Moisture Plume in Layers

Moisture plumes from the tropical Pacific can extend into the mid-latitudes, and the CIRA Layer Precipitable Water (LPW) product based on microwave (AMSU, MHS) and infrared (AIRS) sounding instruments from NASA and NOAA polar-orbiting satelliltes provides information on the amount of moisture in each layer.  Traditional total precipitable water (TPW) data only give part of the picture and Water Vapor (WV) imagery only captures the upper tropospheric moisture.  Note here how the GOES WV imagery from the NASA GHCC site agrees well with the values of 2-4 mm in the 500-300 mb layer between Hawaii and the west CONUS.

500-300 mb Layer Precipitable Water by CIRA, 13 March 2013, 2100Z

GOES Water Vapor imagery from NASA GHCC site, 13 March 2013, 2130Z

In the images below, the surface to 850 mb layer shows a wide plume of 0.5 to 0.75 inches of PW extending from Hawaii to Washington and Oregon. Moving upwards, the 850 to 700 mb layer continues to show a wide swath of moisture (~0.25 to 0.5 inches) in this same area, with a sharp gradient to the east.  Lastly, the 700 to 500 mb layer shows a more narrow moisture swath, but still with values ranging from ~0.25 to 0.33 inches, and extending into the northwest CONUS. The observations of vertical distribution of moisture in data void regions can be compared to NWP models as well as applied to estimating the available moisture at low levels for potential precipitation and flooding events.

Surface to 850 mb Layer Precipitable Water by CIRA, 13 March 2013, 2100Z

850 to 700 mb Layer Precipitable Water by CIRA, 13 March 2013, 2100Z

700 to 500 mb Layer Precipitable Water by CIRA, 13 March 2013, 2100Z

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SPoRT Tiled Mapping Service Allows Decision Makers and the Public Unique Views of Super Typhoon Bopha

SPoRT’s Disaster Response Team sprung into action this morning to produce imagery in response to Super Typhoon Bopha as it approaches The Philippines and the Southeast Asia mainland.  To better serve SPoRT’s partners, end-users, and the general public, this imagery has been integrated into SPoRT’s new Tiled Mapping Service (TMS).  The TMS allows users the capability to view the highest resolution data using only their web browser.  This service is also helpful for disaster response teams that are working in the field as browsers on tablets or smartphones can seamlessly pan and zoom SPoRT imagery without the need for a specific decision support system, lots of computational horsepower, or fast data download speeds.  In addition, users can adjust the transparency of different data sets in order to compare features from multiple instruments.  The transparency can be adjusted by clicking on the text associated with the displayed product in the layer tree and then using the scroll bar in the upper left of the display to adjust the transparency.

Below is an example of using the TMS to layer Day Night Band (DNB) imagery from NASA/NOAA/DoD’s Visibile Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) valid at around 1700 UTC on 2 December 2012 and the 89 GHz RGB product from NASA’s Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager.  In the VIIRS image, cloudy features appear as white even in the middle of the night as moonlight is reflected from the cloud tops.  Here, Super Typhoon Bopha can be seen in the bottom right of the VIIRS swath.  However, the edge of the scan bisects the storm.  To get a more full picture of the storm–and to learn additional information about where active convection is occurring–the passive microwave 89 GHz RGB product can be overlain.  With the transparencies appropriately adjusted, one can see both the extent of the cloud field associated with the storm (white features in the VIIRS DNB imagery) along with areas that are most convectively-active (red areas in PM RGB).

SPoRT continues to process additional datasets to add into the system, so check back for updates as new satellite data become available.

Example of overlaying NASA satellite datasets in SPoRT’s TMS. Passive Microwave RGB imagery from TRMM is overlaid on VIIRS DNB imagery to show where most active convection is occurring with Super Typhoon Bopha as it approaches The Philippines.

High-resolution VIIRS DNB Imagery of Super Typhoon Bopha from SPoRT TMS displayed using a handheld device.

