NOAA- CREST Institutional Members
• CUNY City College
• University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
• CUNY Lehman College
• CUNY Bronx Community College
• Columbia University
• University of Maryland - Baltimore County
• Bowie State University-Maryland
• Hampton University-Virginia
• Raytheon, and other Industrial Partners
CREST CREST
ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES
CREST CREST
ACTIVITIESACTIVITIESCOASTAL & COASTAL &
TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT
COASTAL & COASTAL & TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT
LANDLANDLANDLAND
AIRAIRAIRAIR
HYDRO-CLIMATE HYDRO-CLIMATE
EDUCATIONEDUCATIONEDUCATIONEDUCATION
OUTREACHOUTREACHOUTREACHOUTREACH
AIR
Soil Moisture
LAND
Snow-Cover
Vegetation
HYDRO-CLIMATE
Snow-fall Studies
Validation
Precipitation
COASTAL & TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Optical Techniques
Data Compression
Ozone/Aerosols
Aerosols
Cloud / SST Detection
Impacts
Monitoring Facilities/ Campaigns
Stratosphere
Troposphere
CREST ACTIVITIES-Research
Climate Change
Hampton UniversityValidation Efforts
Validation of NESDIS Hydro-Estimator (HE) over North American Monsoon
Experiment (NAME) Region Ismail Yucel (HU), Bob Kuligowski (NOAA-NESDIS) Senior HU student
NAME Region
• Rain gauge locations• Each colored layer is assigned to a specific elevation group.
• Day-to-day fluctuations and the overall trend along the comparison period are captured well by the
HE precipitation estimates.
Area-averaged Precipitation comparison
Comparison of SAGE III and OSIRISLimb Scattering Ozone Profiles
Robert LoughmanHampton University
• SBUV 2 v8.0 Ozone Data Validation using satellite data from SAGE II, III and HALOE. Comparisons at near coincident points using monthly weighted means.
• Study of the Time Dependence of the Differences between the measurements from the SBUV/2 and other instruments.
• Trend analysis using statistical models applied to ozone time series, including weighted least squares fits to the models with mean, linear, annual, semi-annual QBO, Solar, and autoregressive noise terms. PCA analysis of the QBO term.
SBUV 2 v8.0 Ozone Data ValidationHovakim Nazaryan
MMA: Arosa Brewer and coincident SBUV
Year
1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
[SB
UV
- B
rew
er]
/ [
(S
BU
V +
Bre
we
r)/2
],
%
-20
-10
0
10
20
NIMBUS-7NOAA-09NOAA-11NOAA-14NOAA-16
Total Ozone
Arosa: MMA=200*(Dobson-Brewer) / (Dobson+Brewer)
Year
1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002
%
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
Total ozone
Comparison of monthly mean anomalies (MMA) of total ozone measurements for Brewer vs. SBUV (upper panel) and Brewer vs. Dobson (lower panel) during 1988-2004.
Dr. Stanislav Kireev
CREST-HU related activity:
•Development of algorithms to retrieve total and profile ozone data from ground-based measurements made with Dobson and Brewer spectrometers;•Intercomparison and validation of ozone data between ground-based and space borne (SBUV) observations;
Research is in close collaboration with Dr. L.E.Flynn (NOAA/NESDIS) andDr. I.V.Petropavlovskikh (NOAA/CIRES).
