Geostationary Meteorological Satellite Data Research Articles

Wave analyses with a semiglobal data set for personal computers derived from the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite data

Wave analyses with a semiglobal data set for personal computers derived from the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite data

Assessment of Aircraft Icing Potential and Maximum Icing Altitude from Geostationary Meteorological Satellite Data

Abstract A satellite product that displays regions of aircraft icing potential, along with corresponding cloud-top heights, has been developed using data from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) imager and sounder. The icing product, referred to as the Icing Enhanced Cloud-top Altitude Product (ICECAP), is created hourly for the continental United States and southern Canada, and is color coded to show cloud-top altitudes in 1.9-km (6000 ft) intervals. Experimental ICECAP images became routinely available on the Internet during the spring of 2004. Verification of separate ICECAP components (imager icing potential and sounder cloud-top heights) using aircraft pilot reports (PIREPs) indicates that the product provides useful guidance on the spatial coverage and maximum altitude of current icing conditions, but not icing intensity, stratification, or minimum altitude. The imager icing potential component of ICECAP was compared with the operational 40-km resolution National Weather Service (NWS) current icing potential and NWS Airman’s Meteorological Advisories via the NOAA Real-Time Verification System, while GOES cloud-top heights were compared with altitudes of moderate or greater icing from PIREPs. Benefits and deficiencies of the GOES icing product are discussed.

Estimation of Land Surface Heat Fluxes over the Tibetan Plateau Using GMS Data

Abstract A Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) originally developed for the NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer was applied to Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS)-5 Visible/Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer data that were supplemented with other meteorological data. GMS-5, which is a geostationary satellite, recorded continuous hourly information. Surface temperatures obtained from the GMS-5 data were entered into SEBS to estimate the hourly regional distribution of the surface heat fluxes over the Tibetan Plateau. The estimated fluxes are verified by using corresponding field observations. The diurnal cycle of estimated fluxes agreed well with the field measurements. For example, the diurnal range of the estimated sensible heat flux decreases from June to August. This reflects the change of dry to wet surface characteristics resulting from frequent precipitation during the summer monsoon. Over the Tibetan Plateau, the diurnal range of the surface temperature is as large as the annual range, so that the resultant sensible heat flux has a large diurnal variation. Thus, the hourly estimation based on the GMS data may contribute to a better understanding of the land surface–atmosphere interaction in this critical area.

A method for classification accuracy evaluation for a precipitation‐oriented classifier

A method of classification accuracy evaluation for a cloud and precipitation classifier applied to geostationary meteorological satellite data is presented. The method has been developed to evaluate the accuracy of a rather precise classification algorithm. The algorithm produces nine classes, four of which involve precipitation. The classes are: (1) clear or insignificant cloud, (2) low thin cloud with no rain, (3) low or middle thin cloud with no rain, (4) low or middle thick cloud with no rain, (5) middle or high cloud with no rain, (6) middle or high cloud with the possibility of rain, (7) middle or high cloud with light–moderate precipitation, (8) middle–high cloud with moderate–heavy precipitation, (9) heavy thunderstorm. The evaluation classifier has been tested for its accuracy (ground truth) using comparison between actual meteorological weather reports and classification results derived from the algorithm applied. For the estimation of classification accuracy, the omission/commission method is applied between the observed and the classification‐produced values. The classifier used has proved to be very reliable for classifying major cloud types and precipitation, tested during the synoptic situation of depression systems approaching the south Balkan Peninsula from the west. In that synoptic situation, different intensities of rainfall as well as heavy thunderstorm were present, and the results are very satisfactory. The method can be used to evaluate classification results produced by algorithms applied to meteorological satellite data, classifying precipitation areas as well as the heaviness of precipitation.

