ANNUAL 2013-2014 REPORT

Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research Studies and Investigations TABLE of CONTENTS SDO’s Jewel Box Sun. Image Credit: T. Bridgman, G. Duberstein Sun. Image Credit: T. Box SDO’s Jewel Microwave Instrument Technology Branch...... 6 Technology Instrument Microwave Branch...... 7 Management Science Data Computing...... 7 High Performance EarthDivision...... 7 Sciences Global Modeling And Assimilation Office...... 14 Center...... 22 Change Data Global Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Laboratory...... 24 Laboratory...... 28 Radiation And Climate Atmospheric Chemistry And Dynamics Laboratory...... 34 Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory...... 49 Laboratory...... 50 Sciences Hydrological Laboratory...... 58 Biospheric Sciences Laboratory...... 61 PlanetaryEnvironments Letter from GESTAR Director...... 4 from GESTAR Letter Team...... 5 GESTAR The Research...... 6 Technical 555 Code 586 Code 606.2 Code 610 Code Code 610.1 610.2 Code Code 612 613 Code Code 614 Code 615 617 Code 618 Code Code 699 Message...... 63 the Delivering 130...... 63 Code Code 606.4 Scientific Visualization Studio...... 74 Global Science & Technology...... 79 Code 160 Office of Education...... 82 Products...... 84 Outreach...... 85 Education/Public and Engagements Student Awards...... 88 Acronyms...... 91 Technical Editor Technical Houghton Amy Graphic Design Erin Carver Administrative StaffAdministrative Arens, Jeff Steve Baird, (Dalnekoff) Smith, Julie Sarah Foster, Amy Houghton, John, Sharon Stacey Kannon, Maginnis, Beth Morgan, Dagmar Queen, Lynette Linda Richardson, Elamae Samuel Kerr, Rousseaux, Cecile Rousseaux, Andrew Sayer, Robert Schiffer, Trent Schindler, Selkirk, Henry Sharghi, Kayvon Shi, Jainn Jong (Roger) Sippel, Jason Smith, Sarah Radina Soebiyanto, Eric Sokolowsky, Adrian Southard, Thomas Stanley, Cynthia Starr, Stephen Steenrod, Deborah Stein-Zweers, Silvia Stoyanova, Strahan, Susan Sarah Strode, Suarez, Max Sun, Zhibin Andrew Swanson, Ghassan Taha, Zhining Tao, Samuel Teinturier, Tian, Lin Cindy Trapp, Stephen Ungar, Sushel Unninayar, Cuneyt Utku, Igor Veselovskii, Yury Vikhliaev, James Wang, Alan Ward, Kristen Weaver, Brad Weir, Guoyong Wen, Scott Wiessinger, Stu Witmer, Ernest Wright, Xu, Hui Weidong Yang, Yuekui Yang, Tian Yao, Teppei Yasunari, Zeng, Xiping Zhang, Qingyuan Zhang, Yan Zhou, Jiansong Zhou, Yaping Jerald Ziemke, - Jin, Jianjun Johnson, Leann Ju, Junchang Alex Kekesi, Kim, Dongchul Kim, Hyokyung Kim, Min-Jeong Sergey Korkin, Helen-Nicole Kostis, Matthew Kowalewski, Tom Kucsera, Michael Kurylo, Ladd, David Lait, Leslie Lamsal, Lok Laughlin, Daniel Richard Lawford, Lee, Dong Min Lee, Seung Kuk Allison Leidner, Lentz, Michael Katherine Lewis, Li, Feng Li, Xiaowen Liang, Qing Liao, Liang Lim, Young-Kwon Lipschultz, Fredric Liu, Junhua Chen-Hsuan (Jo Lyu, seph) Malanoski, Mark Malespin, Charles Benjamin Marchant, Margolis, Hank McBride, Patrick Erica McGrath-Spangler, McLean, Debbi Kerry Meyer, Kevin Miller, Mohammed, Priscilla Brian Monroe, Ally Torre, Mounirou Norris, Peter Olsen, Mark Osmanoglu, Batuhan Xiaohua Pan, Edoardo Pasolli, Falguni Patadia, Jinzheng Peng, Daniel Perez-Ramirez, Phillips, Jackie Gerald Potter, Nikki Prive, Radcliff, Matthew Randles, Cynthia Rault, Didier Oreste Reale, Christian Retscher,

Achuthavarier, Deepthi Achuthavarier, Assaf Anyamba, Valentina Aquila, Ryan Barker, Beck, Jefferson Bell, Benita Debbie Belvedere, Bensusen, Sally Robert Bindschadler, Bridgman, Tom Ludovic Brucker, Brunt, Kelly Buchard-Marchant, Virginie Matthew Burger, Cede, Alexander Edward Celarier, Chang, Yehui Chase, Tyler Chern, Jiun-Dar Cheung, Samson Cho, Naeyong Cohen, Jarrett Colombo, Oscar Corso, William Charles Cote, Damoah, Richard Gabrielle De Lannoy, J. M. De Matthaeis, Paolo Diehl, Thomas Clara Draper, Genna Duberstein, Eck, Thomas Errico, Ronald Fitzgibbons, Ryan Melanie Follette-Cook, Dan Gallagher, Ganeshan, Manishan Robert Garner, Gassó, Santiago Charles Gatebe, Gautam, Ritesh Manuela Girotto, Gong, Jie Graham, Steven Grecu, Mircea Gupta, Pawan Ham, Yoo-Geun Han, Mei Handleman, Michelle Hanson, Heather Daniel Holdaway, Humberson, Winnie Hurwitz, Margaret Jentoft-Nilsen, Marit Hiren Jethva, Jiang, Le Jin, Daeho GESTAR STAFF GESTAR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LETTER from GESTAR DIRECTOR The GESTAR TEAM

Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) spacecraft; Image Credit: T. Chase

GESTAR MANAGMENT TEAM June 10, 2014 GESTAR Director: Dr. William Corso We are pleased to offer this third NASA Goddard Earth Sciences, Technology, and Research (GESTAR) Associate Director: Dr. Darryn Waugh, JHU Cooperative Agreement Annual Report for the period 11 May 2013 – 10 May 2014. NASA awarded Associate Director: Dr. Joseph Whittaker, MSU GESTAR to the team of Universities Space Research Association (USRA), Morgan State University (MSU), Associate Director: Dr. Le Jiang, ISMG Johns Hopkins University (JHU), I.M. Systems Group (IMSG), Institute for Global Environmental Strategies Business Manager: Ms. Dagmar Morgan (IGES), and Ball Aerospace for a period of five years (2011-2016). Last year, we welcomed Global Science and Technology (GST) to our team. As we passed our Founded in 1969, Universities Space Research Association Morgan State University (MSU), founded in 1867, is one of the halfway period-of-performance milestone this past year, GESTAR continued (USRA) is an independent nonprofit research corporation that nation’s premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HB- to be among major NASA Goddard Space flight Facility partnerships. During conducts basic and applied research and operates programs and CUs). The University offers a comprehensive program of studies Year-3, the number of GESTAR tasks grew approximately 22 percent from our national facilities for government and industry, many of which are at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Morgan State has second year. in support of NASA. USRA currently manages 20 programs and continuously served the community with distinction while meeting facilities that employ more than 400 scientific, technical, and the educational needs of an increasingly diverse society. Desig- This report summarizes multidisciplinary efforts of GESTAR-affiliated professional staff. With 105 university members, USRA provides nated as Maryland’s Public Urban University, MSU will continue researchers, technologists, students, visitors, and staff. We describe a unique and special value that other research organizations do its prominence in Maryland’s educational future. In many fields, accomplishments for the past year and technical progress in all research areas not. Only PhD-granting universities in Earth and space sciences particularly in engineering and the sciences, MSU accounts for identified in the GESTAR Annual Research Program Plan, submitted to NASA with demonstrated outstanding research abilities are eligible for large percentages of degrees received by African-Americans from on 31 July 2013. Within the report and its appendices are: a) abstracts and membership in USRA. USRA’s mission is to advance Earth and Maryland institutions. At the graduate level, it awards doctoral papers published by GESTAR-affiliated staff; b) GESTAR-affiliated presentations space sciences and exploration through innovative research, and master’s degrees in several selected fields. The University at conferences, seminars, and workshops; c) education and public outreach technology, and educational programs, and to develop and oper- has made a major commitment to academic excellence, investing engagements by GESTAR-affiliated staff; d) awards received by GESTAR- ate premier facilities and programs by involving universities, the substantial resources to enhance its research infrastructure, and affiliated staff; e) engagement of GESTAR-affiliated staff in reviewing/advising/ private sector, and governments. stimulate research development in a broad range of disciplines, committee participation activities, and; f) travel/meeting support provided by especially STEM. In addition to the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. GESTAR to NASA. Founded in 1876 as the first research university in the United School of Engineering complex, MSU has the Estuarine Research States, The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is one of the lead- Center, the Richard N. Dixon Science Research Center, a state- This past year, everyone at GESTAR worked diligently with our NASA sponsors/ ing research institutions in the nation. JHU is composed of of-the-art research facility that provides space for specialized collaborators to ensure success of critically important projects that support nine academic divisions, including Arts & Sciences, Education, research laboratories in physics, chemistry, and biology, and the NASA’s mission in Earth Sciences and beyond. Their efforts have resulted in Engineering, the School of Public Health, plus JHU Applied Physics modern Murphy Fine Arts Center. many substantive accomplishments, highlighted in this report. Our sincerest Laboratory. The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences is the home thanks go out to all for their commitment and professionalism. We look of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. A major I.M. Systems Group (IMSG) has over 15 years of providing envi- forward to applying our knowledge and experience to the upcoming year to focus within this department is global change science, with active ronmental, scientific, technical, and I support to the US govern- ensure GESTAR continues to exceed all of our expectations. research groups in atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrospheric sci- ment as well as environmental services to government agencies ences as well as planetary geodynamics. The department main- in Africa and Asia. Over 60% of its workforce has advanced tains state-of-the-art design and engineering facilities, as well as degrees with over 100 PhD researchers. IMSG is NOAA’s largest William Corso laboratories for high performance computing and large-scale data support service, with its largest concentration of researchers and analysis that are also being used for Earth system science. JHU’s support scientists in the Satellite Applications Research Center Joseph Whittaker (Associate Director – Morgan State University) Whiting School of Engineering consists of faculty who possess and the NWS Environmental Modeling Center. Darryn Waugh (Associate Director – Johns Hopkins University) experimental, computational, robotic and modeling capabilities. Le Jiang (Associate Director – IMSG) Additionally, faculty at the School of Public Health are involved Rounding out the GESTAR Team are Ball Aerospace and Tech- with the application of Earth system science and remote sensing nologies and The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies to the study and teaching of public/environmental health. (IGES). GESTAR Management continues to work to identify ap- propriate, GESTAR-affiliated activities in which they may become meaningfully engaged.

4 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 5 TECHNICAL RESEARCH

CODE 555: MICROWAVE INSTRUMENT TECHNOLOGY ing as well as to trend and monitor the SMAP instrument. She development. Currently all of the effects of the unwanted sources Rayleigh correction, image enhancement, RGB image display BRANCH wrote a script in Matlab to read the HDF5 files which the Science (except RFI) and propagation effects depicted in Figure 1 can be and output. The code can also resample the image into DSCOVR Data System will produce; this script will be used in subsequent simulated. Dr. Peng is working on the simulator development and resolution. Rayleigh correction is needed for generating sharper Scheduled for launch in October 2014, NASA’s Soil Moisture Ac- tools. Over the past year, she and her colleagues have completed generating data for the SMAP radiometer L1B algorithm. RGB images. Dr. Yang conducted research on atmospheric Ray- tive and Passive (SMAP) Mission is the first of a series of Earth a Level 1A product checker, which plots various science data and leigh correction methods: two Rayleigh correction methods have Science Decadal Survey missions. This mission will provide global engineering telemetry points from that file for trending. Several Cal/Val tools are developed in order for cal/val activities to been tested, including scaling the reflectance at the red, green, measurements of soil moisture and freeze/thaw state using L- scripts and functions were written to ingest large amounts of be able to assess the precision and calibration stability of the and blue channels and a two-layer model originally developed by band radar and radiometry. Dr. Priscilla Mohammed (sponsor: J. data for analyses. Data are binned and global plots of brightness instrument and to evaluate the accuracy and quality of the data the MODIS rapid response team. Results show that the MODIS Piepmeier) is working with a collaborative team at NASA Goddard temperatures as well as kurtosis and RFI level can be produced. products generation by the science data software (SDS). Dr. Peng method produces better images. Additionally, Dr. Yang conducted to develop the L1B TB algorithm which converts radiometer data The SMAP cal/val tools completed will be demonstrated in a developed several cal/val tools, one being the simplified SMAP research on potential methods for DSCOVR data quality check. into calibrated estimates of brightness temperature. The effort in- rehearsal. L1B forward brightness simulator. In conjunction with TA Counts Several indices are defined for this purpose, including channel cludes research and development of radio frequency interference simulator, which simulates the radiometer output with given an- ratios and cloud height indices. Radiative transfer calculations (RFI) detection and removal algorithms and prototype instrument Dr. Jinzheng Peng (sponsor: J. Piepmeier) works in a collabora- tenna temperature and the L1A shell file, the SMAP simulator can are performed in order to quantify the valid value range of these algorithm code for the L1B TB algorithm which is part of ground tive team developing NASA’s Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) generate simulated L1A data product to test the radiometer L1B indices. Data values that are out of the valid range can be defined processing. Data in the reference and reference plus noise diode radiometer. Work involves researching and developing pre- SDS, which generates L1B data product. These simulated L1A as bad data. Dr. Yang has delivered the first version of the RGB radiometric states (calibration data) are used to compute antenna launch and post-launch calibration theoretical bases, plans and and L1B data products can be used to test all other cal/val tools. image processing algorithm package to the DSCOVR Science temperatures referenced to the feedhorn. In these states, the activities, and data reductions. He is specifically responsible orf In addition, the simplified SMAP L1B forward brightness simulator Operation Center. The software package is written in FORTRAN; radiometer is isolated from the energy collected by the antenna developing the SMAP L1B correction algorithms, the SMAP Level will be used by the external calibration and drift correction cal/val it reads the future DSCOVR L1B data and generates the ready-to- via a switch. In most cases RFI is isolated from this data; however, 1 brightness temperature forward simulator, and calibration/ tool, which Dr. Peng also is developing. display images. Data is processed based on whether a pixel is for at extremely high levels, RFI can leak through the switch and validation tools. The SMAP L1B correction algorithms will obtain the earth, the moon or space. contaminate these data values resulting in inaccurate calibration. the Earth surface brightness temperature from the calibrated and As a result, the algorithm was written to handle this by including RFI-free antenna temperature. Unwanted emissions from the Sun, CODE 586: SCIENCE DATA MANAGEMENT BRANCH functions to detect and remove RFI from the calibration input the Moon, the galaxy, atmosphere and the Earth in the antenna Dr. Alexander Cede (sponsor: K. Blank) performs EPIC stray CODE 606.2: HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING data. sidelobe need to be removed from the radiometer measurements, light analysis and incorporates optical modeling of EPIC (Earth Dr. Gerald Potter (sponsor: P. Webster) assists the NCCS with and the effects of the atmospheric attenuation and Faraday rota- Polychromatic Imaging Camera). He obtains and organizes all of deployment of the ESGF portal and the publication of model and Results from flight model testing of the radiometer instrument tion to the radiometer measurement need to characterized and the laboratory data for EPIC derived by Lockheed during the EPIC observational data. He also works to help with development of revealed the presence of 1/f noise in the data. The baseline corrected. These correction algorithms successfully passed the refurbishment, identifies missing parts of the Lockheed measure- appropriate analysis software for climate models. This past year algorithm met requirements; however, the prototype code for the SMAP science algorithm review in September 2013. ments, analyzes the Lockheed data for EPIC pixel to pixel unifor- has brought progress with the reanalysis for model intercompari- calibration algorithm was modified to investigate whether the 1/f mity, and delivers documentation and examples of applying the son projects. He and his colleagues have successfully obtained, noise impact could be reduced, and several calibration algorithms The SMAP Level 1 brightness temperature forward simulator is a inversion showing a successful reduction in stray light to each of converted, evaluated and published three major reanalyses in the were used on test data in the analysis to determine the best pos- major risk-reduction asset for the SMAP radiometer L1B algorithm the 10 EPIC radiance channels. He has identified work remaining ana4MIPs project. This has proven to be an extensive project and sible solution. As a result, the instru- to be done while EPIC is on-orbit and obtaining data, and conduct- an outgrowth of the obs4MIPs project. Dr. Potter has also helped ment team altered the radiometer ed a lunar calibration analysis using a “lunar smear” technique. with the testing phase of the ultra-scale visualization for climate switching scheme in order to reduce Dr. Cede analyzes the problem of EPIC viewing the Moon with the model data analysis (UVCDAT) tools, in particular the NASA- the 1/f noise in the radiometer data, shutter open as the EPIC field of view sweeps across the lunar contributed DV3D module. He has given numerous presentations and the method of data calibration surface (e.g., from east to west). By using existing lunar data to NOAA, NASA, and DOE groups to demonstrate the value of 3D was modified, and the TA calibration in (e.g., from LRO), he attempted to obtain an absolute calibration visualization in climate science. He will continue to search for the L1B_TB algorithm was reworked to of each of the corresponding LRO wavelength channels (6 out of relevant reanalysis products that will enhance the NASA MERRA incorporate these changes. Changes 10 EPIC filter channels). A procedure is being developed for the products as well as provide the wider scientific community with were made to the previous prototype remaining 4 channels based on partial lunar sweeps consistent standardized level-4 data sets for climate model improvement. code as well as an additional function with avoiding overexposure of the CCD. Version 5 of the EPIC L1a written with about 250 lines of Matlab processing software was finished; this version performs 8 of a to- code; subsequently, the new prototype tal of 15 correction steps needed to convert the EPIC raw images CODE 610: EARTH SCIENCES DIVISION code was submitted to JPL for conver- (L0) into calibrated radiances (L1a). The base for this effort was a Mr. Charles Cote (sponsor: K. Mohr) performs a wide variety of sion to the production version of the careful analysis of EPIC’s out-of-CCD blooming, read wave effect, algorithm. tasks. This past year, Mr. Cote completed a draft of the 2013 dark current behavior, enhanced pixels effect, and latency effect. Atmospheric Research Report, which is now being formatted Dr. Mohammed began work on writ- Dr. Yuekui Yang (sponsor: K. Blank) works on developing an and edited. This report covers the 2013-year activities across ing tools in Matlab for use during the algorithm that is suitable for generating RGB images from data all elements of research carried out in the various Laboratories. calibration/validation period for SMAP observed by the DSCOVR satellite. He also works on developing It addresses major activities such as flight mission studies and after launch. Data will need to be techniques for a data quality check for the mission. Dr. Yang de- development, field campaigns, modeling, education and outreach, analyzed in order to update various veloped software tools for RGB image study. With MODIS data as and scientific publications. This report will be printed for distribu- ancillary files to be used in process- a proxy, he has developed a suite of code to perform atmospheric tion and posted on the atmospheres webpage at atmospheres. Credit: Jinzheng Peng gsfc.nasa.gov, along with previous years’ reports. For the 2014 6 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 7 report, he has begun to collect material and write various sec- also provides support to aircraft field experiments, including the now reproduces actual ATTREX fuel temperatures with impressive the agency clearance process for the NCA report and highlights tions. Mr. Cote also reviewed Monthly Science Highlights submit- use of forecasts and modeling results to aid in planning aircraft accuracy, and can now be tuned for use with new payloads. He document. Within NASA, she leads weekly meetings to brief Earth ted by laboratory scientists. The highlights are distributed monthly flights to maximize the scientific return and test the feasibility of wrote a description of the model and its characteristics in a white Science Division senior management on NCA progress. She has to Headquarters and other selected scientists and organizations. various flight path scenarios. For the second science campaign of paper that was subsequently distributed to appropriate parties. been working with agency communications personnel and ESD Each highlight represents a topic from each of the three Atmo- the Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) field experiment, From January 7 thought March 16, 2014, Dr. Lait traveled to senior management to develop plans for the rollout of the report. spheric Laboratories and the Wallops Support Office. Items are staged from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility from August 11 through Guam to support the final ATTREX deployment at Andersen Air She also led several briefings to agency leadership on the report. reviewed for accuracy and format as well as persuasiveness to September 27, 2013, Dr. Lait provided preparation and flight Force Base. He evaluated various scenarios for timing and feasi- In addition to supporting activities associated with the Third NCA attract readers, and also are posted on the atmospheres web- planning support. Preparations included modifying the locally- bility of flight plans, and determined way points. As with the HS3 Report, she also provides support for NASA’s involvement in the page. Additionally, he reviewed 15 IRAD 14 Step 1 proposals over written flight planning software to accommodate new needs of the field campaign, Dr. Lait prepared materials for the ATTREX flight sustained assessment process for the NCA. Dr. Leidner helps the past year, submitted recommendations and participated in HS3 mission, packing equipment and initiating arrangements for crew (including high-altitude meteorological forecasts) and the coordinate activities in two NASA programs that fund research a meeting with each Atmospheric investigator to provide sugges- shipment to Wallops, and participating in teleconferences. On-site leading mission scientists, and uploaded descriptive files to the activities in support of the sustained assessment process for the tions for improvements prior to Step 2 submissions. Following the field mission support involved planning science flights, evaluat- project’s web-based collaborative tools website for participants’ NCA. In April 2014, she ran a highly successful team meeting that Step 1 process, he reviewed 11 STEP 2 proposals and attended a ing various scenarios for timing and feasibility, and determining use. He used meteorological forecasts to model the fuel tempera- brought together 26 PIs and an additional ~25 researchers, NASA review panel meeting where approvals and priorities were estab- way points and dropsonde locations. He prepared materials for ture on the aircraft to determine the likelihood of fuel freezing, program managers, and agency/USGCRP representatives. The lished for 35 proposals; 29 were selected for funding in FY14. the flight crew and the leading mission scientists, and uploaded and assisted in revising the flight paths in real time during flight meeting featured projects talks and several discussion sections descriptive files to the project’s web-based collaborative tools to adjust for the movement of the tropical storm systems being that fostered collaborations among the research teams. She is The 50th anniversary of the Nimbus 1 satellite launch will occur website for use by all participants. In addition, he used meteoro- examined. He set up and maintained the computer systems used also involved in a USGCRP scenarios group that is organizing a in 2014, and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is planning a logical forecasts to model the fuel temperature on the aircraft, to for flight planning on site. workshop for June 2014. seminar series on the scientific accomplishments, highlighting avoid dangerously cold regions in which the fuel could be prone the societal and commercial benefits made possible through the to freezing. To adjust for the movement of the tropical storm sys- Dr. Lait made extensive revisions to the locally-developed Dr. Leidner provides ongoing support to the Biodiversity and Eco- 48 experimental instrument systems flown throughout the seven tems being examined, Dr. Lait assisted in revising the flight paths software for planning science flights for field experiments. He logical Forecasting programs in a variety of ways. This year, she Nimbus missions. Mr. Cote will coordinate the scientific program, in real time during flight, and set up and maintained the computer re-implemented the way locations are defined, allowing for the focused on developing biodiversity-oriented content for the NASA and the Public Affairs Office will play a major role in organizing systems used for flight planning. Several mission forecasters possibility of defining some locations relative to other locations hyperwall and serving as a liaison to the conservation remote the overall event. Mr. Cote also performs general administrative were trained in utilizing the flight planning software. After the Wal- and thus permitting complicated patterns of aircraft maneuvers sensing community. To this end, Dr. Leidner participated in a ~30 duties, such as attending general and senior staff Laboratory lops phase of the experiment ended, the second Global Hawk air- to be relocated easily. He also created two new maneuvers to person conservation remote sensing workshop, organized by meetings, attending various seminars and colloquia, and consult- craft was flown in a test flight from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research describe rectangular and circular regions within which an aircraft the Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS) Biodiversity ing with the Lab Chief (Bill Lau) and Associate Chief (Karen Mohr) Center. This flight, flown on October 31, 2013, was intended to is to spend a given amount of time. In addition, he created a group and hosted at the European Commission’s Joint Research on various topics dealing with Laboratory personnel, administra- examine some performance characteristics of the aircraft with an series of screencast-style video tutorials for training new users on Centre. After the workshop she developed a meeting summary tion, management, etc. altered payload. To allow the science team to monitor the alti- how to run the flight planning software. He completed software to that was subsequently published in Eos, Transactions of the tude time history of the aircraft in real time and compare it with read and write two-dimensional data exchange files in the ICARTT American Geophysical Union. This effort builds on her previous Dr. Margaret Hurwitz (sponsor: P. Newman) analyzes and models previous flights, Dr. Lait created software to display the current format, and work began on similar software to read and write the work with the Conservation Remote Sensing Working Group and the impact of sea surface temperature variability on the ozone altitude history alongside previous flights’. After the test flight, he Hipskind-Gaines exchange file format. Last fall, Dr. Lait participat- the CEOS Biodiversity group. Going forward, within the Biodiver- layer. Her work involves understanding the role of hydrofluoro- performed an analysis of the data gathered, showing that the pay- ed in preparing computer systems in Code 614 for the shutdown sity and Ecological Forecasting programs, she will continue to carbons (HFCs) in climate and stratospheric modification, which load change made no difference in the aircraft’s ability to climb. of the U.S. Federal Government which began on October 1, and in work with the conservation remote sensing community, highlight is a project she works on with Dr. Feng Li, Dr. Qing Liang, Dr. Paul He participated in the HS3 Science Team meeting held at NASA’s the recovery activities afterwards on October 17. He also partici- program accomplishments, and help develop program strategies. Newman and Mr. Eric Fleming. She has begun simulations test- Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA and participated in pated in a review of a security vulnerability that had been found ing the climate and ozone sensitivity of the ocean-atmosphere numerous teleconferences and planning discussions. In the com- in a contractor-maintained website, helping to provide immediate This past July was the biennial international meeting of the Soci- version of the GEOS chemistry-climate model (GEOSCCM). She ing year, new capabilities will be added to the flight planner. Dr. and long-term assistance in ameliorating the risk. ety for Conservation Biology, held in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Leidner has given several presentations on this topic, nationally and inter- Lait will provide on-site flight planning support for the HS3 deploy- presented on the NASA Biodiversity and Ecological Forecast- Dr. Allison Leidner (sponsor: J. Richards) has two main respon- nationally. Over the past year, Dr. Hurwitz completed an analysis ment scheduled for Aug-Sept 2014 at Wallops Island. ing Programs. Furthermore, in collaboration with EOSPSO, she of the seasonal mean, extra-tropical atmospheric response to El sibilities working with the Earth Science Division at NASA Head- coordinated bringing the NASA hyperwall to the conference. She Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the CMIP5 models. She met In a refinement of an analysis carried out last year addressing the quarters: she is part of the team that leads NASA’s involvement arranged for four biodiversity/ecological forecasting PIs and one with the ENSO working group at the SPARC DynVar workshop in feasibility of flying through the extremely cold temperatures of the with the National Climate Assessment (NCA), and she provides program manager to present during the official conference coffee April 2013, where she presented a poster. She also has a related tropical tropopause region, Dr. Lait used a new set of meteorologi- support for activities within the Biodiversity and Ecological breaks, and also gave two hyperwall talks herself. The hyperwall paper in press with Climate Dynamics and JGR. Work related to cal data, NASA’s Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research Forecasting Programs. She is NASA’s representative on the U.S. was a huge success, and each talk was attended by 50-100 the QBO and other GEOSCCM-related activities also led to several and Applications (MERRA), to compile improved statistics of cold Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) Interagency NCA people. She and other program managers have used this content national presentations as well as many co-authored publications. temperatures over the region near Guam. The white paper from Working Group and serves as the primary point of contact for the at other professional conferences, and several of the PIs have last year was revised and extended accordingly, and copies were agency’s NCA activities. A major accomplishment this year was given their talks at other conferences. Working with the EOSPSO Dr. Leslie Lait (sponsor P. Newman) focuses his research on distributed to ATTREX leadership. Work also continued on model- the review and release of the Third NCA Report (May 2014). This team, Dr. Leidner contributed to the development of the brochure investigating the dynamical context of atmospheric measure- ing the fuel temperatures on the Global Hawk aircraft. A new report has been under development for over three years and in- “Understanding Earth: Biodiversity”. This public-oriented booklet ments, to aid in their interpretation. Data from several sources set of equations were developed that better characterizes the volved hundreds of people. Dr. Leidner actively participated in the provides an overview of biodiversity and describes the contribu- (satellite, balloon-borne, aircraft, and ground-based instruments) aircraft’s thermal behavior, and data from ATTREX flights of 2012 biweekly meetings of the interagency working group that helped tions of NASA remote sensing to biodiversity research and ecologi- are analyzed with an emphasis on using techniques that assist in and 2013 were used to fit the resulting coefficients. The model shepherd the report through the final stages and assisted with cal forecasting applications. Prepared in time for distribution at combining disparate data sources to yield a unified picture. He 8 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 9 the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting, this booklet was very popular at AGU gy, and validating the end products of the Global Land Survey and Dr. Oreste Reale (sponsor: W. K. and subsequent meetings. Impervious Mapping Project (GLS-IMP), participating in various Lau) carries out numerical model tasks. Ms. Phillips has created and launched a public website Dr. Feng Li (sponsor: P. Newman) conducts research on the experiments using the GEOS-5 GCM for the GLS - IMP. Currently still under construction, the website with interactive aerosols, to study the interaction of the stratosphere and troposphere, particularly as contains information such as project details, contact informa- it relates to the interaction of the ocean and the stratospheric impact of dry air intrusion and radia- tion, and information on obtaining data. This site is meant to be tive effects of Saharan dust on struc- ozone layer; investigates how atmosphere-ocean coupling affects a place for interested scientists and the public to obtain more the stratosphere, and how the stratospheric ozone change affects ture of tropical easterly waves and information on the growth of urban areas throughout the globe. tropical cyclogenesis. He validates climate in the troposphere and ocean; works toward improving our From the creation of this site, Ms. Phillips was able to explore the understanding of stratospheric dynamic and transport processes. model results against Cloudsat- many capabilities of ArcGIS Online (AGOL) and incorporate it into Calipso observation, making use of In order to address the full extent of the complex interactions her site. AGOL, an online GIS mapping tool, allows GIS developers between stratospheric ozone chemistry and radiative, physical, the Goddard Satellite Data Assimila- and researchers to share their maps and imagery without giving tion System, and evaluates possible dynamical processes in the atmosphere and ocean, the develop- out the raw data. She further developed her editing and writing ment of a coupled atmosphere-ocean-chemistry climate model change in predictability of tropical skills, and learned more about website development by attending easterlies waves; he also performs is essential. Dr. Li has successfully integrated the GEOS-AOCCM, the ESRI Developers Summit in Washington, D.C. in February. She which consists of the GEOS-5 AGCM, the GFDL MOM4 ocean simulations studies of high impact also had to confirm the site met federal compliance standards extreme current events, with and model, the Los Alamos CICE sea ice model, and a comprehensive and accessibility standards. stratospheric chemistry package. He conducted two 100-year without AIRS cloudy sky retrievals time slice simulations under the 1950 and 2005 conditions, She also completed the training data for the GLS-IMP. Ms. Phillips to assess impacts improving initial as well as a set of four transient simulations of the recent past and her colleague ordered over 1,700 WorldView and Quickbird conditions on predicting these events (1960-2010). Additionally, three sets of sensitivity simulations high-resolution scenes from the National Geospatial-Intelligence and any possible teleconnectivity of the recent past were conducted with the GEOS-CCM (without Agency’s WARP database, and organized and pre-processed between them. This past year, Dr. coupled ocean) and GEOS-AOGCM (without interactive ozone). In selected images. Image labeling began while completing the Reale completed the investigation of summary, a total of 1,000 model years were conducted. These pre-processing. Nearly 700 images were selected as training the results of a previously performed baseline and sensitivity simulations were used to investigate 1) sites. The subsetting of these images resulted in nearly 2,000 experiment with the latest version the impact of interactive ozone on climate in the atmosphere and images manually labeled as pervious or non-impervious regions. of the GEOS-5 data assimilation and ocean, and 2) the effects of atmosphere-ocean-ice coupling on cli- Labeling rules were created during the process through a series forecast system. The model configu- ration included an innovative aerosol mate, variability, and trend in the troposphere and stratosphere. of meetings with team members at the University of Maryland. Figure: Analysis of Aerosol Optical Depth from the GEOS-5, obtained by direct assimilation Ms. Phillips and her teammates discussed quality assurance, assimilation capability, developed by Most coupled atmosphere-ocean models do not have interac- the GMAO. The experiment consisted of MODIS optical depth, at a time of a strong outbreak of Saharan Dust which can be seen and each corresponding Landsat image had its orthorectification interacting with an African Easterly Wave. Two sets of forecasts (in which the radiative effects tive stratospheric ozone. These models prescribe monthly-mean, visually assessed; in some cases, adjustments were necessary to of a 30-day-long global data assimila- zonal-mean ozone derived from observations or CCM simulations. tion run, in which optical depths from of Saharan dust are in turn enabled or disabled) are initialized from these analyses. The maintain accurate geolocation. Locations with orthorectification results show that the environment in which dust is taken into account is less conducive to By prescribing monthly-mean, zonal-mean ozone, these models errors were repaired through further processing. All global training MODIS were assimilated, and two cannot resolve the large diurnal cycle of the mesospheric ozone, sets of 5-day forecasts, with and with- tropical cyclogenesis (Reale et al. 2014, in press in Geophysical Research Letters) (Image data labeling was completed in March 2014 for the Global Land Credit: O. Reale). underestimate ozone extreme events, and lack zonal asymme- Survey and Impervious Mapping Project. Some sites still need out aerosol simulation, initialized ev- tries. However, it is unclear how these deficiencies impact climate their orthorectification reviewed, but the process is expected to be ery day. A subset of 8 forecasts dur- tion, and indicate that the impact of dust on TC growth is nega- simulations. In order to address this question, a set of four pre- completed by early May 2014. ing a particularly interesting period, scribed-ozone simulations of the recent past (1960-2010) were noteworthy because of the interaction with African Easterly Waves tive, as several previous studies suggested. The use of aerosol conducted. In this set of sensitivity simulation, the ozone field At the NASA Land Cover/Land Use Change Program Meeting, Ms. with strong Saharan dust outbreaks, was extended to 10 days to assimilation in a global modeling setting further strengthens the is prescribed from the corresponding AOCCM simulations, and Phillips presented a poster detailing the training data process for further explore the effect of dust with developing cyclones. Two understanding of the mechanisms involved. they produce significantly different climate in the mesosphere, the GLS-IMP, which covered all aspects of the training process, major results are the outcome of this study. First, the experi- Dr. Oreste Reale (Tech. Officer: K. Lau) also conducts research stratosphere, and troposphere from that in the interactive-ozone including pre-processing, data acquisition, image classification, ments reveal that the effect of dust is to inhibit tropical cyclone related to his NASA ROSES grant (6/20/2011-6/19/2014) of simulations. Also, prescribed ozone affects simulations of the sea quality assurance, and a summary of the total data processed. (TC) development. When a TC is present in two parallel simula- which he is the PI. The goal of this current proposal is to investi- surface temperature, particularly in the north Pacific and north At- This was her first presentation at a professional meeting. tions (with and without aerosol effects) the one in which aerosol gate the impact on the representation of tropical cyclones within lantic. These results are being analyzed and a journal manuscript effects are taken into account tend to be less intense. Second, a global data assimilation and forecasting framework, consequent is in preparation. Dr. Li will be collaborating with Dr. Margaret Training data labeling for the GLS-IMP was completed using an in- these experiments represent the first attempt of producing a fully to the use of AIRS-derived products, as a tool to better understand Hurwitz to integrate HFC chemistry and radiation into the GEOS- house software suite called HSeg, developed by James Tilton. The 3-dimensional analysis of aerosols, obtained by assimilation in processes affecting intensity forecast, particularly those deriving AOCCM, and will conduct control and sensitivity simulations to HSegLearn package was developed specifically for this project. a global system of satellite-derived MODIS optical depths, and from the improved horizontal and vertical TC structure. To com- investigate the impacts of HFCs on stratosphere, particularly Ms. Phillips provided feedback regarding functionality, suggested document this existing capability within NASA. At this time, no pare AIRS version 5 and 6 impacts in the GEOS-5, multiple experi- stratospheric ozone recovery. improvements, and tested for bugs. She created how-to documen- operational center in the world assimilates real-time aerosol data tations for team members to learn how to use the software. For at this high resolution and in a fully coupled mode. Dr. Reale, ments were conducted for the 2010 and 2012 hurricane seasons. Ms. Jackie Phillips (sponsor: E. Brown de Colstoun) works with an her contributions, she was listed as a NASA Co-Innovator for the along with co-authors K. M. Lau, A. da Silva, and T. Matsui, has AIRS assimilations (of retrievals and radiances), each encompass- experienced team in developing data sets, testing the methodolo- HSegLearn Software. a related article in press with Geophysical Research Letters. The ing more than 120 days), plus several sets of 7-day forecasts authors documented the feasibility of real-time aerosol assimila- (initialized from every day of the analysis data sets, for a total of

10 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 11 Other experiments are focused on Hurricane Sandy (2012), with results were presented by Dr. Yasunari and his sponsor, and re- GOddard SnoW Impurity Module (GOSWIM) the goal of improving track and intensity forecasts. In particular, sults are being summarized for submission to a scientific journal. the density of assimilated AIRS data version 6 is perturbed by Analyses will continue on the outputs from the free running NASA Dr. Teppei Yasunari’s paper was recently published on SOLA, a peer-reviewed online Journal of Meteorological Society of Japan. changing the data thinning. These experiments are performed GEOS-5 experiments for the heat wave-related topic. Under Dr. This paper details Dr. Yasunari’s initial and ongoing research on developing the snow darkening module for NASA GEOS-5 over in strict collaboration with the AIRS data production teams and Lau’s project, they intend to use the outputs from the free running the land surface, which can calculate how the snow can darken due to deposits of light absorbing aerosols (dust, black carbon should allow for the definition of the optimal data density. NASA GEOS-5 experiments for the heat wave related topics. (BC), and organic carbon(OC)), thus influencing global climate via feedbacks between land and atmosphere. Following updates of the snow albedo scheme and a newly developed mass concentration scheme, further GEOS-5 experiments were conducted Dr. Teppei Yasunari (sponsor: W. K.M. Lau) conducts data analy- Dr. Yaping Zhou (sponsor: W. K.-M. Lau) aims to understand and validated with available observations. This sis and modeling studies of the impact of light absorbing aerosols global and regional extreme precipitation events in terms of the snow darkening module for GEOS-5 was named (LAA) such as dust, black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC), characteristics of rain, and relationship to the prevailing weather the GOddard SnoW Impurity Module (GOSWIM). on the changes of snow-related variables (called snow darkening regimes and the relationship of extreme rain events to large-scale Because of the GOSWIM development, Fortuna effect, SDE) and its climate feedbacks between the atmosphere environment and climate forcing. Research over the past year 2.5 version of NASA GEOS-5 is capable of and the land surface in the Asian monsoon region. He has been involved the analyses of spatial, spectral, and temporal (seasonal calculating the snow darkening effect over the developing a new snow impurity module to incorporate the SDE and diurnal) distributions of extreme volumetric rain based on model-defined land surface tiles. into the NASA GEOS-5 land surface model. He is studying how the 14 years TRMM Precipitation Feature database, examined rain SDE, which includes the changes of snow albedo, possibly has structures and associated large-scale environment including Yasunari, T. J., K.-M. Lau, S. P. P. Mahanama, P. R. an impact on snowpack changes around the Himalayas and the temperature, moisture, vertical velocity, wind shear and convec- Colarco, A. M. da Silva, T. Aoki, K. Aoki, N. Murao, S. other cryospheric regions, and surrounding climate via feedback tive available potential energy for extreme events. Dr. Zhou and Yamagata, and Y. Kodama, 2014: GOddard SnoW by using the snow impurity module in NASA GEOS-5, satellite colleagues found rapid changes in rain characteristics and large- Impurity Module (GOSWIM) for the NASA GEOS- data, and the data from field observations. He also investigates scale environment in extreme events starting at the top 10% of 5 Earth System Model: Preliminary comparisons the nature of LAA depositions such as dust and BC. From his the distribution. A related manuscript was submitted for publica- with observations in Sapporo, Japan. SOLA, 10, research results, Dr. Yasunari produced his largest contribution to tion. 50-56, doi:10.2151/sola.2014-011. (Image date to NASA and GESTAR, when, after many attempts and revi- credit: T. Yasunari) sions, he and his colleagues reached a snow darkening module Additionally, a prototype online extreme precipitation monitoring for dust, black carbon, and organic carbon for the NASA GEOS-5 system has been developed from the TRMM TMPA near real-time Model called GOddard SnoW Impurity Module (GOSWIM). NASA precipitation product. The system utilizes computed equivalent more than 1000 7-day forecasts), were performed GEOS-5 can consider the snow darkening effect over the model Averaged Recurrence Interval (ARI) for up-to-date precipitation ac- with the GEOS-5 on NASA High-End-Computing defined land surface. A related summary paper on GOSWIM was cumulations from the past 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 days to locate locally (HEC) systems. These experiments cover the entire recently published, and will appear as a Monthly Science Highlight severe events. The mapping of precipitation accumulations into 2010 northern-hemisphere tropical cyclone season in May 2014 (http://atmospheres.gsfc.nasa.gov/climate/). In the ARI is based on local statistics fitted into Generalized Extreme and part of the 2012, allowing for the generation coming year, Dr. Yasunari will be updating GOSWIM from Fortuna Value (GEV) distribution functions. Initial evaluation shows that of very robust statistics, and represent a major 2.5 version to Ganymed 4.0 version of NASA GEOS-5. Re-coding the system captures historic extreme precipitation events quite computational effort that have required a full year center pressures are obtained when retrievals (of either ver- and updates are expected in the process. well. The system provides additional rarity information for ongoing to be completed. Even more than in the last annual report, it can sion) are assimilated, and track and intensity forecast both show precipitation events based on local climatology that could be used be confidently stated that no other team in the world has assimi- improvement with respect to clear-sky radiances. Yet, no appre- Dr. Yasunari and his colleagues summarized the comparisons of by the general public and decision makers for various hazard lated such a large sample of AIRS retrievals and radiances within ciable impact on global skill can be detected when AIRS version total dust deposition flux during precipitation between the obser- management applications. Limitations of the near real-time TMPA a global data assimilation system. Dr. Reale extensively analyzed 6 replaces version 5. This perplexing finding is being investigated vations in Japan and GEOS-5 experiments. They submitted and due to short data record and accuracy are being discussed. An- these simulations and found that AIRS version 6 retrievals do not from multiple angles with a variety of metrics. re-submitted a manuscript to ACP; after a rejection from ACPD, other related manuscript was submitted for publication. seem to produce an improvement on the global skill of the GEOS- they decided to revise another submission in the near future. He 5 system, with respect to AIRS version 5. This was an unexpected Dr. Reale has conducted current experiments that suggest that has presented his research findings at conferences nationally and finding, which is being investigated in depth. Note, the successor the relative impacts of AIRS retrievals and AIRS radiances change internationally. He also prepared some materials for presenta- proposal was selected, and work will continue on investigating with the increase in resolution, with the combined impact of tions by his sponsor at the AMS meeting in 2014. Also, on behalf the use of AIRS data to further improve tropical cyclone intensity AMSU-A and AIRS clear-sky radiances being amplified at higher of Dr. Bruce Doddridge (NASA/LaRC), Dr. Cynthia Randles asked forecast and also extreme precipitation. A special effort will be resolutions more than the individual instrument’s impact. To fur- him to provide some slides on his modeling work on BC on snow made to start assimilating cloud-cleared radiances, which are a ther investigate the differential AMSU/AIRS impact, Dr. Reale and for a general audience. While he provided slides on the snow state-of-the-art challenge for AIRS assimilation. his collaborators have produced new extensive simulations with darkening effect and its modeling at NASA to support Dr. Dod- GEOS-5 v2.7, covering the 2010 northern hemisphere tropical cy- dridge’s presentation, these ended up not being included. While the study of localized impacts of AIRS version 6 have clone season, in which AMSU-A is in turn assimilated or excluded further corroborated the previous results (i.e., that assimilation of (with and without AIRS). These new runs are being analyzed and Dr. Yasunari and his colleagues carried out ten sets of free run- cloudy retrievals produce a substantially better representation of confirm that the combined impact of AMSU and radiances togeth- ning NASA GEOS-5 experiments with and without snow darkening tropical cyclones than the corresponding clear-sky radiances), the er benefit from the increase in model resolution. Experiments are effect by dust, black carbon, and organic carbon, with the devel- same cannot be said of global skill. In particular, results continue being prepared in which cloud-cleared radiance assimilation will oped GOSWIM. Ten types of the different years’ initial conditions to show that much deeper (and closer to observations) analyzed be compared to cloudy retrievals and clear-sky radiances. were used to generate initial perturbations to discuss statistically robust climatology of the snow darkening feedbacks. Some of the 12 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 13 CODE 610.1: Global Modeling and Assimilation Office ment of plume height by the model. She gave several presenta- moisture pattern. The precise mechanisms by which land-atmo- funded research awarded to Dr. De Lannoy (PI), and Drs. Reichle tions on this work, and a manuscript is in progress. sphere feedback occurs are still largely unknown – particularly and Rodell. Dr. De Lannoy has worked with Dr. Girotto to read Dr. Deepthi Achuthavarier (sponsor: S. Schubert) evaluates the mechanisms that allow the land moisture state in one region and scale newly released gridded GRACE data into the GMAO’s aspects of climate and weather variability in century-long simula- to affect atmospheric conditions in another. Such remote impacts land data assimilation system, and they performed an initial Following Dr. Buchard’s work on the evaluation of GEOS-5 SO2 tions and decadal predictions made with the GEOS-5 coupled simulations during the Frostburg, MD field campaign, a related are examined in the context of AGCM simulations, leading to the comparison of GRACE data with model simulations. Dr. Girotto atmosphere/ocean/land model. Areas of focus include the Pacific paper was published in ACP, and the work was highlighted on the identification of one potential mechanism: the phase-locking and was involved in supporting test simulations, led by Dr. De Lannoy, Decadal Oscillation (PDO), the Atlantic multi-decadal oscilla- GMAO website as a Research Highlight. amplification of a planetary wave through the imposition of a spa- to study the effect on terrestrial water storage and temperature tion (AMO), and long-term variability in the Asian and American tial pattern of soil moisture at the land surface. This mechanism, variables. These simulations involved new soil parameter sets monsoons. She conducts and analyzes long coupled model Dr. Yehui Chang (sponsor: S. Schubert) examines the overall shown in this study to be relevant in the AGCM, apparently also and source code changes in the Catchment land surface model simulations, ensembles of predictions, as well as model sensitiv- evaluation of climate variability and predictability at sub-seasonal- operates in nature, as indicated by supporting evidence found in and were conducted to prepare the system for operational SMAP ity studies to assess the impacts of uncertainties in various model to-decadal timescales and the role of initialization in improving reanalysis data. data assimilation. In the coming months, the uncertainties in parameters. A major highlight of this past year was Dr. Achutha- prediction skill. He also works on climate simulations and attribu- GRACE and SMOS observations will be determined through triple varier being recognized by the NASA Global Modeling Assimilation tion studies and conduct climate diagnostic studies using the Dr. Chang’s future work will focus on using GEOS-5 GCM-simu- collocation. The research team will contribute to (invited) confer- Office (GMAO) with the Peer Award for Scientific Achievement. GEOS-5 model suite in the GMAO. Dr. Chang is a key contributor lated, MERRA, NEWS and other data sets to quantify the mecha- ence presentations and submit a paper about the assimilation of to attribution studies, focusing on the role of climate models in nisms that link the upper level circulation to changes in surface gridded GRACE terrestrial water storage anomalies. Dr. Achuthavarier has surveyed several relevant papers and pre- extreme weather events. Over the past year, he has been carry- meteorology. A key aspect of this is to focus on the weather pared a summary of ideas for the decadal prediction experiments, ing out large ensemble high-resolution prediction experiments to transients and their role in the development of the sub-seasonal Dr. Clara Draper (sponsor: R. Reichle) works on the develop- particularly with a focus on the PDO. This is the primary step assess the ability of the GEOS-5 model to reproduce the unusual climate extremes. ment and implementation of land data assimilation components, for the several PDO predictability experiments that she will be extreme weather activity such as the flooding and other extreme in particular, the use of satellite observations of soil moisture, conducting in the later part of 2014. Dr. Achuthavarier prepared weather of the 2011 spring in the central U.S. His work has Dr. Gabrielle De Lannoy (sponsor: R. Reichle) works on the snow, and land surface temperature. Dr. Draper has coupled an article on the mechanisms of the PDO in the GEOS-5 coupled contributed to the overall evaluation of climate variability and pre- development of the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Level the GMAO Land Data Assimilation System (LDAS) to the GEOS-5 model which will be submitted as a NASA Technical Memorandum dictability at sub-seasonal-to-decadal timescales and the role of 4 soil moisture (L4_SM) data product. In preparation for the as- atmospheric modeling and assimilation system, creating the Land before the end of May 2014. Also, since November 2013, she initialization in improving prediction skill. The study examines the similation of SMAP observations, satellite observations from the and Atmosphere Data Assimilation System (LA-DAS) which, for the has been working closely with the GMAO data assimilation group SST boundary forcing, global atmospheric initial conditions and Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission are used to build first time, allows land surface observations to be assimilated into in setting up two reanalysis runs as part of the Dynamics of the North America land initial conditions and assesses the climate a prototype system for the L4_SM product. This past year, she the GEOS-5 atmospheric system. Dr. Draper also has refined the Madden Julian Oscillation (DYNAMO) project. This task consists factors contributing to the extreme 2011 flooding and tornadoes. co-authored invited presentations (IGARSS, WMO, AGU, AMS), and assimilation of remotely sensed land surface skin temperature of three key steps: 1) preparation and modification of the conven- Several high-resolution GEOS-5 GCM ensemble simulations pro- participated in SMAP-related telecons/meetings. She contributed (LST) from geostationary satellites, improving the bias removal, tional data buffer, which involve the removal of vertical profiles vided a high-quality global data set for this study. to seven published papers and four submitted papers. Addition- data processing, and quality control procedures, and has con- of temperature, humidity and winds from selected radiosonde ally, she was awarded a new project (THP10) on simultaneous ducted experiments assimilating LST observations using both stations over the tropical Indian Ocean, 2) preparation of data Studies were continued to evaluate climate variability and predict- GRACE and SMOS data assimilation and hired Dr. Girotto as part the offline LDAS and full GEOS-5 LA-DAS. She has published four buffers for high vertical resolution radiosonde observations, and ability at sub-seasonal-to-decadal timescales. Dr. Chang has ana- of the team (see following report). She will be assisting Dr. Girotto peer-reviewed journal articles, one as first author, and three as a 3) execution and analysis of assimilation runs with the above- lyzed very large coupled model decadal hindcast experiments to on a new project for GRACE/SMOS data assimilation. co-author, with one additional first author paper currently under mentioned modified data buffers. She has completed data buffer contribute to the GMAO decadal prediction effort, and evaluated review. She has presented two seminars, and given five first-au- modifications and new buffer preparations and has performed the AMOC and other climate variability. This research resulted in Dr. De Lannoy implemented new global soil texture information thor conferences presentations, two of which were invited. several test assimilations and analyzed outputs. The final assimi- a presentation at the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting as well as a related and new soil parameters in the Catchment land surface model to lation runs have begun with the use of the latest version of the publication that is underway. Additionally, work continues on improve soil moisture simulations for the SMAP Level 4 product. With the offline LDAS, Dr. Draper performed global experiments GEOS-5 atmospheric data assimilation system. the very large ensemble GCM hindcast experiments for summer A related paper is in review for JAMES. She is also working on a assimilating geostationary LST observations, and evaluated the 2012, specifically the imposition of the precipitation anomaly to book chapter about soil moisture data assimilation. Work related assimilation of geostationary LST observations from the GOES- Dr. Virginie Buchard-Marchant (sponsor: A. da Silva) works jumpstart a meteorological drought or heat wave after the zero- to radiative transfer model parameter estimation using SMOS- East and GOES-West satellites over the Americas. Compared to in- on the development of a VLIDORT (Vector LInearized Discrete rain period (compared to control). This work also will determine data and on uncertainty estimation using a Markov Chain Monte dependent remotely sensed and in situ LST observations, the as- Ordinate Radiative Transfer) interface to simulate top-of the-atmo- the effectiveness of the kick-starting during certain time periods, Carlo method resulted in two published papers. Dr. De Lannoy similation improved the model LST dynamics over short (synoptic) sphere radiances using GEOS-5/GOCART aerosol concentrations. and could explore the potential sources of predictability on intra- also has continued work on optimizing the global SMOS bright- time scales. Subsequently, using the LA-DAS, she assimilated the She also evaluates MERRA Aerosol reanalysis absorption, and this seasonal time scales. The results were presented at a conference ness temperature assimilation and contributes to the SMAP Level GOES-East and GOES-West LST observations into the GEOS-5 at- past year, by means of the radiative transfer GEOS-5-VLIDORT in- in February 2014. In the upcoming months, he will evaluate the 4 assimilation system. mospheric assimilation system, to test the impact on atmospheric terface developed over the past few years, she could simulate the existing high-resolution GEOS-5 simulations for summer 2012 to forecasts and data assimilation. Compared to past experiments, Dr. Gabrielle De Lannoy and Dr. Manuela Girotto (sponsor: R. UV Aerosol Index (AI) from the GEOS-5 aerosol assimilated fields quantify the nature of the forcing of stationary Rossby waves and assimilating the LST observations into the LA-DAS resulted in Reichle) work on assimilating satellite observations from the Grav- in order to perform comparisons with the corresponding OMI prod- anomalous high frequency transients associated with them. a longer model memory of the LST assimilation updates and a ity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and Soil Moisture uct during dust, biomass burning and pollution events. As a result greater net impact on land surface flux forecasts than assimilat- Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission into GMAO’s land surface data as- of this analysis over the Saharan dust region, the dust aerosol In his study of a mechanism for land-atmosphere feedback involv- ing the LST observations into the offline LDAS. The LA-DAS experi- similation system. The goal is to assimilate both vertically integrat- optical properties were updated in GEOS-5. Her work consisted ing planetary wave, an atmospheric general circulation model ments also confirmed the expectation that LST assimilation can ed terrestrial water storage (GRACE) and brightness temperature of also utilizing complementary observations to fully diagnose (AGCM) is used to explore one potential mechanism for remote be used to constrain low-level atmospheric temperature forecasts. to improve surface and root zone soil moisture. Dr. Girotto joined the model, including retrievals from MISR, MODIS, AERONET and soil moisture impacts on meteorological fields, a mechanism To date, Dr. Draper’s LST assimilation experiments have been GESTAR in January 2014 and leads the NASA-ROSES (THP10) measurements from the CALIPSO mission to ascertain misplace- involving the phase-locking of a planetary wave over a specific soil designed to correct only short-lived model LST errors; however, by

