Weather
Main article: Weather satellite See also: Satellite temperature measurementsA weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. These meteorological satellites, however, see more than clouds and cloud systems. City lights, fires, effects of pollution, auroras, sand and dust storms, snow cover, ice mapping, boundaries of ocean currents, energy flows, etc., are other types of environmental information collected using weather satellites.
Weather satellite images helped in monitoring the volcanic ash cloud from Mount St. Helens and activity from other volcanoes such as Mount Etna. Smoke from fires in the western United States such as Colorado and Utah have also been monitored.
El Niño and its effects on weather are monitored daily from satellite images. The Antarctic ozone hole is mapped from weather satellite data. Collectively, weather satellites flown by the U.S., Europe, India, China, Russia, and Japan provide nearly continuous observations for a global weather watch, used via visible light and infrared rays of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Read more about this topic: Earth Observation Satellite
Famous quotes containing the word weather:
“When the weather suits you not,
Try smiling;
When your coffee isn’t hot,
Try smiling;”
—Unknown. Try Smiling (l. 1–4)
“Weather abroad
and weather in the heart alike come on
Regardless of prediction.”
—Adrienne Rich (b. 1929)
“This is the weather the shepherd shuns,
And so do I;
When beeches drip in browns and duns,
And thresh, and ply;”
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)