MODIS true color RGB images from 24, 27, 28, 29, and 30 March 2011

A series of MODIS true color Red/Green/Blue (RGB) images from 24 March, 27 March, 28 March, 29 March, and 30 March (above) showed that most of the northern 2/3 of Wisconsin had significant snow cover during this period (much of it due to the late winter storm of 22-23 March) — the  maximum snow depths across the state ranged from 24 inches on 24 March to 18 inches on 30 March.  Also note that there were also a few small brown-colored areas in far northwestern Wisconsin with no snow on the ground at this time.

This combination of deep snow late-season cover along with cloud-free skies due to persistent high pressure over the region allowed northern Wisconsin to record the coldest overnight low temperatures in Lower 48 states for 8 consecutive days at the end of March 2011:

• 24 March: -8ºF at Hayward
• 25 March: -12ºF at Tomahawk
• 26 March: -13ºF at Tomahawk
• 27 March: -12ºF at Tomahawk
• 28 March: -13º F at Tomahawk
• 29 March: -7ºF at Tomahawk
• 30 March: +1ºF at Tomahawk
• 31 March: +7ºF at Antigo

A comparison of AWIPS images of the MODIS 0.65 µm visible channel and the corresponding MODIS Land Surface temperature (LST) product (below) showed the effect that the deep snow cover was having across Wisconsin and Lower Michigan on 29 March. MODIS LST values ranged from the upper 20s to middle 30s F (green color enhancement) over the snow covered areas to the upper 60s to low 70s F (darker orange color enhancement) just to the south

MODIS visible image + MODIS Land Surface Temperature product (29 March)

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GOES-13 6.5 µm water vapor images (click image to play animation)

McIDAS images of 4-km resolution GOES-13 6.5 µm water vapor channel data (above; click image to play animation) showed a well-defined warm/dry “arc” feature (denoted by the brighter yellow color enhancement) just upwind of a large Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) that was moving eastward along the northern Gulf of Mexico and the adjacent Gulf Coast states on 30 March 2011. The MCS eventually produced a number of reports of damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes across northern Florida. Also note that a subtle signature of what appeared to be gravity waves could be seen within portions of this warm/dry arc feature (especially in the southern portion, over the Gulf of Mexico).

AWIPS images of 1-km resolution MODIS 6.7 µm water vapor channel data (below) offered a more detailed view of the packet of gravity waves that was associated with the southern portion of the dry arc feature. This warm/dry arc seen on the water vapor imagery could have been a signature of a region of strong compensating subsidence along the rear edge of the intense deep convection.

MODIS 6.7 µm water vapor images

A number of pilot reports of moderate turbulence were co-located within this warm/dry arc feature seen on the water vapor imagery (below; click image to play animation), especially around 14 UTC, 16 UTC, and 17 UTC. There was also a report of severe turbulence along the northern portion of the arc feature as it moved over far southern Alabama at 17:35 UTC. This supports the idea that the warm/dry arc was likely a signature of strong subsidence in the wake of the MCS.

GOES-13 6.5 µm water vapor images + pilot reports of turbulence (click to play animation)

Note that a small patch of clouds developed along the southern portion of the warm/dry arc which contained the gravity waves over the Gulf of Mexico after about 18 UTC — additional information about this cloud patch could offer some clues as to the approximate altitude of the gravity waves. The POES AVHRR Cloud Type product (below) indicated that the cloud patch associated with the gravity wave was a cirrus feature (orange color enhancement).

POES AVHRR Cloud Type product

The corresponding POES AVHRR Cloud Top Height product (below) suggested that the tops of that cloud patch were generally in the 12-13 km range (darker green color enhancement). POES AVHRR cloud top temperatures were in the -55 to -65º C range with this feature.

POES AVHRR Cloud Top Height product

All of the above satellite evidence suggests that the gravity waves seen on the water vapor imagery were not surface-based, but were located at a higher altitude within the middle troposphere. In fact, the GOES-13 water vapor weighting functions calculated using rawinsonde data from Lake Charles, Louisiana (upstream of the MCS) and Tampa, Florida (downstream of the MCS) both peaked around 450 hPa (below), which tells us that the thermal energy being sampled by the water vapor channel in non-cloudy air was originating from within a high-altitude layer.

