Benefits and limitations

Benefits:

  • This RGB type is useful during the convection period. The cores and anvils of convective clouds are easy to see.
  • AVHRR Cloud RGBs visualize the cloudiness of developed fronts in an informative way.
  • The color of snow-free land reflects the green vegetation fraction ('chlorophyll content'): the more green vegetation there is, the greener the pixel.
  • Because the colors used are (relatively) close to the natural colors of the depicted features, this RGB type is easy to understand and convenient for the public.

Limitations:

  • Low- and medium-level clouds and snow have similar colors.
  • The color contrast between green vegetation and bare soil is not very high. Information on vegetation also depends on temperature.