[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 2 - 16:59:50 ]
Hello from Tallahassee, Florida! Our skies today are scattered with cumulus and cirrus clouds. Welcome to the chat...my fingers are ready to type, so let's hear your questions!

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 3 - 17:00:04 ]
Dr. Stephens, please tell us how GLOBE data helps with your CloudSat mission?

[ DrLedley/TERC - 4 - 17:00:25 ]
Hi Victoria. Do we have any students yet?

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 5 - 17:00:52 ]
YES, HELLO!

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 6 - 17:00:59 ]
Hi Dr. Ruscher-- There's nary a cloud in the sky here in Washington, DC!

[ DrLedley/TERC - 7 - 17:01:27 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] YES, HELLO!
Hi, do you have any questions?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 8 - 17:01:38 ]
RE: [Victoria/GLOBE] Welcome to the celebration of the first day of the United Nations' International World Space Week, October 4-10. Join GLOBE schools worldwide observing and reporting data on clouds, demonstrating how much GLOBE students assist space satellite missions. Welcome to GLOBE's chat with space and atmosphere scientists to help you understand how large a contribution GLOBE student data is to their important work. Learn how to be involved in this inspiring and educational international event and how students and satellites, specifically NASA's, work together to help understand our Planet Earth. Each Day of Space Week, please join other GLOBE students worldwide by making extra efforts to take and report cloud observations. The resulting data can be used by GLOBE students and by scientists. See the updated GLOBE cloud protocols, and data entry sites. Now please say hello to GLOBE's experts: Dr. Paul Ruscher, an Associate Professor of Meteorology at Florida State University, is GLOBE's Principal Investigator for clouds and relative humidity. Dr. Graeme Stephens is CloudSat Principal Investigator at Colorado State University. Ms. Deborah Vane is NASA's CloudSat Mission Deputy Principal Investigator at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Graeme and Deb are joining us today from a CloudSat meeting in Monterey, California. Michael Lewis is Science and Operations Officer for the National Weather Service in the Warning Forecast Office in Jackson, Kentucky. He is responsible fore training the staff on the latest meteorological techniques and conducting scientific studies and operational research. Dr. Tamara S. Ledley is a Senior Scientist at TERC, where she does work for GLOBE, including directing the development of Earth system science learning activities and coordinating the Earth as a System chapter of the GLOBE Teacher's Guide. Here are some helpful hints for teachers and students to get the most out of this GLOBE chat: Try to encourage your students to ask/ address cloud specialists by name if they have specific and relevant questions that they wish to direct to particular cloud specialists. Encourage students to follow the chat and stay on topic. You DO need to hit the "Click Here to See New Messages" button every minute or so to get the latest questions and answers. (Do not hit the reload or refresh button to see new messages.)
We hope to have lots of participation this week so we encourage all of you to get your cloud observations taken and reported to GLOBE as quickly as possible, as we want to do an investigation of cloud development. If any of you can do the Cloud Watch activity this week, which involves taking cloud observations more than once per day (hourly is ideal!), that would be great. We hope to report on such data collection efforts at next summer's GLOBE international conference.

[ DECENT/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 9 - 17:01:56 ]
how old is the oldest satilite in space right now?

[ DrLedley/TERC - 10 - 17:02:02 ]
RE: [Victoria/GLOBE] Hi Dr. Ruscher-- There's nary a cloud in the sky here in Washington, DC!
We don't have any clouds in Boston either.

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 11 - 17:02:25 ]
Hi Dr. Ledley-- Some students are with us from the Math Science Academy of the US. Welcome all!

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 12 - 17:02:37 ]
RE: [Victoria/GLOBE] Hi Dr. Ruscher-- There's nary a cloud in the sky here in Washington, DC!
In GLOBEspeak I guess that would be "no clouds"! Hi, Victoria!

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 13 - 17:02:49 ]
What is the biggest satellite?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 14 - 17:03:03 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] YES, HELLO!
Hi, - do you have questions?

