Remote Sensing in Action

Radar and satellite weather information are used to determine current atmospheric conditions, but meteorologists must integrate data from many sources to get a complete and accurate picture of atmospheric conditions. Meteorologists feed current data into computer models to help them predict weather conditions (forecast) and make critical decisions. Consider a practical, everyday example of how remote sensing is used by meteorologists. Imagine you are in Grand Rapids, Michigan and a line of precipitation is approaching from the south. Radar could be used to answer the following questions about the line of precipitation. What is the intensity of the precipitation (in this case snow)? What direction and at what speed are the snow bands moving? Will the snow bands become stronger or weaker?

The second image is a satellite image that shows the extensive coverage of the storm system. Notice that cloud coverage is larger than the precipitation coverage. Meteorologists interpret and use radar and satellite data to answer the questions posed above. In this instruction you will focus exclusively on interpreting satellite data.