Using satellite imagery to improve forecasts and nowcasts

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) provide an underutilized data source which can supplement other data, such as radar, in a forecasting and nowcasting environment. In addition to thunderstorm identification, visible satellite imagery can be used to track thunderstorm outflow boundaries, which have the potential to initiate new convection. Certain features of supercell thunderstorms, such as overshooting tops and flanking lines, are indicators of storm intensification and can be seen from GOES. Infrared (10.7 micrometer) imagery can be used to identify other severe storm signatures, such as the enhanced-V. During Rapid Scan Operation (RSO), 8 satellite images are available per hour, rather than the routine 4. This increased temporal resolution can greatly improve nowcasts.

This presentation will focus on visible and infrared satellite imagery, and will provide numerous examples how satellite can be used to improve both forecasts and nowcasts of thunderstorms, tropical storms, fog, and virtually all weather phenomena.