|
NOTE: We've guessed that
you're not using a client that supports colored tables and have tried
to compensate. Low graphics mode looks much better on clients that
do... we recommend switching to Netscape 3.0 or Microsoft Internet
Explorer.
|
|
|
. |
Visible Satellite Images
a picture of the earth
Visible satellite images are photographs of the earth that
provide information about cloud cover.
Areas of white indicate clouds while
shades of gray indicate generally clear skies. In the example
below (a composite of data from
GOES-8 and GOES-10 satellites),
scattered clouds are found across much of the eastern United
States with clearer skies from North Dakota south to Oklahoma.
[Image: example visible satellite image (138K)]
Visible images represent the amount
of sunlight being scattered back into space
by the clouds, aerosols, atmospheric gases, and the Earth's surface.
Thicker clouds have a higher reflectivity (or albedo) and
appear brighter than thinner clouds on a visible image.
However, it is difficult
to distinguish among low,
middle, and
high level
clouds in a visible satellite image, since they
can all have a similar albedo
and for this distinction,
infrared satellite images are useful.
POES Satellites
|
|
infrared (ir)
|
|
![[Image: example visible satellite image (138K)]](/guides/rs/sat/img/gifs/vis.gif){kind=link}