Proposal
to
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
Washington DC
for
Severe Weather and Tropical Cyclone Product Development for
the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System
(NPOESS) Preparatory Project
Submitted by
Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere
Colorado State University
West Laporte Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1375
Dr. Lewis D. Grasso
Principal Investigator
CIRA/Colorado State University
Telephone: 970-491-8380
Email: Grasso@cira.colostate.edu
In partnership with
Dr. Mark DeMaria
Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Team Leader
NESDIS Office of Research and Applications
Telephone: 970-491-8405
Email: Mark.DeMaria@noaa.gov
Period of Activity: July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2004
_______________________
_____________________
Thomas H. Vonder Haar
Lewis D. Grasso, P.I.
Director, CIRA
Research Scientist, CIRA
(970) 491-8448
(970) 491-8380
__________________________
Mary Atella
Senior Research Administrator
Office of Sponsored Programs
(970) 491-5574
1. Introduction
The Advanced Microwave Sounder Unit (AMSU) on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
administration (NOAA) K, L, and M satellites was incorporated into operations in a relatively short
period of time. Because of previous success, preparation is needed before new sensors are
launched; as a result, operational use of the instruments can be extended.
In this proposal, we describe a program to use output from mesoscale and radiative transfer models
to develop simulated Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) imagery that will be
included as part of the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) program.
Simulated VIIRS imagery will be used to design new products for severe thunderstorms and
tropical cyclones. Applications will include the following: precipitation estimation, tropical cyclone
intensity diagnosis--an advanced Dvorak technique (Dvorak 1984), and severe
weather signatures--such as the enhanced-V (McCann 1983).
2. Numerical Model Description
The numerical model planned for this study is version 4.29 of the Regional Atmospheric Modeling
System (RAMS) developed at Colorado State University (Pielke et al. 1992). The model includes
the following features:

Non-hydrostatic and compressible (Tripoli and Cotton 1982);

Momentum is advanced using a leapfrog scheme; scalars are advanced using a forward
scheme: Both methods used second order advection;

Vertical and horizontal turbulence are parameterized using a Smagorinsky deformation
based eddy viscosity (Smagorinsky 1963) with stability modifications (Lilly 1962);

Hydrometeors are predicted with a new two-moment bulk microphysical scheme (Meyers et
al. 1997). Hydrometeor mixing ratio and number concentrations are prognosed while the
mean diameter is diagnosed. The following hydrometeor species are available: cloud
droplets, rain droplets, aggregates, grauple, hail, snow, and pristine ice;

Other prognostic variables are the three components of momentum--u, v, w; Exner function,
π; total water, rt; and ice-liquid potential temperature, thetail (Tripoli and Cotton 1981);

Arakawa fully staggered C grid (Arakawa and Lamb 1981);

Exner function tendencies used to update the momentum variables are computed using a
time split scheme, similar to Klemp and Wilhelmson (1978);

Lateral boundaries use the Klemp-Wilhelmson condition, in which the normal velocity
component specified at the lateral boundary is effectively advected from the interior.
3. Radiative Transfer Modeling
VIIRS will have a total of 22 channels (Welsch et al. 2001). Six of these channels (I1-6), which
cover parts of the visible and infrared (0.645, 0.7, 0.865, 1.61, 3.74, and 11.45 μm will be devoted
to imagery. Other channels--designated M--will be used more quantitatively for a number of
different applications:

Visible/NIR - M1-5, M7: Ocean color and aerosols;

NIR - M8: 1.24 μm, clouds; M9: 1.378 μm, clouds; M10: 1.61 μm, snow; M11: 2.25 μm,
clouds; M12: 3.70 μm, SST, clouds; and M13: 4.05 μm, SST, fires, clouds;

