Satellite Imagery on the Internet

National Weather Association (NWA) Remote Sensing Committee\
Maintained by [Gary Ellrod](mailto:gellrod@orbit.nesdis.noaa.gov)
(NOAA/NESDIS) Last Updated - 4/23/98.

The following list of Internet sites provide original, current satellite
images or derived products.\
[Glossary of terms](#glossary-1)

**University/Corporate Sites**

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------
  **Site/Location**                                                          **Type of Imagery
                                                                             Available**

  [Antarctic Meteorological Research Center                                  NOAA AVHRR
  (AMRC)](http://uwamrc.ssec.wisc.edu/amrchome.html) , Madison, WI           composites over
                                                                             Antarctica

  [Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies                GOES-8 Sounder and
  (CIMSS)](http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/) Madison, WI                          Imager Products,
                                                                             Forecast Images

  [Cooperative Institute for Research and                                    Latest GOES-8/9
  Applications](http://www.cira.colostate.edu/Special/CurrWx/currwx.htm)     Vis, IR, WV.
  (CIRA/CSU-Ft. Collins, CO)                                                 Regional sectors.
                                                                             1 year archive.
                                                                             NOAA AVHRR.
                                                                             RAMSDIS Online

  [Earthwatch Communications, Inc.](http://www.earthwatch.com/) Minnetonka,  GOES-8/9 Vis, IR,
  MN                                                                         WV in color and
                                                                             3-D with
                                                                             topographic map
                                                                             backgrounds.
                                                                             Tropical images.
                                                                             Quicktime movies.

  [University of Hawaii](http://satftp.soest.hawaii.edu/satlab/), Honolulu,  Latest GMS full
  HI                                                                         disk IR/Vis, MPEG
                                                                             movies, AVHRR, SST
                                                                             images

  [U. of                                                                     GOES-8/9 Vis and
  Illinois](http://covis1.atmos.uiuc.edu/covis/visualizer/satellite.html),   IR. GOES-9 WV.
  Urbana-Champaign, IL                                                       Images for past 6
                                                                             days.

  [Institute of Marine Science](http://www.ims.alaska.edu:8000/), Fairbanks, Latest remapped
  AK                                                                         NOAA AVHRR (Vis,
                                                                             IR) over Alaska
                                                                             region (GIF
                                                                             format)

  [Louisiana State U.](http://www.esl.lsu.edu/htmls/current.html), Baton     GOES-8 current
  Rouge, LA                                                                  Vis/IR/WV/Color
                                                                             IR. 2 week archive
                                                                             of AVHRR.

  [U. of Miami](http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/images.html), Coral Gables. FL    SST along East
                                                                             Coast from NOAA
                                                                             AVHRR

  [NCAR Research Application Project                                         GOES multispectral
  (RAP)](http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/satellite.html) , Boulder, CO       (JPEG), derived
                                                                             products, close-up
                                                                             visible (1.5 km
                                                                             res.)

  [Ohio State U.](http://asp1.sbs.ohio-state.edu/wximage.html), Columbus, OH GOES-8/9 Vis/IR,
                                                                             WV, Color IR,
                                                                             24-hour archive

  [Oregon State U.](http://www.ocs.orst.edu/satellite.html), Corvallis OR    GOES-9 Vis/IR/WV,
                                                                             MPEG movies.

  [Plymouth State College](http://vortex.plymouth.edu/), Plymouth, NH        GOES-8/9
                                                                             Vis/IR/WV, MPEG
                                                                             movies.

  [Purdue U.](http://wxp.atms.purdue.edu/), Lafayette, IN                    GOES-8/9 Vis/IR,
                                                                             +composites.
                                                                             Images for past 6
                                                                             hours. MPEG
                                                                             movies.

  [Texas A&M U.](http://www.met.tamu.edu/mcsat.html), College Station, TX    GOES-8/9
                                                                             Vis/IR/WV, Texas
                                                                             closeups,
                                                                             satellite/radar
                                                                             composites.

