Suomi NPP VIIRS imagery in AWIPS II
Suomi NPP VIIRS 0.64 µm visible channel images
AWIPS II images of Suomi NPP VIIRS 0.64 µm visible channel images (above) showed a very detailed view of “transverse banding” cloud features across parts of northwestern Canada (primarily in northeastern British Columbia) on 23 January 2012. This transverse banding — with the cloud features oriented perpendicular to the flow — is a satellite signature that indicates an increased potential for turbulence. Suomi NPP VIIRS imagery is now being broadcast at full 375-meter resolution over the new “POLARSAT” NOAAPORT channel (currently only available for the Alaska Region), for display in the next generation of AWIPS (AWIPS II).
The corresponding Suomi NPP VIIRS 11.45 µm IR channel images are shown below. Cloud top IR brightness temperatures were colder than -60º C (dark red color enhancement) in many of the bands.
Suomi NPP VIIRS 11.45 µm IR channel images
A comparison of the the VIIRS visible and IR images at 19:05 UTC (11:05 AM local time) are shown below.
Suomi NPP VIIRS 0.64 µm visible channel and 11.45 µm IR channel images