Geosynchronous satellite imagery is used extensively
in weather forecasting, for determining cloud types
and patterns, and identifying the locations of certain
weather features. The most commonly-used imagery are
visible, infrared, and water vapor. The first detects
features illuminated by the sun, while the latter two
detect radiation emitted by the Earth or by the water
vapor in the atmosphere. Because the temperature
generally decreases upward in the atmosphere and
warmer objects emit more radiation, the intensity
of radiation received by the satellite can be used
to infer the altitude of the emitting clouds or water
vapor or the temperature of the Earth's surface.
Various combinations of these images are used to identify
clouds and determine their approximate height and
thickness. The cloud and water vapor patterns can be
used to identify cyclones, frontal systems, outflow
boundaries, and upper-level troughs and jet streams.
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Questions or Comments
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Scientific: E-mail Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon. < nielsen@ariel.met.tamu.edu >
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Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon.
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