17 January 2023
We are able to’t see the wind however we will guess its velocity by watching what it does to leaves and flags …
… after which utilizing the wind velocity chart from the Nationwide Climate Service (NWS) to make a guess. My guess for the above photographs is a Mild Breeze 8-12 mph or a Average Breeze 13-18 mph but it surely’s exhausting to inform.
NOAA climate satellites don’t see the wind both however they will see the clouds shifting in three layers.
- Excessive degree clouds (cirrus) at 23,000 to 46,000 ft
- Mid degree clouds at a degree of 10,000 to 23,000 ft
- Low degree clouds are under 10,000 ft
Of their animations of satellite tv for pc pictures we will nearly see the wind however not its velocity.
As an example, on this GOES East animation from final Thursday 12 January 2023 we will see the Atmospheric River pumping into California and a low stress system shifting up the Ohio Valley.
NOAA’s computer systems use the animated maps to calculate wind velocity and course. The end result, referred to as Derived Movement Winds, plots the wind peak, course and velocity on a map.
Right here’s the identical timelapse with Derived Movement Winds. Discover that the layers usually don’t transfer in the identical course or on the identical velocity. You’ve felt this in an airplane as a “bump” when the airplane rises or descends between conflicting layers.
You may “see” the wind anyplace within the Americas by selecting a satellite tv for pc to view (listing on the left) on the NOAA GOES Imagery Satellite tv for pc Maps. Click on on Derived Movement Winds if obtainable.
To view the present GOES East satellite tv for pc, pictured above, go to these hyperlinks:
(photographs from Marcy Cunkelman and Wikimedia, maps and animations from NOAA and the Nationwide Climate Service)