Weather Analysis and Forecasting is a practical guide to using potential vorticity fields and water vapor imagery from satellites to elucidate complex weather patterns and train meteorologists to improve operational forecasting. In particular, it details the use of the close relationship between satellite imagery and the potential vorticity fields in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. It shows how to interpret water vapor patterns in terms of dynamical processes in the atmosphere and their relation to diagnostics available from weather prediction models.
The book explores topics including: a dynamical view of synoptic development; the interpretation problem of satellite water vapor imagery; practical use of water vapor imagery and dynamical fields; significant water vapor imagery features associated with synoptic dynamical structures; and use of water vapor imagery for assessing NWP model behavior and improving forecasts. Applications are illustrated with color images based on real meteorological situations.
The book's step-by-step pedagogy makes this an essential training manual for forecasters in meteorological services worldwide, and a valuable text for graduate students in atmospheric physics and satellite meteorology.
Key Features
* Shows how to analyze current satellite images for assessing weather models' behavior and improving forecasts * Provides step-by-step pedagogy for understanding and interpreting meteorological processes * Includes full-color throughout to highlight "real-world" models, patterns, and examples1. A Dynamical View of Synoptic Development
1.1 Vorticity and Potential Vorticity
1.2 The Concept of PV Thinking
1.3 Operational Use of PV Fields for Monitoring Synoptic Development
2. The Interpretation Problem of Satellite Water Vapor Imagery
2.1 Radiation Measurements in Water Vapor Absorption Bands
2.2 Information Content of Water Vapor Image Gray Shades
PART II: Practical Use of Water Vapor Imagery and Dynamical Fields
3. Significant Water Vapor Imagery Features Associated with Synoptic Dynamical Structures
3.1 Interpretation of Synoptic-Scale Light and Dark Imagery Features
3.2 Mid- to Upper-Troposphere Wind Field
3.3 Blocking Regimes
3.4 Cyclogenesis
3.5 WV Imagery Analysis of Main Ingredients of a Severe Weather Situation
3.6 Summary
4. Use of Water Vapor Imagery for Assessing NWP Model Behavior and Improving Forecasts
4.1 Operational Use of the Relationship Between PV Fields and WV Imagery
4.2 Synthetic (Pseudo) Water Vapor Images
4.3 Comparing PV Fields, WV Imagery, and Synthetic WV Images
4.4 Agreement Among the WV Image, the PV Field, and the Synthetic WV Image/NWP Moisture Distribution
4.5 Instances of Mismatch Between the Synthetic WV Image/NWP Moisture Distribution and the PV Field
4.6 Mismatch Between the WV Image and the PV Field and Agreement Between the PV Field and the Synthetic Image/NWP Moisture Distribution
4.7 Using Satellite and Synthetic WV Images and PV Concepts to Get an Alternative Numerical Forecast
4.8 Summary
Conclusion
Appendices
A. A Radiative Transfer Theory and Some Radiation Effects for the WV channels of Meteosat, GOES, and MSG
B. Synthetic (Pseudo) Water Vapor Images
C. PV Modification Technique and PV Inversion to Correct the Initial State of the Numerical Model
D. Glossary of Acronyms
References
Index
Hartmann: Global Physical Climatology (May 1994, ISBN-10/13: 0-12-328530-5/ 978-0-12-328530-0)
Holton : An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, 4e (May 2004, ISBN-10/13: 0-12-354017-8/ 978-0-12-354017-1)
