Suomi NPP VIIRS 0.64 µm visible channel images

AWIPS images of Suomi NPP VIIRS 0.64 µm visible channel data (above) and 11.45 µm IR channel data (below) showed a close-up view of the clouds associated with a strong storm (surface analysis) that was crossing the Aleutian Islands and entering the Bering Sea on 03 September – 04 September 2012. Banded convective elements can be seen along the western edge of the high cloud deck, which marked the leading edge of the advancing occluded frontal boundary.

At the time of the images, the winds at Shemya Air Force Base (station identifier PASY) were gusting to 57 knots (66 mph), but during the previous hour the peak winds were 61 knots (70 mph).

Suomi NPP VIIRS 11.45 µm IR channel images

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Suomi NPP VIIRS 0.8 µm Day/Night Band image + 11.45 µm IR channel image

A comparison of AWIPS images of Suomi NPP VIIRS 0.8 µm Day/Night Band data with the corresponding 11.45 µm IR channel data (above) revealed a number of bright west-to-east oriented streaks — signatures of the aurora borealis — across northern portions of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba at 08:36 UTC on 03 September 2012. A strong coronal mass ejection from the sun hit the Earth’s magnetic field, creating a geomagnetic storm that produced vivid displays of aurora borealis across high latitudes of North America.

It is also interesting to point out that the pale white signature of thick airborne smoke which had been transported from fires in Idaho can be seen over Manitoba in the southeastern corner of the satellite scene.

Farther to the north, a similar comparison of VIIRS Day/Night Band and IR imagery (below) showed additional bright auroral streaks across southern Yukon and adjacent areas of Alaska and the Northwest Territories.

Suomi NPP VIIRS 0.8 µm Day/Night Band image + 11.45 µm IR channel image

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GOES-14 0.63 µm visible + 3.9 µm shortwave IR images (click image to play animation)

McIDAS images of 0.63 µm visible channel and 3.9 µm shortwave IR channel data (above; click image to play animation) showed a large wildfire that was growing quickly across western Nebraska on 01 September 2012. The GOES-14 satellite was being operated in Super Rapid Scan Operations for GOES-R (SRSOR) mode, providing images at 1-minute intervals.

With the combination of strong southerly winds, low relative humidities, and very dry fuels, the fire grew very quickly — in fact the dark burn scar could be seen advancing northward on the visible channel images. At times the hottest shortwave IR brightness temperatures (denoted by the darker red color enhancement) were at or near the GOES-14 3.9 µm saturation temperature of 338 K.

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GOES-13 0.63 µm visible channel + 3.9 µm shortwave IR channel data (click image to play animation)

McIDAS images of GOES-13 0.63 µm visible channel data during the day and 3.9 µm shortwave IR data at night (above; click image to play animation) revealed a number of very large and dense smoke plumes from wildfires that were burning in parts of the northwestern US (primarily in Idaho) on 28 August – 29 August 2012. The GOES-13 satellite had been placed into Rapid Scan Operations (RSO) mode, providing images as frequently as very 5-10 minutes.

During the following overnight hours, AWIPS images of Suomi NPP VIIRS 0.8 µm Day/Night Band (DNB), 3.74 µm shortwave IR, and 11.45 µm IR data (below) demonstrated the value of the DNB providing a visible channel at night (under ideal conditions of illumination by ample moonlight). While the 11.45 µm IR image verified that there were some patches of meteorological cloud in the region, the majority of the bright features seen on the DNB image were thick airborne smoke.

Suomi NPP VIIRS 0.8 µm Day/night Band, 3.74 µm shortwave IR, and 11.45 µm IR window images

An even closer view using McIDAS-V images of VIIRS 0.8 µm DNB and 4.05 µm shortwave IR data (below; images courtesy of William Straka, CIMSS) highlighted the Mustang Fire Complex smoke plume and “fire hot spots” (black to yellow to red color enhancement) at 08:32 UTC. This fire was particularly hot, producing pyrocumulus clouds even into the night-time hours. The hottest IR brightness temperature  in the red-enhanced region was 546.5 K (or  273.4 C,  524 F).

Suomi NPP 0.8 µm Day/Night Band, 3.73 µm shortwave IR, and 11.45 µm longwave IR images

===== 31 August Update =====

A night-time image comparison of the VIIRS 0.8 µm Day/Night Band and the corresponding 3.74 µm shortwave IR (below) revealed areas of smoke that were trapped in some of the valleys of central Idaho at 09:34 UTC (3:34 AM local time) on 31 August 2012.

Suomi NPP VIIRS 0.8 µm Day/Night Band image + 3.74 µm shortwave IR image

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