SSS Science Team Meeting FY12 Q2

1. SSS Science Team MeetingFY12 Q2 1300-1500 EST Monday, 6 Feb 2012 World Weather Building Rm 707 Dial-in: 800-857-5044; Passcode: 63976

2. AGENDA • Introductions • General items • SSS Science Team ftp site • Conferences/Workshops • Publications  SSS data stream update • Aquarius • Data readiness • SST support products • SMOS • Ocean color radiometry – SSS proxy update • Transition • NASA-NOAA Joint Working Group • User Requests (requirements documentation) • NWS/NCEP/EMC Near-real-time modeling • NWS/NCEP/EMC Seasonal-interannual modeling • NWS/NCEP/CPC Hydrological analysis climate prediction • NESDIS/STAR Passive microwave retrievals • Transition Survey • Transition Strategy/Plan • Other?

3. SSS Science Team FTP Site • ftp://ftp.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/pub/star/ebayler/SSS/STAR_Science_Team/ • Anonymous access; download only • Uploads must be sent to me for upload due to the server’s security configuration • Subdirectories • NASA-NOAA Workshop • Presentations • Publications • SSS Science Team Meetings

4. Conferences, Workshops, & Meetings RECENT • SMOS Science Workshop, 27-29 Sep 2011 • Web site - https://earth.esa.int/web/guest/missions/esa-operational-eo-missions/smos/content?p_r_p_564233524_assetIdentifier=smos-science-workshop-2011-8140 • Presentations at web site • Extended abstracts posted to SSS ftp site: ftp://ftp.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/pub/star/ebayler/SSS/SMOS/ PENDING • TOS/ASLO/AGU 2012 Ocean Sciences Meeting: 20-24 February, Salt Lake City, UT • Special Session #092 Advances in Ocean Salinity Remote Sensing: Initial Results from the Aquarius/SAC-D and SMOS Satellite Missions • MicroRad 2012: 5-9 March, Frascati, Italy • The Aquarius Mission (Oral Session) • SMOS-MODE (SMOS Mission Oceanographic Data Exploitation) Meeting: 28-30 March, Frascati, Italy • EU Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action ES1001 • Aquarius/SAC-D Science Team Meeting: 11-13 April, Buenos Aires, Argentina • 44th International Liege Colloquium on Ocean Dynamics; Remote sensing of colour, temperature and salinity: 7-11 May, Liege, Belgium • IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS): 22-27 July 2012, Munich, Germany • Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA) Science Workshop: May? October? Washington, DC

5. 7th Aquarius/SAC-D Science Meeting11-13 April 2011 Buenos Aires, Argentina Theme: First Science Meeting after Launch • Aquarius/SAC-D was successfully launched in June 10, 2011 from Vandenberg, California. The mission is a United States - Argentina partnership, including contributions from, Italy, Canada, France and Brazil. • This meeting is focused on the Aquarius/SAC-D science team activities, in particular on the first data analysis, including the in-orbit checkout, data processing, calibration, validation and near-term data analysis. This meeting is open to the broader scientific community. • Aquarius/SAC-D is providing measurements of ocean salinity (primary measurement goal of mission), ocean winds, rain, sea ice, sea and land surface temperatures, soil moisture, high temperature events (fires and volcanic activities), nighttime light sources, atmospheric temperature/humidity soundings, space environment and autonomous data relay from remote ground stations since June 2011. • These measurements, will address a range of scientific studies and applications, such as the global hydrological cycle, ocean circulation, climate variability, land processes, land use, soil moisture, natural hazards, health applications, and cryosphereafter the calibration is finished. Location of the Meeting: Sindicatura General de la Nación. Av. Corrientes 389 http://www.sigen.gov.ar Conference Website: http://www.conae.gov.ar/AQ_SAC-D_7thScienceMeet/index.html, Provides conference registration, preliminary agenda, abstract submission, venue, lodging and transportation information Registration and Abstracts: Advance registration and abstract submissions are required via the conference website. Deadline for abstracts and registration: March 20, 2011. Oral and Poster Presentations: The agenda will be tightly organized with invited oral presentations, Splinter sessions, and contributed posters.

6. Publications Located on SSS Science Team ftp site: • Bayler, E., 2011, Implications of Satellite Sea-Surface Salinity Observations for Operational Microwave Radiometry, IEEE Proceedings Oceans ’11 – Santander. • Bayler, E., 2011, Passive Microwave Observation Spatial Biases and Uncertainty Induced by Sea-Surface Salinity, IEEE Proceedings Oceans ‘11 – Kona. • Bayler, E., 2011, Using SMOS Sea-Surface Salinity Data to Compare Operational Ocean Permittivity Models, SMOS Science Workshop 27-29 Sep 2011, extended abstract. Pending: • Lagerloef, G., 2012, (Aquarius: Brief Report), EOS, pending • JGR-Oceans Special Section on Salinity (Aquarius and SMOS) • Submissions due ~ late 2012

7. NOAA SSS Data Stream:Aquarius Update • Data Readiness • NASA Post-launch Assessment Review completed • Aquarius Science Operations Phase commenced 1 Dec 2011 • Aquarius sensor and SAC-D observatory performing well • Level-3 v1.2 evaluation dataset is now available at the PO.DAAC. • Level 3 derived parameters (1° grid resolution): sea surface salinity, wind speed • Daily, 7-day, monthly, and seasonal time scales • Should only be used for evaluation purposes • ftp://saltmarsh.jpl.nasa.gov/L3/mapped/V1.2/ (mapped data) 3-month average composite global image for the time period 28 August through 29 November using bias-drift corrected data . Image courtesy of Norman Kuring , NASA/GSFC

