When the satellites took the photos for Google Earth did they have to wait for a completely non cloudy day?

Question

...and don't tell me the camera can see thru the clouds! Also, why are some geographical locations blurred and others clear?

Answer 1

I have seen some images with clouds.

Answer 2

If you click the side bar option "Digital Globe Coverage" on Google Earth, a load of squares marking out the different images + the date they were taken marked in read.... most taken between 2002 - 2006, and I think based on which image Google could afford to put in for the least amount of money, and which places would be of most interest.

There are plenty of places obscured by cloud, including:
- nearly ALL of Holyhead Island (Wales)
- North of Dumfries, Scotland all the way up to near Motherwell.
- The Isle of Mull
- Donegal, North-western Ireland.
- Several can be spotted over Melbourne, Australia
- Svalbard (island north of Norway / Lapland)
- Many parts of Iceland
- also plenty of clouds along the Northern coast of South America, covering Columbia + Ecuador.

Answer 3

Not all the areas have been photographed with the same intensity. Some have great detail because there are more photographs taken, others have less. Yes they try to take pictures during a cloudless day. But it is not always possible. there are a few clouds. But not many
B

Answer 4

The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) ( where the images of google earth come from) is composed of many missions that map the surface of earth, among other things. Some images that are downloaded into the image database by a company called Keyhole, inc, are distorted by atmospheric conditions, however efforts are made to update these images periodically.

Answer 5

I was part of the ATS project that took those pictures. There has never been a cloudless day. It was made from about 1000 pictures ,and super imposing the pictures together. If u look very close some of the shadows don't look right .

Answer 6

I've seen clouds in some areas -- just one or two small ones.

The pictures would have to be taken on sunny or mostly sunny days (with a few scattered clouds).

.

Answer 7

Yes - for each picture. I don't have to tell you they didn't take all the pictures on the same day, do I?

They haven't taken all the pictures at the same resolution - different satellite, different camera, different altitude, different political situations, different priorities are some of the reasons.

Answer 8

I don't think so because in some areas you can see white clouds. (they are not big, but still clouds)
Some locations are blurrred maybe because of winds or because the resolution wasn't good.
Good question.

Answer 9

Of coaurse they did !