Advanced Geophysical Environmental Simulation Techniques

A three-year, multi-faceted effort to develop and apply state-of-the-art techniques for analysis of environmental satellite data is described. Principal accomplishments include development of satellite data analysis and image processing algorithms and software suitable for interpreting environmental satellite sensor measurements; adaptation and application of satellite-based cloud property retrieval algorithms for processing of large multiple-satellite data sets; development and application of improved cloud-phase and cloud optical property retrieval algorithms; investigation of techniques potentially applicable for retrieval of cloud spatial properties from very high resolution remotely sensed data; and data analysis in support of a contrail-formation experiment. Software development and data analysis were performed using the Air Force Interactive Meteorological System (AIMS) located at PL. AIMS is an integrated computer facility that includes multiple direct-broadcast satellite ground stations and associated data processing facilities; an extensive satellite and conventional data archive; a database access system; and a library of environmental-property retrieval algorithms. Several system enhancements were developed for AIMS including a new Geostationary satellite acquisition and analysis capability. All software and data-analysis products developed under this effort are available on AIMS.