C What can satellite images tell us about the weather?

Geo-stationary satellites orbit the earth at  36 000 kilometres and take pictures of the earths surface at regular intervals. They show patterns of cloud across the surface of the earth. Infra red images show how much heat is being reflected from the earth and can be used at night.

click here to see the latest European satellite [Infra red]   click here to see the latest visible image for Europe

	Cirrus clouds
	Cumulus clouds
	Stratus clouds often linked to a weather front
	This is what happens if a cumulus cloud develops into a thundercloud [cumulonimbus cloud]
	Absolutely clear skies: enjoy!

Your task: Use the icons at the top of this page to bring up the latest satellite image for Europe. [Either Visible or Infra-red]. Print the image out. [Highlight, Copy and Paste to a file in your "user area" is the best way to do this]. Using the table above, add labels to the image with the names of the clouds which are presently over the main areas of Europe.

Extension tasks:

1. Write a paragraph which describes the pattern of clouds over Europe. [Help: Start with the British Isles, then look at Scandinavia (Northern Europe), Central Europe, France, Italy, Spain and finally Greece and SE Europe.
2. Are you right? Use the Met Office site to look at their predictions for the weather for places in Britain. Give your analysis a mark out of 10. Write down reasons for your decision.

Paul Thompson Ounsdale High Schoo,l Wombourne, Staffordshire

Photographs are from Focus Multimedia - a royalty free CD of 10000 photographs 01889 570156