[ DECENT/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 15 - 17:03:05 ]
How old is the oldest satilete in space right now

[ Michael - 16 - 17:03:21 ]
Hello and Welcome! It is exciting to be a part of the UN's International World Space Week Chat. We currently have scattered cloud cover (30 percent coverage) with cumulus and some very thin cirrus.

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 17 - 17:03:22 ]
HELLO wE'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE dmsp SATELITES KNOW WHICH TYPES OF CLOUDS

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 18 - 17:04:00 ]
We got great questions -- what's the oldest --and what's the biggest satellite?

[ Addie/WestElementaryOhio/US - 19 - 17:04:46 ]
How do clouds form?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 20 - 17:04:50 ]
RE: [DECENT/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] how old is the oldest satilite in space right now?
GOES 2 was launched in 1977 and is still being used for other purposes (than weather data collection).

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 21 - 17:05:02 ]
Hi Victoria! We will be with you shortly!

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 22 - 17:05:06 ]
Do the satellites stay in earth's orbit forever?

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 23 - 17:05:39 ]
RE: [Michael] Hello and Welcome! It is exciting to be a part of the UN's International World Space Week Chat. We currently have scattered cloud cover (30 percent coverage) with cumulus and some very thin cirrus.
Hi Michael--Thanks for joining us from the National Weather Service!

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 24 - 17:05:51 ]
DO THE dmsp SATELITES HAVE MISSLISE

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 25 - 17:05:52 ]
RE: [Michael] Hello and Welcome! It is exciting to be a part of the UN's International World Space Week Chat. We currently have scattered cloud cover (30 percent coverage) with cumulus and some very thin cirrus.
Hi, Michael - where are you located, in Kentucky?

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 26 - 17:06:17 ]
Jourdan wants to know why the sky is blue! Can you tell us?

[ DrLedley/TERC - 27 - 17:06:28 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] HELLO wE'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE dmsp SATELITES KNOW WHICH TYPES OF CLOUDS
I am not sure what the oldest or biggest satellites are. But satellites don't really tell what type of clouds. They give you information about the temperature at the top of the clouds. The colder that temperature the higher up the cloud is. We can also get some information about how thick the cloud is. We need data from the ground to go with the satellite data to tell us more about what type the cloud is.

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 28 - 17:07:09 ]
CAN THE SATELITES TELL THE AMOUNT OF WATER VAPOR IN THE CLOUDS

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 29 - 17:07:26 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] HELLO wE'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE dmsp SATELITES KNOW WHICH TYPES OF CLOUDS
Satellites can take pictures using visible light. When there are shadows, it is sometimes possible to see high clouds casting shadows on lower clouds, helping us to identify them. Also it is pretty easy to tell stratiform clouds from cumuliform clouds from satellite pictures. Infrared satellite photos can be used, too, since high clouds are colder than lower clouds.

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 30 - 17:07:35 ]
How many satellites does the us have in orbit (that we know of...)

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 31 - 17:07:42 ]
How many satellites are currently in use?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 32 - 17:07:42 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] DO THE dmsp SATELITES HAVE MISSLISE
NO!

[ DrLedley/TERC - 33 - 17:07:45 ]
RE: [JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US] Jourdan wants to know why the sky is blue! Can you tell us?
The sky is blue because the atmosphere scatters most of the other colors out of the path that the light is going. Blue light is generally left so the sky looks blue.

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 35 - 17:08:32 ]
Hey Students --- please try to direct your questions to someone in particular.

[ Cody/WestElementaryOhio/US - 36 - 17:08:37 ]
How do clouds hold water?

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 37 - 17:08:48 ]
when was the dmsp launched and how?