Asian chemical outflow to the Pacific in late spring observed during the PEACE‐B aircraft mission

The Pacific Exploration of Asian Continental Emission phase B (PEACE‐B) aircraft mission was conducted over the western Pacific during April–May 2002. During several flights, large enhancements of CO greater than 200 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) were observed at altitudes between 5 and 10 km. In this paper, we describe vertical transport mechanisms over east Asia that were responsible for these enhancements, using the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) meteorological data and infrared cloud data obtained by the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS)‐5. A case study for the highest CO event shows that it was likely due to vertical transport of pollutants caused by deep cumulus convection along a quasi‐stationary frontal zone, which was formed over central China (around the Yangtze River at 30°N). In the mean meteorological field during the PEACE‐B period, the warm, moist low‐level southerlies converged into the frontal zone, sustaining cross‐frontal temperature and moisture contrasts. Along the frontal zone, the mean vertical motion was distinctively upward, and a subtropical jet aloft was found to transport uplifted air parcels efficiently into the western Pacific. In this study, criteria to identify deep convection are defined using both the ECMWF and GMS data. The results show that convective activity, which was generally high below the subtropical jet, played an important role in producing updrafts over central China. The convective transport resulted mainly from a limited number of episodes, each of which followed the development of a weak cyclonic disturbance. Back trajectories of air parcels sampled at altitudes between 4 and 13 km on board the aircraft during PEACE‐B show that among the air parcels originating from the 800‐hPa level or below, 69% were likely to have undergone convective uplifting. In addition to convection, sloping isentropes often observed along the quasi‐stationary jet axis yielded persistent slow quasi‐adiabatic uplifting of air over the Far East, which was occasionally intensified with a classical warm conveyor belt (WCB) airstream on the passage of migratory cyclonic disturbances. Meteorological conditions during PEACE‐B were thus favorable for the uplifting of boundary layer air influenced by anthropogenic emissions over central China. These results are consistent with the relatively high levels of Halon 1211 (CF2ClBr), a good tracer of Chinese anthropogenic emissions, observed in the air parcels that were likely uplifted in the frontal zone.

A system to distribute satellite incident solar radiation in real-time

Combining direct reception of satellite data, supercomputing and computer networking, we developed a system to distribute satellite products to users in real-time. Geostationary meteorological satellite (GMS) data is received every hour, and high-spatial resolution images of incident solar radiation are produced. The hourly solar radiation is obtained for 0.01° grids, which meets requirements of the agricultural applications in the northern Japan. The estimated daily values are validated by ground measurements, which show a root-mean square (rms) error of about 8–14%. Several products of solar radiation are produced immediately after the hourly GMS data reception and are then transferred to the web server for on-line access from the users. Consequently, the satellite products can be obtained through the World Wide Web within 5 min after the data reception, which can be classified as real-time distribution. The system has been continuously operated since June 1997, and it has proved that the real-time monitoring of the earth surface using satellite products may be possible using systems integrating advanced technologies.

Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information Using Artificial Neural Networks

Abstract A system for Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN) is under development at The University of Arizona. The current core of this system is an adaptive Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model that estimates rainfall rates using infrared satellite imagery and ground-surface information. The model was initially calibrated over the Japanese Islands using remotely sensed infrared data collected by the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS) and ground-based data collected by the Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System (AMeDAS). The model was then validated for both the Japanese Islands (using GMS and AMeDAS data) and the Florida peninsula (using GOES-8 and NEXRAD data). An adaptive procedure is used to recursively update the network parameters when ground-based data are available. This feature dramatically improves the estimation performance in response to the diverse precipitation characteristics of different geographical regio...

A Case Study of May 13th (1996) Tornado over Bangladesh Using GMS Data

The May 13th tornado over northern part of Bangladesh killed about 600 people and damaged about 80 villages. Some several million dollar economic losses are counted for this nation. Besides the unavailability of modern radar information, infrared (IR) data of Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS) is used in this study to observe the formation, movement, and dissipation of cloud during the touchdown of the tornado. On the basis of the meteorological identification, an attempt is made to explain the cause of the intense tornado by using GMS imageries.

