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Composite Meteosat Image of Europe 1.

Look very carefully at the image below, read the text that explainswhat you are looking at. Discuss the questions below with yourneighbour.

This image from the new MSG satellite shows a fine example of combinedimagery from the two visible (0.6m and 0.8m) channels and the one nearinfra-red (1.6m) channel.

First of all, the high resolution of the visible channels is very much evident and

the possibility to combine (or subtract) channels allows a clearer depiction ofland surface cover; from the remarkable clarity of features in the Saharadesert, to the greener areas of central and eastern Europe, the Nile delta andalong the river Nile itself. The light green areas in the Po valley in northern Italyare areas of rice fields.

The 0.6m visible channel is also sensitive to aerosols hence the clearappearance of sand streaming across the southern Mediterranean Sea, havingbeing lifted off the desert a day or so earlier in central Algeria.

Another outstanding feature is the shadow cast by the long cloud system lyingnorth-south over eastern Europe. This weather system had resulted in some

heavy thunderstorms over Germany the previous evening and night. Theshadow is very much evident because of the relatively low sun angle - thisimage was taken at 10 UTC (UTC refers to a time scale called "CoordinatedUniversal Time" (abbreviated UTC other wise known as Greenwich Mean time),also resulting in the lower level of illumination over the Atlantic.

Can you pick out the centre of the low pressure system? Where are the warm and cold fronts? How do you know? Where is the warm sector? Which air mass is present here? Where is an area of high pressure located? How can you tell?

What are the advantages of using visible and infrared imagerytogether?

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How confident do you feel that you could interpret a satelliteimage in an exam?

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Infrared image of Europe 2.

Look very carefully at the image below, read the text that explainswhat you are looking at. Discuss the questions below with yourneighbour.

This infrared image of Europe shows the cooler cloud tops as white against the

darker, warmer, land and sea. It is updated every 6 hours.

What is infrared imagery based on? This image could be updated every six hours, is this possible over

night? If the clouds are shown brightly, are they cold high clouds or

warmer low clouds? What would be the likely weather over Spain today? What evidence

is there? Where over Europe is it likely to be raining? Why is the Mediterranean Sea shown as a lighter colour than

Spain?

How confident do you feel that you could interpret a satelliteimage in an exam?

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Haar sea fog East coast of Britain. 3.

Look very carefully at the image below, read the text that explainswhat you are looking at. Discuss the questions below with yourneighbour.

This visible image shows a haar off the British coast on the 16 April 1984. Haaror Sea fog (advection fog) develops when warm, moist air passes over coolersea, or a cold current and reaches saturation point. As the fog forms over thecolder sea, breezes push it inland. This is clearly shown above where most ofthe East coast of Britain is affected by this band of fog coming from the North.Advection fog is common in spring and summer over the British Isles.

Is the fog thick or thin? How do you know? What air mass is responsible for the weather characteristics? Is the UK influenced by high or low pressure above? Why would you need fairly stable air to keep the fog?

How confident do you feel that you could interpret a satelliteimage in an exam?

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Infrared image Atlantic Ocean 4.

Look very carefully at the image below, what are looking at? Discussthe questions below with your neighbour.

On this infrared image look very carefully! This image was taken on the 26th

February 2000.

Where is the warmest image you can see? What shape is this image? What do you think this shows? What other uses does Satellite technology have?

How confident do you feel that you could interpret a satelliteimage in an exam?

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Other examples to discuss 5.

An example here is a smallsection showing SpitzbergenNorway; the surrounding seaice, and cloud streets. It wasreceived on 2nd December

1994.

NB 75N within the Arctic

Circle.

This example shows hurricaneAndrew running up the Gulf ofMexico, 16-28 August 1992.

Composite image of anapproachingdepression with its

associated winds offthe west coast of theUK, received on 31st

January 2002.

How confident do youfeel that you couldinterpret a satelliteimage in an exam?