NOAA-NESDIS
Regional And Mesoscale Meteorology Team
Daily Satellite Discussion
Friday October 24,1997
Figure1. GOES-8 IR Image 1415 UTC
click to enlarge
Figure 2. GOES-8 Visible Image 1415 UTC
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Today's images focus on the use of multiple channels when interpreting a weather system. Figure 1 is a GOES-8 10.7 micron (IR) image valid at 1415 UTC. Figure 2 is a 0.7 micron (visible) image displayed at the same resolution and at the same time as the IR image. The convective system in north-western Kansas is identifiable in the IR imagery (i.e., enhanced cold tops), but in the visible image it is difficult to tell that the cloud shield in Kansas has a different character than that in Nebraska. The IR image, however, does not tell the whole story. We need the visible image to identify the developing cumuli along the edges of the convective storm in Kansas. These developing cells are not apparent in the IR image. In addition, the visible image enhances the low-level stratiform clouds in Oklahoma which are not easily seen in the enhanced IR image. The cumuli and the stratiform clouds are not seen in the IR image because they have a similar temperature to that of the surrounding clear ground.

Thus, interpreting satellite imagery would be difficult without using multiple channels.

Eric Hilgendorf

We welcome your comments and discussion at ramsdis@comet.ucar.edu

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