Suggested Searches

1 min read

MODIS Views Variations in Cloud Types

Topics:
 

This MODIS image, centered over the Great Lakes region in North America, shows a variety of cloud types. The clouds at the top of the image, colored pink, are cold, high-level snow and ice clouds, while the neon green clouds are lower-level water clouds. Because different cloud types reflect and emit radiant energydifferently, scientists can use MODIS' unique data set to measure the sizes of cloud particles and distinguish between water, snow, and ice clouds. This scene was acquired on Feb. 24, 2000, and is a red, green, blue composite of bands 1, 6, and 31 (0.66, 1.6, and 11.0 microns, respectively).

References & Resources

Image by Liam Gumley, Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison

You may also be interested in:

Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.

Fire Cloud With a Pileus on Top
4 min read

Scientists captured rare observations of an ephemeral pileus cloud hovering over a smoke-infused cloud that rose above a wildfire in…

Article
Cloudy Cloak Over the Northwest
2 min read

A low-lying cloud layer brought autumn ambience to western Washington and Oregon, while mountainous areas near the coast remained above…

Article
Arctic Sea Ice Shrinks to Its 2026 Minimum
4 min read

Satellite records show Arctic sea ice covering less of the ocean in both winter and summer.

Article