熱帯西部太平洋における対流活動の日変化

Diurnal variations of convective activities in the tropical western Pacific are examined by using 3-hourly geostationary meteorological satellite data acquired over a 9-year period (1980-1989). Large diurnal variations of convection exist over continents, large islands and their adjacent sea regions such as the Indochina Peninsula, the Tibetan Plateau, North Australia and the maritime continent regions. Large diurnal variations are also found over the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea. Although the diurnal variation is less pronounced over the open oceanic regions east of 150°E than over the maritime continent regions, moderate amplitudes of diurnal variations are observed over the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ). Features of the diurnal variation vary with the seasons and it is enhanced during seasons in which mean convective activities become strong. Over continents and large islands, the convection attains its maximum intensity in late afternoon to evening, probably due to strong surface heating during daytime. Over sea areas in the vicinity of large islands, the maximum convective activity generally occurs in the morning. It is suggested that the interaction between land-sea circulations and large-scale environmental flows may produce a diurnal cycle in the offshore convection. There exist large amplitudes of diurnal variations over the head of the Bay of Bengal during the Indian summer monsoon season with the maximum amplitude in the afternoon. The diurnal cycle of convection becomes predominant during summer and fall over the South China Sea, with the maximum convective activity near local noontime. The convection over the ITCZ and the SPCZ has a maximum intensity in the morning, in general, but a secondary maximum of convection occurs in the afternoon. The Fourier analysis of the second component (semi-diurnal variation) suggests that there exist semi-diurnal variations of convection over the ITCZ and the SPCZ with maximum peaks around 3-4 LST and 15-16 LST.

The development of a satellite‐based insolation model for the tropical western Pacific Ocean

AbstractConcurrent pyranometer and GMS (Japanese Geostationary Meteorological Satellite) data were collected for the western tropical Pacific during a 21‐month period in 1987 and 1988. Data from 10 pyranometer stations in 1987 were used to build a satellite insolation model. Such processes as surface albedo, narrow band to broad band conversion, and depletion by water vapour and aerosols were taken into account. The model was then tested with an independent pyranometer data set comprising 9 months in 1988.Results show that aerosol depletion is site‐specific, with typical long‐term values ranging from 19·8 per cent of the extraterrestrial value for Kuala Lampur, to 4·8 per cent for Willis Island. Monthly insolation may be mapped over the oceanic regions of the study area assuming that the Willis Island aerosol depletion values apply. The model gave root‐mean‐square (RMS) errors of 14·08 W m−2 when tested against all monthly average pyranometer data for 1988. Corresponding RMS errors are 11·67 W m−2 when only Willis Island data are used. Sources of errors are discussed, as are suggestions for future research.

Applications of the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite Data to the Study of Cool Summer Weather

Using the original infrared digital data of GMS, we obtained the distribution of equivalent black body temperature of the land surface of Tohoku District in the cold summer in 1980 and examined the locality of rice-plant damage caused by cool air mass in that summer.Obtained results are as follows:1. There is a close relationship between the distribution of paddy rice index and the trajectory of cold maritime air mass, what we call “Yamase”, in the northern Tohoku District.2. Inspection of the data derived from the extensive observations without discontinuity make clear the relation between the low temperature area caused by “Yamase” and the damaged area as well as the relation between the trajectory of “Yamase” and orographic features.3. During the prevailing period of “Yamase”, the sensible heat supply from ground surface in daytime is too small to bring about the upward motion in cloud layer, while the increase in horizontal momentum is significant in the cloud layer.4. It is confirmed that the clouds caused by “Yamase” attain the coastal region of the Sea of Japan crossing over the Oou Mountains. The accurate prediction of this phenomenon is likely to be of great importance so as to prevent the cold summer damage.5. In the southern Tohoku District, cloud formation due to Baiu-front activity makes it insufficient to detect the low-level “Yamase” current using the data of the observation from space.6. The data of vertical temperature profile radiometer are needed to analyze “Yamase” advecting in lower layer.7. This is the first time for the area damaged owing to “Yamase” in cold summer to be investigated using the GMS data. Accumulation of the case studies like this will hopefully help us to make out more accurately what the relation between the damaged area and the trajectory of “Yamase” is all about.

Applications of the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite Data to the Study of Cool Summer Weather

Applications of the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite Data to the Study of Cool Summer Weather

Estimating Incident Solar Radiation at the Surface from Geostationary Satellite Data

Abstract Solar radiant energy incident at the earth's surface is a quantity of increasing importance in agricultural monitoring and solar power development. An experiment was undertaken in the summer of 1977 to determine if incoming visible radiation at the surface could be estimated from geostationary meteorological satellite data. The experiment entailed the collection of coincident satellite, conventional meteorological and pyranometer data over the Great Plains of the United States. Regression techniques were used to estimate hourly insolation from the satellite data. Hourly estimates were summed to give daily total insolation. The standard error of the satellite-derived daily insolation when compared against pyranometers was 10% of the mean, an accuracy more than sufficient for most agricultural uses. Problems of producing insolation operationally from both geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites are discussed.