Enhancing weak transient signals in SEVIRI false color imagery: Application to dust source detection in southern Africa
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A method is described to significantly enhance the signature of dust events using observations from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager (SEVIRI). The approach involves the derivation of a composite clear-sky signal for selected channels on an individual time-step and pixel basis. These composite signals are subtracted from each observation in the relevant channels to enhance weak transient signals associated with either (a) low levels of dust emission, or (b) dust emissions with high salt or low quartz content. Different channel combinations, of the differenced data from the steps above, are then rendered in false color imagery for the purpose of improved identification of dust source locations and activity. We have applied this clear-sky difference (CSD) algorithm over three [globally significant] source regions in southern Africa: the Makgadikgadi Basin, Etosha Pan, and the Namibian and western South African coast. Case study analyses indicate three notable advantages associated with the CSD approach over established image rendering methods: (i) an improved ability to detect dust plumes, (ii) the observation of source activation earlier in the diurnal cycle, and (iii) an improved ability to resolve and pinpoint dust plume source locations.
Date Issued
2016-08-17
Date Acceptance
2016-08-14
Citation
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 2016, 121 (17), pp.10199-10219
ISSN
2169-897X
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
10199
End Page
10219
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Volume
121
Issue
17
Copyright Statement
© 2016 The Authors.This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use,distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Sponsor
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Grant Number
NE/H021450/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
dust
smoke
Africa
imagery
MINERAL DUST
SOURCE AREAS
SATELLITE
EMISSION
AEROSOLS
TRANSPORT
CLOUD
MSG
Publication Status
Published