January 9, 2006                                                                                   

 

From: Ben Holt

 

Subject: Notes and actions from ASF UWG Meeting, Nov. 16-17, 2005, held at ASF.

 

Meeting Attendees:

Waleed Abdalati – telecon

Scott Arko

Don Atwood

Pablo Clemente-Colon - telecon

Craig Dobson – telecon

Katy Farness, for Ken Jezek

Ralph Foster, for Harry Stern

Ben Holt

Martin Jeffries

Ron Kwok

Nettie La Belle-Hamer

Zhong Lu

Medora Macie – telecon

Frank Monaldo

Jeremy Nicoll

Bill Pichel

Ted Scambos

Roger Smith

Vicky Wolf

Sharolyn Young – telecon

 

UWG members not able to attend include Bruce Chapman, Ian Joughin, Eric, Rignot, Masanobu Shimada, and Howard Zebker.

 

Meeting Summary

The UWG gave very high marks to ASF in all of its groups and operations.  Nettie has put together a highly motivated and forward-thinking team that is continuing to improve the operations and data quality, providing a high level of support to the user community, is actively developing useful tools, providing successful outreach activities, and is expanding into new missions and capabilities to improve funding. There were no major concerns regarding ASF functionality.  We encourage the efforts of ASF to augment their data archive with AIRSAR, Seasat, and possibly the UAV SAR.

 

The UWG, however, continues to have significant concerns related to the future activities of ASF.  This includes use and access to spaceborne SAR data including both foreign and US missions, and what role ASF will have in these activities.  Many of the actions reflect these concerns.  Most of these concerns are related to the tightening science budgets, awaiting the Decadal Panel results, and how to best present the value and needs for SAR data, including from ALOS, RADARSAT2, other foreign SAR missions, and even the NASA INSAR mission to different programmatic and science communities.  There are also actions related to increasing the awareness of SAR availability via ASF and ASF itself.

 

We think it is very important to have UWG meetings at ASF, at least every other meeting, but there is concern about a somewhat lower than normal attendance at this meeting, including from both the programmatic and UWG sides.  Conflicts will always occur, and the telecon access helped (way to hang in there, Waleed and Medora). We will try to establish meeting dates and locations further in advance as a means to reduce conflicts and improve attendance (I have never been to Miami myself). The ‘quarterly’ telecons will continue in Feb/Mar. 

 

We wish to thank Nettie and her team for a hosting a successful meeting.  We also want to thank the efforts of Carol Way regarding the travel and meeting arrangements. The meeting presentations are available from ASF on a CDrom.  The meeting agenda and notes will be posted at http://psc.apl.washington.edu/ASFUWG/. 

 

Actions

1.  A UWG letter will be written to NRC Decadal Survey Panel, likely to key individuals.  The letter will focus on key science and broad community involvement with SAR data with specific examples, the lessons learned from using and accessing foreign sensors, why we need more SAR data generically AND a NASA mission (including the value overcoming access barriers present when accessing foreign SAR data).  Ben will write draft (end of January), with editing by Craig and UWG especially Ken and Howard Zebker who serve on Decadal panels.  We need to identify recipients of letter for example Eric Barron, and perhaps Ken and Howard themselves. Target submittal date is mid-February.

 

2. ALOS.  The UWG saw a need to encourage the NASA support regarding ALOS data and ASF’s role.  The near-term action is to hold a telecon with ASF, Craig, and at least some UWG members to hear from Craig about his views and possible actions, including for example writing a letter to Martha Maiden or Jack Kaye. A telecon date will be arranged by Nettie, Ben, and Craig and announced to UWG.  The UWG also requests that the most recent proposal submitted by ASF to NASA be provided for review.

