How do weather forecasters get images of hurricanes from space?
Weather forecasters get images of hurricanes from space using satellites that orbit the Earth. These satellites are equipped with various sensors and instruments to observe and capture images of Earth's atmosphere, land, and oceans. The most commonly used satellites for weather forecasting are geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites.
Geostationary satellites orbit at an altitude of about 22,000 miles above the Earth's equator. They remain fixed relative to a specific point on Earth's surface, allowing them to continuously monitor specific regions like North America or Europe. Geostationary satellites capture images of hurricanes using visible light sensors, infrared sensors, and other instruments. The visible light sensors detect reflected sunlight, and the infrared sensors measure the temperature of the cloud tops. These sensors help meteorologists identify the structure, size, intensity, and movement of hurricanes.
Polar-orbiting satellites, on the other hand, orbit the Earth from pole to pole at a much lower altitude, typically around 500 to 600 miles. These satellites capture images as they pass over different parts of the world, providing a global view of the weather. Polar-orbiting satellites also use visible light and infrared sensors to observe hurricanes and track their development. They provide more detailed images and information as they are closer to the Earth's surface.
The data and images captured by these satellites are transmitted to meteorological agencies and weather forecasting centers around the world. The meteorologists and scientists then analyze this data to track hurricanes, make weather predictions, and issue warnings to the public.