Discussing RGB imagery

A forecaster from Austria visited the HWT this week and I asked him to give a short briefing on the use of satellite data over Europe to the EWP forecasters to help them understand some of the capabilities that we will have with GOES-R with respect to the utility of RGB imagery. Over Europe, the use of radar and surface data is relatively limited to the level that we use it here in the US because of the difficulty in obtaining data from the private companies, not to mention other neighboring countries. Scientists and forecasters in Europe have found innovative ways to combine imagery into products that help identify surface features, cloud types, volcanic ash, as well as moisture and jet streaks. These techniques are not commonly used within normal WFO operations within the US, mainly because of the lack of spectral data available from our current operational satellites. EWP forecasters got the chance to have a look at what they use routinely over Europe and found the briefing very interesting and are excited to use this sort of information in the future.