Satellite detection of the dryline/dew point front

The dryline, or dewpoint front as it is known during \nthe night, is a very important weather producer over the \nWest Texas region. The location and movement of the \ndryline influence to a significant degree where rain and \npossible severe weather can occur. A technique for \nplacing the dryline without plotting surface data would \nbe very useful. It has been shown in a recent study that \nthe infrared satellite imagery can detect the dewpoint \nfront during the nighttime. Another technique similar to \nthis would be advantageous during the daytime. This \nstudy examines the possible use of water vapor imagery as \na device to detect the dryline. Using the \ncharacteristics of the water vapor imagery a \ndetermination of how far into the atmosphere the \nsatellite can "see" was made. It was found that the \nsatellite could not observe the lowest 100 mb above the \nsurface needed to detect the dryline/dewpoint front \nunless a 50°C dewpoint depression, which is not reported \nunder current sounding procedures, was present down to \nthe lowest 100 mb.