Interpret infrared satellite pictures

Question

How do one interpret infrared satellite pictures?

Answer 1

Clouds & atmospheric gases such like water vapour radiate infrared energy to space. The amount of energy radiated through clouds and gasses relates directly along with its temperature. This relationship, known as the Stephan-Boltzmann Law, let us to "see" clouds at night. There are many enhancement curves that colour pictures of clouds depend on temperature. These curves accentuate temperature ranges which allow us to discern high clouds from mid & low clouds. At the bottom of every infrared image there is a key telling you the temperature range for that colour. For example, on the infrared pictures provided on this web site, red represents cloud tops along with a temperature of -40C which in a standard atmosphere is approximate 40,000 ft.