# Extended guide to the Cloud Type RGB

## Print Version

## Chapter IX: Summary

- Summary

### Summary

The Cloud Type RGB is a new RGB using MTG FCI data. It uses the new NIR1.3 channel, which measures within a strong water vapour absorption band of the solar spectrum, the first time this is done by a European geostationary meteorological satellite.

The primary aim of this RGB is to provide information about thin high-level features, such as thin cirrus or aerosol plumes. The main application areas of the Cloud Type RGB are visual differentiation of cloud types and detection of very thin cirrus and higher-level aerosol clouds. It can also provide some indication of the existence of areas with dry airmasses.

A short quick guide to the Cloud Type RGB is available on the EUMeTrain webpage. The present document is an extended guide discussing its characteristics in detail. It provides detailed information, with many examples, about areas of application, physical background, the recipe used to create the RGB, typical colours, interpretation, benefits and limitations and comparison with other products, and includes exercises.

In this guide several examples are shown, created mainly from proxy data from imagers on American geostationary satellites (GOES/ABI) and polar satellites (NPP and NOAA-20/VIIRS). At the time the document was created FCI data was not yet operational. Therefore, the characteristics of the FCI Cloud Type RGB were tested with preliminary commissioning data and similar features were found to those using the proxy data. Some examples created from FCI preliminary commissioning data are presented in the guide.

Disclaimer

The preliminary commissioning FCI data may be affected by processing artefacts. They do not include straylight corrections, and have been produced with preliminary calibration and navigation.