Considerations for GOES-R Readiness in Canada

Michael Manore

David Bradley

Meteorological Service of Canada

Service météorologique du Canada

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Outline

• Meteorological Service of Canada– Space Based Monitoring project

• How MSC uses GOES today

• MSC Infrastructure for GOES

• Key Questions

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Space Technology in the MSC• Largest Canadian user of real-time operational satellite data

(approx. 50 GB/day)

• Operational mandate requires access to real-time, reliable, long-term technology programs with built-in redundancy

• Core forecasting program depends on data from primarily U.S., Japanese and European satellite programs

DMSP

GOES

RADARSAT

POES

NESDID & NIC - Washington

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Canadian Space AgencyPartnership

MSC is a major partner in the Earth Observation theme ofthe Canada Space Plan

Four major areas of cooperation are: • Advanced atmospheric research instruments• Data assimilation and modeling• RADARSAT-1, -2, -C• Cryosphere and Climate initiative

MOPITT on Terra OSIRIS on ODINWINDII on UARS ACE on SCISAT-1 CLOUDSAT

1991 1999 200320012000

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EC Space-Based Monitoring Project

New EC coordination project for satellite EO data• Meteorological (MSC) and other applications

(ice, oil spill, ecosystem/land cover mapping, etc)

Key objectives are:• Understanding Requirements

– gather & assess priorities

• Ensuring Access – ensuring a coordinated, sustainable satellite acquisition

infrastructure, including backup

• Strategic Planning– developing long term plan to guide investment and use of space-

based EO data

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Current Use of GOES data in MSC

• Operational Weather Forecasting

• Numerical Weather Prediction

• Research

• Data Collection System – ~ 700 Canadian Hydrometric Network sites

• Environmental Prediction & Monitoring– Sea Ice– Volcanic Ash– Droughts/Floods– Forest Fire Prediction

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Severe Weather Forecasts and Warnings

• Data used for: – severe weather

warnings– 0 to 24 hour

forecasting– aviation forecasts

• Each weather centre is equipped to receive satellite data in real-time

• GOES animation is a key visualization tool

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Numerical Weather Prediction• MSC produces 5-10 day

forecasts every 12 hrs., 365 days a year

• 4-D Var data assimilation scheme

• Satellite data are the second most important input to meteorological models after weather balloon data

IM3 (6.7 m) pixel selection* from GOES-E/W

NWP – Atmospheric Winds

Example coverage of Atmospheric Motion Winds - 100-400 hPa (6 hour prd)

Icing (red color)

1. ICING STUDIES2. FOG STUDIES3. MICROPHYSICAL STUDIES

IR Temperature

GOES Research

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Limitations of Geostationary for Canada

• Limited useful coverage for Canada’s Arctic• Resolution degrades significantly as you move northward • current GOES scheduling can limit coverage

Arctic POES vs GOES imagery

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MSC GOES-E/W Receiving Sites

7 GOES-E systems & 3 GOES-W systems

• Global Imaging receiver and software• CMC Dorval has 3 systems – provides data to our national EC weather office web site

GOES-12 (East)GOES-10 (West)

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Satellite Distribution

• National satellite based redistribution system (SATNET) to retransmit satellite images, bulletins, charts etc to all weather centres across Canada.

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Key Questions

• What are the technical characteristics and options for receiving GOES-R data?– investment decisions are required on the number of reception stations;

land/SatNet re-distribution options, etc.

• What are the Backup & Contingency plans?– GOES data, products and DCS are mission critical

• Is MSC Prepared for GOES-R?– workstation compatibility, algorithm development, meteorologist training,

etc.

• What archiving scenarios are being developed?– legal obligations, research uses