" The usefulness of RGB products: theperspective of the Australian Bureau ofMeteorology "Presenter: Bodo Zeschke. Bureau of Meteorology
Training Centre, Australian VLab Centre of Excellence
Point of Contact
Should you use these resources please acknowledge the Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Training Centre. In addition, you need to retain acknowledgement in the PowerPoint slides ofthe Japan Meteorological Agency, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and any other sourcesof information.

Contents of this session
12

True Colour RGB: Volcanic Ash

The new capabilities of Himawari-8 / 934Night Microphysics
RGB: Fog/LowCloudDay Convection
RGB:Thunderstorms,
Tropical Storms

Changes from MTSAT-2 toHimawari-8

Himawari-8

MTSAT-2

10 minute images in colour

satellite images courtesy Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)

Hourly / halfhourly images
in greyscale

Question to 115 Australian Bureau of Meteorology
staff*: Compare the usefulness of Himawari-8 data to
MTSAT-2 data when forecasting.

420

More usefulSame2269

Not used MTSAT-2 data
Other comments* Results to be published in the research paper "How Himawari-8 data has revolutionised the work of Bureau Forecasters", Zeschke et al. 2018

Forecaster use of Himawari-8 data

Day / night product transition

Various speeds of animation

Multi-panel displays

Adapting the EUMETSAT tuned products toHimawari-8 data by regional forecasters andother operational staff

Adapting the EUMETSAT tuned products to Himawari-8 data by
regional forecasters and other operational staff
http://www.virtuallab.bom.gov.au/archive/regional-focus-group-recordings/

There are a lot of resources pertaining to WMO RAV stakeholders
development of Himawari-8 data and data products posted on this webpage.
This includes the recordings of over four years of monthly Australian VLabCentre of Excellence Regional Focus Group meetings.

True Colour RGB: Detection and monitoring of volcanic ash
Tavurvur eruption, Papua New Guinea, June 2009

image from Wikimedia Commons (author Taro Taylor)images courtesy JMA/BOM

MTSAT-2 greyscale visible channel compared toHimawari-8 True Colour RGB
Manam volcanic eruption of 31st July 2015 0135 to 0225UTC

MTSAT-2
hourly data
(start of scan timegiven)

Himawari-8
True Colour
RGB 10minute data
(start of scan timegiven)

10 minute Himawari-8 data permits the eruption to be captured in near real time
The Himawari-8 product shows the brown volcanic ash and the white cloudSome limitations in monitoring volcanic ash eruptions bysatellite
image courtesy NASA
images courtesy JMA/BOM
Himawari-8 Band 3

Ash RGB product

MODIS True ColourAI

Ash coated with ice (AI)

Small plumes (Bagana, PNG 30 May 2016)(Manam, PNG 24 October 2004)

Forwarded to Darwin VAAC by Luth Boroh

Photo courtesy of David Innes, Air Niugini

Terra MODIS imageThin ash(Rinjani eruption, 3 November 2015)

Ash below cloud – to FL330(Manam eruption, 10 November 2004)

Rinjani eruption: MODIS image and pilot report
Note: the satellite monitors the plume in the near vertical whereas pilots observe the plumeobliquely. Due to the longer path length of radiation passing obliquely through the plume,
Pilots may see evidence of volcanic ash where this is not detectable in satellite imagery.

image courtesy NASA/EOSDIS/Lance Rapid Response

TERRA MODIS imager 0310UTC, 4th November 2015.

Pilot photos from 03UTC,
4th November 2015.
Forwarded to Darwin VAAC by Luth BorohLimitations of the True Colour RGB productCannot beused at night

06UTC 25Oct 201703UTC 25Oct 2017

images courtesy JMA

12UTC 25Oct 201709UTC 25Oct 2017

One solution: using the infrared window
channel (Himawari-8 Band 13) at night

However, Band
13 generally
cannot reveal
low cloud /fog
06UTC 25Oct 201703UTC 25Oct 2017

images courtesy JMA/BOM

12UTC 25Oct 201709UTC 25Oct 2017

A better solution: using the "cats eye" Night
Microphysics RGB product at night

06UTC 25Oct 201703UTC 25Oct 201712UTC 25Oct 201709UTC 25Oct 2017fog /lowcloud atnight

animation courtesy JMA/BOM

images courtesy B.Zeschke

Night Microphysics RGB product for fog/low cloud detection(Melbourne fog clearing 20th April 2009)

The Night Microphysics RGB product compared to the infrared productimages courtesy JMA/BOM(Southeastern Australia, 19UTC 27th January 2017)

Melbourne

Melbourne
Eureka Tower,
MelbourneNight Microphysics RGB formula
Melbourne image courtesy B.Zeschkeimages courtesy JMA/BOM

The advantages of the Night
Microphysics RGB productNight Microphysics RGB
showing station visibility in meters (yellow) and cloud base height in feet (blue / black)

Southeast Australia 20UTC 4th May 2017

Melbourne

short wave infrared (3.9micron)Infrared (10.4 micron)Question to 115 Australian Bureau of Meteorology
staff*: How useful have you found the new Himawari-8
data when briefing stakeholders (pilots etc.)?

Very useful15

5Useful

No satellite data used
Have not conducted
briefings
Other comments

3771* Results to be published in the research paper "How Himawari-8 data has revolutionised the work of Bureau Forecasters", Zeschke et al. 2018

image courtesy B.Zeschke

The "Hector" thunderstorm of northern AustraliaSome satellite products for the monitoring of Convection:
the BOM version of the "Sandwich Product"
Upper layer: IR10.4 BT image

Bottom layer (“background”):
HRV image

Blending options – applied tothe upper layer-20C

Mid-latitude-70C-20C

Tropical-80C

Upper layer opacity set somewhere between
40 to 75%

I have chosen 50% for the Sandwich
Product,
adapted from "Satellite Observations of Storm Tops (part 1)" Martin Setvak, Czech Hydrometeorological Institutehttp://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Data/Training/TrainingLibrary/DAT_2042885.html

images courtesy JMA

Introducing the Day Convection RGBDay Convection RGBRange

Gamma

6.2 – 7.3 micron-35 to 5

1.0

3.9-10.4 micron-5 to 60

0.5

1.6-0.6 micron-75 to +20%

1.0

CHANNEL COMBINATION (mid-latitude
EUMETSAT recipe)

Himawari-8 channels
High level cloudSmall ice particles

Thin cirrus cloud
Large ice particles

Thin cirrus cloudSmall ice particles

Small iceparticles
at storm
top may
indicateseverestorms

High level cloud
Large ice particles

Some satellite products for the monitoring of Convection:
The Day Convection RGB / Visible Sandwich Product"
Upper layer: Day Convection RGB image

Bottom layer (“background”):
HRV image

Blending options – applied tothe upper layer

Day Convection RGB(Mid-latitude)

Range

Gamma

WV6.2 - WV7.3 BTD-35 to 5

1.0

IR3.9 - IR10.4 BTD-5 to 60

0.5

NIR1.6 - VIS0.6 REFL

-75 to 25%

1.0

Day Convection RGB(Tropical)

Range

Gamma

WV6.2 - WV7.3 BTD-35 to 5

1.0

IR3.9 - IR10.4 BTD-5 to 75

0.33

NIR1.6 - VIS0.6 REFL

-75 to 25%

1.0Upper layer opacity set to 75% for the DayConvection RGB Sandwich ProductThe contrast of the HRV layer has been
increased to 300 and the brightness reducedto -110

East Korea Convective
Development, 18 June 2017
Sandwich Product with lightning data,
RADAR (QC) and Day Convection RGB
Sandwich product (0730 UTC)
images courtesy JMA/BOM, lightning data courtesy WeatherZone

RADAR image courtesy KMA

First cumulus field develops in satellite imagery:
RADAR images
courtesy Korea
Meteorological
Administration (KMA)no signal
detectedin theradar

0340-0350UTC (1240-1250KST)

satellite images courtesy
JMA/BOMSokchoCheongju

signaldetected intheHimawari-8
data

RADAR images
courtesy Korea
Meteorological
Administration (KMA)First lightning strikes recorded:satellite images courtesy
JMA/BOM

0540-0550UTC (1440-1450KST)
Sokchosignaldetected in
Cheongju
both theHimawari-8and radardataimages courtesy JMA/BOM

Monitoring cloud top temperatures and ice
crystal size to determine Tropical Cyclone
intensity and development

Potentially severe convective outbreak on
the flank of the tropical cyclone

Question to 115 Australian Bureau of Meteorology staff*:
Limitations in the Himawari-8 data

3Delay in Data Display

34

Large amount of Data /high Data frequency
Complexity of Products

2987
Colour Vision
Deficiency* Results to be published in the research paper "How Himawari-8 data has revolutionised the work of Bureau Forecasters", Zeschke et al. 2018

Summary of the session
12

True Colour RGB: Volcanic Ash

The new capabilities of Himawari-8 / 934

Night Microphysics
RGB: Fog/Low
CloudDay Convection
RGB:
Thunderstorms,
Tropical Storms

ありがとうございます

Thank You

ありがとうございます
Thank You