Lake Charles, Louisiana water vapor weighting function plot

Tampa, Florida water vapor weigting function plot

CIMSS participation in GOES-R Proving Ground activities includes making a variety of  MODIS and POES AVHRR images and products available for National Weather Service offices to add to their local AWIPS workstations.

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GOES-13 10.7 µm IR images (click image to play animation)

AWIPS images of GOES-13 10.7 µm IR data (above; click image to play animation) showed the development of two strong Mesoscale Convective Systems over the Gulf of Mexico on 28 March 2011. These storms prompted  the Storm Prediction Center to issue Severe Thunderstorm Watch #70 and #71 for the threat of  strong winds and large hail — however, no reports of severe weather were received from these particular storms.

The MODIS Sea Surface Temperature (SST) product from the previous day (below) revealed that the northern edge of the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current (warmer SST values in the upper 70s to around 80º F, red color enhancement) was located near the areas of development of these two Mesoscale Convective Systems — raising the question as to the role that this warmer water may have played in their initiation. In addition, an overlay of the High Resolution Real-Time Global Sea Surface Temperature (RTG_SST_HR) model SST failed to capture the warmer tongue of SSTs located to the east of the main core of the Loop Current.  MODIS SST values were 2-3 degrees F warmer than the model SST values in the eastern warm tongue feature — and 3-4 degrees F cooler within the main core of the Loop Current.

MODIS SST product + RGT_SST_HR model SST analysis

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MODIS SST product + MODIS 11.0 µm IR images

A comparison of the MODIS SST product with MODIS 11.0 µm IR images of the first MCS (above) along with a similar comparison of the MODIS SST with a combination of MODIS 11.0 µm IR and POES AVHRR 10.8 µm IR images (below) showed the development of each MCS in the general proximity of the areas of warmer SST values associated with the Loop Current.

MODIS SST + MODIS 11.0 µm IR + POES AVHRR 10.8 µm IR images

A comparison of a 4-km resolution GOES-13 10.7 µm image with the corresponding 1-km resolution POES AVHRR image (below) demonstrated the value of higher spatial resolution for locating the colder cloud top IR brightness temperatures associated with overshooting tops of intense deep convection. The coldest IR temperature on the GOES-13 image was -71º C, compared to -80º C on the POES AVHRR image.

GOES 10.7 µm IR image + POES AVHRR 10.8 µm IR image

CIMSS participation in GOES-R Proving Ground activities includes making a variety of  MODIS and POES AVHRR images and products available for National Weather Service offices to add to their local AWIPS workstations.

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GOES-13 3.9 µm shortwave IR images (click image to play animation)

AWIPS images of 4-km resolution GOES-13 3.9 µm shortwave IR data (above; click image to play animation) displayed a number of “hot spots” (black to red to yellow  color enhancement) associated with fires that were burning across much of eastern Oklahoma on 23 March 2011. The GOES-13 satellite had been placed into Rapid Scan Operations (RSO) mode to monitor severe convection in the eastern US, providing images as frequently as every 5-10 minutes.

The corresponding 1-km resolution GOES-13 6.3 µm visible channel images (below; click image to play animation) showed the development of a few long southeastward-drifting smoke plumes emanating from some of the larger fires.

GOES-13 0.63 µm visible images (click image to play animation)

A comparison of the 4-km resolution GOES-13 3.9 µm shortwave IR image with the corresponding 1-km resolution POES AVHRR 3.7 µm shortwave IR image (below) demonstrates the advantage of higher spatial resolution for determining the exact location of the hottest fire pixels, as well as for the detection of many of the smaller fires.

GOES-13 3.9 µm shortwave IR image + POES AVHRR 3.7 µm shortwave IR image

These samples of images at both higher temporal resolution and at higher spatial resolution offer a glimpse of the types of improvements that will be available with the ABI instrument on the future GOES-R satellite. CIMSS participation in GOES-R Proving Ground activities includes making a variety of POES AVHRR images and products available for National Weather Service offices to add to their local AWIPS workstations.

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