Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites—R Series

A collaborative NOAA & NASA program

Data Products: Cloud Layers/Height

Example of the cloud layers/height product as generated by the ABI cloud layer/height algorithm using Meteosat-8/SEVIRI data on January 7, 2006, at 12:00 UTC.

Download product algorithm theoretical basis document (ATBD)

The cloud layers product is derived from the retrieved cloud top pressure product. Based on the value of the retrieved cloud-top pressure, each pixel is determined to contain either a high (above 440 hPa), middle (440 – 680 hPa), or low level (below 680 hPa) cloud. Forecasters will be able to use this information to determine areas of cloud growth and likelihood of precipitation.