14 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 15 using the assimilation to correct for long- term LST model biases, is provided by software that estimates counts simply given the to the convection scheme to model scaveng- a much greater impact could be obtained. Since this approach specified parameters for the conditional probability distributions ing, the dynamics tracers and by bringing in is not yet possible, due to considerable biases in the remotely and histograms of the cloud fraction distributions. all the sources, Dr. Holdaway and colleagues sensed LST observations, she is now working on a method to bias should be able to examine sensitivity to aero- correct the geostationary LST observations using 2m air tempera- Dr. Daniel Holdaway (sponsor: R. Gelaro) develops the tangent sols in the atmosphere using the linear model ture observations. She also be using the coupled LA-DAS system linear and adjoint components of GEOS-5 for use in the data as- (i.e., the role that dust plays in the formation to test the impact of assimilating one year of remotely sensed similation tools used by the GMAO. Over the past year, he has de- of hurricanes). near-surface soil moisture on atmospheric forecasts. While near- veloped a linearized prognostic cloud scheme. The first version of surface soil moisture assimilation has received much attention, the linearized moist physics included convection and large scale When adjoint-based observation impacts are these observations have yet to be assimilated into an atmo- condensation but not a sophisticated linear cloud model; instead, computed, they rely on two integrations of spheric system using a state-of-the-art land data assimilation and all super-saturation was assumed to be instantaneously removed the nonlinear model. Two adjoint integrations observation bias correction method, such as those available in through precipitation to the surface. In order to fully utilize are also computed, along each nonlinear the GMAO LA-DAS. observations of clouds and precipitation, such as those from the reference state. Then, a sum of the resulting new GPM satellite, a representation of clouds was required in the sensitivities is used in the impact calculation. Dr. Ron Errico (sponsor: R. Gelaro) works on continuing the linear model. The ultimate goal is to employ a 4DVAR technique Rather than integrating the adjoint twice, development and application of an Observing System Simulation to the assimilation; at present, he is using 3DVAR, with one time along the two nonlinear reference states, it Experiment (OSSE) framework at NASA’s GMAO. Software for sim- step of 4DVAR for the cloud assimilation. In both cases a linear can be integrated once, along an average ulating observations have been made more modular and tools for cloud model will be required. The cloud scheme used in GEOS-5 of the two, a method known as Gaussian tuning of simulated observation error statistics have been made suffers from strong non-linearity and instability when linearized. In quadrature. In addition to providing improved more automated. Validation results using a variety of metrics have order to develop a working linear version, very careful analysis of efficiency, this also can improve the accuracy been reported in peer-reviewed journals. Development will con- the nonlinear scheme is required. From examining the scheme, a Figure: Correlation is shown against height for the perturbation fields after 12 of the linear solution by reducing noise in the tinue in the coming year of software for simulating observations filtering was developed that determines when problems are likely hours, for the tropics (23S-23N). From left to right, the plots show u wind, v wind, reference trajectory, which may be particularly from the new GMAO very-high resolution nature run intended for to occur. With minor simplifications to the model, and implemen- temperature, specific humidity, cloud liquid water and cloud liquid ice. Blue =the useful for making longer integrations of the OSSEs. This data set is provided for more than a hundred fields, tation of the filtering technique, a prognostic linear cloud scheme correlation when not using the moist physics; Red = the correlation when using the linear model. Working along with two GMAO every 30 minutes for 2 years on a 5760x2881x72 global grid; that performs well has been implemented. moist physics. It is clear the correlation increases for all fields when using the moist colleagues, Dr. Holdaway performed several such a massive amount of data requires a new structuring of the physics, showing the improvement in the linear model. (Credit: D. Holdaway) experiments, combining the use of quadra- OSSE observation simulation software. This scheme has been extensively tested by comparing the tan- ture, different physics in the linear model, and gent linear model with the nonlinear model. Two nonlinear model long averages of correlation between the linear and nonlinear 24-, 48- and 72-hour integrations. When the It has been proposed to launch a constellation of 18 CubeSat mi- runs were generated, one with an analysis increment added as perturbation trajectory show improvement of up to 20% below length of the integration is extended out to 72 hours the linearity crowave scanning radiometers. The GMAO OSSE and GDAS-5 data a perturbation at the initial time and one with no perturbation. 500hPa in 24 forecasts, a far more accurate description of sen- assumption is found to be less valid and the performance of the assimilation systems were adapted to create simulated Micromas The same perturbation is also used to initialize the tangent linear sitivity in the boundary layer region and reflected in the observa- linear model, especially with moist physics, is reduced. Due to observations and their assimilation. Two competing channel-set model. The growth of the perturbation is measured by compar- tion impacts. The boundary layer acts to transport moisture from these positive results, GMAO will be implementing the Gaussian configurations were examined. Both produced similar benefits to ing the difference between the two nonlinear runs over a 24-hour the surface and thus affects the development of clouds. Proper quadrature in the operational observation impacts. Extending the short-term forecast skill that were significant; thus, the cheaper period with the tangent linear run over the same period. Dr. representation of this process in the linear model improves the impact calculation to a 48-hour integration would be beneficial channel configuration should be employed. Holdaway analyzed the performance of the linear model by look- representation of cloud perturbations and sensitivity; in turn, this by reducing the chance of noise entering the calculation. Discus- ing at both the correlation and the root mean squared difference improves the assimilation of cloudy observations. sions are ongoing, regarding the implementation of this in the The “NMC method” has been used to generate estimates of back- between the fields. Both the tangent linear and adjoint versions next release of the operational model. ground error statistics since variational data assimilation was first of the cloud scheme have been developed, and he used a dot The radiation schemes in GEOS-5 are important in representing introduced. It begins by examining the differences between 48- product test to ensure both are free of errors. The adjoint model the feedback between clouds and aerosols with atmosphere. As The adjoint model is very useful for examining atmospheric and 24-hour forecasts valid at the same time. Here, covariances was then used in a series of observation impact experiments to clouds form, heating and cooling of the atmosphere can occur sensitivity since it can be used to find what variable in the initial of those differences were compared with true background errors ensure that sensible impacts are obtained. The linearized prog- through reflection and absorption of longwave and shortwave conditions a specific event was most sensitive to, and it provides determined within an OSSE context. Comparisons showed that nostic cloud scheme has been included in the latest release of radiation. Linear versions of both the infrared and solar radiation sensitivity structures, thus providing an optimal perturbation that not only variances but also correlation lengths differed consider- the GEOS-5 data assimilation capable model, and this version is schemes have been developed and implemented in GEOS-5. Test- could be applied to the initial conditions to reduce or exasperate ably. Results suggested that the OSSE itself can provide a better now being used to develop the cloudy assimilation system. Early ed with both dry and moist physics configurations, the schemes the event. Dr. Holdaway is examining the sensitivity structures estimate of the true required statistics. results are very promising. Work will continue with updating the performed well. With the moist physics schemes, the boundary for three atmospheric events, with Hurricane Sandy being first. linearized physics schemes; as the nonlinear model is developed, The adjoint model may quantitatively reveal the structures that Software has been developed to estimate cloud effects on counts layer scheme and the gravity wave scheme, an almost complete changes occur in the nonlinear physics schemes. To keep the were present that caused the hurricane to turn. A difficultly in of quality-controlled simulated observations for OSSEs. Observa- description of the physics is now enabled in the linear model. linear model well synced requires continuous development. using the adjoint is in picking a metric with which to initialize the tion counts for channels of IR radiances are greatly affected by Testing is currently underway to analyze the coupling between the model. Common choices are energy around the center of the cloud distributions. In the GMAO OSSE, whether a cloud affects an linear radiation and cloud schemes to determine whether filter- When the linear version of GEOS-5 was first developed, only a storm or vorticity at the storm’s center. However, these kinds of observation is specified stochastically based on conditional prob- ing within the moist physics needs to be refined once coupled to rather simple planetary boundary scheme was implemented, with metrics generally reveal more about what the storm’s intensity is ability distributions and cloud fractions with selected pressure the radiation. Additionally, the implementation of the radiation the aim of keeping the model stable. A new linear boundary layer sensitive to, rather than its track. These sensitivity studies will ranges. Previously, the resulting cloud-free observation counts schemes provides a representation of an important mechanism scheme based on the boundary layer scheme in the nonlinear continue into the next year. could only be determined by applying the quality control algorithm by which dust and other aerosols interact with the atmosphere in model has been developed and implemented. Close to the sur- the linear model. By using these schemes, making improvements within the GMAO data assimilation system. Now, earlier guidance face, this offers large improvement to the linear model. Month-

16 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 17 Dr. Jianjun Jin (sponsor: R. Gelaro) conducts radiance data as- ozone from the middle atmosphere to the lower atmosphere, the ran and examined the GEOS-5 forecast experiments after adding constraints, allowing for quantitative assessments of the controls similation using GEOS-5 atmospheric data assimilation system identification of such strong STE regions made in this study pro- clear-sky radiance data from these AMSU-A surface channels. on tropical storm activity imparted by the large-scale fields. By (ADAS) in order to improve GEOS-5 precipitation and cloud vides guidelines for future studies on tropospheric air quality. In Results showed that adding data from clear-sky AMSU-A surface carrying out these ensembles, Dr. Lim tries to assess the poten- analyses, and develops and improves procedures and algorithms addition, the method and results in this study are very useful for channels did not significantly impact the analyses and forecasts. tial predictability of the Atlantic tropical cyclone provided by such of assimilating microwave radiance observations made by the diagnosing and evaluating the capabilities of chemistry-climate Dr. Kim and GMAO colleagues have been working to assimilate constraints. satellite instrument TRMM/TMI and the new instrument GPM/ models. GMI data at the GMAO. To prepare for this simulation and GPM GMI. Dr. Jin has continued to develop and evaluate the algorithm Level-4 Precipitation data product, she set up the Goddard Satel- Despite being recognized as one of the leading teleconnections of assimilating TMI radiance data in cloudy situations with GEOS- Dr. Min-Jeong Kim (sponsor: R. Gelaro) develops and tests cloud lite Data Simulation Unit (GSDSU) system and modified it to be over the North Atlantic, the East Atlantic/West Russia (EA/WR), 5 ADAS. Most weather satellites observe the Earth surface and and precipitation affected microwave radiance data assimilation able to simulate GMI data using GEOS-5 forecasts. Additionally, which is characterized by two main large-scale anomalies located atmosphere by measuring microwave radiance of the surface system at the GMAO. This involves building various components she has been working to expand all-sky microwave radiance data over the Caspian Sea and Western Europe, has not attracted any and the atmosphere. Due to difficulties and large uncertainties such as observation operators, quality controls, moisture control assimilation components in GMAO ADAS to assimilate GMI data. significant and detailed investigation. Dr. Lim quantified climate in simulating these radiance observations in cloudy conditions, variables, observation errors, and background errors for all-sky In the coming year, observation error model and quality control impact of the EA/WR on temperature and precipitation over North the current GEOS-5 ADAS only assimilates these radiances under (i.e. clear, cloudy, and precipitating sky) satellite microwave process for all-sky microwave radiance data assimilation will be America, Europe and northern Africa, and investigated physi- clear sky conditions. In order to make good use of the vast satel- radiance data in the GEOS-5 data assimilation system, and refined. To include microwave observations in precipitating region, cal mechanisms responsible for the existence of EA/WR. These lite observations, an all-sky data assimilation scheme is being conducting diagnostic studies to evaluate and improve those new including background rain and snow profiles in the observation investigations by observational data analysis and stationary wave developed for assimilating TRMM/TMI radiance observations. TMI components through OSSEs. This work will be expanded to utilize operator will be tested. model simulation concluded that the EA/WR triggers anomalous observation error is being tuned and the impact of these observa- GPM microwave radiance data and to potentially generate GPM temperature and precipitation in regional scale across the analy- tions on analyses is being investigated. In the coming year, Dr. Level-4 cloud and precipitation products. The GMAO is currently Dr. Young-Kwon Lim (sponsor: S. Schubert) supports research sis domain and is closely associated with Rossby wave propaga- Jin will continue his efforts with developing and evaluating all-sky working on producing high spatial (7km) and temporal (30min) on climate variability and weather extremes using modeling and tion. A stationary wave model (SWM) forced with vorticity tran- microwave radiance data assimilation. All-sky radiance data is at resolution nature run using GEOS-5 system. In the coming year, assimilation tools developed by the GMAO. Dr. Lim has investi- sients in the mid-latitude Atlantic (~40°N) or diabatic heat source the forefront of data assimilation and will significantly improve GMI data will be simulated with this new nature run with modelled gated the sensitivity of tropical cyclone frequency and intensity to over the subtropical Atlantic near the Caribbean Sea produces the application of vast satellite observations and improve the observation errors included. These simulated GMI observations the change in cumulus convective activity to improve the GEOS-5 well-organized EA/WR-like wave patterns, respectively. Sensitiv- models’ analyses fields such as moisture and precipitation, and will be utilized in OSSE to refine the methodologies to assimilate model’s ability to simulate tropical cyclones. He found that the ity tests with the SWM indicate improvement in the simulation of will eventually improve the numerical weather forecast model’s real GMI data in GMAO data assimilation system. tropical cyclone numbers and intensity over the Atlantic increases the EA/WR when the mean state is modified to have a positive forecast skill. along with the increase in the minimum threshold of cumulus en- NAO component that enhances upper-level westerlies between Two different choices of moisture control variables were added trainment rate in the model. He explored the atmosphere-ocean 40-60°N. Dr. Lim completed writing a paper and submitted it to Launched on February 27, 2014, NASA’s new satellite project into the GEOS-5/GSI. Background error covariance for each processes that can explain the model’s sensitivity to the change Climate Dynamics. Additionally, he attempted to quantitatively es- Global Precipitation Measurement Core Observatory mission choice of moisture control variable was made using NMC method. in cumulus entrainment, and identified that atmosphere can be timate the impact of European teleconnections on the interannual (GPM) is going to make global rain and snow observations, to The quality control process was relaxed to include all-sky AMSU- more unstable when the parameterized convection is suppressed variation of East Asian winter temperature and monsoon. When improve our knowledge of Earth’s water and energy circle, to A radiance data over the ocean. Observation errors for each (i.e., increase in minimum threshold of entrainment rate). The he compared their impact with the impact of well-known telecon- help improve weather forecasts of extreme precipitation events, AMSU-A channel were defined as a function of cloud liquid water vertical profile of moist static energy and equivalent potential nections such as the Arctic Oscillation, the Western Pacific and and therefore reduce the costs of natural disasters. One of the path. Analysis results from these initial setup showed that using temperature over the storm genesis region accounts for this un- ENSO, he found that EA/WR teleconnection plays a very important two core instruments aboard this satellite is the GPM microwave ql/qi as two separate moisture control variables generates and stable atmosphere, especially over lower troposphere; thus, latent role in determining the East Asian winter climate and that EA/ imager (GMI), which measures Earth’s surface and atmosphere removes clouds more actively and that the location of liquid and heat flux and humidity changes at lower atmosphere contribute WR tends to better represent the interannual variability of winter with high spatial resolution in 13 microwave channels. In order to ice cloud changes made more sense than when using cw(=ql+qi) to the development of moist instability, providing more favorable monsoon, cold surge and Siberian high than AO. facilitate the application of GMI observations, Dr. Jin developed as a single moisture control variable. conditions for tropical cyclone genesis. Dr. Lim determined that the software to excise the proxy observation in collaboration with the resolved-scale moist convection is more likely to occur with Dr. Lim has collaborated with the US CLIVAR hurricane working NOAA. After the first GPM/GMI observations were provided in late In close collaboration with Dr. Ron Errico, good progress was suppression of the parameterized convection. He presented this group members to finalize works on climate models’ capability March, Dr. Jin was able to quickly and successfully assimilate made in using the GMAO OSSE to investigate the cloudy micro- work at the US CLIVAR Hurricane working group meeting and has in reliably simulating various tropical cyclone characteristics. He these observations. He will continue to assess the new GPM/GMI wave radiance data assimilation system. They made simulations submitted a paper to a peer-reviewed journal. Going forward, he also conducted this study focusing on models’ reproduction of data quality, in addition to pursuing his efforts on assimilating TMI of cloudy and clear sky AMSU-A observations using ECMWF will assess improvements in predicting tropical cyclone activity tropical cyclone statistics with respect to ENSO phases: Eastern observations. Observations made from these two satellite instru- nature run, and added errors to those simulations through itera- with the latest version of GEOS5 model. This assessment will be Pacific El Niño, Central Pacific El Niño, and La Niña. Dr. Lim has ments will be applied in the operational GEOS-5 data assimilation tive error-tuning processes, comparing with innovation statistics conducted in consideration of tropical cyclone number, intensity, co-authored three papers on this work submitted to the Journal of system in the coming year. from real data. Software to monitor behavior of total biases in the duration time, and spatial structure of strong hurricane, and will Climate. OSSE system has been developed. Future plans include the eval- provide a better idea of how the GEOS5 high-resolution model has A lead author paper by Dr. Jin was published in the Journal of uation and further improvements to newly developed components improved the simulation of tropical cyclone activity. Dr. Erica McGrath-Spangler (sponsor: S. Pawson) uses space- Geophysical Research – Atmospheres that details a new coordi- by implementing forecast impact studies in addition to the OSSE based observations and earth system models (and their com- nate named Tropopause- Latitude coordinate (TpLat) that he and experiments. In collaboration with Drs. Ron Errico and Nikki Privé, Dr. Lim conducts replay runs, each allowing for constraining vari- ponents) to further the understanding of the carbon cycle. She his collaborators creatively developed. Based on varying extra- cloudy radiance data assimilation components will be applied and ous components of the model’s large-scale atmosphere to remain assesses the value of current and future carbon observing instru- tropical tropopause (ExTP) locations, this new coordinate enables examined initially with AMSU-A data in GMAO OSSE system. close to the observed (MERRA) fields. Experiments conducted ments (e.g., AIRS, OCO-2) for policy-relevant science questions users to precisely analyze chemical and dynamical features at constrain selected scales of motion (e.g., retain only the largest and contributes to defining science specifications for planned locations of the ExTP and stratosphere-troposphere exchange Currently, data from AMSU-A surface channels (channels 1, 2, planetary waves), and selected quantities (e.g., winds, humid- missions (e.g., OCO-3, ASCENDS). Throughout the past year, Dr. processes (STE) at these locations using satellite observations and 3) are not utilized in GMAO data assimilation system. To iden- ity). In these experiments, the model-generated synoptic and McGrath-Spangler has been studying the impact of PBL depth and GEOS-5 simulations. Since the STE processes transport tify impacts of cloudy AMSU-A radiance data in the future, Dr. Kim smaller scale variability over the regions of interest have no direct definition on tracer transport and model climate through sev- 18 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 19 eral experiments. The first is an ensemble of 10 GEOS-5 AGCM validation is currently underway and is proving both challenging Dr. Nikki Privé (sponsor: R. Gelaro) supports projects in atmo- were calculated in a series of test cases. The results of these simulations for each of three PBL depth estimation methods for a and very rewarding. First, the use of the RadApp tool with SW spheric data assimilation, especially regarding the use of current experiments are currently under review and will be the subject of total of 30 model simulations. These ensembles are being used requires a careful understanding and treatment of the timing of and future space-based observations. This includes diagnostic a future publication. to estimate the sensitivity of the model to the turbulent length the full refresh and regular update phases of the GEOS-5 solar studies to evaluate and improve the use of observational data scale (which is dependent on the PBL depth). Variations in the radiation code in order to get the most accurate validation pos- as well as running and interpreting observing system simula- The GMAO OSSE has been updated to a more recent version of tion experiments. The testing and interpretation phases require the GEOS-5 forecast model in order to allow the use of newer data model climate and tracer (such as dust, CO2, etc.) concentra- sible. Second, the SW validation has necessitated the implemen- tions are being studied. The two other experiments are long-term tation of the CDA study’s new statistical cloud overlap scheme applying theory and experience to explain sometimes unintuitive types such as GPS-RO and to eliminate some deficient aspects of climatological runs of the model using (1) the bulk Richardson within GEOS-5’s RRTMG radiation code. This step also realizes a responses to often complex algorithms. This past year, Dr. Privé the older model versions. The OSSE will be validated against sta- number based definition of PBL depth and (2) the bulk Richard- long-term goal of beginning to incorporate the CDA system within developed an «identical twin» framework for the GMAO OSSE in tistics of the data assimilation of real observation and of forecast son number based definition over land only and a definition using GEOS-5. The SW validation continues, but preliminary investiga- order to study the role of model error in forecast error growth. An skill. A control case will be run for validation of forecast skill and the turbulent eddy diffusion coefficient with a 10% of the column tions have highlighted the need to more fully understand and identical twin OSSE is considered a «perfect model» scenario in to act as a baseline case for further OSSE studies. which there is no model error. By comparing the results of identi- maximum threshold over water. The goal of these runs is to accommodate details of the MODIS optical depth retrievals within Dr. Oreste Reale (sponsor: S. Schubert) supports scientific evaluate the sensitivity of the model climate to PBL depth. If the the CDA system. Thus, extensive and very useful work on the SW cal twin experiments with the full GMAO OSSE, the impacts of model error can be determined. To create the identical twin OSSE, research on climate variability and tropical storms using high- simulated climate is improved in comparison to observations, the validation of the CDA system has been conducted and continues. resolution versions of the GEOS-5 atmospheric model developed default behavior of the model may be changed. A draft manu- the GEOS-5 forecast model was run without ingesting observa- Dr. Norris worked with Gala Wind and Drs. Arlindo da Silva and tions to generate a “free” run for two months. This free run was by the GMAO. In particular, he evaluates the sensitivity of the script evaluating the impact of PBL depth on tracer transport in representation of tropical storms in GEOS-5 to model resolution. the GEOS-5 AGCM is in progress. Steven Platnick on a new high-fidelity MODIS cloud simulator, treated as the Nature Run, or ‘truth’, used for verification of the including a detailed treatment of sub-grid-column moisture vari- experimental forecasts and for generating synthetic observa- Over the past year, Dr. Reale has contributed to the evaluation of During the last year, Dr. McGrath-Spangler gave several presenta- ability and cloud overlap. He helped to write, edit and submit a pa- tions. A complete set of simulated observations was created for several experiments performed by Dr. Young-Kwon Lim and has tions related to her work with the GMAO and the use of the GEOS- per to Geoscientific Model Development that described that work; the identical twin OSSE, including appropriate observation errors. co-authored an article with Dr. Lim (first author), Dr. Schubert, and 5 AGCM, including her presentation in March 2014 at the GMAO he also provided extensive input to a response to reviews of the The simulated observations were then ingested into the GEOS-5/ other GMAO scientists, to explore the sensitivity of hurricane activ- Constituent Assimilation Meeting. She co-authored a published paper and made significant additions to the revised manuscript, GSI forecast model to create numerical weather forecasts. It was ity to changes in the convective parametrizations. found that model error is a significant contributor to the evolution paper, and was a co-investigator on three submitted proposals. which has since been published. He contributed a summary of He also has been involved in the evaluation of several long-term of forecast skill. In cases with no model error, the forecast skill Future work will involve the analysis of the long-term climatologi- his 2008 copula work to an invited review article on the Goddard simulations, “Nature Runs”, of the Earth Atmosphere, designed showed an improvement in skill compared to cases with model cal GEOS-5 AGCM simulations in order to evaluate the feasibility Cumulus Ensemble model and its applications by Wei-Kuo Tao, et for possible use in Observing System Simulation Experiments error equivalent to a decrease in a forecast lead time of two days of changing the default behavior of the model. Dr. McGrath-Span- al., which was published online this past March. Finally, Drs. Nor- (OSSEs) and produced by Dr. Putman (GMAO) with the experimen- in the extratropics and four days in the tropics. The analysis error gler also plans to evaluate the MERRA data for a long-term trend ris and da Silva recently submitted to the Quarterly Journal of the tal ultra-high resolution cubed-sphere GEOS model in a variety of is greatly decreased in the identical twin experiments compared in PBL depth consistent with the trend seen by estimating this Royal Meteorological Society a two-part paper that represents the different configurations. Among all of the possible simulations, to cases that include model error, even when observation errors depth from radiosonde profiles. These evaluations will be done main thrust of their work on cloud data assimilation over the past one produced by the c1440 version of the cubed-sphere GEOS-5, of similar magnitude are included in the simulated data. The over the Northern Hemisphere land, where the impact of satellite few years. Their CDA research was presented by Dr. Norris to a at a resolution of about 7 km, and in a fully non-hydrostatic mode, results of this experiment have been published in the Journal of observational changes is minimized. Cloud-themed GMAO Science Theme Meeting in September 2013. was selected in 2014 by Dr. Putman and the GMAO to become Geophysical Research. Dr. Peter Norris (sponsor: A. da Silva) uses retrieved cloud data Drs. Norris and da Silva recently expanded the MODIS cloud the next-generation GMAO Nature Run. Since then, Dr. Reale has to validate cloud properties within the Goddard Earth Observing simulator code to provide the optical properties of aerosols, ac- Dr. Privé also performed an OSSE experiment to investigate the been extensively analyzing this run, in collaboration with GMAO System (GEOS) model, to measure the capability of trial cloud counting for sub-grid scale humidification, in preparation for work impact of including supplemental rawinsonde observations at scientists, to assess the quality of simulated cyclones and more representations, and to assimilate cloud measurements directly on aerosol retrieval with their collaborator, Gala Wind. Dr. Norris 0600 and 1800 UTC. In regular operations, the vast majority of generally investigate the realism of the tropical atmospheric into the GEOS data assimilation system. Dr. Norris worked with also worked on and delivered a new driver tool for aerosol optical rawinsondes are launched only at 0000 and 1200 UTC, but sup- dynamics, and the tropical-extratropical interactions. Two related Drs. Arlindo da Silva and Ben Auer of GMAO to test and further properties that provides the full phase function for aerosol scat- plemental rawinsondes are sometimes added in order to improve presentations were delivered at GMAO Science Team meetings. the forecast in high-impact synoptic situations, such as severe develop a GEOS-5 Radiation Application tool written by da Silva tering, in addition to the aerosol optical thickness, single scatter- Further, Dr. Reale has co-authored (as second and correspond- weather outbreaks or land-falling hurricanes (such as Hurricane and Auer. The tool is used to drive the GEOS-5 radiation Grid ing albedo and asymmetry factor provided by the previous tool. ing author) an article which investigates in depth a less-known Sandy). By adding supplemental rawinsondes, the short-term Component using external data imports, so that GEOS-5 radiation The tool is callable directly in FORTRAN for incorporation into the 6-9 day time scale in the African Easterly Waves, different from forecast was improved not just for the 0600 and 1800 UTC cycle can be run offline. He also wrote code to couple the output of the MODIS radiative transfer codes used by Gala Wind. the widely studied 3-6 day time scale. The article discusses the time forecasts, but also for the 0000 and 1200 UTC cycle time new cloud data assimilation (CDA) system with the “RadApp” tool. structure of such waves and attributes to them an important role Additionally, Dr. Norris performed a preliminary validation of the forecasts, due to the improved quality of the model background The goal is to look at the radiative improvements made by the in tropical-extratropical interactions. CDA system, and also to test potential improvements to the GEOS- top-of-atmosphere radiative fluxes and gross cloud properties field. A manuscript describing these results is currently in press 5 cloud scheme. A thorough description of the RadApp tool was of GMAO’s new nature run against CERES products. Preliminary with Monthly Weather Review. Dr. Cecile Rousseaux (sponsor: W. Gregg) conducts research on presented for the first time in a recent publication. The accuracy results were presented in early April and work continues. The ocean phytoplankton populations using the GMAO NOBM. Last Another OSSE experiment was performed to investigate the of the tool has been carefully tested as part of the CDA radiative work has helped to diagnose key interpretation issues for MODIS fall, Dr. Rousseaux modified the GEOS5 NASA Ocean Biogeochem- spectra of forecast error growth in numerical weather prediction. validation study: a month-long comparison of pre- and post-CDA optical thickness retrievals that feed back into the cloud data as- ical Model (NOBM) so that it would also use variable atmospheric The spectra of error growth in the real world are very difficult outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) from GEOS-5 with CERES similation work. forcing files. She learned to use Concurrent Versions System (CVS) to analyze during the early forecast period because there is no (Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System) observations showed to create tags and manage code development, as well as import- suitable field for verification, but these spectra can be calculated very positive improvements by the CDA system, even without the ing/exporting new variables throughout the code. Learning CVS directly in the OSSE. The error spectra for two-week forecasts usual radiative tuning necessary in GEOS-5. The shortwave (SW) also was necessary when supporting other GMAO team members,

20 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 21 including Christian Keppenne, for whom Dr. Rousseaux provided an unrealistic warm bias in sea surface temperature (SST) and infectious disease transmission. The objective is to develop em- lead author for several sections and chapters of the GEO/GEOSS- the latest tags, new forcing files and data sets. She continues to unrealistic tropical climate produced by the model. The SST bias pirical and theoretical models and techniques that can be used by IGWCO Water Strategy for the next decade titled “from Observa- maintain all the forcing data and validation data to keep NOBM was addressed by re-tuning the moist physics. It was found that public health organizations for disease surveillance and control. tions to Decisions”. Topics included: integration across the water up to date, which involves downloading, regridding and reformat- deterioration of tropical climate is due to increased error in cloud This past year, Dr. Soebiyanto has worked on assessing the role cycle and beyond; the role of research in integration; water cycle ting the data throughout the year. This included MODIS Aqua radiative forcing (CRF) over subtropical oceans. This error is cur- of meteorological parameters in influenza activity in countries data integration; water cycle model integration; representing the (chlorophyll, particulate inorganic carbon and remote reflectance), rently being addressed. He also prepared and tested a version of with temperate, sub-tropical and tropical climate. Her studies water cycle in Community Earth System Models; land data as- Suomi-NPP (chlorophyll and remote reflectance), and the forc- AOGCM with non-Boussinesq ocean component. This configura- indicated that specific humidity was consistently associated with similation systems; the impact of water cycle observational and ing data necessary to run the NOBM (MERRA, ozone from OMI, tion will be used in future data assimilation and forecast sys- influenza activity in all regions. In temperate countries, she found modeling error on end user applications, observations to support clouds and aerosols from Aqua and Terra). Dr. Rousseaux contin- tems. In the coming year, model biases over subtropical oceans an inverse relationship between influenza and specific humidity. climate change impact assessments and adaptation, among ues to collaborate with Michelle Gierach on their funded proposal and over ocean boundary currents will be addressed in order to However, in the tropics and in a few coastal locations, specific others. The water strategy report was published in February 2014 on the “Variation in phytoplankton composition associated with El integrate the new version of the model into data assimilation and humidity was proportionally associated with influenza. She found following almost two years of drafting and reviewing, followed Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) diversity in the Equatorial Pacific forecast systems. that temperature was an important determinant for influenza in by approval by the GEO plenary. Prior to the finalization of the Ocean”. She has also begun working with Dr. Nowicki and others the temperate region, but not in the tropics and sub-tropics. She Water Strategy Report, Dr. Unninayar contributed substantially to on their funded proposal on “Feedbacks, Processes and Impacts Dr. Vikhliaev analyzed a long-term climate drift in the GEOS-5 has worked on three manuscripts on this topic; one is in press the finalization and drafting of the Summary Report of the Water of Contemporary Changes in the Arctic”. Finally, she continues to AOGCM, and found that this drift is consistent with the weak while the others are in review and in preparation. In the coming Strategy for submission to the GEOSS Ministerial Conference. provide support to end-users who download and use data from Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). A sensitiv- year, Dr. Soebiyanto will continue her influenza work. She plans the Giovanni or the NASA GMAO ftp website. Going forward, Dr. ity of AMOC to parameterization of river runoff, ocean lateral to develop decision tools that provide meteorological time series Dr. Unninayar submitted several actions for incorporation in the Rousseaux will continue to provide support in integrating the diffusion, bottom drag and vertical mixing was analyzed in a set that are associated with influenza and also provide projected in- Group on Earth Observations (GEO) 2012-2015 strategic work NOBM in GEOS5, will update the forcing and assimilation data of multi-century simulations. As a result of this effort, a model fluenza activity based on changes in the meteorological condition. plan. In late 2013 he was invited to be an expert reviewer for the required to run the NOBM and will provide support to end-users. configuration which produces a stable AMOC for several centuries audio/video script being prepared by an international team in was prepared. A future collaboration with NOAA NCEP and the Dr. Sushel Unninayar (sponsor: S. Wharton) will continue to Switzerland for submission to the GEO Ministerial Summit. The This past year, Dr. Rousseaux has been a lead author on one pub- Atmospheric Physics department at the University of Maryland provide scientific coordination/integration of the interagency US- audio-visual covered the global water cycle with depictions of live lished paper, a co-author on two publications, and is a co-author is planned for working on the GEOS-5 AOGCM configuration with GCRP/CCSP Global Water Cycle Working Group and interlinks with imagery from the International Space Station, followed by more on one in progress. She is also the lead author of a report written high resolution (0.25 degree) atmospheric and ocean compo- Atmospheric Chemistry, Climate Variability and Change, Land Use regionally focused land surface satellite imagery, plus depictions as a result of a 3-day meeting organized to identify potential ar- nents. and Land Surface Change, Ecosystems, Human contributions and of the water cycle from the surface. Coverage was globally com- eas of collaboration on the topic of carbon between JPL and NASA Decision Support Systems, among other national and internation- prehensive from the mountains of the Himalayas to the clouds GSFC with Deputy Director Piers Sellers. She participated in this Dr. Brad Weir (sponsor: S. Pawson) assimilates atmospheric CO2 al programs. He has focused on resolving current deficiencies in over Lake Geneva. In March 2014, he was invited to submit a meeting that was supervised by Dr. Sellers and that was held in observations into the GEOS-5 DAS and participates in research observing and modeling systems with a priority on soil moisture, white paper to a meeting of the GEOSS URR (User Requirements order to establish the current state of knowledge and capabilities studies aimed at evaluating observations from AIRS, GOSAT, and evapotranspiration and ground water, in addition to precipitation, Registry) in Geneva, Switzerland. His contribution included the and the potential benefits of a ‘Carbon Climate Program’. At Dr. OCO-2 data using GEOS-5, and applies these toward understand- among others. definition and specification of Essential Water Variables (EWVs), Sellers’ request, Dr. Rousseaux wrote this report on the state of ing the carbon cycle. Dr. Weir has given two presentations, one in the consolidation of water cycle observational and modeling knowledge of carbon in the oceans for NASA HQ and collected the California and one in The Netherlands on related work. He continued international coordination efforts to (a) develop requirements of user needs covering over 75 user sectors, and reviews and input from her peers. She is also PI on one proposal, a framework for the IGWCO (and NASA) contributions to and assessment of data assimilation and modeling requirements. and a Co-Investigator on three more, as well as a Co-I on an up- He continued the implementation of trace gas assimilation in interaction with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change coming proposal. GEOS-5 to include observations of carbon monoxide and dioxide. (IPCC) with a focus on “Hydroclimatic Change and Extremes,” and In March-April 2014, Dr. Unninayar developed a comprehen- This included writing utility scripts that download and process (b) the downscaling of global observing systems data and global sive conceptual framework for advancing the end objectives of Her research results were presented in several talks, locally, the level-2 carbon monoxide data from the Measurements of climate change/variability model output for improved accuracy on the GCRP as well as the UN/IPCC and particularly the GEO and nationally and internationally. She also chaired a session at the Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument on NASA’s regional and local scales as an effort to support decision making GEOSS titled “Enhanced Decision Making Using “Cloud-Based” Ocean Science Meeting 2014 (Honolulu, HI). She will be partici- Terra satellite and the carbon dioxide data from the Greenhouse in water and other resource management applications. These Observations, Models, and Analytical Tools” [Initial Priority on pating in the OCB workshop in July 2014 and will present a talk at Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) processed as a function of the critically important aspects of global change are considered es- Essential Water Cycle Variables]. An initial emphasis was sug- the Ocean Optics Conference in Maine in the fall. Atmospheric CO2 Observations from Space (ACOS) task. He also sential for improved assessments of the impacts of global climate gested on Essential Water cycle Variables, though the principle developed the procedures for the assimilation of general trace change on the regional terrestrial water cycle processes. They would apply to all GEOSS observations. The basic proposition Dr. Yury Vikhliaev (sponsor: B. Putman) continued working on the gas observations in GEOS-5 and tuning the necessary error co- would also lead to more precise information required for policy is to examine how to address the missing linkages between the development of the GEOS-5 Atmosphere-Ocean General Circula- variances. Future work will involve exploring the use of ensemble guidance on adaptation/mitigation options. These activities are statement “observations are useful for...... ,” and the end point, tion Model (AOGCM), a coupled climate model developed at the methods to generate error covariance matrices in the trace gas expected to continue over the next decade. Collaborators with such as specific research and applications and end user decision- NASA GMAO. Its main components are the atmospheric model, assimilation. Dr. Weir will have to investigate the variety of ap- NASA on this project include international and national organiza- making products, i.e., the construct of a potential GEOSS-AI the catchment land surface model, both developed by the GMAO, proaches, as each has its benefits and drawbacks. Determining tions and agencies. system that contains the elements necessary to deliver the end and MOM4, the ocean model developed by the Geophysical Fluid the most suitable will likely depend on the particular qualities of product application. The user specifies what they need as an end Dynamics Laboratory. In order to address model biases, 20 multi- the trace gas estimation problem. Dr. Unninayar was invited again by the IPCC as an expert reviewer product and the “system” formulates the rest, and suggests how decadal and multi-century climate simulations were conducted for the IPCC-AR5 Science Assessment report to Governments. He to construct their application with the modules within the system and analyzed. An atmospheric component of the coupled model was also invited, in early 2013, as Coordinator of the GCRP/GWC, (of systems). To meet this design consideration, all modules was updated to Ganymed-4 version. Despite many improve- CODE 610.2: GLOBAL CHANGE DATA CENTER member of the GEOSS/IGWCO, and expert on integrated assess- would need to be placed on a “cloud-based” infrastructure in a ments in the new version of AOGCM, the update resulted in the Dr. Radina Soebiyanto (sponsor: R. Kiang) utilizes remote sens- ments, to review Chapter 23 (Europe) of IPCC/WGII-AR5 (Impact, standardized and inter-compatible format, and maintained jointly deterioration of some aspects of model climate, which included ing technology to monitor, predict and facilitate the control of Adaptation, and Vulnerability). This past year he continued as by collaborating parties. Work will continue on developing a con-

