High-Resolution Image

The SEVIRI (Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager) instrument on board the Meteosat Second Generation satellite provides spatial and spectral resolution unique for a geostationary imager. Spectral channels are available to perform MODIS-like cloud optical and microphysical property retrievals using the imager's 0.65µm, 0.86µm and 1.6µm channels. This image shows an example SEVIRI retrieval of cloud optical thickness, taken on 10.22.2007 at 11:15UTC. The red box on the image shows the location of an exactly coincident Terra MODIS data granule. We have directly compared the retrieved cloud optical thickness and cloud effective radius for liquid and ice thermodynamic phases with the MODIS operational collection 5 MOD06 product. Probability distribution plots of results are shown. SEVIRI provides us with a unique opportunity to observe the temporal evolution of cloud properties. Cloud retrieval animations are available upon request (contact Galina.Wind-1@nasa.gov).

Submitted by Gala Wind (SSAI), Steven Platnick (GSFC), and Jerome Riedi (Laboratoire d'Optique Atmospherique, Universite de Lille, France)