Satellites are crucial to detecting and tracking intense storms over the oceans such as hurricanes, allowing more advanced warnings to be issued before storms hit. In addition to taking photos of clouds, satellites used radiometers to measure infrared radiation emitted by clouds. Lower clouds are warmer and thus emit more radiation than higher clouds, which are much colder.
Low clouds appear gray on an infrared satellite picture while high clouds appear white.
By closely analyzing satellite images, meteorologists determine cloud heights and thickness. Computer enhancement of an infrared satellite picture increases the contrast between the different cloud features and the background, which makes more detailed analysis possible.