22 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 23 ceptual framework for implementation into a GEO-AI system with set is used to supplement observations over data-sparse areas result, the spectrum of snowflake mass became more continuous. the algorithm development team integrated the algorithm codes the structural framework to facilitate “Enhanced Decision Making for supporting GPM algorithm development. When the model’s Precipitation particle size distribution (PSD) of the snowflakes also submitted by each developer, released the first algorithm codes at Using “Cloud-Based” Observations, Models, and Analytical Tools” simulated mean and variability of surface rainfall and snowfall, showed a shift toward smaller sizes. This change eventually result- launch version, and has continued distributing the modified codes with the initial priority on essential water cycle variables. Plans cloud and precipitation types, cloud properties, radiances and ed in an improvement of the simulated radar reflectivity. In the to improve retrieval algorithm. Dr. Kim tested and evaluated the include initiating discussion and collaboration for the design of backscattering were evaluated against satellite observations, the second sensitivity test, high ice nuclei concentration contributed performance of the SRT algorithm to each version of algorithm the components required for an early demonstration prototype for results of the new data set are much better in heavy precipitation to a slight increase in snow mass. However, it does not influence codes with simulated radar data using the WRF model during the such a system. intensity, radar reflectivity, and brightness temperature than the the size spectrum of the snow particles. The increase of snow Mid-Latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E), MMF data set provided to the GPM algorithm development teams mass was associated with a slight decrease of cloud water and 2011 and the Light Precipitation Evaluation Experiment (LPVEx), in 2012. graupel; as a result, the simulated brightness temperature retains 2010. When she investigated the behaviors of estimated PIAs CODE 612: MESOSCALE ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES a good agreement as compared to the AMSR-E observations. No from the simulated test data for MC3E and LPVEx field campaign LABORATORY NASA’s latest reanalysis, the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis improvement of simulated radar signals was made. Dr. Han also by comparing them with the true PIAs, she found that the surface for Research and Applications (MERRA), has shown significant Dr. Jiun-Dar Chern (sponsor: W.-K. Tao) works on developing a analyzed mass-weighted terminal velocities of different hydrome- return echo power at Ka-band used to drop below the noise power improvement over previous reanalyses and is equivalent in skill teors in SBM simulations and compared them to 4-bulk schemes. due to the strong PIA under the heavy rainfall circumstance like Multiscale Modeling Framework (MMF) based on NASA’s state- to the ECMWF-Interim reanalysis in terms of global, continental of-art global atmospheric models (i.e., GEOS4 and GEOS5) and SBM simulation generally has a broader range of terminal velocity MC3E, known as the saturation effect. However, this saturation and basin scale climatological precipitation. However, details of given the same amount of precipitation mass. A journal paper is effect didn’t appear at Ku-band because of its relatively lower cloud-resolving model (i.e., GCE). The idea is to use the cloud- regional water cycles still exhibit biases that result from model resolving model in each column of a general circulation model to in preparation to report the scientific findings of this study. This frequency than Ka-band. The break point for the saturation physics uncertainties interacting with an observation suite that study was also presented at the AMS 15th Conference on Meso- depends on the surface type and the incidence angle: the more explicitly represent cloud-scale processes. Another goal is to use varies in space and time. This study uses MERRA moisture NASA satellite products to improve cloud microphysical schemes scale Processes and at the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting. the incidence angle increases, the more likely an occurrence at budget, analysis increment and Gridded Innovations and Obser- the weaker PIA. SRT codes are being modified to distinguish the in the cloud-resolving model. A MMF model uses a two-dimen- vations (GIO) data set to better understand the relative contribu- A new study of synoptic snow storms occurred on Feb 24, 2012 sional cloud-resolving model (CRM) in each grid column of a gen- failure of PIA estimation. Although surface data from multiple tion of observing system on a unphysical positive moisture flux while the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) was range gates are usually available at off-nadir incidence angles, eral circulation model (GCM) to represent cloud and mesoscale divergence (MFD) over the Great Plains from 2001 to 2012. From being carried out. In addition to the brief analyses of a wide vari- dynamics and physical processes in place of cloud parameteriza- the current version of SRT algorithm for PIA estimation used a the time series and diurnal cycle of moisture budget and analy- ety of observational data obtained during the campaign, Dr. Han single gate, which has the peak surface return power among the tions in a convection GCM. The MMF approach shows the ability sis increment, it is shown that the MFD feature is not persistent chose to put emphasis on analyzing the NMQ (National Mosaic to simulate the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), the diurnal cycle range gates. PIA estimation at a single gate might cause errors throughout the period of the satellite era reanalyses, but has an and QPE) data provided by NOAA/NSSL for the current stage of under the non-uniform beam filling (NUBF) condition. To improve of precipitation, and other phenomena that have presented chal- abrupt transition in around 2000. The sharp jump of water vapor this study. The NMQ hourly precipitation rate and 3-dimensional lenges for convectional GCMs. The performance of a MMF highly estimates, Dr. Kim modified the radar simulator to create the being added through the analysis at 06Z and 18Z is contributing reflectivity mosaics clearly depicted the evolution and structure of Level1 test data for a multi-beam solution in PIA estimation and depends on how the parameterizations of microphysics, radiation, to the regional MFD bias. Dr. Chern will conduct further examina- the storm. She also conducted multiple simulations with a new and turbulence operate on the CRM’s grid. In Dr. Chern’s study, a helped colleagues modify the SRT codes to implement the use of tion of the contribution of each observing systems’ effect on the version of the WRF model and the G-SDSU. The simulations with multi-beams. Preliminary results showed some improvement on new Goddard four-ice (cloud ice, snow, graupel, hail) one-moment abrupt transition by using the MERRA GIO data set and sensitive a relatively confined coarse domain replicate well the general bulk microphysical scheme has been successfully developed and precipitation retrieval over the standard SRT methods. With the experiments of the data assimilation system. synoptic to mesoscale characteristics of the storm. Evaluations launch of the GPM core satellite, information of global precipita- implemented into the Goddard MMF to account for hail habit and are being carried out to assess the dynamic and physical feature its interactions with other hydrometeors. More than 20 two-year tion will be provided in real-time. Dr. Kim and her colleagues will Dr. Mei Han (sponsor: S. Braun) applies satellite-based observa- of the storm. evaluate the performance of the SRT method from the observed MMF experiments were conducted to evaluate the role of each tions from NASA satellites (TRMM, Aqua, and GPM) and numerical new processes and the overall performance of this new scheme. DPR data and also contribute to improving the performance of PIA models (MM5 and WRF) to study precipitation associated with Other research involves the examination of the spatial distribu- estimation by implementing the multi-beam SRT method. The performance of the MMF was evaluated against CloudSat/ extratropical cyclones over ocean and land, and evaluates the tion of cloud and precipitation species and vertical air motion in CALIPSO cloud ice data set and TRMM precipitation and radar performances of cloud and precipitation models and retrieval the WRF simulations of two events in different field campaigns. Dr. Xiaowen Li (sponsor: W.-K. Tao) uses the Goddard cloud- reflectivity data set; the MMF with the new Goddard 4-ice scheme algorithms in the middle latitudes. Dr. Han conducted a study to Currently Dr. Han is investigating the radar signals simulated by resolving model and satellite plus field observations to study outperforms the one with the Goddard 3-ice one-moment bulk investigate the performance of a Spectral Bin Microphysics (SBM) G-SDSU at different frequencies. clouds, precipitation processes and their roles in radiation and scheme. scheme, the Hebrew University Cloud Model for a heavy precipita- climate. Over the past year, Dr. Li implemented and tested a new tion event during the Hydrometeorological Testbed (HMT) field Dr. Hyokyung Kim (sponsor R. Meneghini) is involved in the Dr. Chern worked on preparing the MMF data set for the GPM Re- microphysical scheme, the 2-moment Morrison Scheme, into the campaign. Using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) international satellite mission between US and Japan, the Global Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) model. This is an important trieval Algorithm Development Teams. With global coverage, the model and the Goddard Satellite Data Simulator Unit (G-SDSU), Precipitation Measurement mission (GPM), with regard to the MMF can provide detailed cloud properties such as cloud amount, step for the cloud modeling groups’ AIST proposal, and it expands she assessed the model simulations as compared to Aqua satel- algorithm development of precipitation retrieval from the Dual-fre- the research capability of GCE model. The new scheme has hydrometeor types, and vertical profile of water contents at high lite observations. The simulations with the HUCM scheme perform quency Precipitation Radar (DPR) onboard the GPM core satellite. spatial and temporal resolution of a cloud-resolving model. When been tested using the International Cloud Experiment (TWP-ICE) well as compared to the passive microwave sensor (AMSR-E) for She works with Dr. Meneghini, who is in charge of developing the case and shows good agreements with the existing microphysi- coupled with the Goddard Satellite Data Simulation Unit (GSDSU), the precipitation over the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California; Surface Reference Technique (SRT) algorithm that estimates the a system with multi-satellite, multi-sensor and multi-spectrum cal schemes in GCE. Further, her studies include three cases of however, a notable bias is in the magnitudes of the simulated Path Integrated Attenuation (PIA) by precipitation in propagation aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions using both the 2D and 3D satellite simulators, the MMF system can provide radiances and radar reflectivity as compared to ground-based S-band radar path from the satellite to the surface and provides true param- backscattering similar to what satellite directly observed. From a spectral bin scheme in GCE model: the TWP-ICE field campaign, observations. Several sensitivity simulations related to testing eters related to the precipitation estimation as well as true PIAs to the Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean-Atmo- study conducted over the past year, a simulation provided more the snowflake breakup coefficient and ice nuclei concentration aid the better understanding of algorithm performance. than 300 million vertical profiles of cloud data set in different sea- sphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE) and the Preliminary have been conducted. In the first sensitivity test, the breakup Regional Experiment for STORM-Centeral (PRESTORM). Dr. Li also son, geographic locations, and climate regimes. This cloud data When the launch date of the GPM satellite was fast approaching, process was employed to a wider range of particle size bins. As a is part of a team studying the initiation of the Madden-Julian Oscil- 24 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 25 lation (MJO) during the DYNAMO field campaign using both GCE within storms because of apparent differences in Doppler veloci- model and Weather and Research Forecasting (WRF) Model. The ties between snow and rain. A theoretical model was used to com- emphasis is on the cloud structure evolution during the transition pute radar reflectivity factors and Doppler velocities at Ku- and Simulations & Results for Hurricane Sandy (Oct 2012) period from shallow convection to deep convection. Research Ka-band as well as their ratios, defined as differential frequency Hurricane Sandy, a late season Category-3 hurricane, began as a tropical low in the Caribbean Sea on Oct. 22, 2012. During results were shared at three meetings this past year. ratio (DFR) and differential Doppler velocity. A Ku- and Ka-band its life span, the system strengthened into a hurricane as it moved northeastward, parallel to the coast of the southeastern airborne Doppler radar, designed by NASA Goddard, was deployed United States. Turning northwestward on Oct 29th, it eventually made landfall near Brigantine, NJ 70-kt maximum sustained She has worked closely with specialists at NASA Advanced Su- in MC3E field campaign, and its measurements were employed percomputing Division to improve GCE model performances and winds. Because of its tremendous size and strong wind, Sandy drove a catastrophic storm surge into the New Jersey and New for such studies. Preliminary results show promise in identifying York coastlines. Preliminary U.S. damage estimates are near $50 billion as reported by the National Hurricane Center. Most visualizations of model data. The spectral bin microphysics is now various phases of hydrometeors, although further detailed stud- running x10 faster as a result of reindexing the codes. Highlights of Dr. Roger Shi’s work was done on the ensemble WRF simulations of Hurricane Sandy (2012) using NU-WRF model with a ies are needed to explore the full capability of dual-wavelength hypothesized future sea surface temperature (SST) due to the global warming. Ten NU-WRF simulations with a 10-km resolution were presented at a conference. Other work involved Dr. Li’s radar in phase identification when the Doppler velocity is involved. participation in the case study during the Midlatitude Continental were begun between 00UTC Oct. 22 and 00UTC Oct. 23, 2012 and ended on 12UTC Oct 31, 2012, where five simulations used the present-day SST and five used the aforementioned hypothesized future SST. Results show that the simulations with the Convective Cloud Experiment (MC3E), a joint field experiment with Dr. Jainn Jong (Roger) Shi (sponsor: W.-K. Tao) studies physical present-day SST made an excellent forecast on the landfall location that is almost identical to the observed location. However, NASA GPM ground validation and DOE ASR program. The in-situ and dynamical processes related to convective-to-regional-scale the simulated hurricane made the landfall about 12 hours earlier than the observed landfall time. Model results indicate that measurements of ice particle spectra were compared with model precipitation systems. Dr. Shi has worked toward developing an the reason Sandy turned northwestward on Oct 29 was the blocking pattern over the North Atlantic and the upper level trough simulations for the trailing stratiform region. Results showed that aerosol wet deposition/scavenging process in the newly devel- just east of the Great Lakes. Results also show that the higher future SST would have a profound impact on the intensification the model underestimates ice particle number concentrations. A oped aerosol-radiation-microphysics coupling code in the NASA and tracking of Hurricane Sandy. The simulated hurricanes with the future SST tends to intensify into a gigantic Category-5 storm related paper is in progress. Unified Weather Research and Forecasting (NU-WRF) Model. and move east toward the Atlantic Aerosols affect the Earth’s radiation balance directly and cloud Ocean. Dr. Liang Liao (sponsor: R. Meneghini) conducts research on microphysical processes indirectly via the activation of cloud con- a variety of topics associated with airborne and spaceborne densation and ice nuclei. These two effects have often been con- Hurricane Sandy during its track weather radar analysis generally and the TRMM Precipitation sidered separately and independently, hence the need to assess Radar (PR) and GPM Dual-Wavelength Precipitation Radar (DPR) from the Bahamas until its landfall their combined impact given the differing nature of their effects in New Jersey. WRF max. DBz and specifically. The work includes single- and dual-wavelength radar on convective clouds. To study both effects, an aerosol-microphys- analysis of hydrometeor profiles, simulation of polarimetric radar 900mb wind vectors. (Credit: Roger ics-radiation coupling was implemented into the NU-WRF model. Shi) signatures in rain and snow, retrieval of the microphysical proper- Under this current research effort, a new aerosol wet deposition ties and characteristic parameters of drop size distribution using scheme was developed and added into Goddard cloud microphys- data from dual-wavelength airborne weather radar, and the vali- ics scheme. The new scheme includes below-cloud wash out dation of the TRMM standard products using ground-based mea- and in-cloud scavenging through condensation nuclei activation. surements. Over the past year, an effort has been made to test For the wash out process, when the precipitation particles fall U.S. in October 2012. His studies and From mid-August through mid-September Dr. Sippel participated and evaluate the results of currently developing dual-wavelength through the atmosphere, they collide with aerosol particle, collect results are described in more detail in the sidebar (above). Dr. in the Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) field campaign. precipitation radar (DPR) algorithms in estimates of surface rain some of them, and eventually bring the aerosol particles to the Shi continues to study dust/aerosol impact on hurricanes in the He traveled to NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility near Chincoteague, rate. A set of plotting routines have been developed enabling ground (if the precipitation particles reach ground). For in-cloud Atlantic basin using the NU-WRF/WRF-Chem. VA to participate in the second year of the field phase of the effectively accessing the data and comparing them with truths. scavenging, each aerosol concentration is reduced when cloud campaign. He was there for roughly one month, during which he Dr. Liao will continue to explore new fields that can improve and condensation and ice nuclei activation occurs, but partially regain Dr. Jason Sippel (sponsor: S. Braun) conducts research to un- served as a mission scientist during several research flights. He enhance the GPM radar algorithms for detection and estimates of the loss when evaporation and sublimation occur. The effort also derstand hurricane formation and evolution through ensemble summarized his research in a talk at the annual HS3 Science precipitation rate. includes adding aerosol coupling into the new Goddard 4ice cloud forecasts and data assimilation. Over the past year, most of his Team Meeting in May. microphysics scheme in the NU-WRF. research efforts have been geared toward utilizing an ensemble Dr. Liao and colleagues developed a framework based on mea- Kalman filter (EnKF) with data gathered from NASA’s Global Hawk In the coming year, he will continue work on assimilation experi- sured rain-drop size distribution (DSD) data to assess uncertain- A series of NU-WRF simulations with aerosol coupling was con- to analyze the impact on hurricane analysis and forecasts. Most ments for Global-Hawk-based instruments. Recent work has ties in DSD models employed in Ku- and Ka-band dual-wavelength ducted for interaction of biomass burning and monsoon water of the effort has been focused on using observations from the shown that data from the HIWRAP radar can improve hurricane radar retrievals. In this study, the rain rates and attenuation coef- cycle over southeast Asia. Results indicated that the increase of high-altitude imaging wind and rain airborne profiler (HIWRAP), analyses and forecasts, but the usefulness of other Global-Hawk- ficients from DSD parameters derived by dual-wavelength algo- aerosols due to biomass burning results in the increase of the a new Doppler radar mounted upon the Global Hawk. The major based instruments needs to be examined. In addition to the rithms are compared with those directly obtained from measured cold rain (snow, graupel and ice) above the melting level and the benefit of the Global Hawk system is a 25-30-h flight time, which HIWRAP data, Dr. Sippel plans to assimilate dropsonde and scan- DSD spectra. From their studies, they compared results that decrease of small liquid particle (cloud) and increase of large allows for much longer range and on-station capabilities than ning High-resolution Interferometer Sounder data from Hurricane showed that the retrieval errors from the mu-lambda relations are liquid particle (rain) below the melting level over southeast Asia. conventional aircraft. The results from the previous year’s experi- Nadine, which occurred during the 2012 HS3 campaign, the ob- generally small and comparable with the results from a fixed-mu However, over southeast China, the impact by the biomass burn- ments with the HIWRAP data suggest that it can be useful for jective being to obtain accurate analysis of these tropical cyclones gamma model with mu equal to 3 and 6. The DSD evaluation ing aerosol on the small liquid particle (cloud, the dominating hurricane analysis and forecasting. In particular, it will be more with an EnKF, which can then be used to investigate the dynamics procedure is also applied to retrievals in which lognormal DSD cloud hydrometeor), which was reduced by about 50%, was more useful to assimilate estimated horizontal wind components than of Nadine’s intensification and interaction with the Saharan Air model is used. profound. The model results were presented at the 2013 AGU Fall to assimilate radial velocity directly. The horizontal winds are Layer. He also will be heavily involved in the HS3 field campaign Meeting. Additionally, combining measurements of Doppler velocities and estimated by fitting a sinusoidal curve to the velocity data, and again. Extensive planning will take place during the summer of this method has the benefit of avoiding vertical velocity during the Ku-band radar reflectivity from Ku- and Ka-band dual-wavelength Dr. Shi was one of many who conducted simulations of Hurricane 2014, and the first deployment of the campaign will occur from assimilation process. radar provides the potential to differentiate hydrometeor phases Sandy, a Category-3 hurricane that spanned the east coast of the the middle of August through the end of September 2014. As co- 26 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 27 investigator for HS3, he will be actively involved in decision mak- examine the radiative impacts of cloud regimes, she used the and inter-annual variability in the GPS-derived ABL properties will simulated radiances with those from OMI over collocated and ing for which systems/cyclones to observe and how to observe SYN 1-deg (combined Aqua and Terra) daily CERES product, which be investigated. Comparisons will be performed against MERRA simulated scenes. He will be assessing the calibration of CAI and them. Outreach efforts will also continue, especially toward the was spatially matched with the MODIS-Aqua 1-deg daily TAU-CTP reanalyses and AIRS satellite retrievals. how it impacts the Lambertian Equivalent Reflectance derivation. Morgan State University chapter of NASA’s SEMAA program (Sci- cloud regimes in order to calculate the nine-year annual mean For multiple selected case studies, he will assess the degree to ence, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy). He is SW, LW and net CRE of each regime along with its contribution For this task, Dr. Santiago Gassó (sponsor: O. Torres) aims to contamination in a typical OMI as determined by CAI. also working with NASA’s Ames research center and the Baltimore to the respective CREs of the entire geographical zone. Looking derive the spectral slope of aerosol absorption characteristics Much of the work of Dr. Charles Gatebe (sponsor: C. Ichoku) in- SEMAA program to plan a SEMAA field trip to NASA’s Wallops ahead, Dr. Cho will be examining whether aerosol anomaly effects of different aerosols using a combination of space-based and volves the development of instruments and technologies for new Flight Facility so students can see real-time operations for the on clouds can be detected by examining intra-regime variability ground-based remote sensing. Over the past year, extensive measurements in support of future missions, including those de- HS3 Field Campaign. using TAU-REFF cloud regimes. comparisons of OMI-MODIS retrievals of single scattering albedo fined in the U.S. National Research Council Decadal Survey. Over and aerosol height resulted in no major improvement with respect Dr. Lin Tian (sponsor: G. Heymsfield) conducts research to im- Dr. Manisha Ganeshan (sponsor: D. Wu) analyzes GPS radio the past year, he has been involved in at least three proposals to to the products already available from other methods. Even if the prove satellite rain retrieval algorithms. Global rain measurements occultation data to derive atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) this effect. Dr. Gatebe submitted a proposal (SnowMass) for an researchers accounted for the multiple reasons this occurred, no are important for advancing our understanding of Earth’s water properties and study their climatological variations with a focus integrated multi-sensor airborne, field, and modeling campaign significant improvement would be achieved. The main reasons for and energy cycle, and can improve forecasting of extreme events on the Arctic region, working with radiosonde observations as well to improve estimation of Snow Water Equivalent. The SnowMass finding the desired result was that the additional MODIS informa- that cause natural hazards and disasters. Dr. Tian’s efforts have as GPS data to examine seasonal and interannual variability over team brings together seasoned Science experts in snow remote tion was not enough to account for the cloud contamination bias been directed toward improving microphysical assumptions, such the data sparse region of the Arctic. She also collaborates with sensing using multiple types of sensors, interdisciplinary sci- in the OMI aerosol retrieval. They discovered that the OMI algo- as particle size, phase, and distributions, for GPM rain retrieval Goddard scientists to compare GPS-derived ABL characteristics entific data analysis, data assimilation, land surface modeling, rithm would make an aerosol retrieval in the contaminated pixel, algorithms, through airborne radar and radiometer, aircraft in-situ against global and regional models, reanalyses, and other inde- data management systems, and airborne sensor operations. The and the resulting AOD-versus-altitude was representative of con- microphysics, and ground-based measurements: Over the past pendent satellite observations. From her recent research, ground ground truth collection team includes the most experienced team taminated radiances, unusable with the collocated MODIS Aerosol year, Dr. Tian took the lead on analyzing multi ground-based truth or radiosonde observations were obtained from SHEBA of in situ snow measurement experts ever assembled. Two other Optical Depths (AOD). An alternative solution was considered, but polarimetric radars and airborne radar measurements to under- campaign (over sea ice) and Japanese MIRAI cruise ship (over NASA ROSES proposals were submitted as well, one focusing on was determined impossible with the tools available and deemed stand dual-wavelength (Ku/Ka) observations in deep convective open water). The vertical derivative of the refractivity (dN/dZ) was the development of new angular distribution models for satellite beyond the proposed objectives. Also, an extensive analysis over storm. She presented her results at a national and an inter- derived and compared between GPS and radiosonde profiles. assessment of direct radiative forcing by wildfire aerosols derived Aeronet sites demonstrated that using a MODIS-corrected AOD in national conference. Toward the same goal, she has evaluated Qualitatively, there is a good agreement. In general, the GPS data using multi-angular/spectral airborne measurements and 3D radi- the SSA retrieval of the SSA did not result in a better comparison the particle models to be used for radar-radiometer combined is able to capture the variability related to surface-type (sea ice ative transfer modeling, the other focuses on the development of with Aeronet SSA. algorithm. In collaboration with Drs. Olson and Grecu, Dr. Tian vs. open water) as well as due to seasonal forcing. The shape of a low-noise high-gain charge-integrating pre- amplifier with reset has analyzed aircraft microphysics data from MC3E to derive the the ‘dN/dZ’ profiles was further explored with an aim to develop a Dr. Gassó also evaluated collocated OMI AODs over coastal and and sample/hold for photodiodes. The new detector systems particle size parameters which were used to validate theoretical numerical algorithm for obtaining boundary layer properties. island AERONET sites. While the overall comparison was statisti- technology will be used in the BACAR (BRDF, Albedo, Cloud and model. She is a member of the NASA GPM radar and radar-radi- cally similar to a previous study over land sites, a detailed analysis Aerosol Radiometer) instrument and will open up several exciting ometer combined algorithm team. An algorithm was developed using GPS refractivities. Over sea was carried out in order to determine the origin of the discrepan- and unique avenues of groundbreaking research relevant to NASA ice, the minimum value in the refractivity gradient (dN/dZmin) cies in the comparison, i.e, why occasionally OMI derived an AOD earth science missions. Dr. Gatebe works with Bryan James Dr. Tian also has focused her research on the development, and varies seasonally. This quantity was found to be strongly corre- much higher or much lower than the corresponding Aeronet. It (GSFC, Code 552), who is supporting the BACAR project. Bryan eventual implementation, of a wind retrieval algorithm in hurri- lated to the strength of the surface-based (or elevated) inversion. was found that for the former, cloud contamination is the domi- is on a one-year assignment under the Science and Engineering cane from observations of HIWRAP (a downward conical scanning Whenever there is a strong increase in the lapse rate (such as nant effect; that is, the additional radiance in the pixel results Collaboration Program (SECP). Doppler radar flown on NASA Global Hawk) during NASA’s GRIP the occurrence of a neutral layer or temperature inversion), the re- in an artificially high AOD. For the cases where OMI AOD were field campaign. This is of great interest because, for the first time, fractivity gradient became proportionally negative. Similarly, over much lower than AERONET, it was found that the aerosol models Other work will involve studying the effects of biomass burning HIWRAP provided 3-D wind observations in the inner core of a ma- open water, a seasonal evolution is observed in the level of the used in the retrievals did not have imaginary indexes of refraction activities on surface albedo over the sub-Saharan Africa region jor hurricane, which could improve the forecasting of hurricanes. minimum refractivity gradient. This level was found to be posi- high enough to reproduce the observed radiance, resulting in a using the MODIS albedo product. This is part of the NASA IDS She plans to participate in both the IPHEX and HS3 field experi- tively correlated with the top of the atmospheric mixed layer or low OMI AOD. This effect will be corrected in future versions of study: Amplified study of the interactions and feedbacks between ments, providing support with data analysis and archiving. boundary layer. That the level of dN/dZmin appears higher during the retrieval code. A detailed comparison of overlapping MODIS biomass burning and water cycle dynamics across the northern October compared to September suggests that the atmospheric and OMI pixels was carried out in order to assess the amount of sub-Saharan African region (PI: Charles Ichoku). Dr. Gatebe will mixed layer is more evolved. This feature was explored in detail cloud contamination in the OMI pixel. Future work will involve a be participating in the DISCOVER-AQ Colorado deployment this CODE 613: CLIMATE AND RADIATION LABORATORY using radiosonde observations. Based on her research results, study over AERONET sites and derive the contribution of organics summer. The overarching objective of the DISCOVER-AQ investiga- Dr. Nayeong Cho (sponsor: L. Oreopoulos) uses the concept Dr. Ganeshan is preparing a manuscript for publication. Con- and black carbon aerosols by constraining the simulation using tion is to improve the interpretation of satellite observations to of “cloud regimes” as a basis for performing comparisons and temporary scientific literature is currently focused on processes observed lidar and AERONET aerosol information. diagnose near-surface conditions relating to air quality. During the compositing analyses on a suite of spatiotemporally matching during September when the annual sea-ice minimum occurs. This month-long campaign, he will acquire airborne BRDF data with observational data sets in order to enhance our understanding of new finding suggests that more observations and studies are Dr. Santiago Gassó (sponsor: O. Torres) works on a second task, the multi-wavelength NASA’s Cloud Absorption Radiometer (CAR). cloud structure and cloud interaction with their environment. She required for evaluating the implications of sea-ice melt during the obtaining a continuous record of AOD over land using past and examined CloudSat-derived measurements of precipitation within month of October. She will continue to work toward developing the present satellite observations in the UV through a multi-satellite Dr. Jie Gong (sponsor: D. Wu) works on developing retrieval tech- gridcells containing particular MODIS-Aqua-Terra cloud regimes. numerical algorithm to retrieve inversion strength and boundary approach. He has started to analyze data from the Cloud and niques and delivering retrieval products (i.e., cloud ice water path, There is quantitative consistency with regard to the relative layer height from GPS-RO observations. Other properties that may Aerosol Instrument (CAI) onboard the GOSAT. Additionally, he cloud top height, ice particle size) of AMSUB/MHS onboard NOAA hydrological importance of the various regimes, which is helpful be derived from GPS data (e.g., the occurrence of moisture inver- created computer scripts for reading and displaying CAI data and satellite series. Additionally, correlative data sets are compared when assessing the cloud conditions under which low and high sions) will also be explored. She also will investigate the sensitiv- compared with similar parameters from the OMI satellite, created to evaluate retrieval performances and uncertainties. Research confidence precipitation retrievals can be achieved. To further ity to surface-forcing (sea ice vs. open water) as well as seasonal a code to compute reflectivities from CAI data, and compared over the past year has involved deriving ice cloud properties from

28 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 29 microwave channels and multi-platform synergy works. Dr. Gong Cho achieved cloud regimes from MODIS satellite data. Dr. Jin and accounts for the effect of polarization of light. Several certainty. A regional aggregation algorithm has been developed to has also collaborated and will continue to collaborate with other followed their study, and applied the same method to the model updates for his code have been released after debugging. The produce daily and monthly statistics on a 1-degree grid. Prelimi- scientists on testing and improving model performances in ice outputs. In this process, he found a severe programming error in package is available for the community from the NASA ftp web- nary case study comparisons with other data sets (e.g., CALIOP) cloud microphysics using the newly generated product. Research performing K-means clustering analysis, which had led to incor- site: ftp://climate1.gsfc.nasa.gov/skorkin/IPOL/. In the coming show good consistency. has resulted in presentations at three international conferences rect results of cloud regimes. After addressing these problems, months, he will be releasing the second part of the manual for his and two at NASA Goddard, as well as a related paper that is now the algorithm was improved to reduce the computational time. code that simulates vector radiative transfer in planetary atmo- Dr. Meyer provided science and data analysis support for the in press. He also suggested modifications of traditional K-means cluster- spheres. This part will contain all computational relations used MODIS Collection 6 (C6) reprocessing effort, specifically the op- ing analysis. He found that most individual joint histogram data in the code and will be useful for those users who are willing to erational cloud product (MOD06). He participated in finalizing the Dr. Pawan Gupta (sponsor: C. Ichoku) conducts research on has several zeroes among 42 bins, which (partly) contributes to understand theoretical background of the code in details (to com- cloud thermodynamic phase determination algorithm, identified aerosol properties and satellite retrieval of aerosol properties over the overabundance of shapeless and semi-clear regime. In order pare with other codes) or to modify the code on their own. and fixed various coding bugs, provided a computational per- urban areas, including characterizing uncertainties within current to reduce the effect of zero bins, Dr. Jin suggested two variants formance enhancement that significantly decreased processing aerosol retrieval algorithms, and proposing improved algorithms of K-means clustering: a “reduced bins” method which merges Dr. Korkin’s code proved its high reliability, and with his code time, assisted in providing corrected ice cloud property look-up for urban aerosol retrieval. Dr. Gupta has developed new surface 42 bins into 9 sub-groups, and performs K-means analysis with for numerical simulation of radiative transfer in atmosphere, he tables, and analyzed science test results. He represented the characterization over urban areas within the continental United 9 bins instead of 42 bins, and a “reduced distance” method that participated in the intercomparison of codes. Results to-date of MOD06 cloud retrieval group at the international Cloud Retrieval States. The new surface parameterization has been implemented excludes zero bins when calculating distance from each centroids. this intercomparison will be reported during two upcoming confer- Evaluation Workshop (CREW-4), and provided writing and editorial in the research version of the algorithm for both 10k and 3km Both new algorithms produce significantly different clustering re- ences. Dr. Korkin’s work resulted in his co-authoring one national support for the upcoming MOD06 User’s Guide. Future work will aerosol products. The new algorithm has been run over all of the sults from the results of original algorithm, and the interpretation and one international presentation, as well as one peer-reviewed include a new cloud property retrieval User’s Guide and a manu- existing AERONET stations within the U.S. from 2003 to 2012, of these results is in process. Of note: Dr. Jin applied the principle publication. Additionally, using his code, he generated look-up script detailing C6 changes and updates. and he has validated the new refined urban aerosol product component analysis (PCA) to cloud data, which is the first attempt tables for the polarization correction of MODIS data. When polar- Dr. Meyer conducted work on a proposal awarded in June 2013. extensively over the U.S. The results from this validation study in this field. Dr. Jin submitted a report on PCA to his sponsor, and ization effects were taken into account, a significant improvement Efforts included developing a method for retrieving above-cloud show a high degree of improvement in bias over urban areas from further application of PCA is under consideration. in data visualization was observed. the existing product. Results are being summarized in a journal absorbing aerosols and providing unbiased retrievals of under- article. Additionally, his research has resulted in both oral and To continue his validation of model output, he will be refining the Dr. Benjamin Marchant (sponsor: S. Platnick) successfully lying cloud optical and microphysical properties using MODIS poster presentations in the past year, and led to his involvement advanced diagnostics to evaluate the cloud simulating perfor- delivered this year the MODIS Collection 6 (C6) Cloud phase reflectance measurements. Additionally, the radiative effects (i.e., with a proposal on the MODIS Data Product. mance, and testing the modified algorithm of K-means clustering discrimination algorithm. For C6, the NIR-SWIR cloud thermody- radiative forcing) of the aerosols will be estimated. Excellent prog- analysis as well as the principle component analysis. Dr. Jin will namic phase algorithm has been completely rewritten in an effort ress has been made, specifically toward retrieval development. A As part of his task objective, to develop a set of advanced diag- tune the AGCM to improve the cloud simulating performance by to improve the phase discrimination skill for a variety of cloudy multispectral retrieval technique is now developed based on an nostic frames for “cloud simulation validation” of GEOS-5 AGCM, cooperating with colleague (Dr. Dong Min Lee). They will exam- scenes (e.g., thin/thick clouds, over ocean/land/desert/snow/ optimal estimation approach to efficiently search a large pre-com- Dr. Daeho Jin (sponsor: L. Oreopoulos) implements the CFMIP Ob- ine and test the algorithm of sub-column generator in satellite ice surfaces, etc.). To evaluate the performance of the C6 cloud puted look-up table for the retrieval solution, while simultaneously servation Simulator Package (COSP), categorizes the COSP output simulator and GEOS-5 model, and help to implement the aerosol thermodynamic phase algorithm, Dr. Marchant has conducted providing estimates of retrieval uncertainty. Algorithms also have to “Cloud Regimes”, and compares the results with an observa- treatment modal method to promote interaction with the McRAS- extensive granule-level and global comparisons against the heri- been developed to aggregate daily and monthly retrieval statistics tional counterpart. Dr. Jin set up an advanced diagnostics of the AC micro-scheme. tage C5 algorithm, collocated CALIOP v3 (1km and 5km) Cloud on a 1-degree grid. Comparisons with MODIS operational cloud model’s cloud simulating performance, and performed a 10-year Layer product, and POLDER. A great improvement is seen for C6 retrievals show excellent agreement, and preliminary aerosol simulation of the most recent version of GEOS-5 AGCM (Gan- Dr. Sergey Korkin (sponsor: A. Lyapustin) develops the numerical compared to C5. Going forward, he will work on adapting the comparisons using CALIOP show good consistency. Note: this ymed 4.0) with four satellite simulators (ISCCP, MODIS, CALIPSO, radiative transfer algorithm for the retrieval of aerosol proper- MODIS C6 Cloud phase discrimination algorithm to VIIRS or eMAS proposal fully funds a Ph.D. level graduate student working under CloudSat; the COSP). In addition, he also received two model ties with consideration of polarization effects, including bottom sensors as well as investigate the potential of machine learning Dr. Zhibo Zhang (Co-I) at UMBC. outputs with different microphysics: the McRAS-AC cloud scheme, surface reflection, and vertical inhomogeneity of the atmosphere. techniques to continue improving cloud optical products. implemented by colleague Dr. Dong Min Lee, and the Barahona- This past year, Dr. Korkin’s work on the retrieval algorithm experi- During the recent SEAC4RS field campaign, Dr. Meyer provided Morrison-Gettelman (BMG) scheme, implemented by Dr. Donifan enced delays caused by technical problems related to compilation Dr. Kerry Meyer (sponsor: S. Platnick) works on improving current support for the Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator (eMAS) oper- Barahora (GMAO). With all three model outputs, he evaluated and of the hdf5 libraries with Fortran support under MS Visual Studio MODIS cloud retrieval (MOD06) capabilities for thin cirrus optical ational cloud retrieval and clear-sky restoral algorithm, as well as compared the cloud simulation performances. The ISCCP and 2008. The AirMSPI data is released in the hdf5 format. It is more property retrievals using the 1.38 micron channel. In addition, post-campaign calibration and data inter-comparison efforts. He MODIS simulators among COSP provide 42 bins of joint histogram convenient to read the data from the database directly to the re- the effects on MOD06 of absorbing aerosols overlying marine also developed a new bi-spectral thin cirrus cloud optical and mi- of cloud top pressure (CTP) and optical thickness (tau), which are trieval code. Even with support from the HDF Group, the develop- boundary layer clouds are investigated. This past year, Dr. Meyer crophysical property (optical thickness and particle size) retrieval the same as corresponding satellite observations. Dr. Jin could er of hdf5 libraries, the process took several months. In the end, developed a new retrieval using multiple MODIS spectral chan- using eMAS reflectance measurements within the 1.88 micron directly compare the model results with observational counterpart two bugs in the Windows version of the sources were found, and nels to simultaneously infer above-cloud absorbing aerosol (e.g., water vapor absorption band. The technique is loosely based on in terms of cloud characteristics. Because the cloud data is dif- the libraries are now successfully compiled. Dr. Korkin will further smoke) optical thickness and the optical and microphysical prop- the physics of previous efforts involving the MODIS 1.38 micron ficult to handle due to its 3-dimensional characteristics (horizontal develop his retrieval algorithm based on the Levenberg-Marqurdt erties of underlying liquid phase marine boundary layer clouds. channel, though it uses the well-known Nakajima and King [1990] location/time/42bins), he set up a series of systematic diagnos- technique. This algorithm is intended to retrieve optical properties Above-cloud absorbing aerosols introduce biases into standard two-wavelength look-up table approach. The retrieval was recently tics of each model’s cloud simulating performance. of aerosol using multi-angle spectropolarimetric data from the imager-based retrievals of cloud properties, such as those from modified to use an optimal estimation approach for solution con- AirMSPI sensor as well as his own radiative transfer code. the operational MODIS cloud product (MOD06). The solution logic vergence and uncertainty estimates. Initial SEAC4RS case-study Another approach to analyzing clouds is to examine “cloud of the new retrieval has recently been updated to use a computa- comparisons with retrievals from the operational MAS06 product, regimes (or weather states)”, which are obtained from clustering Dr. Korkin finalized the first part of the manual for his code that tionally efficient optimal estimation-based approach to search a the Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL), an 11 micron IR retrieval, a multi- analyses. Previously, colleagues Drs. Dong Min Lee and Nayeong numerically simulates light scattering in planetary atmospheres large pre-computed look-up table for pixel-level retrieval solutions. spectral IR optimal estimation technique, and polarimeter-based This approach also provides pixel-level estimates of retrieval un- retrievals show good consistency. A manuscript is in progress 30 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 31 that details a new thin cirrus optical and microphysical property on the Earth System. A large part of this involved the MODIS the time during the winter months. retrieval developed during the SEAC4RS field campaign using sensors aboard the Terra and Aqua satellites that provide some Dr. Yang’s analysis showed that, eMAS reflectance measurements within the 1.88 micron water of NASA’s flagship Earth Science data sets, including the ‘Deep during the year 2009, the monthly vapor absorption band. Blue’ aerosol project, led by Dr. Sayer’s NASA sponsor. Over the mean blowing snow optical depths past year, the next major reprocessing (‘Collection 6’, C6) of the were highest in the winter months The research of Dr. Falguni Patadia (sponsor: R. Levy) involves MODIS product suite was finalized, and these data are now being (April to September). The monthly quantifying the uncertainty and error in the MODIS Dark Target released to the public. The C6 effort was a major focus over the mean blowing snow geometrical aerosol optical depth retrievals, as well as performing atmo- past year; in recognition of these efforts, Dr. Sayer and other thickness is stable over the year. spheric corrections and radiative transfer calculations to generate members of the MODIS team (which include Dr. Benjamin March- Look-Up-Tables for aerosol retrievals from MODIS, VIIRS, AMS, ant, Dr. Kerry Meyer, and Dr. Falguni Patadia) were presented Dr. Yang also conducted a study and EMAS instruments. She is also involved in evaluating clouds with an award for Outstanding Technical Support/Achievement on the effect of blowing snow on masks from the MODIS Dark Target and MODIS MAIAC aerosol by NASA. The C6 work has also resulted in three peer-reviewed outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) retrieval algorithms. Dr. Patadia used the Line-By-Line Radia- journal papers this past year as well as two proposals to further over Antarctica by using observa- tive Transfer code to derive atmospheric gas correction relation- extend the capabilities of the Deep Blue algorithm. Dr. Sayer is tions from NASA satellites (CALIPSO ships for those channels of the above instruments that are used also part of a proposal involving the application of the Deep Blue and CERES). He found significant in aerosol retrievals. This atmospheric gas correction is being algorithm to NPP-VIIRS. In late 2011, the Suomi-NPP satellite was cloud-free OLR differences between used for performing MODIS aerosol retrievals and for MODIS-like launched as the first in a new series of U.S. operational weather/ the clear and BLSN conditions, with retrievals from VIIRS, AMS and EMAS instruments. For these climate satellites. The VIIRS instrument onboard Suomi-NPP is the sign and magnitude depend- instruments, Dr. Patadia performed radiative transfer calcula- similar to previous instruments such as MODIS and SeaWiFS. As ing on the season and time of day. tions for calculating the Top-Of-Atmosphere (TOA) reflectance for part of Dr. N. C. Hsu’s group, Dr. Sayer has taken the lead on tran- During nighttime, OLR with BLSN various combinations of aerosol properties, surface conditions sitioning algorithms developed to monitor aerosol particles over is usually larger than those without and sun-satellite viewing geometry. These calculations are stored oceans to VIIRS, and assisted efforts on over-land algorithms. BLSN; the average difference in as Look-Up-Tables for each of the above sensors and are being This has led to algorithms which have already been demonstrated OLRs between these two conditions used in performing aerosol retrievals from observations made by to generate aerosol data of similar quality to prior sensors. By over the East Antarctica ice sheet is MODIS, VIIRS AMS, and EMAS instruments. possibly applying these algorithms to the VIIRS sensor, they could about -5 W/m2 for the winter months Figure: Monthly mean OLR flux differences between cases with and without blowing extend the time series of high-quality aerosol data for air quality, (nighttime) of 2009. During daytime, snow for (a) January (polar day) for (b) August (polar night). While about 66% of the OLR Dr. Patadia has been researching the uncertainty and errors as- climate, and other applications. This work with Dr. Hsu resulted in however, OLR with BLSN is usually differences are positive in January, about 91% are negative in August. These results show sociated with AOD retrieved by NASA’s flagship MODIS Dark Target two international presentations. close to or smaller than OLR without that blowing snow generally has a cooling effect to the surface-atmosphere system during algorithm. She is identifying the various sources of uncertainty BLSN. These results are consistent the polar night. During the polar day, however, the effect can be warming. (Credit: Y. Yang) and is developing methods to quantify the uncertainty from each Dr. Sayer also studies aerosol/cloud interactions in South-Eastern with theoretical calculations and of these sources at per-pixel retrieval level. Some of the sources Asia (SEA), an area that provides a ‘natural laboratory’ for examin- can be explained with the existence of uncertainty include calibration uncertainty in MODIS L1B reflec- ing the interactions between aerosols and clouds, due to wide- and strength of the surface-based retrieval. tance, errors in ancillary data used for atmospheric corrections, spread agricultural burning practices in boreal springtime and inversions (SBIs). For example, because of strong SBIs, during errors in surface reflectance, and uncertainty associated with the transport of the resultant smoke above persistent low-lying the polar night, the BLSN layer is warmer than the surface and Dr. Yan Zhang (sponsor: M. Chin) conducts research involving the aerosol properties assumed in the retrievals. The per-retrieval stratocumulus clouds. These interactions are a topic of substan- more radiation is emitted to space compared to clear sky condi- assessment of aerosol diurnal variations, aerosol intercontinental uncertainty numbers are especially useful for the data-assimila- tial interest, as they remain among the more uncertain contribu- tions; hence, BLSN generally has a cooling effect to the surface- transport and aerosol impacts on climate and air quality based tion community. Methods have been tested and uncertainty has tions to the radiative forcing of the Earth system. His work in this atmosphere system. During the polar day, however, SBIs can be largely on A-Train and other satellite observations in combination been quantified for several test cases, including over the African area has led to two studies and a proposal, which, if funded, will destroyed and the effect of BLSN will be the opposite. Based on with ground-based measurements (AERONET and CARSNET) and continent, AERONET sites from the 2011 DRAGON campaign in combine satellite data with ground-based measurements of aero- these studies, Dr. Yang published a paper in Geophysical Re- global models (GOCART and a suite of AeroCom models). Subse- the Baltimore-Washington area, the Indian Ocean region, and sol and cloud properties made in this region as part of the 7-SEAS search Letters. quently she is involved in analyzing diurnal variations, comparing global oceans for four months of 2010. Her research on the MO- field campaign. SEA has been under-studied compared to other model simulations with CARSNET and AERONET AODs in China, DIS AOD uncertainty will continue, and she is preparing a manu- biomass-burning source regions, so this would represent a novel Dr. Guoyong Wen (sponsor: R. Cahalan) studies radiative transfer and integrating multiple satellite measurements to characterize script related to her work on Atmospheric Gas Correction for AOD and useful contribution to understanding these interactions. of solar radiation in the atmosphere. He focuses on Sun-Climate aerosol type and intercontinental transport. For the project on retrieval from MODIS and other sensors. Additionally, the MODIS relations and understanding climate responses to solar variability aerosol inter-continental transport, Dr. Zhang has been analyzing Dark Target and MAIAC aerosol algorithms retrieve aerosol opti- Within this task, Dr. Yuekui Yang (sponsor: A. Marshak) uses a on decadal, centennial and longer time scales using observation multi-year collocated satellite data to determine the possible rela- cal thickness (AOT) only in cloud-free conditions. Before the AOT synergistic method to study blowing snow properties over the from NASA’s SORCE satellite, and also studies the 3D cloud radia- tionship of different aerosol properties or aerosol index. The goal retrievals are performed, the algorithms undergo an arduous task polar ice sheets, and applies his expertise in radiative transfer in tive effects on aerosol retrieval in the vicinity of clouds for MODIS is to separate different aerosol types which will help to accurately of separating the cloudy and clear sky data pixels. Dr. Patadia is understanding the impact of clouds and blowing snow on the sur- aerosol retrievals. His research over the past year has resulted estimate each species of aerosols inter-continental transport. evaluating the success, failure and corroboration of cloud and face altimetry from space-borne lidars. He also investigates polar in three presentations and two peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Some unclear factors still exist, making it difficult to get a simple clear sky identification from the two algorithms. cloud properties and cloud height retrieval algorithms. This past Wen will continue working with scientists at NASA/GISS to study but accurate relationship between those aerosol properties; year, Dr. Yang analyzed blowing snow properties over Antarctica. climate response to spectral solar forcing using GISS GCM. He therefore, Dr. Zhang analyzed individual cases that were selected Dr. Andrew Sayer (sponsor: N. C. Hsu) conducts research to Blowing snow (BLSN) is a common phenomenon over the polar will further investigate issues on correcting 3D cloud radiative ef- according to SAMMUM2 campaign from ground-based observa- improve the understanding of the effects of atmospheric aerosols regions; over large areas of East Antarctica, it occurs over 60% of fects, and improve technique for correcting the effects on aerosol tions, air flight observations, and satellite measurements. Results indicated that multi-sensor satellite measurements have a good

