Convective cloud top [pressure altitude, potential temperature, and temperature] plots up to ~3 days ahead of the current date for every 3 hour (until day +1) and every 6 hours (until day +2, day +3) are derived from Global Forecasting System (GFS) model with a quarter degree resolution. The GFS cloud top pressure altitude is calibrated using Langley cloud top pressure altitude product, by adding 1.5 km poleward of 20 degrees (until the end of DCOTSS deployment month (7/30/2022)). The cloud top temperature and potential temperature (theta) are also calculated using the calibrated pressure altitude data.
The plots are available by 3 AM Pacific time each morning.
The files are under "GFS".
In general, the file name convention is as follows:
For example, the file name convention for the current date on June 9, 2020 (initialization time is 00Z 200609 and forecast hour is 3) is as follows:
The variable name is PCCT (convective cloud top pressure altitude, km), CCTTH (convective cloud top potential temperature, K), CCTT (convective cloud top temperature, K).
Please contact us if you have any question regarding the plots and dataset.
POC:
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Responsible NASA official: Dr. Rei Ueyama, NASA Ames Earth Sciences Division (rei.ueyama@nasa.gov)
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