Earth
ID: 30007
NASA’s Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) works to maximize the impact of NASA’s satellite observations in weather and climate analysis and prediction through integrated Earth system modeling and data assimilation.
This visualization compares cloud optical thickness from a GMAO simulation using the Goddard Earth Observing System Model, Version 5 (GEOS-5) [top] to observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard Aqua and Terra [bottom], August 17-26, 2009. A cloud's optical thickness is a measure of attenuation of the light passing through the atmosphere due to the scattering and absorption by cloud droplets. Clouds do not absorb visible wavelengths of sunlight; rather, clouds scatter and reflect most visible light. Here, light blue shades indicate areas where there are low cloud-optical-thickness values, while red and orange shades indicate high values (i.e., greater attenuation caused by the scattering and absorption from cloud droplets). The higher a cloud's optical thickness, the more sunlight the cloud is scattering and reflecting.
MODIS Cloud Optical Thickness
Credits
William Putman (NASA/GSFC): Lead Animator
Leann Johnson (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Project Support
Eric Sokolowsky (GST): Project Support
Leann Johnson (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Project Support
Eric Sokolowsky (GST): Project Support
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
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https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30007
This item is part of this series:
Hyperwall
Keywords:
DLESE >> Atmospheric science
SVS >> HDTV
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Clouds >> Cloud Optical Depth/Thickness
SVS >> Hyperwall
SVS >> GOES
SVS >> GEOS
SVS >> MODIS
NASA Science >> Earth
SVS >> Presentation
GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30007
This item is part of this series:
Hyperwall
Keywords:
DLESE >> Atmospheric science
SVS >> HDTV
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Clouds >> Cloud Optical Depth/Thickness
SVS >> Hyperwall
SVS >> GOES
SVS >> GEOS
SVS >> MODIS
NASA Science >> Earth
SVS >> Presentation
GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0
