However, since the visible light channel detects the amount of visible light that is reflected from an object, sometimes clouds will block our view of the earth due to their reflective properties.
Meteorologists use cloud reflection to track clouds, determine cloud type, and even predict rain.
However, for geologists clouds tend to be a hindrance because the reflection will not allow us to see what is beneath the cloud. Furthermore, in the case of geological detection, clouds can be confused with land features such as snow and deserts. The activity below is designed to give you some background on what to look for while trying to detect mountains. The key feature of high altitude mountains is the snow cover that is associated with them. Since snow is a good reflector of light, we can easily identify these snow covered regions on clear days.