Category: AllSky

Precipitable Water Comparisons

Posted in AllSky, HWT on by Michael Bowlan.

The Blended TPW product (top left) shows promise in creating an all-observations precipitable water product in AWIPS. The polar-orbiter PW data in cloudy areas produces artificial gradients and inaccurate values compared to modeled fields (GFS top right and HRRR bottom left), but its attempt to generate an all-observational PW product is successful. I am unsure of how to suggest improvements in the cloudy areas but would encourage these model-free fields continue to be developed.

The AllSky PW product (bottom right) looks really good. The inclusion of GFS data in cloudy areas is a neat idea and the partly cloudy areas seem to be well-computed. This is a tool I will definitely use for situational awareness. -Atlanta Braves

AllSky Overview – Big Help

Posted in AllSky, HWT on by Michael Bowlan.

The AllSky products seem to do a really good job of providing timely and relevant environmental data with higher spatiotemporal resolution than other means. Representative model soundings and the SPC Mesoanalysis page are nice tools, but the AllSky products add a helpful third point to interrogate environmental evolution. Perhaps the most helpful application is tracking of fronts and boundaries. As the dry line advances it is easy to see its eastward extent. In addition, the extent of the warm air is very clear as it pushes into Missouri.

This 4 panel display with cloud type in the lower right is a useful tool for identifying potential causes for inconsistent data from pixel to pixel. I like these products and look forward to their operational implementation at the end of this month! -Atlanta Braves

An artifact in AllSky Products…

Posted in AllSky, HWT on by Michael Bowlan.

I was taking a first look at AllSky products this afternoon and put together a four-panel procedure. I expected to see some noise/sharp gradients in the data because differing pixel population methodology, but viewing a loop revealed an interesting artifact:

There appears to be an artifact in northern Arkansas that looks a little bit like a dinosaur head. This artifact is visible in parcel Lifted Index (to 500 mb), all PWAT products, and CAPE, but not in Total Totals, K Index, or Showalter Index fields. The artifact does not appear to be dependent on the Cloud Type field. Perhaps this artifact is associated with terrain in Arkansas but warrants further investigation. -Atlanta Braves