Case Study: 19 February 1997

• I. Frontal Diagnosis - 19 February 1997/00.00 UTC
  • Overview of satellite imagery for 00.00 UTC
  • Key parameters on isobaric surfaces for 00.00 UTC
  • Use of vertical cross sections for 00.00 UTC
• II. Frontal Diagnosis - 19 February 1997/06.00 UTC
  • Overview of satellite imagery for 06.00 UTC
  • Key parameters on isobaric surfaces for 06.00 UTC
  • Use of vertical cross sections for 06.00 UTC
• III. Diagnosis of Rapid Cyclogenesis and Upper Level Trough Feature - 19 February 1997/00.00 UTC
  • Overview of satellite imagery for Rapid Cyclogenesis 00.00 UTC
  • Key parameters on isobaric surfaces for Rapid Cyclogenesis 00.00 UTC
• IV. Diagnosis of Rapid Cyclogenesis and Upper Level Trough Feature - 19 February 1997/06.00 UTC
  • Overview of satellite imagery for Rapid Cyclogenesis 06.00 UTC
  • Key parameters on isobaric surfaces for Rapid Cyclogenesis 06.00 UTC
  • Relative streams and conveyor belts for Rapid Cyclogenesis 06.00 UTC
• V. Very Short Range Forecast
  • Very Short Range Forecast for the frontal system
  • Very Short Range Forecast for the Rapid Cyclogenesis and the Comma feature
  • Verification of Very Short Range Forecast

19 February 1997 - Overview Of Satellite Imagery For 06.00 UTC

19 February 1997/06.00 UTC - Meteosat IR image	19 February 1997/06.00 UTC - Meteosat WV image

The Cold Front cloud band and the Warm Front cloud shield are still easily recognizable (left image). The cold front is accompanied by some narrow fibres which are typical for the jet axis. The whole cloud system has moved eastward with the cloud shield of the Warm Front now being superimposed on the British Isles. As before, the structures in the WV image (right image) are even more distinct with a broad humid shield in the area of the Warm Front and a characteristic Black Stripe at the rear of the Cold Front band.

This black stripe separates the frontal cloud features from the cloud head to the north very distinctly. In contrast to the frontal features which have maintained their appearance during the last six hours, the cloud head has undergone many more changes. This will be discussed later in a separate chapter about Rapid Cyclogenesis and upper level features (compare Diagnosis of Rapid Cyclogenesis and Upper Level Trough Feature - 19 February 1997/00.00 UTC and Diagnosis of Rapid Cyclogenesis and Upper Level Trough Feature - 19 February 1997/06.00 UTC).