Use of the GOES 3.9 micron shortwave IR channel to detect snow vs. cloud

This 2-image Java applet may take a minute or so to load...

Hold any mouse button down as you move the cursor over the western portion of Nebraska on the large visible image. Notice on the corresponding 3.9 micron shortwave IR image (inset) the patches of low stratus cloud (darker gray) over the snow pack (lighter gray), which are difficult to identify on the visible image.

Java(tm) applet developed by Tom Whittaker (SSEC / CIMSS)

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