Name___________________________________ Date_______________ Period_____
AMS Interactive Infrared Weather Satellite Image
Making the Invisible Visible
Background
22,300 miles above the Earth's surface, geostationary weather satellites continuously monitor
the Earth's dynamic atmosphere. Special satellite sensors measure infrared energy (heat
energy) radiated by the Earth, showing the temperature of the tops of clouds and land & water
surfaces visible between clouds. Among other advantages, infrared weather satellite imagery
(a.k.a., I.R. imagery) is available day and night.
GOES Satellites – Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/rs/sat/goes/home.rxml
Explore the world through "heat-sensitive eyes" (similar to looking through night-vision
binoculars) by visiting the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Interactive Infrared Weather
Satellite Image. You will need a Java-capable Web browser; be patient--the Applet takes a while
to load! As you move the computer cursor over the image, note that the temperature (in Celsius
degrees) and geographic location (latitude & longitude) are displayed for the point on the Earth
(or above the Earth, in the case of clouds) below the cursor. Cool, huh? No, it's hot--I.R. sensors
detect heat energy!
AMS Interactive Infrared Weather Satellite Image
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~tomw/ams/amsimage.html
For more information regarding weather satellite image interpretation, visit the UIUC Weather
World 2010 Satellite Meteorology Online Remote Sensing Guide.
Satellite Meteorology Online Remote Sensing Guide
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/rs/sat/home.rxml
Activity Questions
Use an I.R. weather satellite image to demonstrate the following understandings and/or
competencies (ranked in degree of difficulty, beginning with the easiest task):
1. What is the date and time of the current weather satellite image? Convert UTC to EST.
2. Given the latitude & longitude of Washington, D.C. (39°N, 77°W), find its location on the
weather satellite image.
3. Record the current temperature (either land or cloud top) in the vicinity of Washington,
D.C. Convert the temperature from Celsius degrees to Fahrenheit.
1
Name___________________________________ Date_______________ Period_____
4. Infer the relationship between color (black, white, and shades of gray) and temperature,
as shown on I.R. weather satellite imagery.
5. Identify land and water surfaces; identify clouds (including high and low clouds).
6. Compare land and water temperatures at the same latitude; explain possible causes for
the observed temperature difference (if any). Compare land surface temperatures at
different latitudes: In general, what is the relationship between surface temperature and
latitude? Use geographic coordinates to identify the locations used for comparison.
7. Infer the location of the most intense storms by locating areas with the coldest cloud top
temperatures. Access other online sources of real-time weather observations that verify
your inferences; cite references that support your inferences.
8. Locate major ocean currents, e.g., the Gulf Stream (requires a relatively cloud-free view
of the ocean).
References
[1] AMS Interactive Infrared Weather Satellite Image:
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~tomw/ams/amsimage.html
[1] UTC/EST/EDT Time Conversion Table: http://www.wsanford.com/~wsanford/exo/TCT.html
[3] NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office Baltimore/Washington
Weather Calculators: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/lwx/calculator.shtml
[7] AMS DataStreme Atmosphere: http://66.208.12.20/amsedu/dstreme/
[8] NASA Goddard Space Flight Center – The Earth Observing System
Gulf Stream Temperatures (background information):
http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/for_educators/eos_edu_pack/p07.php
[8] NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Near-Real-Time Images >> Sea Surface Temperature > Regional Images:
http://nereids.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/sst.cgi?show=LAC# (select “Gulf Stream”)
2