Do sun surface temperatures give us all the energy satellites need?

The sun surface temperatures (10000°F/5000°C, and even hotter above and below the surface) provide a wide range of electromagnetic sunlight wavelengths; some of which are harmful, and some are not.

Radiant heat – what is the temperature of the sun?

Satellite equipment examines several ranges of light spectrum wavelengths, all given by the sun and some from the earth as well. These channels are defined by their wavelengths in micrometres (microns), one millionth of a metre, denoted by µm.

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A wavelength list

Visible, 0.6 µm - Reflected solar radiation, light, related mainly to sun surface temperatures of around five thousand centigrade, reflects off the earth and arrives at the

satellite to create detailed, realistic looking satellite photos. A solar energy use most people do not think of.

A reflection, though, is only as good as the surface. Is it angled so the echo is lost or detected? Does it have a high albedo (ability to act like a mirror) or is it a black body, one that does not return a signal at all?

The computer makes each graphic pixel more white depending on the incoming energy at each point in this case. All are darker in winter and black at night.

Near-IR, 1.1 µm - A hybrid of thermal radiation and that from sun surface temperatures. Very good for locating water surfaces and edges on ocean pictures.

Polar Orbiting, 4 µm - Lower energy gets a lighter colored pixel. This gives the science products and pictures the illusion that cloud tops and colder areas are white with rich dark tropics and low elevations. The incoming energy is mostly terrestrial radiation with a little direct radiation from sun surface temperatures.

This frequency is sensitive to water and ice droplets. In cold weather, low clouds can show up black in the daytime. This is helpful because they can be hard to spot on other types of satellite photographs and images.

Absorption spectrums

Water Vapour Channel (WV), 6.7 µm - Water vapor absorbs this wavelength very well. An area of high water vapour concentration effectively takes the radiation energy and releases it at its own temperature, much lower than sun surface temperatures. The satellite can then help identify the moisture's location and temperature.

Still, this one is not perfect. Surface radiation can penetrate the plume if it is not very thick.

Then it becomes hard to see. Therefore, the images often lack contrast. Darkness on these satellite pictures represents warm humid areas and whiter parts correspond to cold or dry regions. In spite of everything, this illustration helps us find dampness where clouds are not formed.

Infrared, 11 µm on GEOS equipment and 12 µm for polar orbiting satellites - These wavelengths are not absorbed by air, so they are good for identifying temperatures all the way down to the earth's surface.

IR, as this range is frequently called, comes from the earth's radiant heat, and even much colder Jupiter temperatures...

The fifth planet of the solar system (-240°F/-150°C at cloud tops, but possibly over 200°F/100°C hidden down on the planet's solid surface

...for example as well as sun surface temperatures. Meteorologists can custom-enhance imagery to emphasize and analyze certain temperature regions, but usually darker graphics indicate warmer areas and low cloud elevation and vice versa for white.

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Emission Spectrums

IR spectrums are, however, blocked by fog frozen droplets or ordinary clouds, but those clouds emit this frequency very well. So we can use the signal to identify the location and height (temperature) of the clouds. This one is commonly used in the live photo satellite shot shown on television.

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