Scientists came up with the idea of combining previously little-used satellite data with radar observations to improve weather forecasts. article about it published In the Monthly Weather Review.
The scientists discovered that by combining data from the GOES-16 fixed weather satellite with an infrared camera and ground-based Doppler radar, they were able to get a more accurate picture of the initial conditions in the boundary layer, the lowest part of the atmosphere where storms form. . Doppler radar allows you to capture the radial movement of objects (approaching or receding) and filters out static objects.
Understanding the conditions in the boundary layer is particularly important because it strongly influences the components of convection (near-surface moisture, lift, and instability), the process that causes warm air near the Earth’s surface to rise and form clouds.
“It’s clear we can’t model every single molecule in the atmosphere, but we want to get close to it,” the scientists say. “We really believe that this work adds a lot of valuable information that modelers don’t currently have, and that we can help explore the lowest part of the atmosphere.”
The scientists analyzed satellite and radar data separately and simultaneously with statistical assimilation and found that the best results were obtained by combining data on infrared luminosity temperature (from satellite), radial wind speed and boundary layer height (from radar).
The authors hope their method will significantly improve the accuracy of storm forecasting.
Previously, unexpectedly, physics opened a new way to capture a microparticle.