Satellite-based equilibrium temperature estimations
The premise
As a thunderstorm rises above its equilibrium level, anvil material spreads out slightly above to slightly below this level. A frequency distribution of brightness temperature over a thunderstorm would show a sharp peak or a mode of temperature right around the equilibrium level (Adler et. al., 1985). The diagram below illustrates this concept.
Adapted from Adler et. al, 1985
The equilibrium level estimated from Tmode looks like this from a 10.7µm image.