IR - M14: 8.55 μm, clouds; M15-16: Split window; and

Spatial resolution for most channels will be 742 m x 262 m at nadir.
Our main interest is the cloud information supplied by IR channels M8-16. Channels M14-16
measure emission and scattering of thermal radiation, while channels M8-13 include scattering of
solar radiation as well as thermal emission. The radiative transfer models for computing radiances,
the cloud single-scatter (or optical) models, and gas models contain the following features:

M8-13: Spherical Harmonic Discrete Ordinate Method (SHDOM; Evans 1998);

M14-16: Eddington 2-stream method (e.g, Deeter and Evans 1998);

M8-16: Cloud optical model: Modified Anomalous Diffraction Theory (MADT; Mitchell
2000) applied to both liquid and ice particles; and

M8-16: Gas extinction model: Optical Path TRANsmittance (OPTRAN; McMillin et al.
1995).
SHDOM, a fast multi-stream model, and Eddington 2-stream model are currently part of CIRA's
Regional Atmospheric Modeling and Data Assimilation System (RAMDAS; Greenwald et al.
2001). MADT has been successfully applied to liquid clouds in RAMDAS (Greenwald et al. 2001;
Vukicevic et al. 2001). Because of our interest in cloudy radiances, precise values of surface
emissivity/albedo are not critical, thus, typical values are used. Surface temperature is derived from
RAMS.
4. First Year Demonstration Project
As a first year demonstration project, the VIIRS infrared channels will be simulated. Idealized
thunderstorm and tropical cyclones simulations will be conducted with RAMS; horizontal grid
spacings will be specified to closely match the footprint of the infrared channels. Output from each
event will be saved during the simulation. Examples of output variables are temperature, pressure,
vertical levels, number concentration and mass mixing ratio for each hydrometeor type, and water
vapor mixing ratio. Output from each simulated event will be used as input to the radiative transfer
model.
Because components of the radiative transfer model are flexible, a specific VIIRS channel can be
simulated from RAMS output. That is, once a given VIIRS channel is simulated, the radiative
transfer model will be run again to simulate a different channel until all channels simulated. After
a number of channels have been simulated, product development may commence.
First year goals will be to determine which simulated VIIRS products provides the best
measurement of two specific parameters: thunderstorm precipitation and tropical cyclone
minimum pressure. Each satellite derived parameter will then be compared with RAMS output to
determine a ``best measurement.''
The procedure outlined above has been conducted. Output from a RAMS thunderstorm simulation
was used as input to a radiative transfer model to simulate channel 4 on the Geostationary
Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) 9 imager. An observable feature on some severe
thunderstorms was indicated in the simulated satellite image: The enhanced-V (Figure 1).
5. Future activities
Plans are to simulate cloud reflectance for one or more of the visible channels (e.g., I1) on VIIRS.
These channels provide important information on cloud optical depth. Simulations of selected
Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) channels are also planned.
ATMS will consist of at least the following 22 channels (9 additional channels near the 118 GHz
O2 line may be added):

Water vapor channels: 23.8 GHz, 31.4 GHz, 87-91 GHz, 166.31 GHz, 183 ±7, 183 ±4.5,
183 ±3, 183 ±1.8, and 183 ±1 GHz; and

Temperature channels: 50.3 GHz, 51.76 GHz, 52.8 GHz, 53.6 GHz, 54.4 GHz, 54.94 GHz,
55.5 GHz, and other stratospheric channels.
Forward models and assumptions to be used at microwave frequencies include the following:

Radiative transfer model: Eddington 2-stream;

Gas/cloud absorption: Liebe's Millimeter-wave Propagation Model (MPM) (e.g., Liebe,
1993);

