Using GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) for Air Quality Applications
GOES-R
is the first in the newest generation of NOAA Geostationary Satellites.
Scheduled for launch in 2015, GOES-R will be placed in orbit at 135 °W.
The GOES-R satellite will include a new instrument for the GOES
satellite series, the Advanced Baseline Imager.
Giving high resolution images of 500 m resolution for visible channels
and < 2km resolution for all channels, GOES ABI will allow new
algorithms to be developed to detect and measure aerosols and gases
which have not previously been observable from US satelltes. GOES-R ABI
channels (figure) at 0.47, 0.64,
0.865, 1.378, 1.61, and 2.25 µm allow the use of channel radiance
ratios to better detect aerosols in the atmosphere over highly varying
reflectivity surfaces. Like the MODIS and VIIRS series of aerosol
instruments, aerosol optical depth will be retrievable at visible
wavelengths over both land and water. Unlike MODIS and VIIRS on polar
orbiting satellites, GOES-R sits 35,786 kilometers above the Earth in a
geosynchronous orbit so that repeatable 5 min images will be retrieved
over the Continental US and Canada (CONUS)
.
Every 15 min, the entire disk of the northern and southern hemispheres
will be visible. And when events occur, GOES-R can go into "rapid scan"
mode and give 30 second images of a restricted region around the event.
GOES-R gives us unprecedented ability to monitor air pollution from
space over the western hemisphere.
How the AQPG Works
The AQPG provides synthetic imagery which emulates what GOES-R ABI will see after launch. Since this is a totally new instrument, we don't have actual imagery in orbit to use to prepare data sets which illustrate the capability of the instrument. But we cannot wait until after launch if we want the instrument and data used for air quality assessment on day 1 after launch. Instead, we have imagery from MODIS which have similar wavelength bands to what GOES-R will have. Using those radiances, which have been received on orbit, we can map those radiances into the GOES-R bands and reconstruct test images which retrieve aerosol products like MODIS does. But this is not all. We need to show the real value of GOES-R which is the motion of the scene showing aerosol transport and detection of new sources like fires. This requires model interpolation at the same time scale that GOES-R will observe.
Figure 2 shows the process used in the AQPG (click on the image to zoom in). 
The AQPG partners each share a role in this dataflow. UMBC, CCNY, UW,
and UAH identify cases which have interesting air quality implications
(fires, dust storms, pollution events, or a mixture of all those). From
data taken at the partner sites, we have a significant base of
ancillary information which can be used to construct faithful test
cases for the ABI algorithm. These data are then modelled using large
scale air quality computer models (such as CMAQ or WRF-CHEM) and this
provides high temporal resolution for the event. These data are then
transmitted to NESDIS who process the output of the computer models as
input to the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) which generates
the on-orbit radiances for the GOES-R bands as a function of solar and
view angles for the instrument. Those radiances are processed as
synthetic data for the ABI aerosol algorithms as they will for the real
data in 2015.
These data need to be used for training purposes for the people who will actually use GOES-R on a day to day basis for air quality forecasting and assessment. We have developed an AQPG User Group who will work with us to understand these cases and deliver feedback to the ABI algorithm developers as to the utility of the product. This feedback will allow the ABI algorithm to be modified to deliver the best product to the user community. Finally, the algorithm becomes a basis for satellite derived air quality products (AOD, aerosol types, aerosol transport, and potentially estimated surface PM2.5) for the Environmental Protection Agency as another end user.
Materials for 2013 Proving Ground Workshop
Workshop Agenda (html format with links to presentations)For a printable Word document, see the link on the sidebar.
Breakout Session Case Studies
July 4, 2012, AQI and Met DataNOAA IDEA Website link. You will use this for the case study.
Prior Year Activities and Products
2012 Proving Ground Workshop
Breakout Session Case Studies
Proxy ABI DataMarch 25, 2011, AQI and Met Data
July 30, 2011, AQI and Met Data
AOD Background Comparison
Case Study Questionnaire
\
Case Study 4 (Backup)
Case Study 5 (Backup)
2011 Proving Ground Demo
(Read Product Descriptionon Page Link)
July 12-30, 2011
Proxy LoopsCase Studies
Case Study 1Case Study 2
Case Study 3
2011 NAQC Training Session
March 7, 2011Agenda
Background on ABI
Training Presentation
2010 Workshop
