1f. Water Vapor Satellite ImageryWe know that water vapor is an
invisible gas, so it may seem strange that meteorologists look at
satellite images showing the distribution of water vapor. These images
are obtained by sensors on board weather satellites that observe the
amount of radiation received at two particular wavelengths of
electromagnetic energy, 6.7 and 7.3 μm (Figure 5-2-1), Water vapor is
effective at emitting and absorbing this portion of the infrared band of
wavelengths, so the energy emitted by the surface at these wavelengths
is absorbed by water vapor before it can exit the atmosphere. At the
same time, energy at 6.7 and 7.3 emitted by water vapor in the upper
part of the troposphere does escape to space and is observed by the
satellite. Thus, the water vapor imagery actually depicts the
distribution of water vapor (and clouds) in the upper troposphere making
it extremely useful, in particular for discerning high-level moisture
distributions. When a sequence of images taken at regular time intervals
is combined to make a movie loop (such as the Weather in Motion loop),
the resultant movie is extremely effective in showing upper atmospheric
motions. These motions, which were introduced in Chapter 4, will be
discussed more fully in later chapters.Explain how water vapor imagery
can sense the presence of vapor despite the fact that it is an invisible
gas.FIGURE 5-2-1 Water Vapor Image of North America and the East
Pacific Ocean. These images are obtained from weather satellites with
sensors that observe radiation emitted by water vapor in the upper
troposphere. Regions shown in white have high water vapor contents;
those that are dark are relatively dry.... Get solution
2f. Water Vapor Satellite ImageryWe know that water vapor is an invisible gas, so it may seem strange that meteorologists look at satellite images showing the distribution of water vapor. These images are obtained by sensors on board weather satellites that observe the amount of radiation received at two particular wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, 6.7 and 7.3 μm (Figure 5-2-1), Water vapor is effective at emitting and absorbing this portion of the infrared band of wavelengths, so the energy emitted by the surface at these wavelengths is absorbed by water vapor before it can exit the atmosphere. At the same time, energy at 6.7 and 7.3 emitted by water vapor in the upper part of the troposphere does escape to space and is observed by the satellite. Thus, the water vapor imagery actually depicts the distribution of water vapor (and clouds) in the upper troposphere making it extremely useful, in particular for discerning high-level moisture distributions. When a sequence of images taken at regular time intervals is combined to make a movie loop (such as the Weather in Motion loop), the resultant movie is extremely effective in showing upper atmospheric motions. These motions, which were introduced in Chapter 4, will be discussed more fully in later chapters.What characteristic of water vapor imagery makes it especially useful for detecting atmospheric motions?FIGURE 5-2-1 Water Vapor Image of North America and the East Pacific Ocean. These images are obtained from weather satellites with sensors that observe radiation emitted by water vapor in the upper troposphere. Regions shown in white have high water vapor contents; those that are dark are relatively dry.... Get solution
2f. Water Vapor Satellite ImageryWe know that water vapor is an invisible gas, so it may seem strange that meteorologists look at satellite images showing the distribution of water vapor. These images are obtained by sensors on board weather satellites that observe the amount of radiation received at two particular wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, 6.7 and 7.3 μm (Figure 5-2-1), Water vapor is effective at emitting and absorbing this portion of the infrared band of wavelengths, so the energy emitted by the surface at these wavelengths is absorbed by water vapor before it can exit the atmosphere. At the same time, energy at 6.7 and 7.3 emitted by water vapor in the upper part of the troposphere does escape to space and is observed by the satellite. Thus, the water vapor imagery actually depicts the distribution of water vapor (and clouds) in the upper troposphere making it extremely useful, in particular for discerning high-level moisture distributions. When a sequence of images taken at regular time intervals is combined to make a movie loop (such as the Weather in Motion loop), the resultant movie is extremely effective in showing upper atmospheric motions. These motions, which were introduced in Chapter 4, will be discussed more fully in later chapters.What characteristic of water vapor imagery makes it especially useful for detecting atmospheric motions?FIGURE 5-2-1 Water Vapor Image of North America and the East Pacific Ocean. These images are obtained from weather satellites with sensors that observe radiation emitted by water vapor in the upper troposphere. Regions shown in white have high water vapor contents; those that are dark are relatively dry.... Get solution
