Welcome to the Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR)
The
Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) is the science
arm of the NOAA Satellite and Information Service (NESDIS), which acquires
and manages the nation's operational Earth-observing satellites. NESDIS
provides data from these satellites, and conducts research to make that possible.
News Briefs
Draft NOAA 5-Year Research Plan
Posted for Public Comment
May 3, 2013 - The NOAA Research Council will revise the draft
plan based on comments received during this comment period from May 3 through
June 3, 2013. To review the pland and comment, please visit
http://www.nrc.noaa.gov/plans.html.
This is your opportunity to provide input into NOAA's R&D portfolio prior to the release of the final version this summer.
The "5th Symposium on the Impacts of an
Ice-Diminishing Arctic on Naval and Maritime Operations" has opened registration.
It is scheduled for July 16-18, 2013 at the
Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. and is being organized by STAR's Pablo Clemente-Colón,
and co-sponsored by
the U.S. National Ice Center and the U.S. Arctic Commission.
JCSDA Seminar
On Wednesday, May 22, 2013, Shobha Kondragunta
will give a seminar: "Using Satellite Data to Improve
Operational Air Quality Forecasting Capabilities."
3rd NOAA User Workshop on the Global Precipitation
Measurement Mission
NOAA, NASA, and ESSIC hosted a successful meeting
April 2-4 to discuss and plan a GPM Proving Ground. Presentations
are now posted, and the final report will be made available
soon.
STAR News
Poster T-17,
showing Suomi NPP VIIRS RGB, radar and surface data T-17 combined in NinJo
STAR Leads at the NOAA 2013 Satellite Conference
April 8, 2013 -
STAR and NESDIS welcome today the attendees of the 2013 NOAA Satellite Conference to
the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction. This conference combines for the first
time the Direct Readout, GOES/POES, and GOES-R/JPSS communities and missions, creating a
conference uniquely focused on the work of North American satellite scientists.
The conference keynote speaker is David Grimes, president of the WMO, and special guest speakers included
Acting NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan, Assistant Administrator Mary Kicza, and
Assistant Administrator from NWS Louis Uccellini. The conference theme is
"Strengthening Partnerships to Enhance User Readiness, Reception, and Utility".
STAR scientists have been active at every level of planning, preparation, and organization
of the conference, which is being held at NCWCP's new state-of-the-art auditorium
and meeting facilities.
The conference runs April 8-12 at NCWCP and features presentations by a long list of STAR scientists
including Fuzhong Weng on calibration/validation and data assimilation, Tim Schmit on the GOES-R ABI, Ingrid Guch on science advances
and data fusion, Ralph Ferraro on precipitation, Al Powell
on improving the use of satellite data at STAR, and others.
The poster sessions, chaired by ASPB's Tim Schmit, feature 64 posters by STAR scientists.
May 30, 2012 - Catatumbo lightning is one of the
world's most frequent lightning displays, with thunderstorms forming
over the Catatumbo River in Venezuela an average of 160 nights per year.
The lightning displays last up to 9 hours, beginning shortly after dusk.
The lightning is nearly continuous and so vivid and reliable that it has
been called the "Lighthouse of Maracaibo" and was used by fisherman and
sailors as a navigation aid. Last month, when the moon was about 80%
full, Suomi NPP passed over Lake Maracaibo at night and, sure enough, a
thunderstorm was present right over the mouth of the Catatumbo River.
Curtis Seaman with the CIRA NPP VIIRS team captured this remarkable
image and explained the phenomenon behind it on the CIRA NPP blog. Read more.
Dept. of Commerce • NOAA • NESDIS • STAR • Last revised: May 17, 2013
