Notice: As of 4:26 p.m. EDT,
the GOES-16 ABI Imager (GOES-East) is offline due to a reported thermal anomaly.
No GOES-East images will be updated while the satellite is offline.
As soon as data flow is restored, we will begin processing images and update the site.
GOES-West continues to operate normally.
23 Aug 2024 - 21:44 EDT
24 Aug 2024 - 01:44 UTC
GOES-West Full Disk - Air Mass
2 hour loop - 12 images - 10 minute update
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Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 23 Aug 2024 - 2320 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 23 Aug 2024 - 2330 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 23 Aug 2024 - 2340 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 23 Aug 2024 - 2350 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 24 Aug 2024 - 0000 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 24 Aug 2024 - 0010 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 24 Aug 2024 - 0020 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 24 Aug 2024 - 0030 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 24 Aug 2024 - 0040 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 24 Aug 2024 - 0050 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 24 Aug 2024 - 0100 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 24 Aug 2024 - 0110 UTC
Key for AirMass RGB:
1 - Jet stream / potential vorticity (PV) / deformation zones / dry upper level (dark red / orange)
2 - Cold air mass (dark blue/purple)
3 - Warm air mass (green)
4 - Warm air mass, less moisture (olive/dark orange)
5 - High thick cloud (white)
6 - Mid level cloud (tan/salmon)
7 - Low level cloud (green, dark blue)
8 - Limb effects (purple/blue)
Air Mass RGB is used to diagnose the environment surrounding synoptic systems by enhancing temperature and moisture characteristics of airmasses. Cyclogenesis can be inferred by the identification of warm, dry, ozone-rich descending stratospheric air associated with jet streams and potential vorticity (PV) anomalies. The RGB can be used to validate the location of PV anomalies in model data. Additionally, this RGB can distinguish between polar and tropical airmasses, especially along upper-level frontal boundaries and identify high-, mid-, and low-level clouds.