METEO-10b — IR Camera for cloud monitoring

IR camera imagery supports MET observer especially in observation of cloud cover during night and cloud base height at the airport and enhances automatic means of observation for these MET parameters. These parameter are difficult to observe nowadays and using of IR camera imagery can significantly improve and ease the MET Observer job. Single whole-sky-image in IR spectrum provides information about cloud coverage even during night, when visual observation of clouds is almost impossible. Brightness temperature based on IR imagery helps to estimate cloud base height during both daytime and night, which provides objective criterion for cloud base assessment missing in current operating methods. IR Camera can be used advantageously by MET Observer at the airport, but optionally also by remotely located MET observer.