CIMSS Satellite Blog

GOES-16 Split Cloud Top Phase (11.2 – 8.4 µm), Split Window (10.3 – 12.3 µm), Near-Infrared “Cirrus” (1.37 µm) and “Red” Visible (0.64 µm) images [click to enlarge]

A meteorite landed near near Viñales, Pinar del Río in western Cuba around 1817 UTC on 01 February 2019. GOES-16 (GOES-East) Split Cloud Top Phase (11.2 – 8.4 µm), Split Window Difference (10.3 – 12.3 µm), Near-Infrared “Cirrus” (1.37 µm) and “Red” Visible (0.64 µm) images (above) revealed signatures of the debris cloud as it drifted northeastward then eastward for about an hour after impact.

The signature on Split Window Difference and Cirrus imagery was due to the presence of dust particles within the airborne debris cloud — while the sensitivity of the 8.4 µm spectral band to SO2 absorption suggests that the Split Cloud Phase signature was due to sulfur dioxide within the debris plume. The debris cloud aloft was also casting a subtle shadow onto the surface, as seen in the Visible imagery.

The GOES-16 Geostationary Lightning Mapper also exhibited a signature around the time of the meteorite impact, as shown here and below.

The GOES-16 Lightning Mapper (GLM) may have caught the flash from the #Cuba meteorite this aftn. This 4-panel shows an extensive “flash” occurring in a mostly sunny scene. Day Cloud Phase RGB (UL), 10.35um Clean IR (UR), .64um VIS (LL), regional radar (LR) pic.twitter.com/atrtXjzOSf

— Steve Cobb (@imnotycobb) February 1, 2019

from CIMSS Satellite Blog http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/archives/31584