127k views
3 votes
Which of the following statements is incorrect?

a. Photographic (visible light) cloud images are more effective than infrared ones in identifying the actual radiating surface.
b. Infrared cloud images can distinguish between cold low clouds and warm high clouds.
c. Thick clouds have a higher albedo than thin clouds and appear brighter on visible images.
d. Examining clouds in visible light does not allow to distinguish middle and low clouds

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

The incorrect statement is d.' Examining clouds in visible light does not allow to distinguish middle and low clouds,' as visible light can differentiate cloud levels based on texture and other visual cues.

Step-by-step explanation:

The incorrect statement among the options provided is: d. Examining clouds in visible light does not allow to distinguish middle and low clouds. This is not accurate because visible light images can indeed differentiate between cloud levels based on factors like texture and shadowing, although it may not always be as clear as using other methods like infrared imaging.

Infrared cloud images are crucial for studying various atmospheric conditions as they can distinguish between the temperatures of clouds, which helps in identifying their altitudes. High clouds appear colder and hence show up more brightly in the infrared, compared to low, warmer clouds. Moreover, infrared imaging can detect clouds during the night, unlike visible light which requires sunlight. Therefore, analyzing clouds in infrared can provide critical information regardless of the time of day.

Visible light cloud images are indeed effective in showcasing the albedo of clouds, with thick clouds having higher albedo and thus appearing brighter. However, distinguishing cloud levels in visible light can be challenging without additional information. That's why infrared and other radiation sensors, which can penetrate cloud layers and detect different variables, are valuable in meteorology.

User Pcasa
by
7.9k points