IRFP-01
Metro Review
b. Operationally enhanced IR used quite often
D. Date/Time data
Fig 42: Picture with
Date/Time Data
1. As with all weather products, checking the currency of the product
can be important
2. Some weather briefing facilities can provide real-time CRT
imagery, direct from the appropriate satellite
3. Printed product will display DTG legend
a. First 4 numbers UCT (Z) time - indicates time of picture
transmission start
b. Second group calender day, month, year
c.
Last group indicates sector
E. Use of the pictures
1. Low-pressure areas and fronts
a. Primary characteristic is “question mark” or “comma” shaped
cloud pattern
b. Center of low-pressure located near center of vortex
c.
Tail of the “comma” denotes the location of the cold front
d. Warm fronts often hard to define without the use of surface
data
e. Enhanced IR very helpful in determining locations of
thunderstorms in the cloud pattern
2. Mountain Wave Turbulence
a. Caused by winds in excess of 25 kts blowing perpendicular to
rough or mountainous terrain causing moderate to severe
turbulence
b. Satellite imagery of wavy cloud pattern
NOTE: The tighter the waves, the more severe the turbulence.
3. Jet Streams
Fig 43: Satellite
Picture of Jet Stream
a. Indicated by narrow bands of cirrus clouds
b. Almost always marked by very sharp northern and southern
(8-97) Original
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