All-Sky imagery at Earth Modeling Branch: | Purpose | Gallery | Cases

The LAPS system is being used to produce rapid update, high resolution analyses and forecasts of clouds and weather. We are now producing realistic sky (and land) simulations from these weather analyses and forecasts. The 3-D cloud analysis, running over our Colorado 500 meter resolution domain uses satellite (including IR and 1-km resolution visible imagery, updated every 5-min), METARs, radar, aircraft and model first guess information to produce an hourly 3-D field of cloud fraction, cloud liquid, and cloud ice. The analysis is then converted using a ray-tracing technique into an all-sky image. Here are some links with more details in this seminar, this AMS presentation and this satellite conference poster. A recent ESRL news story on this work has been posted. Portions of this package are also being tested with the HRRR and FIM models.

The color balance of the simulated image is set to reproduce the "actual" colors/radiances when the display white point is set to closely match the sun. Thus to see a true apples to apples comparison (if for example you take your computer outside or right by a window), please set your display to a color temperature of 5780K (the sun's white color above the atmosphere). Some images are shown a bit dark to avoid saturating and losing details on the bright end. This can be compensated for by turning up your monitor brightness, thus showing a broader dynamic range.

Select Site — DSRC | BAO Tower | Longmont Astronomical Society | Pikes Peak | Mount Evans

Latest all-sky comparison image | mask (site is BAO)

Latest comparison animations (site is BAO): Cylindrical

In these 360 degree panoramic views, the top is a simulated LAPS image and bottom is a remapped camera image from a scanning camera maintained by the Earth Systems Research Laboratory atop the 1000' high BAO Tower in Erie, Colorado. South is at the center of each image and north is at the edges. The listed solar irradiance is calculated from the same radiance information used to construct the image.

Latest Simulated image | Latest Camera image | animation (site is BAO) | Sample forecasts: (Kansas Storms) | (Moore Tornado)

Archive Directories (site is BAO): Cylindrical Comparison | Cylindrical Simulated | Verification

Contact: Steve Albers (Steve.Albers@noaa.gov)