Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies

Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies
Name	Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies
Formation	1980
Headquarters	Madison, Wisconsin
Leader title	Director
Parent organization	University of Wisconsin–Madison; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies is a research institute based in Madison, Wisconsin that conducts applied research on satellite remote sensing, atmospheric science, and environmental monitoring. The institute operates through a formal partnership between the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, collaborating with federal agencies, academic centers, and international programs to advance satellite applications for weather, climate, and hazards. Its work integrates observational systems, numerical modeling, and algorithm development to support operational satellite missions and scientific investigations.

History

The institute was founded in 1980 amid expanding interest from National Aeronautics and Space Administration and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in utilizing polar-orbiting and geostationary platforms such as NOAA-9, GOES-1, and TIROS-N series. Early collaborations involved investigators from Space Science and Engineering Center and faculty from the University of Wisconsin–Madison who had prior affiliations with programs like Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer and projects linked to Comet Halley observations. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the institute contributed to work supporting missions including Landsat, SeaWiFS, and Aqua, while engaging researchers with ties to National Weather Service, Naval Research Laboratory, and international bodies such as European Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. In the 2000s the institute expanded activities to include algorithm support for the Joint Polar Satellite System and coordination with initiatives like Group on Earth Observations and the Global Climate Observing System. Leadership transitions have included directors previously affiliated with American Meteorological Society leadership and recipients of awards such as the Bjerknes Medal.

Mission and Research Focus

The institute’s mission emphasizes translating satellite measurements into actionable information for users in National Weather Service, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, and humanitarian organizations. Major research foci include retrieval algorithms for cloud and aerosol properties relevant to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments, calibration/validation techniques supporting platforms like Suomi NPP and GOES-R Series, and development of derived products for extreme events referenced by United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. The institute prioritizes applied projects that tie to activities of Office of Naval Research, NASA Earth Science Division, and regional stakeholders such as the Wisconsin State Climatology Office.

Organizational Structure and Partnerships

Organizationally, the institute is hosted within the Space Science and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and staffed by civil service scientists, university faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students. Formal partners include National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and operational centers like National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. Collaborative networks extend to academic institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Colorado State University, University of Colorado Boulder, and international partners including Met Office and Centre National d'Études Spatiales. Funding sources have included competitive grants from National Science Foundation, cooperative agreements with NOAA, and contracts from Department of Defense programs.

Facilities and Instrumentation

Facilities supporting the institute’s work encompass laboratories within University of Wisconsin–Madison that host instrument calibration benches, high-performance computing clusters linked to NCAR resources, and visualization suites used for collaboration with operational centers like NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Instrumentation includes ground-based radiometers, sun photometers comparable to AERONET stations, and airborne sensors used in campaigns aligned with programs such as ARM Climate Research Facility and ICARE. The institute maintains expertise in on-orbit sensor calibration for imagers and sounders aboard platforms like VIIRS and CERES, enabling cross-calibration with instruments from European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites.

Key Projects and Contributions

Notable projects include algorithm development for cloud microphysics retrievals used in CloudSat and CALIPSO synergistic studies, contributions to operational imagery systems for GOES-R Series that inform Storm Prediction Center forecasts, and participation in validation campaigns such as VORTEX and GPM field campaigns. The institute has produced community tools for satellite-derived precipitation estimation applied by Hydrologic Research Laboratory and disaster response groups like International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Long-term contributions include improved aerosol optical depth products supporting Global Aerosol Climatology Project analyses and heritage ingest systems that interface with National Centers for Environmental Prediction workflows.

Education, Outreach, and Training

Education and workforce development activities engage students from University of Wisconsin–Madison and visiting scholars from institutions such as Pennsylvania State University and University of Maryland. The institute organizes workshops and short courses for practitioners from National Weather Service, Civil Air Patrol, and international meteorological services including World Meteorological Organization members. Outreach includes participation in public events hosted by Wisconsin Science Festival and collaborative storylines with media outlets like NASA TV to disseminate satellite applications to educators and emergency managers.

Publications and Data Products

Scholarly outputs are published in journals such as Journal of Geophysical Research, Geophysical Research Letters, Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, and Remote Sensing of Environment. Data products and algorithms are distributed to operational users through portals linked to NOAA CLASS and scientific archives affiliated with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The institute contributes to community open-source projects and software libraries used by researchers at European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and university groups worldwide.

Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison Category:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration