View in EDS

GLM and ABI Characteristics of Severe and Convective Storms.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: GLM and ABI Characteristics of Severe and Convective Storms.
Authors: Thiel, Kevin C.1,2,3 kevin.thiel@ou.edu, Calhoun, Kristin M.3, Reinhart, Anthony E.3, MacGorman, Donald R.1,2
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres. 9/16/2020, Vol. 125 Issue 17, p1-22. 22p.
Subject Terms: *Thunderstorms, *Temperature, *Storms, Lightning, Natural satellites
Abstract: The recent deployment of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) on board GOES‐16 and GOES‐17 provides a new perspective of total lightning production for the severe convective storms research and operational communities. While the GLM has met its performance targets, further understanding flash characteristics and the physical limitations of the GLM are required to increase the applicability of the data. Derived cloud‐top height and infrared (IR) brightness temperature products from the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) are used to assess data quality and characteristics from gridded GLM imagery across 7 weeks of active severe weather: 13 April through 31 May 2019. Areas with cloud tops colder than 240 K typically produced lightning, though this becomes less certain near the edge of the field of view due to algorithm limitations. Increasing flash rates were observed to correlate with decreasing flash areas, increasing cloud‐top heights, and colder cloud‐top temperatures. However, flash rates and size were more strongly tied to convective intensity and proximity to convective hazards at the surface due to the ability to delineate between convective and stratiform precipitation. Results show that merging ABI and GLM data sets could add value to both machine learning and statistical‐based algorithms and also forecast applications with each providing unique details, although parameters such as GOES‐16 viewing angle should be considered. Lastly, two case studies (24 and 27 May 2019) are used to help interpret the results from the 7‐week sampling period and identify GLM and ABI trends related to thunderstorm evolution. Plain Language Summary: This study investigates the utility of lightning flash data from the new Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) on the recently launched U.S. weather satellites. Guidance regarding the use of GLM data is needed to improve the quality of forecasts and research, especially when using the data for nonsevere and severe thunderstorms. Comparisons are made between the rate of flashes and their size, along with cloud‐top properties from another instrument on the weather satellite, the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI). Using 7 weeks of data during the peak of the 2019 severe storms season (April and May), we demonstrate that higher lightning flash rates are correlated with smaller‐sized flashes as a thunderstorm's cloud top becomes higher and colder. Cloud tops colder than approximately −30°C may also be used to discriminate between regions with and without lightning activity. Key Points: Areas with cloud tops colder than 240 K typically produce lightningIncreasing local flash density correlates with decreasing flash areas, higher cloud‐top heights, and colder cloud‐top temperaturesThe GOES‐16 viewing angle to convective features complicates the interpretation of ABI data, especially cloud‐top height [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: GreenFILE
Description
Abstract:The recent deployment of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) on board GOES‐16 and GOES‐17 provides a new perspective of total lightning production for the severe convective storms research and operational communities. While the GLM has met its performance targets, further understanding flash characteristics and the physical limitations of the GLM are required to increase the applicability of the data. Derived cloud‐top height and infrared (IR) brightness temperature products from the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) are used to assess data quality and characteristics from gridded GLM imagery across 7 weeks of active severe weather: 13 April through 31 May 2019. Areas with cloud tops colder than 240 K typically produced lightning, though this becomes less certain near the edge of the field of view due to algorithm limitations. Increasing flash rates were observed to correlate with decreasing flash areas, increasing cloud‐top heights, and colder cloud‐top temperatures. However, flash rates and size were more strongly tied to convective intensity and proximity to convective hazards at the surface due to the ability to delineate between convective and stratiform precipitation. Results show that merging ABI and GLM data sets could add value to both machine learning and statistical‐based algorithms and also forecast applications with each providing unique details, although parameters such as GOES‐16 viewing angle should be considered. Lastly, two case studies (24 and 27 May 2019) are used to help interpret the results from the 7‐week sampling period and identify GLM and ABI trends related to thunderstorm evolution. Plain Language Summary: This study investigates the utility of lightning flash data from the new Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) on the recently launched U.S. weather satellites. Guidance regarding the use of GLM data is needed to improve the quality of forecasts and research, especially when using the data for nonsevere and severe thunderstorms. Comparisons are made between the rate of flashes and their size, along with cloud‐top properties from another instrument on the weather satellite, the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI). Using 7 weeks of data during the peak of the 2019 severe storms season (April and May), we demonstrate that higher lightning flash rates are correlated with smaller‐sized flashes as a thunderstorm's cloud top becomes higher and colder. Cloud tops colder than approximately −30°C may also be used to discriminate between regions with and without lightning activity. Key Points: Areas with cloud tops colder than 240 K typically produce lightningIncreasing local flash density correlates with decreasing flash areas, higher cloud‐top heights, and colder cloud‐top temperaturesThe GOES‐16 viewing angle to convective features complicates the interpretation of ABI data, especially cloud‐top height [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:2169897X
DOI:10.1029/2020JD032858