scholarly journals Estimation of Atmospheric Motion Vectors from Kalpana-1 Imagers

2009 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 2410-2421 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Kishtawal ◽  
S. K. Deb ◽  
P. K. Pal ◽  
P. C. Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Motion Vector ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Radiosonde Data ◽  
Motion Vectors ◽  
Vector Difference ◽  
Atmospheric Motion ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Height Assignment ◽  
Atmospheric Motion Vectors

Abstract The estimation of atmospheric motion vectors from infrared and water vapor channels on the geostationary operational Indian National Satellite System Kalpana-1 has been attempted here. An empirical height assignment technique based on a genetic algorithm is used to determine the height of cloud and water vapor tracers. The cloud-motion-vector (CMV) winds at high and midlevels and water vapor winds (WVW) derived from Kalpana-1 show a very close resemblance to the corresponding Meteosat-7 winds derived at the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites when both are compared separately with radiosonde data. The 3-month mean vector difference (MVD) of high- and midlevel CMV and WVW winds derived from Kalpana-1 is very close to that of Meteosat-7 winds, when both are compared with radiosonde. When comparing with radiosonde, the low-level CMVs from Kalpana-1 have a higher MVD value than that of Meteosat-7. This may be due to the difference in spatial resolutions of Kalpana-1 and Meteosat-7.

scholarly journals A Direct Link between Feature Tracking and Height Assignment of Operational EUMETSAT Atmospheric Motion Vectors

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Régis Borde ◽  
Marie Doutriaux-Boucher ◽  
Greg Dew ◽  
Manuel Carranza
Keyword(s):  
Feature Tracking ◽  
Cross Correlation ◽  
Motion Vectors ◽  
Tracking Process ◽  
Extraction Scheme ◽  
Atmospheric Motion ◽  
Image Pixels ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Height Assignment ◽  
Atmospheric Motion Vectors

Abstract Height assignment (HA) is currently the most challenging task in the operational atmospheric motion vectors’ (AMV) extraction scheme. Several sources of error are associated with the height assignment step, including the sensitivity of the HA methods to several atmospheric parameters. However, one of the main difficulties is to identify, for the HA calculation, the most significant image pixels used in the feature-tracking process. The most widely used method selects the coldest pixels in a representative target box (e.g., coldest 25%) to infer the height of the detected feature, irrespective of what was tracked. This paper presents a method based on a closer link between the pixels used for tracking and their HA. The individual contribution to the overall tracking cross-correlation coefficient is used to identify the most significant pixels contributing to the tracking. This approach has been implemented operationally at European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) to derive AMVs since September 2012. This paper details the method, gives specific examples, and provides a first glance at its performances and benefits for the operational AMV production.

scholarly journals GEO-GEO Stereo-Tracking of Atmospheric Motion Vectors (AMVs) from the Geostationary Ring

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Carr ◽  
Dong L. Wu ◽  
Jaime Daniels ◽  
Mariel D. Friberg ◽  
Wayne Bresky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Convection ◽  
Motion Vectors ◽  
Fire Smoke ◽  
Atmospheric Motion ◽  
Image Navigation ◽  
Boundary Layer Dynamics ◽  
Vantage Points ◽  
Height Assignment ◽  
Atmospheric Motion Vectors ◽  
Geostationary Ring

Height assignment is an important problem for satellite measurements of Atmospheric Motion Vectors (AMVs) that are interpreted as winds by forecast and assimilation systems. Stereo methods assign heights to AMVs from the parallax observed between observations from different vantage points in orbit while tracking cloud or moisture features. In this paper, we fully develop the stereo method to jointly retrieve wind vectors with their geometric heights from geostationary satellite pairs. Synchronization of observations between observing systems is not required. NASA and NOAA stereo-winds codes have implemented this method and we have processed large datasets from GOES-16, -17, and Himawari-8. Our retrievals are validated against rawinsonde observations and demonstrate the potential to improve forecast skill. Stereo winds also offer an important mitigation for the loop heat pipe anomaly on GOES-17 during times when warm focal plane temperatures cause infra-red channels that are needed for operational height assignments to fail. We also examine several application areas, including deep convection in tropical cyclones, planetary boundary layer dynamics, and fire smoke plumes, where stereo methods provide insights into atmospheric processes. The stereo method is broadly applicable across the geostationary ring where systems offering similar Image Navigation and Registration (INR) performance as GOES-R are deployed.

