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Low level water vapor fields from the VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) 'split window' channelsThe use of the 11 and 12-micron IR-radiometer channels of the VISSR Atmosphere Sounder (VAS) on the GOES to detect water vapor in the lowest 300-400 mb of the troposphere is reported. An algorithm is developed to eliminate the background temperature, allowing the calculation of precipitable water (PW) over both land and water via a single-layer radiative model. This 'split-window' method is demonstrated in a case study, covering the US on July 13, 1981. PW values were calculated from five VAS images and compared with those from radiosonde data and surface measurements. It is shown that the VAS PW images have good resolution (15 km), reveal vivid, continuously evolving details, and differentiate deep, convection-supporting layers from shallow ones. PW ranged from 1.7 to 5.5 g/sq cm (+ or - 1.0 g/sq cm), in good agreement with other measurements. Since this method can detect mesoscale water-vapor fields in relatively clear air, it is considered of great potential value for numerical forecasting.
Document ID
19830057516
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Robinson, W. D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt; Computer Sciences Corp., Silver Spring, MD, United States)
Chesters, D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Uccellini, L. W.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1983
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Meeting Information
Meeting: Conference on Aerospace and Aeronautical Meteorology
Location: Omaha, NE
Start Date: June 6, 1983
End Date: June 9, 1983
Accession Number
83A38734
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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