• After witnessing the continued decrease of involvement in the SpotterNetwork staff in serving SN members with troubleshooting issues recently, I have unilaterally decided to terminate the relationship between SpotterNetwork's support and Stormtrack. I have witnessed multiple users unable to receive support weeks after initiating help threads on the forum. I find this lack of response from SpotterNetwork officials disappointing and a failure to hold up their end of the agreement that was made years ago, before I took over management of this site. In my opinion, having Stormtrack users sit and wait for so long to receive help on SpotterNetwork issues on the Stormtrack forums reflects poorly not only on SpotterNetwork, but on Stormtrack and (by association) me as well. Since the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed, I no longer wish for the Stormtrack forum to be associated with SpotterNetwork.

    I apologize to those who continue to have issues with the service and continue to see their issues left unaddressed. Please understand that the connection between ST and SN was put in place long before I had any say over it. But now that I am the "captain of this ship," it is within my right (nay, duty) to make adjustments as I see necessary. Ending this relationship is such an adjustment.

    For those who continue to need help, I recommend navigating a web browswer to SpotterNetwork's About page, and seeking the individuals listed on that page for all further inquiries about SpotterNetwork.

    From this moment forward, the SpotterNetwork sub-forum has been hidden/deleted and there will be no assurance that any SpotterNetwork issues brought up in any of Stormtrack's other sub-forums will be addressed. Do not rely on Stormtrack for help with SpotterNetwork issues.

    Sincerely, Jeff D.

Water vapor imagery

Joined
Sep 25, 2006
Messages
156
How would one spot out short waves on water vapor imagery? I dont use satellite infrared and water vapor much, but I am starting to. Do any of you have any tips or tricks when it comes to these two channels?
 
WV imagery interpretation

First, WV imagery uses a wavelength roughly 15 times longer (in the IR) then visible light. This particular wavelength, about 7000 nm, is readily absorbed by the atmosphere. This allows for atmospheric gas concentrations to be observed without interference from surface features. Moisture in the layer extending from about 15,000 ft to 40,000 ft altitude shows up as a lighter color then areas which are drier, which show up darker. This allows one to see moisture in the atmosphere, not just cloud patterns where moisture has condensed. One can then see circulation patterns and other features even when clouds are not present.

Because organized atmospheric disturbances usually have large regions of upward (or downward) motion and consequent moistening (or drying), the water vapor data can often be used to locate and define synoptic features such as shortwave troughs, ridges, jet streams, etc.

[FONT=&quot]- bill[/FONT]
 
What would a short wave trough look like on water vapor imagery?

Right now (4 PM CDT, 07/21/07), several weak shortwaves are rounding the central US ridge and diving into the Upper-Midwest.

http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/post-goes

Go to Water Vapor imagery. Select animation and click northwest Iowa on the map. It helps to speed the animation up. Look for lighter areas with cyclonic rotation. The first of several waves embedded in northwesterly upper-flow is shifting through IL while a second wave is approaching northeastern IA. With dry and stable conditions in these areas, no weather is occurring other then some thin cirrus. Further upstream, stronger shortwave energy is pushing to the east along the SD/ND border. Later tonight, lift from this feature will assist in the genesis of a convective complex as a LLJ develops and transports moisture north over a developing WF. Storms will develop in eastern and northeastern ND after 10 PM CDT, and the complex will expand to the southeast and track through northern MN overnight.

[FONT=&quot]- bill[/FONT]
 
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