RAMMT/CIRA

Satellite Climatologies/Satellite Climatologies/Satellite CompositesSatellite Composites

Dr. Bernadette ConnellDr. Bernadette Connell

CIRA/CSU/RAMMTCIRA/CSU/RAMMT

March 2005March 2005

RAMMT/CIRA

OutlineOutline

IntroductionIntroduction Motivation on the Global ScaleMotivation on the Global Scale Motivation on the Regional ScaleMotivation on the Regional Scale Types of Cloud Composites and ExamplesTypes of Cloud Composites and Examples Concluding remarksConcluding remarks Comments on the LabComments on the Lab

RAMMT/CIRA

IntroductionIntroduction

Satellite Climatologies: a relatively new Satellite Climatologies: a relatively new climatological tool.climatological tool.

First composites developed in the 1960’s. First composites developed in the 1960’s.

Cloud CompositesCloud Composites are the most popular are the most popular

Other Composites include: fire, drought, snow Other Composites include: fire, drought, snow cover, ice cover, and sea surface cover, ice cover, and sea surface temperature.temperature.

RAMMT/CIRA

Motivation on the Global ScaleMotivation on the Global Scale Climate modeling and climate monitoring: Climate modeling and climate monitoring:

* global distribution of clouds* global distribution of clouds* cloud properties * cloud properties * diurnal, seasonal, and interannual variations* diurnal, seasonal, and interannual variations

– International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) (Schiffer 1982, Schiffer and Rossow 1983)(ISCCP) (Schiffer 1982, Schiffer and Rossow 1983)

» Uses imagery from Geostationary and Polar Orbiting Uses imagery from Geostationary and Polar Orbiting satellitessatellites

» Coarse resolution (280 km analysis grid)Coarse resolution (280 km analysis grid)» CIRA: Prof. Tom Vonder Haar, Dr. Garrett CampbellCIRA: Prof. Tom Vonder Haar, Dr. Garrett Campbell

RAMMT/CIRA

What is global distribution of water vapor?What is global distribution of water vapor?– National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Water Vapor Project (NVAP) (Randel et al. 1996)Water Vapor Project (NVAP) (Randel et al. 1996)» Combines information from TOVS, SSMI, and radiosonde Combines information from TOVS, SSMI, and radiosonde

observationsobservations» 8-yr (1988-1995), 18-yr (1988-1995), 1o X 1X 1o spatial resolution spatial resolution» Principal Investigators at CSU/CIRA: Prof. Tom Vonder Principal Investigators at CSU/CIRA: Prof. Tom Vonder

Haar, Dr. Dave Randel and Prof. Graeme Stephens.Haar, Dr. Dave Randel and Prof. Graeme Stephens.

Motivation on the Global ScaleMotivation on the Global Scale

RAMMT/CIRA

Motivation on the Regional ScaleMotivation on the Regional Scale Satellite data Satellite data supplementsupplement surface based surface based

measurements in determining cloud cover measurements in determining cloud cover and cloud frequency.and cloud frequency.

Satellite composites show the diurnal cycle Satellite composites show the diurnal cycle of cloudiness in relation to geographic of cloudiness in relation to geographic features (water/land changes, topography).features (water/land changes, topography).

Precipitation estimates can be made to Precipitation estimates can be made to supplement data sparse regions.supplement data sparse regions.

RAMMT/CIRA

Motivation on the Regional ScaleMotivation on the Regional Scale

The composited information can be used as The composited information can be used as a training product for new forecasters.a training product for new forecasters.

Provides higher resolution information for Provides higher resolution information for climate modeling purposes.climate modeling purposes.

RAMMT/CIRA

Types of Cloud CompositesTypes of Cloud Composites

Visible, WV (6.7 um), IR (10.7 um), Fog product, Visible, WV (6.7 um), IR (10.7 um), Fog product, combined image products.combined image products.

Qualitative: Image averaging, maximum and Qualitative: Image averaging, maximum and minimum composites.minimum composites.

