Gustav Shortwave IR?

[Adam Childers]

I was looking at various satellite images of Gustav and I came across a Shortwave IR shot. I was just curious what exactly this is meant to show? The only thing I could think of would be maybe the amount of reflected solar radiation so the higher the value the thicker the clounds in that area? Just kinda curious

 

[rdale]

Not solar - it'd be dark at night if that were the case

http://www.meted.ucar.edu/topics_satellite.php and go through the GOES Channel Selection trainer.

 

[Adam Childers]

Ahhhhhh. OK Mucho thanx!

 

[Gregg Gallina]

Adam,

SWIR is at 3.9um which has more sensitivity to heat signatures with warmer clouds... and so for TC purposes it is "easier" to see lower level clouds and through very very thin cirrus clouds. It is used as a proxy for visible imagery when it is local darkness. This channel is particularly helpful for finding exposed low level circulation (warm cu) near the sfc in a sheared cyclone.