and what education healthy vegetations with an infrared (IR) Google demonstration by is needed to become a climate scientist. His next two talks were Mike Taylor (SSAI) and Erica McGrath-Spangler. about the connection between the ocean and people. This was part of a public communication effort with an ocean theme on behalf of the museum.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 129 Junhua Liu worked on the chemistry forecasting briefing for the ATom-1 Campaign held July - August 2016, and was included twice in Notes from the Field for “ATom: World Survey of the Atmosphere”: http://earthobservatory. Image from “Map of Global Landslide Susceptibility.” Credit: NASA Earth Observatory images by nasa.gov/blogs/ Jesse Allen, using landslide susceptibility data provided by Thomas Stanley and Dalia Kirschbaum fromthefield/2016/08/16/ (NASA/GSFC), and topographic data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). traversing-the-tropics-kona- to-pago-pago-and-on-to- christchurch/?src=share David Trossman spoke with congressional staff members as part of the American Geophysical Union’s Congressional Visits http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/ Day in San Francisco, CA. The purpose was to emphasize the fromthefield/2016/08/25/traveling-the-length-of-the-atlantic- importance of continued funding of Earth sciences. ocean-part-1-chile-to-ihla-terceira-azores/

David Trossman volunteered at the Scientifically Speaking public On Sept 30, 2016, Assaf Anyamba’s research was featured in communication program by the American Statistical Association the EO IOTD titled “Nairobi’s Borders Swell with Urban Growth”: in partnership with Sense About Science on November 15, 2016, http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=88822&eoc by discussing his public speaking experiences to statisticians in n=home&eoci=iotd_previous. the audience. On Nov 1, 2016, Santiago Gassó’s research was featured in the James Wang volunteered to be interviewed and filmed by two EO IOTD titled “Iron in the Wind”: http://earthobservatory.nasa. students from Eastern Middle School, Silver Spring, MD, on Nov. gov/IOTD/view.php?id=89021. 6, 2016, for a documentary on climate change they made for a school project, which was in contention for being shown on On Nov 23, 2016, Ivona Cetinic was featured in the EO IOTD titled C-SPAN. Dr. Wang discussed the scientific research that he does “Algae Bloom or Swirling Sediment?” https://earthobservatory. on the global carbon cycle and interactions with climate, and nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=89154&src=eoa-iotd gave more general information on climate change, its impacts, policy challenges, and solutions. On Feb 9, 2017, Hiren Jethva’s research was featured in an EO Earth Matters blog: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/ earthmatters/2017/02/08/the-crop-residue-fires-in-northern- india-were-the-most-severe-in-more-than-a-decade/ SELECTED ITEMS FROM NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY (EO) On March 30, 2017, Thomas Stanley was featured in the EO IOTD titled “Map of Global Landslide Susceptibility”: https:// On May 11, 2016, Hiren Jethva, Kerry Meyer and earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=89937&eocn=ho Andy Sayer were featured in Earth Observatory’s Image me&eoci=iotd_readmore of the Day (IOTD) titled “Studying Smoke Above the Clouds”: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view. On April 6, 2017, Thomas Stanley’s work was featured in the EO php?id=88013&src=iotdrss. IOTD titled “Overlooked Landslides”: https://earthobservatory. nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=89969&eocn=home&eoci=io On June 2, 2016, Assaf Anyamba’s work with the DoD was td_image featured in the EO IOTD titled “Arabian Peninsula Primed for Rift Valley Fever”: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php? id=88125&eocn=home&eoci=iotd_readmore.