 

3. Notify broad community of availability of SAR data to US investigators via ASF and ASF capabilities.  A) Zhong and Ben will investigate requirements for a short announcement to AGU’s newsletter Eos and submit a short announcement together with ASF.  This is intended to counteract broad perception that SAR data can only be obtained for non-NASA investigations through RADARSAT International (RSI).  It should also mention revised ASF web interface.  B) ASF should write a university or organization profile for IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society Newsletter.  The current folks in charge of university profiles for the newsletter is Sandra Cruz-Pol (sandracruzpol@ieee.org) and for organization profiles is David Kunkee (david.b.kunkee@aero.eng).  Ben can provide more details if needed.  C) Ben will submit a meeting summary in February to the Earth Observer newsletter which is published bi-monthly by Goddard.  Craig and ASF will review draft.

 

4. The UWG requests investigation of data quality issues to determine if further improvements are possible in the SWB image quality.  The UWG also requests that ASF provide nominal processing for additional RADARSAT-1 modes, including wide mode and narrow Scansar.  These modes may only have partial calibration.  ASF will provide the UWG with a plan and schedule for these additional modes by the next quarterly telecon.

 

5. The UWG encourages the ongoing effort of ASF to provide tools for making GeoTiff products from current processed data.  The UWG requests examples of these products be provided by ASF for examination including for a subset of a global DEM with terrain correction, along with documentation on data format and utility.

 

6. ASF should investigate the possibility of downlinking Envisat ASAR data to ASF over Antarctica, including McMurdo, as part of a Category 1 proposal to ESA focused on coincident SAR acquisitions with IceSAT.

 

7. The UWG web site has been hosted and maintained by Harry Stern at APL/UW.  ASF will make a plan to provide a new host site for this activity.

 

UWG Membership Update

Harry Stern has decided to retire from the UWG, due primarily to reduced involvement with SAR analysis.  Ralph Foster of UW-APL attended in his place.  Sharolyn Young will be the NIC representative to the UWG, taking over for Pablo Clemente-Colon and Paul Seymour.  New UWG members include Martin Jeffries, Zhong Lu, and Ian Joughin, taking over for Buck Sharpton and Mark Fahnestock. 

 

MEETING NOTES

 

Waleed Abdalati started the meeting off, announcing that his term as Cryosphere Program Manager will end Dec. 31, 2005 and that Craig Dobson will assume program manager oversight for the ASFUWG.  Waleed has been extremely supportive of ASF and SAR-related science, and we all acknowledge his significant contributions.  A NASA NRA for the International Polar Year is expected to be released in 2006, with an estimated $3M/year available for science.  He attended the ICARP (International Committee on Arctic Research Planning) meeting in Denmark in November and noted the (continual?) need for such committees to understand and incorporate satellite data for science.  Waleed also mentioned that Earth/Sun Science programs are expected to incur a 7% reduction in FY2006.

 

With Craig Dobson now participating via telecon, Waleed and Craig discussed recent meetings and exchanges with CSA on RADARSAT.  The RADARSAT1 agreement was renewed until November 2007 with the same US science allocation (1519 minutes per 24 day cycle) or until one of the following occurs: failure of RADARSAT1, the end of the 6-month commissioning phase after launch of RADARSAT2.  CSA is seeking ways to make use of their own RADARSAT2 allocation, nominally used for the so-called background mission, for cooperative science programs involving NASA, with RADARSAT2 scheduled to launch in 2006. CSA is looking for partnerships for large science activities that enable data sharing. Towards this effort, three white papers will be produced for the following topics: ice sheets (led by Ken Jezek with Laurence Gray, pointing towards a 3rd Antarctic Mapping Mission), sea ice (led by Ron Kwok with Dave Barber), and geohazards (led by Craig with Dirk Geudtner).  The white papers are planned for completion in January and to be submitted to CSA and NASA.  Also included in the white papers will be related data processing and distribution scenarios, including new and archival data, where the US may be able to provide significant level of processing in exchange for acquisitions. We note that MDA has the primary contract for processing RADARSAT2 imagery and can provide source code with encryption keys for about $1M.  Canada is also providing significant funding for IPY.  There were also discussions on the non-commercial RADARSAT3 constellation, which has entered Phase A design and is scheduled to launch in the 2013 timeframe.  Also mentioned was ESA’s Sentinel constellation. 