  [University of                                                             GOES-9/8 Vis/IR/WV
  Washington](http://www.atmos.washington.edu/data/weather2.cgi), Seattle WA for past 3 days.
                                                                             High resolution
                                                                             vis for Pacific NW

  [University of                                                             Current GOES-8/9
  Wisconsin-Madison](http://WWW.ssec.wisc.edu/data/index.html), Space        Vis/IR/WV, global
  Science and Engineering Center (SSEC), Madison                             composites, SST,
                                                                             \"Forecast
                                                                             Satellite
                                                                             Imagery.\"

  [WNBC-TV](http://wxnet4.nbc4.com/), Washington, DC                         High resolution
                                                                             visible closeups
                                                                             of selected
                                                                             regions (U.S.,
                                                                             Mexico, Central
                                                                             America)

  [WSI Corporation (INTELLiCast)](http://www.intellicast.com/weather/usa/),  Latest national,
  Billerica, MA                                                              regional GOES
                                                                             remapped IR (small
                                                                             size)

  [U. of Wyoming,](http://www-das.uwyo.edu/) Laramie, WY                     GOES visible, IR
                                                                             of North America,
                                                                             western US,
                                                                             eastern US plus
                                                                             floater, WV MPEG
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------

**Federal/State/DoD Sites**

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
  **Site/Location**                                                                   **Type of Imagery
                                                                                      Available**

  [Atmos. Environ. Service](http://www.cmc.ec.gc.ca/cmc/htmls/satellite.html),        GOES-8/9 Vis/IR
  Montreal, Canada                                                                    

  [Forecast Systems Laboratory](http://www-frd.fsl.noaa.gov/mab/sat/) (NOAA),         GOES multi-spectral
  Boulder, CO                                                                         (Vis/IR/WV/3.9IR)
                                                                                      movies, radar/WV
                                                                                      composites (requires
                                                                                      MSIE3.0, Netscape2.0
                                                                                      or later)

  [Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)](http://www.npmocw.navy.mil/), Guam, M. I.     GMS Vis/IR, METEOSAT
                                                                                      IR (BIG .gif/.jpeg),
                                                                                      updated every 6
                                                                                      hours. T.S.
                                                                                      bulletins.

  [NASA Goddard](http://climate.gsfc.nasa.gov/~chesters/goesproject.html) Space       GOES-8/9
  Flight Center Greenbelt, MD                                                         Multispectral IR,
                                                                                      VIS, WV, interesting
                                                                                      examples, GOES news
                                                                                      updates

  [NASA Marshall](http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/) Space Flight Center,            GOES-8 Vis/IR/WV,
  Huntsville, AL                                                                      Global composite IR.

  [National Climatic Data Center GOES                                                 GOES-8/9 Full Disk
  Browser](http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/satellite/satellitedata.html), Asheville, NC   (from 10/28/95) and N
                                                                                      Hemisphere (from
                                                                                      12/14/96)

  [National Geophysical Data Center](http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/ngdc.html)              DMSP OLS, SSM/I
  (NOAA/NESDIS), Boulder, CO.                                                         microwave

  [National Radio Astronomy Observatory](ftp://wmaps.aoc.nrao.edu/pub/wx/index.html), GOES-8/9 IR, Visible,
  Socorro, NM                                                                         Water vapor

  [National Weather Service, Anchorage,                                               Latest remapped NOAA
  AK](http://www.alaska.net:80/~nwsar/html/sat/sat.html)                              AVHRR (Vis, IR),
                                                                                      GOES-9 (IR) and GMS
                                                                                      (IR) for Alaska

  [National Weather Service Aviation Weather                                          Multi-satellite
  Center](http://www.awc-kc.noaa.gov/awc/Aviation_Weather_Center.html), Kansas City,  (GOES, GMS, METEOSAT)
  MO                                                                                  composites (IR/WV) of
                                                                                      North Atlantic, North
                                                                                      Pacific, South
                                                                                      America, Asia/Europe.
                                                                                      Fog products with
                                                                                      aviation conditions
                                                                                      overlain.

  [National Weather Service, Salt Lake City,                                          GOES-9 Vis/IR/WV over
  UT](http://nimbo.wrh.noaa.gov/Saltlake/slc.web.satellite.html)                      western U.S./Canada
                                                                                      and East Pacific.
                                                                                      High resolution
                                                                                      products (Vis,
                                                                                      fog/reflectivity,
                                                                                      time composites) of
                                                                                      Great Basin area.

  [National Weather Service San Joaquin                                               GOES-West
  Valley](http://nimbo.wrh.noaa.gov/Hanford/nowcast/index.html) Hanford, CA           Vis/IR/WV/Fog images
                                                                                      of Calif. and Western
                                                                                      U.S.

  [Naval Research Lab](http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/projects/sat_products.html),        GOES-9 Vis/IR/color
  Monterey, CA                                                                        WV (JPEG) for past
                                                                                      24-30 hrs. Tropical
                                                                                      mercator images,
                                                                                      derived products.
                                                                                      MPEG movies. Model
                                                                                      data overlain on some
                                                                                      images.

