DYCOMS-II Satellite:  GOES-10 NOAA/NESDIS Fog Depth Imagery (GIF)


1.0  General Information


The GOES-10 NOAA/NESDIS Fog Depth Imagery (GIF) is one of several
satellite products collected as part of the Dynamics and 
Chemistry of Marine Stratocumulus Phase II:  Entrainment Studies
(DYCOMS-II) project field catalog operated by the University 
Corporation for Atmospheric Research/Joint Office for Science 
Support (UCAR/JOSS; http://www.joss.ucar.edu/dycoms/catalog/).
The experimental fog depth displayed in the color enhanced image
is an estimate of the cloud layer thickness based on the IR 
brightness difference between GOES channel 2 (3.9 micron) and 
channel 4 (10.7 micron).  The products cover the period from 
3 - 31 July 2001 (except 27-30 July) and cover the DYCOMS-II 
region and the South West United States (25-42 N and 95-130 W).
The products are available hourly during the night (03-12 UTC).
The products were acquired from the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental 
Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) Office of 
Research and Applications 
(http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/arad/fpdt/fog.html).  All
images are in gif format.


2.0  Data Contact


Gary Ellrod (gary.ellrod@noaa.gov)


3.0  Product Information


The experimental fog depth displayed in the color enhanced image
is an estimate of the cloud layer thickness based on the IR 
brightness difference between GOES channel 2 (3.9 micron) and 
channel 4 (10.7 micron).  It is valid for single cloud layers only,
preferably for radiation or advection fog, prior to sunrise. 

The color enhancement is based on a linear regression of cloud
thickness 
(see http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/arad/fpdt/fgdpdat.gif)
determined from aircraft pilot reports and surface reports versus 
GOES dual channel brightness differences within about 50 miles of 
the aircraft reports. A required condition was that fog had to be 
observed at the surface with visibilities 1/2 mile or less. The 
dependent data set was collected from 1992-93 using GOES-7 data. 

The depth estimates are not valid for multiple cloud layer
conditions. 

This product is considered experimental, and are not operationally
supported by NOAA/NESDIS.


4.0  Quality Control Procedures


UCAR/JOSS conducted no quality checks on these data.


5.0  File Naming Convention


The file names are structured as follows:

goes-10.yyyymmddhhmm.fogdepth.gif

Where goes-10 is the satellite used
      yyyy is the four digit year
      mm is the two digit month
      dd is the two digit day
      hh is the hour (UTC)
      mm is the minute
      fogdepth is the name of the product


6.0  References


None