Use of Satellite Imagery in Synoptic-Scale Weather Analysis and Forecasting

Abstract

The first observations from meteorological satellites were cloud pictures. These wee put to use immediately and are still used daily for locating storms over ocean areas (see Chapters VII-7 and VII-10). To use cloud imagery successfully for analysis of synoptic-scale storms, two criteria must be met: (1) entire storms and their surroundings must be viewed approximately simultaneously, and (2) the frequency of observations must be no less than once every 12 hours and preferably once every 6 hours. The first criterion was met in 1966 with data from the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) polar orbiters. In 1972, the NOAA series of polar orbiters provided images twice a day. In 1974 the GOES satellites increased the frequency of observations to every 30 min, permitting the producting of time lapse animation of synoptic-scale weather systems.