About
The GOES Cloud Top Phase product illustrates the different phases of clouds such as warm liquid water cloud (greater than 273K), supercooled liquid water cloud (colder than 273K), mixed phase cloud (liquid water and ice), and ice phase (glaciated) cloud. Data is created both day and night at a horizontal resolution of 2 km. It is prepared using the ABI 7.4 um (Ch 10), 8.4 um (Ch 11), 11.2 um (Ch 14), and 12.3 um (Ch 15) imagery bands.
This product is useful when trying to assess the phase of cloud tops. For example, a liquid cloud will be producing liquid, not ice precipitation. Information about the vertical temperature profile can be inferred from this product (i.e. how high is the freezing/melting level). Because each of the cloud phases can be sampled, it can work well as an underlay beneath GOES imagery bands.
Limitations
Vertical Scope: Only the cloud tops are analyzed. Low-level clouds may also be difficult to detect.
Night Vision: Clouds seen overnight, especially over water, are difficult to detect.
