Combining GOES-16 and Surface Ceilometer Data to Improve Cloud Ceiling Estimates over the U.S.

To better address the low ceiling hazard to aviation, a hybrid approach is taken that utilizes satellite data to extend cloud ceiling information contained in surface station observations to much wider areas. Real-time correlative information between satellite cloud base and cloud ceiling information at surface stations are developed based on cloud type. The direct comparison of GOES-16 cloud base with surface station ceiling allows for a bias correction of the initial GOES-16 cloud base field to be applied for each identified cloud type. For any areas where certain cloud types are present in satellite retrievals but not at surface stations, low-level NWP model RH can be used in place of ceilometer data to bias correct GOES-16. Distanceweighted interpolation methods are applied to the ceilometer data and for combining ceilometer cloud ceiling with GOES-16; the cloud base from just GOES-16 is used far away from surface stations in data sparse regions such as offshore. The cloud ceilings in the hybrid interpolated product are restricted to be above the terrain height.