Daytime measurements of reflected sunlight in the visible spectrum have been a staple Earth-viewing radiometers since advent environmental satellite platform. At night, these same optical-spectrum sensors traditionally limited to thermal infrared emission, which contains relatively poor information content for many important weather and climate parameters. These deficiencies our ability characterize full diurnal behavior processes parameters relevant improved monitoring, understanding...

Abstract New multi-lead-time versions of three statistical probabilistic tropical cyclone rapid intensification (RI) prediction models are developed for the Atlantic and eastern North Pacific basins. These linear-discriminant analysis–based Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme Rapid Intensification Index (SHIPS-RII), logistic regression, Bayesian RI models. Consensus derived by averaging individual model probability forecasts also generated. A verification cross-validated above...

Abstract The first observationally based conceptual model for intense pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) development is described by applying reanalyzed meteorological output to an inventory of 26 pyroCb events from June August 2013 and a control fire activity without pyroCb. Results are on 88 wildfires observed within the western United States Canada. While surface-based weather indices useful indicator activity, they not skillful predictor Development occurs when layer increased moisture content...

Abstract Intense wildfires occasionally generate fire-triggered storms, known as pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb), that can inject smoke particles and trace gases into the upper troposphere lower stratosphere (UTLS). This study develops first pyroCb detection algorithm using three infrared (IR) channels from imager on board GOES-West ( GOES-15 ). The identifies deep convection near active fires via longwave IR brightness temperature, distinguishing between midtropospheric UTLS injections. During...

Abstract This paper describes a Dynamic Enhancement Background Reduction Algorithm (DEBRA) applicable to multispectral satellite imaging radiometers. DEBRA uses ancillary information about the clear‐sky background reduce false detections of atmospheric parameters in complex scenes. Applied here detection lofted dust, enlists surface emissivity database coupled with climatological temperature approximate equivalent signal for selected infrared‐based dust tests. allows suppression alarms...

Abstract Value-added imagery is a useful means of communicating multispectral environmental satellite radiometer data to the human analyst. The most effective techniques strike balance between science and art. side requires engineering physical algorithms capable distilling complex scene into reduced set key parameters. artistic involves design construction visually intuitive displays that maximize information content within product image. utility such analysts depends on extent which...

Abstract The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operational Linescan System (OLS) nighttime visible channel was designed to detect earth–atmosphere features under conditions of low illumination (e.g., near the solar terminator or via moonlight reflection). However, this sensor also detects light emissions from various terrestrial sources (both natural and anthropogenic), including lightning-illuminated thunderstorm tops. This research presents an automated technique for...

Abstract. Using nighttime observations from Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night band (DNB), the characteristics of artificial light sources are evaluated as functions observation conditions, and incremental improvements documented on aerosol retrievals using VIIRS DNB data a regional scale. We find that standard deviation instantaneous radiance for given source is strongly dependent upon satellite viewing angle but weakly lunar fraction angle. Retrieval optical...

We have analyzed observations of clear‐sky top‐of‐atmosphere outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) measured by the Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES). These measurements were obtained during March 2005 at night over ocean cover latitudes from 70°N to 70°S. First, we compare OLR calculated two radiative transfer models. The models use as input simultaneous collocated atmospheric temperature water vapor made Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). find excellent agreement between...

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Arunas Kuciauskas, Naval Research Laboratory, Marine Meteorology Division, Monterey, CA 93943, E-mail: kuciauskas@nrlmry.navy.mil

Abstract. Lofted mineral dust over data-sparse regions presents considerable challenges to satellite-based remote sensing methods and numerical weather prediction alike. The southwest Asia domain is replete with such examples, its diverse array of sources, mineralogy, meteorologically driven lofting mechanisms on multiple spatial temporal scales. A microcosm these occurred 3–4 August 2016 when two plumes, one lofted within an inland dry air mass another embedded a moist mass, met the...

