How do you identify clouds on a satellite image?
In visible imagery: —white or light gray shades are generally thick clouds (layered or thunderstorms). —low clouds (depending upon thickness) will range from medium to light gray (cumulus), to dark or medium gray for stratocumulus and stratus.
Do satellites show us clouds?
Visible imagery is also very useful for seeing thunderstorm clouds building. Satellite will see the developing thunderstorms in their earliest stages, before they are detected on radar. INFRARED IMAGERY: Infrared satellite pictures show clouds in both day and night.
How can you tell the different heights of clouds on the satellite image?
On satellite, it can be easy to find the clouds and clear regions but more difficult to determine cloud height and type. Cloud height can be inferred by the cloud temperature on infrared imagery.
What do altostratus clouds indicate?
Altostratus clouds are “strato” type clouds (see below) that possess a flat and uniform type texture in the mid levels. They frequently indicate the approach of a warm front and may thicken and lower into stratus, then nimbostratus resulting in rain or snow.
What characteristics are used to identify clouds?
Clouds are typically sorted and identified by characteristics such as their height in the sky, texture, and the type of “weather” they do or do not produce.
Why is it difficult to distinguish low clouds from high clouds on a visible imagery?
Visible satellite images are photographs of the earth that provide information about cloud cover. 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.
How can you tell from a satellite image where it is raining?
Colorized infrared imagery. Gray is relatively warm, blues cooler, red indicates clouds that are the coldest, tallest, and most likely to produce rain. The colder the cloud the more likely it is to produce rain.
What do satellite images show?
Satellite images are like maps: they are full of useful and interesting information, provided you have a key. They can show us how much a city has changed, how well our crops are growing, where a fire is burning, or when a storm is coming.
What determines cloud height?
Three general cloud-height classifications exist: low, middle and high. Clouds are classified according to the height of their bases above the ground. Low clouds generally have bases below about 6,500 feet above the surface; middle clouds, about 6,500 to 20,000 feet; high clouds, 20,000 and higher.
How would you describe altostratus?
Altostratus are large mid-level sheets of thin cloud. Usually composed of a mixture of water droplets and ice crystals, they are thin enough in parts to allow you to see the Sun weakly through the cloud. They are often spread over a very large area and are typically featureless.
What do altostratus look like?
Altostratus clouds are mid-level, gray or blue-gray clouds that usually cover the whole sky. The Sun or moon may shine through an altostratus cloud, but will appear watery or fuzzy. If you see altostratus clouds, a storm with continuous rain or snow might be on its way.
What are the 3 main characteristics used to identify cloud types?