If you are using a Java compatible
browser you should see the earth's atmosphere moving and swirling just below
these notes. If you don't see anything like that, you'll have to try
again with a different browser or adjust your security preferences to enable
Java. (or click here to jump to a
gif animation, 130 k, that requires Netscape 2.0 or higher) WARNING: This test of a Java based animation engine seems to be working pretty well, although for a yet unknown reason it often wants to start up with a sputter or two. You can stop, or restart, the animation by clicking anywhere within the animation area. If you want to resize the broswer window, please stop the animation first! Otherwize the time counters get confused and the animation goes a little crazy. Hey, that happens to all of us some time or another doesn't it?
CAPTION: This animation shows the Earth's atmosphere, as seen from the GOES-8 geostationary satellite at an altitude of 35,800 km. The individual frames in the animation were recorded once every three hours, for a total time of 21 hours. The image represents infrared emmissions in the water vapor absorption band, at a wavelength of 6.7 microns, in terms of brightness temperatures. The darker areas represent colder temperatures and the lighter areas indicate warmer temperatures. The pattern reflects the distribution of water vapor and liquid water in the mid and upper troposphere. The darkest spots identify locations where tall clouds are pumping moisture into the upper atmosphere, while the lightest areas represent areas with little moisture.
BIG_ANIMATION (260 kb) REQUIRES JAVA!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Geostationary satellite rotate the Earth once each day, exactly following the rotation of the Earth below. The satellite thus seems to remain stationary over one spot on the globe. As can be seen in the frame above that adds a geographical overlay, the GOES-8 satellite is stationed over Brazil, at a longitude of 75 degrees West. Areas of isloated deep convection are common over the Brazilian basin and generally a bit north of the equator along what is called the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Northward and southward from the equator, there are larger storm systems showing the curvature and rotation that is typical of mid-latitude and polar systems.
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