NOAA Satellite Image Loops Compiled by SilWeather.com
Infrared
This image is taken in the infrared band of light and shows the relative warmth of objects.
Lower layers of clouds, generally warmer and lower in altitude, are colored gray.
Colder and generally higher cloud tops are highlighted in color.
IR imagery is useful for determining cloud features at both day and night.
Visible
This Image uses reflected sunlight (solar radiation) to see details in the atmosphere and on the Earth's surface.
Clouds and fresh snow are excellent reflectors, so they appear white on the image.
The ground reflects less sunlight, so it appears black on the image.
This imagery cannot be used at night.
Water Vapor / Atmospheric Moisture
This image is sensitive to the content of water vapor in the atmosphere.
Bright and colored areas indicate high water vapor (moisture) content.
Black and brown areas indicate little or no moisture present.
Water Vapor imagery is useful for both determining locations of moisture and atmospheric circulations.
GOES 16 Experimental
This image is the GOES 16 experimental midwest loop.