Some Limitations of IR Satellite Imagery

Infrared (IR) sensors on satellites measure long-wave radiation emitted by cloud, land and water surfaces. On IR photographs received at WSFOs, shades of grey are used to represent the temperatures of radiating surfaces. When IR pictures are not enhanced, white represents radiation from very cold surfaces, and black from warm surfaces; the lighter the shade of grey, the colder the temperature of the radiating surface. When IR pictures are enhanced, an enhancement curve is required for determining the relationship between temperature and grey shade.