Deformation Band

• Cloud Structure In Satellite Images
• Meteorological Physical Background
• Key Parameters
• Typical Appearance In Vertical Cross Sections
• Weather Events
• References

Weather Events

A Deformation Band occurs when there is deformation of the cloudiness at middle or upper levels in the troposphere. There are no surface weather features associated with a Deformation Band. The example below shows a Deformation Band over Western Europe.

Parameter	Description
Precipitation	No precipitation associated with the Deformation Band. Existing rainbands tend to weaken in deformation areas. Precipitation from low level clouds not dependent on deformation at upper levels
Temperature	No significant change
Wind (incl. gusts)	No significant change
Other relevant information	Upper/mid level cloudiness dispersing Upper level cloudiness in the form of fibres

To demonstrate the typical weather features, a case from 18 December 2019 at 06 UTC has been chosen. A deformation band stretches from the Pyrenees northward to northern Germany and southward into the Mediterranean.

18 December 2019, 06UTC: IR + synoptic measurements (above) + probability of moderate rain (Precipitting clouds PC - NWCSAF).
Note: for a larger SYNOP image click this link.

There are no precipitation reports within the deformation band and the probability of rain is lower than 15 %.

18 December 2019, 06 UTC, IR; superimposed:
1st row: Cloud Type (CT NWCSAF) (above) + Cloud Top Height (CTTH - NWCSAF) (below); 2nd row: Convective Rainfall Rate (CRR NWCSAF) (above) + Radar intensities from Opera radar system (below).

For identifying values for Cloud type (CT), Cloud type height (CTTH), precipitating clouds (PC), and Opera radar for any pixel in the images look into the legends. (link)