Click here for an Antarctic example . If so, then water vapor imagery cannot be used to estimate winds. The figures below give an example of the characteristics of water vapor imagery. The visible image on the left shows open water and ice floes. In the water vapor image on the right the surface is not evident, and there are spatial features that are potential tracking targets.
Preliminary studies indicate that, in general, water vapor can be used in wind estimation.
Not surprisingly, the answer depends on the latitude and the number of satellites. Go here to learn more. Applications Applications will be posted here as they become available. Jeff Key, Dave Santek, and Chris Velden. Thanks to Fred Nagle for help on orbital characteristics.