Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch

Water Vapor Imagery and PV Analysis

Introduction

This intermediate-level VISIT teletraining lesson (a follow-on to the introductory-level Water Vapor Channel Satellite Imagery lesson) will highlight water vapor satellite signatures associated with dynamical structures, using the framework of potential vorticity (PV) thinking, PV anomalies, and the dynamic tropopause. The use of water vapor channel satellite imagery and GOES sounder total column ozone imagery (as well as “synthetic water vapor imagery” forecasts from the CRAS model) to assess NWP performance will also be discussed. (lesson created October 2007; modified January 2008)

Training Session Options

1. VISITview playback without Audio – You may step through the VISITview file on your own to view the presentation. If talking points are available, you may use these in tandem with going through the slides.

   Create a directory to download the playback file from the following site: http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/visit/training_sessions/water_vapor_imagery_and_pv_analysis/water_vapor_imagery_and_pv_analysis.exe

   After extracting the files into that directory click on the visitlocal.bat file to start the lesson. Advance slides on your own using the navigation controls (i.e., the Next button will advance to the next slide)

References/Additional Links

• Water Vapor Channel Satellite Imagery VISIT lesson
• CIMSS Satellite Blog (potential vorticity posts)
• “Weather Analysis and Forecasting: Applying Satellite Water Vapor Imagery and Potential Vorticity Analysis”, Santurette and Georgiev, Elsevier, 2005.
• GOES sounder total column ozone derived product imagery
• Alternate AWIPS water vapor imagery enhancement
• MODIS Products in AWIPS (VISIT lesson)