Validation of SBUV/2 and Brewer-Dobson Ozone Measurements
CUNY-Research ActivitiesAtmospheric
(Drs. S. Ahmed, B. Gross, and F. Moshary)
• Validation and refinement of Aerosol Optical Depth products in urban environments using Aeronent Sky Radiometers
• Development of Lidar -Profiling capabilities to Validate and Calibrate up-coming Calipso aerosol profiles
• Sensitivity analysis on the role that imprecise calibration of HIRS-2 sensors have on cloud heights through CO2 slicing
• Validate correlations between near surface backscatter measurements and surface level PM2.5 measurments from particle samplers
CUNY Cal-Val Research ActivitiesCoastal Waters
(Drs. S. Ahmed, A. Gilerson, F.Moshary, B. Gross) • Validation and refinement of Bio-Optical
Models for Chlorophyll and Suspended solids through Chesepeake and Long Island Field Campaigns
• Radiometric Validation and Calibration of Hyperspectral AISA Instrument on Chesepeake
• Validation and theoretical analysis for the improvement of Landsat Bathymetry
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 350
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
July 2003
PERSIANN Gauge
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1000
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Daily Rain Gauge (mm/day)
Dai
ly P
ER
SIA
NN
(m
m/d
ay)
cc = 0.04 nrms = 18.89bias = 4.15
Validating Remotely Sensed Rainfall Estimates of Tropical StormsStudent: J. Fernandez, MS; Supervisors: Dr. S. Mahani & Dr. R. Khanbilvardi; Collaborator: NWS/HL (Dr. P. Restrepo)
OBJECTIVE:
Evaluating satellite-based tropical rainfall estimates, such as: PERSIANN, GPCP,
and TRMM, with compare to the rain gauge observations. Colombia in South America, with about 8000 to 13000 (mm/yr) average annual
precipitation, is selected for study area.
Preliminary conclusion is: satellite-based rainfall estimates seem to be over estimated with compare to the rain gauge observations, at daily, 0.25 x 0.25 resolutions.
12 N
00 N
80
W
68
W
Study site & Rain Gauge Map
PERSIANN Estimates vs. Rain Gauge
Longitude (Degrees, West) Dai
ly R
ainf
all E
stim
ates
(m
m/d
ay)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
July 12, 2003
Longitude (Degrees, West)
Latitude (Degrees, North)
July 01, 2003
Time Series of Rainfall Estimates & Rain Gauge, July 2003
PERSIANN Estimates vs.Rain Gauge, July 2003
Comparing the remotely sensed rainfall estimates with rain gauge observations for whole month, demonstrates displacement between satellite and gauge as well as overestimated estimates. Sometimes, satellite shows rainy clouds over the gauges with zero rainfall and also vise versa. The reason is under investigation.
OBJECTIVE:
Validating high resolution satellite-based NESDIS rainfall products versus NEXRAD (Stage IV) and gauge
rainfall, useful for improving their relevant algorithms, in both cold and warm seasons.
Comparing NESDIS hourly Hydro-Estimator (HE), GMSRA#2 & Blended rainfall estimates with NEXRAD Stage-IV rainfall images and hourly time series with the rain gauge observations.
A 6
ho
ur
sto
rm
in w
arm
se
as
on
(0
8,2
2,2
00
3)
Sta
ge I
VSt
age
IV
A 6
ho
ur
sto
rmin
co
ld s
ea
so
n(0
2,2
4,2
00
4)
PRILIMINARY RESULTS:
-83 -82.5 -82 -81.5 -81
-83 -82.5 -82 -81.5 -81
-83 -82.5 -82 -81.5 -81
30.0
29.5
29.0
28.5
28.0
-83 -82.5 -82 -81.5 -81
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Latit
ude
(Deg
rees
)
Rai
nfa
ll (m
m/h
r)
Longitude (Degrees)Longitude (Degrees) Longitude (Degrees) Longitude (Degrees)
Real Time Validation of Satellite-based NESDIS Rainfall ProductsStudent: W. Harrouch & Kallol Ganguli, MS; Supervisors: Drs. S. Mahani,. R. Khanbilvardi, A. Gruber;
-83 -82.5 -82 -81.5 -81 -83 -82.5 -82 -81.5 -81 -83 -82.5 -82 -81.5 -81 -83 -82.5 -82 -81.5 -81
30.0
29.5
29.0
28.5
28.0
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
HE GMSRA#2 Blended NEXRAD
Latit
ude
(Deg
rees
)
Rai
nfa
ll (m
m/h
r)
Series of two Cold and Warm StormsStorm of 22nd Aud'03
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400
Hours
Ra
in R
ate
(m
m/h
r)
NexRAD
HE
GMSRA
BLENDED
Storm of 24th Feb'04
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100
Hours
Ra
in r
ate
(m
m/h
r)
NexRAD
HE
GMSRA
BLENDED
Hydro-Estimator
Research Group:
Juan Carlos Arevalo, Amir Azar, Adenrele Ibagbeola (Graduate students, CCNY-CUNY)Gillian Cain, (Undergraduate student , CCNY-CUNY)Dr. Hosni Ghedira (Assistant Professor , CCNY-CUNY) Dr. Reza Khanbilvardi (Professor , CCNY-CUNY)
Collaborators:
Dr. Norman Grody (NOAA-NESDIS)Dr. Peter Romanov (NOAA-NESDIS)
Satellite Data
Active microwave data: RadarsatPassive microwave data: SSM/IOptical Data: AVHRR
Tested algorithm
SSM/I-based snow cover filtering algorithm developed by Norman Grody (NOAA-NESDIS).