32 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 33 agreement with conclusions from the SAMMUM2 campaign. A Brewer and the Washington State University MFDOAS instrument). tations placed on the map. Dr. Celarier produced several predic- tember 2013 DISCOVER-AQ deployment in Houston, TX; compare related manuscript is in progress. Dr. Cede has completed the calibrations and submitted the data tion maps that were used by Environment Canada in support of WRF/Chem output to DISCOVER-AQ measurements; participate in for the15 Pandoras distributed during the second DISCOVER-AQ their field campaign flight planning. the fourth DISCOVER-AQ deployment in July 2014 in Boulder, CO. field campaign (Jan-Feb 2013) in California and the third DIS- For GEO-CAPE, she will submit a manuscript related to research CODE 614: ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND DYNAM- COVER-AQ field campaign during Jul-Aug 2013 in Texas. For the In collaboration with team members, Dr. Celarier produced the from the past year; complete the lightning NOx analysis; assess ICS LABORATORY instrument calibration, laboratory measurements before and after award-winning poster “The Ozone Hole: Over 30 years of NASA the improvement in the ability of GEO-CAPE to detect the NO2 the campaign at GSFC as well as field data at the campaign sites observations”. He assisted with visual display elements, and from lightning over that of OMI; and, evaluate the ability of GEO- Dr. Valentina Aquila (sponsor: P. Colarco) develops stratospheric wrote and edited much of the explanatory text. The poster is being were used. CAPE to detect the enhanced O3 due to lightning NOx by applying aerosol and chemistry modules in the NASA GEOS CCM modeling distributed by NASA, and the material is also available in PDF files system, and devises, conducts and analyzes experiments made averaging kernels from the GEO-CAPE retrieval sensitivity work to This past year, Dr. Cede investigated new ideas. First, they tested (poster and booklet) from http://aura.gsfc.nasa.gov/ozonehole- the WRF/Chem output. with the NASA GEOS CCM system to investigate the various roles the possibility of doing absolute calibration of Pandoras in the poster. This poster won a 2013 Communicator Award for Excel- of stratospheric aerosols and chemistry in Earth’s climate system. laboratory at GSFC. As a result, this type of lab-measurements in lence in Print and Design by the International Academy of the Dr. Pawan Gupta (sponsor: J. Joiner) supports the development of In 2013-2014, Dr. Aquila worked on stratospheric aerosol from the standard Pandora laboratory calibration routine was included. Visual Arts. He also co-authored a publication with Dr. E. Bucsela, remote sensing trainings for the NASA Applied Sciences Program geoengineering and natural sources. She explained the effects Second, a new approach for the Pandora stray light characteriza- now available in the online journal AMT. in the area of air quality applications, the goal being to increase that geoengineering via stratospheric sulfate would have on tion, which is based on merging data with bandpass filters and la- utilization of NASA remote sensing data sets among applied stratospheric ozone and the quasi-biennial oscillation. Addition- sers, was tested. This new approach failed, since the dark bias in Dr. Melanie Follette-Cook (sponsor: K. Pickering) performs professionals. Dr. Gupta creates and distributes educational and ally, she improved the GEOSCCM chemistry climate model by Pandora read-out electronics is too large. Therefore, another route regional air quality modeling in support of the analysis of DISCOV- training materials, and provides training workshops and seminars. introducing the ability of simulating the OCS chemistry leading to was attempted, for which a stray light simulation software was ER-AQ data, and participates in DISCOVER-AQ field deployments Specifically, he develops training materials on using data products the formation of background stratospheric aerosol. In the coming developed as a first step. Work will continue regarding improve- as part of the forecasting/flight planning team. She analyzes data relevant to air quality applications from the OMI, MISR and MODIS year, she plans to continue work on stratospheric aerosol, by ana- ments to the Pandora stray light correction, dark correction, and from the ACAM instrument, and contributes to spatial and tempo- instruments. In summer 2013, he conducted a five-week-long lyzing the sources of the stratospheric aerosol layer. In this proj- total ozone algorithm (including the effective ozone temperature). ral variability analyses in support of planning activities for NASA’s training for the Applied Remote SEnsing Training (ARSET) Pro- ect, Dr. Aquila will merge model results to satellite data, includ- GEO-CAPE satellite. In support of planning activities for NASA’s gram, providing online training on fundamentals of remote sens- ing Aura and the recently launched NPP satellites. For another Dr. Edward Celarier (sponsor: N. Krotkov) works primarily with the GEO-CAPE and TEMPO satellites, Dr. Follette-Cook calculated ing data usage for air quality applications. About 100 participants, project, Dr. Aquila participated in the NASA SEAC4RS airborne OMI NO2 team. He develops new code for operational produc- spatial and temporal structure functions and statistics by using including both national and international air quality data users, field campaign based in Houston, TX as part of the chemical fore- tion of NO2 data from OMI, updates and modifies the operational output from a month-long WRF/Chem simulation she previously attended this training session conducted by Dr. Gupta and the casting team. She analyzed the output of several climate models algorithm code to implement algorithm enhancements developed performed in order to quantify trace gas and aerosol variability. ARSET team. The training included an overview of remote sensing in order to help the science team finalizing the flight paths. From by other members of the OMI NO2 team, reviews and examines The trace gases O3, NO2, CO, SO2, and HCHO were analyzed over training program, basics of satellite remote sensing, introduction her research efforts, she has authored and co-authored three test data from the operational OMI NO2 algorithm, and writes the Eastern U.S. for the month of July 2011, corresponding with to NASA air quality products and online tools to access the NASA publications, and been part of one paper to be submitted. She documentation of the algorithm and software. He has been the DISCOVER-AQ campaign. Overall, her analysis results indicate data sets, and was an introduction to an upcoming in-person ad- also submitted several proposals, of which one has been awarded working on the development of the NO2 SCD code. Starting with that the precision requirements developed for the GEO-CAPE and vance training held in Santa Clara, CA, primarily for the Bay Area to date. “research code” from Dr. S. Marchenko, written in IDL, Dr. Celarier TEMPO science traceability matrices are well-equipped to answer Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) in Sept 2013. created an operational code in Fortran 95, ultimately for opera- the air-quality relevant science questions they are tasked to ad- Other highlights from the last year included an invited talk at tional forward processing. This has required a thorough review of dress. Results were summarized in a submitted manuscript. From Sept 10-12, 2013, Dr. Gupta and other members of the AR- the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook the algorithm, identification and implementation of appropriate SET program conducted three in-person training sessions on the University, in New York about the effect of the eruption on Mount numerical procedures, and identification of potential use cases She began working on a GEO-CAPE task to demonstrate the use of NASA satellite data for air quality applications; these ses- Pinatubo on ozone concentrations. About 40 people attended, in- that would result in operational failure. In addition, he structured collaborative work that will be possible to achieve with the sions included 16 attendees from agencies in California. Held at cluding faculty professors and graduate students. Also, Dr. Aquila the code for maintainability and readability, and much more thor- combination of the GOES-R Geostationary Lightning Mapper and University California, Santa Clara (UCSC), the event was co-spon- was awarded a teaching postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins oughly documented it. In his restructuring of the code, it should GEO-CAPE. She modified a version of WRF/Chem to incorporate sored by the NASA Applied Sciences Program and the BAAQMD. University; during the upcoming fall semester, she will be teach- now be easily adaptable to the retrieval of trace gases other than interactive ozone within the radiation scheme. Using this version, Attendees learned how to apply NASA satellite data, imagery and ing “Freshmen Seminar: An Introduction to Climate Change”. In NO , mostly through the adjustment values contained in the op- simulations were completed with and without lightning in order to web tools to air quality management problems in their region. The summer 2013, Dr. Aquila was recognized with a NASA ESD-Atmo- 2 erational parameters file (OPF) and program control file (PCF). The compute upper tropospheric enhancements of O3 and NOx due to focus of the training was NASA and NOAA’s smoke/fire and aero- sphere Contractor Award for outstanding performance in science. first (alpha) version of the algorithm is nearly complete. lightning. She found an error in the way the simulation was con- sols products and their applications for air quality monitoring. ducted; in searching for a solution, a faster and more streamlined For Aura Validation and DISCOVER-AQ, Dr. Alexander Cede (spon- For an Environment Canada (EC) field campaign in Northern Alber- method to run WRF/Chem for long periods of time was developed. In fall 2013, the ARSET Program conducted a five-week-long sor: K. Pickering) calibrates and analyzes the PANDORA and CLEO ta, Dr. Celarier developed a field-of-view (FoV) prediction program, Analysis results are currently being written up in manuscript form. online training on fundamentals of remote sensing data usage spectrometer systems to measure trace gases in the atmosphere which differed in the scale of the region of interest from previous Additionally, several profiles were provided to the GEO-CAPE sen- for air quality applications, which was provided in preparation (e.g., O , SO , HCHO, BrO, NO , H O) that have absorption spectra 3 2 2 2 field campaigns. Where other field campaigns had focused on sitivity team for calculation of several averaging kernels covering of a training session in Nov 2013. There were about 60 partici- in the 300 to 525 nm spectral range. He writes and deploys the large, multi-state regions of CONUS, EC’s region of interest is an different wavelength regions. Based on preliminary results, upper pants including both national and international air quality data necessary automated software needed for Pandora operation area of about 100 km on a side, in the area of Fort McMurray, tropospheric ozone enhancements from lightning should be re- users. Dr. Gupta and the ARSET team conducted the training, and data analysis. The resulting measured trace gas amounts Alberta, where tar sands oil extraction operations are ongoing. To trievable by GEO-CAPE, regardless of the wavelength range used. which included an overview of remote sensing training program, are then compared with AURA/OMI measurements to determine accommodate EC’s request, some significant modifications to the basics of satellite remote sensing, introduction to NASA air quality the validity of the OMI spacecraft retrievals. As part of this effort, existing code were required, including a finer-scale (10-second) Dr. Follette-Cook will participate in these future activities for products and online tools to access the NASA data sets. In Nov various ground campaigns will be conducted that include com- placement of isochrons, and the addition of specified geographic DISCOVER-AQ: complete a WRF/Chem simulation for the Sep- 2013, Dr. Gupta attended a VIIRS aerosol science and operational parisons with reference ground-based instruments (GSFC double features to the map, plus more flexible means to specify the anno-

34 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 35 associated with two different spatial resolutions. This analysis CALIOP, POLDER, and OMI for selected case studies). Spatial sible observing scenario of future was later conducted on a monthly scale to better understand the maps of the retrievals derived from the passive sensors were NASA air quality mission TEMPO and differences between them. During the last quarter of this annual compared in terms of the spatial patterns and magnitude of AOT. GEOCAPE using MODIS data sets. He cycle (Jan-Mar 2014), Dr. Jethva was tasked to validate the AOT The research retrievals derived from different sensors were also specifically worked on evaluating a retrieval produced from the Multi-angle Implementation of Atmo- collocated along the CALIPSO lidar track for the inter-comparison. new product with ground measure- spheric Correction (MAIAC) algorithm against the ground-based Research results were compiled in a manuscript that, after ments. AERONET direct measurements. He adopted a well-accepted reviews and a revision, was accepted by Geophysical Research spatio-temporal approach to co-locate the satellite data with that Letters and published online in January 2014. He also presented Dr. Gupta is working toward creat- of ground-based for many sites over the Mid-Atlantic and North- a poster summarizing the results at the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting. ing new global surface reflectivity eastern U.S. The analysis results were presented at the GEO- Furthermore, Dr. Jethva co-authored a review paper led by Kirk data sets to be used in operational CAPE Aerosol Working Group meetings held at NASA GSFC. Knobelspiesse (NASA Ames) titled “Remote Sensing of Above OMI aerosol retrieval. The exist- Cloud Aerosols”, an in-depth review of published literature on the ing data sets are based on TOMS Dr. Jethva also worked on the OMAERUV Aerosol Single-scattering above-cloud aerosol characterization from space-borne sensors. records, whereas new data sets have Albedo Assessment, expanding the OMAERUV vs. AERONET After revision and modification as suggested by the editor, the been created using high-resolution single-scattering albedo analysis to all available AERONET sites paper was accepted as a chapter in Light Scattering Reviews OMI observations. For this ongo- distributed globally. This comprehensive analysis includes about (Springer Praxis Books, Vol. 9). ing project, they have processed 450 AERONET sites that span across major biomass burning several versions of data sets. New regions, desert dust environments, and urban locations. OMI Other work over the past year included his creation of global developments include the follow- retrievals were collocated with AERONET in space and time for monthly mean maps and data sets of the OMI/OMAERUV prod- ing: a presentation on the new data about 250 sites where at least one matchup between ground and ucts for version V142 and V147. Using this data set, he delivered sets made at the OMI Science Team satellite data was obtained. The plots of OMAERUV vs. AERONET seasonal and Hovmoller plots of the aerosol products which meeting, with the data sets undergo- for each site and for each aerosol type were created. Agree- are now ready for access to the users. He also carried out the ing revision based on the feedback ment and disagreement between the results of two independent radiative transfer simulations to create the above-cloud aero- from the science team; a 9-year-long techniques were diagnosed in relation to the aerosol optical sols look-up-table using the VLIDORT package. The results of MODIS climatology implemented in depth (AOD) and UV-Aerosol Index. The possible uncertainties RT simulations were put in to a multi-dimensional array format place of 1-year-old climatology; ongo- in both inversions were also examined through literature survey for its ingestion in to the global operational code currently being ing testing with longer time series and uncertainty analysis. Results obtained from this analysis prepared by a team member, Changwoo Ahn (SSAI). And, under over global AERONET locations; were incorporated into a paper, which, along with comments and the MEaSUREs project, he prepared the cloud-free aerosol look- (Image credit: H. Jethva) and an inter-comparison with MISR suggestions received from anonymous reviewers, was revised and up-tables for its use in the long-term global retrieval from multiple L2 data sets in progress. Going resubmitted to the Journal of Geophysical Research. At present, sensors (i.e., N1/TOMS, EP-TOMS, and Aura/OMI). forward, the team will extend the he is working on a revision. users workshop in College Park, MD from Nov. 21-22, where he analysis to 20 other wavelengths, Dr. Jethva performed a stand-alone above-cloud AOD retrieval for presented a talk on the NASA ARSET program and the application which will be used to retrieve other trace gases product from OMI. He worked on comparing the OMAERUV and the SKYNET Aero- a wildfire event that occurred in California on Aug 5-6, 2013. On of VIIRS aerosols data for air quality applications. sol Single-scattering Albedo. Dr. Jethva assessed the OMAERUV August 6th, the SEAC4RS team conducted a test flight over the Dr. Hiren Jethva (sponsor: O. Torres) works on the TEMPO-GEO- west coast of California to measure the properties of smoke gen- Another online training session was held over six weeks, from Jan single-scattering albedo product using ground measurements of CAPE analysis to simulate the possible aerosol retrieval scenarios erated from burning activities. The smoke plume was eventually 8 – Feb 21, 2014, on the fundamentals of remote sensing data the equivalent quantity retrieved from an independent ground from the future geo-stationary missions, namely, TEMPO and transported over the low-level cloud decks over the Pacific Ocean usage for air quality applications. This training was provided in- network of sky radiometers known as “SKYNET”. The data was GEO-CAPE. While TEMPO already has been approved and funded, for which Dr. Jethva sent his retrieval results to Dr. Lorraine Remer preparation of an in-person advance training to be held in Austin, acquired through an ftp site hosted by Japan’s Chiba University. GEO-CAPE is still in the proposal and design phase. Both missions (UMBC), who presented them in the SEAC4RS meeting. TX. The training, conducted by Dr. Gupta and the ARSET team, Unlike AERONET which provides the sky inversion product at the are aimed at monitoring the pollution over the Northern America shortest wavelength of 440 nm, several SKYNET sites measure included an overview of remote sensing training program, basics region at high spatial and temporal resolutions. His work began Dr. Jethva acted as co-convener of an AGU Special Session: Aero- of satellite remote sensing, introduction to NASA air quality prod- and retrieve the aerosol single-scattering albedo in the near-UV re- by carrying out the aerosol optical thickness (AOT) retrieval over gion of the spectrum (340 nm, 380 nm, 400 nm). This facilitates sols above Cloud in Dec 2013. Along with Dr. Omar Torres (GSFC) ucts and online tools to access the NASA data sets. More recently, the continental land region of North America for four selected and Dr. Eric Wilcox (DRI), he contributed in selecting oral and post- Dr. Gupta led a special online training focused on application of a direct comparison of the OMAERUV SSA with ground retrievals case study days using the MODIS reflectance measurements. without dealing with the wavelength conversion. Dr. Jethva com- er presentations and finally convened the session successfully in satellite data for Indian sub-continent. This training was held from While the spatial resolution of TEMPO is 2 x 4.5 km2, GEO-CAPE the AGU meeting. He also presented posters at the AGU Meeting, March 19 to April 23, 2014, and consisted of about 156 partici- pared OMAERUV with SKYNET for several sites over Japan, China, should have an even higher resolution of 1 x 1 km2, both at India, and Europe. at the Aerocenter annual update, and at the first Young Scientist pants from more than 10 countries in the region. nadir view. The goal is to evaluate the aerosol retrieval at these Forum held at NASA Goddard in June 2013. He contributed to a two different resolutions, and in order to do so, the MODIS poster presentation given by his sponsor at the OMI science team For this second task, Dr. Pawan Gupta (sponsor: O. Torres) He conducted an intercomparison of A-train sensors above-cloud aerosol stand-alone code was used to retrieve the AOT from the meeting held in March 2014 in The Netherlands. Dr. Jethva gave studies radiative transfer calculations in UV, visible and near IR, aerosol optical depth. An inter-sensor assessment of above-cloud TEMPO and GEO-CAPE-like measurements set up originally as an invited talk in Sept 2013 in the Climate and Radiation Lab develops global climatological data sets on surface reflective AOT is an important exercise to check the consistency (or incon- derived from the 1-km high-resolution MODIS data. A statistical seminar series on his work on the characterization of above-cloud properties, and prepares publications and presentations. For sistency) between the independently derived above-cloud aerosol comparison between the referenced GEO-CAPE simulation and aerosols. He also gave two talks in the internal GEO-CAPE Aerosol his evaluation of TEMPO and GEOCAPE-like aerosol product, Dr. retrieval from different sensors on board A-train satellites. Dr. three TEMPO simulations (with different cloud masks) was done Working Group meetings that are held regularly at NASA GSFC. Gupta and other team members worked toward simulating a pos- Jethva conducted and completed such an analysis by combining to evaluate the spatial coverage and quality of retrieved AOT the above-cloud AOT retrieval from A-train sensors (i.e., MODIS, Further, Dr. Jethva participated as a PI and a Co-I on two propos- 36 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 37 als, one submitted to the 2013 NASA ROSES Terra/Aqua and one consistent with several previous studies. GCAS, among Code 614’s further contributions to the campaign support OMPS performance analysis is anticipated in the upcom- to the ROSES-2013 Aura Science Team, respectively. The second were the deployment and operation of the GEOCAPE Airborne ing year. proposal was awarded funding. He also has examined new indices for wet scavenging of air pollut- Simulator. Mr. Kowalewski led the instrument team in day-to-day ants by summertime rain. The removal of air pollutants by falling preparations and operations during GCAS’s participation in this Mr. Tom Kucsera (sponsor: M. Chin) supports global and regional In the coming months, Dr. Jethva will create required look-up- precipitation remains of great interest to the scientific community. campaign. He completed final instrument calibration tests and modeling and analysis of atmospheric aerosols and trace gases, tables for the retrieval of above-cloud aerosols globally using the Although it is important to better understand the wet scavenging closeouts of the instrument prior to shipment to NASA Langley, and supports NASA-sponsored observational programs. He OMI observations. He also will be in charge of further algorithm of air pollutants by rainfall within the complex nonlinear atmo- led the instrument integration to the aircraft with RCDL staff and compiles observations from satellite, ground-based, and in-situ improvement, particularly the refinement in the aerosol models spheric chemistry system, it is difficult to completely separate aircraft flight personnel, participated in Langley aircraft Engineer- measurements for model input, evaluation, and improvement; and layer height assumptions. Upon the production of the first the washout effect from other gas-phase processes, such as dry ing Safety Readiness Reviews, and supported the instrument executes and evaluates atmospheric modeling codes; develops di- version of the processed retrieval, he will analyze the regional deposition, atmospheric mixing, and chemical transformation. In checkout and science flights. GCAS successfully completed agnostic software for analysis of model output and satellite data; and global patterns of above-cloud aerosols in relation to the this study he and his team have analyzed the relative influence deployment and operations in Houston, flying in all science flights, and develops and maintains websites for user access to large cloud-free OMAERUV retrieval. He has been assigned a task to of the washout effect on the major air pollutants and developed plus two additional flights coordinated with the Gulf of Mexico central databases of model output. He also performs software perform a regional cluster analysis of the ground-based AERONET quantitative measures for its estimation using the hourly observa- GEOCAPE validation experiment (GoMEX). This new instrument and hardware management, as well as computer administra- tion duties. This past year, a RAID disk array containing 12TB data in order to establish the models of near-UV to visible spectral tions of the criteria air pollutants (PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3) and operated very well during its maiden deployment, delivering all dependence of aerosol extinction and absorption. The models de- rainfall in South Korea during the summer season over ten years, required data products. of data had a major hardware failure when the disk controller rived from this analysis will be used to carry out OMI-MODIS joint 2002-2012. in this device failed. The controller from another device, which retrievals of single-scattering albedo and aerosol layer heights. Mr. Kowalewski led the data processing effort and on-time de- was previously removed from operation, was used and the disk Mr. Matthew Kowalewski (sponsor: S. Janz) provides scientific livery of the first version of the GCAS science data products for array that contained the data was once again made operational. Dr. Dongchul Kim (sponsor: M. Chin) investigates aerosol distribu- and engineering support to the Radiometric Calibration and this DISCOVER-AQ Earth Venture campaign. He also successfully Several new laptops were acquired and the mandatory NASA IT tion using the NASA GOCART model and multiple observations Development Laboratory (RCDL) at GSFC. This support includes completed the post-mission characterization of GCAS by perform- required controls were installed on these machines along with from space and ground-based remote sensing techniques. He proof of concept instrumentation, calibration standards, and tech- ing the laser slit function and wavelength registration tests. These standard software products. Four new disk arrays were added to leads the dynamic dust source function development effort in the nical guidance to the backscatter ultraviolet (BUV) community. results will be used in forthcoming data analyses. Evaluation and the Rondo workstation; with their addition, close to 100 Terabytes NU-WRF modeling system. This past year, Dr. Kim led compari- Programs supported include GEO-CAPE, NPP and JPSS OMPS, processing of the GCAS DAQ flight data began with the evalua- of additional disk storage was made available to group members. sons of the simulated dust aerosols over North Africa and the DISCOVER-AQ, and Pandora. The Pandora instrument is a ground- tion of instrument pointing and geolocation accuracy. Mr. Kow- All managed software and hardware equipment were regularly North Atlantic from five global models that were part of the Aero- based atmospheric pollution monitoring device that can conduct alewski created red/green/blue (RGB) true color imagery from the updated and maintained. Com phase II model experiments. By examining model results, automated direct sun and diffuse sky radiance observations from hyperspectral data set and began efforts to automatically extract Dr. Kim found remarkable differences among the simulated dust remote locations. Mr. Kowalewski performed assembly, mainte- water-land transitions in order to validate instruments geoloca- In coordination with the NCCS computing center’s system admin- amount and distribution. This study highlights the challenges in nance, and calibration testing for the NASA GSFC Pandora instru- tion algorithm. In addition, the first delivery of GCAS science istrators, Mr. Kucsera acquired additional project space for use by simulating the dust physical and optical processes and stresses ments to be deployed in the field as part of the DISCOVER-AQ products was submitted to the DAQ data archive on schedule. In the GOCART modeling project. Available to group members, this the need for observable quantities to constrain the model pro- Houston 2013 campaign. Pre-deployment support was provided the coming months, preparations for the final DISCOVER-AQ field space was increased from 10TB to 60TB. He then brought over cesses. He is developing a new dynamic dust source function to for a total of ten instruments. campaign in Denver, CO will begin, including enhancements to the the MERRA meteorological data and stored the data on the local improve the current modeling system, which will be applied for instrument thermal management system, polarization perfor- NCCS computer system. Originally, these large volumes of data several studies on aerosol-cloud-climate system and air pollution. The RCDL develops and maintains prototype instrumentation and mance, and processing software. Final pre-deployment character- resided on a remote ftp site that frequently experienced data ac- components for use in solar backscatter research. Mr. Kow- ization tests will be performed prior to integration with the aircraft cess issues, which adversely affected the production runs of the Dr. Kim is investigating a long-term relationship between vegeta- alewski ensures that the lab’s technical activities are performed in late June 2014. GOCART model simulations. Having the information accessible on tion and dust. Southern North Africa, ranging from 10°N to 20°N, and meet the goals and direction of the lab’s Principal Investiga- the locally available project space sped up the performance of the consists of the Sahara desert, the Sahel, and the Savanna; the tor. The primary focus of RCDL was to complete development of The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) OMPS Flight Model 2 modeling runs and increased productivity. Mr. Kucsera prepared abundant dust from this region influences regional and global cli- the Geo-CAPE Airborne Simulator (GCAS) in time for deployment (FM2) Nadir instrument completed the official sensor level and California Station Fire emissions for use in the NU-WRF model. mate, human health, and even the local economy. The goal of this to Houston, TX in September 2013 as part of the DISCOVER-AQ Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS) test program. As a representa- Emission products based on the representative height of the CA study is to better understand the area and dust emissions over Earth Venture campaign. Serving as the lead systems engineer, tive of the instrument science team, Mr. Kowalewski supported Station Fire were determined from the MISR observations. In the the region, which strongly interacts with land and atmospheric Mr. Kowalewski directed a diverse team of mechanical and electri- the NASA Flight Project Office during all phases of the OMPS fire areas, the emission products were vertically distributed based processes, using a novel Sahel area map determined from the cal engineers, technicians and analysts in developing the instru- FM2 integration and testing. He also served on an independent on the estimated plume heights for the fires in that region. Mr. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from satellite ment hardware and preparing for its integration and checkout anomaly review team in support of the JPSS Clouds and Earth’s Kucsera generated re-gridded HTAP version 2 emissions and re- observations and a global aerosol model. aboard the aircraft. GCAS was successfully completed in time Radiant Energy System (CERES) instrument by briefing the GSFC gional maps. The emission data products and regionally specified for testing and integration on the B200 aircraft in August 2013. Tiger Team subject matter experts before the LaRC-GSFC anomaly maps from the HTAP program’s repository were retrieved. These From his study on the impact of sulfate and carbonaceous aero- Flight tests showed that the instrument was capable of operating review meeting. He also coordinated component level tests in the products were regridded to 1.25x1 deg. resolutions for use in sols on cloud, Dr. Kim has investigated the responses of the direct in the flight environment and subsequent data analysis revealed GSFC Radiometric Calibration Facility’s vacuum chamber that the GOCART model. These data sets consisted of multiple global radiative effect of light absorbing and scattering carbonaceous an improvement of at least a factor of 3 over ACAM in air quality resulted in exonerating a key part of the sensor’s onboard calibra- emission sectors that will be used within the GOCART model. Mr. and sulfate aerosols on cloudiness and associated radiative product retrieval sensitivity with enhanced ground resolution. tion system. Mr. Kowalewski’s support for the JPSS OMPS will Kucsera processed plume heights for the 2009 California Station fluxes, using an interactive aerosol-climate model coupled with a continue as the instrument progresses through its pre-shipment Fire and for large volcanic eruptions. He downloaded MISR data slab ocean model. His team has found that without including the During the DISCOVER-AQ Earth Venture campaign, airborne review. This includes participation in instrument sell-off activities from NASA data archive center and searched for eruptions that impact of aerosols on cloud microphysics in the model (indirect science instrumentation was used for measurements of NO2, and post-test data analyses, and RCDL evaluations. Completion of may have been visible to the instrument. Once a case was found, effect), the direct radiative effect of aerosols alone can cause a Ozone, and other pollutants. After the development and testing of component level testing of ground support equipment intended to the eruption plume heights were determined from the data. For change in cloud coverage and thus in cloud flux change, which is 38 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 39 the California Station Fire, the August 30, 2009 data fires from needed, he participates in special projects formulated under the priorities for new or repositioned measurement capabilities. As an recommendations from the 8th ORM, which he chaired and has the MISR instrument were found to have the best available view direction of NASA Headquarters. adviser to the GRUAN Working Group on Atmospheric Reference agreed to be nominated as a Co-Chair of the 9th meeting. of the fires. The plume heights of the observed fires were -de Observations in the areas of network organizational structure termined and these results were digitized for use in the NASA As a co-author for Chapter 3 (“Evaluation of Atmospheric Loss and operations, he attended the 6th GRUAN Implementation and Dr. Lok Lamsal (sponsor: N. Krotkov) develops and improves NO2 NU-WRF model. Processes”) in this SPARC study, Dr. Kurylo has played a key Coordination Meeting, where he and one of the NDACC Co-Chairs algorithms for OMI and other UV-VIS spectrometers, validates NO2 role in analyzing and providing recommendations for the kinetic gave a presentation on NDACC and GRUAN collaborations as both products, and applies NO2 products for scientific studies. Along Additionally, Mr. Kucsera completed 30-year regional anthropo- and photolytic atmospheric loss parameters associated with the networks attempt to meet future challenges. Based on his NDACC with the NASA OMI NO2 team, Dr. Lamsal has been working on genic GOCART modeling simulations that covered the years 1980- targeted chemicals. He worked with the lead and co-authors in experience, Dr. Kurylo serves as an atmospheric observations the development of the next version of OMI NO2 product. He was 2009. Simulations were made for the cases where no anthropo- finalizing chapter recommendations and supporting supplemental representative on the SPARC Scientific Steering Group (SSG). involved in developing the GSFC NO2 spectral fitting algorithm, genic emissions over Europe and Russia were provided. GOCART material, and on making revisions to chapters and material in re- In this capacity he provides recommendations to the Steering evaluating the retrieved slant column densities with independent model modifications and revisions were made to handle regional sponse to comments from the international reviewers. He served Group in the area of systematic measurements as they pertain to retrievals from other groups, and calculating scattering weights dust suppression and tagged runs. These 30-year model simula- as a reviewer of Chapter 1 (the Introduction) to the associated the data needs of various SPARC projects. At the recent SPARC using VLIDORT. He assessed the impact of the new fitting al- tions were made where emissions were separately restricted SPARC Report. Dr. Kurylo worked extensively with one of the lead SSG meeting in New Zealand, he summarized current NDACC gorithm in the retrievals of tropospheric and stratospheric NO2 within the regions of central Asia, the Middle East, east Asia, the authors in preparing a summary of the recommendations in the capabilities, focusing on the implications of recent measurement columns. In addition, Dr. Lamsal compared the OMI tropospheric Sahara, and the Sahel. A 2.5 deg. longitudinal x 2 deg. latitudinal SPARC report that differ from the NASA/JPL 2010 data evalua- and analysis losses for SPARC and requesting input from SPARC NO2 product (OMNO2, Version 2.1) to ground-based measure- model resolution was used for all cases. tion along with their justification. This summary was presented to leadership for priorities in augmenting or replacing such dimin- ments to assess the data quality, and to aircraft-based measure- the NASA/JPL Data Panel for their considered adoption and was ished or lost capabilities. Finally, Dr. Kurylo served as the NDACC ments, both to compare the retrieved column amounts and to At the NASA JPL facility, Mr. Kucsera received hands-on training subsequently approved. He collaborated with one of the co-lead interface to the SPARC/IO3C/IGACO/NDACC (SI2N) Initiative to assess the sensitivity of OMI NO2 to the a priori profiles used in with the MISR data processing tool (MINX). Two TB of MISR data authors to coordinate input from Chapter 3 of the SPARC Report understand past changes in the vertical distribution of ozone and the retrieval. Model profiles were used to estimate tropospheric products were acquired, which he later ported on to a local data into Chapter 1 of the 2014 WMO/UNEP Ozone Assessment. teamed with NDACC Working Group representatives to encourage column amounts from in situ measurements of NO2 at ground-lev- server. This data contained six months’ worth of data for the NDACC measurements and analysis contributions to the Initiative. el. He also investigated the potential improvement of the retriev- observational year of 2008. Amon Dow, a Morgan State under- Dr. Kurylo has played a significant role in the development of He was a co-author of the first of three overview papers for the als that could be realized using a higher-resolution model, with graduate student, was brought onboard by USRA to assist in the the 2014 WMO/UNEP Scientific Assessment of Ozone Deple- Initiative, which provided a summary of available ozone profile updated emissions inputs, as a source of a priori profiles. processing of satellite data. Mr. Kucsera acquired office space tion, first in providing detailed input to the Assessment Co-Chairs measurements and measurement capabilities. Going forward, onsite at GSFC, computer equipment, and established access to regarding assessment structure and contents, and second as a he will assist GRUAN leadership in finalizing GRUAN Report No. Dr. Lamsal used in-situ observations and chemistry-transport group clustered workstations for him. Amon was trained on digitiz- contributor to Chapter 1 (“Update on Ozone-Depleting Substances 3 (Outcomes of the GRUAN Expansion Workshop), based on the models to interpret OMI NO2 observations. He used OMI tropo- ing fire plumes from the retrieved images from the MISR instru- (ODSs) and Other Gases of Interest to the Montreal Protocol”). spheric NO columns and bottom-up NO emissions in the GEOS- white papers developed for that workshop to guide GRUAN expan- 2 x ment which resides onboard the TERRA satellite. In summer 2014 For the latter, he compiled information on trace gas photochemi- Chem model and CAMx regional model to infer top-down NO sion priorities. Dr. Kurylo was the lead author for the white paper x and beyond, Mr. Kucsera will be working with NASA-sponsored cal and kinetic processes that control the atmospheric burden of on GRUAN Design and Expansion Criteria to Meet the Needs of emissions. He derived ground-level concentrations from OMI for summer students, and his work will continue on GOCART model- such chemicals and help to define their atmospheric lifetimes. application to estimate (a) global distribution of NO dry deposi- Atmospheric Process Studies. 2 ing simulations and analyses as well as Aura project data process- He worked with industry representatives and members of the tion and (b) the ratio of global organic matter to organic carbon. In ing and analysis. Technical and Environmental Effects Panel for the Assessment Dr. Kurylo continued to collaborate with NIST scientists in evaluat- addition, he analyzed OMI measurements to estimate NOx trend. to identify new chemicals for inclusion in Chapter 1. After the ing kinetic and photochemical data for atmospheric assessment This work resulted in several publications. Dr. Michael Kurylo (sponsor: J. Rodriguez) supports several Assessment chapters underwent an extensive international peer activities and on conducting laboratory studies of the reactiv- national and international activities important to NASA’s Atmo- Since satellite retrievals of NO from OMPS wavelengths have not review, Dr. Kurylo worked with the Chapter 1 co-authors and ity between OH radicals and several atmospherically important 2 spheric Composition Focus Area in Earth Science, including his contributors on revising chapter text and tables, which involved an halogenated trace gases. He is a co-author on two journal articles been demonstrated yet, Dr. Lamsal applied the GSFC spectral participation in the programmatic leadership of the Network for fitting algorithm to OMI measurements to retrieve NO from both extensive review of newly calculated seasonal and latitudinal at- stemming from this work. Based on his recent work as a co-au- 2 the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) and mospheric lifetimes for all trace gases addressed in the chapter. thor of Chapter 3 in SPARC Report No. 6, and as a contributor to OMPS-covered UV (351-379 nm) and conventional visible (405- serving as NDACC liaison to various international projects. He At the request of the Assessment Co-Chairs, he provided a written Chapter 1 in the above-mentioned 2014 Ozone Assessment, Dr. 465 nm) windows. He demonstrated that the OMPS wavelengths acts as a consultant to the SPARC (Stratosphere-troposphere can be used to retrieve NO , but with decreased sensitivity com- review of Chapter 5 (“Scenarios, Information, and Options for Kurylo has begun working on his contributions to the next release 2 Processes And their Role in Climate) Project of the World Climate Policymakers”) and subsequently participated in a review meeting by the NASA/JPL Panel for Data Evaluation. He has made exten- pared to visible wavelengths. Retrieval sensitivity is dependent Research Programme, to the Global Climate Observing System on spectral contrast in the NO absorption coefficient and on the of all five chapters of the Assessment at which recommendations sive revisions to the 2010 NASA/JPL document to reflect reaction 2 (GCOS) Reference Upper Air Network (GRUAN), and to the United were made for finalizing each chapter and for developing the key rate recommendations stemming from the SPARC study and has scene reflectivity. He also adapted the spectral fitting algorithm Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteo- for OMPS measurements. The preliminary NO retrievals from chapter bullets that will be included in the Assessment for Policy begun working with a NIST colleague in updating photochemical 2 rological Organization (WMO) on activities associated with the Makers. and kinetics recommendations for many trace gases addressed OMPS are similar to those from the UV window of OMI. The lower Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the in Chapter 1 of the 2014 Ozone Assessment and including OMPS spectral resolution is partially compensated by the higher Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. As an Emeritus Member of the NDACC Steering Committee, Dr. many others that are not presently evaluated by the NASA/JPL signal-to-noise ratio. Current OMPS measurements are affected Further, he works in collaboration with scientists at the National Kurylo assists the current Co-Chairs and other Committee mem- Data Panel. Finally, he has continued working with co-authors of by the poor quality of the wavelength registration and radiometric Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the evaluation bers in guiding future NDACC activities. To this end he completed radiance-irradiance match, impacting NO retrievals. Improved Chapter 3 in the SPARC Report in finalizing a research publication 2 of photochemical and kinetic data for national and international extensive edits and revisions to the 70-page NDACC Measure- drawing upon the activities conducted in this chapter. This year, calibration along with modest research and improvements in the assessments of changing atmospheric composition and for the ments and Analyses Directory and developed a synthesis of net- Dr. Kurylo will attend and participate in the 9th Meeting of Ozone spectral fitting algorithm will ensure an acceptable continuation of NASA/JPL Panel for Data Evaluation, and in studies of the atmo- work measurement and analysis capabilities that have been lost the EOS OMI NO2 data record. To retrieve NO from the airborne Research Managers (9th ORM) of the Parties to the Vienna Con- 2 spheric degradation of ozone- and climate-related trace gases. As or diminished over the past several years, thereby helping to set vention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. He will present the ACAM measurements, he conducted sensitivity studies of air

40 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 41 mass factor below and above aircraft to several retrieval param- sentation at the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting, and a first-author paper Dr. Liu prepared an abstract for 2014 IGAC/SPARC CCMI work- timing of the events and boundary layer heights are particularly eters, including solar and viewing geometries, height of aircraft, that was submitted to Geophys. Res. Lett. in Feb 2014 and has shop to be held in May 2014, and gave a talk at the CCMI plan- important to the influence at the surface. The capability of simu- ning meeting at Goddard in March 2014. She co-authored a lating/forecasting events relative to model resolution is currently surface reflectivity, aerosols, and NO2 profile shape. The sensitiv- received positive review comments. Dr. Liang is currently working ity studies using VLIDORT radiative transfer algorithm show that on the revision of the manuscript. manuscript which has been accepted for publication in Earth’s being examined using output from the Goddard CCM, GMI CTM, the air mass factor above aircraft is weakly sensitive to most input Future in April 2014. Work is in progress on a manuscript from the and ozone assimilation system. Additionally, an assessment of parameters, with the exception of solar zenith angle. Accurate As the FAA ACCRI project continues, Dr. Liang collaborates with results during Jan-May 2014 about the GMI CTM model evalua- NASA-supported tropospheric ozone products was completed information in input parameters is critically important for air mass Dr. Henry Selkirk in providing additional model runs for the FAA- tions and stratospheric impact on tropospheric ozone IAV over the and published. These OMI and MLS products include trajectory factor below aircraft. This study allows for estimating uncertain- lead multi-model harmonization project to examine the impact of mid-latitude. mapping, direct profile retrieval, and assimilation. Although all the aviation emission on surface ozone. The ACCRI-II project involves products are shown to be capable of measuring and monitoring ties in the retrieval of NO2 from the ACAM instrument. coordinating with other modeling groups in simulation definition, The research of Dr. Mark Olsen (sponsor: A. Douglass) focuses exceptional tropospheric ozone events, the assimilation product Dr. Qing Liang (sponsor: A. Douglass) provides expertise in tro- preparing input and output stream design for the needed model on the analysis of stratosphere-troposphere exchange, transport is deemed superior for science applications due to greater spatial pospheric chemistry and the role of emissions in determining the run. More specifically, Dr. Liang has been preparing surface in the lower stratosphere and troposphere, and the coupling of coverage and better accounting for measurement errors. Among coupling between chemical composition and the climate system. emission of ozone precursors, surface boundary conditions of stratosphere and troposphere in both global atmospheric data other objectives in the coming year, Dr. Olsen will begin analyzing Current efforts involve extending the vertical domain for interac- long-lived greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances, sets and output from global models. Eight years of OMI/MLS the ozone distributions from data assimilation systems and OMI tive chemistry to include a combined stratosphere-troposphere and the GEOS-5 MERRA meteorological fields as model input. analyses from the GMAO ozone assimilation system were used column ozone observations relative to a jet/tropopause coordi- chemistry model (the GMI Combo) in order to investigate issues Model output includes preparing output scripts to save hourly O3 to investigate the variability and trends in tropospheric column nate system, part of his work on a new Aura Science Team grant related to the role of ozone in the upper troposphere and lower and precursors at the surface, in addition to the standard model ozone in the tropics to middle latitudes. Multiple linear regression awarded to (PI) Dr. Gloria Manney. stratosphere on climate. Major achievements to date on the AC- output. was used to examine the contribution of ENSO and the QBO to the MAP Bromocarbons project include a completed analysis of four variance of the deseasonalized tropospheric column ozone. ENSO Dr. Cynthia Randles (sponsor: P. Colarco) investigates the model runs using the GEOSCCM model to examine the impact of As work wraps up on the SPARC Lifetimes Assessment Report, has the greatest influence with a statistically significant explained sensitivity of aerosol direct radiative forcing to (1) changes in convective strength on the contribution of bromocarbons to the Dr. Liang has been working on two papers based on results from variance greater than 20% in a large equatorial region extending model resolution, (2) assumptions about aerosol optical proper- stratospheric bromine. The results were summarized in a first- Chapters 5 and 6 of the Lifetime Assessment, one that was co- from Africa to Central America. Other smaller regions with signifi- ties, particularly the single scattering albedo, and (3) changes in author paper that was accepted by Atmos. Chem. Phys. in April authored with Dr. Susan Strahan and others and published in cant ENSO influence exist over North America, the Atlantic, and aerosol vertical distributions. She also investigates the effect of 2014. Dr. Liang was invited by Prof. Ross Salawitch to join the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres in March 2014, southern and northern Pacific. The maximum influence occurs biomass burning aerosol heating on temperature tendencies over mission science team for the NSF-funded CONTRAST mission, and and another that is currently in progress. in the equatorial western Pacific with an explained variance of southern Africa using the GEOS-5 Data Assimilation System. As attended a pre-mission meeting in Boulder, CO last October and greater than 60%. The QBO explained variance is not statistically part of her work with SEAC4RS, she evaluates the performance gave an invited talk. She finished implementing tropospheric BrO The research objective of Dr. Junhua Liu (sponsor: J. Rodriguez) significant over this time period, although the confounded vari- of the Goddard Aerosol Assimilation System during the SEAC4RS and Br fields provided by the Harvard GEOS-Chem group into the is to understand the processes affecting atmospheric composi- ance explained by both QBO and ENSO is significant in the tropics field campaign. Dr. Randles served as a constituent forecaster for NASA GEOSCCM model, and running simulations using MERRA tion in the troposphere and lower stratosphere, specifically the from the Indian Ocean through the Pacific. the SEAC4RS field deployment in Houston, TX from Aug 21 - Sept Replay fields for comparison with AURA OMI BrO measurements sources, chemical evolution and transport pathways. Her cur- 12, 2013. From her work with this campaign, she presented her in quantifying atmospheric BrO column in the troposphere and rent research focuses on quantifying the factors controlling the The residual trends were examined by removing the QBO and evaluations of the NASA Goddard Aerosol Assimilation System stratosphere and their variabilities. She presented these results observed interannual variations (IAV) and trends in tropospheric ENSO variability from the tropospheric ozone time series. Statisti- (GAAS) at the SEAC4RS science team meeting held in Boulder, CO O and precursors during the past 20 years and investigating their at the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting, and published a related article in 3 cally significant trends from 4-11% per decade exist throughout in April 2014. In the coming year, she will complete her evalua- Eos Trans. AGU. Currently, Dr. Liang is working on the implementa- interaction with the Earth’s climate. Her study focuses on a) the much of the tropics, with the maximum occurring in the Western tion of the SEAC4RS Reanalysis using satellite, ground-based and tion of all major bromine source gases in the GEOSCCM model for extra-tropics of the Northern Hemisphere (NH), where most of the Pacific. Similar multiple regression analysis was done with output in situ data from the field campaign; a paper manuscript will be a complete account of the BrO sources in the atmosphere to un- ozonesonde and long-term surface ozone observations are avail- from the GMI chemistry transport model (CTM). Compared to written on this topic. She also will contribute to a SEAC4RS case derstand the model and satellite differences in total BrO column able and b) the wave-1 ozone maximum region in the Southern the OMI/MLS analyses, the patterns of variances explained are study, led by Ralph Kahn, which will combine satellite, in situ, and in the atmosphere, in particular the tropical troposphere. Hemisphere, off the coast of Africa/Asia, where models indicate very similar over the same time period; however, the 1991-2012 model data to paint a clearer picture of aerosol conditions. high stratospheric ozone input in the troposphere. Insights simulated residual trends are much less at 2-6% per decade in Dr. Liang acted as a contributing author for Chapter 1 of the 2014 gained from her analysis of the GMI CTM results will help the the tropics. This implies that the larger trends over the OMI/MLS From her work that focuses on studying the effect of biomass WMO Ozone Assessment. In support of this assessment, Dr. chemistry-climate modeling (CCM) community to test the predic- time period are not representative of the longer record. burning aerosol heating on temperature tendencies, she has Liang has been running a 140-year emission-based simulation tive capability of IAV in the tropospheric ozone in the CCM, which delivered two posters, one at the AMS Meeting in February 2014, using the NASA GEOSCCM V2 model with newly added emission- has the same emission, chemistry and transport algorithms. Dr. The timing of the NH stratospheric final warming (SFW) and as- and one at the AeroCom Meeting in Germany in September based features for five major ozone depleting substances (ODS): Liu has evaluated the GMI 20-year hindcast simulation based sociated horizontal transport in the Goddard Chemistry Climate 2013. Dr. Randles will finalize simulations of biomass burning in CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113, HCFC-22 and CH3CCl3. The run was data from selected ozonesondes from the mid-latitude regions Model (CCM) was compared to results derived from observations southern Africa and prepare a manuscript about the impacts of finished in Nov 2013 and the model output was submitted to the of the northern and southern hemispheres, GMAO-assimilated and an isentropic transport model. The variability of the east- these aerosols on temperature tendencies, as diagnosed using CCM group archive. Also, she led a CCl4-modeling project in close column ozone based on OMI/MLS, and variable satellite observa- erly winds, shortly after the SFW, was found to be less than the the GEOS-5 data assimilation system. collaboration with Dr. Paul Newman (GSFC), Dr. Stefan Reimann tions (UARS/MLS, TOMS/MLS, and SUBV merged ozone data). observations; however, the impact on the horizontal transport was (SWISS EMPA), Drs. John Daniel and Brad Hall (NOAA). The work She is examining the stratospheric impact on tropospheric Ozone similar to the observations. A trend in the extratropical strato- For his work on Aura Validation and DISCOVER-AQ, Dr. Christian IAV at these regions using several GMI hindcast sensitivity simula- Retscher (sponsor: K. Pickering) calibrates and analyzes the involved included design and conduction of a detailed emission spheric N2O was found in the CCM that was greater than can be and loss-based simulation for CCl4 from 1960-2017 (run is com- tions and a stratospheric tracer simulation. She will explore and explained by emissions. This finding is supported by observations PANDORA and CLEO spectrometer systems to measure trace pleted) and four 18-year sensitivity simulations (1995-2012), plus quantify the effects of different controlling factors including STE, that suggest changes in the stratospheric circulation. gases in the atmosphere (e.g., O3, SO2, HCHO, BrO, NO2, H2O) that an analysis of model results in understanding the sources and dynamics and emissions over the mid-latitude of northern and have absorption spectra in the 300 to 525 nm spectral range. sinks of CCl4. Two major achievements in the past year include southern hemisphere. Dr. Olsen is investigating the impact of stratospheric intrusions He also writes and deploys the necessary automated software providing model analysis results to Dr. Reimann for an oral pre- on air quality and standards violations, and has found that the needed for Pandora operation and data analysis. Various ground

