for example, when looking across a long distance you see those "heat waves" (dont know what thier called)
and also when there are clouds can satellites view the ground (prob not, but who knows)?
2006-10-21 20:36:27 · 7 answers · asked by S K 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
**** i spelled picture wrong
2006-10-21 20:36:56 · update #1
First off, those "heat waves" that you see are nothing more than heat, being reflected at a very thin arc angle. It's why you see them at a long distance from your car, becuse you are at the low angle. Whereas if you were in a plane, you wouldn't see that.
And for the clouds? Of course they appear in satellite pictures! You're probably looking at Google Earth, so there are very few clouds due to very refined pictures, they retake hundreds of pictures and select the best ones to place in there so that the fewer the clouds, the better.
And you down there, you forgot the word "spelled". Have a nice day!
2006-10-21 20:40:10 · answer #1 · answered by The All-Knowing Sam 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They can't take photos through clouds but they do have a clearer picture of the surface by looking down through the atmosphere than we have by looking up.
The heat waves you mention, which also cause 'mirage' effects, are the result of heat being reflected back from a plain surface; in this case the land.
2006-10-21 20:41:01 · answer #2 · answered by Bart S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can't take photos through clouds but they do have a clearer picture of the surface by looking down through the atmosphere than we have by looking up. This is the result of heat being reflected back from a plain land surface.
2006-10-21 20:52:32 · answer #3 · answered by salamince 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cameras that obtain images based on select infrared or ultraviolet frequency light may convert this light/data back to the visual region, thus giving the appearance that the camera can look through clouds.
2006-10-21 20:56:00 · answer #4 · answered by MH 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atmospheric gas and clouds do interfere with satellite photography. Here is a satellite photo of Earth with plenty of clouds:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap971026.html
2006-10-21 20:47:54 · answer #5 · answered by potential tourist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They use special light filters for the photography.
No, they can't see through clouds that well.
2006-10-21 23:00:31 · answer #6 · answered by Dan821 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because engineers designed them not to pick that stuff up? You also spelled "didn't" and "they're" incorrectly.
2006-10-21 20:40:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