Abstract. This high-resolution numerical modeling study investigates the potential range of impact surface-lofted dust aerosols on mean radiative fluxes and temperature changes associated with a dust-lofting episode over Arabian Peninsula (2–5 August 2016). Assessing for lofted to radiation budget response in regions world that are prone intense storms is important due such perturbations thermally driven mesoscale circulations as sea breezes convective outflows. As such, sensitivity...

Earth's nighttime environment is being revealed in unprecedented detail by the new satellite‐mounted Visible/Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). VIIRS' Day/Night Band (DNB) a highly sensitive broadband visible channel capable of detecting light from cities and other terrestrial emission sources.

Visible/Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Imagery from the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite is finest spatial resolution (375 m) multi-spectral imagery of any operational meteorological to date. The environmental data record (EDR) has been designated as a Key Performance Parameter (KPP) for VIIRS, meaning that its performance vital success series Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) satellites will carry this instrument. Because VIIRS covers high-latitude...

Abstract. The use of dust erodible fraction geographical databases in case-study numerical simulations provides more realistic loading compared to idealized, non-spatially-constrained methods. Idealized lofting case study scenarios tends generate unrealistically large amounts observations, due the lack locational constraints. Generally, enhanced mass via surface lead reductions daytime insolation aerosol scattering effects, as well nighttime radiative cooling absorption effects. In with...

Abstract. The detection and characterization of aerosols are inherently limited at night because the important information provided by visible spectrum observations is not available infrared bands have sensitivity to aerosols. VIIRS Day–Night Band (DNB) onboard Suomi-NPP satellite a first-of-its-kind calibrated sensor capable collecting near-infrared during both day night. Multiple studies suggested that anthropogenic light emissions such as those from cities gas flares may be useable...

Abstract Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data continue to provide a wealth of two-dimensional, cloud-top information and derived environmental products. In addition, the A-Train constellation satellites presents an opportunity combine MODIS with coincident vertical-profile collected from sensors on CloudSat Cloud–Aerosol Lidar Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations ( CALIPSO ). Approximating vertical structure clouds in data-sparse regions can be accomplished...

Abstract Global monitoring of tropical cyclones (TC) is enhanced by the unique capabilities provided day–night band (DNB), a sensor included on Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) flying board Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership ( SNPP ) satellite. The DNB, low-light visible–near-infrared-band passive radiometer, can leverage unconventional (i.e., nonsolar) sources visible light illumination such as moonlight to infer storm structure at night. DNB provides an...

Abstract. Using nighttime observations from Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night band (DNB), the characteristics of artificial light sources are evaluated as functions observation conditions and incremental improvements documented on aerosol retrievals using VIIRS DNB data a regional scale. We find that standard deviation instantaneous radiance for given source is strongly dependent upon satellite viewing angle, but weakly lunar fraction angle. Retrieval optical...

Abstract. Detection and characterization of aerosols is inherently limited at night due to a lack sensitivity—information typically provided by visible spectrum observations. The VIIRS Day/Night Band (DNB) onboard the Suomi-NPP satellite first-of-its-kind calibrated sensor capable collecting visible/near-infrared observations during both day night. Multiple studies have suggested that anthropogenic light emissions such as those from cities gas flares may be useable sources for retrieval...

Abstract. Lofted mineral dust over data-sparse regions presents considerable challenges to satellite-based remote sensing methods and numerical weather prediction alike. The Southwest Asia domain is replete with such examples, its diverse array of sources, mineralogy, meteorologically-driven lofting mechanisms on multiple spatial temporal scales. A microcosm these occurred 3–4 August 2016 when two plumes, one lofted within an inland dry air mass another embedded a moist mass, met the...

Nighttime detection and characterization of atmospheric aerosol is made difficult by a lack observable visible radiation limited thermal contrast between the surface low-altitude plumes. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band (DNB), which sensitive to very low levels light (as as 10−9W×cm−2sr−1), has proven useful for cloud at night being studied use in quantitative optical depth retrievals. However, since moonlight not available on all nights, our retrievals...