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.
5 Dec 2023 - 00:15 EST
5 Dec 2023 - 05:15 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 - 05 Dec 2023 - 0411 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 05 Dec 2023 - 0416 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 05 Dec 2023 - 0421 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 05 Dec 2023 - 0426 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 05 Dec 2023 - 0431 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 05 Dec 2023 - 0436 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 05 Dec 2023 - 0441 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 05 Dec 2023 - 0446 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 05 Dec 2023 - 0451 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 05 Dec 2023 - 0456 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 05 Dec 2023 - 0501 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 05 Dec 2023 - 0506 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.