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 38 - 17:08:53 ]
What makes a sattelite work, is used to make one?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 39 - 17:09:22 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] CAN THE SATELITES TELL THE AMOUNT OF WATER VAPOR IN THE CLOUDS
Yes, using a special property of water vapor, that it strongly absorbs and emits infrared radiation at a wavelength of 6.7 or so micrometers, the satellites like GOES can detect the presence of water vapor in the middle and upper part of the troposphere, between about 3 and 9 kilometers. Unfortunately these satellites don't get good data in the lower atmosphere, which is why more advanced satellites like CloudSat are going to be so important to meteorologists.

[ GraemeandDeb - 40 - 17:09:24 ]
RE: [Victoria/GLOBE] Dr. Stephens, please tell us how GLOBE data helps with your CloudSat mission?
Victoria, Greetings from Reno, Nevada, where the skies are clear. This is Graeme STephens of Colorado State University and Deborah Vane of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. We are the PRincipal Investigator and Deputy Principal Investigator, respectively, of a new NASA satellite called CloudSat. CloudSat will be launched in April 2004 and it will fly the world's most sensitive cloud radar, allowing us to see the very thin, wispy cirrus and the very thick cumulonimbus thunder clouds. But there are some clouds that the radar won't see that you can see with your naked eye. And we are very interested in knowing what fraction of all the clouds YOU see that the radar DOES NOT see. The CloudSat scientists will look at CloudSAt measurements and your measurements and they will compare them. This will help the CloudSat scientists link the radar measurements to the different types of clouds you observe. We hope you look at the CLoudSat observations and use them to help you see how different clouds form at different altitudes.

[ Michael - 41 - 17:09:42 ]
RE: [Addie/WestElementaryOhio/US] How do clouds form?
West Elementary School, great question. The hydrologic cycle is a model to describe how water is contained in our earth/atmosphere system. For clouds to form you need water vapor, cool temperatures and little particles for the water vapor to cling to. If you have the right ingredients and the temperature lowers enough...water vapor collects on the particles, then droplets of water begin to grow bigger, until you start to see a cloud.

[ DrLedley/TERC - 42 - 17:09:47 ]
RE: [DECENT/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] Are there missles or not on those satilites
There are no missles on the satellites!

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 44 - 17:10:42 ]
We will be back in 10 minutes!

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 45 - 17:10:42 ]
RE: [JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US] How many satellites are currently in use?
The count is numerous, over 50 are still in orbit today, and I can think of at least 20 active meteorological satellites working right now.

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 46 - 17:10:47 ]
dR. LEDLEY, WHAT IS THE EXACT MISSION OF THE GOES SATELITES

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 47 - 17:11:01 ]
has a satteliite ever fallen an a city?

[ Deanna/WestElementaryOhio/US - 48 - 17:11:13 ]
why are certain clouds higher than others?

[ Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 49 - 17:11:25 ]
Dr. Ledley, how many satlites are there in space now

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 50 - 17:11:33 ]
RE: [Cody/WestElementaryOhio/US] How do clouds hold water?
Because clouds form in regions where air is rising, they can appear to hold water; but really water will condense in these areas on a continuous basis.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 51 - 17:12:03 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] has a satteliite ever fallen an a city?
I don't believe so.

[ GraemeandDeb - 53 - 17:12:18 ]
RE: [DECENT/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] how old is the oldest satilite in space right now?
Interesting question, but neither of know for sure. Most satellites only last no longer than about 5 years because they run out of power or they break.

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 54 - 17:12:35 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] Dr. Ledley, how many satlites are there in space now
Thanks for directing the question to a specific expert!

[ Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 55 - 17:12:40 ]
Do satilites see clouds that we don't see

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 56 - 17:13:09 ]
RE: [Deanna/WestElementaryOhio/US] why are certain clouds higher than others?
Water vapor and liquid/ice may be present at all altitudes in the troposphere, so clouds can form at any of these altitudes. It all depends on the supply of water to the atmosphere at the various altitudes. This water supply can be measured by radiosondes, which are attached to balloons, or by satellites.

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 57 - 17:13:11 ]
dR. LEDELY, DO THE SATELITES SEE ALL THE CLOUDS?

