 |
| #2059 "Singleton Sunset Reflection" Pixels Link |
Historically I preferred using simple grey scale enhancements in satellite imagery. A particulart shade of grey can be related to the brightness or energy returned from every point in the image. A smart enhancement only spends those grey shades over the energy levels that one should expect to observe. That was the premise for those early days when I created special enhancements for the sunrise and sunset periods in order to glean every last bit of information from the visible satellite imagery. The relativity between the brightness of every picture element or pixel in the scene was preserved but greatly enhanced. The resulting pattern could be better interpreted as to what it meant meteorologically just in time for the early morning forecasts.
 |
| Enhanced Visible Imagery from 1981 and 1982 |
On a colourful note, the human eye is capable of detecting around 10 million unique colours. Of course these colours need to be selected prudently to display the brightness temperatures from the satellite. The use of an excessive number of colours can result in an abstract work of art and science. Meteorologists can get as easily confused as anyone else. The use of these colours can highlight specific meteorologically important quantities and processes that might otherwise be missed in the world and whorls of black and white. I employed a lot of colours in my work with infra-red satellite imagery in those early days.
Not everyone sees things the same way though. I used a lot of arm waving and right hand thumbs while in the Atmospheric Environment Service Training Branch, in an attempt to explain what the water vapour imagery was saying. Some of that material is included in these Blog Journals. At that time the message of the satellite imagery was competing with the very seductive numerical presentations of the weather. The numerical weather prediction (NWP) was getting much better and prettier by the month. Remote sensing depicted the real atmosphere but there were concerns and deciphering the messages in the satellite data could be challenging.
 |
| Two of the several geostationary satellites above the equator |
The geostationary satellites parked above the equator provide terrific imagery in terms of time and space continuity. The drawback with this singular view is that layers of high water vapour in the lower latitudes can obscure important meteorological features below. The graphic will explain this concern.
 |
| High Level Moisture Obscures Lower Level Processes |
 |
| Looking northeast across North America |
 |
| Looking southeast across North America |
The natural world is a terrific and fascinating place. Technology may help us to understand and appreciate it before it is too late! This reminds me of Joni Mitchell's “Big Yellow Taxi”.
"They paved paradise And put up a parking lot With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got Till it's gone
They paved paradise..."
In any event, weather satellites and our understanding of the atmosphere continue to improve. The movement of dry air is every bit as important as the circulations of clouds. Here is a weather information site created and maintained by my friends in Boulder, Colorado. I think you will find it very useful.
That's enough for today... much more to come.
Warmest regards and keep your paddle in the
water,
Phil the Forecaster Chadwick