Quantitative: Cloud frequencies by threshold Quantitative: Cloud frequencies by threshold techniquestechniques– Composites on various time scales: Diurnal-Monthly, Composites on various time scales: Diurnal-Monthly,

Monthly, Seasonal, AnnualMonthly, Seasonal, Annual

– Stratification by RegimesStratification by Regimes

GOES-8 Visible average composite for July 1999 1615 UTC

n=30

n=30

GOES-8 Visible composite of maximum brightness count for July 1999 at 1615 UTC

GOES-8 IR4 (10.7 um) composite of coldest pixels for July 1999 at 1615 UTC

n=30

GOES-8 Visible composite of minimum brightness count for July 1999 at 1615 UTC

n=30

RAMMT/CIRA

Types of Cloud CompositesTypes of Cloud Composites

Visible, WV (6.7 um), IR (10.7 um), Fog product, Visible, WV (6.7 um), IR (10.7 um), Fog product, combined image products.combined image products.

Qualitative: Image averaging, maximum and Qualitative: Image averaging, maximum and minimum composites.minimum composites.

Quantitative: Cloud frequencies by threshold Quantitative: Cloud frequencies by threshold techniquestechniques– Composites on various time scales: Diurnal, Monthly, Composites on various time scales: Diurnal, Monthly,

Seasonal, AnnualSeasonal, Annual

– Stratification by RegimesStratification by Regimes

GOES-8 Visible background image (similar to composite of minimum brightness counts) for July 1999 1615 UTC

GOES-8 Visible image for July 5, 1999 at 1615 UTC

Cloud – no cloud image for July 5 1999 at 1615 UTC

GOES-8 Visible cloud frequency for July 1999 at 1615 UTC

n=30

GOES-8 IR4 (10.7 um) image with pixels colder than 283 K shaded blue – for July 5 1999 at 1615 UTC

GOES-8 IR4 (10.7 um) cloud frequency for July 1999 at 1615 UTCTemperature threshold of 283 K.

n=30

RAMMT/CIRA

Types of Cloud CompositesTypes of Cloud Composites

Visible, WV (6.7 um), IR (10.7 um), Fog product, Visible, WV (6.7 um), IR (10.7 um), Fog product, combined image products.combined image products.

Qualitative: Image averaging, maximum and Qualitative: Image averaging, maximum and minimum composites.minimum composites.

Quantitative: Cloud frequencies by threshold Quantitative: Cloud frequencies by threshold techniquestechniques– Composites on various time scales: Diurnal-Monthly, Composites on various time scales: Diurnal-Monthly,

Monthly, Seasonal, Monthly, Seasonal, AnnualAnnual

– Stratification by RegimesStratification by Regimes

RAMMT/CIRA

Types of Cloud CompositesTypes of Cloud Composites

Visible, WV (6.7 um), IR (10.7 um), Fog Visible, WV (6.7 um), IR (10.7 um), Fog product, combined image products.product, combined image products.– Image averaging, maximum and minimum Image averaging, maximum and minimum

compositescomposites..– Cloud frequencies by threshold techniquesCloud frequencies by threshold techniques– Composites on various time scales: Diurnal-Composites on various time scales: Diurnal-

Monthly, Monthly, Seasonal, AnnualMonthly, Monthly, Seasonal, Annual– Stratification by RegimesStratification by Regimes

RAMMT/CIRA

Regime Satellite CompositesRegime Satellite Composites

Mr. Ken Gould, NWS, Tallahassee, Fl. in Mr. Ken Gould, NWS, Tallahassee, Fl. in cooperation with CIRA, has developed cooperation with CIRA, has developed Mesoscale Summer Sea-breeze composites Mesoscale Summer Sea-breeze composites (June, July, August 1996 -present.(June, July, August 1996 -present.

Stratifies regimes by using a mean layer Stratifies regimes by using a mean layer (1000 - 700 mb) vector wind incorporating (1000 - 700 mb) vector wind incorporating onshore/offshore/parallel to shore flow and onshore/offshore/parallel to shore flow and flow strength.flow strength.

RAMMT/CIRA

Regime CompositesRegime Composites Shows preferred areas of convective developmentShows preferred areas of convective development Shows effects of synoptic flow changesShows effects of synoptic flow changes Shows effects of small scale features such as bays, Shows effects of small scale features such as bays,

lakes, and riverslakes, and rivers Gives insight to timing and amount of cloud Gives insight to timing and amount of cloud

developmentdevelopment Can be integrated with other mesoscale Can be integrated with other mesoscale

