PyroCb in Arizona

On 22 June one pyroCu formed in Arizona. GOES-15 detected the smoke plume and pyroCb cloud, as well as the fire hot spot. The pyroCb (34.1 N 110.2W) occurred at around 00:45 UTC on 22 June. Starting at 22:00 UTC on 21 June, the animation below shows visible (.63 μm) on the left and shortwave IR (3.9 μm) on the right (click image to play animation). In the shortwave IR images the red pixels indicate very hot IR brightness temperatures exhibited by the fire source region.

GOES-15 0.63 µm visible channel (left) and 3.9 µm shortwave IR channel images (right) (click to play animation)

GOES-15 0.63 µm visible channel (left) and 3.9 µm shortwave IR channel images (right) (click to play animation)

In addition, using GOES-15 10.7 μm IR channel the cloud-top IR brightness temperature could be found. The animation below, starting at 23:00 UTC on 21 June, shows the brightness temperature for the pyroCb was ~ -31ºC around 1:15 UTC (blueish green color enhancement).

GOES-15 10.7 µm IR channel images (click to play animation)

GOES-15 10.7 µm IR channel images (click to play animation)

However, using POES 1-km resolution imagery it was found that the coldest brightness temperature was -46.8ºC at 3:38UTC. The image below (courtesy of Rene Servanckx) shows the pyroCb reaching the -40ºC threshold, which is indicated by a green color on the image.

POES 1-km resolution image at 3:38 UTC

POES 1-km resolution image at 3:38 UTC

 

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