RAMSDIS Contributions to NOAA Satellite Data Utilization

The Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology (RAMM) Advanced Meteorological Satellite Demonstration and Interpretation System (RAMSDIS) was developed as part of an effort to get high quality digital satellite data to field forecasters prior to the deployment of the satellite component of the National Weather Service (NWS) Modernization Program. RAMSDIS was created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service RAMM Team. RAMSDIS has made significant contributions to NOAA’s satellite training and technology transfer program. The project has had a major impact on the utilization of digital satellite data, both nationally and internationally, providing the sole source for high-resolution digital satellite data at some NWS Forecast Offices (FOs) since 1993. In addition to its use in the FO, RAMSDIS has also provided data distribution and research capabilities on a common platform to several NOAA laboratories, allowing for more efficient collaboration on digital satellite data applications and analysis tools, and has been used by the World Meteorological Organization in an effort to provide digital satellite data to developing countries in Central America and the Caribbean. The RAMSDIS project was innovative for many reasons. This article describes the unique approaches that made the project a success and details RAMSDIS utilization within the NWS and NOAA. The next phase of RAMSDIS implementation in the international meteorological community is also described.