An Evaluation of Observations from Satellites for the Study and Prediction of Mesoscale Events and Cyclone Events

Abstract

Quantitative observational guidelines have been developed for the study and forecasting of mesoscale events and cyclone events; many of these guidelines have resulted from major meteorological field programs. Increasingly sophisticated satellite-borne instruments in low and geosynchronous orbits have provided valuable measurements of these events. The major deficiencies in the measurements taken from geosynchronous orbit today, relative to these guidelines, are 1) the lack of temperature profiles and moisture profiles below clouds, and the poor vertical resolution of these profiles; 2) the insufficient combination of spatial resolution and temporal resolution and spectral intervals available in generating images (imaging) and 3) the lack of accurate precipitation mapping. Considerably more-powerful instrumentation is possible on geosynchronous satellites that can substantially reduce these deficiencies. The capability of advanced geosynchronous observations and those expected with future instrumentation i n low-orbit are evaluated with respect to tropical cyclone and severe local-storm observational guidelines. A high percentage of the guidelines are expected to be fulfilled with geosynchronous measurements: 1) using microwave instruments for imaging and for obtaining temperature profiles and moisture profiles, 2) very high spectral-resolution infrared profiling, 3) very high spatial-resolution and very high temporal-resolution imaging, and 4) ozone mapping.

Atmospheric Soundings in Near-Real Time from Combined Satellite and Ground-Based Remotely Sensed Data

“…For derived variables such as wind velocity, the situation may be even less desirable (Franklin and Lord 1988). Vertical and horizontal resolutions typically are about 3-5 km and around 30-200 km, respectively, depending on whether infrared or MW sounders are used and the amount of spatial averaging for noise reduction (Heacock 1985;Shenk et al 1987;Swadley and Chandler 1992).…”

High-Resolution Satellite Imagery for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies

“…With increasing sensor resolution, however, it became obvious that satellite imagery contained a wealth of information about smaller-scale features as well. In the United States, applications of satellite data to mesoscale studies (e.g., Fujita et al 1968;Purdom 1976;Shenk et al 1987;Rao et al 1990 1 ) have concentrated on data from geostationary satellites. There are a variety of polar-orbiting satellites, however, that offer additional capabilities and different perspectives that can play an important role in mesoscale meteorological studies (e.g., Cloakley et al 1987;Isaacs and Barnes 1987;Scorer 1990).…”