IDENTIFY FRONTS

Locate the front by comparing the IR image with the surface analysis map.  The IR image will often show a band of clouds indicating the front. 

A cold front can often be spotted on an IR image, since cold fronts often contain towering Cumulus clouds.  Sometimes, however, the tall clouds associated with squall lines can precede the actual front.  That may lead to some confusion as to the exact position of the front. 

Strictly speaking, the front is the boundary area between two dissimilar air masses.  In order to identify those two distinct air masses, we need to look for clues.  One clue will be cloud formations:

• The air following a cold front will generally be colder and drier if the air is out of the north (in the Northern Hemisphere).  So, following a typical cold front, there should be clearing skies.  
• Along the cold front or preceding it, there will often be a band of tall, cold cumulonimbus clouds.  By studying the IR satellite images we can see which clouds are colder and therefore taller.  Those tall, cold clouds also frequently have more gusting under them.
• Similarly, preceding a warm front there is often a period of extended, steady rain.  There is a relatively large amount of cloud cover in front of the warm front.  However, the clouds associated with warm fronts are generally not as convective as those accompanying cold fronts, and so usually don’t have as much wind under them.

• If there are relatively few extremely high storm cells, there is a decreased probability of downburst and extreme high winds in a squall line preceding a cold front.
• If there is a band of huge, tall, cold clouds, it could indicate the approach of violent squall lines or individual storm cells.
• It is harder to spot warm fronts since they do not normally contain tall Cumulus clouds

Satellite images give us some information about the location of fronts, but not always all we would like in order to determine where a front is located.  Additional information may be required.  Ground observations go a long way in helping meteorologists understand what’s actually taking place, providing information on barometric pressure, air temperatures, and wind directions – all needed for meteorologists to form a more complete view of what’s happening and determine the location of the front. 

Satellite information, however, can provide some information that surface analyses can’t.  The location and intensity of individual storm cells and squall lines, and details of their movement are a few of the things that satellite images give us.  This is information that isn’t readily seen on a surface analysis.

EXAMPLE:

Compare the two images:

1.        On the Surface Analysis Chart, locate the cold front (marked "A").  Notice that on the corresponding IR satellite image the front is indicated by the band of clouds and that some are very tall clouds (in red).

2.        On the Surface Analysis Chart, locate the squall line (marked “B” – two black dots with lines on either side).  Notice that on the IR satellite map, this feature is VERY prominent and potentially very dangerous.   Without the IR satellite map, you would not be able to appreciate the potential energy along the squall line, nor the high strength of the squall compared to the relatively lower strength and smaller area of the cold front.

3.        Note the difficulty spotting the warm front on the IR image.  On the western part of the warm front there are lower and therefore warmer clouds (blue and green).  There may be a great deal of rain associated that part of the warm front, but there is probably relatively little gusting wind.

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EXPLANATION

DETERMINE RATE AND DIRECTION OF FRONTAL MOVEMENTS

1.        Collect a series of IR images, or view looping (animated) IR images.

2.        From the movement of the front over the time difference between images, calculate direction and rate of travel of the front.  To understand how the different parts of the front are moving, you may want to compare the relative positions of the two “ends” of the front as well as the mid point.

Animation can help you to understand the existing trend in speed and heading for the front or other weather features.  While trends can change, a trend generally may be expected to continue in the near term, for the next few hours.  If you’re sailing in the afternoon, it can be a huge help to look at the speed, heading and type of cloud cover in the systems that are approaching your own position.  The trend may not continue, but it’s a good place to start making some rough assumptions from which to modify your expectations.

Here is an example of IR images we collected and animated

Many sites provide looped satellite images.  For examples, see:

• Animated GOES satellite images:

http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/

NOTE:  Images from orbital satellites are not useful for animations because orbital satellites are moving all the time, and it's difficult to get a constant perspective.  GOES, on the other hand, are geostationary and provide better images for animation purposes.

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LOCATE POTENTIAL FOR SEA BREEZE ALONG SHORELINES

You can use low earth orbiting IR images or high altitude geostationary satellite (G0ES) imagery zoomed in to locate the shoreline and determine if there are small, relatively low-lying fair weather cumulus clouds lined up along the coast. 

If the clouds line up along the coast and the inland temperatures are significantly warmer than the sea temperatures offshore, the conditions are most likely contributing to the development of a sea breeze.

Here’s an example

This is an example of how high altitude GOES IR images zoomed in (to 1 km resolution) can show the development of a sea breeze.  The images show the formation of clouds along the coastline as the land heats up throughout the day.  These warmer, lower altitude clouds are shown as shades of gray.