42 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 43 campaigns will be conducted that include under the proposal “TICOSONDE: Tropical Balloon Sonde Obser- expected before July 2014. comparisons with reference ground-based vations of Ozone, Water Vapor and Sulfur Dioxide for Continued instruments. Twelve or more Pandoras Support of Satellite Calibration and Validation Capabilities”. For this second task, Dr. Henry Selkirk (sponsor: J. Joiner) makes will be deployed at multiple sites during Under this project, another four years of balloon sonde measure- dual ozonesonde measurements of SO2 in Costa Rica over a individual campaigns. This past year, he ments of water vapor and ozone will be supported in Costa Rica. two-year period. This work is done in collaboration with Dr. Gary has provided ongoing support to the Aura (The Ticosonde project will also be making sonde measurements Morris of Valaparaiso University and Dr. Jorge Andres Diaz of the Validation Data Center (AVDC) by maintain- of sulfur dioxide at Costa Rica over the next two years; these are Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR). During the first year of the Tico- ing AVDC resources related to the Pandora supported under Dr. Selkirk’s second GESTAR Task.) Dr. Selkirk sonde SO2 sonde program in Costa Rica, eleven successful dual data sets, updating related file acquisition traveled to Costa Rica with Co-Investigator Gary Morris (Valparaiso ozone sondes were launched from their site at the Universidad de and distribution systems, updating AVDC University) to review sounding practices and to confer with UCR Costa Rica in San José, 35 km away from active Volcan Turrialba. databases, and providing support on data- Co-I Dr. Jorge Andrés Diaz and his team on launch strategies. In Figure 1 (p.44) is a summary of five dual ozonesondes launched base access and security. the past 12 months, the team at the University of Costa Rica between January and March 2014. These data are being used in San José launched 40 weekly balloon sondes as part of the to validate SO2 retrievals from satellite instruments, including Dr. Retscher has provided support to long-running Ticosonde project. These launches yielded 40 ozone OMI on Aura and the new OMPS instrument on the Suomi-NPP processing Pandora instrument data. Next profiles and 8 water vapor profiles, bringing the totals since 2005 satellite. Future plans include launching at least one dual ozone to ongoing operational data processing, he to 403 and 168, respectively. Going back to 2005, this is the lon- sonde each month in the coming two years. A paper is in prepara- and his team have performed the repro- gest continuing series of water vapor/ozone profiles in the tropics. tion reporting on the results for the first year’s soundings. cessing of historic data sets back to 2008. This included the update and registra- Ticosonde co-investigator Dr. Holger Vömel of the Deutscher Wet- Mr. Stephen Steenrod (sponsor: J. Rodriguez) provides support tion of calibration files in the operational terdienst has developed a preliminary GRUAN CFH water vapor for the Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) investigations of chemi- data processing scheme. He also final- product, and Dr. Selkirk has generated an 8-year climatology cal and dynamical aspects of the middle and lower atmosphere, ized backlog processing of DISCOVER-AQ based on this processing. Of particular interest to the scientific which involves the development, optimization, multiprocessing, related data, and performed optimization community is the frequency distribution with height of relative execution, and evaluation of atmospheric modeling codes; devel- to data processing codes and wrappers, humidity with respect to ice and the incidence of supersaturation. opment of diagnostic software for analysis of model output and which allows for a more detailed analysis The seasons December-February (DJF) and June-August (JJA) dis- satellite data; and development of general user software to allow of Pandora data. play different structures with respect to relative humidity over ice. simple access to large central databases of model output. This In DJF, the upper troposphere (<16 km) is on average much drier year, Mr. Steenrod’s work involved the expansion of the GMI-CTM Dr. Henry Selkirk (sponsor: A. Douglass) than in JJA, with the reverse being true in the next 4 km. In both tracer suite by doubling the number of species simulated within works on a task that has three subtasks: seasons, supersaturation events occur above 380 K, the nominal the tracer package. Several species were added, described by characterization of the vertical structure lower bound of the stratospheric overworld. the IGAC/SPARC Chemistry-Climate Model Initiative (CCMI), to and variability of water vapor and ozone in study various aspects of tropospheric transport characteristics, the tropical upper troposphere and lower Despite numerous challenges, the ATTREX Guam deployment in especially looking at the remote influence of regional sources of stratosphere using balloon sondes; analy- early 2014 emerged as a scientific success. Six science flights pollutants. Also added were species to study stratospheric-tropo- sis of transport and moisture processes over the western tropical Pacific with the Global Hawk aircraft spheric mass exchange, the stratospheric residual circulation and in observations and models through (a) were completed. Dr. Selkirk was in the field for the final 28 days stratospheric influences on tropospheric chemistry. Mr. Steenrod examination of vertical and horizontal of the campaign, providing key flight planning and weather sup- completed a simulation using this new suite for the 34-year CCMI- transport processes in the upper tropo- port to the Science Team. Four of the six flights were flown when simulated hindcast period. sphere and lower stratosphere, particu- Dr. Selkirk was in the field. The ATTREX data are unique, for the larly in the tropics and subtropics and (b) first time providing lengthy horizontal legs of water vapor mea- Mr. Steenrod also recoded the Kinetics Module Generator (KMG) assessment of the representation of moist surements near the tropical tropopause in this key part of the for the GMI chemical code to enable the use of the latest release processes in the GMI chemical transport global climate system. of IDL (version 8). KMG creates the Fortran code for the chemi- model and the GEOS CCM, a chemistry cal mechanism of the GMI model using input files that list the climate model; and, scientific support of Dr. Selkirk was the Principal Investigator on a proposal where the mechanism’s desired reactions and rates. This software had NASA airborne missions including (a) the goal is to advance the understanding of the variability of water broken several years ago when IDL dropped support for “proj- Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment Figure: Summary of dual ozone sonde flights, January-March 2014. Shown are both ascent vapor, clouds and trace gases in the upper troposphere and lower ects”, so GMI needed access to outdated IDL software to update (ATTREX) and (b) the Studies of Emissions and descent mixing-ratio profiles of ozone, sulfur dioxide and potential temperature. At stratosphere (UT/LS) and to improve the model simulation of the model’s chemical mechanism. He also provided various types and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds lower right are shown the integrated columns of SO2 to 15 km expressed in Dobson units these critical elements of climate forcing. The proposed research of support to many GMI model users, including support for details and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys (DU). (Image: H. Selkirk) will use an integrated approach that makes use of extensive of the model, its use and its output. Mr. Steenrod designed an (SEAC4RS). This past year, Dr. Selkirk suborbital and satellite data along with the state-of-the-art GEOS- experiment to study the effects of doubling the horizontal resolu- made two trips to Houston, TX to take part lead a group of SEAC4RS colleagues in a study comparing upper 5 atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM). The proposal tion on the simulations and sensitivity tests for chemical reactions in the SEAC4RS field campaign, where he led the work of the tropospheric/lower stratospheric structure over the tropics and team that Dr. Selkirk assembled includes three Co-Investigators and rates. water vapor sounding project, completing 31 balloon soundings, the subtropics using observations of water vapor, ozone and asso- and three Collaborators who are experts in the fields of modeling, including 18 water vapor soundings. He supported flight planning ciated quantities from Ticosonde and the 2013 SEAC4RS mission. satellite measurements and retrievals, and aircraft data analysis. Significant effort was made to prepare the GMI model output for for the ER-2 and DC-8 as part of a team led by his colleague Dr. Competition is expected to be very stiff; a selection decision is Leonhard Pfister (NASA Ames Research Center). Dr. Selkirk will In June 2013, NASA renewed funding for the Ticosonde project

44 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 45 submission to the CCMI repository, which involved consolidating temperature, that affect the size and depth of the hole. Very oversee the integration of a number of multi-decadal ‘hindcast’ her work at the upcoming CCMI workshop in May 2014. the various GMI output streams into the CCMI specified output weak transport of O to the Antarctic in 2011 produced one of simulations that use MERRA meteorology in the GMI model to 3 The atmospheric lifetime of methane, an important greenhouse form. He added the capability in the GMI model to calculate the the largest ozone holes ever observed, just as large as the hole in understand how changing anthropogenic emissions have affected gas, depends on concentrations of OH. Dr. Strode is investigating effects of solar proton events on the full chemistry model and ran 2006, a year with greater ozone transport. This work is important tropospheric composition, especially the pollutants O3 and CO. how model biases in factors such as humidity and ozone impact a multi-year simulation that was recently included in a manuscript because it identifies a way in which the ozone hole area can vary Three simulations of the period 1990-2012 using different emis- the modeled concentration of OH, and hence the modeled meth- accepted for publication. Mr. Steenrod conducted many test and that is not related to the expected area decrease due to declin- sions inputs have been integrated, including one at high spatial ane lifetime. Her approach is to adjust individual variables that production runs of the tracer suite and full chemistry model. Over ing chlorofluorocarbons. These results were reported in a press resolution (1 deg. x1.25 deg.) to test the impact of resolution on affect OH to better match observations and then use a chemistry- the past year, he has identified some model errors, including one release at the AGU Fall 2013 Meeting (http://www.nasa.gov/ simulated tropospheric composition. Additionally, a simulation climate model to quantify how the change impacts methane that affected the handling of cloud optical depths plus an error in content/goddard/new-results-from-inside-the-ozone-hole/). A spanning 1979-2012 has been integrated for the SPARC project lifetime. Dr. Strode presented work on this topic at the 2013 a boundary condition file used to determine the surface vegeta- second study discovered, through comparisons between the GMI ‘Chemistry Climate Modeling Initiative’ (CCMI). Chemistry-Climate Model Initiative Workshop. tion type. Mr. Steenrod created many new boundary condition files simulations and NASA satellite observations, that the amount In the coming year, Dr. Strahan’s highest priority is to publish the for model runs at various resolutions. Further, his administration of inorganic chlorine (Cly) inside the Antarctic ozone hole has results on chlorine variability inside the ozone hole and on the A paper published in JGR by Dr. Strode and Dr. Steven Pawson support included updating and securing the operating systems as previously unrecognized large interannual variations. There are QBO’s effect on the Antarctic composition. A study to quantify compares the interannual variability in carbon monoxide (CO) in well as updating and maintaining the hardware on 20 of the Code no measurements of total Cly in the lower stratosphere, but Cly interannual variability in the chemical and transport contribu- atmospheric model simulations with observations. It then uses 614 cluster computers in a timely and unobtrusive manner. can be deduced by its correlation with N O, a trace gas mea- 2 tions to Arctic and Antarctic ozone depletion is planned, based on the model to estimate how much CO would change in different sured by the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS). Although a observations and the GMI simulations with and without heteroge- regions of the atmosphere in response to changing emissions. A Work will continue on improving the GMI model and fixing any Cly decline rate of ~0.7%/year was expected in the past decade neous chemistry. Further investigation of the impact of the QBO comparison of the change due to emissions with the interannual issues that arise. There are current plans to implement two more due to the impact of the Montreal Protocol, this study revealed on stratospheric composition is also planned, which will utilize variability allows them to identify regions where the impact of tracer species and to add the photolytic effects of stratospheric that stratospheric transport is responsible for Cly variations, both a recent multi-decadal high-resolution simulation with MERRA changing emissions could be detected most rapidly. aerosols, which are currently neglected. He plans to submit model positive and negative, that are ten times greater than this. This meteorology, the Goddard CCM, and stratospheric observations results to CCMI and run the tracer suite for the high-resolution full transport-driven variability means that very large ozone holes are from the 1990’s to the present. Quantifying the effect of the QBO Dr. Ghassan Taha (sponsor: R. McPeters) leads the Aura Valida- chemistry period currently being run. His computer cluster group likely to appear during very cold Antarctic winters over the next 20 on stratospheric composition is essential for the identification tion Data Center (AVDC) activities, supports various Aura and NPP leader activities will continue, especially the OS security updates years, even though stratospheric Cly levels are decreasing. The and attribution of the stratospheric circulation change caused by calibration and validation activities, maintains web content and and installation of new and replacement hardware. third study used MLS N O observations to discover that the cause 2 increasing greenhouse gases. related system hardware management activities, and maintains of the chlorine variability inside the Antarctic ozone hole was a the administration of the center’s databases. During this past A priority of Dr. Susan Strahan (sponsor: J. Rodriguez) is the anal- variation in middle stratospheric tropical mixing that occurred one year, after a hardware failure, Dr. Taha rebuilt the AVDC server ysis of stratospheric and tropospheric observations to advance Dr. Sarah Strode (sponsor: J. Rodriguez) contributes to the year earlier. The variations in mixing are caused by the Quasi- that hosts the satellite toolkit in order to continue producing sub- the understanding of atmospheric transport and chemical pro- three-dimensional modeling efforts, both for Chemical Transport Biennial Oscillation (QBO), a dynamical oscillation of tropical wind satellite track predictions. He continued to maintain and update cesses and improve their representation in models. Results from Models and Chemistry Climate Models, and carries out simula- direction confined to the deep tropics. The variations in mixing the AVDC software, hardware and web page. observational studies are used to evaluate NASA/GSFC models, tions for the Atmospheric Chemistry-Climate Model Intercompari- affect southern midlatitude composition, and ultimately become son (ACCMI). She has used chemical transport model simulations such as the Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) chemistry transport trapped in the Antarctic when the polar vortex forms in fall. Strong The AVDC continued to support various AURA and NPP teams and model and the GEOS Chemistry-Climate Model (CCM), as well as to examine the observed trends in surface ozone over the United descent inside the vortex transports the composition variability to States. A comparison of model simulations with changing NO , a wide range of users. Dr. Taha expanded the data holdings of the CCMs participating in international assessments. Another priority the Antarctic lower stratosphere where it impacts ozone depletion x AVDC by adding OMPS, SBUV, and GOME-2 Level-2 and the sub- is the management of GMI model simulations and output, includ- CO, and hydrocarbon emissions with a simulation with fixed emis- in late winter. This study revealed a remarkable and unexpectedly sions confirms the role of pollution controls in the decreases in satellite and ground station overpass data. He also reprocessed a ing quality control and evaluation. The centerpiece of this year’s strong connection between a tropical dynamical process and po- new version of the Generic Earth Observation Metadata (GEOMS)- research has been a high spatial resolution simulation of the GMI surface ozone in the eastern U.S. This study also examines how lar chemistry that occurs on a timescale of one year. This work is well a global model can capture the year-to-year variability seen compliant balloonsondes and ground-based measurements and chemistry and transport model (CTM) with meteorology from the important to chemistry climate modeling because it identifies an updated the online AVDC database. The process of collecting and GMAO’s MERRA reanalysis from 2004-2013. One simulation was in surface observations in different seasons and regions of the important but unrecognized cause of composition variability that United States. Future work will investigate whether increasing harmonization is now automated. In addition, he reprocessed a run continuously for this period, while another series of short affects polar ozone depletion and hence the credibility of simula- new version of the AVDC hdf5 files for ENVISAT data (SCIAMACHY, simulations without heterogeneous chemical loss was integrated model resolution improves our ability to simulate the year-to-year tions of polar ozone recovery in the 21st century. variability. Dr. Strode presented her work on trends and variability GOMOS, and MIPAS) and will provide the overpass files afterward. for each hemisphere’s winter and spring each year. The purpose of these experiments is to quantify polar ozone (O ) depletion and in U.S. ozone at the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting. 3 Dr. Strahan collaborated with scientists within and outside of In support of SEAC4RS/SEACIONS, the AVDC provided OMPS, its interannual variability in the Arctic and Antarctic. The compari- GSFC on the topics of tropospheric transport pathways (Dr. Darryn Dr. Strode also is analyzing hindcast model simulations of the last MLS, and OMI Field of View (FOV) station predictions. Dr. Taha son of the results of these experiments with satellite observations Waugh, JHU), the evaluation of satellite-based methods for calcu- decade to assess whether models can reproduce observed trends also performed initial OMPS LP, NP, and MLS ozonesonde and wa- of ozone and the long-lived trace gas nitrous oxide (N O) has spun 2 lating tropospheric column O (Dr. Jerry Ziemke), the evaluation of in carbon monoxide and attribute their causes. For this analysis, ter vapor data comparisons in support of the SEAC4RS/SEACIONS off three studies, which are all related to the impact of strato- 3 model-derived lifetimes of CFCs (Dr. Martyn Chipperfield, Univer- she compares chemical transport model simulations with chang- field campaign. Further, the AVDC is coordinating the GEOMS and spheric transport variations on composition and ozone depletion. sity of Leeds), and the impact of simulated response to increasing ing versus fixed pollution emissions in order to separate the role data harmonization activities, and constantly updating the Table Two manuscripts are in preparation. greenhouse gases and decreasing CFCs on 21st century ozone of emissions. She also compares chemical transport model simu- Attribute Values and Template, as well as providing constant sup-

predictions (Dr. Anne Douglass, GSFC). Each of the four collabo- lations, which have prescribed meteorology based on atmospheric port to the data centers, which includes NDACC, and ESA’s EVDC The first study found that the amount of ozone transported to rations resulted in a publication in the Journal of Geophysical reanalysis, with chemistry-climate model simulations. This com- NORS projects as well as many stations’ principal investigators. the Antarctic each year varies considerably and impacts the size Research. parison can help with understanding how atmospheric transport of the ozone hole. This effect is independent of the two other For this second task, Dr. Ghassan Taha (sponsor: G. Jaross) impacts the modeled and observed trends. Dr. Strode will present well-known factors, chlorine abundance and lower stratospheric In her role as GMI Project Manager, Dr. Strahan has continued to

46 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 47 investigates NPP OMPS Limb sensor data quality with the goal R Kawa, et al. In May 2014, Dr. Wang presented a poster at the his research involving data measurements from Aura, he has co- For the second year in a row, Dr. Brucker was deployed to of identifying improvements to current and future Limb sensors. Tenth International Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Measurements authored one paper published in Journal of Geophysical Research southeast Greenland to monitor the Greenland firn aquifer. This Research is focused on alternative approaches to data reduction from Space, held in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Dr. Wang was a and another in review with JGR, and was lead author on a paper campaign was jointly funded by NSF and NASA (PI: Dr. Forster, U. that have potential implications for sensor and algorithm design. Co-Investigator on two NASA ROSES grant proposals. in press with JGR. Work will continue with regards to producing of Utah). In spite of the extreme weather conditions in southeast He also supports OMPS limb levels 1 and 2 development activi- ozone data products, attending meetings, writing proposals, and Greenland, which caused several weeks of delays, Dr. Brucker ties. Dr. Taha developed a cloud algorithm that detects all Polar Going forward, Dr. Wang will complete the global CO2 inverse mod- publishing science papers. He will write a new ACMAP proposal and his teammate (Clément Miège) recorded 35 km of radar data, Mesospheric clouds (PMC’s), Polar stratospheric Clouds (PSC’s), eling for the entire analysis period, comparing results obtained in the upcoming months; his recently submitted NPP proposal is drilled a shallow snow/firn core, and collected GPS measure- tropospheric clouds, and aerosol plumes, observed by OMPS LP. using different combinations of ground-based and GOSAT satellite currently under review. ments to monitor the ice velocity and flow direction. Daily maps of clouds were produced, and early results are promis- CO2 measurements, and by using other data sets for validation. ing, but further tuning is required. Dr. Kelly Brunt (sponsor: T. Markus) provides continued support For his work on this second task, Dr. James Wang (sponsor: B. CODE 615: CRYOSPHERIC SCIENCES LABORATORY to Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), which in- Duncan) conducts modeling of interactive atmospheric methane, Dr. Taha analyzed different versions of OMPS level-1 radiances in Dr. Ludovic Brucker (sponsor: L. Koenig) conducts research to ad- cludes the scientific planning for Multiple Altimeter Beam Experi- carbon monoxide, and hydroxyl chemistry and long-term trends. order to improve the quality of the measurements. He also pro- vance and validate satellite-derived properties of snow and ice on mental Lidar (MABEL), the airborne simulator of the laser altime- In 2014, Dr. Wang began his part of a 2012 NASA MAP-funded vided High-Low Gains (HG-LG) tangent height offset zonal means Earth using space-based microwave radiometers and scatterom- ter set to fly on ICESat-2, and the coordination of a team (internal project on modeling interactive atmospheric methane, carbon time series for the newly corrected radiances. Furthermore, he eters. He was co-I on a NASA GSFC Science Innovation Fund to and external to NASA Goddard) that is constructing an ICESat-2 monoxide, and hydroxyl chemistry and their long-term variability analyzed OMPS level-1 HG and LG radiances stray light contribu- utilize the Aquarius satellite observations over the polar regions. calibration and validation plan using earth-based targets. Dr. and trends. He is working in collaboration with Dr. Bryan Duncan tion and investigated an alternative methodology for the stray To allow for an efficient use of the Aquarius data over the polar Brunt continues her activities as Co-Investigator for the ICESat-2 (PI), and building upon the work of Elena Yegorova, who left GSFC light corrections. He also provided analysis and advice for various regions, and to move forward our understanding of the L-band ob- Science Definition Team (PI: Sinead Farrell) associated with post- in 2013. Dr. Wang transferred the atmospheric chemistry and sample tables uploaded to the instrument. Dr. Taha conducted a servations of ice sheet, sea ice, permafrost, and polar oceans, he launch calibration and validation planning. For her work with climate model code to his own computing environment and has detailed analysis of the official release of OMPS LP ozone profiles produced new weekly-polar-gridded products of Aquarius L-band this team, she generates flight plans for the ICESat-2 airborne been familiarizing himself with the model, and has continued the version 1, and for the proposed version 2; he provided feedback brightness temperature, L-band normalized radar cross section, simulator named MABEL. In September 2013, she participated in development and testing of a wetland methane emission param- for potential improvements. and sea surface salinity. These three data sets are produced on a MABEL deployment based out of Langley, VA, aimed at survey- eterization. Future work will involve multi-decadal historical simu- the version 2.0 Equal-Area Scalable Earth (EASE) grid, with a grid ing deciduous trees along the eastern coast. She is currently Dr. James Wang (sponsor: S. R. Kawa) researches the inverse lations and compare them with observations. Later on, he will run cell resolution of 36 km. The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data working with the ICESat-2 Science Definition Team on generating modeling of atmospheric carbon dioxide. He, his sponsor and future simulations using IPCC emissions scenarios. Center (NSIDC) will archive and distribute these new products. flight plans for an upcoming ICESat-2 MABEL field campaign in others conducted a simulation experiment for the planned NASA These products were presented at the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting in Fairbanks, AK (July 2014). Dr. Brunt will then participate in the ASCENDS active CO remote sensing mission and found that the For Dr. Jerald Ziemke (sponsor: P. Newman), his major research ICESat-2 MABEL deployment, scheduled to occur in July/August 2 San Francisco, CA and at the microRAD meeting in Pasadena, CA. high-precision measurements would likely meet requirements for objectives are widespread: to develop a long-record (1979-cur- 2014. rent) of tropospheric and stratospheric ozone by combining v9 improved understanding of long-term carbon sinks. Their regional The Antarctic Plateau presents ideal characteristics to study the measurements from TOMS and OMI; to reprocess OMI/MLS inverse modeling is well suited for quantifying the ability of the relationship between microwave observations and snow/ice prop- In December 2013, Dr. Brunt concluded work and participation in trajectory mapped global ozone measurements using OMTO3 two 2013 NASA Science Innovation Fund (SIF) awards: 1) Con- high-density ASCENDS observations to constrain CO2 emission erties. It is also a promising target for radiometer calibration and v9 total ozone for OMI and MLS v3.3 ozone profile data upon and uptake at a higher resolution than other satellite data stud- sensor inter-calibration, which are critical for applications requir- straining Arctic ice sheet and sea ice melt by detecting seasonal availability and validate these fields using ozonesondes and other ies. They used a novel approach that relied on high-precision ing sub-kelvin accuracy, such as sea surface salinity retrievals. ocean freshening (PI: Lora Koenig), and 2) Tidal Loading and Sur- satellite ozone measurements; to evaluate the GMI model and Lagrangian transport modeling to calculate footprints describing Over the past year, Dr. Brucker analyzed the spaceborne Aquarius face Deformation along Ice Fractures: Insights from Earth Analogs free-running CCM using ozone data sets to study ozone features the sensitivity of satellite column measurements to surface fluxes L-band radiometric observations collected since August 2011 over for Icy Satellite Processes (PI: Terry Hurford). In March 2014, Dr. in these models from short to decadal time scales; to invoke cal- in upwind regions. Their comparison of flux uncertainty reduc- the Antarctic Plateau, and focused his research on their temporal Brunt traveled to Juneau, AK and participated in the field compo- culations of the influence of stratosphere-troposphere exchange tions with those from a companion global ASCENDS inversion on evolutions at Dome C. Over the Antarctic Plateau, Aquarius bright- nent of an EPSCoR project titled, “Developing a strategy to evalu- (STE) using the trajectory mapped tropospheric and stratospheric a coarser grid demonstrates how quantitative results can depend ness temperatures (TBs) have a relatively low annual standard ate and monitor outburst floods, Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska” (PI: ozone data; to quantify the strengths and weaknesses of four on inversion methodology. As lead author, Dr. Wang submitted a deviation (0.2–0.9 K) where melting never occurs. However, the Jason Amundson, Univ of AK, Southeast). The team performed a global ozone products: cloud slicing, trajectory mapping, data paper on these results which has been accepted for publication analysis of the TB time series at Dome C revealed significant ground-based radar survey of a tributary to the Mendenhall Gla- assimilation, direct ozone profile retrieval, evaluations that will on the ACPD website and is undergoing peer review. variations (up to 2.5 K) in summer. First, these variations are cier, named Suicide Basin, known to produce sub-glacial outburst involve comparisons with ozonesonde data (WOUDC, SHADOZ) compared with a remote sensing grain index (GI) based on high- flooding that affects parts of the city of Juneau. Dr. Wang also contributed to the writing of a white paper for the and aircraft mission ozone measurements; to evaluate ENSO frequency (89 and 150 GHz) shallow-penetration TB channels. planned NASA ASCENDS CO2 satellite mission. He gave an oral and the Madden-Julian Oscillation, and mid-latitude baroclinic Dr. Paolo de Matthaeis (sponsor: D. Le Vine) conducts work in Variations in the ratio of TBs observed at horizontal and vertical presentation on his research at an ASCENDS workshop, and pro- wave forcing for their effects on tropospheric and stratospheric support of the Aquarius/SAC-D mission, whose goal is to provide polarizations are synchronous with GI changes. Second, Aquarius vided updated text and figures for the modeling chapter of the pa- ozone in the measurements and models; to perform algorithm global sea surface salinity maps from space for study of large- TB variations are compared with the presence of hoar crystals on per as well as comments on the drafts of two of the chapters. The maintenance and improvements to the trajectory mapped ozone scale ocean processes and climate change. After the successful the surface, identified using surface-based near-infrared photo- paper will be published and available for public comment some- products; and to write journal papers relating to his research of launch of Aquarius in June 2011, calibration/validation (cal/val) graphs; in fact, the largest and longest changes in TBs correspond time in mid-2014. This past year, his work resulted in both oral the measurements and models. activities and data analyses are now taking place. Since July to periods with hoar crystals on the surface. Therefore, in spite and poster presentations at NASA Goddard and the 2013 AGU 2012, Dr. de Matthaeis has been leading the Aquarius RFI Work- of the deep penetration of the L-band radiation, evolutions of the Fall Meeting. Also for AGU, Dr. Wang contributed material and From his research on tropospheric ozone over the past year, Dr. ing Group. In addition to the Radiometer RFI, he has also worked snow properties near the surface, which usually change rapidly comments for a research talk in the Atmospheric Science section. Ziemke has co-authored two papers, one that has been published on the Aquarius Scatterometer RFI Detection and Mitigation, and and irregularly, do influence L-band observations. The paper was “Observing System Simulations for ASCENDS: in Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc., and one that is in press with BAMS, his research has resulted in presentations and publications. He Synthesizing Science Measurement Requirements”, by Stephan as well as one that is in review with the journal Elementa. From has produced preliminary estimation of sea ice thickness using 48 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 49 Aquarius data, and this work also resulted in a presentation. Dur- the shift in various aspects and parameters of the large-scale In September 2013, Ms. Belvedere planned and held another ing in the Americas, including efforts for capacity building and ing the past year, Dr. de Matthaeis has received two NASA awards water and energy cycles? Is there a consistency among the evi- “Let’s Talk About Water” Event at NCEP that was followed by a user engagement within the U.S., and throughout Africa and Asia. for his work as part of the Aquarius team. In July 2013, Dr. de dence? What data sets seem to be outliers and can we identify a robust discussion. This documentary is being shown in order to Additionally, a medium-term priority involved advancing the role Matthaeis was appointed co-chair of the IEEE Geoscience and physical basis for their “problem(s)” that could suggest directions bring clarity and understanding to the water crisis and its solu- of Earth Observations in the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Security Remote Sensing Frequency Allocations in Remote Sensing (FARS) for their improvement? To what extent is the cause of the change tions; facilitate conversation between experts and students; pro- nexus and assessing how NASA assets can help to address these Technical Committee. He has been organizing RFI sessions for the in Pacific Decadal Variability (PDV) or AMO related? The Clouds vide a forum for debate around water science and policy; promote issues, as well as how Earth Observations can provide indicators IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium and Radiation working group is studying the relationships of water and earth science education; and, engage general citizenry of different types, including those to monitor the implementation and for the 2014 XXXI URSI General Assembly and Scientific Sym- clouds, precipitation, and the energy budget of the stratocumulus- in public policy and water solutions. of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs.) posium, where he will be chairing sessions at both symposiums. topped boundary layers in the subtropical high region of the South At the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting, Ms. Belvedere engaged in a Founded by the U.S. and other major countries, the GEO has been Pacific. The main goal is to provide a framework for NEWS mem- productive discussion related to the NAWP, as a result of her working toward the goal of developing a Global Earth Observation bers to work collaboratively on NEWS-related issues concerning abstract that was part of an AGU Town Hall Meeting. Motivation System of Systems (GEOSS) for the past decade. The GEO Water CODE 617: HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES LABORATORY clouds and radiation. The Evaporation and Latent Heating work- for a NAWP includes reliable hydroclimate predictions that are es- Task currently involves well over 150 scientists and experts from ing group is focusing on the latent heating and moisture transport Ms. Debbie Belvedere (sponsor D. Toll) supports scientific col- sential for assessing the availability and stresses on clean water more than 20 nations. Mr. Lawford serves as the Point of Contact from over a region for the NEWS time period of 1998 – 2007, laboration and coordination for NASA’s global water and energy supplies; also, understanding and predicting water cycle extremes for the Water Task and provided coordination for both internation- with the initial proposed region the Atlantic basin and European cycle research that answers to the emergence of cross-cutting in a changing climate has a direct application for preserving life, al and US activities. He also chaired the Integrated Global Water land area. The goals are to understand the moisture sources of water-cycle research initiatives brought forth by inter-agency and environment and economic assets. The challenge for NAWP is to Cycle Observations (IGWCO) Community of Practice (CoP). The the precipitation over the European land area, and how these government-administrative science panels. Established in 2003, provide skillful forecasts of extremes, weeks, seasons, years and CoP’s main effort was the preparation of a GEOSS Water Strategy are related to the Atlantic Basin, as well as to utilize NEWS data NASA’s Energy and Water-cycle Study (NEWS) aims to document even decades in advance, that are useful for water resource man- that will help to guide decisions on water-related topics over the products to assess the mean seasonal flux across the regions and enable predictions of water and energy cycle consequences agement. To be successful, the Steering Committee and founding next decade. The initiative, launched by GEO and Committee on boundaries and internally; inter-annual variability of the fluxes; of Earth system variability and change. However, the broad objec- members must place particular emphasis on seeking agency Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), has been led generally by statistical distribution of events, which would provide a foundation tives of energy and water cycling-related climate research extend and community support for NAWP, through seminars and meet- the IGWCO CoP and specifically by Mr. Lawford as the chair of the to an analysis of extremes and specific weather events, impact of well beyond the purview of any single agency or program, and ings with scientists and agency Program Managers. This fall, Ms. CoP’s Science Committee. During the past year, he organized surface variability, and atmospheric transport variability; and an call for the support of many activities that are matched to each Belvedere will be attending the 7th International Scientific Confer- and chaired many teleconference calls, responded to hundreds analysis of trends in the transport over the time period. agency’s respective roles and missions. To achieve the ultimate ence on the Global Water and Energy cycle at the World Forum, of emails related to this activity, continued to write and integrate goal of credible global change predictions and applications across the Hague, the Netherlands, as well as other NEWS meetings and materials into a new draft report, and continued to edit the report. all significant scales, NASA seeks collaborations with other federal Ms. Belvedere is working on and has contributed to two major documents. The scientific framework for the Water and Energy the upcoming GEWEX Meeting. and international agencies, the scientific community-at-large and Community inputs were obtained through Town Hall meetings, Cycle Focus Area is outlined in the NASA Earth Science Enterprise private industry. To these ends, NEWS working groups - Extremes, The development and coordination of water resource applications science presentations and consultative seminars. During May Strategy document. It is one of six focus areas that define the sci- Evaporation & Latent Heating, Climate Shift and Clouds and and Water Cycle activities within Group on Earth Observations 2013, Mr. Lawford organized and conducted a Town Hall meeting entific content of the NASA Earth Science Program, and includes Radiation - were created that identify integration needs and make (GEO) and in the wider community is a broad-based activity that on the GEOSS Water Strategy at the AGU in the Americas meeting both research and technology components. The NEWS research the needed connections to partner and coordinate with water and requires substantial coordination and nurturing both outside and in Cancun, Mexico. Several experts from Latin America attended program is intended to yield significant advances and break- energy cycle research and application activities at other organiza- within the U.S. A central role of this task involves maintaining the this event, and some new examples were produced for the GEOSS throughs in hydrological cycle climate science. Progress in achiev- tions within NASA, nationally, and internationally. Ms. Belvedere coordination, reporting and synergies needed to advance NASA Water Strategy report. At this meeting, Mr. Lawford presented ing its objectives is measured against its success in identifying and colleagues also continue to work on the next steps for a data products and water activities both in international GEO and a paper on the GEOSS Water Strategy as well as a paper he gaps and making significant advances. Ms. Belvedere has been North American Water Program (NAWP). in US GEO. Mr. Richard Lawford (sponsor: D. Toll) is involved in co-authored with several NASA colleagues on the contributions researching outstanding NEWS accomplishments, data products, developing applications of NASA data products in areas of water of NASA to capacity building in the Americas. In June 2013, he and 25 pages to date of NEWS publications with number cited for After a successful NEWS Science Team Meeting in May 2013, Ms. resources management and other related societal benefit areas participated in the GEO Work Planning Symposium in Geneva and each. The goal is to have the NEWS 10-Year Summary Document Belvedere along with Drs. Schiffer and Houser engaged 18 newly and enhancing the coordination of GEO water cycle activities in ar- attended the Societal Benefits Implementation Board meeting completed by the upcoming NEWS Science Team Meeting in May awarded projects into NEWS. This included mapping projects to eas of interest to NASA (e.g., drought, precipitation, soil moisture, where he agreed to serve as the co-chair of the Board for the 2014, and to ultimately submit the results as a BAMS paper. Ad- science priorities, determining how best to measure the progress groundwater, evapotranspiration, capacity building, user engage- coming year. As part of the efforts to facilitate the coordination of ditionally, NASA HQ seeks publications annually that will support of NEWS, and defining working groups and leads. The Extremes ment, etc.). Over the past year, specific priorities included the GEO Capacity Building activities, he communicated with NASA and NASA’s contribution of scientific advancement against the follow- working group is focused on understanding severe drought in the following: advancing water cycle and applications topics that sup- NOAA colleagues regarding opportunities. In July 2013, he held ing goal: demonstrate progress in quantifying the key reservoirs U.S. The 2012 drought may not have been predictable as based port NASA planned missions in precipitation, soil moisture, evapo- a seminar at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on the GEOSS and fluxes in the global water cycle and in improving models of on current schemes employed for such purposes, but it may have transpiration, and in the longer term, groundwater, and water level Water Strategy; from this seminar, several new contributions were water cycle change and fresh water availability. Ms. Belvedere been anticipatable due to knowledge of key precursors, such as measurements; supporting the development of the GEO infra- made, most notably by Dr. Christa Peters Lidard. Other Goddard and Dr. Schiffer assisted the HQ Program Manager by gathering favorable (remote) SST patterns, and reduced regional soil mois- structure and coordination framework, particularly in the area of contributors to the report included Drs. Sushel Unninayar and publications and outstanding highlights to prepare documentation ture and winter snow packs. Thus, they are examining the extent Water and in ways that enhance NASA opportunities to contribute George Huffman, and David Toll. He also presented seminars required by the ESS to review and evaluate the ESD progress for to which the 2012 drought could have been anticipated and to to this framework; undertaking analysis of, and providing guid- on the GEOSS Water Strategy that resulted in new inputs to the FY13. Submitted in August 2013, the report included an over- put recent severe droughts in perspective. The Climate Shift ance on, the international context within which NASA water cycle report in October 2013 at the Centre National d’Études Spatiales all summary, key accomplishments, description of high-impact working group’s goal is to better understand changes in the global efforts are carried out, identifying opportunities where NASA ac- (CNES) in Toulouse, France and at the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft research results that appear in peer-reviewed literature and major water cycle related to the “climate shift” which happened in ap- tivities could be beneficial and could have a positive impact, and und Raumfahrt (DLR) in Bonn, Germany. proximately 1998. Questions to be researched: Is the shift real? programmatic accomplishments. advising NASA and developing ways to address these opportuni- How consistent are the data sets and reanalyses in documenting ties; and, developing opportunities for training and capacity build- 50 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 51 Work continued on the GEOSS Water Strategy report and Execu- the Water in the Anthropocene conference in Bonn, Germany, “Using NASA Earth Observations to characterize the 2012 U.S. plays a central role in the outreach of GEWEX through its website, tive Summary until December 2013 when the Executive Sum- where he chaired three sessions and gave presentations in four Drought” based on a preliminary analysis that was published in quarterly newsletter, and through the organization of science mary was submitted to JAXA for printing. Copies of the Executive sessions, including a presentation on Earth Observations and the GEWEX Newsletter. This past year, Mr. Lawford continued to conferences and workshops. IGPO also provides an interface Summary were distributed at the GEO Summit in January 2014 the Water-Energy-Food Nexus, introductory and summary pre- collaborate with Dr. Andrea Hernandez (LSSU) on the analysis of between GEWEX and other WCRP activities, as well as other in Geneva, Switzerland and via the mail. The penultimate draft of sentations for the Global Catchment Initiative of GWSP, and a the relationships between crop yields from the central U.S. and global environmental science programs and the space sciences. the report was also copied to CDs and distributed at the Summit. multi-authored paper on NASA contributions to water security. In western Canada and drought indices derived from satellite data. Further, the Science and Technology Corporation (STC) provides Mr. Lawford submitted the final GEOSS Water Strategy report to November 2013 he served as a member of a high-level panel on Work on NASA application priorities including drought and evapo- directly or indirectly the support required to meet the obligations JAXA in January 2014; JAXA then printed approximately 300 hard the Water-Energy-Food nexus at the Budapest Water conference transpiration will continue, which will include developing analyti- and responsibilities of IGPO and its Director. copies and 1,000 CDs of the report to distribute to contributors (an event hosted by the President of Hungary). He prepared two cal frameworks such as a framework for Earth Observations and and managers who may be able to act on the report’s recom- articles for the December 2013 special issue of the COSUST jour- water resources decision making in the Red River Basin. The Global Energy and Water EXchanges (GEWEX) Project of the mendations. In preparation for the January 2014 GEO Summit nal, and contributed sections to two other articles. Mr. Lawford World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) brings together a sig- in Geneva, Mr. Lawford assisted David Toll and Nancy Searby in will be a co-editor for a proposed special issue of the Sustainabil- Also this past year, Mr. Lawford updated a proposal for a NASA nificant component of the world climate community in joint initia- organizing a NASA-led Side Event on Space and Technology for ity Science journal. He represented EO and WEF activities on the Indicators workshop. This workshop would focus on ways in which tives to advance understanding of the coupled hydrologic and at- Water and presented a paper on Applications of satellites to Wa- Global Water System Project SSC meeting in Bonn, Germany and NASA assets can be used more effectively in providing indicators mospheric processes on a global scale and to apply global water ter Management, as well as a side event to announce the release provided an update at its meeting in May 2013. to support policy makers. He also has held discussions within cycle understanding, observations, and models to the problems of the GEOSS Water Strategy report. He chaired a panel discus- GEO on how satellite data and product development services of climate and water resources around the world. Scientists from sion on the agency responses to the report, and also helped set Based on discussions at the Water in the Anthropocene confer- could be mobilized in support of Sustainable Development. These over 45 countries participate in major GEWEX projects aimed at up the Water Booth with JAXA colleagues, which involved obtain- ence, Mr. Lawford worked with Dr. Cat Downy of the European discussions are targeted for the UN-Water post-2015 global goal quantifying the hydrologic cycle and energy fluxes by means of ing at least five NASA videos, which were played in rotation at the Space Agency (ESA)/IGBP (International Geosphere-Biosphere for water and will be the subject of a presentation at the April global measurements of atmospheric and surface properties; booth, and displaying posters from U.S. colleagues. Mr. Lawford Programme) and Lucie Pluschke of the Food and Agriculture Or- 2014 GEO Work Plan Symposium. modeling the global water cycle and its role in the climate system; developing the ability to predict variations of global and regional also provided substantial input to two videos being prepared for ganization (FAO) to launch a workshop on Earth Observations and Dr. Cheng-Hsuan (Joseph) Lyu (sponsor: E. Kim) supports JPSS, hydrologic processes and water resources and their response to the GEO Summit, including one on a journey of discovery related the Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus. The workshop was held including NPP/ATMS and VIIRS pre-launch testing and post-launch environmental change; and fostering the development of observa- to the water cycle (for the GEO Summit) and a second on capacity March 25-27, 2014 at FAO, Rome, Italy. In preparation for this sensor calibration and validation and algorithm development, tional techniques, as well as data management and assimilation building in Asia and Africa (for the GEO Plenary). He chaired two meeting, Mr. Lawford helped to set up a website for the confer- as well as subsequent JPSS/ATMS sensors testing, characteriza- systems. GEWEX activities involve understanding and modeling sessions of the Societal Benefits Implementation Board, which ence, sent out invitations to GWSP contacts, developed a draft tion and/or algorithm development. He requested, downloaded land-atmosphere coupling and cloud system processes, global oversees the individual SBA tasks. In late April/early May 2014, of the workshop agenda and prepared questions for the various and processed ATMS RDR daily data and generated ATMS NEdT data set development, water resource applications, and the effec- Mr. Lawford will attend the 2014 GEO Work Plan Symposium in breakout groups. At the workshop he made three presentations, monthly performance trending reports, which were sent to the tive use of Earth Observations in climate science. Geneva, where he will give three presentations, co-chair two ses- chaired two summary sessions involving interactions between the JPSS ATMS instrument manager and his sponsor Dr. Kim. Dr. Lyu sions, and chair Societal Benefit Implementation Board meetings breakout groups and developing a workshop summary overview. supported the following meetings: NPP weekly tag-up team meet- He also participated in post-workshop meetings; at present, work In fall 2013, STC provided the support required to meet the before and after the Symposium. ings, biweekly ATMS SDR telecons, J1 TVAC review meetings with obligations and responsibilities of IGPO and its Director. This continues on the preparation of a workshop summary. Subse- the ATMS SDR team, the J1 ATMS Thermal Vacuum Testing brief- quently, in March 2014, Mr. Lawford was invited to develop a included providing support to the GEWEX SSG and its Chair and The United States is one of the founding members of GEO. In ings, and the ATMS Discrepancy Report Algorithm Team meetings. Vice-Chair; assisting with the coordination and implementation 2013, the U.S. took steps to strengthen its national program in proposal on behalf of the Global Water System Project (GWSP) for He used TRMM/TMI to demonstrate problematic issues related to Future Earth. The proposal involved expanding the role of Earth of the Second Phase of GEWEX and plans for the Third Phase water by establishing a GEO committee under the NSTC Com- the recent ATMS SDR code updates. He also completed the ATMS (post-2013) through GEWEX Panels, Working Groups, and the mittee of Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainability. Observations in the water, energy and food sectors based on Lunar Intrusion mitigation reports, which were later presented discussions at the EO in the WEF Security Nexus workshop held in SSG; coordinating the formation of new Working Groups, Panels, As a result of this strengthened mandate, NASA has moved to in the April ATMS SDR review. Going forward, he will continue to and related activities in areas of GEWEX requiring further support; strengthen the U.S. GEO Water Task. During fall 2013, Mr. Lawford Rome, and GWSP submitted the proposal to Future Earth in early coordinate with all ATMS SDR team members, including NOAA/ April. If approved, the proposal will provide opportunities for NASA reporting on and assisting others in reporting on GEWEX activities helped to organize a preliminary U.S. GEO meeting and provided STAR, MITLL, Space Dynamics Lab, NGAS and Raytheon to sup- to international bodies and government agencies; providing direct an overview of the connections between both the U.S. and the participation, as well as contributions from GEWEX, FAO, ESA and port JPSS/NPP/ATMS calibration and validation activities. GEO, among others. Mr. Lawford contributed to planning the May support to WCRP on all aspects of GEWEX and its implementa- international GEO Water activities. He also helped to organize and tion; implementing an outreach program for GEWEX via various 2014 GWSP-UNEP workshop on the WEF Nexus, where he will In spring 2014, Dr. Lyu went to NGES, in Azusa, LA, to support chaired a Town Hall meeting on the U.S. GEO water program at communication; representing GEWEX at scientific conferences chair a special session on Earth Observations and the Nexus. In and monitor JPSS 1 ATMS TVAC testing. The focus was to monitor the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting. Mr. Lawford provided input to presen- and other international forums through scientific presentations the coming year, he will work on developing the theme of Earth ATMS calibration and repeatability test. He helped to debug the tations for an April 2014 U.S. GEO workshop, as well as input to a and exhibitions; facilitating the development of cross-cutting Observations linkages to the Water-Energy-Food Nexus and to the problem and confirmed that NGES collected sufficient data to vali- framework and outline for a U.S. GEO Water Strategy/initiative. issues and the linkages of GEWEX with other programs such water aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals. This will date the sensor performance. He will be visiting NGES again in as Future Earth (formerly ESSP, IGBP, IHDP and Diversitas) and involve the development of a plan for a workshop on Earth Obser- May and June 2014 to monitor J1 ATMS TVAC calibration testing. Water, energy and food are interconnected in many ways. For ex- the IPCC; preparing and publishing meeting reports and other ample, food production uses 70% of the water that is consumed vations and Indicators. Dr. Robert Schiffer (sponsor: D. Toll) serves as the Principal documents relevant to GEWEX; managing travel requests from by human activities while approximately 33% of the world’s scientists to attend GEWEX meetings; reviewing plans from WCRP energy is consumed by farm operations, chemical fertilizers for NASA supplies a wide range of products for drought monitor- Investigator for the NASA Grant covering the operation of the ing, many of which were available for use during the 2012 U.S. International GEWEX Project Office (IGPO). The IGPO facilitates and other environmental programs, providing input to planning crops, crop harvesting, and food transportation and processing. In documents for WCRP and other programs, and responding to order to support sustainability in water and energy, it is essential drought. Through the application of drought products, there was and coordinates GEWEX research across GEWEX studies, activi- an opportunity to inventory and assess the drought, and Mr. ties, and products, oversees the implementation of recommenda- numerous requests for information about the GEWEX program to understand and manage the connections of water and energy and data sets; and representing WCRP in the International Global with the food sector. In May 2013, Mr. Lawford participated in Lawford and several NASA colleagues co-authored a paper titled tions given by the GEWEX Scientific Steering Group (SSG), and

