Satellite Uses and Needs Caribbean Meteorological Organization KathyAnn

Satellite Uses and Needs Caribbean Meteorological Organization Kathy-Ann Caesar Meteorologist CIMH NOAA Satellite Conference 8 -12 April 2013 College Park MD, USA www. cimh. edu. bb

CMO Member Countries The sixteen member countries participating in the CMO are Anguilla, Antigua* and Barbuda, Cayman Islands*, Dominica, Guyana*, Montserrat, St. Kitts/Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago*, Barbados*, Belize*, British Virgin Islands, Grenada*, Jamaica*, St. Lucia*, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Turks and Caicos Islands * National Forecast and Warning Offices

The Role of CIMH O a WMO Regional Training Centre (RTC); O a WMO Regional Calibration Centre (RCC); O a WMO Centre of Excellence (Co. E) for satellite meteorology; O a WMO Regional Climate Centre

Satellite Meteorology Training O Entry-Level Technician O Introduction in to satellite imagery O Mid-Level Technicians O Aeronautical Briefing O Aeronautical Forecasters, O Introduction, Analysis, Aeronautical Briefing and Forecasting O Meteorologist, (B. Sc. Degree), O Introduction, Analysis Aeronautical Continuing Professional Development Analysis, Aeronautical Briefing and Forecasting O Use COMET Visit. View and Regional Focus group discussion

Meteorology v RAMSDIS v The RAMM Advanced Meteorological Satellite Demonstration and Interpretation System (RAMSDIS) is a PC-based unit developed by the Regional And Mesoscale Meteorological (RAMM) team at CIRA. v One of the major projects arising from the CIRA/CIMH collaboration is a Cloud Climatology over the Eastern Caribbean v Imagery via RAMSDIS is often used operationally and for research v Use Mc. Idas

Satellite Research Use of satellite data in initializing the MM 5 and WRF Mesoscale NWP Products

Event Analysis Passage of tropical wave produced 75 mm of rainfall between Oct. 13 th and 14 th October 14 th TS Omar

Regional Focus Group Discussions Visitview Focal Group Monthly Weather Discussion across Latin America and the Caribbean; Lead by Bernadette Connell (CIRA) and Mike Davison (NCEP); Satellite and Climatology Caribbean Weather Discussion; RFG – now in South Africa and soon South Pacific Lead by Kathy-Ann Caesar Weather Discussion and Continuous Professional Development Special events: • Onset and progress of tropical storms; • Introduction of new products; e. g. GOES R

Regional NWS usage Satellite imagery is extensively used forecasting by the regional offices. • Extensive use of GOES imagery Few services have dedicated satellite receiving systems • Terascan Geo-Stationary and Terascan Polar-orbital (Trinidad) and • Service-West Geo-stationary receiver (Barbados); There is a heavy reliance on internet for satellite data: • NOAA imagery; CIMSS; RAMSDIS; NRL

Hydrology Satellite imagery is used to support various activities in hydrology. • identification of inundation areas resulting from flooding events; • identification of blockages in watercourses resulting from landslides; • identification of land cover/land cover changes and estimation of hydrological parameters; • Imagery also supports hydrological modelling by provided a visualization of watershed characteristics. Using Satellite derived precipitation data to provide the potential for flood.

Real-Time Flood Forecasting Localized convective event in Barbados 26/08/2008, 12: 00 -00: 00 UTC Instrument Resolution Rainfall (mm) Rain gauge Point estimate 29 TRMM 3 B 42* 0. 25° x 0. 25° 1. 4 WRF V 3. 0 4 km x 4 km 60. 9 *TMPA-RT

CIMH Disaster Management – Dewetra Platform O CIMH has the role of advisor / briefing to CDEMA , the regional disaster management agency O The Caribbean Dewetra Platform – O a real-time data and information integrated system for hydro-meteorological risk forecasting and disaster risk mitigation. O A combination of weather and hydrological observational data; and forecast tools which aid disaster preparedness procedures and expertise; O It provides decision makers with high resolution and up-to-date information of the expected and observed risk and vulnerability.

TS Ernesto : Cayman Islands Sounding 00 UTC, 5 August 2012

GEONETCast (GNC) O A renewed effort to introduce GNC Receiving System to the region supported by NOAA. O Derived satellite products; training channel, etc. O GNC relatively inexpensive; O Can support operational data; O NOAA has sponsored at least one system at CIMH and Belize has purchased a system. O Possibility of more sponsored systems. O WMO/NOAA GNC Workshop April 6 -7 O Very positive collaboration discussions for expansion of use of GNC. O Expansion of EMWIN and EUMETCast usage are possible

Main concerns Access to satellite is generally via internet; New and affordable receiving systems required. Uncertainty about GOES R there is concerns about the types of new satellite that data that exist and how to access them. The need for a dedicated portal for products and additional information on the GOES and an array of NOAAs products. Insufficient funds. More information and training on GOES R