What Is Infrared Satellite Imagery

A visible satellite image is created by looking only at the visible portion of the light spectrum and is thus only really useful during daylight hours.

What is infrared satellite imagery. Is based on the fact that measuring an object s infrared emission tells you something about its temperature. An infrared satellite image collected at 1131z on february 25 2008. Since the satellite relies on temperature to sense clouds and not sunlight the infrared image is available 24 hours per day. The infrared ir image comes from the satellite detecting heat energy in the infrared sepectrum and thus does not depend on visible light.

A simulated infrared satellite image is born. Displays the temperature of either cloud tops or the earth s surface if the sky is clear. Take control of your data. The sensors also measure heat radiating off the surface of the earth.

Not so with infrared imagery see the montage of images below. Infrared satellite pictures show clouds in both day and night. Explore the world in real time launch web map in new window noaa satellite maps latest 3d scene this high resolution imagery is provided by geostationary weather satellites permanently stationed more than 22 000 miles above the earth. Since the best time for powder to fall is overnight so the fresh snow is untouched when the lifts start in the morning viewing weather data at nighttime is.

When you look at different visible satellite images you will notice that they pretty much all look the same. Download imagery via the maps below. Instead of using sunlight to reflect off of clouds the clouds are identified by satellite sensors that measure heat radiating off of them. The infrared satellite image helps skiers in a few ways.

Unless otherwise noted the images linked from this page are located on servers at the satellite products and services division spsd of the national environmental satellite data and information service nesdis. We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good. Coldest highest clouds are displayed in shades of yellow red and purple. The surrounding lighter areas are characteristic of ground which has cooled to below the temperature of the low cloud tops.

The dark patch located over south central texas marks a region of low clouds and fog as evidenced by the station model observations. The united states satellite images displayed are infrared ir images. Clouds will be colder than land and water so they are. Some infrared images are colored to resemble visible images upper left while others include all the colors of the rainbow.