130 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Awards and Recognition

On June 9, 2016, at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Rec The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Office of Education Center, Code 130 (Office of Communications) held its Peer presented Richard Damoah (code 618, sponsor: C. Tucker) with Award ceremony. Among those recognized were Jefferson Beck, a Certificate of Appreciation for his support of the National Space Ryan Fitzgibbons and Robert Garner (sponsor for all three: D. Club Scholars program as a student mentor during summer 2016. Kekesi/W. Sisler), who each received a 2016 Peer Recognition Award presented by and signed by the Office of the Director, Chris In September 2016, Richard Damoah’s (code 618, C. Tucker) Scolese. project for the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program • Jefferson Beck: For Excellence in Leadership (CADFP) was selected for funding. The project involves Analysis of • Ryan Fitzgibbons: For Collaboration and Teamwork Earth Observation Data such as from the AERONENT instrument • Robert Garner: For Innovation and Improvement for Climate Change Monitoring in West Africa. This fellowship will fund his 28-day visit (July 1-28, 2017) to All Nations University At the 2016 Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences (HOBI) College in Ghana while undertaking the research. Annual Awards Ceremony, held on September 1, 2016, at NASA Goddard, four GESTAR members were recognized in different On October 13, 2016, at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the categories. “SMAP Science Data System Team” received a 2016 NASA • Ludovic Brucker (code 615, sponsor: S. Nowicki), Outreach: Group Achievement Award “for outstanding achievement in the “For exceptional public outreach and mentoring of students in development of the SMAP Science Data System and algorithm, the field of remote sensing of the cryosphere.” producing science data for the science community and general • Thomas Stanley (code 617, sponsor: D. Kirschbaum), public”. Among the many members of the team, Jinzheng Peng Scientific and Technical Support: “For outstanding support in (code 555, sponsor: J. Piepmeier) was one of the recipients. His developing a dynamic landslide hazard model.” contributions to the SMAP Team included developing the SMAP • Joseph Lyu (code 617, sponsor: E. Kim), Scientific and radiometer L1B TA2TB (from antenna temperature to the Earth’s Technical Support: “For science characterization of JPSS-1 surface brightness temperature) algorithm, and implementing the ATMS.” TA2TB algorithm using Matlab. Post-launch, Dr. Peng calibrated • Qingyuan Zhang (code 618, sponsor: E. Middleton), Scientific the SMAP radiometer and the calibration result is being used Achievement: “For developing and implementing at canopy by the SMAP radiometer L1B data products. His work is an and satellite scales an important new vegetation parameter important contribution to the success of this mission. (fAPARchl) to improve the spectrally based remote sensing estimates of absorbed radiation used for photosynthesis.” The Earth Sciences Division - Atmospheres (Code 610AT) Awards Ceremony was held on November 2, 2016, at NASA Goddard, On August 29, 2016, at the Code 670 Annual Awards ceremony and four GESTAR members were recognized with Performance at NASA Goddard, Genna Duberstein (code 130, sponsor: D. Awards. Kekesi) was presented with a Peer Award by Michael Hesse, • For Outstanding Performance - Outreach, Yuekui Yang (code Director of the Heliophysics Science Division: “Genna Duberstein 613, sponsor: A. Marshak) was recognized “For contributions plays a vital role in Goddard’s heliophysics media outreach to generating enhanced DSCOVR/EPIC RGB images.” efforts. From dazzling videos of SDO imagery; to overseeing full • For Outstanding Performance - Science, Nayeong Cho (code production movies on cutting-edge research; to working with the 613, sponsor: L. Oreopolous) was recognized “For performing helio animators and visualizers to portray interesting science high quality analysis on coincident data from A-Train and results; to supporting press releases and mission advances – other datasets.” Ms. Duberstein is a key part of the helio outreach team. Indeed, • For Outstanding Performance – Science Software at a time when imagery and videos serve as the main way of not Development, Edward Nowottnick (code 614, sponsor: P. just attracting attention – and in many cases also for conveying Colarco) was recognized “For development and testing of the information – Ms. Duberstein’s work is crucial to what has CATS-ISS aerosol typing algorithm.” been a phenomenal year of wide successes for heliophysics • For Outstanding Performance – Technical Support, Melanie communications. For these reasons, Genna Duberstein is Follette-Cook (code 614, sponsor: B. Duncan) was presented with this 2016 Heliophysics Science Division Peer recognized “For outstanding scientific performance on the Award.” DISCOVER-AQ field campaign and post-mission analysis and modeling.”

