Convergence Lines Over Seas And Lakes - Cloud Structure In Satellite Images

by KNMI


10 November 2007/12.00 UTC - Meteosat 8 HRVIS image
10 November 2007/12.00 UTC- Meteosat 8 IR 10.8 image
Convective clouds are often observed in bands and lines over sea, lakes, bays and straits when cold, dry air is transported over warmer seawater, picking up moisture. In the VIS image the lines can be seen as white stripes with several, individual convective cells : large, small and well separated. IR image show less pronounced anvils, not recognisable as such on IR images. Brightness changes in white represent temperature changes at cloud top height: the whiter the higher the tops and the lower the temperature.
10 November 2007/12.00 UTC - Meteosat 8 WV 7.3 image
In the above image, the Meteosat 8 WV 7.3 image from the 10th of November 2007/12.00 UTC, the anvils of the individual CB - cells in the convergence line are depicted in white but not as clear, compared to the HRV and IR images. Grey areas over the western part of Sweden and the Skagerrak are an indication of moister air at lower levels in the atmosphere, favourite for the developing showers in the convergence line. Notice the darker areas over the west part of Denmark and the south part of Norway : illustrative for the dry atmospheric air as a result of the north westerly flow over Norway. Near the northern coastline of Germany the darker areas are becoming less pronounced, changing into the grey color of moister air in which again a cloud street has developed.
12 November 2007/12.00 UTC- Meteosat 8 HRV image
12 November 2007/12.00 UTC- Meteosat 8 IR 10.8 image
12 November 2007/12.00 UTC - Meteosat 8 AIRMASS RGB image
12 November 2007/12.00 UTC- Meteosat 8 Day-Microphysics RGB image
The above images, all of 12 November 2007 12.00 UTC, are illustrating the use of different MSG - RGB combinations. Starting with the HRV image in the top left the convergence line over the east part of the North Sea, extending from the west coast of Norway down to the German Bight, is well depicted: strong reflection of the white, individual anvils. To the right the corresponding IR image with colder, whiter and higher tops.

The Airmass RGB, down to the left, is an interesting image. The higher tops of the convergence line are depicted in white and lowering from the German Bight towards the north. In fact the blue color, extending from the UK to Denmark and Sweden, is an indication all developments take place in cold, polar air. The redish color, overhead the blue color (from Norway down to the German Bight and Luxemburg, is reflecting the dry stratospheric air above the strong northwesterly jetstream. Overall, individual cells are hardly recognizable, the image is not very helpful for the detection of the properties of the several cloud streets.

The last image of this example, the Day - Microfysics RGB to the right, has more specific information. Ice clouds have a purple colour : apparently the small and whiter clouds (from the HRV - image) appear to have icy tops.

The Comma Cloud over the Czech Republic is interestung: A nice example of Cold Air Development. On the satellite image the convergence line here is in the tail of the Comma cloud and therefore open to debate if this is really the Conceptual Model described in this chapter. Features in RGB however are very much comparable. For more information on Comma and its tail, see the Conceptual Model Comma - Cloud structure in Satellite Images.

As a final example, on the 23rd of March 2008, arctic air was advected from the northern part of Sweden over unfrozen parts of the Gulf of Botnia down to the south and southeast. Cloud Streets developed at a certain distance off shore into a well pronounced convergence line with the deepening of the unstable, convective layer. In this case the advantage of a HRV-image from the NOAA Polar Satellite to the right is clear: much more detail in the structure of individual clouds and the cloud street compared to the Meteosat 8 HRVIS image to the left. From above the convergence is like a meeting-point of the Swedish and the Finnish arctic air.

23 March 2008/12.00 UTC - Meteosat 8 HRVIS image
23 March 2008/12.00 UTC - NOAA AVHRR HRVIS image

Menu Of Convergence Lines Over Seas And Lakes
Meteorological Physical Background