2009/04/02 by Kenneth L. Pryor, Pryor, Kenneth L.
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Atmospheric aerosols and clouds #Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph) #Climate variability and models #FOS: Physical sciences #Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations #physics.ao-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0904.0446
13 pages, 6 figures
arxiv created 2009/04/02 · openalex publication_date 2009/04/02 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
A GOES-West (GOES-11) imager microburst algorithm that employs brightness temperature differences between band 3, band 4, and split window band 5 has been developed to supplement the sounder-derived microburst products. Band 3 is intended to indicate mid to upper-level moisture content and advection while band 5 indicates low-level moisture content. Large BTDs between bands 3 and 5 imply a large relative humidity gradient between the mid-troposphere and the surface, a condition favorable for strong convective downdraft generation due to evaporational cooling of precipitation in the deep sub-cloud layer. In addition, small BTDs between bands 4 and 5 indicate a relatively dry surface layer with solar heating in progress. This paper provides further assessment of the GOES imager microburst product, case studies demonstrating effective operational use of the microburst products, and validation results for the 2008 convective season over Arizona.