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MERIS full‐resolution total column water vapor: Observing horizontal convective rolls
Author(s) -
Carbajal Henken C. K.,
Diedrich H.,
Preusker R.,
Fischer J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2015gl066650
Subject(s) - radiosonde , water vapor , convection , imaging spectrometer , geology , resolution (logic) , wavelength , meteorology , image resolution , environmental science , remote sensing , spectrometer , optics , physics , artificial intelligence , computer science
This study presents the first analysis of small‐scale convective structures observed in a total column water vapor (TCWV) field obtained from full‐resolution Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) near‐infrared measurements. The high‐resolution MERIS TCWV field for a high‐pressure event occurring in May over central Europe allows the detection of horizontal convective rolls, due to the observation of parallel bands of alternating low‐ and high‐TCWV values. The bands are aligned parallel to the boundary layer winds obtained from a numerical weather prediction model and radiosonde data. Closer examination further reveals that cloud streets observed in the east extend along bands of maximum TCWV. From a quantitative analysis of the TCWV data, combined with auxiliary data, it is shown that the roll wavelength and aspect ratio can be determined, which are found to be 6.5 km and 4.2, respectively, for this case study.