Title: Aqua and Terra Direct Broadcast Product Applications

Authors: Kathleen Strabala, Liam Gumley, Allen Huang, Elisabeth Weisz

Direct broadcast products created using down-linked data from the EOS Aqua and Terra
polar orbiting satellites acquired at the University of Wisconsin (UW)–Madison, USA are
being used for a wide variety of operational environmental applications including support
of US National Weather Service (NWS) and Air Quality forecasters.

This presentation will include an overview of current real-time users and applications, but
focus on the end-to-end production, distribution and use of Moderate Resolution Imaging
Spectroradiameter (MODIS) products by the NWS. Keys to the success of this effort
include the rapid turnaround from data acquisition to distribution, as well as user training
and feedback in the form of NWS VISITview teletraining lessons and forecast office site
visits.

The list of offices that now receive MODIS products has grown from 3 local state offices
in 2006 to 43 offices across the country in 2010. The success of this work has been
confirmed by NWS staff survey results showing that 70% of forecasters believe MODIS
products are useful in operations, and the fact that MODIS data and products have been
mentioned in over 150 different NWS Area Forecast Discussions (AFDs) to date.