Algorithms to be tested
• Energy-and-mass-balance model actually used by the National Weather Service (NOHRSC, NOAA-NWS)
• Automated GOES-based snow cover and snow fraction mapping algorithm developed by Peter Romanov (NOAA-NESDIS)
Validation of satellite-based snow mapping algorithms Validation of satellite-based snow mapping algorithms
Validation of satellite-based snow mapping algorithms Validation of satellite-based snow mapping algorithms
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
Decision Tree
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
Decision Tree
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
Artificial Neural Network
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
Artificial Neural Network
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.4 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
Ground Data
Jan 23
Jan 24
Jan 25
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.4 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.5 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
110.6 108.8 106.4 104.4 102.0
48.7
46.7
44.7
42.6
40.7
Ground Data
Jan 23
Jan 24
Jan 25
No coverage
Snow
No Snow
No coverage
Snow
No Snow
No coverage
Snow
No Snow
Study Area, Covered by SSM/I34x30 pixels
Study Area, Covered by SSM/I34x30 pixels
Study Area (1)
Study Area (2)
Research Group:
Tarendra Lakhankar, Nasim Jahan, (Graduate students , CCNY-CUNY)Parmis Arfania (Undergraduate student , CCNY-CUNY)Dr. Hosni Ghedira (Assistant Professor , CCNY-CUNY) Dr. Reza Khanbilvardi (Professor , CCNY-CUNY)
Collaborator:
Dr. Norman Grody (NOAA-NESDIS)
Satellite Data:
Active microwave data: RadarsatPassive microwave data: SSM/IOptical Data: AVHRR, LANDSAT
Study Area:
Oklahoma (97d35'W, 36d15'N)
Experiment Validation:
SGP97: Southern Great Plains 1997 campaign operated by NASA. Validation of the data measured by ESTAR Instrument (Electronically Scanned Thinned Array Radiometer)
Validation of satellite-based soil moisture mapping Validation of satellite-based soil moisture mapping algorithms algorithms
Radarsat Image
350 km x 300 km(Res. 25 m)
Study Area (A and B)
A: 26.4 km x 96 kmB: 31.2 km x 103.2 km
A
B
9900’W 9800’W 9700’W 9600’W 9500’W 9400’W
3800’ N
Soil Moisture Data
165 km x 495 km(Res. 800 m)
3700’ N
3600’ N
3500’ N
Oklahoma (97d35'W, 36d15'N)Oklahoma (97d35'W, 36d15'N)
SOIL MOISTURE
RADARSAT
NDVI
SM classes
Validation of satellite-based soil moisture mapping Validation of satellite-based soil moisture mapping algorithms algorithms
UMBC CREST Cal/Val Activities
•Regional East Atmospheric Lidar Mesonet (REALM)
•UMBC lidar station (elastic, Raman, DABUL lidars)
•REALM data center
•Parameters (extinction, backscatter, AOD, PBL structure)
•US Air Quality Weblog
•GOES Aerosol/Smoke Product (GASP) validation (w/ NESDIS)
Cal/Val effort at NOAA-CREST-UPRM,
\Puerto RicoResearch group:
Hamed Parsiani, Soil Moisture & vegetation with RadarNazario Ramirez & Ramon Vasquez: Hydro-Estimator
Ramon Vasquez, Cloud Height Fernando Gilbes, Ocean
Calibration of Radar Remote Sensing as Applied to Soil Moisture and Vegetation Health Determination
Hamed Parsiani• The Material Characteristics in Frequency Domain (MCFD) algorithm calculates the MCFD for
each GPR image which is used as a signature to determine soil moisture, soil type, and vegetation index. The usage of properly trained Neural Network acts as a calibrator for the GPR in soil moisture, or soil type determination.
