The application of a time sequence of co-registered satellite images can be used to estimate the motion of features in the images. When applied to cloud imagery, cloud motion vectors, or cloud drift winds, are generated. These winds capture the relative movement of the clouds with respect to the Earth. Sunlight striking the earth's surface heats the air above, producing pressure differences. In an attempt to equalize these differences, the atmosphere responds by moving masses of air,which causes the wind.
Additional forces come in to play that can influence the wind speed and direction as well.
The distribution of the wind can tell us a great deal about the state of the atmosphere. All of these factors work together to produce our weather and climate. The wind, or wind component, in the east-west direction.