Using MSG-SEVIRI Cloud Physical Properties and Weather Radar Observations for the Detection of Cb/TCu Clouds

A new automated daytime cumulonimbus/towering cumulus (Cb/TCu) cloud detection method for the months of May-September is presented that combines information on cloud physical properties retrieved from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) on board Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites and weather radar reflectivity factors. First, a pixel-based convective cloud mask (CCM) is constructed on the basis of cloud physical properties [cloud-top temperature, cloud optical thickness (COT), effective radius, and cloud phase] derived from SEVIRI. Second, a logistic regression model is applied to determine the probability of Cb/TCu clouds for the collection of pixels that pass the CCM. In this model, MSG-SEVIRI cloud physical properties and weather radar reflectivity factors are used as potential predictor sources. The predict and is derived from aviation routine weather reports(METAR) made by human observers at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for 2004-07. Results show that the CCM filters out >70% of the "no" events (no Cb/TCu cloud) and that >93% of the "yes" events (Cb/TCu cloud) are retained. Most skillful predictors are derived from radar reflectivity factors and the COT of high resolution. The derived probabilities from the combined MSG and radar method clearly show skill over sample climatology. Probability thresholds are used to convert derived probabilities into derived group memberships (i.e., yes/no Cb/TCu clouds). When comparing verification scores between the combined MSG and radar method and either the radar-only method or the MSG-only method, the combined MSG and radar method shows slightly better performance. When comparing the combined MSG and radar method with the current Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) radar-based Cb/TCu cloud detection method, the two methods show comparable probability of detection, but the former shows a false-alarm ratio that is about 8% lower. Moreover, a big advantage of the newly developed method is that it provides probabilities, in contrast to the current KNMI method.