Satellites & Radars

Question 0

Visible imagery: (5)

Answer 0

Maps Earth and cloud is visible light (daylight).
Maps flow of reflected SR back to space.
Signal received depends on surface albedo.
Clouds are mapped as they are brighter than the Earths surface.
Deeper cloud = more reflection.

Question 1

Satellite uses a circular orbit, 850 km above sea level, it takes

Answer 1

100 minutes to circle the globe.

Question 2

IR imagery: (6)

Answer 2

Represents a flux emitted by Earth and atmosphere.
Flux strength depends on temp of the emitting surface.
Hot surface emits more powerfully than cold surface.
Like a heat map.
24h coverage.
Lower clouds tend to be warmer than higher clouds.

Question 3

Global use: (3)

Answer 3

Worldwide weather uses global observation system.
Poor quality/ missing data in some locations.
Use of more expensive GPS systems means sites are having to make less ascents.

Question 4

Radars - can map location and intensity of precipitation, but cannot….

Answer 4

See what is actually falling, because of obstructions.

Question 5

Radars - location mapped by part of original beam being…

Answer 5

Scattered back to the antenna by the target.

Question 6

Radars can be used to view different elevations in…

Answer 6

Rain systems to provide structural information.

Question 7

Radars can be linked to rain gauges to…

Answer 7

Modify radar estimates to be more realistic.

Question 8

Radars are used by the Environmental agency in…

Answer 8

River flood prediction.