Here is a map showing several satellite images pieced together on top of temperature data of the land and oceans. Scientists call this a global montage. This type of map with the whole Earth stretched out onto one surface is called a Mollweide projection.

Next we'll look at a series of these images in an animated loop. Watch for awhile and see if you can pick out where the trade winds are, monsoons in India, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) along the equator, how the land heats up in the day and cools down at night, and changes in ocean temperatures. You can even watch Hurricane Alex brush the east coast of the United States in early August.

Please click here for a full month of images that are 6 hours apart. (4 images each day) There is a LOT of information in this series of images, take some time and take some notes while you watch the animation.