• Vegetation Health is obtained by calibrating the power of MCFD, using the linear relationship between the NDVI obtained by spectroradiometer and the MCFD power.
• The range for calibration and its accuracy for the vegetation health have been determined.• The basic accuracy in both soil characteristics and vegetation information depend on the reception
of images with quality wavelets. An algorithm is developed which permit Automatic Quality Wavelet Extraction (AQWE). Currently a 1.5 GHz antenna has been used for this research.
Validation of Hydro-Estimator Algorithm for Puerto Rico RegionNazario Ramirez & Ramon Vasquez
• This is the first time that the Hydro-Estimator (HE) algorithm is validated over a tropical region. • Puerto Rico has a density rain-gauge network that provides the unique data set to conduct an
accurate validation. • The USGS monitors, in Puerto Rico, 120 rain-gauges & records rainfall every 15 minutes.
Estimation of precipitation was generated by the same spatial and temporal distribution using the HE algorithm.
.
SEAWIFS VALIDATION IN COASTAL WATERS OF WESTERN PUERTO RICO
Fernando Gilbes• Mayagüez Bay is a semi-enclosed bay in the west coast of Puerto Rico that suffers
spatial and temporal variations in phytoplankton pigments and suspended sediments due to seasonal discharge of local rivers.
• New methods and instruments have been used as part of NOAA CREST project, allowing a good understanding of the processes affecting the signal detected by remote sensors.
• A large bio-optical data set has been collected during several cruises in Mayagüez Bay. Remote Sensing Reflectance, Chlorophyll-a, Suspended Sediments, and absorption of Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) were measured spatially and temporally. These values were used to evaluate SeaWiFS OC-2 and OC-4 bio-optical algorithms in the region.
• Remote sensed Chlorophyll-a concentrations were compared against in situ Chlorophyll-a concentrations. The results show that these algorithms overestimate the actual Chlorophyll-a.
• It is clearly demonstrated that the major sources of this error is the variability of CDOM and total suspended sediments. The main working hypothesis establishes a possible relationship between CDOM and the clays in those sediments.
• The analyses of SeaWiFS images also verify that its spatial resolution is not appropriate for these coastal waters. The available data demonstrate that improved algorithms and different remote sensing techniques are necessary for this coastal region.
• We plan to continue these efforts to validate and calibrate ocean color sensors in Mayagüez Bay, like MODIS and AVIRIS. We aim to improve the remote sensing techniques for a better estimation of water quality parameters in coastal waters, specifically Chlorophyll-a, CDOM absorption, and suspended sediments.
Validation of cloud top height retrieval by MODIS and MISR instruments
• Cloud top heights can be good indicators of the presence of different types of clouds over a region.
• This information about clouds may provide an input to some climate models that will predict future total water content between other related climate phenomena.
• The Caribbean data of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Multi-Angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) were obtained from the EOS Data Gateway (EDG).
• Available lidar instrumentation does not provide sufficient information about cloud profiles. Cross-comparisons of MODIS and MISR instruments can retrieve cloud top heights.
• In this work, cloud top pressures and cloud top heights measured by MODIS and MISR are compared.
• variations between MODIS and MISR cloud top heights may indicate the retrieval of two different cloud heights over the same area.
• Highest difference between MISR and MODIS high clouds vary between 15 and 19 kilometers.
• MISR retrieval performance for high clouds is twice the MODIS retrieval performance. MISR and MODIS cloud values coincide in less than 1% of the total observed area and the cloud height value is 14km.
• A temporal analysis that shows the variation of MODIS cloud top heights over San Juan, Puerto Rico is also presented.
• Results show the ability of MODIS to detect low clouds at tropical regions. MISR is a better instrument to measure high clouds. MODIS retrieval methods can identify thicker clouds which are low clouds and MISR retrieval methods can identify thinner clouds which are high clouds.