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 131 In January 2017, Goddard’s Climate and Radiation Laboratory Goddard’s Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Laboratory (Code (Code 613) held their annual awards ceremony along with their 612) held its awards ceremony at NASA Goddard on February annual party. This year, three GESTAR members were awardees. 6, 2017, where Mircea Grecu (sponsor: R. Meneghini) was • Jie Gong (sponsor: D. Wu), For Best First-Authored Paper: “For honored with a Contractor Award for Best Scientific Paper: her creative study revealing the importance of horizontally “For an outstanding paper describing the remote sensing of oriented ice particles in the transfer of polarized microwave precipitation using a combination of satellite-based radar and radiation though ice clouds.” passive microwave radiometer data.” The paper’s citation reads • Benjamin Marchant (sponsor: S. Platnick), also For Best as follows: Grecu, Mircea, William S. Olson, Stephen Joseph First-Authored Paper: “For his paper documenting significant Munchak, Sarah Ringerud, Liang Liao, Ziad Haddad, Bartie L. improvement to the MODIS phase algorithm, an essential first Kelley, and Steven F. McLaughlin (2016), “The GPM Combined step in obtaining useful cloud optical property retrievals.” Algorithm,” Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 33 • Sergey Korkin (sponsor: A. Lyapustin) received a Special (10), 2225-2245, doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-16-0019.1. Award for an Act of Exceptional Merit, Beyond the Call of Duty: “For the development of the polarized radiative transfer code On February 23, 2017, NASA Goddard’s Global Modeling and SORD and its integration into the AERONET v3 processing Assimilation Office (GMAO, code 610.1) held its annual Peer algorithm.” Awards Ceremony. This year’s awardees included three GESTAR scientists. On January 18, 2017, the annual SED (Sciences and Exploration • For Outstanding Scientific Contribution by a New GMAO Directorate) Poster Party was held in NASA Goddard’s Building Member: Allison Collow (sponsor: M. Bosilivich): “your 28 Atrium. During the event, the inaugural Piers J. Sellers insightful use of MERRA-2 data to develop an analysis of the Award for Interdisciplinary Science was presented to Brad Weir influences of the large-scale weather on extreme precipitation (code 610.1, sponsor: L. Ott) for a poster titled “The Project events in the North East United States.” formerly known as GEOS-Carb” (co-authors include Tom Oda and • For Outstanding Scientific Contribution by a New GMAO Abhishek Chatterjee, also of 610.1). Member: Abhishek Chatterjee (sponsor: L. Ott): “For helping advance the status of GMAO’s carbon modeling efforts by becoming a PI on two NASA proposals and for organizing sessions at AGU, AMS and the North American Carbon Program (NACP) meeting.” • For Scientific Achievement: Clara Orbe (sponsor: S. Pawson): “In recognition of your ongoing and recent contributions to the diagnosis and understanding of constituent transport in the GMAO’s systems that have strong implications for our studies of atmospheric chemistry and the carbon cycle.”

Lok Lamsal and Cecile Rousseaux were selected to receive a USRA President’s Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements. Awards fall into three categories: USRA Distinguished Service Award, USRA Individual Excellence Award and USRA Team Excellence Award. This is the inaugural year for these awards. In March 2017, awardees, administrators and directors gathered at a formal ceremony in Washington, DC and USRA President Jeff Isaacson presented the awards. • Lok Lamsal (code 614, sponsor: N. Krotkov) received a USRA Individual Excellence Award. His citation reads as follows: Brad Weir (610.1/USRA) with the Cricket Bat, Lesley Ott “Lok Lamsal’s work on global nitrogen dioxide monitoring has (610.1/GSFC), Colleen Hartman (600/GSFC), and Conor Nixon had a marked effect on pollution control efforts worldwide. (690/GSFC). Photo Credit: J. Friedlander (605/TRAX/ GSFC). He was honored twice this year by NASA, receiving the Robert H. Goddard Exceptional Achievement Award for Science,

