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Analysis and Applications of Water Vapor-derived Multispectral Composites for Geostationary Satellites
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  • Gary Jedlovec,
  • Emily Berndt,
  • Kevin Fuell,
  • Frank LaFontaine,
  • Nicholas Elmer
Gary Jedlovec
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

Corresponding Author:gary.jedlovec@nasa.gov

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Emily Berndt
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
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Kevin Fuell
NASA
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Frank LaFontaine
Jacobs Technology, Inc. / NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
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Nicholas Elmer
University of Alabama in Huntsville
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Abstract

With the launch of the new Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R) satellite series with the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) onboard both GOES-16, and -17 satellites, new capabilities are available at unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution from a geostationary-orbiting platform viewing North and South America. Measurements from three water vapor bands available from ABI presents a unique opportunity to assess the delineation in the vertical distribution of atmospheric moisture through multispectral (Red, Green, Blue, i.e., RGB) composites. Analysis of multispectral composites may provide improved capabilities to quickly identify specific features through qualitative analysis. The utilization of water vapor bands in the derivation of RGB imagery can be used to enhance thermodynamic and/or dynamical features associated with the development of significant weather events and hazards (e.g., cyclones, hurricanes, convection, turbulence) that are commonly found in single band water vapor analysis. The Air Mass RGB was developed with the launch of Meteosat Second Generation Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) and is used to enhance regions of warm, dry, ozone rich stratospheric air associated with jet stream dynamics and tropopause folding that impact cyclone and hurricane intensity. With the launch of Himawari-8 Advanced Himawari Imager, the Japan Meteorological Agency developed a complimentary water vapor RGB, the Differential Water Vapor RGB, as a tool to assess the vertical distribution of water vapor in the atmosphere. This presentation will discuss the applications and advantages of the Air Mass and Differential Water Vapor RGB as complimentary tools for assessing thermodynamic and dynamical features associated with significant weather events.