Satellite Orbits Low Earth Orbit polar orbit Primarily research satellites Most orbit from pole to pole and let the Earth spin beneath them Very high spatial resolution 250m to 15m Only see a small swath of the earth s surface at any given time Geosynchronous Orbit Primary satellite orbit used for wx observation Look at the same point on the equator the same longitude and see s nearly half of the Earth Orbital period matches the Earth s rotation GOES West GOES East Satellite Channels Visible Imagery Measures reflected visible sunlight No images at night Bright objects with a high albedo snow thick clouds ice caps Dark objects with a low albedo vegetation land thin clouds oceans Notes Features are distinguished by their albedo Albedo reflected sunlight incident sunlight GOES West Completely absorbing W I N D O W No absorption GOES East Satellite Channels Infrared Imagery Cold Measures emitted IR radiation Measures the temperature of an object Warm Bright cold objects high clouds like the tops of tstorms and high thin cirrus clouds Dark warm objects low clouds the surface and snow Notes All objects emit radiation according to their temperature Hotter objects emit more radiation than colder objects IR image visible image IR Image Enhanced with color color corresponds to temperature of the cloud top Warm Cold Satellite Channels Water Vapor Imagery Measures emitted radiation from water vapor tells us the moisture content of the air Bright high water vapor content t storms and thick clouds Dark low water vapor content cold clear and dry areas Notes Serves as an excellent tracer of atmospheric motion