Observations from instruments flown on satellites are used extensively in weather analysis. Weather satellites fly around the Earth in two basic orbits: a Geostationary Earth Orbit (abbreviated as GEO) and a Low Earth Orbit (also called LEO).

Flown on board satellites are instruments that measure electromagnetic energy that is either reflected or emitted by our planet. These instruments are called radiometers. Two common types of radiometers are used in satellite meteorology. One type measures the amount of visible light from the sun reflected back to space by the Earth's surface or by clouds. The second measures the amount of radiation emitted by these entities.

Interpreting these satellite images in important to understanding weather conditions and how they are changing.

More orbit information.

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