Overview

NASA Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS)

APPLICATIONS WORKSHOP

Monday May 8th to Wednesday May 10th, 2017

University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science | 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway | RSMAS Auditorium

Meeting Objectives

  • Review TROPICS data applications in the Applied Science Program elements
  • Introduce broad community of potential end-users to expected value of TROPICS by reviewing mission specifications and status
  • Provide a forum for applied researchers and operational decision makers to share insight into how observations from TROPICS can be used in their organizations
  • Begin establishment an early adopter community that can be used to highlight potential TROPICS applications and accelerate post-launch application

NASA TROPICS MISSION

The TROPICS mission will provide rapid-refresh microwave measurements over the tropics that can be used to observe the temperature, moisture, and precipitation structure for storm systems over their entire lifecycles.  TROPICS will be comprised of a constellation of microsatellites that will offer an unprecedented combination of spatial and temporal resolution to measure environmental and inner-core conditions for tropical cyclones on a nearly global scale and is a profound leap forward in the capability to continuously monitor high-impact meteorological events such as tropical cyclones.  TROPICS will demonstrate that a satellite constellation approach to earth science can provide improved resolution, configurable coverage (e.g. tropics, near global, or global), flexibility, reliability, and launch access at extremely low cost, thereby serving as a model for future missions.

Agenda

AGENDA

Information for Remote Participants

SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2017

5:00p-6:30p Optional Cocktail Hour at Above Mayfair

MONDAY, MAY 8, 2017

7:15a |  UM shuttles depart conference hotels for UM/RSMAS

7:30a-8:00a | Registration/Light Refreshments

8:00a-8:05a | UM Welcome, Dr. Benjamin Kirtman, Director, University of Miami-CIMAS

8:05a-8:15a | NASA Applied Sciences Welcome, David Green, Program Applications Lead TROPICS, NASA/HQ

8:15a-8:25a | NASA HQ Welcome, Tsengdar Lee, Weather Focus Area Lead, NASA/HQ

8:25a-8:30a | Summary of Workshop Objectives, Bradley Zavodsky, Deputy Program Appliations Lead TROPICS, NASA/MSFC

8:30a-9:00a | TROPICS Mission Overview and Status, William Blackwell, TROPICS Principal Investigator, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory

9:00a-10:00a | Panel Discussion 1: Data Latency (Session Moderator: William Blackwell)

Panelists:

  • Mitch Goldberg, JPSS Program Scientist
  • Darren McKague, Research Scientist, Calibration/Validation
  • Lead for Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), University of Michigan
  • Tim Neilsen, Civil Space Satellite Technologies Program Manager, Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State University

10:00a-10:30a | Morning Break (registration payment desk will be open)

10:30a-10:50a | Application Presentation 1: Terrestrial (Session Chair: Robert Adler) Using remote observations of precipitation to support Army Terrain Analysis in a geospatially-enabled system of systems model, John Eylander, Program Manager/Army Terrestrial Environmental Modeling and Intelligence System (ARTEMIS) USACE Engineer Research and Development Center, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH

10:50a-11:10a | Potential benefits of TROPICS data to the insurance industry, Joshua Woodbury, Natural Catastrophe Specialist: Flood, Swiss Re

11:10a-11:30a | Quenching the thirst in the Middle East North Africa region, Rachael McDonnell, Head of Climate Change Modeling and Adaptation, International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

11:30a-11:50a | From Precipitation to Water and Health, Security and Resilience – Science and Application Challenges and Opportunities in Tropical Hydrology, Ana Barros, Professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Duke University

11:50a-12:50p | Lunch at RSMAS Commons

Application Presentations 2: Tropical Cyclone Nowcasting (Session Chair: Chris Velden)

12:50p-1:10p | The Use of Microwave Satellite data at NHC, Michael Brennan, Senior Hurricane Specialist NOAA/NWS/NCEP National Hurricane Center

1:10p-1:30p | Nowcasting and Analysis at National Weather Service San Juan, Ernesto Rodriguez, Science Operations Officer, San Juan, Puerto Rico National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

1:30p-1:50p | Satellites and Storytelling, Matt Sitkowski, Executive Weather Producer, The Weather Channel

