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RAMMB: Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch logo CIRA: Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere logo NESDIS: NOAA Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service logo

The Water Vapor (6.7 µm) Channel

Channel No. Central Wavelength (µm) Sample sub-point (E/W x N/S)
Resolution (km)
Common Reference
3 6.7 2.3 x 8.00 water vapor

The 6.7 µm channel responds to mid- and upper-level water vapor and clouds. Because organized atmospheric disturbances usually have large regions of upward (or downward) motion and consequent moistening (or drying), the water vapor data can often be used to locate and define synoptic features such as shortwave troughs, ridges, jet streams, etc. Mesoscale regions of moistening/drying at the 300-500 mb height (such as subsidence associated with thunderstorms' anvils) have also recently come under close scrutiny using this channel's imagery.

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