Project Title:

Pattern Recognition of Satellite Cloud Imagery for Improved Weather Prediction

07.06-4539
Pattern Recognition of Satellite Cloud Imagery for Improved Weather Prediction
Chase Consulting, Inc.
3543 Caminito Carmel Landing
San Diego
CA
92130
Gautier
Catherine
29269
50,000
GSFC

Abstract:

The overall objective of this project is to develop a method for extracting time
derivative information from geostationary meteorological satellite imagery for the
purpose of improving numerical weather prediction.  In Phase I, we shall undertake
to carry out a proof-of-concept study to demonstrate the feasibility of using pattern
recognition techniques and a statistical cloud classification method to estimate
time rates of change of large-scale meteorological fields from remote sensing data.
 For this purpose, we shall analyze visible and infrared geostationary satellite
images.  The cloud classification methodology will be based on Typical Shape Function
analysis of parameter sets characterizing the cloud fields.  An idealized numerical
weather prediction model will be used to test the potential value of the concept
for improving modeled physical processes using the differences between observed and
computed time rates of change.
	Forecast verification studies, in conjunction with predictability theories, show
that the early hours of numerical weather prediction are typically characterized
by a rapid decay of skill. If observational estimates of time derivatives can be
compared with numerical computations during this critical period, a potentially valuable
new tool will have been made available for improving numerical weather prediction
models.