1. Representing Climate Data II
Satellite Imagery and Radar

2. BRING GLOBE TO CLASS, PAT.

4. Radiometers electronic sensors
Detect radiation from atmosphere, clouds, surface
Can sense specific wavelengths of radiation
“spectral signatures” of gases
Scans surface
Scans continuously adjacent squares arranged in scan lines
Sweep: length of scan line

5. 1. Geostationary
At altitude of 36,000 km (22,240 mi), orbit of satellite matches earth’s rotation
Satellite is moving at same speed earth is rotating so it appears to stay in one spot and always sees the same place on earth
Centered on a particular longitude where it intersects equator

6. Geostationary Advantage: Real time data
Disadvantage: distorts polar regions

10. GOES
Full disk

11. Polar-orbitting Follows parallel meridian lines
Altitude 850 km (540 mi)
Passes poles on every revolution
Earth rotates eastward and satellite scans successive passes
Advantage:
Better coverage of high latitudes

14. polar-orbitting

15. Brand New GOES east and west satellites
March 2018

16. Geostationery Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)
Built by NASA
Taken over by NOAA once they get into orbit;
As technology improves, old satellites are decommissioned and new ones are launched.

17. changing of the (satellite) guard
GOES-P
GOES-15
March 4, 2010
Remains in service in tandem with GOES-17 through early July 2019 to allow for assessment of GOES-17 as operational GOES West
GOES-R
GOES-16
November 19, 2016
In operation as GOES East
GOES-S
GOES-17
March 1, 2018
In operation as GOES West

18. Types of weather images:
1. Visible 2. Infrared satellite 3. Water Vapor 4. Radar

19. GOES now offers 16 band channels

20. 1. visible Detects visible wavelengths.
Reading shortwave reflected by earth, ocean, clouds
(albedo)
Daytime only

22. Albedos of various surfaces:
Earth’s surface (31%)
Cumulonimbus clouds 0.9 (90%)
Stratocumulus clouds 0.6 (60%)
Cirrus clouds (40 – 50%)
Fresh snow 0.8 – 0.9 (80 – 90%)
Melting snow 0.4 – 0.6 (40 – 60%)
Sand – 0.35 (30 – 35%)
Grain crops – 0.25 (18 – 25%)
Deciduous forest – 0.18 (15 – 18%)
Coniferous forest – 0.15 (9 – 15%)
Tropical rainforest 0.07 – 0.15 (7 – 15%)
Water bodies – (6 – 10%) increases at low sun angles

23. Visible imagery High vs. low albedo : High albedo: lighter
Cloud tops, snow, ice
Low albedo: darker
Land, ocean
Cloud thickness
Thicker cloud cover is more reflective: brighter
Cloud height (IR better)
Cumulonimbus : very bright white
Low : bright
High (cirrus) : not- bright white

26. Notice that visible imagery records radiation that passes through
atmospheric window.