GOES-R and JPSS Proving Ground Demonstration at the Hazardous Weather Testbed 2015 Spring Experiment Final Evaluation

This report summarizes the activities and results from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-Series (GOES-R) and Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Proving Ground demonstration at the 2015 Spring Experiment, which took place at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) in Norman, OK from May 4 to June 12, 2015. The Satellite Proving Ground activities were focused in the Experimental Warning Program (EWP; five weeks, off week of Memorial Day), with informal demonstrations taking place in the Experimental Forecast Program (EFP; five weeks ending June 5). A total of 25 National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters representing five NWS regions and an additional five broadcast meteorologists participated in the EWP experiment. They evaluated up to seven experimental satellite-based products, capabilities and algorithms (Table 1) in the real-time simulated short-term forecast and warning environment of the EWP using the second generation Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS-II). Products included GOES-R All-Sky Legacy Atmospheric Profile (LAP) algorithm atmospheric moisture and stability fields using GOES Sounder data, GOES-R Convective Initiation (CI) algorithm, ProbSevere statistical model, Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) Lightning Detection, and Lightning Jump algorithm (LJA). Additionally, GOES-14 Super Rapid Scan Operations for GOES-R (SRSOR) 1-min imagery was available from May 18-June 11 for participants to view in near-real time in AWIPS-II for the EWP and in National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) AWIPS (NAWIPS) for the EFP. Finally, the NOAA Unique Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) Processing System (NUCAPS) from the JPSS Suomi NPP satellite was also demonstrated in AWIPS-II. Earth Networks total lightning products now available to NWS for assessment were evaluated in the EWP alongside the GOES-R and JPSS products. Results from the Earth Networks demonstration are documented in a separate report. Many visiting scientists also attended the EWP over the five weeks to provide additional product expertise and interact directly with operational forecasters. Organizations represented by those individuals included: UW/CIMSS, UAH, OU/CIMMS, NSSL, NASA/SPoRT, and NWS. The SPC and HWT Satellite Liaison, William Line (OU/CIMMS and NOAA/SPC), provided overall project management and subject matter expertise for the GOES-R Proving Ground efforts in the HWT with support from Kristin Calhoun (OU/CIMMS and NOAA/NSSL).