Summary of Clouds and Mesoscale Forcing Observed from Synchronous Meteorological Satellites During the High Plains Cooperative Program: 1976-1977.

摘要

Geosynchronous satellite imagery provides a comprehensive overview every 30 minutes of all cloud systems affecting the High Plains. These data have been used to provide a wide area summary of cloud conditions and mesoscale convective triggering mechanisms affecting the three HIPLEX sites in Montana, Kansas, and Texas in 1976 and 1977 from May through September (see fig. 1). The purpose of this report is to summarize the dominant convective cloud conditions prevailing at each site for use in planning studies and statistical stratification of days. This summary from satellite imagery of sky conditions at each HIPLEX site is in the form of frequency distributions by month and season for local noon and late afternoon conditions. All laser fax imagery available from May through September was analyzed.