3rd NOAA User Workshop
on the Global Precipitation
Measurement Mission:
Proving Ground

Meeting Objectives

This three-day meeting, co-sponsored by NESDIS, NWS, and OAR, will follow up on the highly successful previous two workshops -- August 2010 and November 2011 with a focus on the development, functionality, and priorities of a new NOAA GPM Proving Ground.

The meeting objectives and anticipated outcomes for each topic are as follows:

Objective 1. Identify the purpose of the NOAA GPM Proving Ground and how it will improve NOAA precipitation products and services.

Expected outcomes:

• A clear statement of the purpose and need for a NOAA GPM Proving Ground
• A plan describing how the Proving Ground will facilitate interaction among NESDIS, NWS and OAR, as well as NASA, on GPM precipitation issues.

Objective 2: Identify use of GPM data in research and operational algorithm development

Expected outcomes:

• Identify Proving Ground participants and timelines for the use of GPM-era precipitation products in NOAA
• Catalogue or list current operational products derived from the TRMM and passive microwave constellation
• Gather information on ongoing multi-sensor precipitation product development efforts for both continental and global scales
• Benchmark GPM-era algorithms at multiple space-time scales over the CONUS
• Establish a framework for multi-sensor fusion of precipitation products from satellites, radars, gauges and numerical weather prediction model outputs that can be used across NOAA line offices
• Identify paths of research to operations, e.g., establish and evaluate methods to assimilate GPM products in numerical weather prediction models, and assess the operational values of GPM-based, multi-sensor fused precipitation products for climate, flood and water resources predictions
• Novel strategies for calibration of space-based microwave measurements using Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor System

Objective 3: Identify training needs for use of GPM data in NOAA operations (WFOs, RFCs, NHC, NCEP)

Expected outcomes:

• Determine target audience - general users and operational entities
• Determine knowledge gaps relative to what most people know about current operational suite
• Evaluate available human resources for training - whom to approach and how