IR images also show how the clouds change as the land heats up:  the clouds along the coasts begin to grow in response to the increase in temperature of the land.  The images in the animation were taken from 1130 to 1600 (local times). The animation shows the land becoming a darker shade of gray as the day progresses.  According to the color scheme (the darker the gray, the warmer the surface), the images show that the land is getting significantly warmer as the time approaches midday.  Also notice the clouds beginning to form along the southern part of the eastern coast of Baja California (lower right hand corner).  They are low lying clouds, relatively small fair weather cumulus clouds, which we can tell by the fact that they are not bright white – the color of higher, colder clouds.  As the day progresses toward early afternoon, the land cools down, and the cloud formation along the coastlines diminish. 

IDENTIFY SEA SURFACE FEATURES

Both low earth orbiting satellites and GOES satellites can be very effective for picking out particular sea surface features such as warm or cold currents.  They are usually identified as “SST” images (Sea Surface Temperature), “SSH” (Sea Surface Heights) or “SHA” (Sea Height Anomalies). 

For an example, see: 

• US Navy satellite images:

http://www7300.nrlssc.navy.mil/global_nlom/globalnlom/skill.html

·         Select “Gulf Stream Region”

·         Scroll down to “SST Nowcast”

·         Select “Last 12 month loop”

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EXPLANATION

IDENTIFY MOVEMENT OF FRONTS

You can use visible light images to track the movement of fronts.  The clouds will all appear the same, but animation will show you which way they are moving.  You might find it difficult to pick out the actual front, but keep in mind that a front is the boundary between dissimilar air masses.  Often cold air is coming down from the north or northwest, meeting warmer air coming up from the southwest or south.  The cloud line along that interface may lie along the front, or it may be a squall line that precedes the front.  Comparing an actual surface analysis valid for the same time as the animated satellite images will help you learn to locate various weather features.

This example shows the movement of a front over the Pacific.

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EXPLANATION

IDENTIFY FOG

1.        Display both IR and visible light images for the same VALID TIME and area on the computer.

2.        Toggle between the two images.  

The temperature of fog can be close to the sea temperature.  The IR image has some difficulty differentiating between the actual sea and a fog bank. 

The visible light picture will show the fog bank as a white mass, similar to the way it depicts higher altitude clouds.  When you toggle between the two images, it becomes obvious which parts of the image represent high altitude clouds, lower level clouds and fog.

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LOCATE POTENTIAL FOR SEA BREEZE ALONG SHORELINES

Visible light images can also help detect a sea breeze.  The visible light will show the clouds better than the IR images, because white clouds contrast against a gray background better than the gray clouds shown on an IR image.

Example:

Compare this sequence with the IR sequence above.

Notice the tiny white clouds located along the eastern shore of the lower part of Baja California at the right of the screen.  Also notice the cloud formation on mainland Mexico located further up the screen. The clouds are showing us that the air is unstable.  Air is rising, and moisture is condensing.  The thin cloud line along the eastern coast of Baja California suggests that air is very likely being pulled in at the surface as a sea breeze to replace the rising air over the land.

NOTE:  Visible light images are not as effective as the IR images at showing how the land heats up throughout the day.  This is because the visible light shows all clouds – cold high altitude and lower, warmer clouds – as white.  IR images, on the other hand, show a change in the shade of gray of these clouds as the land heats up. 

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EXPLANATION

DETERMINE REALTIME WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION TO SUPPLEMENT BUOY DATA

Since scatterometer data is available in near real-time on the web, it can be used to look at real-time wind conditions in remote locations offshore, or in other places that may not have buoys. 

Compare the QuikSCAT image with the other satellite images.  The QuikSCAT image gives you a much clearer idea of the wind field around the occluding low-pressure system.

(The white gap in the data is a result of a gap in the satellite orbital coverage, and does not indicate any meteorological information.)

DETERMINE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PRESSURE SYSTEMS AND FRONTS

Scatterometer data can supplement synoptic scale analysis when determining the location and movement of pressure systems and fronts.

Compare scatterometer data with surface analysis maps for the same VALID TIMES.  With the addition of the scatterometer data, you will have a clearer idea of wind speed and direction.

NOTE:  When you collect scatterometer data, also look at several buoys in the area to confirm the accuracy of the scatterometer data.  Scatterometer data is subject to reliability issues inherent with all remote sensing technologies.