1. Australian VLab Centre of Excellence National Himawari-8 Training Campaign Introduction to the Severe Convection RGB product (Africa, Spain)

2. Part 1a: Instructions Now that you have downloaded the PowerPoint file, please read the Instructions in Parts 1a (this slide) and familiarise yourself with the Learning Outcomes in slide 1b (next slide) Print out the Worksheet in Part 2a of this file (if applicable) Examine the Pre-activity Resources in Part 2b of this file (if applicable). Download the appropriate accompanying Video Recording (.wmv file). The recording is typically of 3-13 minute duration. Commence listening to the Recording. Pause the Recording whenever you want to annotate notes on the Worksheet. You may wish to examine the slides in Part 3 of this file in Slideshow mode when you stop the Recording. Note that Rapid Scan imagery in the animations embedded in the PowerPoint slides is often clearer than in the Recording. Towards the end of the recording, recommended answers for the exercises are sometimes given.

3. Part 1b: Learning Outcomes At the end of this exercise you will: Have a basic knowledge how the Severe Convection RGB product is constructed from multiple satellite channels and the physics and meteorology underpinning this. Have a better understanding of the advantages and the limitations of the Severe Storm RGB product in comparison with infrared satellite imagery in the operational monitoring, nowcasting and short term forecasting of thunderstorms. Have a better appreciation of using the Severe Storm RGB in rapid scan animation when monitoring, nowcasting and short term forecasting of thunderstorms. Note – corresponding WMO-1083 Capabilities and BOM Enabling Skills are given on the link "Learning Outcomes" on the National Himawari-8 Training Campaign homepage.

4. Part 2a: Worksheet for the exercise The worksheet " The Severe Convection RGB vs the 10.8 micron infrared channel" is on the next slide. Please print this slides out and use it to make your notes Part 2b: Pre-activity resources Please study the four slides of Part 2b to familiarize yourself with the Severe Convection RGB product.

5. Part 2a: The Severe Convection RGB vs the 10.8 micron infrared channel Question – what additional information does the Severe Convection RGB give you, compared to the 10.8 micron infrared channel ? Your answer: Additional comments

6. Part 2b: RGB products for Operational Forecasting – EumetSAT recommendation – Day Severe Convection RGB Five application specific RGBs 24 hour Microphysical RGB Airmass RGB Day Microphysical RGB Night Microphysical RGB Day Severe Convection RGB Snow / fog RGB Natural Colours RGB Two RGB composites which complement each other from RGB Products Overview (RGB Tutorial) J. Kerkmann EumetSAT

7. Part 2b: Severe Convection RGB beams explained Yellow is made by mixing red and green Magenta is made by mixing red and blue Cyan is made by mixing green and blue Combining beams from http://oiswww.eumetsat.org/IPPS/html/bin/guides/msg_rgb_dust.ppt BTD6.2−7.3Overshooting Cb clouds have near zero or even slightly positive BTD6.2−7.3. The surface shows large negative BTD6.2−7.3 values. (Lensky et al. 2008). The stormtops have a strong red signature IR3.9-IR10.8Large ice particles +26 to +35 K. Small ice particles +65 to +73 K. (Kerkmann). Small ice crystals have a strong green channel signature 1.6-0.6 reflectance Large negative RD1.6−0.6 indicates ice clouds – black in the RGB Much larger RD1.6−0.6 is typical for the surface. (Lensky et al. 2008

8. Part 2b: Severe Convection RGB beams explained Small ice particles (high RED component, high GREEN component, 0 Blue component) Large ice particles (high RED component, weak GREEN component, 0 Blue component) from http://oiswww.eumetsat.org/IPPS/html/bin/guides/msg_rgb_dust.ppt

9. Yellow is made by mixing red and green Magenta is made by mixing red and blue Cyan is made by mixing green and blue Combining beams Ocean Land image from "Understanding Convective Clouds through the eyes of MSG", J. Kerkmann EUMETSAT Part 2b: Severe Convection RGB beams explained

10. Part 3: The Day Severe Convection RGB MSG-1 5 September 2004 15:00 UTC 1.0 -75... +25 %NIR1.6 – VIS0.6Blue 1.00.5-5... +60 KIR3.9 – IR10.8Green 1.0 -35... +5 KWV6.2 - WV7.3Red Gamma 2GammaRangeChannelBeam Image from EUMETSAT

11. Part 3: Some examples of the Severe Convection RGB – Aqua/Terra MODIS imagery North Australia 1 November 2009 (0435 UTC) Hurricane Iselle 8 August 2014 (2315UTC) Singapore Sumatra Squall line 4 July 2005 (0350UTC) Burketown Singapore Hilo images courtesy NASA/EOSDIS/Lance Rapid Response

12. Part 3: The Severe Convection RGB vs 10.8 micron infrared channel – equatorial Africa images from EUMETSAT Question – what additional information does the Severe Convection RGB give you, compared to the 10.8 micron infrared channel ? Your answer: Other comments: images from EUMETSAT Infrared image

13. Exercise 5: Severe Storm RGB animation Visit the EUMETSAT Image Library case study of the Major Thunderstorms over Paris and Berlin' at http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Images/ImageLibr ary/DAT_IL_07_05_25.html http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Images/ImageLibr ary/DAT_IL_07_05_25.html Download the MPG "Animation" of the bottom right hand panel (Met-8, 25 May 2007, 13:04 UTC) Please play this animation.

14. Part 3: Severe Convection RGB animation – Spanish Peninsula 25 th May 2007, Meteosat-8 Images from EUMETSAT