scholarly journals GEO-GEO Stereo-Tracking of Atmospheric Motion Vectors (AMVs) from the Geostationary Ring

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Carr ◽  
Dong L. Wu ◽  
Jaime Daniels ◽  
Mariel D. Friberg ◽  
Wayne Bresky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Convection ◽  
Motion Vectors ◽  
Fire Smoke ◽  
Atmospheric Motion ◽  
Image Navigation ◽  
Boundary Layer Dynamics ◽  
Vantage Points ◽  
Height Assignment ◽  
Atmospheric Motion Vectors ◽  
Geostationary Ring

Height assignment is an important problem for satellite measurements of Atmospheric Motion Vectors (AMVs) that are interpreted as winds by forecast and assimilation systems. Stereo methods assign heights to AMVs from the parallax observed between observations from different vantage points in orbit while tracking cloud or moisture features. In this paper, we fully develop the stereo method to jointly retrieve wind vectors with their geometric heights from geostationary satellite pairs. Synchronization of observations between observing systems is not required. NASA and NOAA stereo-winds codes have implemented this method and we have processed large datasets from GOES-16, -17, and Himawari-8. Our retrievals are validated against rawinsonde observations and demonstrate the potential to improve forecast skill. Stereo winds also offer an important mitigation for the loop heat pipe anomaly on GOES-17 during times when warm focal plane temperatures cause infra-red channels that are needed for operational height assignments to fail. We also examine several application areas, including deep convection in tropical cyclones, planetary boundary layer dynamics, and fire smoke plumes, where stereo methods provide insights into atmospheric processes. The stereo method is broadly applicable across the geostationary ring where systems offering similar Image Navigation and Registration (INR) performance as GOES-R are deployed.

scholarly journals Development and Intercomparison Study of an Atmospheric Motion Vector Retrieval Algorithm for GEO-KOMPSAT-2A

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 2054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soo Min Oh ◽  
Régis Borde ◽  
Manuel Carranza ◽  
In-Chul Shin
Keyword(s):  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Motion Vector ◽  
Inversion Layer ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Total Contribution ◽  
Sensitivity Tests ◽  
Vector Difference ◽  
Atmospheric Motion ◽  
Height Assignment

We derived an atmospheric motion vector (AMV) algorithm for the Geostationary Korea Multipurpose Satellite (GEO-KOMPSAT-2A; GK-2A) launched on 4 December 2018, using the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) onboard Himawari-8, which is very similar to the Advanced Meteorological Imager onboard GK-2A. This study clearly describes the main steps in our algorithm and optimizes it for the target box size and height assignment methods by comparing AMVs with numerical weather prediction (NWP) and rawinsonde profiles for July 2016 and January 2017. Target box size sensitivity tests were performed from 8 × 8 to 48 × 48 pixels for three infrared channels and from 16 × 16 to 96 × 96 pixels for one visible channel. The results show that the smaller box increases the speed, whereas the larger one slows the speed without quality control. The best target box sizes were found to be 16 × 16 for CH07, 08, and 13, and 48 × 48 pixels for CH03. Height assignment sensitivity tests were performed for several methods, such as the cross-correlation coefficient (CCC), equivalent blackbody temperature (EBBT), infrared/water vapor (IR/WV) intercept, and CO2 slicing methods for a cloudy target as well as normalized total contribution (NTC) and normalized total cumulative contribution (NTCC) for a clear-air target. For a cloudy target, the CCC method is influenced by the quality of the cloud’s top pressure. Better results were found when using EBBT and IR/WV intercept methods together rather than individually. Furthermore, CO2 slicing had the best statistics. For a clear-air target, the combined use of NTC and NTCC had the best statistics. Additionally, the mean vector difference, root-mean-square (RMS) vector difference, bias, and RMS error (RMSE) between GK-2A AMVs and NWP or rawinsonde were smaller by approximately 18.2% on average than in the case of the Communication, Ocean and Meteorology Satellite (COMS) AMVs. In addition, we verified the similarity between GK-2A and Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) AMVs using the AHI of Himawari-8 from 21 July 2016. This similarity can provide evidence that the GK-2A algorithm works properly because the GK-2A AMV algorithm borrows many methods of the MTG AMV algorithm for geostationary data and inversion layer corrections. The Pearson correlation coefficients in the speed, direction, and height of the prescribed GK-2A and MTG AMVs were larger than 0.97, and the corresponding bias/RMSE were0.07/2.19 m/s, 0.21/14.8°, and 2.61/62.9 hPa, respectively, considering common quality indicator with forecast (CQIF) > 80.

