Notice:
This site has successfully transitioned the image data source from GOES-16 to
GOES-19. There are some remaining anomalies in the production of mesoscale
geocolor images which are being investigated. Everything else should be operating
as expected. Please contact:
NESDIS.STAR.webmaster@noaa.gov if you have any questions.
11 Jul 2025 - 07:33 EDT
11 Jul 2025 - 11:33 UTC
GOES-West CONUS - Air Mass
1 hour loop - 12 images - 5 minute update
To enlarge, pause animation & click the image. Hover over popups to zoom. Use slider to navigate.
While GOES animation code will not run on older Internet Explorer browsers,
they work in the newest versions of Microsoft Edge. If you are using
Internet Explorer, please try a different browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or
MS Edge are all supported.
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 11 Jul 2025 - 1031 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 11 Jul 2025 - 1036 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 11 Jul 2025 - 1041 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 11 Jul 2025 - 1046 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 11 Jul 2025 - 1051 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 11 Jul 2025 - 1056 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 11 Jul 2025 - 1101 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 11 Jul 2025 - 1106 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 11 Jul 2025 - 1111 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 11 Jul 2025 - 1116 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 11 Jul 2025 - 1121 UTC
Air Mass - RGB based on data from IR & water vapor - 11 Jul 2025 - 1126 UTC
Key for AirMass RGB:
1 - Jet stream / potential vorticity (PV) / deformation zones / dry upper level (dark red / orange)
2 - Cold air mass (dark blue/purple)
3 - Warm air mass (green)
4 - Warm air mass, less moisture (olive/dark orange)
5 - High thick cloud (white)
6 - Mid level cloud (tan/salmon)
7 - Low level cloud (green, dark blue)
8 - Limb effects (purple/blue)
Air Mass RGB is used to diagnose the environment surrounding synoptic systems by enhancing temperature and moisture characteristics of airmasses. Cyclogenesis can be inferred by the identification of warm, dry, ozone-rich descending stratospheric air associated with jet streams and potential vorticity (PV) anomalies. The RGB can be used to validate the location of PV anomalies in model data. Additionally, this RGB can distinguish between polar and tropical airmasses, especially along upper-level frontal boundaries and identify high-, mid-, and low-level clouds.