Water vapor view of the western U.S.
| This image is of the western United States, as viewed in a part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is sensitive to water vapor. Areas with high amounts of water vapor in the air appear white or light grey, while very dry areas appear dark or black. This image was taken by one of NOAA's GOES weather satellites. All of the GOES satellites are in geostationary orbit, 22,000 mi (36,000 km) above the surface of the Earth. The altitude of the satellite enables it to remain above a single location on the Earth's surface and view the entire hemisphere continuously. |
Credit: NOAA Geostationary Satellite Server
For more info: http://www.goes.noaa.gov/