GOES-18 Interleave Testing - Has ended. GOES-West data now supplied from operational GOES-17 satellite.
GOES-18 expected to become operational GOES-West in January 2023. See GOES-18 Interleave Testing for more information.
21 Sep 2023 - 16:25 EDT
21 Sep 2023 - 20:25 UTC
GOES-West CONUS - Air Mass
1 hour loop - 12 images - 5 minute update
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Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 21 Sep 2023 - 1921 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 21 Sep 2023 - 1926 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 21 Sep 2023 - 1931 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 21 Sep 2023 - 1936 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 21 Sep 2023 - 1941 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 21 Sep 2023 - 1946 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 21 Sep 2023 - 1951 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 21 Sep 2023 - 1956 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 21 Sep 2023 - 2001 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 21 Sep 2023 - 2006 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 21 Sep 2023 - 2011 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 21 Sep 2023 - 2016 UTC
Key for AirMass RGB:
1 - Jet stream / potential vorticity (PV) / deformation zones / dry upper level (dark red / orange)
2 - Cold air mass (dark blue/purple)
3 - Warm air mass (green)
4 - Warm air mass, less moisture (olive/dark orange)
5 - High thick cloud (white)
6 - Mid level cloud (tan/salmon)
7 - Low level cloud (green, dark blue)
8 - Limb effects (purple/blue)
Air Mass RGB is used to diagnose the environment surrounding synoptic systems by enhancing temperature and moisture characteristics of airmasses. Cyclogenesis can be inferred by the identification of warm, dry, ozone-rich descending stratospheric air associated with jet streams and potential vorticity (PV) anomalies. The RGB can be used to validate the location of PV anomalies in model data. Additionally, this RGB can distinguish between polar and tropical airmasses, especially along upper-level frontal boundaries and identify high-, mid-, and low-level clouds.