Simulation of Atmospheric Motion Vectors for an Observing System Simulation Experiment

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald M. Errico ◽  
David Carvalho ◽  
Nikki C. Privé ◽  
Meta Sienkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Feature Tracking ◽  
Simulation Experiment ◽  
System Simulation ◽  
Simulation Experiments ◽  
Motion Vectors ◽  
Vertical Distributions ◽  
Atmospheric Motion ◽  
Atmospheric Motion Vectors ◽  
Observing System Simulation Experiment

AbstractAn algorithm to simulate locations of atmospheric motion vectors for use in observing system simulation experiments is described and demonstrated. It is intended to obviate likely deficiencies in nature run data if used to produce images for feature tracking. The algorithm employs probabilistic functions that are tuned based on distributions of real observations and histograms of nature run fields. For distinct observation types, the algorithm produces geographical and vertical distributions, time-mean counts, and typical spacings of simulated locations that are, at least qualitatively, similar to those of real observations and are associated with nature run cloud and water vapor fields. It thus appears suitable for generating realistic atmospheric motion vectors for use in observing system simulation experiments.

scholarly journals Height Correction of Atmospheric Motion Vectors Using Airborne Lidar Observations

2013 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 1868-1877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Weissmann ◽  
Kathrin Folger ◽  
Heiner Lange
Keyword(s):  
North Pacific Ocean ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Airborne Lidar ◽  
Discrete Level ◽  
Motion Vectors ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Atmospheric Motion ◽  
Height Assignment ◽  
Atmospheric Motion Vectors ◽  
Lidar Observations

AbstractUncertainties in the height assignment of atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) are the main contributor to the total AMV wind error, and these uncertainties introduce errors that can be horizontally correlated over several hundred kilometers. As a consequence, only a small fraction of the available AMVs are currently used in numerical weather prediction systems. For this reason, alternative approaches for the height assignment of AMVs are investigated in this study: 1) using collocated airborne lidar observations and 2) treating AMVs as layer winds instead of winds at a discrete level. Airborne lidar observations from a field campaign in the western North Pacific Ocean region are used to demonstrate the potential of improving AMV heights in an experimental framework. On average, AMV wind errors are reduced by 10%–15% when AMV winds are assigned to a 100–150-hPa-deep layer beneath the cloud top derived from nearby lidar observations. In addition, the lidar–AMV height correction is expected to reduce the correlation of AMV errors as lidars provide independent cloud height information. This suggests that satellite lidars may be a valuable source of information for the AMV height assignment in the future. Furthermore, AMVs are compared with dropsonde and radiosonde winds averaged over vertical layers of different depth to investigate the optimal height assignment for AMVs in data assimilation. Consistent with previous studies, it is shown that AMV winds better match sounding winds vertically averaged over ~100 hPa than sounding winds at a discrete level. The comparison with deeper layers further reduces the RMS difference but introduces systematic differences of wind speeds.

scholarly journals Tropical Cyclone Forecasts Impact Assessment from the Assimilation of Hourly Visible, Shortwave, and Clear-Air Water Vapor Atmospheric Motion Vectors in HWRF