52 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 53 Water Cycle Observations Community of Practice (IGWCO-COP) Question on Global Water Resource Systems, and hosted by Dr. teorological Society and the AGU newsletter, EOS. As a part of the to the conference website. theme and Science Advisory Group through the provision of sec- Howard Wheater at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, planning for this Conference and future events, IGPO contacted retariat services and contributions to the GEO, where appropriate. Canada, in early June 2013. IGPO tracked all funding requests the Young Hydrologic Society (YHS), a newly developed network for The Director of IGPO co-chaired the International Soil Moisture In planning for GEWEX Phase III, IGPO incorporated comments and drafted a report that will form the basis for the Science and young scientists in the field of hydrology, regarding collaboration Working Group, one of the drivers in establishing the global soil received during the SSG meeting into the GEWEX Science Ques- Implementation Plan for this Grand Challenge by highlighting with GEWEX, including exchange of information (on internships, moisture in-situ network, and supports the ESA Water Cycle tion 1 (Observations and Predictions of Precipitation) and GEWEX knowledge gaps and specifying the steps to address them. Other meetings, awards, activities, etc.), a mentorship program, and Multi-Mission Observation Strategy as the Chair of the Advisory Science Question 2 (Global Water Resource Systems) reports. work involved planning for GEWEX Phase III (Post- 2013). IGPO the involvement of early career scientists at international events Board. He supports the European Union project GLOWASIS as a IGPO polled Panel members on their activities related to GSQ-3 coordinated and participated in two workshops in June 2013 and and summer schools. IGPO hopes to engage the YHS members in scientific advisor and as a member of its Science Advisory Board. (Monsoon and Extremes activities within GEWEX). The responses, subsequently prepared, distributed for comment, and finalized supporting and organizing GEWEX workshops, having them report As an organizing committee member of the ESA/EUMETSAT/ which were summarized and distributed in a white paper, will be the reports and recommendations of these workshops that ad- from workshops, and write scientific articles related to GEWEX. GEWEX/CEOS Satellite Soil Moisture Validation and Application addressed by the WCRP Grand Challenge on Extremes. dressed GSQ-1 (Observations and Predictions of Precipitation) Workshop, the Director of IGPO participated in the workshop held and GSQ-2 (Global Water Resource Systems). Additionally, IGPO IGPO assisted with the preparation of the GHP annual report to July 1-3, 2013 at ESRIN in Frascati, Italy. Furthermore, the IGPO The Director of IGPO co-chairs the International Soil Moisture coordinated a two-day science and implementation workshop held the GEWEX SSG; prepared the report of the GHP Business meet- Director serves on the Executive Board of the Science Committee Working Group, and supports the ESA Water Cycle Multi-Mission in mid-July 2013 in Reading, UK that focused on developing a ing, and drafted a GEWEX Newsletter article summarizing the for the IGWCO CoP of the GEO, and provides input to the Water Observation Strategy (WACMOS) as the Chair of the Advisory draft plan for a GHP Regional Hydroclimate Project (RHP) related outcome of the meeting; presented a brief talk on the proposed Cycle Societal Benefit Area under GEO; serves on the Board of the Board. He supports the European Union project Global Water to the Hydrology of the Lake Victorian Basin (HyVic). Agenda high- HyVic RHP at the GEOSS Joint Asia-Africa Water Cycle Sympo- Helmholz Alliance as a user group representative; and serves on Scarcity Information Service (GLOWASIS) as a scientific advisor lights were sessions on issues and impacts of the hydrological sium; began action to coordinate rotation of membership of the the Board of the FP7 Project Earth2Observe Project. and is a member of its Science Advisory Board. The Director of cycle of the Lake Victoria Basin region associated with extremes GHP in accordance with Panel Terms of Reference and GEWEX IGPO also serves on the Executive Board of the Science Commit- (e.g., floods and droughts), the water and energy budget, and standard practices. IGPO develops, publishes, and distributes The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, GEWEX and CLIVAR co-sponsored tee for the Integrated Global Water Cycle Observations (IGWCO) hydrological applications, as well as other topics relevant to ca- GEWEX News, a quarterly published newsletter with a distribution a workshop on the use of GRACE data to monitor, simulate, and Community of Practice (COP) of the GEO, and provides input to pacity building and education. After this HyVic planning meeting, of approximately 2,000 (past issues are available on the GEWEX understand ongoing changes in the Earth’s hydrosphere and the Water Cycle Societal Benefit Area under GEO. IGPO coordi- participants agreed that there was enough international interest website). The August issue announced the call for abstracts and water cycle that was held in mid-July 2013 in Los Angeles, CA. nated two small focused workshops to address GEWEX planning to form a HyVic Regional Hydroclimate Project (RHP). IGPO sup- provided descriptions of sessions for the 7th International Scien- Additionally, IGPO and the CLIVAR Project Office conduct monthly for the WCRP Grand Challenges. A workshop on global water re- ported the formation of a HyVic International Planning Committee tific Conference on the Global Water and Energy Cycle to be held teleconferences to review and discuss the coordination of their source systems co-chaired by the GEWEX Hydroclimatology Panel (IPC); the first IPC meeting was held as a side event during the July 14-17, 2014 at the World Forum in The Hague, The Neth- collaborative activities. IGPO is supporting the development of a (GHP) and the Global Land/Atmosphere System Study (GLASS) African Climate Conference 2013, held in mid-October 2013 in erlands. The issue also featured results from the GEWEX cloud new CLIVAR/GEWEX task group on extreme weather and climate Panel was held in Saskatoon, Canada in June 2013. Another Arusha, Tanzania, where the IGPO Director presented a poster assessment, and activities of GHP projects, such as BALTEX and that was requested by the JSC. workshop on the Observations and Precipitation Grand Challenge, on the GEWEX Science Questions and African climate research. HyVic, and a new crosscutting project on short timescale precipi- Over the past year, IGPO staff supported or attended approxi- co-chaired by the GEWEX Data and Assessments Panel (GDAP) IGPO worked with the local organizer from the University of Rio de tation extremes. mately 15 meetings; at several, an IGPO staff member gave a and the Global Atmospheric System Studies (GASS) Panel, was Janeiro for joint GDAP and GHP meetings held in Rio de Janeiro in presentation or talk. IGPO also is assisting the interim BSRN held in Ft. Collins, CO in late June 2013. As a part of this effort, early September 2013. These meetings included joint GHP/GDAP Periodically IGPO distributes a GEWEX electronic newsletter that project manager in making arrangements for the next BSRN IGPO sent out invitations, assisted in developing the agendas, and sessions, individual panel sessions, and a two-day meeting with includes recent news of interest to the GEWEX community that meeting, which is to be held at the Institute of Atmospheric Sci- coordinated travel requests. local and regional scientists on topics of importance to society is time sensitive, including calls for papers and research and ences and Climate (ISAC) of the Italian National Research Council and climate services in Brazil. Members of GHP and GDAP exam- position announcements. IGPO hosts, maintains, and updates the (CNR) in Bologna, Italy from May 26-30, 2014. Looking ahead, IGPO worked with the GEWEX Panel chairs and SSG Chair to ined issues related to the panel roles in GEWEX, as well as shared GEWEX website, which provides recent GEWEX science results, GEWEX summer sessions are being organized at Delft University prepare the GEWEX presentation for the JSC meeting, which the interests in data development and validation. overviews of the structure and organization of GEWEX and its proj- Director of IGPO attended along with the GEWEX SSG Chair. IGPO ects, access to GEWEX reports and publications and GEWEX data of Technology from July 10-12, 2014 on water and radiation top- organized, attended, and supported the 26th Session of the IGPO is leading the planning for the 7th International GEWEX Sci- sets, updates on recent and planned activities, and a calendar of ics, and IGPO is assisting the organizers in finding sponsors and GEWEX SSG, held in late October 2013 at NCAR, in Boulder, CO. entific Conference on the Global Energy and Water Cycle and As- project meetings and conferences. IGPO was involved in the mod- investigating transportation options for the students. IGPO maintained the meeting website and assisted with travel sociated Meetings, and chairing the Conference Local Organizing ernization and update of the GEWEX logo design, which has been Dr. Robert Schiffer (sponsor: D. Toll) works under another task requests. At this meeting, IGPO presented a status report of the Committee, which is composed of representatives from Wagenin- finalized. The GEWEX website is being revamped into a responsive wherein he provides general technical and managerial support GEWEX activities being coordinated by the office, prepared a list gen University, WCRP, NOAA, and IGPO. IGPO has finalized the design that is easy to read on tablets and cell phones. In addition, and assistance to the Earth Science Division at NASA Head- of recommendations and actions from the meeting, compiled program and conference themes in coordination with the confer- IGPO is developing a stand-alone website to handle the registra- quarters, specifically GEWEX, the NASA Energy and Water Study the rapporteur reports and drafted the meeting report, which ence co-chairs and GEWEX panel chairs, as well as the science tion, collection of abstracts, and requests for travel funding for (NEWS), and the North American Water Program (NAWP). For will eventually be published as a WCRP document. Key activities committees and lodging arrangements. IGPO has developed a GEWEX conferences and meetings. As a member of the WCRP NEWS, he supported the planning of the May 2014 NEWS Sci- included reviewing results from recent workshops on the GEWEX conference budget and sponsorship package; many national and Communications Team, IGPO participates in periodic strategy ence Team meeting, the oversight and coordination of NEWS Science Questions and developing an implementation strategy for international agencies have expressed interest in sponsoring the teleconferences, reviews reports, and updates databases. WCRP Science Working Groups (Climate Shift, Energy Cycle, Clouds and advancing these topics. conference. In coordination with the Wageningen University LOC sent the IGPO 800 copies of the hardbound book, “Climate Sci- Radiation, Drought and Flood Extremes), the responses to NASA member, IGPO is investigating keynote speakers and pursuing ence for Serving Society: Research, Modeling and Prediction Pri- HQ requests, including assistance in compiling the 2013 GPRA With IGPO assistance, the GEWEX Hydroclimatology Panel (GHP) agency and university funding for the Conference. The Conference orities,” which were mailed to the U.S. and Canadian participants report, the organization of Workshops on Water Cycle Missions led the advancement of the WCRP Grand Challenge and GEWEX sessions were finalized by the conveners in November and an- of the WCRP Open Science Conference held in October 2011. The and the implementation of the peer review process for the current Science Questions related to the WCRP Water Strategy. A meeting nounced, along with a call for abstracts, in the GEWEX newsletter. book contains WCRP research priorities that emerged from the Water Cycle ROSES solicitation. was organized that addressed the WCRP Global Grand Challenge IGPO placed calls for abstracts in the Bulletin of the American Me- Conference. After the conference, IGPO added the presentations on Past and Future Changes in Water and the GEWEX Science Dr. Schiffer also assisted with coordinating the planning for the 54 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 55 the NAWP through development of documentation to be used for merging satellite observations of the MODIS snow cover, the output using various sources of independent obser- soliciting Federal Agency support. The objective of NAWP is to Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing vations including 1) the MODIS/Terra daily SCF, 2) entrain, integrate and coordinate the vast array of interdisciplinary System (AMSR-E) brightness temperature (Tb), and the GRACE ter- the IMS snow cover data, 3) the Canadian Meteo- observational and prediction resources available to significantly restrial water storage change to generate spatially and temporally rological Centre (CMC) daily snow depth and snow advance skill in predicting as well as assessing and managing continuous global snow water equivalent fields at high resolu- water equivalent (SWE) estimates, 4) the snowpack variability and changes in North American water resources, as tions. Over the past year, Dr. Toure implemented a coupling of the telemetry (SNOTEL) SWE, and 5) the Cooperative an integral part of the global climate system. The mission is to Community Land Model version 04 with the Microwave Emission Station snow depth. The results showed agree- advance measurement and prediction of North American energy Model of Layered Snowpacks (MEMLS) to simulate snow Tb. The ment between CLM4 and MODIS SCF observations and water variations, trends, and extremes, thereby providing coupling constituted the first step toward assimilating the Tb and CLM4 with IMS snow cover product, especially scientific underpinnings of future climate services and water into CLM4 using the Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART) in February when snow cover extent was at its resource reliability. NAWP would exploit the vast North American developed at the NCAR. CLM4 snow model is a one-dimensional maximum. Large discrepancies between the model observation networks to understand a wide variety of regional cli- vertical multi-layer snow model which simulates processes such and the observations were found in areas with deep mates and enable science, technology and solution transferability as snow accumulation, depletion, densification, metamorphism, snow and complex topography. The paper is cur- across these regions. NAWP would build upon previous North and percolation and refreezing of water. The snow radiative rently being reviewed by co-authors. American contributions to GEWEX, but will include the broader transfer model, MEMLS, was used as an observational operator to climate, carbon, ecology, and decision communities. As such, it predict Tb observations. The snow radiative transfer model used As Education Specialist for GPM, Ms. Kristen Weav- will address more than just the physical Earth System and include CLM4 snow model outputs including each layer of snow, tempera- er (sponsor: D. Kirschbaum) manages and supports human impacts and infrastructure; NAWP is expected to provide ture, thickness, density, liquid water content, and effective grain multiple projects within the GPM Education/Public an integrating continental scale framework for both large-scale size. Snow Tbs were computed at frequencies corresponding to Outreach portfolio. She develops new Digital Learn- studies, and basin and field-scale projects. that of the AMSR-E (6.9 GHz, 10.7 GHz, 18.7 GHz, 23.8 GHz, 36.5 ing Network events, and supports teacher work- GHz, and 89.0 GHz). The main contributions to the snow micro- shops, reviews lesson plans for Master Teachers, Mr. Thomas Stanley (sponsor: D. Kirschbaum) has been working wave emission measured by a spaceborne radiometer include: develops and implements outreach activities, works on the development of a landslide susceptibility map and global 1) upward soil microwave emission; 2) the contribution from the with GPM Student Ambassadors, and participates landslide inventory in support of The Landslide Hazard Assess- snowpack (emission/scattering); 3) the combined contribution in GPM E/PO-related conferences, presentations, ment and Forecasting System in Mesoamerica, “a straightfor- from the canopy and the snowpack, 4) contributions from the and workshops. ward, easily-interpreted set of landslide hazard assessment and forest canopy; 5) contributions from the atmosphere. MEMLS forecasting products available in near-real time for SERVIR-Meso- This past year, from a LEGO model of the Global simulates the first two contributions. In order to account for the Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission Core america”. To compile this map and inventory, media reports from last three contributions, Dr. Toure incorporated atmosphere and around the world were examined for information about landslides, Observatory created by the Mountaineer Area Ro- vegetation microwave transmissivity models into the MEMLS botics program, Ms. Weaver developed an instruc- specifically data such as location, time, casualties, size, and spa- to improve prediction of snow brightness temperature at the tial uncertainty. This information is currently being developed into tion booklet for building the model with embedded top of the atmosphere. The predicted Tbs were then assessed information about the technology and engineering an interactive web database by Vightel Corporation. The first press against AMSR-E Tb observations for the Northern Hemisphere coverage of this inventory can be found at: behind the GPM satellite, links to videos, and edu- during 2002-2010. The results showed that the predicted Tbs cational activities. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140422- were unbiased in areas with low and moderate snow depth (e.g. surveying-american-landslides-interactive/. As mentioned in the Canadian, US Prairies and Eastern Siberia) and have high bias in Ms. Weaver participated in several GPM-related National Geographic article, “The March 2014 landslide in Oso, areas with deep snowpack and dense forest cover, and complex outreach events, such as the education tables that Washington, called attention to the lack of a national system to topography (e.g. Quebec, Southern Russia, Rocky Mountain and displayed information about the science and tech- monitor landslide data.” Tibetan Plateau). Additionally, Dr. Toure worked with collabora- nology of GPM at the Rockville Science Day on April tors at NCAR to implement snow radiance assimilation into CLM4 One component of a nearly real-time landslide model currently 6th (4,000 attendees), at AwesomeCon (40,000 through the NCAR DART. Tests of the implementation performed attendees), at Earth Day at Union Station; estimated under development is TRMM precipitation data (to be replaced by ter Challenge from 2013 will be used to create stories to teach in some areas of Alaska with winter snow cover (October to April) at least several thousand), and at the USA Science and Engineer- GPM products in the future). Another is a landslide susceptibility students about the science, technology and applications of GPM have demonstrated promising results. Future plans include vali- ing Festival (325,000 attendees). map that represents relatively static risk factors. The first version dating the assimilation results by comparing to the MODIS snow and its data. Also, several teacher workshops are planned for the of this map was completed in December 2013, and is currently cover fraction (SCF), the Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice For this year’s Take Your Child to Work Day at Goddard, held April summer in which the GPM E/PO team will participate by provid- being evaluated prior to the creation of a second version. Mr. Mapping System (IMS) snow cover, the Canadian Meteorological 24, 2014, the GPM E/PO team, in collaboration with the Goddard ing programming, including for the Pennsylvania Multiregional Stanley’s upcoming work will include an evaluation of perfor- Center (CMC) daily snow analysis products, the cooperative sta- Office of Communication, hosted Goddard employees and their Science and Mathematics Partnership at Goddard Space Flight mance of a combined static/dynamic landslide model for Central tions (COOP), snowpack telemetry (SNOTEL) SWE observations, children at the Visitor Center. Activities included viewing a live Center in June, and in collaboration with the SMAP mission at America, and he plans to develop a first-draft susceptibility map the European Space Agency (ESA) snow water equivalent prod- downlink from the International Space Station, a presentation Wallops Flight Facility in July. Finally, an article about the GPM for the Himalayan Region. He will also work on creating a global uct (GlobSnow), and snow depth observations derived from the by GPM Applications Scientist Dr. Dalia Kirschbaum, and various Rain EnGAUGE program submitted to The Earth Scientist, the jour- inventory of landslides that occur in 2014. Global Positioning System reflection data from the Plate Boundary hands-on activities. Attendance at the event was over 600 adults nal of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, should be Observatory water project (PBO H2O). appearing in the June issue. Dr. Ally M. Toure (sponsor: M. Rodell) is involved in a project in and children throughout the day. which the primary goal is to develop an optimized approach for A paper by Dr. Toure presents the assessment CLM4 snow model In the coming months, the winners of the GPM Anime Charac-

56 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 57 CODE 618: BIOSPHERIC SCIENCES LABORATORY ease outbreaks during the 2010-2012 period. They used 2000- ACMAP research project through 2012 vegetation index and land surface temperature data from analysis of ozone and water vapor Dr. Assaf Anyamba (sponsor: C. Tucker) conducts research using NASA’s satellite-based MODIS to map the magnitude and extent from 3D models and observations, time-series satellite vegetation index measurements from vari- of these anomalies for diverse regions including the continental and supported the ACCRI (Aviation ous satellite instruments; focuses on land surface response to United States, Russia, East Africa, Southern Africa, and Austra- Climate Change Research Initia- interannual climate variability associated with El Niño/Southern lia. They demonstrated that significant shifts in temperature tive) research program (Dr. Henry Oscillation (ENSO), drought pattern analysis; and examines long- and/or precipitation significant impacts on vegetation patterns Selkirk, PI), providing his expertise term trends and dynamics of vegetation patterns, development with attendant consequences for agriculture and public health. in the studies of modeling aviation of long-term data records (LTDRs) of the biosphere and links be- Weather extremes resulted in excessive rainfall and flooding as climate impact. Dr. Damoah also tween climate variability and vector-borne disease outbreaks. He well as severe drought, which caused ~10-80% variation in major was involved in NASA’s field flight leads and develops research analysis and applications develop- agricultural commodity production (including wheat, corn, cot- measurement, Airborne Tropical ment for global agricultural and drought monitoring for the USDA ton, sorghum) and created exceptional conditions for extensive TRopopause EXperiment (ATTREX), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), climate variability and vector- mosquito-borne disease outbreaks of dengue, Rift Valley fever, providing his valuable knowledge in borne disease prediction mapping, and works in conjunction with Murray Valley encephalitis, and West Nile fever. Analysis of MODIS meteorological and tracer transport the USDA Center for Medical, Agricultural & Veterinary Entomology data provided a standardized method for quantifying the extreme forecasts in the flight planning. This (CMAVE) and the FDA. weather anomalies observed during this period. They concluded past year, Dr. Damoah participated Dr. Anyamba and his team updated the Global Inventory Modeling that assessments of land surface conditions from satellite-based in the SEAC4RS field experiment as a and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) analysis of Sahelian vegetation systems such as MODIS can be a valuable tool in national, re- member of the flight planning team. dynamics and trends using the normalized difference vegetation gional, and global weather impact determinations. Results from index (NDVI; version 3g) 1981 to 2012 data set. They compared this work were published in PLOS One and featured on Simple In early 2014, Dr. Damoah took a the annual NDIV3g and July-to-October growing season averages Climate Blog. teaching position at Morgan State with the three rainfall data sets: the Africa Rainfall Climatology University. In addition, he has Dr. Richard Damoah worked under two tasks this past year from 1983 to 2012, the Variability Analyses of Surface Climate helped Morgan State University (sponsors: C. Tucker and A. Douglass). He supports the FDA’s Observations Version-1.1 from 1951 to 2000, and the Nicholson purchase a weather station to aid in interagency agreement between scientists at FDA’s Center for ground-station precipitation rainfall data from 1981 to 1994. a meteorology course he has devel- Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CSFAN) and NASA Goddard They also utilized the Nicholson ground-station annual precipi- oped for fall 2014. Space Flight Center on designing, building and operating a Geo- tation data to determine the reliability of the two continental spatial Risk Assessment Model of environmental contamination Mr. Thomas Eck (sponsor: B. Hol- precipitation data sets for specific locations and specific times, of produce by enteric pathogens. The model was designed and ben) investigates the optical proper- extrapolate these confirmed relationships over the Sahelian Zone tested over California, where ~80% of all produce consumed in ties of atmospheric aerosols within from 1983 to 2012 with the Africa Rainfall Climatology, and then the U.S. are grown. With his expertise in meteorology and climate, AERONET as they relate to being place these zonal findings within the 1951 to 2000 record of the his primary role was to investigate the met/climatic variables as- applied to studies of the effects of Variability Analyses of Surface Climate Observations Version-1.1 sociated with Pathogen activity. He also supports CHORI (Chil- aerosols on the atmospheric radia- precipitation data set. They confirmed that the extreme nature of dren’s Hospital and Research Center at Oakland); this effort is tion balance and climate, and for the the 1984–1985 Sahelian drought, a signature event that marked led by Dr. Anyamba is to investigate the burden of Chikungunya validation of satellite retrievals of the minima during the 1980s desiccation period followed within virus (CHIKV) and Dengue virus (DENV) transmission, infection aerosol properties. His work centers ten years by near-maxima rainfall event in 1994 and positive and disease in Kenya. Dr. Damoah’s role is to extract, process on analyzing measurements made by departures is NDVI, marking the beginning of predominantly and analyze NOAA’s ARC (African Rainfall Climatology) rainfall automatic sun-sky scanning radiom- wetter conditions that have persisted to 2012. They also showed data at the study locations and make the data available to the eters that are globally distributed as the NDVI3g data capture “effective” rainfall, the rainfall that is project members. As part of CHORI he has constructed a system a part of the NASA-managed Aerosol utilized by plants to grow, as compared to rainfall that evaporates for the analysis of NOAA’s ARC rainfall data (see http://acdb-ext. Robotic Network (AERONET). Ground- or is runoff. Using the effective rainfall concept, they estimated gsfc.nasa.gov/People/Damoah/SEAC4RS/CHORI). Dr. Damoah based remote sensing retrievals that average effective rainfall for the entire Sahelian Zone for the presented his analysis of Relative Humidity and Pathogen detec- of aerosol optical properties are 1984 extreme drought was 223 mm/yr as compared to 406 mm/ tion to the FDA as part of the Geospatial Risk Assessment Model analyzed to better understand the yr during the 1994 wet period. They concluded that NDVI3g data of environmental contamination of produce by enteric pathogens. dynamics of aerosol properties as a can used as a proxy for analyzing and interpreting decadal-scale In the coming year, Dr. Damoah will continue his analysis of RH function of source region, transport, land surface variability and trends over semi-arid lands. The Figure: Time-longitude section of monthly NDVI from July 1981 to December 2012 averaged and pathogen detection as part of the FDA’s Geospatial Risk As- aging processes, and interaction results of this work were published in Remote Sensing as part between 10 deg. N to 20 deg. N from 18 deg. W to 40 deg. E. (A) monthly evolution of NDVI sessment Model of environmental contamination by pathogens. with clouds. His work over the past of the Special Issue Monitoring Global Vegetation with AVHRR and (B) the corresponding monthly NDVI z-scores showing dry conditions in the 1980s and He will also update the system he constructed for the analysis of year has resulted in several papers NDVI3g Data (1981-2011). predominantly greener than normal conditions from 1994 to 2012. (Credit: A. Anyamba) NOAA’s ARC rainfall data as part of CHORI, and together with Dr. in various stages of publication (at the time of this report, two submit- Dr. Anyamba and his multidisciplinary team from USDA/ARS Anyamba (PI) he will travel to the field in Kenya in August 2014. ted, two in review, and six pub- and USDA/FAS analyzed and documented significant worldwide For his other task, which ended mid-year, he supported the lished), as well as his participation weather anomalies that affected agriculture and vector-borne dis-

58 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 59 as a co-convenor at a conference session at the 2013 AGU Fall on simulating and evaluating photosynthesis outputs at selected that (a) there is a persistent source of energetic calcium located execution on Mars, marking another successful first-time event Meeting, plus three related presentations. flux tower sites, in order to improve the model and evaluate input in the dawn equatorial region, (b) there is a seasonal dependence for SAM. Curiosity is about to begin a new science campaign at a data. Since she began work with GESTAR, gross primary produc- in the calcium source rate, and (c) there are no obvious year-to- new site named “Kimberley”, which will be the third drill loca- Upcoming work involves Mr. Eck’s participation in the multi-in- tion (GPP) from the new MODIS product fAPARchl has been simu- year variations in the near-surface dayside calcium exosphere. tion in the mission. The drilled samples will be delivered to SAM vestigator DISCOVER-AQ field campaign in summer 2014. He will lated by both models CLM4.0 and CLM4.5 in selected flux tower Although the precise mechanism responsible for ejecting the cal- and analyzed using new techniques which Dr. Malespin helped perform Cimel instrument maintenance and troubleshooting on sites over cropland from 2001 to 2006. For each simulation, the cium has not been determined yet, the most likely process is the develop and test. The Curiosity rover completed one Earth year multiple AERONET sites within the AERONET Distributed Regional results were compared with default CLM default GPP, MODIS dissociation of Ca-bearing molecules produced in micrometeoroid on Mars, August 5, 2013, a major milestone for the mission and Aerosol Gridded Observation (DRAGON) network in the greater LAI-derived GPP and flux tower-measured GPP. Future work will impact plumes to form energetic, escaping calcium atoms. half of the nominal prime mission. In celebration, Curiosity ‘sang’ Denver-Boulder-Colorado Springs region during the aircraft flight involve conifer forest and other deciduous forest flux tower sites “Happy Birthday” to itself using the SAM shaker motors. This interval of this field campaign. He also will work on analyzing the to evaluate GPP simulations. Dr. Yao is preparing a related poster CODE 699: PLANETARY ENVIRONMENTS LABORATORY script was developed and tested on the SAM testbed at NASA measured Aerosol Optical Depth and retrieved size distributions presentation for an upcoming AMS meeting. Goddard, where Dr. Malespin provided testbed operations. In associated with aerosol-cloud interactions using AERONET data Dr. Charles Malespin (sponsor: P. Mahaffy) works on the devel- August 2014, Curiosity will have completed two Earth years on acquired during the DRAGON-Korea, DRAGON-Japan and DRAG- Dr. Qingyuan Zhang (sponsor: E. Middleton) has been leading the opment and testing of experimental procedures for the Sample Mars. This milestone will complete the nominal mission, with an ON-California field campaigns in spring 2012 and winter 2013. A NASA-funded projects for the retrieval of fraction of photosyntheti- Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite. He is the lead testbed extended mission taking the rover to the base of Mt. Sharp. journal paper related to this analysis will be prepared. cally active radiation absorbed by chlorophyll through canopies operator for the SAM testbed at GSFC. He is also part of the (fAPARchl), which is critical to estimating vegetation gross primary MSL Science and Tactical team and serves as the SAM strategic As product development lead of the MEMS pirani pressure sensor For one task, Dr. Hank Margolis (sponsor: R. Nelson) works production (GPP), an important parameter of global carbon cycle science lead. The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) was launched of the MOMA instrument for the ExoMars 2018 rover, Dr. Adrian toward developing an analytic and statistical framework for studies and climate change studies. Dr. Zhang has been support- in November 2011 and the Curiosity rover landed in Gale Crater, Southard (sponsor: S. Getty) is responsible for the operation, estimating the aboveground forest biomass of different regions of ing and will continue to support the two NASA hyperspectral satel- Mars on August 6, 2012. The SAM instrument measured the first calibration, and integration of a fast-responding MEMS pirani North America using a combination of ground plots, airborne lidar, lite missions: the ongoing Earth Observing One (EO-1) satellite in situ radiometric and exposure age dating on another planetary pressure sensor for flight. This entails delivery of two calibrated and spaceborne lidar. As Chief Scientist, he has completed the mission and the future Hyperspectral Infrared Imaging (HyspIRI) body. This experiment was developed, tested, and analyzed by gauges to each of the following systems: the engineering test unit, AMIGA-Mexico Airborne Campaign, which involved concluding the satellite mission. Dr. Zhang’s research has resulted in several Dr. Malespin and team from January-October 2013. The results the MOMA test bed, QSM, and flight. Dr. Southard demonstrated airborne G-LiHT data acquisitions and returning equipment and publications this past year. One paper demonstrates that conifer- were peer reviewed and published in the journal Science with Dr. that a MEMS pirani sensor selected for pressure measurement data. The next steps involved transferring the data and setting ous needleleaf and deciduous broad-leaf forests change chemical Malespin as second author. The results are considered one of in the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) instrument (part up a data archive for the AMIGA-Mexico G-LiHT data. He worked compositions along seasons, which results in variations of fAPAR- the highlights of the Curiosity mission to date and were a major of the ESA-led Exomars rover mission) would not respond fast on data processing and verification, and wrote data documenta- foliage, fAPARchl and fAPARnon-chl. This paper, published in IEEE accomplishment for SAM. Additionally, Dr. Malespin and others enough to meet the requirements of the mission. He developed tion so that his collaborators in Mexico could access the data. JSTAR, was the first publication to address such findings. were recognized with NASA awards for their work on SAM and on a physics-based algorithm to speed up pressure prediction and He presented a summary on this data collection and worked with the Curiosity mission. compensate for ambient temperature changes in the pressure Mexican scientists on data acquisition, and attended a workshop His other papers explored the usefulness of integrating SIF and prediction. The algorithm required a series of calibrations. He organized by the U.S. Forest Service to bring together Mexican PRI for crop GPP estimation, reported the impact of light use effi- SAM completed its first combustion experiment on a previously performed experiments to characterize the sensor’s susceptibil- and U.S. scientists working on forest lidar. Dr. Margolis will con- ciency and fPAR parameterization on GPP modeling, and provided cached Cumberland mudstone sample. The experiment was ity to electromagnetic interference, its lifetime, and its sensitivity tinue his analysis of AMIGA-Mexico data for ecological studies. an analysis of the impacts of MODIS footprint and vegetation developed and tested by Dr. Malespin at NASA Goddard before its to gas composition and ambient temperature, and developed Other work involves compiling results and developing figures and BRDF characteristics on GPP estimation. Dr. Zhang will be lead- scripts to analyze sensor data; this tables for reporting the results on analyzing the aboveground ing work on two proposals awarded by NASA. was used to procure equipment for forest carbon content of the North American boreal forest using improved calibration precision. To airborne lidar and ICESat GLAS sampling. A related manuscript is CODE 695: PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES LABORA- assist with such efforts, he wrote an in progress. TORY internal proposal to hire an assis- tant, Tomoko Adachi, to the MOMA For this second task, Dr. Hank Margolis (sponsor: B. Cook) as- Dr. Matthew Burger (sponsor: R. Killen) has been modeling data team. He continues to work closely sists with the development of biomass estimates from lidar and with Mrs. Adachi to calibrate gauges. passive optical and thermal data for selected study sites using using a numerical Monte Carlo model to understand the seasonal and sporadic variations in the Ca exosphere of Mercury. The Since the electronics used for the the G-LiHT sensor. Work has involved debugging and process- sensor’s calibration are not used ing G-LiHT data for extracting forest height and biomass. He MESSENGER spacecraft has been in orbit around Mercury since March 2011. The UVVS component of the MASCS instrument in flight, Dr. Southard has worked reviewed data from G-LiHT airborne campaigns, and refined and closely with an electrical engineer, edited operator instructions for G-LiHT operation. He also worked makes daily observations of the sodium, calcium, and magnesium components of the exosphere. The Ca component has shown Gary Brown, to ensure that the on calculating biomass at the plot level for intensive study sites. gauge’s control circuit can resolve Dr. Margolis began initial discussions and literature review for a persistent source located in the dawn equatorial region. The Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer the gauge’s response without intro- developing a REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and ducing instability or much additional forest Degradation)-relevant proposal for using G-LiHT to conduct on the MESSENGER spacecraft has observed calcium emission in Mercury’s exosphere on a near-daily basis since March 2011. noise to the signals of interest and model-assisted lidar inventories in tropical forests; however, due that the circuit can accommodate to instrument availability issues, work on this proposal is on hold. During MESSENGER’s primary and first extended missions (March 2011 – March 2013), the dayside calcium exosphere was mea- variations of the signal with ambient temperature. Dr. Southard argued Dr. Tian Yao (sponsor: E. Middleton) is working on improving and sured over eight Mercury years. These data have been simulated Credit: Matthew Burger for and was granted changes in the validating land surface models CLM4.0 and CLM4.5. Her focus is with a Monte Carlo model of exospheric source processes to show 60 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 61 DELIVERING the MESSAGE

circuit to reduce risk to the mission and improve accuracy of pres- Dr. Southard also supports modeling and testing of the OASIS The website for GSFC’s Scientific Visual- sure prediction. He determined that calibration of the circuit was instrument, a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer prototype ization Studio (Code 606.4, sponsor H. necessary as well as how this calibration should be done. Despite for future planetary science missions. He has supported tests of Mitchell), http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/, has changing requirements for the pressure sensor from the start of electrospray using the Organics Analyzer for Sampling Icy Sur- undergone many improvements to its de- work to a few months before delivery, his team was able to meet faces (OASIS) microchips and modeling as a part of the OASIS sign over the past year, primarily due to the latest requirements using the control circuit, although ad- project. His work in the past year has focused on modeling of the efforts of Katie Lewis. The site has ditional testing post-integration of this circuit to other electronics electric fields around the OASIS microchip, vacuum system design improved accessibility to its searchable boards needs to be completed. Final pressure prediction require- and testing, and assisting with electrospray testing on commercial database, highlights its most popular ments include pressure predictions under conditions of varying and home-built systems. He attended and presented on a short visualizations, and showcases work by ambient temperature and pressure changes from 50 mtorr to 0.1 course in liquid chromatography mass spectrometry during an its partners: the Conceptual Image Lab, mtorr in less than 1.5 seconds using a repurposed commercial annual conference and wrote a paper on the efforts of the OASIS Goddard Media Studios, and Scientific gauge the size of a transistor can. This also must be performed team, which he presented at a national conference. As a Co-I Hyperwall Presentations. In fact, the with an error of less than 0.1 mtorr in the 0.1 to 1 mtorr regime. of the OASIS project, he will be modeling the integration of the hyperwall presentations are discussed at In addition to his work on the pirani sensor, Dr. Southard also OASIS microchip with a home-built mass spectrometer and will be length in the Global Science & Technol- used a SIMION simulation to determine the electric fields within designing the interface. ogy (GST) section of this section, as well the MOMA mass spectrometer to support efforts at reducing arc as in the following E/PO section. Codes discharge. He found that the results concerning field strengths 130 (Office of Communications) and within the mass spectrometer need further examination. He also 160 (Office of Education) share similar used a SIMION simulation to determine whether magnetic fields goals: to engage and inform the public induced by heater wires in the MOMA mass spectrometer would in and on NASA Goddard’s missions, be a concern. events, and hands-on and virtual activi- ties. GESTAR’s team works diligently to meet these goals, collaborating on images, animations and films as well as stories, interviews and interactive educa- tional tools. Image credit: J. Beck

of this video focused just on sea ice that featured researcher com- CODE 130 (Sponsor: W. Sisler) mentary to increase scientific content. This video has received In addition to his field support with Operation IceBridge, this past more than 16,000 views, a surprising number for a video almost year Jefferson Beck worked with the SVS to produce, script, and 10 minutes in length. He also produced a video that, for the first narrate three major data visualizations that made extensive use time, highlighted the impact of the Land, Vegetation and Ice Sen- of IceBridge data. They included a complex four-minute piece sor (LVIS) laser altimeter instrument to IceBridge. Rather than showing a decade of changes in the Greenland Ice sheet, an travel to Greenland in spring 2014, Jefferson helped to choose a animation of a new map of Antarctic bedrock, which was picked producer to go in his place, and provided substantial pre-deploy- up by several major media outlets and received more than ment support as well as mid-deployment media management. 1,000,000 hits on YouTube, and a piece on Greenland’s newly- discovered “Mega Canyon” hidden below the ice sheet, which In the fall of 2013, Jefferson traveled with OIB to chronicle not likewise garnered substantial media attention including CNN, the only the Antarctic campaign from the air, but also the mission’s BBC, National Geographic, and NPR, and was viewed more than first-ever landing on the sea ice runway at McMurdo Station. 1.2 million times. He has released one video and several highlight reels from that mission – one which was featured on slate.com – and has more While outreach specialists were not approved for travel to Green- videos in development. He also supported a Google Hangout from land for an early part of last year, Jefferson was still able to utilize McMurdo Station. Additionally, Jefferson helped guide a visualiza- media captured by field personnel, both throughout the campaign tion on ocean currents beneath the Pine Island Glacier in Antarcti- and even into the summer, including an evocative highlight reel of ca and supported a popular satellite media tour focused on Arctic scenery from the forward camera of the aircraft, which was picked sea ice. He participated in the selection of the supporting images up by several media outlets, received more than 235,000 views for that media tour and released a YouTube version to amplify the on YouTube – and as he later learned while deployed in Antarctica message to other audiences. – moved at least one seasoned researcher to tears. Following up on that more impressionistic success, he then produced a version For the second year in a row, Jefferson created a video of some

62 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 63 of the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) spacecraft, as well Video productions for Genna include: as a mission animation showing the “3 Days in 1 Minute: Stacking the multiple satellite formation as they MMS Spacecraft”, “NASA’s IRIS orbit to measure the earth’s magne- Spots Its Largest Solar Flare”, “Track- tosphere. ing Energy Through Space – ARTEMIS Reconnection Fronts”, “IRIS First Genna Duberstein is the Lead Mul- Light” (web short, press conference), timedia Producer for Heliophysics. “MMS Engineering Challenges”, This past year, Genna produced a “How to Cook a Comet”, “X Marks video on the story of magnetic recon- the Spot: Seeing Reconnection”, nection. By combining the Solar “Plasmaspheric Plume”, “Jewel Box Plant Fluorescence. Image credit: T. Chase Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and Sun”, “Graceful Eruption”, “The Sun RHESSI data, scientists were able to Reverses its Poles”, “IBEX Heliotail”, confirm previous models and theo- “IRIS Mission Trailer”, “IRIS Science of the best and most important Earth views and data visualiza- ries of magnetic reconnection, and Overview”, “IRIS Launch – L-14, L-1 tions from space. This year, he coordinated the release with the reveal new, three-dimensional aspects of the process. This video Press Briefings”. agency-wide “Earth Right Now” campaign and the video has was listed on Buzzfeed as one of “25 Things Way More Exciting received a positive response, including coverage on news outlets than the Royal Baby”, and WIRED named a graphic from the video In the coming year, she will be from Arizona to Great Britain to India and garnered more than “Space Photo of the Day”. involved with the SDO installation 300,000 hits on YouTube. slated to open at the Goddard Visitor The Best of Goddard Film Festival has been an internal GSFC Center, as well as two separate videos GPM, a NASA/JAXA mission. Image Credit: R. Fitzgibbons In the coming year, Jefferson will revisit his footage trove from his tradition for the past five years. The film festival serves as a dedi- that explain reconnection, one for deployment to McMurdo Field Station with Operation IceBridge cated space to celebrate not only the great scientific progress at educators and another for the general and produce a series of retrospective videos. Working with God- GSFC, but also the creative achievements of its Office of Commu- public. She also will be involved with for Ryan, as the main core of the GPM team was in Japan for the dard science writers and researchers, he is also currently devel- nications. For this event, Genna produces and provides graphic many videos related to MMS Products, such as Mission Overview, launch. Consequently, he reached out to speakers from NASA oping a major campaign highlighting four decades of Arctic sea design, motion graphics, advertising, and editing support. The Science Overview, the trailer, and narration of the orbit. HQ, Wallops, and at Goddard to provide an engaging program. ice observations. He will also continue to support the Earth Right mid-January 2014 showing boasted the highest attendance in the Additionally, a slip in the launch schedule required Ryan to fill an Now campaign, specifically with a video focused on the history of festival’s history. Ryan Fitzgibbons supports the Global Precipitation Measure- additional 30 minutes with content late in the planning process. climate observations. ment (GPM) mission in all multimedia needs, including the docu- The launch broadcast was seen as a success by the GPM project A mid-level flare, an M6.5, erupted from the sun on April 2, 2014, mentation of mission milestones, production of web videos and scientists and the GPM managers, as well as Headquarters pro- Along with producer Daniel Gallagher, Tyler Chase created a pair peaking at 10:05 a.m. EDT. Genna produced a video with footage live press events, and support for the Education/Public Outreach gram managers. The entire program is available to download at of animations showing the Touch and Go Surface Acquisition from NASA’s SDO, showing the flare in a blend of two wavelengths (E/PO) programs. This last year marked a very large ramp-up to http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/goto?11496. Mechanism (TAGSAM), the main instrument on the OSIRIS space- of extreme ultraviolet light: 171 Angstroms and 304 Angstroms, the launch of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core craft mission. Its goal is to collect material from an asteroid and colorized in yellow and red, respectively. “Graceful Eruption” was Observatory mission for Ryan. He took over producing duties for Ryan produced two live press briefings at the L-30 mark for GPM. return it to Earth for analysis. Tyler’s animations illustrate how the broadcast on the NBC evening news, shown on sites like Weather. the mission in late 2011, and while he steadily produced core One briefing focused on the science objectives of the mission, collection mechanism operates. com, The Washington Post, Yahoo News, MSNBC, L.A. Times, media elements throughout 2012 and into 2013, the workload while the second focused on the mission and project objectives. Mashable, and Christian Science Monitor. increased substantially from the summer of 2013 until launch in He faced major challenges in preparing visuals for six managers Working closely with producer Kayvon Sharghi, Tyler produced a February 2014. During the summer and early fall of 2013, Ryan and scientists from NASA Headquarters, Goddard, and the Japan number of animations to show the results of research by scientist The SDO sees the sun in different wavelengths, each represented steadily documented the final stages of integration and testing Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for the live broadcast. While Joanna Joiner and visualizer Gregory Shirah in the area of plant by a distinct color. After editing work from data visualizer Tom of the GPM Core Observatory. During this time, Ryan produced these press briefings are typically held at NASA HQ, due to renova- fluorescence. One of the measurable results of photosynthesis is Bridgman, Genna produced “Jewel Box Sun,” a video that shows six full web shorts, three video file packages, a series of engineer tions at HQ, Ryan had to produce the events from the Goddard TV the release of fluorescent light, which is detected by the METOPS one data set from all of the wavelengths. The video was featured profiles called “Meet the Team”, a first light visualization, and two studio. satellite mission. Tyler’s products include animations of trees and by many notable websites, including TIME, Gizmodo, BoingBoing, live broadcast events. Ryan produced a narrated video version of a GPM/GMI first light the Earth, as well as detailed cellular-level displays of the mecha- and ABCNews.com. data visualization “GPM’s Stormy New View”. This represented nisms by which this fluorescence is produced. Ryan produced a 90-minute NASA TV live broadcast event leading the first public view of the radiometer data produced by GPM as NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) recently mapped up to the launch of GPM from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan, it passed over a cyclone in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Also, in Illustrating the relationship between changes in temperature the boundaries of the solar system’s tail, called the heliotail. The on February 27, 2014. The program featured expert commentary support of the E/PO and Public Affairs for GPM, Ryan produced and cloud cover, Tyler created a pair of Hadley Cell animations to finding was announced in a Google+ Hangout. Genna created a from scientists live in the studio, as well as in pre-recorded video several web shorts (searchable on the SVS site): Meet the Team be used in talks by JPL scientists. The animations compare the web short, an SVS page, and supporting visuals for the Google+ interviews, live Q&A from social media outlets, and a live feed of series; GPM’s Journey to Japan; Engineering the Next Generation height and thickness of cloud covers across latitudes as well as Hangout. As of September 2013, the video had over 400,000 the launch site in Japan. Ryan oversaw about 20 other producers, Observations of Rain and Snow; Anatomy of a Raindrop; Zebra the associated changes in wind velocity. hits on the NASAexplorer YouTube channel. The video was also editors, engineers and production assistants to pull off the live Crossing; Too Much, Too Little; and How to Assemble the GPM picked up by many websites, including CNN, Fox News, Gizmodo, event. The international aspect of the launch proved challenging Working with the SVS at Goddard, Tyler created an updated model Discovery, and ABC News’ Good Morning America. Paper Model. 64 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 65 Ryan will continue to support GPM in its next chapter of post-launch data gathering. Upcoming projects include a “second light” visualization and ac- companying web short, which will focus on the GPM Constellation and unified data product that combines both the DPR and GMI. Ryan will also produce a series of short educational web shorts that build off the themes presented in the GPM-related Science on a Sphere film “Water Falls”. Outside of work on GPM, he will begin providing produc- tion support for the HS3 mission. He will produce a short series of web videos that focus on the instruments onboard the unmanned aircraft and the answers they may provide for hur- ricane science questions.

