MODIS Cloud Thickness

MODIS provides new capabilities for measuring the properties of clouds. The sensor measures how much of the globe is covered by clouds, identifies various cloud types, and even enables scientists to determine the sizes of the particles that make up clouds. This latter measurement allows scientists to distinguish clouds made of water droplets from those made of ice crystals, and from those made of snow flakes. In this image, the blue clouds are ice clouds, pink indicates snow clouds, and green shows water clouds.

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Scientific Visualization Studio, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center,

Published April 18, 2000
Data acquired April 18, 2000

Source:

Terra > MODIS

Topic:

Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Types