NPOESS Userport

Multispectral Satellite Applications: Monitoring the Wildland Fire Cycle
Time: 1.5 to 2 hours

This module describes current and future satellite instruments and products used for monitoring the fire cycle, with an emphasis on polar-orbiting satellites. Product information is presented in the context of the fire cycle: from assessing the pre- and post-fire environment to detecting and monitoring active fires, smoke, and aerosols. Product information is also consolidated in the Fire Product Suite, available in the module and as a PDF file. The module concludes with an interactive fire case study, supplemented with observations from a National Weather Service forecaster who experienced the fire. The module is intended for a wide range of users involved with wildfire detection and monitoring, including land use managers, hydrologists, weather forecasters, and researchers.

Microwave Remote Sensing: Microwave Resources
Time: ~1 hour

This resource collection provides background information on microwave remote sensing with polar-orbiting satellites. It reviews coverage, orbits, and data latency issues of current operational and selected research satellites, also noting improvements expected in the NPP and NPOESS era. The collection contrasts active vs. passive remote sensing, advantages and limitations of different microwave instrument scanning strategies, and satellite viewing geometry. Finally, it offers a review of the microwave spectrum and the special characteristics of microwave energy for creating satellite imagery and derived products.

The SPoRT Center - Infusing NASA Technology into NWS WFOs Webcast
Time: ~1 hour

This Webcast introduces the SPoRT Center, a joint NASA and National Weather Service project to provide unique NASA datasets to several forecast offices and evaluate their usefulness and impact on forecast operations. The presentation provides a description of the SPoRT Center, examples of its collaborations with weather forecast offices, and demonstrates use of MODIS data, AMSR-E derived products and lightning flash density product applications. It also includes mention of projects the SPoRT Center will likely undertake in the future, such as activities that prepare NWS forecast offices for delivery and utilization of future NPOESS satellite data.

Microwave Remote Sensing: Clouds, Precipitation, and Water Vapor Module
Time: 75 minutes

This module presents an overview of space-based microwave remote sensing for environmental applications. It provides basic information on polar-orbiting satellite characteristics, current microwave instruments, and the imagery and products currently available from these sensors. Special attention is given to the improvements expected in the NPOESS era. This module is an introduction to other, more in-depth modules covering the science and application of cloud, precipitation, water vapor, land and sea surface observations. It takes about 40 minutes to complete.