Table of Contents
Cloud Top Height (CTOP)
Cloud Classification (Cloud Class)
Global Convective Diagnosis (GCD)
Sea Surface Temperature (SST)
QuikSCAT near-surface winds (QuikSCAT)
Observed CAPE from Sounder (AIRS-CAPE)
Global Forecasting System Stability (GFS-Stability)
Global Forecasting System Frontal Likelihood (GFS-FrntLike)
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Lightning Climatology (TRMM-Ltg-Climo)
Convective Diagnosis Oceanic (CDO)
Convective Nowcasting Oceanic 1 hour (CNO 1-hr)
Convective Nowcasting Oceanic 2 hour (CNO 2-hr)
Cloud Top Height (CTOP)
The Cloud Top Height (CTOP) product combines geostationary satellite Infrared data and numerical weather prediction output to create a detailed diagnosis of the estimated heights of convective cloud tops over the open ocean. Provided that clouds are of sufficient optical thickness such that transmission from the lower atmosphere may be safely neglected (such as occurs within deep convection), the emitting temperature of the cloud across the ~11.0 micron window channel is assumed to be representative of the ambient environment. Soundings generated by the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Forecasting System (GFS) numerical model are employed to convert the satellite brightness temperatures to flight-level altitudes (expressed in Kilo-feet). Specifically, the CTOP makes a conversion from satellite brightness temperature to the equivalent GFS pressure surface. This pressure level is then used to interpolate to a standard atmosphere height. Similarly, aircraft altimeters also convert a pressure measurement to an equivalent altitude using the standard atmosphere.
The product performs for both day- and night-time hours and gives valid results for clouds with tops at and above 15,000 feet.
The Naval Research Laboratory in Monterey, CA (NRL-MRY) originally developed the CTOP algorithm. The following reference applies:
Cloud Classification (Cloud Class)
The Naval Research Laboratory in Monterey, CA (NRL-MRY) originally developed the Cloud Classification algorithm. The following references apply:
Global Convective Diagnosis (GCD)
The Aviation Weather Center in Kansas City, KS originally developed the GCD algorithm. The following references apply:
Sea Surface Temperature (SST)
QuikSCAT near-surface winds (QuikSCAT)
Observed CAPE from Sounder (AIRS-CAPE)
Global Forecasting System Stability (GFS-Stability)
Global Forecasting System Frontal Likelihood (GFS-FrntLike)
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Lightning Climatology (TRMM-Ltg-Climo)
Convective Diagnosis Oceanic (CDO)
The following paper describes each of the convective algorithms input into the CDO and validates them against TRMM mission products:
Convective Nowcasting Oceanic 1 hour (CNO 1-hr)
Convective Nowcasting Oceanic 2 hour (CNO 2-hr)