Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
1. Satellite data is good tool in nowcasting and is now available at high temporal
and spacial resolution. Imager data of clouds from the weather satellites has increased
dramatically with the introduction of hyper / multi spectral channel sensors. All these
channels give many information however most important are on the depth of clouds
(thick / thin), phase of cloud particles (gas / liquid / solid) and size (small / large). It is
a challenge to analysis and interpret all this data in a short time, as it requires skills
and experience to extract necessary information from the imagery.
2. RGB processing offers a simple yet powerful solution. The RGB composite
imagery is a technique to display a colour using the property of the three primary
colours of light i.e. "Red, Green & Blue". It consolidates the information from different
spectral channels into single products that provide more information than any one
image can provide. While grayscale images are still useful, they often cannot match
the effectiveness of RGB products. The advantages of RGB technique is that it is a
simple process and provides intuitive, realistic looking products that can reduce
ambiguities and simplify interpretation.
3. RGB composite imagery of the Indian region by EUMETSAT and Himawari-8
and 9 satellites are available at their respective websites for use on real time along
with training material. Even INSAT 3D & 3DR satellites give colour images (only Day
& Night microphysics) due to limited channels. A brief review on RGB composite
imagery interpretation is given below.
4. The list of satellites/imager channel used by EUMETSAT / JMA in RGB imagery
are as given below.
5. The WMO recommended RGB schemes and their utilisation are as given.
(a) Natural Colour RGB – This RGB is used in detection of snow/ice,
vegetation, desert and clouds, it is easy to distinguish between high-level ice
clouds and low level water clouds, but is available only in day-time. This scheme
is displayed by compositing two near infrared channels (B05(N2 1.6) , B04(N1
0.86) ) and (traditional) visible channel (B03(VS 0.64) ). These channels have
reflection characteristics for land/ sea surface conditions (such as snow/ ice
covered area, vegetation) respectively. The interpretation of Colours for
“Natural Colours RGB” is as given.
SNOW/ICE
DESERT
LOW CLOUDS
VEGETATION
HIGH CLOUDS
Super cooled, thick water Super cooled, thick water Super cooled thin water Super cooled, thin water
cloud. Bright, thick & Large cloud. Bright, thick & Small cloud. Large droplets cloud. Small droplets
droplets droplets
Thick water cloud (Warm Thick water cloud (no Thin water cloud. Thin water cloud.
rain cloud). Bright, thick & precipitation). Bright, thick & Large droplets Small droplets
Large droplets Small droplets
LAND
MOUNTAIN WAVE-
LOW CLOUDS (THICK-
SMALL DROPLETS)
DESERT
LOW CLOUDS
(SMALL DROPLETS)
LOW CLOUDS-
LARGE DROPLETS
SNOW
DESERT
LOW CLOUDS
(SMALL DROPLETS)
LOW CLOUDS-
LARGE DROPLETS
Deep precipitating cloud Deep precipitating cloud (Cb Thin Cirrus cloud - Large ice Thin Cirrus cloud - Small ice
(precip. not necessarily cloud with strong updrafts particles particles
reaching the ground) - High and severe weather)* - High
level Cloud - Large ice level Cloud - Small ice
particles particles *or thick, high-level
lee cloudiness with small ice
particles
Dust RGB - Detection of Yellow Sand (Asian Dust)
Useful to distinguish and pursue dust storm or yellow sand, in addition to traditional
visible and difference images But, as yellow sand and low clouds appear in similar
“pinkish” color, the RGB animation is helpful to distinguish them Available for day
and night
B13 (10.4 microns) and B15 (12.3 microns) have opposite characteristics of absorption and scattering
for water or quartz particles. If the difference between B13 and B15 is positive, it would correspond
to clouds, which consist of the droplets or ice particles, and if the difference is negative, it would
correspond to the particles of quartz. This characteristics make it possible to detect the dust and
volcanic ash.