Cloud Tracking with Satellite Imagery: From the Pioneering Work of Ted Fujita to the Present

Abstract

Tetsuya (Ted) Fujita was a pioneer in remote sensing of atmospheric motion. When meteorological satellites were introduced, he developed techniques for precise analysis of satellite measurements (sequences of images from polar orbiting platforms first and then from geostationary platforms). Soon after his initial work, the ability to track clouds and relate them to flow patterns in the atmosphere was transferred into routine operations at the national forecast centers. Cloud motion vectors derived from geostationary satellite imagery have evolved into an important data source of meteorological information, especially over the oceans. The current National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service operational production of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite cloud and water vapor motion winds continues to perform well; rms differences with respect to raob's are found to be 6.5?7.5 m s?1.