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Passive Microwave Composites of Tropical Storm Bud

Following up from our previous post regarding Aletta, today’s pass of DMSP F-18 (1535 UTC) was nicely centered over Tropical Storm Bud, located southwest of Mexico in the eastern Pacific.  The 1500 UTC advisory suggests maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and northwest motion, with a northern turn expected.  It may progress to develop into a hurricane later today or tonight.  Below are current snapshots of RGB passive microwave composites provided to SPoRT via collaboration with the Naval Research Laboratory, converted to use in GEMPAK and N-AWIPS.  The 89 GHz image (top) includes estimates of the observation time (1530-1535 UTC) and the satellite instrument (DMSP F-18).  These composites demonstrate how passive microwave data can help to identify structures of the tropical cyclone that might otherwise be obscured by thick cirrus overhead.  SPoRT plans to collaborate with NCEP groups to test and evaluate these products in N-AWIPS in support of our NRL collaboration, as these products have been very popular when provided by the NRL Tropical Cyclones web page.

91 GHz RGB composite image from DMSP F-18 SSMI/S sensor over Tropical Storm Bud at approximately 1530 UTC on May 23, 2012.

As in the image above but for the 37 GHz channels.

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NRL Passive Microwave Products Available for N-AWIPS: Tropical Depression Aletta

Tropical Depression Aletta is slowly churning through the eastern Pacific, currently located southwest of Baja California in the Eastern Pacific.  As of 0800 PDT, the latest forecast advisory estimates peak winds of 35 mph and the storm is expected to weaken.  However, the presence of the storm is a great opportunity to feature the results of a collaboration between the Naval Research Laboratory and the SPoRT Center that has facilitated the integration of NRL passive microwave products into the N-AWIPS visualization system (which is based upon GEMPAK capabilities).  Below are some comparisons between graphics provided by the NRL Tropical Cyclones page.  SPoRT has developed display capabilities for NRL single channel and multispectral (RGB) passive microwave products along with an estimate of the observing time based upon the satellite orbit.  These images were obtained from the DMSP F-17, although data from the full constellation of DMSP satellites and NASA’s Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) are also available.  Since these satellites have slightly different orbits, each snapshot of the storm is provided to SPoRT by NRL, and data are processed for display in N-AWIPS and distributed to partnering NCEP locations.

Low frequency (37 GHz) passive microwave RGB composite of Aletta at approximately 1305 UTC, based upon observations form DMSP F-17.

Equivalent to image above, produced by SPoRT from NRL data and configured for display in N-AWIPS (GEMPAK) for dissemination to partnering NCEP Centers.

High frequency (87-91 GHz) image of Aletta provided by the NRL Tropical Cyclones page.

Equivalent image processed by SPoRT for dissemination in N-AWIPS.

 

Although the zoom factor is slightly different between the NRL image and the N-AWIPS examples, the display of the data in N-AWIPS will allow forecasters to have greater control in manipulating the imagery and collocating satellite observations with other analyses available within their local systems.

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Collaborations with NRL to Provide Tropical Cyclone Products for NAWIPS

Over the past year, SPoRT has begun collaborations with the Naval Research Laboratory to investigate the possibility of implementing their various passive microwave and other tropical remote sensing products for use within NAWIPS and AWIPS systems.  An advantage of use in AWIPS and NAWIPS is that the satellite data are more easily georeferenced with other data sets available within these decision support systems.  Below is an example of SPoRT’s progress: displaying a passive microwave RGB false color composite derived from the 85H, 85V, and “PCT” ratio.  Although there are no active tropical cyclones in the Atlantic at the current time, SPoRT will attempt to develop these products in the off-season in preparation for the 2012 season.

An example of the Naval Research Laboratory's Tropical Cyclone product page depiction of a TRMM passive microwave RGB (upper left, inset) and corresponding product generated for and displayed in NAWIPS.

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AMSR-E Monitors Precipitation Associated with Tropical Storms

AMSR-E estimates of precipitation from the overpass of the Aqua satellite at 1658UTC on September 8, 2011.

Passive microwave measurements from the AMSR-E instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite are used to estimate in precipitation associated with weather systems outside the range of land-based radars. In the image above, AMSR-E produces a radar-time analysis of rain associated with Hurricane Katia. Note the intense convective storms just north of Puerto Rico. Could this be another storm developing?

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