 

Craig Dobson also mentioned a geohazard project currently in development between CSA and ASF that would provide copies to ASF of a large quantity of data collected over designated geohazard areas from the CSA archives for no charge.  Craig is working on the project with Geudtner and a list has been created of data that currently exists in the CSA archives.  Bill Pichel is interested in extending the scope of effort to include getting the coastal hazard and hurricane watch data to ASF.  Craig and Nettie thought his idea worth discussing as potential addition or extension.

 

In relation to the Decadal Survey, Ted Scambos raised the issue of the importance of SAR for NASA science, including the need for a NASA INSAR mission and the continued use of foreign SAR data as well, and how the UWG for example might write a letter to the Decadal panel stating such importance. NASA requires technology advancement in relation to science, so it becomes tricky to make the case to use foreign SAR data within whatever the Decadal panel determines is needed.  See Action Item 1.

 

Medora Macie noted that the ESDIS contract with ASF extends through March 2008.  She expects a REASON-CAN opportunity to be in included in the 2006 NASA ROSES call.  Also there is about $120k per year available for 2 years to support foreign ground station transcription costs. 

 

ASF System: Status and Plans

Nettie noted that the receiving station has been separated from the rest of the DAAC, so it can more effectively involved with other activities.  Of particular note is that ASF is generating funding nicely in addition to the DAAC support, but some staff reduction remains.  Next, the ALOS North America data node was discussed.  The ALOS launch window is currently Dec05 through Jan06.  There will be a one month latency in receipt of ALOS data back to ASF for full resolution PALSAR, AVNIR, and PRISM data, with data transferred via cassette media.  Currently PALSAR data are available for direct downlink but at a reduced data rate, which results in reduced image resolution. NASA/ASF are pursuing the option of using TDRSS as a means to obtain full resolution PALSAR in near real time.  In this case, data from the ALOS solid state recorder would be downlinked to White Sands via TDRSS and then sent to ASF via a fiber optic line.  The PALSAR processor will be provided to ASF by JAXA as source code, with data formats being CEOS-related and GeoTiff.  ASF will also be providing calibration sites and analysis to JAXA. 

 

It is not clear yet how NASA will be involved with ALOS.  ASF has submitted proposals to NASA seeking support for NASA science investigations but so far have not been successful.  One scenario is for NASA to support a bulk data buy, to which investigators will submit proposals, similar to the ADRO program.  A letter from the UWG to NASA in support of the use of ALOS data was discussed.  More input and guidance from Craig and likely Martha Maiden also is needed however before pursuing such a letter.  See Action Item 2.

 

Scott Arko described the DAAC operations, which are nominal in terms of processing and distribution. Vicky Wolf described the data migration process from tape to silo, which is now nearly complete.  Of the over 120,000 data takes in the archive,  0.4% data have been lost (degraded or failed media) and about 2.6% fell into the category of ‘unable to process’, which accounts for data that is too short in length to make a frame, some left-looking data, and JERS-1 optical data.  Jeremy Nicoll described efforts to maintain, improve, and incorporate new missions into its existing and now legacy data system, using new technology and upgrading as feasible within reducing levels of sustaining funds.  He referred to this as Generic Acquisition and Processing (GAP) system.  This was actually a really interesting presentation, noting in particular SCRUM, an iterative methodology for developing incremental code.  We note the forwarding thinking, innovative and still practical approach of ASF to evolving this functional but somewhat turgid data system.

