Weather satellites record cloud patterns and movements which are important predictors of storms. They also measure temperature, moisture in the atmosphere, air pressure, rainfall, and snow depth. The same satellites can track large fires, wildlife outfitted with radio transmitters, glaciers calving into icebergs, and changes in the size of the hole in the ozone layer. Spy satellites keep track of armies and military build-up, pick up signals from secret agents' transmitters, and send secret coded messages. Early-warning satellites employ infrared sensors to detect the hot exhaust from a nuclear missile within seconds after it is launched.
Satellite images provide a broad picture of our planet.
They demonstrate how small, interconnected, and fragile it really is.