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.
8 Dec 2023 - 07:24 EST
8 Dec 2023 - 12:24 UTC
GOES-West Full Disk - Air Mass
2 hour loop - 12 images - 10 minute update
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Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 08 Dec 2023 - 1010 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 08 Dec 2023 - 1020 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 08 Dec 2023 - 1030 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 08 Dec 2023 - 1040 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 08 Dec 2023 - 1050 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 08 Dec 2023 - 1100 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 08 Dec 2023 - 1110 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 08 Dec 2023 - 1120 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 08 Dec 2023 - 1130 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 08 Dec 2023 - 1140 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 08 Dec 2023 - 1150 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 08 Dec 2023 - 1200 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.