1:50p-2:10p | Microwave sounding nowcasting at NRL, CIMSS, and JTWC, Joshua Cossuth, Meteorologist, Naval Research Laboratory

Application Presentations 3: Tropical Cyclone Modeling and Data Assimilation (Session Chair: Joshua Cossuth)
2:10p-2:30p | Radiance assimilation in HWRF: Status and relevance to TROPICS mission Jason Sippel, Meteorologist, NOAA/AOML/HRD

2:30p-2:50p | TC OSSEs and the potential uses of Cubesat microwave sounding data, Robert Atlas, Director, NOAA/AOML

2:50p-3:10p | Assimilation of satellite-derived temperature and moisture profiles and precipitation for improved prediction and understanding of tropical cyclone genesis and intensity changes: applications and data quality requirements, Zhaoxia Pu, Professor, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah

3:10p-3:40p | Afternoon BreakApplication Presentations 4: Tropical Dynamics (Session Chair: Scott Braun)

3:40p-4:00p | Interests of JPL scientists in TROPICS Data, Hui Su, Research Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech

4:00p-4:20p | Application of 183 GHz Humidity Measurements for Tropical Cyclone Research, Brian Soden, Professor of Atmospheric Science, University of Miami

4:20p-4:40p | Mechanisms maintaining the moist mode of column water vapor, Brian Mapes, Professor of Atmospheric Science, University of Miami

4:40p-5:00p | Temporal Evolution and Mapping of Intense Convective Systems Using TROPICS, Dan Cecil, Research Physical Scientist, NASA/MSFC

5:00p-6:00p | Optional Ice Breaker; GPM Virtual Reality Demonstration (RSMAS Breezeway)

6:15p | UM Shuttles depart UM/RSMAS for conference hotels

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2017

7:15a | UM shuttles depart conference hotels for UM/RSMAS

7:30a-8:00a | Registration/Light Refreshments

Breakout Discussions/Capture End User Perspectives

8:00a-8:10a | Introduction and Goals, David Green, Program Manager, NASA/HQ

8:10a-9:30a | Breakout Discussions #1 (led by session chairs; local scribes)

  1. Terrestrial (Lead: Robert Adler): CIMAS Conference Room; CIMAS Conference # 888-446-7584; access code: 559854
  2. Tropical Cyclone Nowcasting (Lead: Chris Velden): RSMAS Auditorium; will use the GoToMeeting VoIP
  3. Tropical Cyclone Modeling and Data Assimilation (Lead: Joshua Cossuth) : Facilities Conference Room; NASA Conference # 844-467-6272; access code: 788198
  4. Tropical Dynamics (Lead: Scott Braun) : Dean’s Conference Room; HRD Conference #: 866-700-1361; access code: 491147

9:30a-9:50a | Morning Break (registration payment desk will be open)

9:50a-11:10a | Breakout Discussion #2 (led by session chairs; local scribes)

  1. Terrestrial (Lead: Robert Adler) : CIMAS Conference Room; CIMAS Conference #: 888-446-7584; access code: 559854
  2. Tropical Cyclone Nowcasting (Lead: Chris Velden) : RSMAS Auditorium; will use theGoTo Meeting VoIP
  3. Tropical Cyclone Modeling and Data Assimilation (Lead: Joshua Cossuth) : Facilities Conference Room; NASA Conference #: 844-467-6272; access code: 788198
  4. Tropical Dynamics (Lead: Scott Braun) : Dean’s Conference Room ; HRD Conference #: 866-700-1361; access code: 491147

11:10a-11:40a | Breakout Leads Prepare Reporting; General Networking

11:40a-12:40p | Lunch at RSMAS Commons

12:40p-2:00p | Breakout Leads Report Back (~20 minutes each)

2:15p | UM Shuttles departs for conference hotels or the optional group tour at the National Hurricane Cente

4:15p-4:30p | UM Shuttle departs National Hurricane Center and return to conference hotels

6:30p | Optional Group Dinner at Greenstreet Cafe

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2017

7:15a | UM shuttles departs conference hotels for UM/RSMAS

7:30a-8:00a | Registration

8:00a-9:00a | Mission Design Impacts on Applications Discussion, Christine Bonniksen, Program Executive for TROPICS, NASA/HQ Panel

