Using Rapid Scan or Super Rapid Scan Visible Imagery, Part II

  Several 30-second interval SRSO datasets have been collected.   Imagery taken at 30-second intervals is restricted to very small areas, or sectors.   For example, a 30-second sector, centered over the central U.S., covers about 10 degrees north-to-south in latitude, by about 15 degrees east-to-west in longitude.   Research shows that, when looking at events taking place at the scale of a thunderstorm, important changes can occur within one or two minutes.

  This loop presents 30-second interval Visible imagery from GOES-8, focusing on thunderstorms in extreme eastern CO and western KS.   Note the rapid changes in individual cloud appearance, and changes in the nearby cumulus fields that occur from image-to-image.   Also notice the feature that appears within one minute, twenty-five seconds (00:01:25) on the southeast flank of the western-most storm complex (last two frames).   This is a low-level stratocumulus shield associated with a thunderstorm outflow boundary.   Wind gusts of 70 mph were reported at the ground at this time.