Precipitation properties: Lorenz-Mie Theory; and

Surface properties: Fresnel over water, constant emissivity over land.
These efforts are directly related to the development of a satellite radiance assimilation system
because the forward radiative transfer models constitute the observational operator portion of the
system. In addition, we plan to simulate observed severe thunderstorm and tropical cyclone events.
Two cases are of interest: First, a tornado outbreak that occurred during two consecutive days near
Oklahoma City, OK, in early May of 2003; Secondly, a tropical cyclone--hurricane Lili--that
moved over the Gulf of Mexico during October of 2002.
6. Coordination with NOAA
This work will be coordinated with other individuals within NOAA ORA, including Dr. Fuzhong
Weng, Dr. Andrew Heidinger, and Dr. Thomas Kleespies. We already have experience working
with Dr. Kleespies, who provided support for OPTRAN in developing RAMDAS, and have had
limited collaboration with Dr. Heidinger in retrieving cloud properties at visible/NIR wavelengths.
Dr. Weng would provide assistance with ATMS simulations. Forward radiative transfer models
developed here could be incorporated into operational models, once their cloud physics
parameterizations are improved.
7. First year budget
A detailed budget is provided in the Appendix. Further details on the Budget items are provided
below.
Budget Item 1: PERSONNEL
The project personnel include Lewis Grasso, Mark DeMaria, Thomas H. Vonder Haar, Hiro
Gosden, Manajit Sengupta, and Kathy Fryer. The project will be directed by M. DeMaria and L.
Grasso, with general oversight by the director of CIRA (T. Vonder Haar). No funds are requested
for M. DeMaria or T. Vonder Haar, since these will be covered by NESDIS and CIRA base
funding, respectively. It is anticipated that M. DeMaria will contribute one month for project
oversight. Funds are also included for 5 months for L. Grasso for modeling, M. Sengupta (2
months) for modeling, 1.5 months for H. Gosden for computer support, and 1.2 months for K.
Fryer for administrative support.
Base salaries included in this proposal reflect the actual salaries approved by the Governing Board
of Colorado State University for the period July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003; with a 4% increase
for inflation for FY 03-04.
Fringe Benefits: The following federally approved CSU rates were applied to the FY 2003-04
salaries based on the individual’s payroll classification: Faculty/Administrative Professional
20.0%, State Classified 18.2%.
Budget Item 2: DOMESTIC TRAVEL
Travel is budgeted based on the successful completion of the project and the proposed
dissemination of the research results. An actual travel destination is noted in the budget. Per diem
rates are applied when the destination is to a location listed in the CSU per diem/city publication.
Per diem is distributed at the rate $42/day for Orlando, FL with only 1/2 of that amount allowed for
the departure day. A rental car is needed for transportation in the Orlando area. Standard mileage
distances and rates are used for transportation between DIA and Fort Collins (160 miles @
$.28/mile). Parking at DIA is on a daily basis for non-covered lots ($7/day). One trip per year is
requested for IPO program review.
Budget Item 3: OTHER
The CIRA Infrastructure charge provides computer and data support associated with this project.
The NT hourly rate is determined by CIRA and depends on the actual cost of the CIRA computer
operations. CIRA charges Windows NT computer costs on an hourly basis, based on log-on time
collected electronically via infrastructure programs. Gosden is estimated at 7.67 hrs/mo at $2.06/hr
+ 121 hrs/mo at $4.11/hr. Sengupta is estimated at 30 hrs/mo at $2.28/hr + 68 hrs/mo at $4.55/hr.
Fryer is estimated at 5 hrs/mo at $.30/hr + 121 hrs/mo at $.59/hr. Grasso does not use the NT
system at CIRA.
Publication charges have also been added for the dissemination of research results.
Budget Item 4: EQUIPMENT
A Dell Precision Workstation will be purchased for Grasso’s research work. An estimate quote is