132 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 and the Laboratory for Atmosphere’s Award for Outstanding fellowship to join the Atmosphere Working Group (AWG). This Performance in Science. Lok’s work resulted in one of the fellowship is an opportunity for early career Arctic researchers most downloaded papers in 2015 in the journal Atmospheric to engage in leading-edge international scientific activities and Science, and was featured prominently in the recent video also to develop management skills by participating in the working “President Obama Explains How Pollution Affects Our Planet group activities. - YouTube.” • Cecile Rousseaux (code 610.1, sponsor: W. W. Gregg) In early April 2017, Genna Duberstein and Brian Monroe also received a USRA Individual Excellence Award. Her (both code 130, sponsor: D. Kekesi) were recognized by the D.C. citation is as follows: “Cecile Rousseaux‘s contributions to Science Writers Association (DCSWA) at an awards ceremony oceanographic biogeochemistry include co-authoring 15 peer- with the Newsbrief Award in Multimedia for their video reviewed articles since GESTAR’s inception in 2011, helping “The Electric Wind of Venus.” to elucidate the complex interactions between atmospheric carbon and the oceans. As a scientist, Cecile exhibits On April 25, 2017, at the annual DTV working group meeting extraordinary energy and passion for discovery, serving as held in conjunction with the National Association of Broadcasters Principal Investigator (PI) on two NASA-funded proposals and convention in Las Vegas, NV, NASA producers David Ladd, co-PI on five others. She has also played an exceptional role Jefferson Beck, Rob Andreoli and Mike McClare received four of in the National Academy of Sciences 2017 Decadal Survey, the six videographer awards. For “Documentation” – Jefferson and is leading the NASA Goddard Ocean Focus Group.” Beck (code 130, sponsor: D. Kekesi) received 2nd place for work on the ABoVE field campaign and 3rd place for his work with In late March 2017, Sergey Korkin (code 613, sponsor: A. Piers Sellers in Greenland. For “Production” – David Ladd (code Lyapustin) received the Richard M. Goody Award for Atmospheric 130, sponsor: D. Kekesi) and Rob Androli won 1st place for their Radiation and Remote Sensing at the 16th Electromagnetic and work on “The Moon and More.” Light Scattering Conference (ELS-XVI). This prestigious Elsevier/ Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer With the start of GESTAR’s second five-year performance period young-scientist award is named after Richard M. Goody, whose (2016- 2021), the GESTAR Annual Excellence awards were pioneering research has had a profound and long-lasting impact revised to reflect outstanding achievement in three areas: on the disciplines of atmospheric radiation, remote sensing, Leadership, Science and Technology, and Community. This year, and climate change. The 2016 and 2017 Goody Awards are our award winners were as follows: competed among outstanding early-career scientists who work • Leadership — Ivona Cetinic (code 616, sponsor: J. Werdell): in the fields of Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing. For her outstanding achievements as a scientific leader in the Dr. Korkin’s research is focused on numerical simulation of NASA Goddard Ocean Ecology Laboratory and in the ocean polarized light scattering in the Earth atmosphere. He developed biology community at large. and supports efficient open-source polarized radiative transfer • Science and Technology — Mircea Grecu (code 612, sponsor: codes. The codes are now used for polarization correction R. Meneghini): For his major contribution to GPM’s combined of data obtained from space and ground measurements. precipitation algorithm which has been successfully upgraded Examples of the application include Dr. Alexei Lyapustin’s (code from V4 to V5 during the past year. 613) Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction • Community — Stephen Steenrod (code 614, sponsor: L. (MAIAC) algorithm and the NASA GSFC Aerosol Robotic Network Oman): For his superior service as a System Administrator (AERONET) team lead by Dr. Brent Holben (code 618). and scientist supporting the NASA Global Modeling Initiative (GMI), GEOS-5 chemistry and transport model, and On April 1, 2017, Manisha Ganeshan (code 613, sponsor: D. Wu) Atmospheric Tomography mission (ATom) projects at NASA was awarded the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) GSFC.

