Satellite contributions to convective scale weather analysis and forecastingSevere weather phenomena which are amenable to remote sensing by satellite instruments and having resolution fine enough to discern mesoscale features are described. GOES satellites acquire imagery with 1 km resolution in the visible band and 8 km at IR wavelengths. Animation of the images allows tracking the evolution and motions of clouds, which are the prime indicators of convective activity. Sample satellite imagery of sea, lake and river breezes which reveal differential heating processes, the effect of early morning cloud cover, thunderstorm outflow processes, and mesoscale convective systems are provided. Techniques for analyzing the satellite data to predict the onset of severe weather are discussed.
Document ID
19870040608
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Purdom, James F. W. (NOAA, Satellite Applications Laboratory; Colorado State University Fort Collins, United States)