Noticed when looking at gridded GLM data (8km - 5min data/1 min update), had trouble quickly picking out area of high activity. Given activity wasn't too intense, seemed that activity was a bit muted.
Thursday, July 20, 2017
GLM: Visualization
Noticed when looking at gridded GLM data (8km - 5min data/1 min update), had trouble quickly picking out area of high activity. Given activity wasn't too intense, seemed that activity was a bit muted.
Combine 1 min VIS and lgt
This loop shows a combination of 1 min VIS data overlayed with 1 min GLM flashes. This may be a good DSS tool or a way to track lightning trends. -ams
GLM vs land based networks
GLM is providing some great added value to the other earth based networks. When playing around with the color tables you can really pick up on the peak areas a tad better.
A quick look at NUCAPS gridded data.
First chance to take a look at gridded NUCAPS data. Comparing the 700mb and 500mb NUCAPS grids to RAP and HRRR analysis, the NUCAPS was consistently about 2 degrees C colder at 700mb, and 1-2C colder at 500mb. This is also evident in the H7-5 lapse rate image below, with NUCAPS in the top left, then clockwise HRRR, NAM40, and GFS20.
-64BoggsLites
Bismark CWA Derived Wind Analysis
Quick look at the derived wind fields across Bismarck CWA. Still a lot of clear skies, but sum information can be gleaned from image below (upper left 300mb, upper right 500mb, lower left 700mb):
Think lack of elements to track at the moment have lowered my confidence in some of the values, but in areas with more extensive cloud cover seems to be picking up jet at 300mb. Think best track to take is to monitor how these fields change over time as tracking elements begin to increase.
One concern I have is the color and labeling scheme. The current default is the same as VWP where red corresponds to poor data quality and green is good. This could be fairly confusing. Instead of coloring by speed, perhaps coloring by pressure level would be better? As it stands you could not overlay several layers over an image and use it easily.
-JRM
Think lack of elements to track at the moment have lowered my confidence in some of the values, but in areas with more extensive cloud cover seems to be picking up jet at 300mb. Think best track to take is to monitor how these fields change over time as tracking elements begin to increase.
One concern I have is the color and labeling scheme. The current default is the same as VWP where red corresponds to poor data quality and green is good. This could be fairly confusing. Instead of coloring by speed, perhaps coloring by pressure level would be better? As it stands you could not overlay several layers over an image and use it easily.
-JRM
RAP pre-storm
-tvguy
Looked at GOES total PW. Amounts >1" from eastern UNR CWA into western ND and far eastern Montana... pretty decent for this area. Unfortunately, the surface obs are still pretty dry in the western Dakotas, with dew points only in the 50s - for now - though there is a southerly wind for most everybody.
NUCAPS total totals were uniformly 50-59 north of Rapid City to the Canadian border.
Looked at cloud optical depth to get some idea about the thickness of the cloud cover in the central CWA. Appears to show cloud cover is thin, so I assume we should get strong solar heating this afternoon.
By 21Z Cu field approaching NW corner of SD. Queried recent NUCAPS grids to check 700 mb temps, which were 12-14C.
At this time, SPC issued t-storm watch for NW corner of SD, but mostly for western ND.
But also looked at NUCAPs 850 Lapse rate... over 8C/km. Expect that if these towers in western MT move into that area, they should blow up pretty quickly.
1 min VIS puts storms approaching NW corner... with 1 min GLM flash points increasing quickly.
When looked at same flash data, they was well out ahead of the main line of storms on radar.
Looked at GOES total PW. Amounts >1" from eastern UNR CWA into western ND and far eastern Montana... pretty decent for this area. Unfortunately, the surface obs are still pretty dry in the western Dakotas, with dew points only in the 50s - for now - though there is a southerly wind for most everybody.
NUCAPS total totals were uniformly 50-59 north of Rapid City to the Canadian border.
Looked at cloud optical depth to get some idea about the thickness of the cloud cover in the central CWA. Appears to show cloud cover is thin, so I assume we should get strong solar heating this afternoon.
By 21Z Cu field approaching NW corner of SD. Queried recent NUCAPS grids to check 700 mb temps, which were 12-14C.
At this time, SPC issued t-storm watch for NW corner of SD, but mostly for western ND.
But also looked at NUCAPs 850 Lapse rate... over 8C/km. Expect that if these towers in western MT move into that area, they should blow up pretty quickly.
1 min VIS puts storms approaching NW corner... with 1 min GLM flash points increasing quickly.
When looked at same flash data, they was well out ahead of the main line of storms on radar.
Bismark CWA - Derived Stability/Moisture Data Analysis
Quick look at some of the derived parameters sat 1857 UTC prior to expected storm initiation today. Following image has the following parameters from upper left to lower right : Total Precipitable Water, CAPE, K-Index, Lifted Index.
TPW fields indicate some moisture pooling to the west of ongoing convection, with a similar trend in the instability fields. Drier, more stable air in place upstream of developing storms. Unsure if this just indicates where current forcing/ascent is and this will translate eastward or if current storms moving into less favorable environment.
CAPE values continue to be significantly lower than numerical model analysis, but LI values much closer and seem reasonable given the pattern.
-JRM
TPW fields indicate some moisture pooling to the west of ongoing convection, with a similar trend in the instability fields. Drier, more stable air in place upstream of developing storms. Unsure if this just indicates where current forcing/ascent is and this will translate eastward or if current storms moving into less favorable environment.
CAPE values continue to be significantly lower than numerical model analysis, but LI values much closer and seem reasonable given the pattern.
-JRM
UNR Satellite Analysis
A loop of upper, mid, and lower level water vapor along with a simple water vapor RGP indicates an area of potential lift crossing south central MT (top right). The RAP indicates a 50kt 500mb wind maxima lifting through this area, and GOES-derived winds suggest the core of this wind maxima may be displaced a bit further north and east in the model. The wind barbs do seem to drop in and out with each frame. Not sure if this is a sampling issue or what.
Visible imagery (not shown - CAVE is locked up) shows an area of convection over south central MT associated with this jet streak, and the day cloud phase RGB indicates this area has become glaciated.
Anticipate this activity will continue, and likely grow in strength as it moves into deeper moisture further east.
-64BoggsLites
Visible imagery (not shown - CAVE is locked up) shows an area of convection over south central MT associated with this jet streak, and the day cloud phase RGB indicates this area has become glaciated.
Anticipate this activity will continue, and likely grow in strength as it moves into deeper moisture further east.
-64BoggsLites
Bismark Early Phase Convection
The RGB Day Cloud Phase is indicating some vertical development/introduction to some cloud glaciation across western ND. Would expect this to be associated with some shower development, which when pulling up the MRMS data there is evidence of a slight increase in shower activity. This color scale is much better than the eye piercing red and green. I might prefer this imagery over the clean IR window product that I've been using all week to monitor cloud top cooling.
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