Welcome to the How The Weatherworks ^TM new satellite imagery page for

ALBEDO - LAND FEATURES

October 16, 1999

visible imagery

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This is a visible GOES (geostationary) satellite image from the morning of October 16, 1999. Due to differences in albedo (reflected sunlight), certain geographic features can easily be seen. For example, land reflects more sunlight than water. At certain sun angles, the water is more reflective, but generally, sunlight is better able to enter the water. This lessens the amount of sunlight that can be reflected. As a result, Lakes Erie and Ontario (upper right), Great Salt Lake (central left), and the Gulf of California (lower left corner) stand out darkly against nearby lighter land. The same is true of the east coast north of Hurricane Irene and the entire Gulf Coast. Darker areas in the western United States showcase tree-covered higher terrain. Treed areas reflect less sunlight than soil or sandy areas. The Mogollon Rim in Arizona and the Sierra Nevada Mountains in eastern California are just two of the regions that stand out.

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This page was updated on March 4, 2001.

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