Cloud types as identified from Space
Visible
Infrared
Water Vapor
Fog and
Stratus
Appear relatively
bright, have sharp
boundaries and
amorphous structure.
Can have fine-scale
structure in high res.
Difficult to distinguish
Cannot be detected at
from under-lying surface all
since they have
temperatures close to
the surface
temperatures
Cumulus
Appear bright. Due to
vertical development
can exhibit ‘texture’.
Sharp boundaries with
clear air. Large
cumulus, supercells
have an anvil in oval
or tear-drop shape
If have larger vertical
extent, can appear very
bright and cold. Use IR
to examine cloud-top
structure. MCC’s,
supercells, oval shape
Only cumulus that are
very deep can be
detected (can’t ‘see’
fair-weather cumulus).
Appear whiter than
surrounding water
vapor.
Cirrus
Appear fibrous and
semi-transparent
unless overlying other
clouds. Not very
bright
Appear bright and cold
and can be mistaken for
‘thick’ clouds.
Can detect cirrus that
is with convection,
otherwise cannot be
detected easily.
Fog from Space
Visible Image – Fog easily distinguished as
relatively bright clouds conforming to terrain
structure
IR Image – Fog very hard to distinguish
from underlying surface especially over
the ocean
Water Vapor Image – Can’t see fog at all
Convection in Visible Imagery
Anvils and Convective bubbles
Fair Weather Cu
Convection in IR imagery
Convection in IR imagery
Convection in Water Vapor Imagery
Anvils and tall Cu appear bright due to
emission by cloud hydrometeors
Water Vapor Gradient
Cirrus in Satellite Imagery
Cirrus is thin and semi-transparent in visible
But bright in IR
And in Water Vapor