Now : attempt to describe and analyse this image

Satellite images can also be in ‘infra-red’

Visible image Infra-red image

Characteristics of ‘infra red’ images

Infra-red images basically pick up heat. The colder it is the brighter the white

Deep cloud that reaches the cold levels of the upper troposphere shows up as bright white. This is the precipitation producing cloud

Low cloud is not as cold and shows up as grey. This cloud is less likely to produce precipitation

The surface is warmest and will be the darkest colour

A drawback is that low cloud, fog and the surface may appear similar

A benefit is that infra-red imagery works at night!

The same satellite pass in visible and ‘infra-red’ 04.30 am in May

Which is which?

Synoptic charts show the ‘weather’ situation

Now compare the synoptic chart with the satellite image

Radar can be a useful addition Radar shows precipitation patterns

Blue, green, yellow to red is the sequence from least to most intense rainfall

This colour enhanced version of a satellite image includes an overlay of weather features

This helps to explain the pattern of clouds and rain