As a multimedia producer with God- dard Television, Daniel Gallagher pro- Titan’s atmosphere. Image Credit: D. Gallagher duces and edits videos that inform the public about missions and scientific research being conducted at Goddard Space Flight Center. As the lead video producer for the Planetary For the MAVEN mission, Dan produced and edited a three-and- GPM’s Core Observatory Department at GSFC, Daniel provides video support for the Lunar a-half-minute instrument profile video titled “Studying the Solar Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, and OSIRIS-REx missions, as Wind on Mars”, in which Robert Lin, the late director of the Space On February 27, 2014, the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory was launched well as Goddard-related research. Dan’s work supports Goddard Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, dis- Television’s mission to bring NASA science to the public in an en- cusses how NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft will study the interaction of from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. This GPM satellite carries a radar/radiometer system that tertaining and informative manner. This past year, NASA celebrat- the Martian atmosphere with the solar wind. MAVEN’s findings will measures precipitation from around the globe. The effects of precipitation are widespread, affecting ed the 45th anniversary of “Earthrise”. Dan produced and edited reveal how Mars lost its early atmosphere, turning it from a warm, world health and agriculture. This data will improve the understanding of the Earth’s water and energy a seven-minute video about the first “Earthrise,” witnessed by the wet planet into the cold, dry one that we see today. The video was cycle, leading to improved forecasting of and preparation for extreme weather events, such as floods, Apollo 8 crew on December 24, 1968. Historian Andrew Chaikin released on March 5, 2014 on nasa.gov, NASA’s MAVEN website, wrote and narrated the video, which features the voices of the NASA Explorer (YouTube), and the Laboratory for Atmospheric and droughts, and landslides, as well as the water cycle’s relationship to climate change. The GPM Core Apollo 8 crew captured by the onboard tape recorder and new Space Physics MAVEN website. To date, the video has received Observatory carries onboard two key instruments, a Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) and a views of the Earthrise from inside the CSM, created by SVS visual- over 82,000 views on NASA Explorer. In the coming year, Dan will multi-channel GMP Microwave Imager (GMI). The DPR consists of the Ka- and Ku-band precipitation izer Ernie Wright using high-resolution terrain data from LRO. The be working with animators and visualizers to create up to 13 core visuals for the MAVEN mission from spring 2014 to spring 2015, radars, which, when overlapping these bands, provides information on particle drop size distributions. video was released on December 20, 2013 on NASA Explorer (YouTube), nasa.gov, and the SVS, and has received over 1 million depicting key moments such as Post-Launch Deployment, Mars The DPR also provides measurements that complement cloud and aerosol observations. The GMI is a views to date on NASA Explorer. The video has also been reposted Orbit Insertion, encounter with Comet Siding Spring, and deploy- multi-channel microwave radiometer with 13 channels that range in frequency; these frequencies re- to TIME, The Weather Channel, Gizmodo, and Space.com. ment of science instruments. These core visuals will be used trieve heavy, moderate and light precipitation, with the polarization difference at each channel indicat- in MAVEN web videos, press briefings, and live presentations throughout the duration of the mission. Dan produced, edited, and narrated a three-minute web video ing the optical thickness and water content. The GMI radiometer’s swath covers 550 miles. about studying the atmospheres of extrasolar planets, or “exo- In September 2013, Dan produced and edited a four-minute video Image from “GPM/GMI First Light”, a visualization created from GPM’s first collection of data over planets”. The video was produced to accompany a paper by GSFC scientist Avi Mandell in the Astrophysical Journal. The video in- about propylene in the atmosphere of Titan, which was recently an extra-tropical cyclone off the east coast of Japan on March 10th, eleven days after the GPM Core cludes several new visuals explaining spectroscopy, and it shows discovered by Goddard scientist Conor Nixon. Dan created several Observatory launch date. The GMI’s 13 bands captured the range of brightness temperature data, and the transit depth curves of multiple exoplanets, all formatted new visuals for the video, including animations of spectroscopy the data then collapses into rain rates. Red areas indicate heavy rainfall, while yellow and blue indicate specifically for the video by Dan. The finished product was posted data from Cassini’s CIRS instrument. He also worked with Con- ceptual Image Lab animator Chris Meaney to create new anima- less intense rainfall. Blue areas in upper left indicate falling snow. (Credit: Alex Kekesi) on December 3, 2013 to NASA Explorer (YouTube), nasa.gov, and the SVS, and has received over 200,000 views to date on NASA tions of organic chemistry and polypropylene formation. Posted Explorer. to NASA.gov, the Science Visualization Studio site, and NASA

66 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 67 Explorer (YouTube) on 09/30/13, this video has been reposted by and local television stations including ABC News.com, Reuters, and works on the Planetary Science several news outlets, including NBC News, the LA Times, SPACE. Space.com and FOX News’ affiliate service called NewsEdge. She Department’s multimedia needs. com, CNET, Science World Reports, and Computerworld. To date also booked 20 interviews with local television stations in the top In 2013, Planetary Science was the video has received over 91,000 views on NASA Explorer. 20 markets in the U.S., including Los Angeles (#2), Chicago (#3) selected as the theme for NASA’s and Philadelphia (#4). Three local television stations conducted annual event, “Close Encounters of In late May, a new meteor shower will be visible from North Amer- onsite in-person interviews with NASA scientists. Michelle coordi- the Planetary Minds: Goddard Ex- ica over Memorial Day weekend, and Dan will provide support nated closely with producer Dan Gallagher to build a comprehen- plores the Solar System”, held at the for a television live shot, helping to create and organize visuals. sive campaign that included a gallery page on the SVS website to National Air & Space Museum. David The live shot will be broadcast from the Goddard TV studio, and make it easier for media to find lunar eclipse visuals. was selected as the Lead Producer is intended to support the OSIRIS-REx mission and to educate and Editor for the visual presenta- the public about comets, asteroids, and meteors. Also related to This winter may have been one of the coldest and snowiest on re- tions of Dr. James Garvin, Goddard OSIRIS-Rex, Dan will work with CI Lab’s animation staff, God- cord for many parts of the U.S., but Michelle successfully focused Chief Scientist; Dr. Pamela Conrad, dard TV staff, and members of the mission to finish and release this campaign on research that showed that signs of spring are Deputy PI for the Sample Analysis at Bennu’s Journey, a signature animation about the formation of actually coming about five days earlier than they did 60 years Mars experiment aboard Curiosity; the solar system. ago. Michelle worked closely with visualizers from the SVS and Dr. Bruce Jakosky, PI for MAVEN and Image from “Bennu’s Journey”. Credit: M. Lentz with scientists to build visuals for this campaign. Twenty-one me- Associate Director for Science at the Robert Garner led the effort within Goddard’s Office of Commu- dia outlets booked interviews on this topic including Space.com, University of Colorado’s Laboratory nications web team to transition nasa.gov from the 10-year-old The Weather Channel and the FOX affiliate service NewsEdge for Atmospheric and Space Physics; various milestones of Voyager 1 and 2 as they passed through eTouch content management system to a more dynamic, Drupal- that feeds material to their nationwide affiliates. Nine of the local and Dr. Amy Simon-Miller, the Associate Director in Goddard’s and out of the Solar System. For the OCO-2 Megacities Carbon based system. Despite a compressed time schedule, frequent television stations that booked interviews are in top 20 television Solar System Exploration Division. In producing this show, David Project, Michael created an animation that shows how various system problems and minimal training, Goddard’s transition was markets including Chicago (#3), Philadelphia (#4), San Francisco was responsible for finding, organizing, building and editing instruments will measure CO2 Emissions in Megacities such as seamless to end-users. He also provided guidance and support to (#6) and Washington, D.C. (#8). Michelle also coordinated two together all of the necessary visual elements for each speaker’s Los Angeles. CMS teams elsewhere at Goddard, at Wallops and at JPL. The first in-person interviews for Hearst TV affiliate service and WJZ in video package. He also edited the video for the event’s sponsors. phase of the transition was completed last summer. He continues Baltimore, MD, as well as coordinating a print interview with NBC Working with fellow producer Dan Gallagher, Goddard TV program The CIL studio is going through an upgrade, and Michael has to push for system and procedural improvements. News. manager Pat Kennedy, and NASM projectionist Dean Fisk, David been deeply involved in planning the use of new asset manage- ran the control room production booth in the IMAX Theater during ment and job tracking software into the CIL animation production NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia requested Robert’s as- Michelle has made it a regular part of her satellite media tour the event, so that each speaker’s visual presentation ran properly. pipeline as well as refining the animation pipeline for a more sistance with LADEE launch web coverage in September. Robert strategy to create a specially designed live shot page and/or gal- efficient workflow. Also, work continues on the infrastructure to maintained and updated NASA’s LADEE and Wallops websites in lery page in the SVS website for campaigns. On this page Michelle For the MAVEN Pre-Launch Press Conference, David served as support creating 4k animations and more animations are starting the days leading up to, and in real time during, the launch date on includes b-roll and a canned interview for stations to download. the lead producer, creating all visual elements necessary for the to be created in this high-resolution format. Sept. 6, and into the early morning of Sept. 7. His efforts received She also sends this link to Goddard’s social media team to send speakers. This included editing video packages related to MA- compliments from staff at Wallops, Goddard, NASA Ames, and Katie Lewis out to followers. This coordinated effort has been very effective VEN’s mission and physical assembly, and creating the necessary supports the Goddard web team in interactive mul- Headquarters, including from John Grunsfeld, associate adminis- in letting media outlets and the public alike know where to find graphics and still images related to MAVEN’s technical specifica- timedia development, including the dissemination of scientific trator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. In January 2014, the great work that is being done by the scientists, animators and tions and the team’s public outreach efforts. Additionally, for media, and provides support for the iPad and iPhone project, he returned to Wallops to provide similar support for Orbital’s first visualizers here at Goddard. a video released in February 2014 titled “Playing Tag With an NASA Viz, by creating websites, uploading media, and designing official Antares launch to the International Space Station. Asteroid” about the TAGSAM instrument that will be aboard the interfaces. In March 2014, the NASA Visualization Explorer team Over the last year, Michelle has concluded 13 satellite media released the NASA Viz app version 1.9, the Universal App. Katie NASA Goddard’s social media team won a Shorty Award in the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, David wrote the script and created and tours on a wide range of topics including the Arctic sea ice mini- was the User Experience Designer for the app, which required a government category in early April. Robert’s involvement with the edited all of the visual elements of the production. David was the mum, MAVEN launch, Comet ISON and wildfires. She is averaging major design overhaul to fit the app’s newly-supported platform, team has seen a steady increase. He participated in the Decem- producer and editor for “Jim Garvin’s Top Pics: LROC Images”, about 28 interviews with national and local television stations per the iPhone. She redesigned icons, menus, and graphics for the ber Earthrise anniversary Google+ hangout, and took the helm a video released in March 2014 that focuses on images of the live shot. Some of the networks that have booked are MSNBC, new app, the interface of which has been well-reviewed since its as producer halfway through when other members of the social moon’s surface taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Cam- CNN’s “Behind the Science with Chad Myers,” Reuters, CNN release. Katie also provided promotional graphics to support the media team unexpectedly had to step away. He continues to era (LROC). International, SkyNews, Space.com and ABCNews.com. Michelle NASA Viz app’s release. advise the team with regard to policy, procedures and interactions has also consistently booked a number of local television stations This past year, Michael Lentz created an animation that is near with social media stakeholders at Headquarters, Goddard, and in top 20 markets throughout the United States. For the upcoming completion showing the formation of the solar system, how the Also, Katie and Joycelyn Jones released a working version of the elsewhere. year, Michelle is working on a comprehensive archive of the live asteroid “Bennu” came to be, and why OSIRIS-Rex will be going NASA Viz HTML5 responsive website using Bootstrap 3 for review by the team; this was a major overhaul of the current site. The site Michelle Handleman coordinates and produces comprehensive shots campaigns that have been done over the last several years, there to take a sample. This was another ambitious animation as well as looking ahead to potential live shot campaigns through- project with many complex visual elements to create. Of note, this is awaiting final review and is optimized for both tablet and mobile satellite media tours across the spectrum of science disciplines devices. at Goddard Space Flight Center, produces short news videos and out 2014. animation is also being created in UHD 4k. b-roll material for This Week @ NASA, NASA TV, and other medi- David Ladd produces and edits videos that highlight NASA mis- Michael’s animation for MAVEN: Mars Evolution was delivered For the NASA Scientific Visualization Studio, Katie delivered the ums, and assists the media and documentary film makers with sions and scientific research, in particular video support for the and to date has had over 1.7 million views on the Goddard You- fully-redesigned version of the SVS home page. She designed the interview and file video requests. For the total lunar eclipse that Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, and OSIRIS-Rex missions, Tube channel. He also created animations that will highlight the site using Bootstrap 3, a mobile-first framework that allows the occurred on April 15, Michelle booked interviews with 36 national

68 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 69 cause of these extreme low tem- projects include reporting on NASA Earth science findings through their daily broadcasts. Kayvon assembled key information and peratures. Additionally, with the digital media communication platforms and strategic online addressed all the technical and design components needed to launch of Landsat 8 in early 2013, campaigns, and managing the editorial content and release bring each project from idea to implementation. He also created high-quality data from this satel- of stories on the NASA Visualization Explorer app. As editor of project workflows, templates, video format guidelines, and added lite was being returned as of late the NASA Viz app, Kayvon manages all aspects of the editorial automated video export settings to the Final Cut Server to ensure May 2013. As the lead multimedia process, including the scheduling, production and release of two these products can be produced and published with great speed. producer for the Landsat program, new stories each week. In the past year, he directed the release of To assist him in creating these products, a multimedia Fellow was Matt produced eight videos demon- more than 100 new stories. Under his editorial direction, the app hired; Kayvon drafted a 12-month work plan that details monthly strating the increased capabilities has received positive ratings and reviews and has experienced objectives and expected output. of the new satellite, and the societal significant growth. In March 2014, the app reached a new mile- benefits from these capabilities. In stone, surpassing more than 1,000,000 unique downloads on Since Kayvon began working with GESTAR in June 2011, he has the coming year, he will be produc- the iTunes Store. Since its launch in 2011, Kayvon has produced contributed ideas on ways to improve the coordination of interde- ing a video on the flight operations nearly 15 percent of the total number of stories in the app. This partmental projects, with the goal of creating new animation prod- team for Landsat 8, and will produce past year alone he wrote 17 stories, the most of any contributor. ucts at a faster rate and with greater efficiency. To that effort, last videos for the Landsat program on In addition to working with a team of contributing writers at NASA year Kayvon created the SVS/CI Lab Pre-visualization Guide—a Landsat’s role in monitoring the Goddard Space Flight Center, Kayvon launched a student writing one-page form that scientists, writers, animators and producers recovery from wildfires, assessing internship in partnership with the University of California, Santa can use to expedite the planning phase of new animation prod- water quality, and determining water Cruz, Science Communication Program. This past year, he man- ucts created by the SVS and Conceptual Image Lab. In 2014, he usage by agriculture. aged two graduate students over 24 weeks, each contributing 12 developed a companion form—the SVS/CI Lab Project Guide—that stories to the app. helps writers and producers direct the creation of products, and Student interns at Goddard had captures essential information that details the project’s objec- designed and built a robot capable By identifying the very best visual materials and stories to feature tives, deliverables, and production timeline. In practice, the of travelling autonomously in polar in the app, Kayvon has attracted new online audiences—includ- guides have helped facilitate communication between groups and regions. In May/June 2013, as video ing prominent news organizations and journalists—to explore and resulted in improved efficiency, especially during the project plan- ning phase. GROVER, the Goddard Rover. Image Credit: M. Radcliff producer, Matt traveled to Greenland share NASA content. This is reflected in the increasing number of to film this robot on its first polar NASA Viz followers and frequent story mentions that appear on expedition to the isolated center of social media sites. Recently, version 1.9 of the app was rolled As a video producer, Silvia Stoyanova has served core missions page to be viewed on any screen size. She also did the front-end Greenland’s ice sheet. GROVER, the out, which will enable the viewing of stories on all iOS devices, and their multimedia objectives. When the Chelyabinsk Meteor development for the site, using CSS3, HTML5, and JQuery. Goddard Rover, carried a ground-penetrating radar to study the presenting more opportunities to expand its audience. In sup- made its appearance, Silvia worked on a visualization that illus- accumulation of snow on the ice sheet with particular attention to port of the rollout, Kayvon tested internal versions of the app trates a giant meteor exploding upon contact with Earth’s atmo- Future plans include the full redesign and front-end develop- the ice layer left after the unusual melt in summer of 2012. The and helped troubleshoot issues experienced by the NASA Viz sphere. Following the bolide, the plume begins to circumnavigate ment of the new SVS website, which will be clean, responsive photos and videos he recorded of the rover and the two gradu- Software Development Team. He provided writing, editing and the globe moving in the direction of the wind. The highly sensi- (optimized for all devices), play videos in-window, and focused ate students were used by several news organizations, and were producing support in the creation of promotional materials used tive instruments onboard the NPP satellite detected the plume on large-scale visuals as opposed to text. This includes the Gal- featured in a NASA video. to announce the new version of the app to the public. He has particles even months later. This visualization was a finalist in a lery pages, People pages, individual asset/story pages, and the also worked on developing ideas of how visual material can be competition and also was used in a short narrated video. search page. Katie will also start the redesign of SVS ‘Partner’ Working with the Earth Science Storytelling Team of NASA and presented in the app in new ways. pages, adapting them to the overall responsive schematic of the NASA’s Earth Observatory, Matt produced a number of short Silvia worked on the GOES-R trailer, for the GOES-R mission that SVS redesign. This includes redesigning or building CI Lab, God- videos showcasing NASA’s contributions to Earth science over the In his role as Earth science producer, Kayvon produces video continues the legacy of the GOES series, delivering critical real- dard Media Studios, and the Hyperwall websites. past year. The videos covered topics such as the calving of a mas- and animation products in support of NASA Earth Science news time data and helping forecasters predict severe weather even sive iceberg from the Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica and the releases. This year he worked on multiple projects, including three more accurately. The GOES-R trailer was remade with high-end Matthew Radcliff provides support to the Office of Communica- temperature and precipitation predictions from the Intergovern- items produced in collaboration with a team of writers, scientists graphics, animation, and motion graphic work. Silvia also worked tions, in particular Earth science communications. As the Video mental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In addition, in collabora- and producers from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. on a short video for the GOES-R ABI Instrument, the primary in- Producer for Landsat projects, Matt prepares videos for the press tion with fellow video producer Silvia Stoyanova, Matt produced strument for scanning Earth’s weather, oceans, and environment. and for the general public, and collaborates with the Landsat a series of videos of NASA Earth Scientists answering questions In addition to these projects, Kayvon worked closely with mem- It is a significant improvement over instruments on NOAA’s current Communication and Public Engagement staff to communicate the about climate change submitted by the public. This series was bers of the Office of Communications on identifying exciting geostationary satellites. By combining the science and technical work of Landsat science and engineering teams. This past year called “Ask A Climate Scientist,” and the videos were used by new areas with great potential for visual storytelling. This led to aspects of the instrument, this short video explains all improve- at the AGU Fall Meeting, Matt produced a press conference that many news organizations. Lastly, at the AGU meeting in Decem- the planning and development of three new pilot projects that ments to this satellite as compared to previous GOES satellites. highlighted the research of Ted Scambos, a member of the Land- ber, he produced a series of short videos of NASA scientists ex- Kayvon will launch in summer 2014. The first two projects will The video uses high-tech graphics and animation, as well as visu- sat Science Team. Dr. Scambos had been studying the extremely plaining their AGU presentations in 15 seconds. The videos were use existing social media platforms to share NASA Earth science alizations and satellite imagery. Her work in the coming year will low temperatures of the East Antarctic Peninsula and found a published on the NASA Instagram account. research and findings in short video reports, with run times of include serving the GOES-R mission as well as supporting both region that has the coldest temperatures ever recorded on Earth. 15 seconds and 60-90 seconds. The third project aims to bring the JPSS and NPP missions. Using the high spatial resolution data from the new Landsat 8 Kayvon Sharghi oversees multiple storytelling projects and wears NASA science to the “offline masses” by producing short video satellite, Dr. Scambos was able to determine the meteorological many hats to guide each project toward achieving its goals. The packages that weathercasters at TV news stations can insert into The Remote Robotic Oxidizer Transfer Test (RROxiTT) project is on its way to proving that satellite servicing in orbit is not only pos- 70 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 71 sible but a huge cost-saving opportunity for new and existing mis- mated 29 videos released, with these videos ranging from anima- LUNAR ECLIPSE: April 15, 2014 sions. Silvia worked on the trailer and video, “RROxiTT: Another tions, to breaking news footage of solar flares and CMEs, to nar- Step toward Servicing Satellites in Space”, which was produced rated features about science results. As of April 22, 2014, these and edited with the help of a successful collaboration and co- videos accounted for almost 6.4 million YouTube views. Scott Dan Gallagher produced, edited, and ordination with the Kennedy Space Center and great teamwork also produced visuals for three press events. In June 2013, Scott narrated a two-minute video titled at NASA Goddard, involving the robotic lab as well as production edited a video compilation highlighting work done by GESTAR pro- “Understanding Lunar Eclipses”, assistant Katrina Jackson. The trailer informed the public that ducers, animators, and web developers. His complete collection explaining the mechanics of lunar an important test of the technology was about to happen at KSC. of work can be found at the Scientific Visualization Studio and/ eclipses, to prepare the public for the During the test, the robotic arm was operated remotely from or on YouTube. In October, Scott produced a heliophysics video total lunar eclipse of April 15th. Dan GSFC, the actual test was captured at KSC, and the majority of of a particularly beautiful solar prominence eruption and the worked with Ernie Wright to create the interviews were shot at GSFC. The final short video discussed magnetic structures it left behind. That video went on to do very new animations for the video, which the successfully executed test, and showed footage and anima- well, with good media saturation, and is currently at about 1.2 was released on April 8th. David tion to explain the process. million views. Scott’s clips of the eruption were even used in the Ladd produced and edited “Need To current Fox series “Cosmos”. Scott also headed the production Know: Lunar Eclipse and LRO” (image Scott Wiessinger provides visual support for both the Heliophys- work for comet ISON’s perihelion pass of the sun on Thanksgiving below), a Q&A video providing details ics and Astrophysics divisions at Goddard, focusing primarily on Day. Leading up to perihelion, Scott released several videos. The on the lunar eclipse and the effects science results. He produces short it will have on the Lunar Reconnais- videos, creates static graphics, sance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft, which guides the creation of animations also included animation work by Ernie and data visualizations, creates Wright. animations, provides materials to outside media and producers, In fact, Ernie Wright created many visu- collects, creates and organizes alizations for the April 15th total lunar eclipse, including visuals for press conferences, and the image (right), from “Lunar Eclipse of April 15, 2014 curates visuals online. He also as Viewed from the Moon”, produced by Dan Gallagher, coordinates and collaborates with David Ladd, and Michelle Handleman. Because of science writers and scientists to the LRO’s orbital plane, the solar-powered spacecraft produce accurate and accessible was without sunlight for almost three hours, its longest materials timed to coincide with period of darkness to date, and its battery was drained press releases and other public an- to less than 40% of capacity. The visuals were used in nouncements. Additionally, Scott is web shorts and television interviews to help explain the now the producer for the Wide-Field eclipse and what LRO would experience. Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) mission and has begun creating content for it. The mission is still in its early stages, but when launched it will be one of the most powerful telescopes in NASA’s astrophys- ics arsenal, on par with Hubble of the past year’s best footage. This video went on to be the most of a black hole, which also did very well. Scott’s most success- and JWST. WFIRST will do wide- Gamma-Ray Burst, Image Credit: S. Wiessinger successful SDO anniversary video so far, and is in the top 10% of ful astrophysics video of the year was actually an animation that field infrared imaging and should all Goddard videos. Scott also produced an interesting collabora- he created. It showed a gamma-ray burst, the largest explosion answer many questions about dark tion between NASA missions. SDO captured the moon partially in the universe. Stills of the video were used by The Guardian, eclipsing the sun, and Ernie Wright, the visualizer for the LRO AP, CBC, USA Today, The Telegraph, and CS Monitor to illustrate matter and dark energy, as well as help find—and even directly earliest showed projections of the comet’s orbit and discussed mission, was able to generate a matching moon image that fit the story. During this year, Scott also saw the release of a long- image—exoplanets similar to those in our solar system. With such what a “sungrazing” comet is. In the days before perihelion, the the dark outline in the SDO image exactly. The Weather Channel standing project: a video about a black widow pulsar, Scott’s an important mission, there will be a great deal of video work to videos were of footage of the comet from various heliophysics picked up the image, and it is a great example of the overlap of longest and most complex video to date. While it is much longer cover the engineering of the spacecraft and the science it will be observatories, like STEREO. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, Scott was missions and how data from one mission can reinforce another. than most videos released by Goddard, its reasonable success is exploring. Scott is currently planning the overall media strategy in the Solar Dynamics Observatory’s command center, where he encouraging for future longer-format storytelling when the subject for the next few years. Overall plans are not set, but he is working produced images and video of the comet as it passed around the This year’s astrophysics releases were primarily results-driven. warrants it. This video also required Scott to orchestrate inter- on a mission trailer, a series of interviews with WFIRST scientists, sun and ultimately broke up. Early in the following week, Scott The first big release of the year was comprised of ultraviolet im- views in California and Germany and then integrate them with two including David Spergel, and animations and videos for the Ameri- compiled all of the footage and released a comprehensive video ages of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds by the Swift satel- more interviews shot on-site at GSFC. This approach allows for can Astronomical Society meetings in June and January. of perihelion. Combined, the ISON-related videos have almost 3.5 lite, which was covered by Forbes, The Atlantic, NBC, Slate, and greater flexibility with interview coverage, and can result in better million views. February 11, 2014 was the fourth anniversary of Popular Science among others. That was followed by a simulation and more complete end products. Scott did much of his work in This past year, Scott produced, co-produced, edited and/or ani- SDO’s launch, and Scott edited the annual compilation of some

72 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 73 astrophysics on illustration and animation. He created illustra- from Bowling Green State University and Savannah College of Art sualizations in support of the Comet tions for flaring neutron stars, Jupiter-like exoplanets, gamma-ray & Design-SCAD (Atlanta and Savannah), she designed the cours- ISON observations. These two new vi- bursts, and neutron stars to scale with cities. He also animated a es around the needs of this project. The pilot project launched in sualizations were generated with the gamma-ray burst, gravitational lensing, and active galactic nuclei. January 2014 and will end May 28, 2014. camera following the comet towards His increasing animation skills are useful because often astro- the inner solar system. The view physics stories do not have compelling or understandable images This coming year, Helen-Nicole will have a book in progress. She provides a more dramatic presenta- with them. Animation and illustration are the best ways to engage signed a book contract with CRC Press to work on a book titled tion of the comet’s close passage of the public and clarify the results. In the next year, he will contin- “A Practical Guide in Art Science Collaborations for Visualiza- Mars in early October 2013. ue to focus on science results for astrophysics. Upcoming projects tion and Computer Graphics” (working title). This book is based include Swift’s 10th anniversary, a simulation of dark matter on collaborative work that has taken place over the past three Most of the development for the Voy- orbiting a black hole, and Eta Carinae’s dramatic binary system. years. Helen-Nicole will serve as first author, and the book draft ager retrospective story, covering the is scheduled for submission to the publisher September 2015. accomplishments of the spacecraft’s magnetometer, has been completed. CODE 606.4 (Sponsor: H. Mitchell) Trent Schindler provides visualization support for earth science In addition to the visualization of Helen-Nicole Kostis continues to serve as the Project Manager of missions and research as part of the Scientific Visualization Stu- the Voyager trajectories through the the NASA Visualization Explorer (NASAViz), designed and devel- dio. Some highlights from the past year include Trent’s creation Solar System, simple magnetosphere oped as a highly interactive visual and scientific storytelling app of an expanded visualization of groundwater depletion in India, models have been generated for that releases two stories per week. This multi-disciplinary project using GRACE gravimetric data that ranged from 2003 to 2013. the planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, is comprised of two teams: Software Development and User He created a visualization of an intrusion of stratospheric ozone and Neptune illustrating a simplified Interface Design and Editorial. Core team members are software to tropospheric levels, using volumetric rendering techniques version of the magnetic field interac- developers, a producer/editor, an interactive designer and data applied to model output from GEOS-5; for the Megacities Carbon tion based on each planet’s rotation visualizers. Project, he created a visualization showing the planetary bound- Earthrise. Image Credit: E. Wright and magnetic axis. At present, the ary layer dynamics in the region of the Los Angeles Basin. Trent release dates are not finalized. The NASA Viz app team has celebrated many achievements this created a visualization of the jet stream over Europe, to be used current year. The Fox/National Geographic TV series “Cosmos” past year. On May 30, 2013, they released the NASA Viz 1.8 iPad in a forthcoming Horizon/BBC documentary. Another visualiza- For 2014-2015, in a project for hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson (http://www.cosmosontv.com) has update. In late July, funding for FY14 was secured for the Soft- tion created by Trent showed the projected wildfire risk for the Planetary Science, Tom is developing visualizations of the Comet been using portions of these animations in its depictions of the ware Development and Editorial Teams. In March 2014, there continental United States over the next century as a result of 209P/LINEAR orbit that may be the source of a new meteor show- Moon. They’ve appeared at the 5:39 mark in Episode 1 and at were several high points. On March 10, they released the NASA climate change. er around Memorial Day. This visualization is still under develop- 41:30 in Episode 3. Viz 1.9 Universal app; this version made the app available on all ment. Additionally, as a first test of working with data from the The scientific visualization products provided by Ernie Wright are IRIS mission, Tom extracted imagery data from the IRIS Slit-Jaw iOS devices, such as iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Subsequently, Several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were launched by the Sun in support of education, public outreach, and communication for Imager (SJI) instrument. Due to the pointing configuration for the the team received great reviews from users and sites for the during the week of May 15, 2013, and Tom Bridgman processed Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and other missions. One of this observation, there were good options for cleaning up some data Universal app, such as the review on TUAW, The Unofficial Apple Community-Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) prediction year’s biggest highlights was a 7-minute video, “Apollo 8 Earth- holes. To expand the capabilities with IRIS data, Tom is develop- Website: http://www.tuaw.com/2014/03/20/nasas-stunning- model runs for quick release. The mid-May events were part of a rise”, created by Ernie that commemorates the 45th anniversary ing some methods of presenting spectral data with the imagery. visualization-explorer-get-updated-and-offers-mo/?ncid=rss_trun- series of five events in one week, so Tom requested the CCMC to of Apollo 8’s historic flight by recreating the moment when the cated. Then, NASA Viz 1.9.1 app was released to address urgent run higher-resolution models of this time frame—out to the orbit of crew first saw and photographed the Earth rising from behind the Leann Johnson works in many aspects of software development. bug fixes for the universal app on March 26. Further, Helen- Saturn—to integrate into future visuals. The visuals developed for Moon. The visualization draws on LRO data and numerous histori- For the hyperwall, Leann released a graphical tool that allows Nicole and colleagues identified a list of products to develop in Solar Cycle 24 have been collected and released on a single web cal sources, and it reveals significant new information about the users to create and edit hyperwall content using a database back- collaboration with the Office of Education to help teachers in the page titled “CCMC Model Runs” on the SVS website. Earthrise photographs. The video was edited by GESTAR multime- end. She optimized certain aspects of the interface via the under- classroom. The team is currently designing a plan for implementa- dia producer Daniel Gallagher and narrated by Andrew Chaikin, lying database structure and the multiprocessing of specific func- tion of these products and will present them at NASA HQ during A side project that came out of Tom’s experiments on the Annotat- author of A Man on the Moon. This video has been viewed over tions. The tool includes features to read in hyperwall frame sets May 2014. Of note: it is important to mention that this project ed Sun visuals, the “Argo View” of multi-wavelength imagery from 1,000,000 times on YouTube. Ernie discussed the video in a and hyperwall shows into the database structure from the file would not have been possible without the support from Ming-Ying the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), was completed and re- Google+ hangout with Andy Chaikin and LRO chief scientist John system, as well as the ability to write them back out for direct use Wei and Ruth Netting and the contributions of the excellent core leased. A still image from this visualization has appeared in print Keller, and he will present a talk about the making of the video on the hyperwall itself. She fixed several bugs and made several team members. For a complete listing of collaborators please in Issue 22 of the magazine All About Space. For the HelioFleet at the 2014 SIGGRAPH computer graphics conference. He has minor improvements, and provided training to multiple groups visit: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasaviz/credits.html. 2013, Tom completed an update to the view of NASA heliophysics received positive, personal feedback on the video from all three to use this new software. After collecting user feedback, Leann missions operating in 2012. This update includes the renaming of Helen-Nicole also serves as the Product Manager for the ICESat-2 Apollo 8 astronauts. designed version two of the software, which aims to de-clutter the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) to the Van Allen Probes, Student Collaborative Pilot Project. For the purposes of this pilot the existing interface, allowing it to be more user-intuitive and the addition of the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) project, in collaboration with Valerie Casasanto (ICESat-2 EPO For the June 23, 2013 supermoon, Ernie developed graphics more robust on the back-end. Once version two of the graphical mission, and the Two Wide-angle Imaging Neutral-atom Spectrom- Lead) and Dr. Thorsten Markus (ICESat-2 Project Scientist), Helen- to support television interviews for this event. GSFC scientists hyperwall editing software is completed and she has addressed eters (TWINS) satellites. This version should be representative of Nicole designed and developed a pilot project for the develop- Noah Petro and Michelle Thaller were featured on several dozen bugs and user input, Leann will release the software and create the operating heliofleet until the launch of the Magnetospheric ment of innovative outreach products. She identified educational morning news shows on June 21st to explain the phenomenon an online user guide. Multiscale (MMS) mission. Tom also generated supplemental vi- institutions to work in this project; in collaboration with faculty of a full Moon occurring very near perigee. Also, as he has since 2011, Ernie created a Moon phase and libration animation for the 74 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 75 She implemented the new database tal Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 21st Century Temperature are very small and energy-efficient, making them easier to trans- design in a test area and significant- and Precipitation Visualizations for both 3x3 and 5x3 hyperwall port for meetings across the nation and around the world. He has ly enhanced the library of methods shows, which have been shown at the United Nations Framework almost completed the installation and testing of Fedora 20 on allowing for easy manipulation of Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP19), these machines. His management duties involve maintaining the the corresponding object structure. the Supercomputing (SC13) conference, the 2013 American vast and growing library of hyperwall content, and to this end, Eric The library utilizes external tools Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, as well as Congressional and others have developed capabilities to organize this content by written by Eric Sokolowsky, which and White House staff visits to NASA Goddard. These new shows moving it into the SVS animation catalog system, where captions were tested by Leann with a variety have proven to be extremely popular and are often used in NCCS and text can be added, information can be searched, and every- of inputs to improve efficiency in hyperwall demos. thing can be made visible online as a web page. He also improved usage to reduce runtime. She began the titles of many hyperwall shows to make them easier to locate simplifying and altering the graphical Alex delivered a novel new visualization of Hurricane Sandy for the when searching and has continued generating new previews for user interface to correspond with the upcoming GPM satellite Science On a Sphere (SOS) show titled hyperwall shows. new structure. “Water Falls”. A unique treatment was chosen to utilize the spheri- cal projection system in a way scientific data had not been shown Several software upgrades to the hyperwall were implemented. Leann also wrote software to create before. The treatment required some research and testing to Eric improved the hyperwall user interface by adding the ability to true, Pixar Renderman-compatible project a virtual horizon on a spherical display system that would perform full-text searching for each show, using information in the point cloud files given proper data, be convincing to the SOS audience. The final visualization is best title, the caption text, any keywords, the file name, and the anima- which are then used by SVS anima- viewed on an SOS system. tion number. The user sees a preview image of each show. Eric tors for volumetric rendering. She made the interface and software more responsive and reliable. later enhanced this software to be Hurricane Sandy, as featured in “Water Falls”. Image Credit: A. Kekesi Eric Sokolowsky develops and deploys software to run on hyper- He also improved the web interface into hyperwall content avail- able to handle very large data files wall systems in order to showcase NASA science at meetings and able at http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/hyperwall, where all past shows given as input. In the same ef- on tours, of which there were several over this past year. NASA and events are archived. fort, she compiled a version of the Early scientific data visualization is key in establishing a good first routinely travels with the hyperwall system on display at scien- software to run on the NCCS Discover cluster. As needed, Leann impression of mission status to both policy makers and taxpay- tific meetings, where NASA scientists explain their research in Other improvements to the hyperwall include the tool that Eric corrected errors in and enhanced several pieces of SVS software ers alike. Through scientific visualization, Alex helped each of front of an audience. Eric provided support to conferences and wrote that controls monitors through the serial port, in order to dealing with statistical analysis, internal reporting, file and data- these missions embark on what will hopefully be interesting and meetings in support of NASA’s hyperwall and public outreach more easily play content from a single computer that is not aware base management and storage, movie encoding, and the NASA challenging visualization work for years to come. One of Alex’s efforts, which involved loading presentation material, running the of the hyperwall, allowing software demos and high-resolution Viz iPad application. Leann imported all existing project code into most notable achievements was developing an initial visualiza- presentations on behalf of the presenters, and providing technical videos with synchronized sound to be played more easily. He also an SVS repository in order to coordinate effectively with fellow tion pipeline for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) support for the hyperwall system. This year’s meetings included enabled the use of a presentation remote control to be used with developers. In addition, she created a method to deploy updated Mission’s GPM Microwave Imager (GPM/GMI) data. By leverag- the International Congress for Conservation Biology meeting in the hyperwall when controlling a playlist, allowing presenters to software from the repository to the released area, allowing for ing GPM science team codes, Alex created a pipeline (in various Baltimore, MD; the Geological Society of America conference control the pace and switching of their own presentations in front quick and easy software maintenance by the whole team. networks) that reads in near real-time GPM/GMI data (as well as in Denver, Colo.; the United Nations Framework Convention on of the hyperwall. When the end of the presentation is reached, global cloud cover data) and automatically sets up a Maya scene Climate Change Conference of Parties in Warsaw, Poland to sup- a blank screen automatically appears. Eric wrote a program Leann supported several local hyperwall demonstrations in ready to be animated. Alex successfully used this new pipeline port the U.S. State Department; the Supercomputing Conference to automatically create caption images, and these images are terms of content creation and technical assistance. She created for the GPM “first light” release, which visualized some of GPM’s in Denver, Colo.; the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in displayed on a separate monitor next to the hyperwall screens. hyperwall shows, as requested, for members of the SVS and the first data results of a Pacific Storm east of Japan only days after San Francisco, CA; and the American Meteorological Society An- Having these caption images generated automatically saves effort Earth Sciences Division, as well as NASA colleagues at the Jet launch (see p. 66). Since then, the pipeline has been further nual Meeting in Atlanta, GA. The presentations were well received, in creating them manually. Propulsion Laboratory and Ames Research Center. Per requests refined and more recently used to visualize GPM/GMI data of the and Eric’s support was critical to their success. While he did from multiple customers, Leann stitched together specific hyper- late winter snowstorm that hit the east coast of the United States not attend other meetings, he did provide support by preparing He supported the NASA Center for Climate Simulation Software wall show content tiles and encoded the resulting full-resolution on March 17, 2014. the hyperwall to travel. These meetings were the Group on Earth by continuing to maintain the Web Map Service (WMS) that was frames into movie files. She supported a mass entry of hyperwall Observations Ministerial Summit in Geneva, Switzerland; the developed for use by NCCS, its customers and users. The NCCS content and related metadata into the SVS database system from Alex corrected and enhanced the “Florida Everglades LDCM Band Ocean Sciences Meeting in Honolulu, HI; and the National Council runs the Earth system model, the GEOS-5, simulating weather the Earth Science Division. Several programs were written to Remix” visualization. It was noted that the earlier release of this for Science and the Environment meeting in Crystal City, VA. After and other Earth system processes. The WMS is a “window” into handle file and database integration, and designed and imple- key Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) animation had a each of these meetings concludes, Eric makes the presentations the climate model, showing users visualizations of the various mented an interactive web page with a database back-end to minor error in the labeling of the Florida Everglades. Since the available on the web by copying the hyperwall shows and content parameters and processes. Eric enabled the WMS to provide track the content and metadata entry from several users. Leann correction was going to require an AfterEffects re-render of the back to the SVS website. imagery from a new version of data files that has been made compiled a basic report generator for hyperwall shows that meet entire animation anyway, Alex took the opportunity to add the available recently. given criteria; these reports are used by customers who routinely Everglades boundary as he had initially envisioned. Since the Eric is also responsible for hyperwall maintenance, which included utilize and produce hyperwall content. boundary data was stored in a shapefile format, new code was updating several hyperwall installations to run Fedora 17 instead Eric provided NASA SVS Software Support by writing new tools written in order to properly ingest it into SVS visualization tools. of Fedora 14 (the test hyperwall in Building 28, the hyperwall in for use by SVS team members: dbmirror is a tool used to mirror Alex Kekesi was the lead visualizer on both the NASA Landsat-8 This was then integrated into the scene, with the newly adjusted the Building 33 lobby, and one of the traveling Mac Mini hyperwall one hyperwall animation to the web server; dbmigrate is used to and GPM projects. Both of these missions are critical to NASA label, and re-rendered along with all the web products. systems). He is also working on deploying some new hardware to move particular files associated with an animation into the SVS Goddard’s future success as a leader in Earth science research. control the hyperwall made by Xi3 Corporation. These machines database directory structure; movieframe is a tool used to extract For his work with the hyperwall, Alex adapted the Intergovernmen- a particular frame from a movie file, which is useful for generating 76 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 77 image previews of movies for the SVS website; and, cdb is a tool away to reveal the false-color topography of the underlying bed- to easily change a user’s current working directory to a particular rock. False color derived from the topography elevation clearly animation. This shortcut can save a lot of repeated effort. Look- shows a 750-km-long sub-glacial canyon in northern Greenland ing ahead, due to the proliferation of desktop environments found that likely has influenced basal water flow from the ice sheet at the SVS, Eric is interested in using virtual machines to make interior to the margin. Cindy was given a short development time a consistent build and testing environment for all of the different due to the publication date of the associated research paper, platforms. He currently supports four versions of Fedora and two but was able to leverage prior work from the Greenland dh/dt (soon to be three) versions of CentOS, to support both internal project to meet the tight deadline. This animation has been widely tools and also for compiling programs for the hyperwall. circulated in the media and has received over 1.2 million hits on YouTube. Cynthia (Cindy) Starr provides visualizations, and over this past year, her work was centered on the OIB mission and included She generated a rough-cut animation, “Measuring Elevation animations for events in both polar regions, from Greenland to Changes on the Greenland Ice Sheet”, that shows the sequence Antarctica. The topography of the bedrock under the Antarctic Ice of elevation change data over various parts of Greenland with Sheet is critical to understanding the ice sheet’s dynamic motion, flow vectors, and met with Jefferson Beck and Bea Csatho (Univ. GPM Materials. Credit: S. Bensusen and H. Hanson. thickness, and influence on the surrounding ocean and global of Buffalo) to review the results. When the team determined climate. In 2001, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) released a that a narration was necessary in order to explain the meaning Global Science & Technology with the hyperwall as the main component. Five NASA scientists utilized the hyperwall for their presentations. Steve and Mark map named BEDMAP1 of the bed under the Antarctic Ice Sheet of this data, Cindy worked with Jefferson to develop a script. She Global Science and Technology (GST) Staff (sponsor: S. Platnick), provided technical support for the presenters and also facilitated derived from data collected by an international consortium of sci- also obtained additional data sets needed to illustrate the script, which consists of Ryan Barker, Sally Bensusen, Steve Graham, the set-up/dismantle of the exhibit. entists over the prior 50 years. In 2013, BAS released an updated including the bedrock topography, ICESat flight paths, IceBridge Heather Hanson, Winnie Humberson, Marit Jentoft-Nilsen, Mark data set called BEDMAP2 that incorporates an additional 25 flight paths, and ice drainage basins, integrating these into the Malanoski, Debbi McLean, Kevin Miller, Cindy Trapp, and Alan In late February, at the 2014 Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM), million measurements taken over the past two decades. Cindy animation project. Once she received the rough-cut audio file Ward, provide support on three different tasks. created an animation for Operation IceBridge (OIB) that compares of the narration, she incorporated the audio track into the Maya held in Honolulu, HI, Heather and Marit coordinated a group of 12 speakers for the Ocean Sciences Meeting, provided a booth BEDMAP2 to BEDMAP1, showing the improvements in resolution project, using it to set the timing of the animation. She also modi- For their first task, GST is the primary point of contact for NASA’s speaker schedule, and also coordinated the hyperwall playlists and coverage. In this animation, she incorporated ice flows, OIB fied the scripts and key frames on project assets to work with the Earth Science Division’s science exhibit outreach and product de- and content. Marit worked with presenters Felix Landerer, Liane flight paths, and use of a cutting plane to remove the surface of narration, and obtained and incorporated time-sequence footage velopment. Over this past year, they provided conference support Guild, and others to create new visualizations focused on ocean the ice sheet. She developed the narration jointly with Jefferson of glacier movement from the Extreme Ice Survey as well. She to five national and international events. For COP 19 (the Nine- topics. Examples include an Antarctic ice sheet mass loss visual- Beck and worked iteratively with OIB team members (Charles worked with Horace Mitchell to improve the appearance of the teenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework ization based on GRACE data, visualizations showing the use of Webb, Christy Hansen, George Hale, and Michael Studinger) to vector flows representing the movement of the ice sheet. Cindy Convention on Climate Change), Warsaw, Poland, November global NASA data sets as inputs to NOAA’s Coral Reef watch prod- design the storyboard. She produced the animation with assis- obtained and incorporated updated data from Bea Csatho extend- 11–22, 2013, Winnie Humberson worked with the Department of uct, and a new Aquarius sea surface salinity visualization based tance from Jefferson and provided the final animation along with ing through 2012 and also incorporated additional IceBridge State in a coordinated effort to facilitate the United States’ pres- on new daily data from Gary Lagerlof and Hsun-Ying Kao of the high-resolution still images via the SVS website. tracks from the 2012 campaign. She obtained recommendations ence at COP 19. NASA’s hyperwall was a major component at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Heather and Marit traveled to the from staff member reviews and incorporated their recommended conference. Marit Jentoft-Nilsen, Steve Graham, Mark Malanoski, conference venue to set-up/dismantle NASA’s exhibit, talked with Scientists recently completed an expedition to the ice shelf buffer- changes. She generated a variety of still images along with the Heather Hanson, and Winnie worked together to sort out exist- booth visitors, and provided technical support for the presenters. ing the Pine Island Glacier, a major outlet of the West Antarctic Ice final animation and made all of the materials available on the SVS ing hyperwall content into four climate themes. Heather provided Sheet that has rapidly thinned and accelerated in recent decades. web page. short paragraphs on the four themes to the Department of State Drilling a shaft through the ice shelf, they submerged instruments Most recently, the team provided support at the Japan Geophysi- for their official COP-19 U.S. Center program. Marit traveled to cal Union Annual Meeting (JpGU), held from April 28–May 2, beneath the ice to measure ocean velocity, temperature, and Cindy selected an array of 33 of the best SVS animations for inclu- Warsaw to operate the hyperwall system and to act as a docent salinity. Cindy created an animation that depicts this process. sion in an “SVS Highlights” Animation Sampler, the purpose being in Yokohama, Japan. Winnie organized and facilitated NASA’s for the exhibit during the second week of the conference. Kevin exhibit with the JpGU committee. Michael Freilich, Director of The animation shows the velocity-colored ocean currents from to portray the wide variety of visualization techniques employed Miller and Heather worked on a Hyperwall Content brochure and the high-resolution Estimation of the Circulation and Climate of in recent projects. She created a storyboard document with small NASA’s Earth Science Division, was a Distinguished Speaker at schedule for COP-19, including short descriptions about each the conference. Steve organized the hyperwall speakers, gathered the Ocean (ECCO3) model circulating around and under the Pine images and links to the original animations in the SVS database, animation within the four themes. Island ice shelf, which is sliced away to reveal the ocean flows as well as an After Effects project including short subsets of each content for presentations, and provided technical assistance during the presentations. Winnie was on-site as NASA’s POC. In under the ice. A shaft is shown penetrating through the ice sheet, selection, and generated a draft movie that was originally about For the 14th National Conference on Science, Policy, and the Envi- the coming year, GST will provide support at the IEEE Geoscience and the instrument is lowered through the shaft into the water 10 minutes long and revised to be about 5 minutes long. She ronment (NCSE), Washington, DC, January 28–30, 2014, Winnie and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS), Quebec City, Canada, July that flows beneath the ice shelf. This animation was in support generated a comprehensive list of credits for the trailer, updated coordinated NASA’s 25x25-foot science exhibit, and Marit, Steve, 13–18; the Esri International Users Conference, San Diego, CA, of a research paper published in Science in September 2013 and the PDF storyboard document to summarize each animation and Heather, and Mark provided docent support for the hyperwall July 14–18; and the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) was developed with a very short lead time in order to meet the provided a link to the original SVS web page of each selection, content during exhibit hours. Heather provided text and organized 11th Annual Meeting, Royton Sapporo Hotel, Japan, July 28–Au- publication deadline. making it available as documentation on the SVS website. content for Kevin to create a hyperwall content brochure for NCSE. gust 1. Kevin also produced signage for each hyperwall presentation. The Cindy created an animation “Greenland’s Mega-Canyon beneath following week, support was provided at the 94th Annual American the Ice Sheet” that portrays topographic data of the bedrock GST staff also creates various communication products to be Meteorological Society (AMS), held in Atlanta, GA, February 2–6. used for public outreach. Kevin designed a tri-fold brochure for under the Greenland ice sheet derived from ice-penetrating radar NASA’s science exhibit encompassed a 400-square-foot area data. In this animation, the surface of the ice sheet is stripped NASA’S Earth-observing Missions; Heather helped to organize 78 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 79 and finalize the text; Maritupdated an existing mission diagram contributed by other centers such as JPL. These new ocean visual- Array, Exoplanet Exploration Program, Postdoctoral Program, and properly condensed before they were imported to the library. by removing obsolete missions. The updated graphic became the izations will form part of the content to be used at a State Depart- Astrophysics Roadmap. Mark and Sally Bensusen were on-site to Mark also added the new Solar Dynamics Observatory “Argo” cover art for the brochure. The brochure will be used to promote ment ocean meeting in June 2014. help set up and dismantle the 20- by 30-foot exhibit space and heliophysics visualization from the SVS to the hyperwall catalog. Operating Airborne Missions, Operating Satellite Missions, and hand out materials to students and conference attendees. Kevin Sally added a hyperwall show featuring observations from Strato- Future Missions for 2014 and beyond. For its second task, GST (sponsor: S. Platnick) is the primary designed and printed NASA’s exhibit floorplan, Astrophysics ban- spheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)/Faint Object point of contact for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate’s science ner, posters (COR-Cosmic Origins, PCOS-Physics of the Cosmos, Infrared Camera for the SOFIA Telescope (FORCAST) instrument. For this year’s GPM mission, members of the team created a Mis- exhibit outreach and product development. The team provided ExEP-Exoplanet Exploration Program, NuSTAR-Nuclear Spec- (Both are available on the first page of the hyperwall catalog.) sion Brochure, Folder, and Lithograph. Sally and Heather worked conference support for SMD efforts at the Geological Society of troscopic Telescope Array), and a speaker agenda poster/flyer. Additionally, Sally completed a large 4k high-resolution illustration together to produce the GPM mission brochure for use at pre- America (GSA) Annual Meeting & Expo, held in Denver, CO, from Heather reviewed and edited the content prior to production. showing the structure of the sun and its interaction with Earth. launch meetings. They also collaborated with the mission science October 27–30. Winnie Humberson organized NASA’s science team to formulate an initial storyline for the text and mock up lay- exhibit and served as the POC during the four-day expo. NASA’s Winnie was the coordinator for NASA’s Earth Day at Union Station, The third task for GST Staff (sponsor: S. Platnick) is as the prima- out for the 20-page brochure, spread by spread, from discussions exhibit encompassed a 600-square-foot footprint that featured held in Washington, DC, April 21-22. Components included 18 ry point of contact for NASA’s Applied Sciences Division’s science about precipitation science to the spacecraft’s instruments. The the NASA hyperwall. Steve Graham was on-site to provide techni- hands-on activities, a visit from middle school students, specifi- exhibit outreach and product development. They provided confer- cover shows the GPM Core Observatory grouped with its constel- cal support and to facilitate set-up and dismantle of the exhibit. cally for them to participate in the NASA activities, organizing and ence support for the International Congress for Conservation lation partners, the pocket folder is used for collecting all current scheduling 12 hyperwall speakers and their presentations, and Biology (ICCB), held in Baltimore, MD, July 21–25. Steve Graham GPM materials, and the interior text describes the international At the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, held facilitating a feed from the International Space Station. NASA Ad- supervised the set-up/teardown of NASA’s exhibit, including the effort behind the mission. Included was a QR code embedded in San Francisco, CA, December 9-12, Winnie organized and ministrator Charles Bolden made hyperwall, and provided techni- on the right-hand flap for a direct link to more GPM information. coordinated the NASA science exhibit, which represented NASA’s a special presentation on April cal assistance for the hyperwall In response to the GPM science team’s request for an updated Science Mission Directorate and Earth Sciences Division by way 22nd titled “2014: A Big Year For presentations. Heather Hanson and lithograph to be modeled after the design of their previous ver- of dynamic hyperwall presentations, in-booth side-event presenta- Earth at NASA”. Opening presen- Steve interacted with conference sion, Sally created a new GPM Constellation cover illustration to tions and demonstrations, interactive kiosk stations, and several tations were provided by Dr. John attendees and disbursed relevant coordinate with the other previously created GPM materials. information tables that offered face-to-face interactions with staff. Grunsfeld, Associate Adminis- informational materials. In total, there were 26 excellent scientists recruited to deliver trator of the Science Mission Another communication piece is The Earth Observer Newsletter, dynamic hyperwall presentations, including several from Goddard Directorate, NASA Headquarters; From January 13-17, the Group On a bi-monthly publication that documents and reports on the Earth Space Flight Center. Michael Freilich, Director of Earth Sciences Dr. Michael Freilich, Director of Earth Observations (GEO)-X Plenary Observing System (EOS). The newsletter has an international and at NASA Headquarters, and Lawrence Friedl, Director of Applied the Earth Science Division, NASA and 2014 Ministerial Summit was domestic subscriber list of more than 3,000 people. Alan Ward, Sciences at NASA Headquarters, opened NASA’s booth during the Headquarters; Kathryn Roger, held in Geneva, Switzerland. Winnie the executive editor, and Heather, a technical/assistant editor, Ice-Breaker Reception. John Grunsfeld, Associate Administrator President of Earth Day Network; Humberson organized the inter- work with newsletter contributors to collect, edit, and finalize text for the SMD, NASA Headquarters, and Ellen Stofan, NASA Chief and Gwen Camp, Director of Indi- agency U.S. GEO exhibit. Winnie and content for each issue. Debbi McLean produces the layout Scientist, participated in a media event in front of the hyperwall vidual and Community Prepared- and Steve traveled to Geneva to and design for each issue. The newsletter recently marked its during the Ice-Breaker Reception. Jack Kaye, Associate Director ness at the Federal Emergency provide technical and organizational 25th anniversary. for Research at NASA Headquarters, helped close the series of hy- Management Agency. Several support throughout the confer- perwall talks on Thursday, December 12. The hyperwall presenta- GST staff provided support at the ence. The hyperwall was the prime GST staff provide hyperwall content development and mainte- tions concluded with 15 minutes of STS-132 video of the crew on- hands-on activities. Kevin Miller component of the exhibit and was nance as well. Marit, Mark, and Heather worked together to up- board the International Space Station. The estimated 100 people designed and produced several utilized by members of the delega- date hyperwall visualizations from content published on World of viewing this inspirational film appeared very moved. Additionally, posters, banners, and a speaker tion as a unique platform to convey Change (earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/) Steve and Mark Malanoski provided on-site technical support and agenda for the hyperwall presentations. Kevin and Heather the importance of satellite observations. In particular, Dr. Michael and NASA Earth Observations (neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov). They cre- organized the set-up and dismantle of NASA’s 2,000 square foot worked together on content for the Passport Activity Guide, with Freilich, Director, ESD at NASA Headquarters, gave multiple ated animations from the still image time series, wrote captions, exhibit. Heather Hanson attended town hall sessions for reporting Kevin designing and producing the final version. presentations to delegates, ministers, and to the head of the U.S. and created web versions for use on the new hyperwall website. purposes and helped staff NASA’s exhibit. Kevin Miller designed delegation, Dr. Patrick Gallagher, the Deputy Secretary of Com- Examples include the Aral Sea time series to 2013 and the CE- and produced NASA’s exhibit floor plan, program book, speaker An annual and in-demand item is the NASA Science Calendar merce. Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan, Under Secretary of Commerce for RES Monthly Solar Insolation, both found on the SVS site. Marit agenda flyer, speaker agenda poster, NASA hyperwall flyer, hyper- (image above), and this year Debbi created the cover art and all Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, wrote a letter updated the Aquarius Sea surface Salinity visualization through wall banner stands, and kiosk-speaker presentation templates design aspects and production of the calendar for 2014. Alan of appreciation acknowledging the efforts of Winnie and Steve October 2013 to showcase more than two years of data from the for the hyperwall and side events. GST staff will once again be on Ward and Heather crafted technical caption text into short stories for their hard work and dedication. The letter of appreciation Aquarius instrument, and Mark created a visualization showing hand at the 2014 AGU Meeting. for each monthly image. Marit created two images for the calen- received a strong endorsement from NASA Administrator Charles the flooding on the Platte River. Marit created a visualization dar—one using Landsat-8 to show the Salton Sea in true color F. Bolden. NASA’s significant contributions to the Ministerial Sum- showing Greenland ice sheet mass loss. Heather edited existing At the 223rd American Astronomical Society (AAS), held in Wash- and Thermal IR, and one using GRACE data to show drought in mit have resulted in a renewal of the GEO mandate for another captions or wrote new ones for the approximately 180 hyperwall ington, DC, January 5–9, Winnie coordinated NASA’s science the Middle East. The calendar is a much sought-after publication decade. visualizations that make up the first group to be transferred to the exhibit. The following nine missions participated: Transiting used as an outreach tool at major science conferences. new hyperwall web page/database. Future plans include the ad- Exoplanet Survey Satellite, Physics of the Cosmos Program, Wide Communication Products were provided for the GEO-X Plenary dition of hyperwall content on ocean topics to the online hyperwall Field InfraRed Survey Telescope - Astrophysics Focused Telescope Steve, Mark, Marit, and Heather worked together on the twelve and 2014 Ministerial Summit. Heather provided text and helped library, such as content used for past hyperwall events (including Assets, Cosmic Origins Program, NICER-Neutron star Interior 2014 Science Calendar images (four from each division) to organize content with Steve and Kevin Miller to create a hyperwall the recent 2014 Ocean Sciences Meeting) as well as content Composition ExploreR, NuSTAR-Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope prepare them for the hyperwall library as new content. The image content brochure for GEO-X. Kevin designed several posters and files were resized and captions were written for each image and signage for the U.S. exhibit. This GST task continues to create 80 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 81 booklets for its Understanding Earth series. This past year, Sally for an International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Team ages with NASA Ames, the NASA center that leads astrobiology Dr. Daniel Laughlin (sponsor: S. Canright) serves as the first Bensusen and Heather collaborated with Allison Leidner from in Synthetic Biology; this will be the first of its kind to involve a research. An aim is to try to establish some internships and post- Digital Media Learning Fellow in NASA’s Office of Education. He NASA Headquarters to produce this 16-page booklet, “Under- Historically Black College and University in Synthetic Biology. The doc positions for the AU students with current scientists at NASA supports NASA agency level work in digital media and learning, standing Earth: Biodiversity”, the fourth booklet in the task’s iGEM program is the premier undergraduate Synthetic Biology Ames. Additionally, Dr. Bell was a key organizer and member specifically but not limited to the areas of games and digital Understanding Earth series (see A. Leidner, Code 610). The competition. As a brand new partnership between Stanford, of the planning team for Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) badges as means to addressing NASA’s commitment to the Biodiversity brochure describes how satellite observations—often Brown and Spelman, the new team will be named “the Stanford- collaboration meetings. Dr. Bell led a panel discussion with Federal STEM Education Priority Area: Increase Youth and Public combined with other measurements taken on the ground or from Brown-Spelman iGEM team”. Students are given a kit of biologi- Morehouse School of Medicine Leadership; Dean/EVP of Medical Engagement in STEM. The work includes curating a NASA game aircraft—provide information relevant to the distribution of ecosys- cal parts to use along with new parts of their own design to build School, Vice President for Research Affairs, Dean for Educational catalog, researching and proposing NASA Headquarters’ Office of tems and their resident species and how scientists use this infor- biological systems and operate them in living cells. The partici- Outreach and Health Careers, Dean for Graduate Education and Education guidance for games and digital badges, identifying best mation to understand patterns of biodiversity, how biodiversity is pating students and the faculty mentor from Spelman have been Dean for Educational Affairs participated on this panel. The goal practices, scalable evidence based approaches, benchmarking changing, and the drivers of the changes, as well as to predict the identified (2-4 students), and the funding support for the project was to discuss the potential for research collaborations with and assessing need, gap and niche. He works with federal inter- impacts of environmental changes on biodiversity in the future. will come through NASA Ames. Student training at Spelman has NASA Ames Director and MSM leadership. agency collaborations, external partnerships and NASA’s internal Other booklets in the series include: Understanding Earth: The begun, and research training will provided at NASA Ames in sum- games/game technology community. Dr. Laughlin continues to Journey of Dust; Understanding Earth: Biomass Burning; and mer 2014. The project will continue through the academic year. Dr. Bell recruited four Faculty Members for a summer 2014 serve as executive secretary for the National Science and Tech- Understanding Earth: The Icy Arctic. sabbatical program from underrepresented institutions, in col- nology Council (NSTC) interagency working group on Digital Game Dr. Bell was a team member on a proposal titled “Evolutionary laboration with the NAI-MIRS) Faculty Fellowship Program. MIRS Technologies and as co-chair the Federal Games Working Group. GST staff also provided hyperwall content development and Innovation In Action”, submitted jointly for collaboration between scientists continue to build upon collaborations with NAI research maintenance for this task. Steve, Heather, Marit Jentoft-Nilsen Morgan State University and NASA Ames Research Center. An partners with successful outcomes and numerous publications. NASA released Moonbase Alpha as a proof-of-concept video game and Mark Malanoski prepared content for the ICCB hyperwall Astrobiology Course, Seminars, Internships and Lecture Series at Over 20 MIRS Faculty Fellows to date have participated in the through the Learning Technologies Project. Developed in collabo- presenters by creating playlists, adapting and improving present- Morgan State University have been proposed. The Astrobiology MIRS program. Fellows continue their astrobiology research at ration with the Army Game Studio and Virtual Heroes, Inc., Dr. ers’ content for better display on the hyperwall, making preview course will incorporate a new digital learning capability tool, the their institutions once fellowship is completed. Also for summer Laughlin led the project. The October issue of PCGamer Magazine versions of hyperwall shows, and gathering metadata to ensure Hypothesis Browser, developed by Dr. Andrew Pohorille and Dr. 2014, Dr. Bell acted as a recruiter and collaborator for the 2014 hailed Moonbase Alpha as one of the top 50 free online games that speakers knew exactly what each visualization showed. Ad- Richard Keller, collaborators at NASA Ames Research Center. The REU International Summer Internship Program (Malaysia, Mexico available in 2013. The game combines NASA’s lunar architecture, ditionally, Steve, Heather, Marit and Mark transferred the public Hypothesis Browser as a digital capability learning tool will sup- and India). The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) the state-of-the-art Unreal 3 Engine and commercial quality game hyperwall website from science.nasa.gov to svs.gsfc.nasa.gov. port an effective student research training process. The goal is to provides an excellent opportunity for students to strengthen design in an effort to demonstrate that a fun, inspirational and The team worked with SVS developers to ensure that the design develop a community-based system for indexing and organizing science and research literacy. Selected students for the 2014 educational could be the result. Released on the commercial of the new site had good search capabilities. The new database scientific papers based on hypotheses that they support or con- summer internship program will conduct research in Malaysia game distribution network Steam, Moonbase Alpha proved to be was implemented to allow searching for a presentation by a key- tradict. The course will be taught by an interdisciplinary team of this summer with research focus on astrobiology-related projects, popular with both players and game critics. The game has an 80- word and to obtain faster downloads for the larger presentations. astrobiologists from the NASA Astrobiology Institute and Minority climate change and sustainable agriculture among indigenous page educator’s guide to support classroom use. The direct link for the new site is http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/ Institutions Research Support (NAI-MIRS) Program. Students will communities. Global and cultural diversity is a continued key search.cgi?contentType=p, and is also directly linked to the main develop a clear understanding of active and passive methods of focus of the program. Students will be selected from minority Dr. Laughlin completed the NASA game catalog, identifying games hyperwall web portal http://science.nasa.gov/hyperwall/. scientific inquiry. At the conclusion of the course, students will be serving institutions. Native American students, Hispanic students and game technology projects across the agency. The catalog required to present a talk and a research paper on how the proj- and African-American students will jointly participate in this in- includes 15 game projects developed by or in collaboration with ect helped them to understand how to approach research and the ternational research program summer 2014. The lead institution NASA. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy CODE 160: Office of Education benefit of the Hypothesis Browser as a learning tool. A mentorship will be University of Minnesota, Dr. Michael Ceballos, Fellow MIRS (OSTP) identified it as the first document to gather information on Through her many collaborations, Dr. Benita Bell (sponsor: J. component will be included in which NASA Staff and Faculty serve Scientist and ongoing collaborator. Dr. Bell will team with Dr. any federal agency’s game efforts. Harrington) aims to develop domestic and global initiatives and as ongoing mentors throughout the project. Ceballos during laboratory student training and data analysis. utilize the existing technology framework to increase astrobiology research and diversity among minority serving institutions. The In February 2014, Dr. Bell organized a STEM Student Engagement continued focus will be to identify colleges and universities, both Forum for Historically Black Colleges and Universities within the domestic and international with research capabilities and a mu- Atlanta University System (AU). The National Society for Black En- tual interest in astrobiology and thereby create exciting partner- gineers (NSBE), Graduate Students and Medical School Students, ships to engage students in STEM research. Research diversity Chapter Presidents, Spelman College, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta and cultural diversity remains the core focus of the partnership University and Morehouse School of Medicine students convened framework model. to discuss their STEM projects, both research and education. Dr. Pete Worden, NASA Ames Center Director, was the guest speaker This past year, Dr. Bell and a NASA Ames scientist collaborated at the event. NASA Ames Chief of Staff, Karen Bradford, attended to create an initiative between Spelman College and NASA Ames, and potential partnership development projects were discussed. helping to develop a new joint initiative for student engagement The goal was/is to launch potential student engagement link-

