TOWR-S RPM v21 & Earlier

March 2020: AWIPS TOWR-S RPM Release 

 1 minute read

As of March 10, 2020, the TOWR-S AWIPS RPM (version 18.5) has been released and is available for sites to install. 

This release includes configurations for two new products now available on the Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN, or NOAAPort): the GOES-West (GOES-17) Derived Motion Winds (DMWs) and the polar-satellite based global hydrology products (Total Precipitable Water and Rain Rate).  To begin receiving these products, sites can install the latest TOWR-S RPM. Click here to access the RPM installation instructions, which include local data manager (LDM) setup steps for the SBN products.

TOWR-S RPM Highlights

The March 2020 release features several configurations included in previous versions, such as the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) products, as well as two new product additions.

Highlights include:

1. The GOES-West DMWs, newly activated over the SBN effective March 10, 2020, are now available in the Satellite menu under GOES-East and GOES-West then Derived Products.

GOES-West DMWs are similar to the GOES-East DMWs, and are available for the West CONUS (or “PACUS”) sector based upon the GOES-West Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI).  During periods of heightened GOES-West ABI loop heat pipe heating, fewer wind vectors will appear in the products, as a quality flag will filter out unusable data in AWIPS.

2.. The new NESDIS global blended hydrology (polar sat) products appear in the Satellite menu under Derived Products Imagery in the Global Blended Hydro section, beginning on March 12, 2020.

3. GLM configurations from the previous release, including the Flash Extent Density, Total Optical Energy, and Average Flash Area, are also included in Version 18.5.

4. A new Degrees-Fahrenheit option is added for the GOES-East and GOES-West Clean Window IR Band (Ch 13, 10.35 micron) for every sector in the Satellite menu under Imagery Channels. 

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, including AWIPS 20.2.1 scheduled for release later this year.

Questions?

If you have any issues installing the RPM, or for any other questions or feedback, the best way to contact us is through NWS Chat by joining the “towr-s” group.