Extension and improvement of the APL/NOAA SAR Wind Retrieval System (ANSWRS)

The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service Acquisition Division (DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/AD) intends to place an award on a sole source basis pursuant to FAR Part 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source to John Hopkins University for continued research in Extension and Improvement of the APL/NOAA SAR Wind Retrieval System (ANSWRS) for the period commencing from time of award through February 28, 2010. Johns Hopkins University is the only source known to NOAA because of their role in rewriting the SAR Wind System which resulted in the APL/NOAA SAR Wind Retrieval System. The work to be accomplished in this contract will (1) support the ANSWRS system throughout the 2009 hurricane season and beyond, (2) provide product and algorithm enhancements to better serve NOAA's customers, and (3) continue the development of the capability to derived accurate winds from the ALOS PALSAR instrument and the new X-band SAR satellites (TerraSAR-X and COSMO-SkyMed). Description of Work There are four tasks involved in the extension and improvement of the APL/NOAA SAR Wind Retrieval System (ANSWRS). Task 1 Implementationa of X-band Winds into ANSWRS Data from the new X-band SAR satellites, COSMO-SkyMed and TerraSAR-X, are just now becoming available. Test and select an existing X-band SAR wind algorithm or develop a new algorithm to calculate winds from X-band SAR data and implement it into ANSWRS along with the capability to input, calibrate, and earth locate SAR data from COSMO-SkyMed and TerraSAR-X. Update the AKDEMO preprocessor to be able to ingest data from these new satellites and produce a standard AKDEMO SIO file. Evaluate the X-band wind performance by comparing them with other wind measurements from in-situ sensors, aircraft measurements, or satellite measurements. If appropriate data is obtained by NOAA, assess algorithm performance for high winds obtained in storms or hurricanes. Update ANSWRS documentation to document X-band changes. Task 2 Enhancement of SAR Wind Directions within ANSWRS Based on findings of an investigation being conducted by JHU/APL during 2008, develop and evaluate a system for improving SAR wind directions using a combination of model and SAR wind-aligned features. Assess and compare accuracy of the resulting winds with winds derived from just using model directions. Improve the ease of input of wind directions from other sources into ANSWRS through use of, for example, standardized formats and drop-in directories. Document the wind direction changes within the ANSWRS documentation. Task 3 Hurricane Studies Participate with NOAA/NESDIS/STAR in researching the use of SAR data to improve measurements of hurricanes, particularly the accuracy of high wind measurements. Task 4 ANSWRS Maintenance Perform occasional maintenance to ANSWRS as required when the system is ported to new computers at NOAA, or if software problems develop with changes in the instrument, satellite data coverage, or changes in operating systems. In addition, implement several improvements to the geophysical model function and the user interface. Specifically: 1. Help maintain the current version of ANSWRS and its documentation at NOAA at CSTARS, at JHU/APL, and at ASF for Radarsat, Envisat, ERS-2, and ALOS SAR data, and for COSMO-SkyMed and TerraSAR-X once they have been included in ANSWRS. Give priority to processing at NOAA. Support the calculation of hurricane winds at CSTARS during hurricane season. 2. Consult and aid NOAA/NESDIS/STAR personnel in wind field validation, particularly for hurricanes, and other high-wind-speed storms. Deliverables 1. Modified ANSWRS system to include COSMO-SkyMed and TerraSAR -X X-band SAR winds. Update ANSWRS documentation to reflect system changes - by September 2009. 2. Evaluate X-band SAR wind performance, including for high winds in storms/hurricanes, if appropriate COSMO-SkyMed or other X-band SAR data are obtained by NOAA - by August 2009. 3. Develop and evaluate a system for improving SAR wind directions using a combination of model and SAR wind-aligned features by January 2010. 4. Modify ANSWRS software to process winds from SAR SIO-formatted data generated by the AKDEMO preprocessor by January 2010. 5. Improve ease of input (e.g. standardize format, drop-in directory, etc.) and document the system for input of wind directions from other sources into ANSWRS - sources such as WRF model, AOML best analysis field, scatterometer winds - by November 2008. 6. Partner with NOAA/NESDIS/STAR in SAR hurricane research in response to the Canadian Hurricane Announcement of Opportunity by June 2009. 7. ANSWRS (including the AKDEMO preprocessor) system maintained at NOAA, CSTARS, JHU/APL, and ASF - ongoing Suggested Staffing The level of effort is part time for a Principal Staff physicist for 16 months. Extensive knowledge is required of the APL/NOAA SAR Wind Retrieval System software, and associated web hosting system for wind products and meteorological analyses. Computer skills necessary to carry out the work are proficiency in Interactive Data Language (IDL), Unix, Linux, and HTML. Knowledge of the theory and practical experience in deriving wind measurements from SAR data are required. Travel Requirements Travel for training and presenting at conferences/workshops in relation to the above tasks may be required. This procurement is being conducted per FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures (NTE $100k) NAICS code 541712. This is not a request for a competitive proposal. It is a notice of intent to award a contract on a sole source basis for continued research. All information in relation to this notice must be submitted electronically to Yolanda Jordan at Yolanda.jordan@noaa.gov by 3:00pm on Friday September 5, 2008.