attached.
Budget Item 5: INDIRECT COST RATE
The Indirect Rate of 20% is charged on this proposal. The rate is applied to Modified Total Direct
Costs (MTDC). MTDC is defined as Total Direct Costs less Equipment, GRA Tuition, and
Subcontracts > $25,000.
8. References
Arakawa, A., and V. Lamb, 1981: A potential enstrophy and energy conserving scheme for the
shallow water equations. Mon. Wea. Rev., 109, 18-36.
Deeter, and K. F. Evans, 1998: A hybrid Eddington-single scattering radiative transfer model for
computing radiances from thermally emitting atmospheres. J. Quant. Spect. Rad. Transfer, 60,
635-648.
Dvorak, V. F., 1984: Tropical cyclone intensity analysis using satellite data. NOAA Tech. Rep.
NESDIS 11, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC, 47 pp.
[Available from National Technical Information Service, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Sills Bldg.,
5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161.]
Evans, K. F., 1998: The spherical harmonics discrete ordinate method for three-dimensional
atmospheric radiative transfer. J. Atmos. Sci., 55, 429-446.
Greenwald, T. J., R. Hertenstein, and T. Vukicevic, 2001: Evaluation of a mesoscale forecast
model with explicit microphysics using cloudy GOES imager radiances. Mon. Wea. Rev., in
review.
Klemp, J.B. and R.B. Wilhelmson, 1978: The simulation of three-dimensional convective storm
dynamics. J. Atmos. Sci., 35, 1070-1096.
Liebe, H. J., G. A. Hufford, and M. G. Cotton, 1993: Propagation modeling of moist air and
suspended water/ice particles at frequencies below 1000 GHz. Atmospheric propagation effects
through natural and man-made obscurants for visible to MM-wave radiation, AGARD Conference
proceedings, No. 542, 3.1-3.10.
Lilly, D. K., 1962: On the numerical simulation of buoyant convection. Tellus, 14, 148-172.
McCann, D.W., 1983: The enhanced-V, a satellite observable severe storm signature. Mon. Wea.
Rev., 111, 887-894.
McMillin, L. M., L. J. Crone, M. D. Goldberg, and T. J. Kleespies, 1995: Atmospheric
transmittance of an absorbing gas, 4. OPTRAN: A computationally fast and accurate transmittance
model for absorbing gases with fixed and variable mixing ratios at variable viewing angles.
Appl. Opt., 34, 6269-6274.
Meyers, M. P., R. L. Walko, J. Y. Harrington, and W. R. Cotton, 1997: New RAMS cloud
microphysics parameterization. Part II: The two-moment scheme. J. Atmos. Res., 45, 3-39.
Mitchell, D. L., 2000: Parameterization of the Mie extinction and absorption coefficients for water
clouds. J. Atmos. Sci., 57, 1311-1326.
Pielke, R.A., W.R. Cotton, R.L. Walko, C.J. Tremback, W.A. Lyons, L.D. Grasso, M.E. Nicholls,
M.D. Moran, D.A. Wesley, T.J. Lee, J.H. Copeland, 1992: A comprehensive meteorological
modeling system-RAMS. Meteor. and Atmos. Phys., 49, 69-91.
Smagorinsky, J., 1963: General circulation experiments with the primitive equations. Part 1: The
basic experiment. Mon. Wea. Rev., 91, 99-164.
Tripoli, G.J., and W.R. Cotton, 1982: The Colorado State University three dimensional cloud
mesoscale model,1982. Part I: General theoretical framework and sensitivity experiments.
J. Rech. Atmos., 16, 185-220.
Tripoli, G.J., and W.R. Cotton, 1981: The use of ice-liquid water potential temperature as a
thermodynamic variable in deep atmospheric models. Mon. Wea. Rev., 109, 1094-1102.
Welsch et al., 2001: VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite): A next-generation
operational environmental sensor for NPOESS, International Geosc. and Remote Sensing
Symp. (IGARSS) Proc., July 8-14.
Vukicevic, T., T. Greenwald, R. Hertenstein, and M. Ghemires, 2001: Use of cloudy radiance
observations in mesoscale data assimilation. 5th Symp. Integ. Obs. Systems, Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
9. Figures
Figure 1. Shaded and contoured values of 10.7 µm Tbs (°K) along with ground relative horizontal
wind vectors at anvil level. In addition, values of perturbation Exner Function are contoured and
shows the location of the upstream region of high pressure that also flanked the anvil on the left
and right sides.