Satellite skills and knowledge for operational meteorologist
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Image enhancement is a process of image modification or improvement of its quality, the aim of which is to achieve a more pleasing appearance of the final image.
This short, but interesting and to all satellite community very useful lecture is brought by Martin Setvak.
Image enhancement is a process of image modification or improvement of its quality, the aim of which is to achieve a more pleasing appearance of the final image. However, in science, the main goal for image enhancement is to increase the interpretability of the image to a human eye and brain, typically focusing on a certain feature carried by the image.
Example of this kind of enhancement you can see in everyday use of digital cameras, which have some kind of built-in image enhancement (software based). So the \'raw\' images captured by the EM sensor can be further improved by simple computer post-processing (in other words - enhancement).
Processes of enhancement can be done with various methods, such as; histogram-based methods, curves adjustment, gamma function adjustment, noise reduction, utilization of advanced filters, etc. Also a few nice examples you can see here and taste the abilities of this kind of image improvement.
The scope for this 30 minutes lecture is to define origins of IR radiation and how it is measured by meteorological satellites.
Overview and application of infrared channels presented by Jan Kanak. The scope of this 30 minutes lecture is to define origins of IR radiation and how it is measured by meteorological satellites. Thermal radiation wavelengths are spread in wide interval from basically 1 µm up to 1000 µm, but in this case interest is only in middle IR (3 - 8 µm) and long IR (8 - 15 µm) spectrum.
Physical background and meteorological interpretation of satellite images is similar to all meteorological satellites, but in this lecture emphasis will be on those derived from SEVIRI instrument, on board MSG satellite. Some of the practical aspects of utilization of MSG SEVIRI data, examples and useful remarks on IR images visualization you can see here. IR imagery is historically very basic observation method of atmosphere and clouds, together with visible imagery.
For knowing which processes are present in the atmosphere good interpretation of WV satellite images is needed. For gathering information about water vapor, SEVIRI instrument on board MSG satellite is scanning atmosphere in two channels in water vapor absorption band; 6.2 and 7.3 µm.
WV images are like a footprint of absorption of radiation by a water vapor, which is the main absorber in the atmosphere. Therefore it is clear that understanding of these images can tell us a lot about footprint of atmosphere itself and about processes in it. For knowing which processes are present in the atmosphere good interpretation of WV satellite images is needed.
For gathering information about water vapor, SEVIRI instrument on board MSG satellite is scanning atmosphere in two channels in water vapor absorption band; 6.2 and 7.3 µm. Among these two WV channels, the radiation in channel 6.2 µm is more easily absorbed by water vapor and has a larger information content. Thus is called primary WV channel and is broadly used in image format for weather analysis and forecasting based on synoptic scale interpretation. 7.3 µm channel can also be used in operational forecasting environment for detecting mid-level moisture features associated with low-level thermodynamic conditions. Presenter for this one hour lesson is Christo Georgiev, from Bulgarian National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology.
This lecture on absorption channels and IASI instrument on board MetOp satellite was held by Xavier Calbet from EUMETSAT.
This lecture on absorption channels and IASI instrument on board MetOp satellite was held by Xavier Calbet from EUMETSAT. MetOp is LEO polar orbiting satellite that is spinning around Earth at a height of approximately 800 km. IASI instrument is scanning atmosphere below him in mostly infra-red spectrum band, therefore it can detect emission/absorption of gases like CO2 and O3 quite good, due to their intrinsic physical properties. In that way you one can track these gases in the atmosphere and mark their spatial and temporal distribution.
Lecture starts with comprehensive physical background of radiation, with topic like absorption/emission of the atmosphere, properties of the black bodies (Sun and Earth) and EM waves, etc. which are crucial for understanding of instrument functioning. After that there is explanation of spectral band of IASI instrument, CO2 and O3 SEVIRI channels, followed by some examples of application areas of these.
Convective clouds can be characterized by three cloud top properties that can be detected by satellites and represented by respective tree RGB components which are discussed in the presentation.
Convective clouds can be characterized by three cloud top properties that can be detected by satellites and represented by respective tree RGB components;
1. Visible brightness, reflecting more solar radiation for thicker clouds with more water and ice (associated with RED color on RGB composites),
2. Cloud particle size and phase (water or ice), having larger drops with greater depth (associated with GREEN color on RGB composites).
3. Temperature, lover for higher tops (associated with BLUE color in RGB composites).
Microphysical processes within the clouds are specially discussed in this lecture, because they present great importance to the net reflectance of the clouds. Various combinations can be made of all the satellite channels to produce desired RGB combination (e.g. Airmass RGB and Dust RGB product) in order to track properties of interest like formation of fog, drizzle, rain clouds, intensive convective storms, etc. This presentation is given by Daniel Rosenfeld from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Institute of Earth Sciences.
Because we don't know if the cloud observed from satellite is reaching ground or not, it is unrealistic to clam that we can identify fog only using satellite data.
Because we don't know if the cloud observed from satellite is reaching ground or not, it is unrealistic to clam that we can identify fog only using satellite data. Therefore presenter of this lecture is not presenting fog mapping derived only from satellite. Instead he is revealing cloud products extracted from MSG SEVIRI satellite imagery using NWCSAF software, concentrating on the fog or low level clouds category. Lecture is starting with some basic information about SAF nowcasting. After that main features of SAFNWC/MSG cloud algorithms, CM a (cloud mask), CT (cloud type) and CTTH (cloud top temperature and height) are given, step by step with validation results. Also there are examples with fog or low-level clouds situations, including example of automatic use for fog risk mapping.
