One of the biggest challenges in thunderstorm forecasting continues to be predicting where and when storms will form. Numerical models struggle with this problem, and traditional convective initiation algorithms require growing cumulus clouds to be successful. The GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) will not only have improved spectral, temporal and spatial resolution, but the radiometric properties of the individual bands will be significantly improved over the current GOES imager, allowing for band difference products with very little noise and striping. One such band difference currently being investigated is the so-called split window difference, or 10.35-12.3 µm. Assuming the temperature decreases with height, a loop of this difference shows regions of low-level water vapor deepening with time. Convective clouds and sometimes thunderstorms very often form in these same areas, making the split window difference potentially a very useful product in anticipating storm formation.

This presentation will describe current efforts to fully understand the ABI's split window difference so that new products may be developed. We will show radiative transfer model results, simulated ABI imagery from the WRF model, and observed imagery from Meteosat's SEVIRI instrument, which has similar bands and characteristics to the ABI.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and findings contained in this article are those of the authors and should not be construed as an official National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or U.S. Government position, policy, or decision.