Earth Science SATELLITE METEOROLOGY QUESTIONS
See: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satmet/modules/index.html
Introduction
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1. What is the difference between direct and indirect measurements?
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2. What is remote sensing?
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3. Approximately how many satellites are currently in orbit around earth?
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Weather Satellites and Orbits
4. What do GOES and POES stand for? Compare and contrast these 2 satellite types.
GOES stands for Answer here
POES stands for Answer here
They are similar because Answer here
They are different in these ways: Answer here
5. The remote sensing instruments on satellites are called radiometers. What are the two main types of radiometers? What does each one do?
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6. On the page that says Visible and Infrared Image Examples scroll down to the bottom image that fades between a visible and an infrared image. Move the fader left and right. What differences do you notice between the two images?
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7. Why do POES images appear so wide at the polar areas on the maps shown?
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How Light (Electromagnetic Radiation) enables satellites to produce images
8. What things can emit (give off) electromagnetic radiation?
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9. How is the visible light that we can see like an x-ray or a radio wave? How are they different?
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Cloud Identification
10. List and describe the 10 common cloud types.
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11. On the Cloud Formation page, click on the hands-on activity applet to explore the relationship between temperature, dew point, and relative humidity. What happens to the relative humidity when the temperature decreases?
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12. What happens to the relative humidity when the dew-point temperature decreases?
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13. Why do many homes in cold climates have low relative humidity during winter?
(Hint: Make the outside temperature cold (-10), turn-off the furnace and open the door.
Then close the door and turn on the furnace.)
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14. What are the two main ways that clouds are formed? Please describe.
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Look at the pictures and satellite images of the various clouds. When you get to the The
Cumulus Cloud Applet , adjust the temperature and dew point to answer these questions.
15. What is the height of the base of a cumulus cloud with surface temperature 70 degrees Fahrenheit and dewpoint 48 degrees Fahrenheit?
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16. What is the height of the base of a cumulus cloud with surface temperature 1 degree Fahrenheit and dewpoint -4 degrees Fahrenheit?
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17. What happens to the base of a cumulus cloud when the surface temperature is held constant and the dewpoint increases?
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18. What happens to the base of a cumulus cloud when the surface temperature and dewpoint equal each other?
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19. What is the main difference between high level clouds and other clouds?
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Wild Weather (Skip a few modules to get to this one.)
20. What type of cloud is associated with thunderstorms?
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21. What is the “cauliflower-like” cloud structure found on thunderstorm clouds and how do they form?
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22. Can satellites be used to effectively see tornadoes as they are forming? Why or why not?
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23. Can satellite imaging be used to see tornado damage after the tornado is over?
Explain.
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24. Which is more important for making a strong, damaging tornado
– a large funnel width or a large pressure difference? How do you know?
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25. What is the Fujita Scale?
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26. Why are blizzards sometimes called “deceptive killers”?

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27.
How do satellites help us predict and learn about blizzards?
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28. Compare and contrast hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones.
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29. What three weather factors need to exist and combine for a hurricane to form?
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30. What is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale?
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Monitoring the Global Environment – NOT Extra Credit
31.
Explain at least 3 examples of how satellites help us learn about the environmental health of our planet.
Answer here