Werner, John Victor, authorMcKee, Thomas B., author2022-05-052022-05-051996-06https://hdl.handle.net/10217/234930June 1996.Also issued as John Victor Werner's thesis (M.S.) -- Colorado State University, 1996.The focus of this research was to assess the feasibility of employing GOES-8 channel 04 satellite imagery to infer regions of pooling and draining along inner-mountain valley floors. Utilizing a computer model, an analysis using the radiative transfer equation was performed. This analysis demonstrated that during the night, under stable conditions, clear skies, and weak large scale forcings the GOES-8 channel 04 sensor could be employed to discern these along valley temperatures. The analysis demonstrated that over a suitably defined atmosphere over Paonia, Colorado approximately 92% of the radiance sensed by the satellite originated from the earth's surface. Although 8% of the radiance originated from the atmosphere, the strongest emissions originated from within the inversion near the earth's surface. This simulation produced a satellite brightness temperature which correlated exactly with the 283 K surface temperature inputted into the model. Three days offering favorable meteorological conditions between 0315 UTC and 0745 UTC were selected to evaluate the GOES-8 satellite sensors ability to discern regions of pooling and draining along six relatively wide Colorado inner-mountain valley segments. A computer program was developed which retrieved the brightness temperatures of each satellite pixel, converted these temperatures to potential temperatures and then mapped the pixels with their respective potential temperature onto 30 second topography data of the selected valley floor. An analysis of the potential temperature gradients and trends inferred from the satellite suggested regions of draining and pooling in the six Colorado valley segments examined. Although the actual magnitude of the gradients cannot be resolved using the methodology developed, the discerned regions of draining and pooling are consistent with the available documented evidence.reportsengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.Weather -- Effect of mountains on -- ColoradoImaging systems in meteorologyMountain climate -- ColoradoText