The AVHRR channel 3 cloud top reflectivity of convective storms

Abstract

The advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) aboard the NOAA polar orbiting satellites produces high-resolution (nominal resolution at nadir of 1.1 km) images of clouds in the 3.55-3.93 μm band, the so-called channel 3 window. A method for computation of the channel 3 reflectivity has been developed at the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) at Prague, Czechoslovakia. Some quite interesting images are obtained when applying this technique to situations involving deep convective storms. -from Authors