{"id":38199,"date":"2020-09-05T23:59:42","date_gmt":"2020-09-05T23:59:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/?p=38199"},"modified":"2020-10-01T20:42:27","modified_gmt":"2020-10-01T20:42:27","slug":"pyrocumulonimbus-cloud-spawned-by-the-creek-fire-in-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/archives\/38199","title":{"rendered":"Pyrocumulonimbus cloud spawned by the Creek Fire in California"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GOES-17<\/a>

GOES-17 \u201cRed\u201d Visible (0.64 \u00b5m, top left),<\/em> Shortwave Infrared (3.9 \u00b5m, top right),<\/em> Fire Temperature RGB + GLM Flash Extent Density (bottom left)<\/em> and “Clean” Infrared Window (10.35 \u00b5m, bottom right)<\/em> [click to play animation | MP4<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/div>1-minute\u00a0Mesoscale Domain Sector<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0GOES-17\u00a0(GOES-West) <\/em>\u201cRed\u201d Visible (0.64 \u00b5m<\/strong><\/a>), GOES-17 Shortwave Infrared (3.9 \u00b5m<\/strong><\/a>), Fire Temperature<\/strong><\/a> Red-Green-Blue (RGB) + GLM<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Flash Extent Density<\/strong><\/a> (FED) and \u201cClean\u201d Infrared Window (10.35 \u00b5m<\/strong><\/a>) images (above) <\/strong><\/em>showed the formation of a pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) cloud created by the Creek Fire<\/strong><\/a> in Central California on 05 September 2020<\/strong><\/a>. The appearance of a few brief GLM FED pixels (2026 UTC<\/strong><\/a> | 2117 UTC<\/strong><\/a>) indicated that this pyroCb cloud was producing lightning; the coldest cloud-top infrared brightness temperatures were -56.3\u00baC. The pyroCb developed after the Creek Fire made an explosive run to the north — and the pyroCb also spawned 3 “fire tornadoes”, two of which were rated EF2 and EF1 (SPC Storm Reports<\/strong><\/a> |\u00a0Wildfire Today<\/strong><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

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A comparison of time-matched Infrared Window images of the <\/span>Creek Fire<\/span> pyrocumulonimbus<\/span> cloud from <\/span>Suomi NPP (SNPP)<\/span> and <\/span>GOES-17<\/span> (below)<\/strong> <\/em>highlighted differences in spatial resolution — 375-m with SNPP, vs 2-km (at satellite sub-point) with GOES-17 — and parallax displacement<\/strong><\/a> inherent with GOES-17 imagery at that location (17 km for a 15.2-km tall cloud top<\/strong><\/a>). The c<\/span>oldest cloud-top infrared brightness temperatures were -71.0\u00baC with SNPP, vs -55.5\u00baC with GOES-17. Identical color enhancements were applied to both images.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Infrared<\/a>

Infrared Window images from Suomi NPP (11.45 \u00b5m)<\/em> and GOES-17 (10.35 \u00b5m)<\/em> [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>Several hours later, a nighttime comparison of <\/span>Suomi NPP<\/span> VIIRS<\/span> Day\/Night Band (0.7 \u00b5m), Shortwave Infrared (3.74 \u00b5m) and Infrared Window (11.45 \u00b5m) images of the <\/span>Creek Fire<\/span> at 0935 UTC or 2:35 am PDT (below)<\/strong> <\/em>showed the bright glow of the large fire, with several small but very hot fires continuing to burn along its periphery — and a few pyrocumulus clouds were developing along the western\/southwestern edge. Along the northeastern edge of the fire signature, outlined in blue, is the Mammoth Pool Reservoir — where over 200 people needed to be airlifted from a campground after the only exit road was cut off by the fast-moving fire (media report<\/strong><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Suomi<\/a>

Suomi NPP VIIRS Day\/Night Band (0.7 \u00b5m),<\/em> Shortwave Infrared (3.74 \u00b5m)<\/em> and Infrared Window (11.45 \u00b5m)<\/em> images [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>

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Scientists believe the pyrocumulonimbus that took shape over the Creek Fire could be the biggest ever produced above U.S. soil.<\/p>\n

?: @SweetBrown_Shug<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/PoqFVkKYSy<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/CmMDxh6yU6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) September 10, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n