Water Vapor Satellite Definition

Near a wavelength of 6 5 microns water vapor.

Water vapor satellite definition.

A satellite instrument tuned to such a wavelength can determine the temperature of these gases which emit the radiation. Water vapor imagery is used to analyze the presence and movement of water vapor moisture in the upper and middle levels of the atmosphere. Notice the area of spin over seattle and the ripples over northern california and oregon. Recognition and impact of vorticity maxima and minima in satellite imagery other resources to explore.

Thus even though water vapor is an invisible gas at visible wavelengths our eyes can t see it and at longer infrared wavelengths the fact that it emits so readily between roughly 6 and 7 microns means the radiometer aboard the satellite can see it. The upper and middle levels of the atmosphere are from above the troposphere there is very little moisture. Since water vapor is present everywhere water vapor satellite images show air motions in the atmosphere even in areas of blue skies with no clouds. See the latest united states water vapor weather satellite map.

In this imagery bright blue and white areas indicate the presence of high water vapor or moisture content whereas dark orange and brown areas indicate little or no moisture present. The purple areas show more water vapor while red areas show less. Likewise the detection of extrasolar water vapor would indicate a similar distribution in other planetary systems. The ineractive map makes it easy to navitgate around the globe.

Water vapor is a relatively common atmospheric constituent present even in the solar atmosphere as well as every planet in the solar system and many astronomical objects including natural satellites comets and even large asteroids. 14 at 6 05 a m. The wavelength spectrum used to detect water vapor is in the 6 7 to 7 3 micrometer wavelength range. Water vapor imagery is created using a wavelength sensitive to the moisture content in the atmosphere.

This web site should not be used to support operational observation forecasting emergency or. Edt 1005 utc nasa s aqua satellite passed over tropical storm karina in the eastern pacific ocean and found highest concentrations of water vapor brown and coldest.