Effective use of Himawari-8 data in Atmospheric Turbulence detection, monitoring and forecasting

Spatial Resolution

• The higher spatial resolution of the data will permit the detection and monitoring of detailed features in the atmosphere that may correspond to significant turbulence. These include herringbone interference wave patterns in the lee of mountain ranges, transverse banding associated with the upper atmospheric jets etc.
  

Temporal Resolution

• Earlier detection and better nowcasting of rapidly developing mesoscale features (herringbone interference wave patterns, transverse banding) that may correspond to significant turbulence and that NWP may not be able to resolve.
• Better nowcasting of the geographical areas affected by atmospheric features that may correspond to significant turbulence.
• The 10 minute data is especially good when monitoring propagating low amplitude gravity waves, as the Forecaster can more readily perceive the continuity of the pattern across the high frequency temporal data.

Additional Channels

• Be able to monitor mountain waves and related turbulent features through a depth of the atmosphere using the three water vapour channels of Himawari-8, with their different weighting functions. This can assist with the aviation turbulence forecasts in ARFORs for example.