 

Don Atwood described the efforts of the Remote Sensing Center including user services, outreach, user tools, data quality and internships.  The ground station at U. Miami/CSTARS has been added as a US station for RADARSAT1 acquisitions, which significantly expands the accessibility for US researchers SAR coverage with no additional transcription fees.  Other highlights include the release of the significantly recast and improved ASF web site in terms of appearance and functionality, the successful SAR/InSAR summer course, the release of a CD called the Ends of the Earth for viewing SAR imagery of Alaska and Antarctica, ongoing efforts of the data quality group to improve calibration and corner reflector designs, and student intern efforts.  Also, Don described new efforts in the SAR tool development, particularly in the use of GeoTiff formats so that SAR imagery can be incorporated into GIS analysis, and the availability of the RADARSAT1 baseline catalog.  He also described plans to incorporate JPL AIRSAR processed data into the ASF catalog, which is now being hosted by the JPL-PODAAC.  This switch which would provide valuable experience for ASF in dealing with and understanding of polarimetric SAR data, such as will soon be available from PALSAR and RADARSAT2, for instance. 

 

UWG presentations

A series of talks were giving by various UWG members to highlight ongoing specific tasks and research.  Ron Kwok provided a summary of the RGPS meeting held in Seattle last March, including the status of a special section on ice kinematics to appear in the Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans. He also showed the use of IceSAT ice freeboard estimates together with RGPS data to identify deformation zones.  Ben Holt described the status of reprocessing of Seasat SAR data, being done by CSTARS and Vexcel.  Nearly all Seasat SAR data have been successfully processed to Level 0 and a subset to Level 1.  A limited amount of data will be provided to investigators to verify data quality and CSTARS/ASF/JPL will develop a plan for completing processing and archiving/distribution that will be presented to NASA.  Bill Pichel described various NIC and NOAA SAR activities including the continued development of SAR wind speed products and results, monitoring the impact of recent hurricanes and oil spills, including the Selendang Ayu off the Aleutians, and GhostNet, the tracking of derelict fishing nets in the N. Pacific.  Katy Farness described the status of the Modified Antarctic Mapping Mission, including the minimization of ionospheric effects through the use of ascending and descending data and the difference in coherence between ascending/descending data in East Antarctica.   Completion of MAMM velocity processing is expected in 2006.  She also described concepts for an AMM3, based on RADARSAT2 data. 

 

Ted Scambos showed the new MODIS mosaic of Antarctica and Greenland and how this new map could be used together with the Antarctic RADARSAT1 mosaic, particularly in comparison of DEMS and to illustrate how the backscatter changes due to differences in accumulation and undulations in the snow grains derived from MODIS.  Frank Monaldo described recent efforts in the SAR wind speed algorithm, including using MM5 for wind speed direction within the coastal regions, the additional locations of the processor at ASF (and CSTARS) which further reduces latency in processing to wind speed, using the wind products within Google Earth, and plans for an L-band (ALOS) SAR wind speed algorithm.  Martin Jeffries showed an interesting study on changes to the Ward-Hunt ice shelf, which is not fed by a glacier, but is adjacent to the Disraeli Fjord, an epishelf freshwater lake which catastrophically drained apparently through cracks in the Ward-Hunt.  Zhong Lu described his INSAR studies over volcanoes throughout Alaska.

 

Discussions

Ralph Foster, Frank, and Bill described the improved but remaining data quality issues present in ScanSAR WideB mode over the ocean.  These include the appearance of grating artifacts, the appearance of seams at adjacent sub-beams, and near range power imbalance.  Katy suggested that ASF continue to diversify and increase its user base.  Bill also mentioned NOAA’s interest in other RADARSAT modes not currently calibrated or routinely processed by ASF including wide and narrow Scansar, the need for full resolution (50m) SWB quick look processing, the potential value of TerraSAR X-band along-track interferometric mode, and the need for ASF to be more proactive for new users.    Zhong suggested increased publicity and showcasing of results, including conference special sessions.  Ted suggested that both the MODIS at NSIDC and AMM Antarctic mosaics at ASF have mirror mapserver links.  Martin noted that ASF would soon be celebrating 15 years of SAR downlinking in August 2006 and should consider a special issue or monograph highlighting results.