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 133 Image from “Piers Sellers in Greenland – B-roll,” part of a compilation from Goddard Multimedia. Learn more about Piers Sellers’ legacy (1955-2016) at https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/piers-sellers-a-legacy- of-science. Credits include Jefferson Beck, associate producer, and Michelle Handleman, lead interviewee . Image credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

134 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 Acronym List

4STAR ������������������Spectrometer for Sky-Scanning, Sun- CCMI ��������������������Chemistry-Climate Model Initiative Tracking Atmospheric Research CDA ����������������������Cloud Data Assimilation AACA ��������������������Arctic Adaptation to Climate Assessment CDC ��������������������Center for Disease Control ABL ����������������������Atmospheric Boundary Layer CDOM ������������������Colored Dissolved Organic Matter ABOVE ������������������Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment CEOS ��������������������Committee on Earth Observation Satellites ACAM ��������������������Airborne Compact Atmospheric Mapper CERES ������������������Clouds and Earth Radiant Energy System ACAOD ������������������Above Cloud Aerosol Optical Depth CFH ����������������������Cryogenic Frostpoint Hygrometer ACCMI ������������������Atmospheric Chemistry-Climate CHIKV ������������������Chikungunya Virus Model Intercomparison CHORI ������������������Children’s Hospital and Research ACCRI ������������������Aviation Climate Change Research Initiative Center, Oakland ACMAP ����������������Atmospheric Composition: Modeling CIL ������������������������Conceptual Imaging Lab and Analysis Program CLARINET ������������Cloud Aerosol Radiation Experiment ADAS ��������������������Atmospheric Data Assimilation System CLIVAR ������������������Climate Variability and Predictability project AERONET ������������Aerosol Robotic Network CMAVE ������������������Center for Medical, Agricultural, AGCM ������������������Atmospheric General Circulation Model and Veterinary Entomology AGU ����������������������American Geophysical Union CMIP ��������������������Coupled Model Intercomparison Project AIRS ����������������������Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder CMS ����������������������Content Management System AMF ����������������������Air Mass Factor COT ����������������������Cloud Optical Thickness AMM ��������������������Atlantic Meridional Mode CRM ����������������������Cloud-Resolving Model AMO ����������������������Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation CYAN ��������������������Cyanobacteria Assessment Network AMS ����������������������American Meteorological Society CYNGSS ��������������Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System AMSR-E ��������������Advanced Microwave Scanning DAS ����������������������Data Assimilation System Radiometer for EOS DAVINCI ����������������Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of AMV ����������������������Atmospheric Motion Vectors Noble gases, Chemistry and Imaging AOD ����������������������Aerosol Optical Depth DENV ��������������������Dengue Virus AOGCM ����������������Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Model DFR ����������������������Differential Frequency Ratio AO ������������������������Arctic Oscillation DIC ������������������������Dissolved Inorganic Carbon AOT ����������������������Aerosol Optical Thickness DISCOVER-AQ ������Deriving Information on Surface Conditions AROMA ����������������Advanced Resolution Organic from Column and Vertically Resolved Molecule Analyzer Observations Relevant to Air Quality ARSET ������������������Applied Remote Sensing Training program DOD ����������������������Department of Defense AQWG ������������������Air Quality and health Working Group DOE ����������������������Department of Energy ATBD ��������������������Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document DPR ����������������������Dual-frequency Participation Radar ATom ��������������������Atmospheric Tomography Mission DSD ����������������������rainDrop Size Distribution ATMS ��������������������Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder DYNAMO ��������������Dynamics of the Madden Julian Oscillation ATTREX ����������������Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment E/PO ��������������������Education/Public Outreach AVDC ��������������������Aura Validation Data Center EA/WR �����������������East Atlantic/West Russia AVHRR ������������������Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer ECMWF ����������������European Centre for Medium- BASELInE ������������Biomass-burning Aerosols & Range Weather Forecast Stratocumulus Environment: Lifecycles EMAS ��������������������Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator and Interactions Experiment EMC ����������������������Electromagnetic Capability CAFÉ ��������������������Compact Airborne Formaldehyde Experiment EMI ����������������������Electromagnetic Interference CAI ������������������������Cloud and Aerosol Instrument EnKF ��������������������Ensemble Kalman Filter CALIOP ����������������Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with ENSO ��������������������El Niño/Southern Oscillation Orthogonal Polarization EOSPSO ����������������Earth Observing System Project Science Office CALIPSO ��������������Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared EPIC ����������������������Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera Pathfinder Satellite Observation EPICAERUV ����������V Aerosol Index algorithm for EPIC CARAFE ����������������CARbon Atmosphere Flux Experiment EPSC ��������������������European Planetary Science Congress

GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 | 135 ESA ����������������������European Space Agency ICESat ������������������Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite EV-S ����������������������Earth Venture Suborbital IGARSS ����������������International Geoscience and EXPORTS ��������������EXport Processes in the Ocean Remote Sensing Symposium from RemoTe Sensing IGPO ��������������������International GEWEX Project Office FAS ����������������������Foreign Agricultural Service IGWCO ������������������Integrated Global Water Cycle Observations FDA ����������������������Food and Drug Administration IMERG ������������������Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals F0AM ��������������������0-D Atmospheric Modeling for GPM data product FV3 ����������������������Finite Volume Cubed sphere IPCC ����������������������Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change GCAS ��������������������GEOCAPE Airborne Simulator IRAD ��������������������Internal Research and Development Program GCE ����������������������Goddard Cloud Ensemble ISS ������������������������International Space Station GCOM-W1 ������������Global Change Observation IUCN ��������������������International Union for the Mission for Water – 1 Conservation of Nature GCRP ��������������������Global Change Research Program JAXA ��������������������Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency GEO ����������������������Group of Earth Observations JCSDA ������������������Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation GEO-CAPE ������������GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events JPL ������������������������Jet Propulsion Laboratory GEOGLOWS ����������GEO Global Water Sustainability JPSS ��������������������Joint Polar Satellite System GEOS-5 ����������������Goddard Earth Observing System Version 5 JSC ����������������������Joint Scientific Committee GEOS-CCM ����������GEOS Chemistry Climate Model JWST ��������������������James Webb Space Telescope GEOSS ������������������Global Earth Observation System of Systems KORUS-AQ ������������Korean US Air Quality mission GEOTASO ��������������Geostationary Trace Gas and LC-MS ������������������Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer Aerosol Sensor Optimization LER ����������������������Lambertian Equivalent Reflectances GESTAR ��������������Goddard Earth Sciences LRO ����������������������Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Technology and Research LUT ����������������������Look-Up Table GEWEX ����������������Global Energy Water Cycle Experiment M2AMIP ��������������MERRA-2 Atmospheric Model GIMMS ����������������Global Inventory Monitoring Intercomparison Project and Modeling Systems MACC ��������������������Monitoring Atmospheric GMAO ������������������Global Modeling and Assimilation Office Composition and Climate GMI ����������������������GPM Microwave Imager MACROS ��������������Molecular Analyzer of Complex GOCART ����������������Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Refractory Organic-Rich Systems Radiation and Transport MAVEN ����������������Mars Atmosphere and Volatile GOES-R ����������������Geostationary Operational Evolution Mission Environmental Satellite-R MEaSUREs ����������Making Earth Science data records for GOSAT ������������������Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite Use in Research for Earth Science GOWASP ��������������GMAO OSSE for Weather Analysis MERRA ����������������Modern Era Retrospective-Analysis Software Package for Research and Applications GPM ���������������������Global Precipitation Measurement MISR ��������������������Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer GPP ����������������������Gross Primary Production MISTiC Winds ������Midwave Infrared Sounding of Temperature GRACE ������������������Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment and humidity In a Constellation for Winds GRUAN ����������������GCOS Reference Upper Air Network MJO ����������������������Madden-Julian Oscillation GSFC ��������������������Goddard Space Flight Center MLS ����������������������Microwave Limb Sounder GWC ��������������������Global Water Cycle MMS ��������������������Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission GWSP ������������������Global Water System Project MODIS ������������������Moderate Resolution Imaging HAQAST ����������������Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team Spectroradiometer HFCs ��������������������Hydrofluorocarbons MOMA ������������������Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer HHT ����������������������Hilbert-Huang Transform MOPITT ����������������Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere HS3 ����������������������Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel MSL ����������������������Mars Science Laboratory HSRL ��������������������High Spectral Resolution Lidar NAAMES ��������������North Atlantic Aerosols and HyspIRI ����������������Hyperspectral Infrared Imager Marine Ecosystems Study

136 | GESTAR Annual Report 2016 – 2017 NAI ������������������������NASA Astrobiology Institute RCDL ��������������������Radiometric Calibration and Development NAI-MIRS ��������������NASA Astrobiology Institute Minority Laboratory Institutions Research Support Program RFI ������������������������Radio Frequency Interference NAO ����������������������North Atlantic Oscillation RRTM ��������������������Rapid Radiative Transfer Model NASA Viz ��������������NASA Visualization Explorer app RT ������������������������Radiative Transfer NASM ������������������National Air and Space Museum SAL ����������������������Saharan Air Layer NCA ����������������������National Climate Assessment SAM ����������������������Sample Analysis at Mars NCAR ��������������������National Center for Atmospheric Research SCSO ��������������������Science Communication Support Office NCCS ��������������������NASA Center for Climate Simulation SDG ����������������������Sustainable Development Goals NCEP ��������������������National Centers for Environmental Prediction SDO ����������������������Solar Dynamics Observatory NDACC ������������������Network for the Detection of SDSU ��������������������Satellite Data Simulation Unit Atmospheric Composition Change SEAC4RS �������������Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric NDAI ��������������������Non-Dust Aerosol Index Composition, Clouds and Climate NDVI ��������������������Normalized Difference Vegetation Index Coupling by Regional Surveys NEWS ������������������NASA Energy and Water Cycle Studies SEAWiFS ��������������Sea-Viewing Wide Field of View Sensor NGIMS ������������������Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer SHADOZ ��������������Southern Hemisphere Additional NOAA ��������������������National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ozonesondes network Administration SLP ����������������������Sea Level Pressure NOBM ������������������NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model SMAP ��������������������Soil Moisture Active/Passive NPP ����������������������National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi) SMOS ������������������Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity NPP OMPS ����������NPP Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite SPARC ������������������Stratospheric Processes And NSIDC ������������������National Snow and Ice Data Center their Role in Climate NSOSA ������������������NOAA Satellite Observing System Architecture SSG ����������������������Scientific Steering Group NU-WRF ����������������NASA Unified Weather Research SST ����������������������Sea Surface Temperature and Forecasting STE ����������������������Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange OASIS ������������������Organics Analyzer for Sampling Icy Surfaces STEM ��������������������Science, Technology, Engineering OCI ������������������������Ocean Color Index and Mathematics OCO-2 ������������������Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 STEREO ����������������Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory ODS ����������������������Ozone Depleting Substances SVS ����������������������Scientific Visualization Studio OIB ������������������������Operation IceBridge SWE ����������������������Snow Water Equivalent OLA ����������������������OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter TB ������������������������Brightness Temperature OLR ����������������������Outgoing Longwave Radiation TC ������������������������Tropical Cyclone OLYMPEX �������������Olympic Mountain Experiment TEMPO ����������������Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring POllution OMAERUV ������������OMI/Aura level-2 near UV Aerosol data product TMI ����������������������TRMM Microwave Imager OMI ����������������������Ozone Monitoring Instrument TMPA ��������������������TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis ORACLES ��������������ObseRvations of Aerosols above TOA ����������������������Top of the Atmosphere CLouds and their InteRactionS TOMS ��������������������Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer OSIRIS-REx ����������Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource TRMM ������������������Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Identification Security Regolith Explorer USDA ��������������������U.S. Department of Agriculture OSSE ��������������������Observing System Simulation Experiments UTLS ��������������������Upper Troposphere – Lower Stratosphere OSTP ��������������������Office of Science and Technology VIIRS ��������������������Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite Policy (at the White House) WCRP ������������������World Climate Research Program PACE ��������������������Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and ocean Ecosystem W-E-F ��������������������Water-Energy-Food PBL ����������������������Planetary Boundary Layer WFIRST ����������������Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope PDO ����������������������Pacific Decadal Oscillation WRF ����������������������Weather Research and Forecast PIA ������������������������Path Integrated Attenuation WSIST ������������������Water Strategy Implementation Study Team PSD ����������������������Particle Size Distribution QBO ����������������������Quasi-Biannual Oscillation

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