Satellite Cloud and Precipitation Analysis Using a Minicomputer.

A satellite-derived cloud and precipitation analysis program has been developed for an interactive mini-computer system. The program utilizes geostationary infrared and visual data with operational upper air and surface temperature analyses to specify cloud-type, cloud amount, cloud-top temperature,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wash,Carlyle H, Spray,Laura A, Chou,Lang C
Other Authors: NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1985
Subjects:
SKY
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA163821
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA163821
Description
Summary:A satellite-derived cloud and precipitation analysis program has been developed for an interactive mini-computer system. The program utilizes geostationary infrared and visual data with operational upper air and surface temperature analyses to specify cloud-type, cloud amount, cloud-top temperature, cloud-top height and estimated precipitation intensity. Five cases of GOES-East data ( 2 x 2 n mi visual and 2 x 4 n mi infrared) for an approximately 1600 x 1600 n mi area over the eastern United States and western North Atlantic Ocean are used in evaluating the model's performance. Each satellite-derived, cloud and precipitation analysis is evaluated subjectively, using conventional synoptic data, radar measurements and manual nephanalysis for verification, and objectively, using surface synoptic observations for verification. Successful estimates of cloud amount for overcast and clear skies were obtained; howeverm broken and scattered conditions were underestimated. The majority of stratiform cloud tupes and multi-layered clouds were analyzed correctly by the model. Classification errors occurred with cumuliform clouds and thin cirrus. Reasonable precipitation intensity and cloud-top temperature/height analyses were produced by the NPS model. Keywords: GOES(Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite).