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Snow and Satellites
It is amazing that the storm we have been talking about for a week or so did end up bringing us accumulating snow to parts of the viewing area! At first, we expected it... then it was looking less likely... but in the end... some of us got it!!
And some of you got it better than others... HEAVY snow fell in areas to the south-southwest of Kansas city. Wilson County, Kansas actually reported 15" of snow near Fredonia! WOW!!
You can see the snow today... it is showing up on our visible satellite image:
Click to enlarge
The reason snow shows up on the VISIBLE satellite imagery... is because this imagery literally shows us the amount of sunlight being scattered back into space by the clouds, aerosols, atmospheric gases, and the Earth's surface.
Thicker clouds have a higher reflectivity (what is called their "albedo") and appear brighter than thinner clouds on a visible image. Snow is great reflector of light... so it ALSO has a very high "albedo," and the earth's surface has a LOW albedo, so it appears very dark. The one big downside to using visible imagery is that... it is only available during daylight hours!!
Anyway, it looks like the snowpack on the ground will slow our warming today. While we DO have breezy southwest winds, they have to blow over the snow-chilled area to our southwest before they get here. Soooo while we *could* be near 60... we will likely stay in the lower 50s.
Thursday looks warmer, though. We should see enough melting today... that by tomorrow, our highs should get into the upper 50s!
That's all for now... make it a good one!
Jamie
Posted by at January 11, 2006 10:59 AM
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Hi guys I finally found out what my topic is for my researh paper. It needed to be a paper to prove a point on a subject. My paper is about how some meteorologists are critized about being wrong on winter storms. I want to expose all the work you have to do for a winter forecast. I was just wondering what type of forecast models do you use in winter forecasting? Is there any additional help you use ex. weather reports from the NWS? What do you need to do to prepare a winter forecast? Could you tell me some things so I can researh on them and expose some of the things you need to do in my paper? Next mon-tues looks like another chance for snow!!! I hope :) We did'nt get much snow in Clinton,Mo we got sleet,freezing rain, and 1/2 inch of snow.
JOHN:
That sounds like a good topic for your paper. Let me try to answer a few of your questions...
The models we use on a daily basis are the NAM, the GFS, the European model, the Canadian, the UKMET, the NGM, the RUC and our ADONIS model.
We look at storm development, moisture content and very important for a winter forecast... temperature profiles.
AFTER the storm, we use snowfall totals to show our viewers... these are sent out by the NWS... and we also get snowfall reports from viewers like you!
Good luck with your paper,
Jamie
Posted by: John Moon III at January 11, 2006 3:19 PM
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Thanks for your information. This will help me a lot. I hope we get some more snow!!! Thanks again John Moon III
JOHN:
You're welcome!!
Tonight's storm is looking more interesting. It looks like it would start as rain and then mix with or switch to sleet or snow by morning.
Jamie
Posted by: John Moon III at January 12, 2006 9:38 AM
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currious as to how you think the "in house" models do compared to global models.. i've seen a lot of tv stations hyping up there hyper-local models, when you show the ADIONS model on the shows do you ever just think "boy, that's messed up" or do you all think it's pretty good compared to the global models?
GLEN:
Great question! The ADONIS model is pretty comparable to the other models we use. I wouldn't say it's any BETTER, but it can have it's good days! And, of course, at times it can be WAY off. Most models are that way... they'll have a really accurate run and then change. Lately, ADONIS has been too cool with temperatures, but fairly good with precipitation.
Jamie
Posted by: Glen Briggs at January 12, 2006 8:51 PM
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