Activities within the NESDIS supported SPC GOES-R Proving Ground in preparation for use of Geostationary Lightning Mappe

1. Activities within the NESDIS supported SPC GOES-R Proving Ground in preparation for use of Geostationary Lightning Mapper data in forecast operations Christopher Siewert Research Associate, SPC GOES-R Proving Ground Liaison Univ. of Oklahoma – Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies Dr. Russell Schneider Chief, Science Support Branch NWS Storm Prediction Center Dr. Eric Bruning Research Associate, University of Maryland / ESSIC and NOAA Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites Dr. Robert Rabin UW-CIMSS / NOAA-NSSL Dr. Joe Schaefer Director, NWS Storm Prediction Center

2. Topics • Forecaster Needs • The GOES-R Proving Ground at the SPC • GOES-R Proving Ground GLM Activities • GLM Cases • Lessons Learned • The Future of GOES-R Proving Ground Efforts at the SPC

3. Forecaster Needs • Incorporating new products into a forecaster’s routine difficult • Must be used constantly to gain confidence • Must be aware of product limitations • Must give information already not available • Usually replaces something forecasters currently use and are comfortable with

4. GOES-R Proving Ground at the SPC • Allow forecasters to do real time operational testing of GOES-R prior to launch • Day-1 readiness • Goals • Provide product developers with user forecaster feedback on product usefulness/performance • Provide forecasters with product education and tailored display • Aid GOES-R product integration with AWIPS-2 • Bring a satellite perspective to the heart of radar country

5. NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed EWP EFP Experimental Forecast Program Experimental Warning Program GOES-R PG Prediction of hazardous weather events from a few hours to a week in advance Detection and prediction of hazardous weather events up to several hours in advance

6. GOES-R Proving Ground Resources • Dedicated training room with two N-AWIPS workstations and a PC • N-AWIPS and AWIPS-II workstations co-located with VORTEX-II operations • GOES-R Proving Ground products also available on HWT workstations

7. GLM Proxy Data at the SPC • LMA data currently received from three LMA networks across country (SPoRT/NSSL) • Huntsville, AL; Norman, OK; Washington DC • Data in sources per square-km • LMA data re-sampled to 10-km grid to simulate GLM • Sources averaged over 10-km box to per square-km values… to compare to native LMA data

12. Lessons Learned • GLM • Total flash density data needed to be true GLM proxy • GLM proxy shows similar spatial patterns to 1-km product • GLM proxy signals generally weaker than 1-km product… due to averaging over 10-km box • GLM proxy lightning jump signals seen ~2 mins after 1-km product… again, due to averaging over 10-km box • Forecasters would like to see map of LMA weak areas • Forecaster suggestion for gridded overlay provided • General dataflow issues resolved (crashes, loss of data due to LMA outages)

13. Opportunities to Grow • 2010 Plans: • Provide select products for real-time testing within SPC operations (late 2009) • Invitations and announcements for 2010 Spring Experiment in January/February… experiment likely begins in late April • Expanded product suite possibilities • LMA 10-km flash density • LMA 10-km pixel-based trends • Ingest LMA data from Cape Canaveral network • Interact with WFOs already using LMA data operationally for training assistance (ie - HUN) • Provide GLM proxy data for real-time testing within SPC operations

14. Questions? chris.siewert@noaa.gov http://www.goes-r.gov/ http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes_r/proving-ground.html