![\"GOES-16](\"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/10\/171029_goes16_visible_cirrus_infrared_Gulf_of_Mexico_anim.gif\")
<\/a>GOES-16 Visible (0.64 \u00b5m, top), Cirrus (1.37 \u00b5m, middle) and Infrared Window (10.3 \u00b5m, bottom) images [click to play animation]<\/p><\/div>* GOES-16 data posted on this page are preliminary, non-operational and are undergoing testing *<\/em><\/p>\n The ABI<\/strong><\/a> “Cirrus” (1.37 \u00b5m<\/strong><\/a>) band is centered in a strong water vapor absorption<\/em> spectral region — therefore it does not routinely sense the lower troposphere, where there is usually substantial amounts of water vapor. Hence, its main application is the detection of higher-altitude cirrus cloud features.<\/p>\n However, in areas of the atmosphere characterized by low amounts of total precipitable water, the Cirrus band can sense clouds (and other features, such as blowing dust<\/strong><\/a>) in the lower troposphere. Such was the case on 29 October 2017<\/strong><\/a>, when a ribbon of dry air resided over the northern Gulf of Mexico in the wake of a strong cold frontal passage; low-level stratocumulus clouds were very apparent on GOES-16 Cirrus band images (above)<\/strong><\/em>. Also of note: cloud features associated with Tropical Storm Philippe could be seen east of Florida.<\/p>\n The three GOES-16 Water Vapor bands (Upper-level 6.2 \u00b5m<\/strong><\/a>, Mid-level 6.9 \u00b5m<\/strong><\/a> and Lower-level 7.3 \u00b5m<\/strong><\/a>) highlighted the pocket of dry air that was moving across the northern Gulf of Mexico on that day (below)<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n GOES-16 Upper-level Water Vapor (6.2 \u00b5m, top), Mid-level Water Vapor (6.9 \u00b5m, middle) and Lower-level Water Vapor (7.3 \u00b5m, bottom) images [click to play animation]<\/p><\/div>The MODIS instrument on Terra and Aqua has a 1.37 \u00b5m Cirrus band as well; 1619 UTC Terra images (below)<\/strong><\/em> also revealed the stratocumulus clouds (especially those over the northeastern Gulf, where the driest air resided). Conversely, note how the low cloud features of Philippe were not seen on the Cirrus image, since abundant moisture within the tropical air mass east of Florida attenuated 1.37 \u00b5m wavelength radiation originating from the lower atmosphere.<\/p>\n In addition, the VIIRS instrument — on Suomi NPP, and the upcoming JPSS<\/strong><\/a> series — has a 1.37 \u00b5m Cirrus band.<\/p>\n Terra MODIS visible (0.65 \u00b5m), Cirrus (1.375 \u00b5m) and Infrared Window (11.0 \u00b5m) images [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>Hourly images of the MIMIC Total Precipitable Water<\/strong><\/a> product (below)<\/strong> <\/em>showed the ribbon of very dry air (TPW values less than 10 mm or 0.4 inch)<\/em> sinking southward over the northern Gulf of Mexico. This TPW product uses microwave data from POES, Metop and Suomi NPP satellites (description<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>