  [Navy Fleet Numerical](http://www.fnoc.navy.mil/) Meteorological & Oceanographic    DMSP Vis/IR
  Center, Monterey, CA                                                                composites (low res.-
                                                                                      7km) for CONUS, E.
                                                                                      Pac., W. Atlc.
                                                                                      (Updated every 6
                                                                                      hours)

  [NESDIS Forecast Products Development                                               Derived GOES products
  Team](http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov:80/ora/fpdt1/index.html) Camp Springs, MD    (LI, PW, ASOS,
                                                                                      surface temp., winds,
                                                                                      fog, aircraft
                                                                                      icing,etc.). Polar
                                                                                      soundings.

  [NESDIS Product Systems                                                             NOAA AVHRR Sea
  Branch](http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/PSB/EPS/SST/sst_anal_fields.html)       Surface Temperatures;
  Suitland, MD                                                                        global (50/100 km)
                                                                                      and regional (14 km)
                                                                                      scales

  [NESDIS Satellite Services Division](http://goeshp.wwb.noaa.gov/), Camp Springs, MD Current GOES-8/9
                                                                                      Vis/IR/WV +
                                                                                      composites; remapped
                                                                                      sectors; MPEG movies;
                                                                                      floating hurricane
                                                                                      sectors; 7 day
                                                                                      archive

  [NESDIS NOAAsis](http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/noaasis.html), Suitland, MD    GOES/Polar satellite
                                                                                      operational
                                                                                      information (eclipse
                                                                                      schedules, maneuvers,
                                                                                      ephemeris, etc.)

  [Satellite Active Archive (SAA)](http://www.saa.noaa.gov/), NCDC (NOAA/NESDIS)      NOAA AVHRR
  Asheville, NC                                                                       (Visible/IR) browse
                                                                                      images

  [Texas Natural Resources Conservation                                               GOES-East Vis/IR/WV.
  Commission](http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/updated/air/monops/data/Satellite.html),   Closeups of
  Austin, TX                                                                          Texas/Gulf of Mexico
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------

**European/Asian SITES**

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------
  **Site/Location**                                                            **Type of Imagery
                                                                               Available**

  [Free University of Berlin](http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/wetter/meteosat/),   Latest METEOSAT IR, MPEG
  Germany                                                                      movies

  [Dundee University](http://www.sat.dundee.ac.uk/), Scotland                  NOAA AVHRR/HRPT IR/Vis

  [European Southern Observatory](http://www.eso.org/pub/weather), UK          METEOSAT IR, Europe +
                                                                               full disk, MPEG movies

  [Meteo-France](http://www.meteo.fr/tpsreel/e_tpsre_1.html), Paris, France    Colorized METEOSAT IR of
                                                                               Europe, \"Forecast\"
                                                                               images

  [University of                                                               All METEOSAT WEFAX
  Nottingham](http://www.ccc.nottingham.ac.uk/pub/sat-images/meteosat.html),   sectors (Vis/IR/WV),
  UK                                                                           color composites, MPEG
                                                                               movies.

  [James Cook U.](http://www.ece.jcu.edu.au/JCUMetSat/web/metsat.html),        GMS color IR (GIF,IFF),
  Queenstown, NZ                                                               full disk, Australia
                                                                               sectors.

  [Kochi University](http://www.is.kochi-u.ac.jp/weather/index.en.html), Japan GMS IR (JPEG), full disk,
                                                                               Japan/China sectors, MPEG
                                                                               movies

  [Space Research Institute](http://smis.iki.rssi.ru/) Moscow, RU              GOMS low-res. IR full
                                                                               disk and sectors (Asia,
                                                                               Indian Ocean), NOAA
                                                                               composites.
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------

**South American Sites**

  ---------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
  **Site/Location**                                          **Type of Imagery
                                                             Available**

  [Brazilian Space Institute                                 GOES 3-hrly IR of South
  (INPE)](http://www.cptec.inpe.br/meteoimages/homei.html)   America, METEOSAT 6-hrly
                                                             closeups of Brazil, 3.5
                                                             month archive
  ---------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------

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[NESDIS Forecast Products Development
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Glossary of Terms

The following terms are used in the above descriptions of satellite
data, or describe various aspects of the Internet.

APT - Automatic Picture Transmission. Mode of transmitting images from
the NOAA AVHRR. Provides low resolution (4 km) Infrared (IR) and Visible
data.

AVHRR - Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer. Imaging instrument
onboard the NOAA polar orbiting satellites. Produces infrared (IR) and
visible images with a resolution of 1 km at the earth\'s surface.

