Program Overview

SHyMet: Satellite Foundational Course for JPSS (SatFC-J)

The National Weather Service (NWS) Satellite Foundational Course for JPSS (SatFC-J) is a training program designed to bring forecasters, the scientific community, and others up-to-date on the capabilities of the JPSS/NOAA-20 satellite. The course was developed by the National Weather Service satellite training advisory team (STAT), which consists of science operations officers from five regions, satellite liaisons, and representatives from the NWS Office of the Chief Learning Officer (OCLO).

Course Objectives

The objective of this course is to address training needs associated with the next generation of polar orbiting satellites. Specifically, topics will include an introduction to JPSS highlighting improved spatial and temporal resolution and additional new channels that will be available, followed by products and imagery that address a broad range of applications.

Learning Objectives

The course has the following learning objectives:

1. Provide a general introduction to microwave remote sensing.
2. Learn about the importance of oxygen and water vapor absorption regions in the microwave spectrum as related to obtaining temperature and moisture profiles.
3. Learn about microwave surface emissivity and how it relates to characterization of different surfaces across the Earth.
4. Understand how microwave sensors provide moisture, cloud properties, and precipitation information against different surface backgrounds.
5. Describe relative orbits of various low earth orbiting satellites and understand the implications on product coverage and availability.
6. Describe relative orbits of various low earth orbiting satellites and understand the implications on product coverage and availability.
7. Understand some aspects of the VIIRS imager, including imaging strategy, resolution, spectral bands, and key applications.
8. Understand the capabilities of the CrIS and ATMS Sounder instruments and identify key products.
9. Understand the capabilities of the AMSR2 microwave imager instrument and identify key products.
10. Describe key features of the GPM mission and its data products and explain their potential impact on forecast operations.
11. Explore a variety of VIIRS imagery applications.
12. Describe the utility of the Day Night Band and derived Near-Constant Contrast products.
13. Understand how NUCAPS soundings are obtained, data coverage, availability, and forecasting applications.
14. Describe the impact of satellite observations on NWP analyses and forecasts.

Training Modules

The course consists of 13 short training modules, including:

• Introduction to Microwave Remote Sensing
• Oxygen and Water Vapor Absorption Bands
• Microwave Surface Emissivity
• Influence of Clouds and Precipitation
• Orbits and Data Availability
• The VIIRS Imager
• The CrIS and ATMS Sounders
• The AMSR2 Microwave Imager
• NASA GPM Overview
• Uses of VIIRS Imagery
• The VIIRS Day / Night Band
• NUCAPS Soundings
• Impact of Satellite Observations on NWP

Course Completion

The expected completion time of taking the entire course is 6 to 8 hours, including additional time beyond just the length of the video associated with each module to include time for comprehension, time to complete the quizzes, and time to take the course orientation. This estimate does not include time to view the optional proof of concept videos. After taking all of the lessons, students will need to pass a quiz for each course section.

Intended Audience

The intended audience is forecasters, but anyone is welcome to participate. Since the training content is entirely web-based, students may take the training whenever they wish.

Proof of Concept Videos

A series of proof of concept videos are available for this course, serving as optional supplemental information to the SatFC-J course with the intent of demonstrating the utility of JPSS data and products in operational forecasting. These videos include:

• The Promise of JPSS
• NUCAPS Introduction in AWIPS
• The VIIRS Nighttime Microphysics RGB in AWIPS
• Day Night Band (DNB) / Near Constant Contrast (NCC) imagery
• Tracking and Overlaying Polar Obriting Passes in AWIPS – Mosaics and Time Delta

Frequently Asked Questions

• NOAA employees should take the SatFC-J course via the NOAA Commerce Learn Center (CLC) to receive training credit on the CLC.
• The orientation module should be taken first, followed by the Introduction to Microwave Remote Sensing section modules in order, as they serve as background material.
• Students can take individual lessons or sections of lessons rather than all of the lessons in the SHyMet: SatFC-J course, but they will not receive credit for completion of the SHyMet: SatFC-J course.
• Real-time JPSS imagery and products can be found at CIRA SLIDER, JSTAR Mapper, and CIMSS Real-Earth.