Low and upper-level Divergence: Oklahoma domain


Robert Rabin1

1NOAA/NSSL and UW-Madison/CIMSS


BACKGROUND

This web page provides near real-time analysis of horizontal divergence overlayed on latest GOES-east visible imagery centered over Oklahoma.
Currently, satellite imagery is updated at 15-min intervals, divergence at 30-minutes. The divergence analysis has a time lag of approximately 1-hour.
The divergence analysis courtesy of Kang Nai and Qin Xu.

The analysis is based on a 3D variational analysis and uses the RAP model as a background wind firld, satellite winds, mesonet surface winds in Oklahoma, and radial velocities from WSR-88D radars in Oklahoma. An extensive quality control procedure using VAD analysis is applied to the radar wind data  to correct for aliasing, etc.


Click to display imagery and divergence overlays

Overlays of divergence are displayed by clicking on the appropriate boxes listed above the satellite image in the link above.
The individual overlays are defined as follows:

Low-level divergence (0-1.5 km AGL)
MODL:L    RAP model 1-hr forecast
PRIO:L       RAP  + Oklahoma mesonet data
POST-L      RAP  + Oklahoma mesonet data + WSR-88D radial velocity winds

Upper-level divergence (8-10 km AGL)
MODL:L    RAP model 1-hr forecast
PRIO:L       RAP + GOES water vapor winds
POST-L      RAP + GOES water vapor winds + WSR-88D radial velocity winds
300WV        Contoured 300 mb divergence from GFS model and GOES water vapor winds (updated at 30-min intervals)
                     Wind vectors and approximate pressure levels (mb) are also plotted.

Color coding: Convergence (negative divergence): Green
                       Divegence: Blue

Note: With the exception of 300WV, only one overlay should be activated at a time (to ensure proper interpretation of displays).
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Disclaimer. The products from GOES or other satellites shown here are experimental. These have been generated within a research environment and are not intended to be considered operational. Timeliness, availability, and accuracy are sought but not guaranteed.

Return to CIMSS (UW-Madison) or  NSSL (NOAA/NSSL).
Last update was 08 May 2014 Feedback.