82 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 83 PRODUCTS STUDENT ENGAGEMENTS and EDUCATION/PUBLIC OUTREACH

The GESTAR Maniac Talks offer the opportunity to Student Engagements Student training on the use of the MINX data processing tool and “discuss and learn”. The Maniac Talks “… promote scientific MISR data products was provided. Projects included work with interaction between young and experienced scientists in order Assaf Anyamba advised two students this past year. Felicia Chen MISR satellite data products, GOCART and NU-WRF modeling to learn/improve/revise the knowledge of basics/fundamen- (UMD) worked on Rift Valley Monitor. Margaret Glancey (JHU) results analyses. At the conclusion of the summer, posters were tals of science and scientific methods for research.” Charles was in the Masters of Public Health program and participated in generated that highlighted the work performed. Gatebe has been instrumental in hosting and maintaining this a USRA Summer Internship. Her thesis was titled “Epidemiologic exciting series, and this year Dr. Gatebe was recognized with and Environmental Risk Factor Analysis of Rift Valley Fever Out- Priscilla Mohammed supported a summer intern who contributed a Robert H. Goddard Award for his ongoing efforts. Since late breaks in Southern Africa from 2008 to 2011”. Dr. Anyamba rec- to the SMAP RFI algorithm performance evaluation by developing May 2013, speakers have included Compton Tucker, Warren ommended Margaret for employment at the Uniformed Services Matlab code to evaluate RFI detector performance using radiom- Wiscombe, Charles McClain, Lorraine Remer, David Atlas, Al- University of the Health Sciences and she has since been hired. eter flight model data from thermal vacuum. With guidance from exander Marshak, Josefino Comiso, John Mather, William Lau, Dr. Mohammed, the intern wrote code to produce receiver operat- Benita Bell assisted STEM students from Georgetown University Peter Hildebrand, Henning Leidecker and Anne Thompson, all ing curves for each of the RFI detectors in the L1B TB algorithm and University of Pennsylvania with acquiring summer 2014 of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Dr. Michael D. King of based on different RFI types as inputs. internships with colleagues at the NIH and Johns Hopkins APL. LASP, University of Colorado, Boulder, also presented a talk As part of the Intensive Summer School in Computing for Envi- in July 2013. A schedule of upcoming speakers and videos of Benita Bell continues to mentor K-12 STEM Early College Stu- ronmental Sciences (ISSCENS), Cecile Rousseaux supervised an previous talks can be found on the Maniac Talk blog: http:// dents (9th-10th grade) at NC A&T State University. The goal is to intern, Laura Hamrick, from June – August 2013. maniactalk.gestar.usra.edu/. continue to engage students in NASA learning technologies as Dr. Peter Hildebrand, retired Earth Science Division Director, well as increase the pipeline and recruitment of students pursu- In addition to working with a team of contributing writers at NASA presents a Manic Talk Lecture in February 2014. ing STEM careers. Goddard Space Flight Center, Kayvon Sharghi launched a student writing internship in partnership with the University of California, On June 26, 2013, Santiago Gassó attended to the final MSc Santa Cruz, Science Communication Program. Kayvon managed The NASA Visualization Explorer (NASA Viz) app exam of Kyle Dawson at North Carolina State University in Ra- two graduate students over 24 weeks, each contributing 12 sto- continues to excite, educate and engage audiences through leigh, NC. The project was entitled “A study of sea spray optical ries to the NASA Viz app. its media rich content and stories. properties from multi-sensor spaceborne observations”. Prof. Nicholas Meskhidze is the thesis advisor and Dr. Gassó is a com- On July 18 and 25, 2013, Jason Sippel gave presentations on Since the app’s launch on July, 26, 2011, it has received mittee member. NASA’s hurricane research program was given to K-12 students more than 1 million unique downloads, it continuously ranks involved in the Baltimore SEMAA program at Morgan State Uni- as the #1 Earth science app in the iTunes Education Store Charles Gatebe supervised Sreeja Nag, a PhD student at MIT, versity. Following the presentation, the students were given an and has been reviewed and featured in tech blogs and news who is now in her final year at MIT. Sreeja is working on Distrib- activity to work through that involved using data from the ongoing websites. uted Space Missions (DSMs) for application to earth science HS3 field campaign. missions. As of late May 2014, almost 300 stories have been published. In addition, Jason Sippel worked with NASA Ames Research The collection of stories highlight findings from all four NASA Margaret Hurwitz has been serving as an AAAS Science & Tech- Center and the Baltimore SEMAA program to organize a SEMAA science themes—Earth, Heliophysics, Planetary, Astrophys- nology Policy Fellow since September 2013, working in the Middle field trip to NASAs Wallops Flight Facility during the HS3 Field ics—and includes contributions from Science@NASA, NASA East Bureau at USAID in Washington, DC. Campaign. Students first visited the Wallops Visitor Center and Earth Observatory and NASA’s science mission outreach then went to the HS3 hangar, where they were able to observe teams. Matthew Kowalewski mentored two Morgan State University real-time HS3 operations, see a Global Hawk up-close, and talk to undergraduates and recently published a short article about their mission scientists about hurricane research. Through the ongoing efforts of GESTAR team members Helen- and will launch in summer 2014. During the next year, the team activities in the Spring 2014 GESTAR newsletter. Each student Nicole Kostis (NASA Viz project manager), Katie Lewis (NASA Viz is planning on releasing updates with push notifications, icloud made progress in their respective projects and learned about vari- Kristen Weaver spoke to Silver Spring International Middle user experience designer), and Kayvon Sharghi (NASA Viz editor), capabilities and High-Definition content. ous aspects of instrument and lab engineering. School Green Team (~30 students) in Silver Spring, MD, about the two new stories appear in the app each week. As an outcome of the NASA Viz Teacher Project: NASA Science & GPM mission (including showing “Our Wet Wide World”), and the Matthew Kowalewski participated in the Linton Springs Elemen- Technology in the Classroom (2012-2013), the team is currently importance of measuring precipitation from space. She showed This year the NASA Viz software development team released tary School Science Fair, Eldersburg, MD in January as a com- working with the Office of Education (led by Dr. Robert Gabrys) them the rain gauge that will soon be installed at their school and the Universal version, which made the app available for all iOS munity scientist judge. Students from all grades participated in on developing content and features to address the Next Genera- talked about citizen science measurements and what their role devices (iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch). In order to adapt NASA Viz for the event and had the opportunity to discuss the results of their tion Science Standards and to assist teachers in their classroom can be. the iPhone, a new user interface was designed and developed. In research with him and other community scientists. environment. addition, two more updates were released to enhance features Kristen Weaver participated in STEM Activity Series with students for classroom use, improve the user interface and to address bug Tom Kucsera worked with three NASA-sponsored summer at the George B. Thomas Learning Academy Saturday School fixes. A newly designed NASA Viz website is currently in progress students (Mariel Friberg, Phillip Stratton, and Zachary Fasnacht) at Wheaton High School, Silver Spring, MD. Activities included and a post-summer GESTAR-sponsored student though the joint making and testing rain gauges and discussing how precipitation cooperative agreement with Morgan State, Amon Dow. Mr. Kuc- measurements are made from the ground, learning about how sera provided help and assistance with their research projects. the GPM Core Observatory measures precipitation from space, 84 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 85 making an edible model of the satellite, and conducting an experi- Helen-Nicole Kostis is also a Committee Member of the NASA ment about the amount precipitation needed to create a landslide Information Science & Technology Colloquium Series. As part in different types of sand and soil. The series culminated in a of her committee duties, she invites and hosts leaders from the poster contest for students to show what they learned, and a fields of computer graphics and visualization. On April 23, 2014, EARTH DAY at Union Station, April 21-22, 2014 follow-up field trip to Goddard Space Flight Center is planned. she hosted Ariel Shamir (Disney Research & MIT). Allison Leidner worked with Winnie Humberson, the coordina- Matthew Kowalewski Education/Public Outreach participated in the DISCOVER-AQ public tor for this large-scale event, at the NASA booth and the USRA outreach event while on deployment to Houston, TX. During the booth for Earth Day at Union Station, Washington, DC, where Benita Bell organized the STEM Student Engagement Forum event, over 300 fifth graders visited the NASA Ellington Airfield Dr. Leidner also gave a Hyperwall talk titled “Earth’s Biodiver- for Historically Black Colleges and Universities within the Atlanta where Mr. Kowalewski gave tutorials on the B200 aircraft and the sity: The View from Space”. Edward Celarier gave a Hyperwall University System (AU). The National Society for Black Engineers GCAS instrument operations and science. presentation, speaking about nitrogen dioxide measurements (NSBE), Graduate Students and Medical School Students, Chapter from OMI, and the importance of making these measurements. Student interns at Goddard had designed and built a robot Presidents, Spelman College, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta University Working with USRA’s Jim Lochner and Beth Maginnis, Erica capable of travelling autonomously in polar regions. In summer and Morehouse School of Medicine students convened to discuss McGrath-Spangler engaged with the public by participating in 2013, Matt Radcliff traveled to Greenland to film this robot on their STEM projects, both research and education. Dr. Pete Wor- USRA’s “What on Earth” exhibit, where select images from Earth its first polar expedition to the center of Greenland’s ice sheet. den, NASA Ames Center Director was the guest speaker at the were shown and discussing with the public what those images GROVER, the Goddard Rover, carried a ground-penetrating radar event. NASA Ames Chief of Staff, Karen Bradford, also attended could be. Kristen Weaver hosted a table at Earth Day at Union to study the accumulation of snow on the ice sheet with particular and potential partnership development projects were discussed. Station, sharing information about the GPM mission science attention to the ice layer left after the unusual melt in summer of The ongoing goal is to launch potential student engagement and technology. GST staff on hand to support the multiple 2012. Matt filmed the rover and the two graduate students who links with NASA Ames, which is the center leading astrobiology components of this event included Steve Graham, Heather were working on the project. research. Another goal is to establish internships and post-doc Hanson, Marit Jentoft-Nilsen, Mark Malanoski, Debbi McLean, Kevin Miller, Sally Bensusen, Ryan Barker, and Cindy Trapp, positions for AU students with current scientists at NASA Ames. Adrian Southard gave a talk on MOMA-related work at Catholic who worked at several of the hands-on activities and provided University, Washington, DC, titled “Use of a MEMS Pirani pressure Working with Steve Graham and Winnie Humberson, Edward technical and logistical support. Kevin Miller designed several gauge to protect operation of the Mars Organic Mass Analyzer Celarier conducted presentations in front of the NASA Hyperwall communication products, and he and Heather Hanson created mass spectrometer: One of many engineering challenges associ- at the National American Chemical Society Convention, New the Passport Activity Guide. ated with searching for signs of past or present life on Mars”. Orleans, LA. The first evening was devoted to university students, and the Hyperwall presentations increased awareness of the Erica McGrath-Spangler and Teppei Yasunari participated as chemistry-related activities occurring within NASA. judges for the Outstanding Student Paper Awards at the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. The purpose of the judging Gabrielle De Lannoy was a panel member in a site-review of is to provide constructive criticism to students in order to improve ers learned about the science behind GPM and MMS, and the In collaboration with the E/PO teams from other missions at God- NOAA-CRESST, College Park, MD, a cooperative institute, and she their presentation skills. educational materials associated with each. The first workshop dard (MMS, LRO and SDO), Kristen Weaver hosted a kids activity educated students about Earth sciences research. was for Montgomery County, MD teachers (Nov); the second one table at AwesomeCon, Washington, D.C. Kristen Weaver assisted with hands-on activities for GPM Family was for participants in the STEM Pipeline through the GSFC’s Of- Gabrielle De Lannoy participated in the USA Science and Engi- Day, held at Goddard Space Flight Center. Over 300 people as- fice of Education and included teachers from various districts in Yaping Zhou shadowed a high school science teacher from Bal- neering Festival, Washington, DC, as a staff member of the Earth sociated with GPM and their friends and family members came Maryland and the District of Columbia (Dec); and the third work- timore County, MD in July 2013. During the one-week program, Science area. Kristen Weaver hosted a table at this festival, to the Goddard Visitor Center for a briefing about the mission shop was focused on teachers from Prince George’s and Howard Dr. Zhou helped the teacher learn about the day-to-day work of sharing the GPM mission’s science and technology with the science and engineering, to visit the activities tables (freshwater a research scientist, become familiar with many existing online public. Counties (Jan). Workshop materials are now available as online resources, the water cycle, and making paper and edible models professional development for educators around the country. NASA educational tools that can be used in the classroom, and, after attending a seminar by Dr. Warren Wiscombe (Code 613), Helen-Nicole Kostis served in the American Alliance of Museums of the Core Observatory), and for a tour of Building 28 to see the Kristen Weaver hosted a table at the 25th annual Rockville Sci- helped her identify and develop a missing piece in the current Media and Technology MUSE 2014 Awards Jury Team for Interpre- testing facilities and the satellite itself before it was sent to Japan ence Day at Montgomery College, Rockville, MD. Activities includ- Maryland high school Earth science curriculum: global warming tive Installations. Helen-Nicole also served on the Association for its launch in February. ed a water cycle model, precipitation towers, and the chance for and the cryosphere. of Computing Machinery (ACM) SIGGRAPH Jury Team to select Kristen Weaver was a key participant in the Extreme Weather kids to assemble a model of the GPM Core Observatory satellite. content for the upcoming conference in Vancouver 2014. She Teacher Workshop, Greenbelt, MD. Jointly with the Magneto- participated in the Jury team for the General Submissions (talks, spheric Multiscale Mission, the GPM team held three teacher panels, courses, studio, emerging technologies). workshops about Extreme Weather on Earth and in space. Teach-

86 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 87 AWARDS

AWARDS & RECOGNITION producing improved Level 2 and Level 3 aerosol and cloud products.”

In late May 2013, Ginger Butcher, Eric Nash and Edward Celarier (sponsor: N. Krotkov) won a 2013 Communicator Award for Excel- Kerry Meyer also was recognized for Best First-Authored Paper*: “For fundamental contributions to understanding the effect of above- lence in Print and Design by the International Academy of the Visual Arts for their work on the poster “The Ozone Hole: Over 30 Years cloud absorbing aerosols on the radiative forcing of coupled aerosol-cloud layers.” *Meyer, K., S. Platnick, L. Oreopoulos, and D. M. Lee of NASA Observations”. With over 6000 entries received in 2013 from the US and around the world, the Communicator Awards is the (2013), Estimating the direct radiative effect of absorbing aerosols overlying marine boundary layer clouds in the southeast Atlantic largest and most competitive awards program honoring the creative excellence for communications professionals. The poster employs using MODIS and CALIOP, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1002/jgrd.50449. a stunning infographic format to highlight NASA’s ozone hole observations between 1979 to 2012 from a variety of NASA missions including Aura and Suomi NPP. At Goddard’s GMAO Peer Awards Ceremony, Deepthi Achuthavarier (sponsor: S. Schubert) received the GMAO Peer Award for Scientific Achievement, “For contributing to our understanding of decadal climate variability in the North Pacific and its implications for improving In June 2013, at Goddard’s Earth Sciences - Atmospheres (Code 610) awards ceremony, Valentina Aquila (sponsor: P. Colarco) was the GEOS-5 coupled model.” recognized for Outstanding Performance – Science: “For significant advances in our understanding of the ozone response to strong tropical volcanic eruption.” Mircea Grecu (sponsor: R. Meneghini) was recognized for Outstanding Performance – Science: “For suc- NASA Goddard’s Scientific Visualization Studio was awarded first place in the video category of the 2013 International Science and -En cessful completion of the “at launch” GPM combined radar-radiometer algorithm, from concept to final software, using innovative and gineering Visualization Challenge for its 4-minute entry titled “Excerpt from Dynamic Earth”. In the full-length planetarium film “Dynam- original approaches.” ic Earth”, which has been shown worldwide, the visualizers conveyed the flow of solar wind and its effect on the atmosphere and ocean currents. The original video was created by Greg Shirah, Tom Bridgman, Horace Mitchell, Lori Perkins, Cindy Starr, Ernie Wright, Trent In December 2013, Paolo de Matthaeis and his sponsor David Le Vine (NASA GSFC) were recipients of an award from NASA Head- Schindler, and Stuart Snodgrass. quarters, a Group Achievement Award presented to the AQ Launch, Early Orbit Ops, and Commissioning Team “for outstanding achieve- ment in launching the AQ/SAC-D Observatory and commissioning the Aquarius instrument for unprecedented global sea surface Winnie Humberson and Steve Graham of GST (Global Science & Technology, Inc.) received a letter of appreciation from NASA Ad- salinity observations.” ministrator Charles Bolden for their work at the 2014 GEO Plenary and Ministerial Summit. His letter was in response to a letter he received from Acting NOAA Administrator Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, recognizing NASA’s efforts in Geneva. In particular, they were recognized As a member of the Aquarius Science Calibration and Validation Team, Paolo de Matthaeis also received a NASA Award, for “Outstand- “for their tireless work to produce an outstanding USGEO exhibit.” Winnie stated that their “support consisted of organizing exhibits, ing team efforts in calibrating and validating Aquarius science products in fulfillment of mission science objectives.” organizing real time coordination for Hyperwall presentations, and networking with the local mission office for press, VIPs and students visiting the USGEO exhibit.” In December 2013, Charles Malespin (sponsor: P. Mahaffy) received an award from the Director of the Solar System Exploration Direc- torate of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center “in recognition of your dedication and service to the NASA community”. This award was In May 2014, Charles Gatebe (sponsor: C. Ichoku) received a 2013 Robert H. Goddard Award for Outreach in recognition “for founding, also presented to other members of the SAM team for their work on the Curiosity mission. implementing, and continuing to lead the spectacularly successful “Maniac” series of talks at NASA Goddard”.

Also, Charles Malespin received an award from NASA Headquarters, a Group Achievement Award as part of the MSL SAM instrument In May 2014, fourteen GESTAR members were recognized with an Excellence in GESTAR Mission Achievement award. development and Science Team, for “Exceptional achievement defining SAM’s scientific goals and requirements, developing the instru- ment suite and investigation, and operating SAM successfully on Mars.” Tom Bridgman, Trent Schindler, Cindy Starr, and Ernie Wright (code 606.4, sponsor: H. Mitchell) were recognized for their roles on the NASA Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS) team awarded first place in the video category of the 2013 International Science and In December 2013, the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition awarded Assaf Anyamba (sponsor: C. Tucker) and his team Engineering Visualization Challenge, a highly prestigious competition sponsored jointly by the journal Science and the NSF. The win- the 2013 FDA Leveraging/Collaboration Award as members of the Geospatial Produce Risk Assessment Modeling Team for excep- ning entry is an excerpt from the planetarium film “Dynamic Earth” and shows how the particles from solar storms bombard Earth and tional achievement and collaboration to develop a geospatial risk assessment model to predict environmental produce contamination how the sun’s heat energy drives Earth’s climate and weather. Congratulatory emails to SVS Director Horace Mitchell on the team’s events. The FDA Leveraging/Collaboration Award recognizes an individual’s or company’s efforts to collaborate with other government behalf came from NASA Earth Science Division Director Michael Freilich and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Director Chris Scolese. or industry groups to advance the FDA’s public health mission. Dr. Anyamba’s project, titled “Geospatial Risk Assessment Model of Freilich noted, “I personally use and benefit greatly from your products, which are always of the highest scientific and aesthetic quality, environmental contamination of produce by Enteric Pathogens”, aims to develop a geospatial, environmental and climatic database and which are easily discoverable and accessible through your site.” Scolese added, “Your products inspire many to pursue careers in and model that will enable CFSAN to understand, characterize and predict the likelihood, amount, time, and location of environmental science and engineering and to learn about our Earth and the universe.” contamination of produce by enteric pathogens (E. coli, Salmonella) in the continental U.S. Ludovic Brucker (code 615, sponsor L. Koenig): For his science contribution and his efforts in abiding by GESTAR administrative At NASA Goddard’s Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Laboratory (Code 612) awards ceremony, three GESTAR scientists received requirements. Dr. Brucker has shown incredible leadership and scientific achievement in all areas of his research but in particular his recognition. Two scientists were recognized for Exceptional Scientific Achievement: Xiaowen Li (sponsor: W. K. Tao), “for research us- work with Aquarius data over the Polar Regions. He has created products to easily enable the use of the data by the community while ing sophisticated microphysical processes to improve our understanding of the interactive processes between cloud, precipitation and simultaneously investigating new and innovative ways to use the data to better understand changes over both land and sea ice. He is aerosol”, and Jainn J. (Roger) Shi (sponsor: W. K. Tao), “for research using WRF with Goddard Radiative and Goddard Microphysical a leading expert in Microwave Remote Sensing at shorter wavelengths and the work he has done over the past year establishes him as schemes to improve our understanding of direct and indirect aerosol-precipitation interactive processes.” Xiping Zeng (sponsor: W. K. the field’s leading expert in utilizing Aquarius data, especially over land ice. The data sets Dr. Brucker has created are being housed by Tao) was recognized for Best Scientific Paper: “A Comparison of the Water Budgets between Clouds from AMMA and TWP-ICE” (2013), the National Snow and Ice data Center. Zeng, X., W.-K. Tao, S. Powell, R. Houze, P. Cieselski, N. Guy, H. Pierce, and T. Matsui, Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 70, 487-503. Tom Eck (code 618, sponsor B. Holben): For sustained outstanding performance in the AERONET program and exemplary publication At NASA Goddard’s Climate and Radiation Laboratory (Code 613) awards ceremony, four GESTAR scientists were recognized for their record of well-cited peer reviewed scientific papers. The AERONET program is the world’s largest network of ground-based sensors for achievements: aerosols. On a day-to-day basis, Mr. Eck keeps track of everything that is happening with the AERONET stations (approximately 400 sites in 50 countries on all seven continents). He is fondly referred to as the AERONET “operations scientist” by his colleagues and the For Outstanding Technical Support/Achievement: Benjamin Marchant (sponsor: S. Platnick), Kerry Meyer (sponsor: S. Platnick), aerosol community. Mr. Eck played a critical role in the 1998 paper which was used to introduce AERONET; that paper has now passed Falguni Patadia (sponsor: R. Levy), and Andrew Sayer (sponsor: N. C. Hsu) were among those who received a Team Award given to an impressive academic milestone: more than 2100 times as a citation, making it one of the most referenced papers in contemporary the MODIS Collection 6 Team: “For sustained effort leading to the successful delivery of the MODIS Collection 6 algorithms and codes earth science. He has an h-index of 52, which is considered AGU Fellow grade.

88 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 89 ACRONYMS

Dongchul Kim (code 614, sponsor M. Chin): For numerous publications, including two first author papers, and multiple research ACAM Airborne Compact Atmospheric Mapper presentations at AGU, AMS and the AeroCom workshop. His major research area is the atmospheric dust life cycle and its environmen- ACCRI Aviation Climate Change Research Initiative tal/climate impacts through modeling and data analysis. His work includes using a new method to extract dust optical properties from ACMAP Atmospheric Composition: Modeling and Analysis Program AERONET observations, developing and evaluating a new dust source function for global model simulations that is based on satellite ADAS Atmospheric Data Assimilation System observations of NDVI, and diagnosing multiple global model diversity on dust simulations over North Africa and North Atlantic. More AERONET Aerosol Robotic Network recently, he has become involved in the development of dust simulation capability in the NASA Unified WRF (NU-WRF) model in order to AGCM Atmospheric General Circulation Model simulate mesoscale processes of dust. AGU American Geophysical Union Hyokyung Kim (code 612, sponsor R. Meneghini): For an outstanding job in developing a spaceborne radar simulator to test operation- AIRS Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder al and experimental algorithms for the Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) on the GPM satellite. This work encompasses many AMOC Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation tasks: incorporating atmospheric and surface model data into the program, making use of scattering computations from snow, rain and AMS American Meteorological Society mixed phase particles and configuring the results to serve as level 1 input to the algorithms. AMSR-E Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS AOD Aerosol Optical Depth Lok Lamsal (code 614, sponsor N. Krotkov): For exceptional and highly productive research, and his invaluable participation as part of AOGCM Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Model the NASA OMI team under Drs. Joanna Joiner and Nickolay Krotkov. AO Arctic Oscillation

AOT Aerosol Optical Thickness Young-Kwon Lim (code 610.1, sponsor S. Schubert): For his contributions to the improved simulation of tropical storm/cyclone at high-spatial resolution in the global climate model; for becoming a recognized expert in addressing issues related to the simulation of ARSET Applied Remote Sensing Training program tropical storms with high-resolution global models; and for distinguishing himself for outstanding productivity in journal publications ASCENDS Active Sensing of C02 Emissions over Nights, Days and Seasons and professional presentations. ATMS Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder ATTREX Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment Cynthia Randles (code 614, sponsor P. Colarco): For her productivity, and her participation in publications. She has been the lead AVDC Aura Validation Data Center author on two recent papers, and coauthored several others. One of these papers explored the aerosol semi-direct effect in GEOS-5, AVHRR Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer one of the first papers to explore the GOCART aerosols in GEOS-5 and focus on aerosol-cloud effects. A second paper came out of her BACAR BRDF, Albedo, Cloud and Aerosol Radiometer leadership in the AeroCom community, where she led a study exploring the sensitivity of computed radiative fluxes to heterogeneity in BLSN Blowing Snow radiative transfer schemes. This latter study involved coordinating model simulations by a number of international research groups. CAI Cloud and Aerosol Instrument Andy Sayer (code 613, sponsor N.C. Hsu): For his exceptional role in, and dedication to, the development of the MODIS Deep Blue CALIOP Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization Aerosol data set collection six; for his involvement in the development of new aerosol optical depth data sets from SeaWiFS; for his abil- CALIPSO Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation ity to work on multiple problems, for his altruistic team player role, and for his outstanding productivity. Dr. Sayer has just reached his CCMI Chemistry-Climate Model Initiative twentieth peer-reviewed publication since GESTAR’s inception (of these 20, six are first-author articles). CDA Cloud Data Assimilation CDC Center for Disease Control Amy Houghton (staff): For her outstanding dedication to GESTAR in her capacity as Technical Editor. Since GESTAR’s inception, she CERES Clouds and Earth Radiant Energy System has supervised the production and release of 12 quarterly reports, in addition to progress reports and annual reports, always deliver- CEOS Committee on Earth Observation Satellites ing products of great quality in a timely manner. CFH Cryogenic Frostpoint Hygrometer CHORI Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland Julie Smith (Dalnekoff) (staff): For her support regarding all visa-related topics and continuing support of GESTAR foreign nationals with Green Card applications and other issues. She continues to be very helpful with quick and clear answers, and there have been no CIL Conceptual Imaging Lab delays in processing visas. CLIVAR Climate Variability and Predictability project CLM4 Community Land Model version 4 CMAVE Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology CME Coronal Mass Ejection CMIP Coupled Model Intercomparison Project CMS Content Management System COP 19 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties COSP CFMIP Observation Simulator Package COT Cloud Optical Thickness CRM Cloud-Resolving Model CVS Concurrent Versions System DART (NCAR) Data Assimilation Research Testbed DAS Data Assimilation System DISCOVER-AQ Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality 90 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 91 DOD Department of Defense GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center DOE Department of Energy GWC Global Water Cycle DFR Differential Frequency Ratio GWSP Global Water System Project DPR Dual-frequency Participation Radar HIWRAP High-Altitude Imaging Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler DRAGON Distributed Regional Aerosol Gridded Observation Network HS3 Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel DSD rainDrop Size Distribution HSeg Hierarchal Segmentation DYNAMO Dynamics of the Madden Julian Oscillation HyspIRI Hyperspectral Infrared Imager eMAS Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator IBEX Interstellar Boundary Explorer EA/WR East Atlantic/West Russia ICARTT International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport & Transformation ECCO Estimation of the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean ICESat Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite ECMWF European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast iGEM International Genetically Engineered Machine EMAS Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator IGARSS International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium EnKF Ensemble Kalman Filter IGPO International GEWEX Project Office ENSO El Niño/Southern Oscillation IGWCO Integrated Global Water Cycle Observations E/PO Education/Public Outreach InOMN International Observe the Moon Night EPIC Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change EPOD Earth Science Picture of the Day IRAD Internal Research and Development Program ESA European Space Agency IRIS Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph FAS Foreign Agricultural Service JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency FDA Food and Drug Administration JCSDA Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation FOV Field of View JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory G-LiHT Goddard’s Lidar, Hyperspectral and Thermal airborne imager JPSS Joint Polar Satellite System GCAS GEOCAPE Airborne Simulator JSC Joint Scientific Committee GCE Goddard Cumulus Ensemble JWST James Webb Space Telescope GCPEx GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment KSC Kennedy Space Center GCRP Global Change Research Program LCLUC Land Cover/Land Use Change GEO Group of Earth Observations LA-DAS Land and Atmosphere Data Assimilation System GEO-CAPE GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events LDAS Land Data Assimilation System GEOS-5 Goddard Earth Observing System Version 5 LDCM Landsat Data Continuity Mission GEOS-AOCCM GEOS Coupled Atmosphere Ocean Chemistry Climate Model LRO Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter GEOS-CCM GEOS Chemistry Climate Model LROC Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera GEOSS Global Earth Observation System of Systems LST Land surface Skin Temperature GESTAR Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research LVIS Land, Vegetation and Ice Sensor GEWEX Global Energy Water Cycle Experiment MABEL Multiple Altimeter Beam Experimental Lidar GIMMS Global Inventory Monitoring and Modeling Systems MAGIC Marine ARM GPCI Investigation of Clouds GLS-IMP Global Land Survey and Impervious Mapping Project MAIAC Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction GLOWASIS Global Water Scarcity Information Service MAVEN Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission GMAO Global Modeling and Assimilation Office MC3E Middle Latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment GMI GPM Microwave Imager MEaSUREs Making Earth Science data records for Use in Research for Earth Science GOCART Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport MERRA Modern Era Retrospective-Analysis for Research and Applications GOES-R Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R MFD Moisture Flux Divergence GOSAT Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite MHS Microwave Humidity Sounder GOSWIM Goddard Snow Impurity Module MISR Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer GPM Global Precipitation Measurement MJO Madden-Julian Oscillation GRACE Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment MLS Microwave Limb Sounder GROVER Greenland ROVER MMF Multi-scale Modeling Framework GRUAN GCOS Reference Upper Air Network MMS Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission GSDSU Goddard Satellite Data Simulation Unit MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer MOMA Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer 92 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 93 MOPITT Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere SEAC4RS Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys MSL Mars Science Laboratory SEMAA Science Engineering Mathematics and Aerospace Academy NAI NASA Astrobiology Institute SJI Slit-Jaw Imager NAI-MIRS NASA Astrobiology Institute Minority Institutions Research Support Program SMAP Soil Moisture Active/Passive NASA Viz NASA Visualization Explorer app SMOS Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity NASM National Air and Space Museum SNOTEL Snowpack Telemetry NAWP North American Water Project SOS Science on a Sphere NCA National Climate Assessment SPARC Stratospheric Processes And their Role in Climate NCAR National Center for Atmospheric Research SRT Surface Reference Technique NCCS NASA Center for Climate Simulation SSG Scientific Steering Group NCEP National Centers for Environmental Prediction SST Sea Surface Temperature NDACC Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change STE Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange NDVI Normalized Difference Vegetation Index STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics NEWS NASA Energy and Water Cycle Studies SVS Scientific Visualization Studio NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration TAGSAM Touch and Go Surface Acquisition Mechanism NOBM NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model TC Tropical Cyclone NPP NPOESS Preparatory Project TMI TRMM Microwave Imager NPP OMPS NPOESS Preparatory Project’s Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite TOA Top of the Atmosphere NSIDC National Snow and Ice Data Center TOMS Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer NSTC National Science and Technology Council TRMM Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission NU-WRF NASA Unified Weather Research and Forecasting TWINS Two Wide-angle Imaging Neutral-atom Spectrometers NUBF Non-Uniform Beam Filling TWP-ICE Tropical Warm Pool-International Cloud Experiment OASIS Organics Analyzer for Sampling Icy Surfaces USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture OCO-2 Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 UVCDAT Ultra-scale Visualization for Climate model Data Analysis ODS Ozone Depleting Substances VIIRS Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite OIB Operation IceBridge VLIDORT Vector linearized radiative transfer model OLR Outgoing Longwave Radiation WCRP World Climate Research Program OMAERUV OMI/Aura level-2 near UV Aerosol data product W-E-F Water-Energy-Food OMI Ozone Monitoring Instrument WFIRST Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope OSIRIS-REx Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer WRF Weather Research and Forecast OSSE Observing System Simulation Experiments YHS Young Hydrologic Society OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy (at the White House) PBL Planetary Boundary Layer PDO Pacific Decadal Oscillation PDV Pacific Decadal Variability PIA Path Integrated Attenuation PRESTORM Preliminary Regional Experiment for STORM PSD Particle Size Distribution QBO Quasi-Biannual Oscillation RBSP Radiation Belt Storm Probes RCDL Radiometric Calibration and Development Laboratory REU Research Experience for Undergraduates RFI Radio Frequency Interference RMSE Root Mean Square Error RROxiTT Remote Robotic Oxidizer Transfer Test SAM Sample Analysis at Mars SBM Spectral Bin Microphysics SDO Solar Dynamics Observatory SDSU Satellite Data Simulation Unit 94 | GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 GESTAR Annual Report 2013 - 2014 | 95 7178 Columbia Gateway Drive 410-730-2656 www.usra.edu

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