8. Aquarius SSS Data • Small persistent calibration drift being investigated. • Accumulated error now growing quite large (~ 1.4 pss) • In October, implemented an adaptive time-varying calibration correction for each radiometer channel. Correction performing quite well. • Two versions of Level-2 data at http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/SeaSurfaceSalinity/Aquarius • V1.1 = product of operational system ; usually available within 2-3 days of observation; NOT CORRECTED FOR BIAS DRIFT • V1.2 = drift-corrected, as well as improved scatterometer processing code. PI STRONGLY RECOMMENDS USING ONLY THIS VERSION. Calibration correction done in a delayed mode; update complete through November. Update through December due soon. • Improvements underway for processing code • Wind roughness correction will include scatterometer data and wind direction • Automated bias drift correction to eliminate delayed-mode processing step • Expect upgrades to be completed ~ February – March • With upgrades, all data will be reprocessed and only upgraded processing will be kept • ISSUES: • Ascending (6 pm)/descending (6 am) bias investigation • Bias ~ 0.2 pss • Pointing biases = several tenths of a degree • Affects geolocation and radiometer calibration

9. NOAA SST Support? In response to PI query at NASA-NOAA Aquarius Workshop (Nov 2011) • Currently use Reynolds GHRSST • Potential alternatives to SST product used for Aquarius SSS retrievals. • NESDIS GOES-POES Blended SST (cloud cleared) • Daily analysis; run at 0500 EST (1000 UTC) • Does not include buoy data • Validates to about 0.3° K “robust” standard deviation with respect to drifting buoys • GHRSST L-4 product (netCDF) • In process of being hosted at the PO.DAAC • Night-time SST • Being developed for coral reefs, nearly ready (~ 2 months) • May help address Aquarius descending node bias by using SSTs more representative of 6 am. • Similar process potentially could produce a daytime SST product that might better represent ascending node (6 pm) SST

10. NOAA SSS Data Stream:SMOS Update • SMOS Mission Manager authorized NOAA operational access and use of SMOS SSS data for the life of the SMOS mission. • Scope of ESA Category-1 Project #7182 expanded to encompass all of NOAA R&D. • Precludes need to submit separate Category-1 (data-only) proposals to ESA • Researchers desiring access to original SMOS Level-2 SSS data need to be added to Project #7182 • Access controlled by Eric Bayler, NESDIS/STAR, PI for ESA Cat-1 #7182 • SMOS 1st reprocessing of SSS data to be completed by Feb 2012.

11. Ocean Color Radiometry – SSS Project Update • Generating daily and weekly composites of SSS estimates of the Chesapeake Bay from MODIS-A OCR • Validation initiated Aquarius and SMOS microwave measurements preclude retrieval of SSS in close proximity to land. Ocean color radiometry permits retrieval of SSS closer to land, such as in bays and estuaries.

12. Anticipated SSS User Requests • Operational near-real-time ocean modeling • RTOFS (HYCOM) • NWS/EMC/MMAB • Operational seasonal-interannual ocean modeling • GODAS/Coupled Forecast System • NWS/EMC/GCWMB • Operational climate hydrological cycle analyses/forecasts • Climate Prediction Center • NWS/CPC • (Potentially) Operational satellite passive microwave retrievals • SST, atmospheric profiles (moisture, temperature), surface wind speed, precipitation • NESDIS/STAR/SOCD & SMCD

13. CPC’s Requirements for and Contributions to the Aquarius SSS Measurement Mission2012.02.06.

14. Aquarius SSS Data Are Important to CPC Operation and Research Real-time monitoring of SSS over global oceans Diagnosing ocean-atmosphere interactions Verifying climate models and reanalyses Examining global water cycle Constraining oceanic fresh water flux

15. Aquarius SSS Agrees Well with Fresh Water Flux • Comparison based on data from Aug.25 • to Oct.31,2011 • SSS: Aquarius V1.1 (also tested V1.2) • E: CFSR hourly data • P: CMORPH satellite precip

16. Comparisons between instantaneous SSS from Aquarius with precipitation averaged over different periods ending at the SSS observation times Data collected over central Pacific [10oS-10oN; 180o-160oW] In general, SSS decreases with P Better agreement between SSS and P averaged over a longer period Scatter Plots between SSS and P Over Central Pacific

17. Collect requirements for SSS from all NOAA centers • Examine gaps of the NOAA requirements and what we may get from NASA/Aquarius Team • Collaborations among NOAA centers to develop SSS products satisfying key NOAA mission requirements • Example: • blended global SSS analysis for real-time monitoring as well as research and development activities • Using in situ measurements and satellite retrievals • Collaborations among CPC, NESDIS, NODC?? Suggestions

18. User Request Form • Title • User Project Leader • Operational Points of Contact • Technical Points of Contact • General Description of Need • Product Specifications / Needs • Benefits • Shortcomings of Existing Capabilities • Need Date • User Program Implementation Details • Development cost share? • Termination Date • User Priority • Suggested Solutions (optional) • Concept of Operations (optional) • Additional Remarks (optional)

19. Transition Plan • Overview • Research Background • Current System • Data Continuity • Societal and Economic Benefits • Other Users • Requirements • Operations Concept • Concept of Operations • Transition Schedule • SSS Data Processing • Aquarius • SMOS • Integration with in situ Observations • Future Technology • Transition Deliverables • Acceptance Criteria • Execution Plan • Acquisition Strategy • Performance • Risk Management • Appendix: Budget and Schedule

20. Other?