The Airmass RGB
Information received from the three channels that contribute to the RGB combination
WV6.2 - WV 7.3 (difference of the two WV channels) | Information about moisture content in middle/upper layers of the troposphere |
IR 9.7 - IR 10.8 (ozone channel - IR window channel) | Information about ozone concentration, which differentiates cold (polar) and warm (mid-level, subtropical) air masses
Cold air mass: high ozone concentration and low tropopause; warm air mass: low ozone concentration and high tropopause |
WV 6.2 (Water Vapor channel 05) | Information about humidity in upper layers of the troposphere |
Resulting colors for typical features
White | Thick clouds |
Green | Warm air masses |
Blue | Cold air masses |
Dark red/brown | Dry upper air, PV anomalies |
Typical application areas
- Differentiation between cold and warm air masses (blue - green)
- Recognition of very dry air that has descended from the stratosphere (dark brown)
- Dynamical features: tropopause folding; high PV values
Due to the incorporation of water vapor and ozone channels, the Airmass RGB's usage at high satellite viewing angels is limited.