Hillger

A Web page has been created (http://www.cira.colostate.edu/RAMM/cal_val/noisebit.htm) to show the effect of bit depth (10-bit vs. 8-bit) on GOES imagery. The effects of reduced-bit (from 10-bit to 8-bit) imagery on noise in GOES images for channel-2, 4, and 5 and on two examples of image products (including the fog product) derived from GOES imagery are described.  Results indicate that existing noise for channel-4 and 5 images (and derived image products) is increased by about 10% (and the signal-to-noise is reduced by 10%) by the reduction from 10-bit to 8-bit precision for GOES imagery.  This result has implications for product generation on AWIPS where 10-bit GOES data is reduced to 8-bits, resulting in a loss of precision for all products.