Discussions 2: Synergies with other NASA Missions (Session Moderator: Bradley Zavodsky)

9:00a-10:30a | Panelists:

  • SNPP/JPSS: Mitch Goldberg, JPSS Program Scientist
  • CYGNSS: Sharan Majumdar, Professor and Associate Dean
    of Graduate Studies, RSMAS/ University of Miami
  • GPM: Scott Braun, TROPICS Project Scientist, NASA Goddard SpaceFlight Center
  • U.S. Air Force: Brian Kabat, Chief, Environmental Monitoring Branch, Air Force Space Command
  • GOES-R, Bob Kuligowski, Meteorologist, NOAA / NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR)

10:30a-11:00a | Morning Break

11:00a-12:00n | Concluding Remarks; Meeting Summary and Take-Aways

12:00n | Adjourn Meeting

12:15p | UM shuttles depart UM/RSMAS for conference hotels

Location

DIRECTIONS | PARKING | UM SHUTTLE

TROPICS Workshop location: RSMAS Auditorium (Marine Science Center building)

MAP OF CAMPUS

TRANSPORTATION

1) Taxi from MIA (Miami International Airport) to hotel will be around $30 (before tip)

2) A shuttle will be provided to bring participants each day from both hotels to UM and back.

Monday May 8th

• Morning shuttle: 7:15 am pick-up at the conference hotels
• Afternoon shuttle: depart UM/RSMAS for conference hotels at 6:15 pm

Tuesday May 9th

• Morning shuttle: 7:15 am pick-up at the conference hotels
• Afternoon shuttle: depart UM/RSMAS at 2:15 pm for conference hotels or to the NOAA National Hurricane Center for the optional tour

• NHC tour shuttle: depart NHC at 4:15/4:30 pm for conference hotels

Wednesday May 10th

• Morning shuttle: 7:15 am pick-up at the conference hotels
• Afternoon shuttle: depart UM/RSMAS for conference hotels at 12:15 pm

Lodging

LODGING

Hotel Information

Courtyard Marriott Miami
Coconut Grove
2649 South Bayshore Drive
Miami, FL 33133

Room blocks have been set up for meeting attendees at two hotels in Coconut Grove: the Courtyard Marriott Miami Coconut Grove and the Mayfair Hotel and Spa.  We have negotiated rates at both hotels that are below the Federal per diem rate of $156 per night.

The link below will take you directly to the Group Marriott Page, where you will have the choice to choose from a Standard King Bed or a Standard Double bed.

The rate is $120/night and is subject to applicable state and local taxes (currently 13%)

Book your group rate for UM Rosenstiel Room Block May 2017

You can also contact reservations at 1-888-249-3819 or the hotel directly at 305-858-2500. Please identify that you are calling for the UM Rosenstiel Room Block May2017 so that the operators know to book you under the block with the group rate.

Please make sure to book your rooms as soon as possible. The cutoff date will be April 10, 2017.

Daily parking at the Courtyard Marriott is approximately $30 per day.

Mayfair Hotel and Spa
3000 Florida Ave
Miami, FL 33133

Presentations

PRESENTATIONS

Monday, May 8, 2017

Summary of Workshop Objectives, Bradley Zavodsky

TROPICS Mission Overview and Status, William Blackwell

Panel Discussion 1: Data Latency

Panelists:

Application Presentations 1: Terrestrial

Application Presentations 2: Tropical Cyclone Nowcasting

Application Presentations 3: Tropical Cyclone Modeling and Data Assimilation

Application Presentations 4: Tropical Dynamics

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Breakout Discussions

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Panel Discussions 2: Synergies with other NASA Missions

Workshop Summary – Brad Zavodsky

Summary

group photo: First Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity With a Constellation of SmallSats (TROPICS) Mission Applications Workshop Summary Report University of Miami Rosenthal School of Marine and Atmospheric Studies (RSMAS) Auditorium Sponsored by NASA Earth Science Division Applied Science Program Hosted by the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), University of Miami, Miami, Florida May 8–10, 2017

Click on photo for larger image  |  Click on Workshop Summary for full .pdf