Simulated Weather Imagery (SWIm) | Purpose | Gallery | Cases

Visually and physically realistic sky (and land) simulations are being produced from real-time gridded weather data, obtained using a 3-D hydrometeor/aerosol analysis from the Local Analysis and Prediction System, running over a Colorado 500 meter resolution domain. The analysis uses satellite (including IR and 500m resolution visible imagery, updated every 5 minutes), METARs, radar, aircraft, PM2.5, and model first guess information to produce 3-D fields of cloud liquid, cloud ice, rain, snow, and aerosol extinction. Several land surface fields are also produced. The 500m grid resolution takes advantage of the 500m satellite resolution in the visible wavelengths. The gridded fields are converted using a ray-tracing technique into an all-sky image. Here are more details in this satellite data workshop (JCSDA) presentation. These visualizations have also been made with analyses of present weather from LAPS & GSI along with forecasts from LAPS, WRF, FIM, CSU/RAMS, NAVGEM, and HRRR. Preliminary camera assimilation work is being done using cloud mask algorithm output. Other variational assimilation (4DVAR), directly using visible and IR radiance information (e.g. at a 1-minute cadence) from cameras and satellites in a tomographic fashion is being proposed for use in various systems.

The image above on the left is simulated from the LAPS cloud/aerosol analysis including satellite, camera, and other data, while the image on the right is taken by a Bloom Sky camera (courtesy of Sandy MacDonald) at the same time. In each fisheye lens view the zenith is in the center and north is up. 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).

Select Site — ATOC | NREL | Altona | LAS | RadioMetrics | BAO Tower (site is Altona)

Latest comparison animations (site is Altona): Polar | Cylindrical

In these 360 degree panoramic (all-sky) views, a simulated cloud/aerosol analysis (using satellite though no camera) image is shown (top) compared with a remapped independent camera image (bottom) from an all-sky camera located at NREL. South is at the center of each image and north is at the edges.

Latest Camera (SRRL) |

Archive Directories (site is Bloomsky): Polar Comparison | Polar Blinking | Cylindrical Comparison

Other Related Endeavors from around the web

More visualizations are on my main home page | Contact: Steve Albers (Steven.Albers@colostate.edu)