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes H. N. Lim ◽  
James A. Jung ◽  
Sharon E. Nebuda ◽  
Jaime M. Daniels ◽  
Wayne Bresky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Tropical Cyclone ◽  
Tropical Cyclones ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Data Types ◽  
Motion Vectors ◽  
Atmospheric Motion ◽  
Shortwave Infrared ◽  
Atmospheric Motion Vectors ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The assimilation of atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) provides important wind information to conventional data-lacking oceanic regions, where tropical cyclones spend most of their lifetimes. Three new AMV types, shortwave infrared (SWIR), clear-air water vapor (CAWV), and visible (VIS), are produced hourly by NOAA/NESDIS and are assimilated in operational NWP systems. The new AMV data types are added to the hourly infrared (IR) and cloud-top water vapor (CTWV) AMV data in the 2016 operational version of the HWRF Model. In this study, we update existing quality control (QC) procedures and add new procedures specific to tropical cyclone assimilation. We assess the impact of the three new AMV types on tropical cyclone forecasts by conducting assimilation experiments for 25 Atlantic tropical cyclones from the 2015 and 2016 hurricane seasons. Forecasts are analyzed by considering all tropical cyclones as a group and classifying them into strong/weak storm vortices based on their initial model intensity. Metrics such as track error, intensity error, minimum central pressure error, and storm size are used to assess the data impact from the addition of the three new AMV types. Positive impact is obtained for these metrics, indicating that assimilating SWIR-, CAWV-, and VIS-type AMVs are beneficial for tropical cyclone forecasting. Given the results presented here, the new AMV types were accepted into NOAA/NCEP’s operational HWRF for the 2017 hurricane season.

scholarly journals Using machine learning to model uncertainty for water vapor atmospheric motion vectors

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 1941-1957
Author(s):  
Joaquim V. Teixeira ◽  
Hai Nguyen ◽  
Derek J. Posselt ◽  
Hui Su ◽  
Longtao Wu
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Standard Error ◽  
Uncertainty Modeling ◽  
Gaussian Mixture ◽  
Motion Vectors ◽  
Tracking Algorithms ◽  
Error Characterization ◽  
Atmospheric Motion ◽  
Atmospheric Motion Vectors

Abstract. Wind-tracking algorithms produce atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) by tracking clouds or water vapor across spatial–temporal fields. Thorough error characterization of wind-tracking algorithms is critical in properly assimilating AMVs into weather forecast models and climate reanalysis datasets. Uncertainty modeling should yield estimates of two key quantities of interest: bias, the systematic difference between a measurement and the true value, and standard error, a measure of variability of the measurement. The current process of specification of the errors in inverse modeling is often cursory and commonly consists of a mixture of model fidelity, expert knowledge, and need for expediency. The method presented in this paper supplements existing approaches to error specification by providing an error characterization module that is purely data-driven. Our proposed error characterization method combines the flexibility of machine learning (random forest) with the robust error estimates of unsupervised parametric clustering (using a Gaussian mixture model). Traditional techniques for uncertainty modeling through machine learning have focused on characterizing bias but often struggle when estimating standard error. In contrast, model-based approaches such as k-means or Gaussian mixture modeling can provide reasonable estimates of both bias and standard error, but they are often limited in complexity due to reliance on linear or Gaussian assumptions. In this paper, a methodology is developed and applied to characterize error in tracked wind using a high-resolution global model simulation, and it is shown to provide accurate and useful error features of the tracked wind.

scholarly journals Height Correction of Atmospheric Motion Vectors Using Satellite Lidar Observations from CALIPSO

2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 1809-1819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrin Folger ◽  
Martin Weissmann
Keyword(s):  
Prediction Models ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Motion Vectors ◽  
Deep Layers ◽  
Atmospheric Motion ◽  
Height Assignment ◽  
Atmospheric Motion Vectors ◽  
Lidar Observations

AbstractAtmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) provide valuable wind information for the initial conditions of numerical weather prediction models, but height-assignment issues and horizontal error correlations require a rigid thinning of the available AMVs in current data assimilation systems. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of correcting the pressure heights of operational AMVs from the geostationary satellites Meteosat-9 and Meteosat-10 with cloud-top heights derived from lidar observations by the polar-orbiting Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite. The study shows that the wind error of AMVs above 700 hPa is reduced by 12%–17% when AMV winds are assigned to 120-hPa-deep layers below the lidar cloud tops. This result demonstrates the potential of lidar cloud observations for the improvement of the AMV height assignment. In addition, the lidar correction reduces the “slow” bias of current upper-level AMVs and is expected to reduce the horizontal correlation of AMV errors.

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