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HOME > FEWS-NET > Afghanistan > IR Satellite > IR Satellite Explanation

Afghanistan IR Satellite Information


The infrared satellite image and animation viewable from the previous page are most commonly used as a general indicator of active weather. By combining satellite infrared data, a seamless image is created that shows remotely measured temperature data of the surface of the Earth and its clouds. Measuring cloud top temperature data can provide an estimation of their heights, and assuming that a colder cloud top has a greater vertical extent, the cloud may be more capable of producing heavier rainfall. Thus, warmer IR temperatures=~lighter precipitation, and colder IR temperatures=~heavier precipitation. Both the still image and 24 hour animation are updated hourly. Afghanistan time = UTC + 4:30. One must use caution, however, as colder indicated temperatures do not always correspond to precipitation patterns. This deception commonly may be seen over the Himalayan Mountain Range where surface temperatures are often very low. Elsewhere, clouds may be sensed due to their lower temperatures, but may not be precipitating.

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Page last modified: August 2, 2002
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