Space Shuttle Cloud Photographs Assist in Correcting Meteorological Satellite Data

摘要

Series of photographs of specific cloud scenes are being made on certain space shuttle missions. As the orbiting space shuttle passes close to and then away from these scenes, photographs are taken at fixed time intervals. Although the cloud field does not change during any series, since the total elapsed time is only about 2 minutes, the angle at which the cloud field is viewed varies greatly. Analysis of these photographic series allows the heretofore unknown variation of cloud cover with the viewing angle to be determined.