AWIPS TOWR-S Satellite Configurations RPM Version 22 is Now Available

February 8, 2022

TOWR-S RPM Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What's new and where can I find more information?
A: AWIPS TOWR-S RPM version 22 is available as of February 8, 2022, for sites to install.  This version continues to enable the GOES Geostationary Lightning Mapper, GOES Mesoscale Sector (1-min) Fire/Hotspot Detection, the CIMSS GOES Turbulence Probability,  and S-NPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS Active Fires products.   It also ensures continuity in the blended polar TPW and Rain Rate products as well as the GOES temperature and moisture soundings on the Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN), which will undergo some upstream file and metadata changes in March.  There are also some new menu combinations and features added to this update. Read below for more, and details are also in this presentation link.

Q. Where are the installation instructions?
A: Here is a link to the instructions.

Q. I haven't updated the TOWR-S RPM in a long time. What if we skipped a release or two?
A:  It's no problem--installing the latest RPM is the way to go. The TOWR-S RPM releases are stand-alone, cumulative, and independent of any previous version. It is important to remove any previously installed version before installing the latest.  See the install instructions.

Q. What happens if we skip this update and stay with Version 21 from May/June of last year?
A:  By updating,  it will clean up from your site-level a few dozen configurations which have been baselined since the last update and are no longer needed at the site level. More importantly, it ensures that processing is handled correctly for two operational datasets that are flowing on the SBN. Both will be undergoing some changes upstream during the next two months that require minor configuration updates. A metadata change in the blended TPW and Rain Rate products requires a configuration file change to ensure the product processes correctly.  In addition, v22 readies a new, reduced-level version of the GOES moisture and temperature profiles to replace the current versions flowing over the SBN.  Bulletins and announcements will precede these data flow changes.   

Q. Does this update include the new GOES CIRA Geocolor?  I'm familiar with the CIRA Geocolor that has been available through the DAM. Is this this same thing?
A:  Yes and No.  This update maintains AWIPS edex ingest and menu configurations introduced in v21 (in "RGB Composites"), but the data flow is still in-work. We apologize for the delay.  TOWR-S is working with OPG and a number of test sites on a tiled Geocolor to replace the current Geocolor that flows via the Data Add-ons Manager (DAM), relieving data flow pressure on the regional LDM.  The same CIRA Geocolor algorithm will be provided, and will be extended to GOES-16 and GOES-17 at Full Disk, Conus, Meso, Alaska and Puerto Rico sectors. The Full disk will be at 6km nadir resolution, and all other scenes will be 0.5 km resolution.  The CIRA Geocolor via the DAM has been provided at 1-km resolution for the CONUS and PACUS sectors.  For the new edition, a number of evaluation sites are receiving the data and have assisted with preparing for this update, which will be preceded by an ATAN notice. Unfortunately, this is still in the test and staffing process, and the expected availability to all sites is April 2022. 

Q. What are some of the new Menu items and display features in TOWR-S RPM v22?
A:   Here is a run-down of several new items.  1) GOES Imagery and Channel Difference display legends now include the Sector (e.g. WCONUS).  2) There is a new set of thematic GOES RGB menus that have derived products included for cursor read-out (turn sampling on).  Check these out under the Satellite -> Local Menu Items. 3) Adds the GOES Cloud Type RGB for improving thin cirrus detection. 4)  Updated colormap for the CIMSS Turbulence product. 5)  New GOES Land Surface Temperature Product display range. 6) Gridded NUCAPS TPW units are updated to inches by default. The 2-m Temperature is also set to degrees Fahrenheit by default (was degC), and the Haines Index is provided for three layers (previously was a single layer).  7) A 25-33 Knot wind category is added for the ASCAT winds.  8) A Rocket Plume RGB for Day and Night is added to Satellite -> Local Menu Items.   For more details, Here is a link to presentation slides from the Feb 3rd 2022 Satellite Book Club.  A link to the session recording in Vlab is here.  A Youtube link to the presentation is here.

Q. I installed the latest TOWR-S RPM but am not seeing some of the advertised data (e.g. no Geocolor RGB or GCOM polar products).
A:  Geocolor is still undergoing testing in preparation and will not be available to sites until April 2022. GCOM AMSR2 Ocean and Microwave Imagery, as well as a number of NOAA-20 MiRS ATMS derived products which have been carried in the satellite sub-menus beginning in v20. Data flow for these polar products will be available via Data Delivery subscriptions.  Log in to the NWS CLC website here and search for "Data Delivery Focal Point" for more general information on setting up subscriptions. 

Q. How many TOWR-S RPMs should be installed?
A:  Just one. There is only one TOWR-S RPM file to install, and currently it is version 22.  It should replace any previous TOWR-S RPM after the old one is first removed.  Version 22 has been staged by the NCF.  See dx1: /data/fxa/INSTALL/towr-rpm/awips2-towrs-satVer22-20.2.3-22.noarch.rpm.  The 20.2.3 in the name refers to the earliest version of the baseline to which it will install.  The 22 in the name refers to the version number.

Q. Our site's AWIPS baseline is still on 20.2.3 but will be going to 20.3 in the near future. Should we wait to install? Will we have to re-install the TOWR-S RPM v22 when the site upgrades?
A:  You shouldn't have to re-install.  The RPM is compatible with both baselines.  The site configurations should remain in the site-localized directories. 

Q. There are Legacy GOES-15 menu items under Satellite.  Are these going to populate with data?
​​​​​​​A:  ​​​​​​​Although GOES-15 has been de-activated, NESDIS plans to activate the imagery temporarily when GOES-17 (GOES-West) Infrared bands become degraded by seasonal loop heat pipe effects.  Therefore, the menus and configurations remain in AWIPS. The GOES-15 imagery will populate in the AWIPS menus during these times, and activation time(s) will be announced in advance.

For the sake of continuity, each office is highly encouraged to install the new TOWR-S RPM. Eventually, these improvements will be in AWIPS baseline releases. 

Questions?

If you have any issues installing the RPM, or for any other questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact Lee Byerle (lee.byerle@noaa.gov), or John Evans (john.d.evans@noaa.gov), or you can reach us through the NWS Chat by joining the “towr-s” group.