Experimental Aviation Cross-section Product
Summary and Feedback

Cloud Vertical Cross-sections (CVC) from Satellite Cloud Products

• Experimental satellite products for aviation users (Click here for our online survey)
• Cloud Vertical Cross-sections (CVC) along flight routes are obtained by connecting Cloud Top and Base Heights derived from Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor data onboard NOAA S-NPP and NOAA-20 satellites (with the addition of GOES-16 ABI for CONUS)
• Colors correspond to Cloud Top Phase (colored from top to base)
  • Water (Blue), Supercooled liquid (Cyan), Ice (White), Possibly Mixed (White+Cyan, based on temperatures)
  • A terrain cross section is displayed in brown
  • The freezing level is depicted with a red line across the cross-section
  • Temperatures (pink lines; NUCAPS satellite or numerical weather model data) and PIREPs (turb/icing using the Aviation Weather Center symbology) are added when available
• Missing values are shown in gray when no satellite overpass or cloud base is available due to invalid input from both satellite and numerical weather models
• Ongoing efforts are being made to improve nighttime and multilayer clouds
• User feedback is essential to improve the products

How can I provide feedback?

There are two ways to help us validate and refine these products:

1. File Pilot Reports both for forecast and unforecast conditions as you fly along these routes, to help validate these products. Researchers will be able to capture these PIREPs and match them against the products that were generated during the time your reports cover. Please file anywhere within 50 nautical miles along any of these routes. Please file to document forecast, and good flying conditions, as well as unforecast or adverse conditions.
2. As you use the products, please take our Online Survey. If you have feedback or questions, please email them to:
   • CIRA Aviation Team: cira_aviation at colostate.edu