CONUS - CONtinental United States.

DMSP - Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. A series of low
altitude (550km), polar orbiting satellites operated by the Department
of Defense. Data is made available via the Shared Processing Network and
archived at the National Geophysical Data Center, Boulder, CO.

FTP - File Transfer Protocol. Software used to transmit data files from
one computer host to another.

GIF - Graphical Information Format. Most common image format used on
Internet. Developed by Compuserve. Main advantage is that GIF images
occupy relatively little file space. Uses an encoding method known as
interlacing. Successive passes (up to four) provide increasing clarity
as an image is decoded.

GMS - (Himiwari) geostationary satellite operated by the Japanese
Meteorological Agency. Views the western Pacific Ocean, eastern Asia,
the Indian Ocean, and Australia and New Zealand.

GOMS - Geostationary Operational Meteorological Satellite. Launched by
the Russian government on October 31, 1994, the satellite is centered
over the Indian Ocean on the Equator at 76 degrees East. It currently
provides only low resolution IR imagery.

GOES - Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. A U.S.
satellite operated by NOAA. Positioned in a nearly stationary orbit over
the Equator at an altitude of about 22,500 miles.

HRPT - High Resolution Picture Transmission. High resolution imagery
from the AVHRR on the NOAA satellites. Produced in five channels with a
resolution of 1km at nadir.

B Internet Explorer - Newest web browser produced by Microsoft
Corporation, and provided free to PC owners with MS Windows. Download
from [Microsoft](http://www.microsoft.com/ie/). Sometime referred to as
\"MSIE.\"

IR - Infrared. Type of satellite image that shows earth-emitted radiance
in various wavelengths. Advantage is that it can be used to monitor
weather and oceanographic conditions 24 hours a day.

JPEG - Joint Photographic Expert Group. Image format that uses data
compression techniques to reduce the size of the image file. Supports 8
or 24 bits-per-pixel.

LAC - Local Area Coverage. High resolution (1km) image data from AVHRR
that is obtained over remote areas, saved via onboard data recorder,
then later transmitted to a ground station.

METEOSAT - Series of geostationary satellites operated by the European
Space Agency. Meteosat produces imagery in visible, longwave IR (10.5fm)
and water vapor (6.5fm) channels. Usually centered near 0 deg West
Longitude.

Mosaic - Web browsing software available from the National Center for
Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). Can be obtained free from:
[NCSA](http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Indices/Software).

MPEG - Moving Picture Experts Group. Image format used to display
animated sequences (movies). Requires considerable system memory to run,
depending on movie size (16Mb recommended).

NCDC - National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC. Archive center for
all meteorological data, including satellite imagery. Operated by
NOAA/NESDIS.

NESDIS - National Environmental Satellite Data, Information Service.
Government agency that operates the U.S. civilian weather satellites and
provides the data to users. Also operates the environemental data
centers such as NGDC and the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in
Asheville, NC.

Netscape - Most popular type of web browsing software. One of its
benefits is that graphics can be viewed before all of the document load
is complete. (Now offered free!) Download from [Netscape
Site](http://www.netscape.com/).

NGDC - National Geophysical Data Center, Boulder, Colorado. Archives
most imagery from DMSP satellites (OLS, SSM/I microwave data).

NOAA - National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Refers to
a series of low earth orbit satellites at an altitude of 530 miles,
operated by the agency of the same name. Orbits are sun-synchronous such
that they pass over a location at about the same local time each day.

OLS - Operational Line Scanner. The imager that produces high resolution
(0.5 to 2.7 km) visible and infrared imagery from DMSP satellites.

SAA - Satellite Active Archive. Digital archive of satellite imagery
from the NOAA polar orbiting series. User can browse through sample
images and order digital data online.

SST - Sea Surface Temperature. Temperature on or slightly below the
ocean surface as measured by ocean buoys, ships or satellite infrared
measurements.

SSM/I - Special Sensor Microwave Imager. Instrument that produces
microwave data from four frequencies (seven channels) on DMSP
satellites.

Vis - Visible satellite imagery that shows reflected sunlight in the
ultraviolet portion of the spectrum (0.5 micrometers).

WEFAX - Weather Facsimile. Type of low resolution imagery broadcast
directly from a satellite to a user on the ground with proper receiving
equipment.

(Originally published in \_National Weather Association Newsletter\_,
August 1995, p. 3, 5 & 6). Placed on Internet 9-7-95

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[]{#glossary-1 .anchor}\_