GOES-17 IFR Probability Fields are now available via LDM Feed
GOES-17 IFR Probability Fields and Night Fog Brightness Temperature Difference (10.3 µm – 3.9 µm) fields, 1311 UTC on 3 March 2020 (Click to enlarge)
When GOES-15 stopped sending data, IFR Probability fields based on GOES-15 ceased being sent over LDM to users. CIMSS is now sending GOES-17 IFR Probability fields (shown in a toggle above with the Night Fog Brightness Temperature Difference field) via the EXP LDM feed from CIMSS. Particular strengths of IFR Probability fields include giving a useful low cloud signal below high clouds (as over the western Olympic Peninsula in Washington) and differentiating between elevated stratus and fog, as in the northern Willamette Valley in Oregon.
Note that the Brightness Temperature Difference field shows artifacts related to GOES-17’s poorly-functioning Loop Heat Pipe. Those artifacts are rapidly diminish day-to-day in early March as GOES-17 enters eclipse season. Blog posts that discuss GOES-17 IFR Probability are available <a href=”https://fusedfog.ssec.wisc.edu/?cat=36″>here</a>.