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.
30 Jan 2023 - 20:22 EST
31 Jan 2023 - 01:22 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 - 31 Jan 2023 - 0021 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 31 Jan 2023 - 0026 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 31 Jan 2023 - 0031 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 31 Jan 2023 - 0036 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 31 Jan 2023 - 0041 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 31 Jan 2023 - 0046 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 31 Jan 2023 - 0051 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 31 Jan 2023 - 0056 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 31 Jan 2023 - 0101 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 31 Jan 2023 - 0106 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 31 Jan 2023 - 0111 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 31 Jan 2023 - 0116 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.
