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 Image For Rapid Cyclogenesis 00.00 UTC

19 February 1997/00.00 UTC - Meteosat IR image	19 February 1997/00.00 UTC - Meteosat WV image

Already during the frontal diagnosis the cloud configurations to the north-north-west of the frontal cloud band (north-north-west of the line 44N/30W - 55N/15W) have been mentioned and called cloud head. This expression indicates already the first guess about the existence of the conceptual model of a Rapid Cyclogenesis (compare Conceptual Models: Rapid Cyclogenesis ). However, cloudiness deviates in many instances from the typical configurations described for a Rapid Cyclogenesis. The images above show a cloud system which is clearly separated from the frontal cloudiness and has over a wide area lower cloud tops; thus it can be interpreted as the typical cloud shield which protrudes from below the frontal cloudiness. But in this case the cloud head area is by far too extended and shows two separate cloud bulges. It is not clear from the imagery which of the two bulges (if any) belongs to a Rapid Cyclogenesis. This uncertainty is increased by an even more distinct double structure in the WV imagery (right image).