Presentation on how to discriminate levels of dust and what are the global impacts of dust outbreaks.
Dust is a global issue with it\'s good and also less good sides. There are hundreds or even thousands of places on Earth where the dust can be lifted, nevertheless you need to have a dust source to create a dust outbreak. And these are indeed two needed ingredients for lifting dust in the air that must come together; strong surface winds (requires about 15 knots) and dust source (or hotspots). MSG satellite helps a lot to do much better hot spot climatology, and for that, product called Dust Microphisics RGB is widely used. It is derived from three MSG spectral channels. Red color corresponds to difference of channels IR12.0 and IR10.8, green color to the difference of channels IR10.8 and IR8.7 and blue color to the sole IR10.8 channel. In addition to this product Natural Color RGB is also used, but mostly for detection of dust outbreak over the ocean. In this lecture Jochen Kerkmann, from EUMETSAT, will try to describe dust source regions and dust climatology, how to detect better dust on satellite images, how to discriminate levels of dust and what are the global impacts of dust outbreaks. Also he will mention topics like synoptic patterns and diurnal cycles of dust outbrakes, cloud-dust interaction, forecasting of dust movement and will give a list of typical mesoscale phenomena that can cause dust outbreaks.
Lecture based on the detection of forest fire hot spots by satellite means, which is more important in regions with small population covered areas.
Forest fires, as a natural phenomena (e.g. ignited due to lightning), is important factor in natural living process of a forest. Nevertheless, problems occur because most of the forest fires are caused by a human action, thus are very difficult to predict in any form. Therefore this lecture is mainly based on detection of forest fire hot spots by satellite means, which is more important in regions with small population covered areas. Emphasis here is on the IR3.9 µm SEVIRI channel, which can be called window channel, but on the other hand it is close to a CO2 absorption band. The importance of this channel we can see through a Wien's law; 3.9 µm is peek wavelength of blackbody with temperature of around 750 K, which is very close to temperature of a fire flame during active phase of fire. Besides forest fire detection, in this lecture you can hear something about detection of aerosols coming from forest fires, identification of burnt areas and about Fire Risk products.
Conceptual models are everywhere around us, even in our heads. Human brain as it is, can store lot of impressions but processing these informations can be a big problem.
Conceptual models are everywhere around us, even in our heads. Human brain as it is, can store lot of impressions but processing these informations can be a big problem. That is why we need conceptual models in everyday communication to know what do others even talking about. All the model data, satellite data, observations, radar data, etc. require good processing of one forecaster so he can cope with all this informations - that is where conceptual model fits in. Very chaotic processes in the atmosphere are today reduced to a smaller number of conceptual models, for the aim of better understanding of whole atmosphere. In this one hour presentation Ab Maas , is introducing manual of conceptual models called Manual of synoptic satellite meteorology (Satmanu). This project started in 1995 and until now there were more than 50 conceptual models described in it, still now maintenance and updating of new models is present. Some of the features and examples of conceptual models are brought in this lecture.
Lecture starts with explanation of Vegetation monitoring and some applications of Vegetation products, such as NDVI index, FVC index, LAI and FAPAR indices.
The new generations of sensors on board meteorological satellites (SEVIRI -MSG, ASCAT -EPS, etc. ) enabled a whole new range of products related to the properties of the surface. Applications of such products are great. Some of them are; Vegetation monitoring, Wild Fires detection, Floods and Heat waves monitoring, detection of Urban heat islands, Crop water requirements, etc.
Lecture starts with explanation of Vegetation monitoring and some applications of Vegetation products, such as NDVI index, FVC index, LAI and FAPAR indices. After that Evapotranspiration parameter and Reference evapotranspiration overview is given. And at the end Land surface temperature is observed and various applications of this product are discussed.
Scatterometer is a main instrument that is gathering information on ocean winds. It is a radar instrument mounted on a satellite.
Another presenter from the OSI SAF, Anton Verhoef (KNMI), did a lecture on Wind products which are closely related to the concept of scatterometry. Scatterometer is a main instrument that is gathering information on ocean winds. It is a radar instrument mounted on a satellite. In this lecture the explanation of principle of scatterometry is given along with explanation of deriving wind fields from scatterometer data. Also there is brief overview of currently available wind products and of tools and methods which are available for visualisation and monitoring of the information. At the end of presentation some words will be given about Quality information and Data formats.
To track and measure sea ice motion and concentration, Passive microwave imagers are used (SSM/I or AMSR-E). These instruments are measuring emitted radiances from below.
Thomas Lavergne from Norwegian Meteorological Institute is presenting the work that has been done within OSI SAF on Sea Ice Applications. General physical role of the sea ice in Earth\'s system we can look through the radiation. In winter time sea is relatively warmer than atmosphere and when sea ice is present it acts like cover to the sea radiation. On the breaking points of ice thus there is suddenly transfer of moisture and heat from the sea to atmosphere, both sensible heat and radiation. This process is responsible for cloud formation and the weather conditions overall. So for (e.g. ship) safety, weather prediction, climate monitoring or ecosystem studies the information on sea ice coverage is crucial. To track and measure sea ice motion and concentration, Passive microwave imagers are used (SSM/I or AMSR-E). These instruments are measuring emitted radiances from below. Thus they don\'t need solar light and can operate both day and night.