Training Satellite > Introduction > Flashcards

Introduction Flashcards

(57 cards)

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1
Q

When a sensor looks down at the Earth, it senses the

A

radiation within the sensor’s field of view

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2
Q

When a sensor looks down at the Earth, it senses the radiation within the sensor’s field of view. As the sensor scan across the landscape, the individual fields of view are composited into the

A

geographical image used by forecasters

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3
Q

The field of view determines the

A

image resolution

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4
Q

Resolution refers to

A

the smallest viewable area at the satellite’s subpoint.

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5
Q

The field of view gets larger as you move

A

away from that subpoint

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6
Q

Resolution varies with

A

wavelength and instrument type

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7
Q

In general, visible imagery resolution is around

A

2.5 km

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8
Q

In general, visible imagery resolution is around 2.5 km while IR imagery resolution is around

A

5 km

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9
Q

Single satellite images are useful in

A

analyzing what is happening in the atmosphere

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10
Q

Single satellite images are useful in analyzing what is happening in the atmosphere, but a series of images, shown in sequence, i.e.,

A

animated

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11
Q

Single satellite images are useful in analyzing what is happening in the atmosphere, but a series of images, shown in sequence, i.e., animated, often reveal

A

features that may not be obvious from one image alone

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12
Q

Single satellite images are useful in analyzing what is happening in the atmosphere, but a series of images, shown in sequence, i.e., animated, often reveal features that may not be obvious from one image alone (e.g.,

A

movement, growth and decay of the feature).

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13
Q

When you view image animation, focus on

A

one feature and follow it for several loops

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14
Q

When you view image animation, focus on one feature and follow it for several loops. This approach allows you to

A

see more detail in the satellite animation

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15
Q

Operational forecasters use three main types of satellite imagery:

A

visible (VIS); infrared (IR); and water vapor (WV)

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16
Q

Visible imagery is derived from

A

solar radiation reflected from the Earth and atmosphere

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17
Q

Visible imagery is derived from solar radiation reflected from the Earth and atmosphere. It is radiation in the

A

0.4μ to 0.7μ range

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18
Q

Visible imagery is derived from solar radiation reflected from the Earth and atmosphere. It is radiation in the 0.4μ to 0.7μ range. The imagery is available during

A

daylight hours

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19
Q

The standard VIS imagery is

A

black and white

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20
Q

The standard VIS imagery is black and white. • White is used for the

A

brightest and most reflective energy received by the sensor

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21
Q

The standard VIS imagery is black and white.
• White is used for the brightest and most reflective energy received by the sensor while black displays

A

the least reflective values

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22
Q

The standard VIS imagery is black and white.
• White is used for the brightest and most reflective energy received by the sensor while black displays the least reflective values.
• Shades of gray are used

A

between the two extremes.

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23
Q

The brightness sensed by the satellite depends upon several factors

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A
  • The albedo of the underlying surface
  • The intensity of the solar beam (which is a function of the day of the year and the solar angle)
  • The relative position of the Sun and the satellite
24
Q

The relative brightness gives some indication about

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A

what you are viewing on the visible (VIS) image.

25
The relative brightness gives some indication about what you are viewing on the visible (VIS) image. Low brightness is associated with
the ocean, lakes and the background Earth
26
The relative brightness gives some indication about what you are viewing on the visible (VIS) image. medium brightness values come from
land, forests and deserts
27
The relative brightness gives some indication about what you are viewing on the visible (VIS) image. high brightness values are associated with
Clouds displayed in white or light gray
28
in vis images .................... is easily distingished
Cloud texture and cellular patterns
29
cumuliform cloud has a ............................ pattern
cellular
30
stratiform clouds have a .............................. structure
flat
31
cirrus clouds have a ....................... structure
wispy
32
.......................................... is dificult to seperate in vis imagery
low clouds and snow
33
best way to differentate between low clouds and snow
Animation The clouds tend to move over time while snow does not move.
34
Small convective clouds that are below the resolution of the satellite sensor show up as
a relatively uniform field due to the averaging the energy within the satellite’s field of view.
35
........................ do not show up well on visible imagery
High thin cirrus clouds have a low albedo
36
IR (or conventional thermal infrared) imagery is derived from
terrestrial radiation emitted by the Earth, cloud tops and the atmosphere in the 10μ to 12μ range.
37
IR (or conventional thermal infrared) imagery is derived from terrestrial radiation emitted by the Earth, cloud tops and the atmosphere in the 10μ to 12μ range.  It is available
24 hours a day
38
IR values are
a measure of the temperature of the emitting surface, with some modification due to absorption and reemission as the radiation passes through the atmosphere
39
The standard IR display was
black and white in the early days
40
The standard IR display was black and white in the early days, but now has been modified with
color enhancement for easier interpretation
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IR On the black and white scale, white is used for the
colder temperatures and black for the warmer clouds
42
On the black and white scale, white is used for the colder temperatures and black for the warmer clouds. • This scale choice allows
clouds, which have colder tops, to appear white, similar to the white associated with clouds on visible imagery
43
On the black and white scale, white is used for the colder temperatures and black for the warmer clouds. • This scale choice allows clouds, which have colder tops, to appear white, similar to the white associated with clouds on visible imagery.  Temperatures also allow
the relative height of the cloud tops to be estimated
44
Image enhancement is
a process that modifies the infrared temperature values with colors or shades of gray to emphasize specific features and improve interpretation.
45
Interpretation difficulties in the IR arise from
the lower resolution of the IR images (relative to VIS). This makes cloud texture difficult to see
46
Interpretation difficulties in the IR arise from the lower resolution of the IR images (relative to VIS). This makes cloud texture difficult to see.  Also, low clouds and fog are hard to identify due to
similar emission temperatures from the top of the stratus cloud and the Earth
47
Water vapor imagery is derived from
radiation emitted by water vapor at wavelengths not in an atmospheric window (6μ to 7μ range).
48
Water vapor imagery is derived from radiation emitted by water vapor at wavelengths not in an atmospheric window (6μ to 7μ range).  It is available
24 hours a day.
49
The stronger the signal seen by the WV sensor, the
higher in the atmosphere is the moisture located.
50
Most WV radiation originates from
moisture in the upper troposphere (600-300 mb layer).
51
If the upper troposphere is dry, WV radiation can
come from layers are low as 800 mb
52
The standard WV display is in black and white but, as with the IR, is usually color enhanced to highlight
specific features
53
WV On the black and white scale, white is used for
higher sensor values implying more moisture in the upper troposphere
54
On the black and white scale, white is used for higher sensor values implying more moisture in the upper troposphere • Darker colors indicate that the upper troposphere is
dry and that radiation from moisture in the lower parts of the troposphere is reaching the satellite
55
Water vapor imagery shows the ...................... very well
synoptic scale flow
56
Water vapor imagery shows the synoptic scale flow very well:
* The location of ridges and troughs are easily seen in the cloud patterns. * Features like the jet stream axis are easily located. * Subsidence in the middle to upper troposphere appears as darker areas
57
The one disadvantage of water vapor imagery is that
moist air or clouds in the lower troposphere are not well depicted on this type of imagery
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