climatologiesclimatologies

RAMMT/CIRA

Tallahassee Summer Sea-breeze CompositesTallahassee Summer Sea-breeze Composites

RegimeRegime DescriptionDescription

11 Light and variable or light SELight and variable or light SE

22 Light to moderate (3 to 10 kts) E to NELight to moderate (3 to 10 kts) E to NE

33 Strong (> 10 kts) E to NEStrong (> 10 kts) E to NE

44 Light to moderate (3 to 10 kts) W to SWLight to moderate (3 to 10 kts) W to SW

55 Strong (> 10 kts) W to SWStrong (> 10 kts) W to SW

66 Moderate (6 to 10 kts) Se to SModerate (6 to 10 kts) Se to S

77 Strong (> 10 kts) SE to SStrong (> 10 kts) SE to S

88 Light to moderate (3 to 10 kts) N to NWLight to moderate (3 to 10 kts) N to NW

99 Strong (> 10 kts) N to NWStrong (> 10 kts) N to NW

Regime 1

RAMMT/CIRA

Applications of Satellite Climatologies Applications of Satellite Climatologies at the Tallahassee WFOat the Tallahassee WFO

Short-Term Forecast (NOW) Short-Term Forecast (NOW) – Convective initiationConvective initiation– Timing of frontal passageTiming of frontal passage

Zone ForecastZone Forecast– Accurate and detailed POPsAccurate and detailed POPs– Zone groupings by regimeZone groupings by regime– Severe/flood potentialSevere/flood potential

Marine ForecastMarine Forecast– Land breeze convectionLand breeze convection– Sea fog/stratus potential Sea fog/stratus potential

Aviation Forecast Aviation Forecast – TAFS- ceilings and chance/timing of convectionTAFS- ceilings and chance/timing of convection– TWEBS- cloud and convective coverage on routeTWEBS- cloud and convective coverage on route

RAMMT/CIRA

Agriculture and Forest Fire FrequencyAgriculture and Forest Fire Frequency

Drier months in Costa Rica and surrounding Drier months in Costa Rica and surrounding countries: January - Maycountries: January - May

Composites of the experimental fire product Composites of the experimental fire product

RAMMT/CIRA

Future OpportunitiesFuture Opportunities

Continue archival of imagery and the development Continue archival of imagery and the development of both Visible and 10.7 um cloud frequency of both Visible and 10.7 um cloud frequency composites. composites.

Use multi-channel imagery to obtain satellite-Use multi-channel imagery to obtain satellite-based precipitation estimates.based precipitation estimates.

Compare with other available information such as Compare with other available information such as surface precipitation measurements and estimates surface precipitation measurements and estimates from other satellite based measurements.from other satellite based measurements.

RAMMT/CIRA

ReferencesReferencesConnell, B. H., K. J. Gould, and J. F. W. Purdom, 2001: High resolution Connell, B. H., K. J. Gould, and J. F. W. Purdom, 2001: High resolution

GOES-8 visible and infrared cloud frequency composites over GOES-8 visible and infrared cloud frequency composites over northern Florida during the Summers 1996-1999. Wea. Forecasting, northern Florida during the Summers 1996-1999. Wea. Forecasting, 16, 713-724. 16, 713-724.

Connell, B. H., and K. J. Gould, 2000: GOES-8 Visible cloud frequency Connell, B. H., and K. J. Gould, 2000: GOES-8 Visible cloud frequency composites of the convectively active sea breeze under stratified composites of the convectively active sea breeze under stratified synoptic flow over the Florida Panhandle. Tenth Conference on synoptic flow over the Florida Panhandle. Tenth Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography. AMS, Boston, MA.Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography. AMS, Boston, MA.

Gould, K. J, and H. E. Fuelberg, 1996: The use of GOES-8 Imagery and Gould, K. J, and H. E. Fuelberg, 1996: The use of GOES-8 Imagery and RAMSDIS to develop a sea breeze climatology over the Florida RAMSDIS to develop a sea breeze climatology over the Florida Panhandle. Eighth Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Panhandle. Eighth Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography. AMS, Boston, MA.Oceanography. AMS, Boston, MA.

Klitch, M. A., J. F. Weaver, F. P. Kelly, and T. H. Vonder Haar, 1985: Klitch, M. A., J. F. Weaver, F. P. Kelly, and T. H. Vonder Haar, 1985: Convective cloud climatologies constructed from satellite imagery. Convective cloud climatologies constructed from satellite imagery. Mon. Wea. Rev., 113, 326-337Mon. Wea. Rev., 113, 326-337

RAMMT/CIRA

LABLAB

View IR4 threshhold temperature View IR4 threshhold temperature composite loops comparing June, July, composite loops comparing June, July, and August over Central Americaand August over Central America

View Regime climatologies for View Regime climatologies for Tallahassee.Tallahassee.