[ Michael - 58 - 17:13:21 ]
RE: [Deanna/WestElementaryOhio/US] why are certain clouds higher than others?
Deanna, Clouds form when water vapor forms into water droplets or ice crystals. Clouds form at different levels because the water vapor is available at different levels.

[ DrLedley/TERC - 59 - 17:13:38 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] dR. LEDLEY, WHAT IS THE EXACT MISSION OF THE GOES SATELITES
The GOES satellites are geostationary satellites. That means that they orbit as fast as the Earth rotates so it stays over one point on the Earth. These satellites then take satellite pictures of the Earth below on a regular basis to be used in forcasting the weather. The GOES satellites focus on the United States and the western hemisphere. There are other satellites such as METEOSAT that take pictures of different parts of the world.

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 60 - 17:14:08 ]
how do sattalites see the ground?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 61 - 17:14:23 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] Do satilites see clouds that we don't see
That is an interesting question. Because often we have haze in the lower atmosphere, our ability to see the sky is sometimes limited. In these cases, in particular, satellites have a better view of the clouds than we at the surface of Earth do.

[ GraemeandDeb - 62 - 17:14:37 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] dR. LEDLEY, WHAT IS THE EXACT MISSION OF THE GOES SATELITES
The GOES satellite are geostationary satellites, which means that they are very high in orbit, about 36,000 km above the Earth. That allows them to hover above the Earth and "stare" at the Earth. This allows us to watch the weather evolve with time.

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 63 - 17:14:43 ]
mR. rUSHER wHY do you need our cloud observations

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 65 - 17:15:40 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] how do sattalites see the ground?
Geostationary satellites like GOES and METEOSAT orbit the earth at the same relative speed that the earth turns, so they always "see" the same place. There are advanced cameras on board the satellite taking pictures all the time.

[ Jacob/WestElementaryOhio/US - 66 - 17:15:43 ]
Do cumulonimbus clouds always mean rain?

[ Zlatko/OSVladimirNazorViroviticaCroatia/HR - 67 - 17:15:48 ]
Hello from Croatia, Europe. Which type of cloud is more difficult to determinate with GLOBE protocols?

[ Michael - 68 - 17:15:56 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] Do satilites see clouds that we don't see
Good question! I was looking at a recent satellite image and noticed that there appeared to be an indication of 'something' in the sky. When I looked outside...I could see a thin veil of clouds on the distant horizon.

[ DrLedley/TERC - 69 - 17:15:57 ]
RE: [Deanna/WestElementaryOhio/US] why are certain clouds higher than others?
Clouds form where the air is moving upward and then the water in the air condenses to form a cloud. The elevation of a cloud depends on the amount of water in the air and the temperature of the air and the temperature of the air in the surrounding area.

[ GraemeandDeb - 70 - 17:16:01 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] Do satilites see clouds that we don't see
Yes, they do. They can see very, very thin high cirrus clouds that are very hard to see from the ground and that you might even mistake to be haze. Also, CloudSat, when launched will see clouds that are hidden in between low and high clouds.

[ Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 71 - 17:16:34 ]
Dr. Ledley, how many satlites are there in space

[ GraemeandDeb - 72 - 17:16:37 ]
RE: [Jacob/WestElementaryOhio/US] Do cumulonimbus clouds always mean rain?
Yes, by definition the name nimbus refers to rain

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 73 - 17:16:44 ]
RE: [Zlatko/OSVladimirNazorViroviticaCroatia/HR] Hello from Croatia, Europe. Which type of cloud is more difficult to determinate with GLOBE protocols?
Welcome Croatia! What do you clouds and cloud cover look like today?

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 74 - 17:16:51 ]
Hello from Ferson Creek, in St. Charles, Il.

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 75 - 17:17:02 ]
how much does the avreage sattilite cost?? [ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 76 - 17:17:18 ]
Can we see small objects with the satelites

[ DrLedley/TERC - 77 - 17:17:32 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] dR. LEDELY, DO THE SATELITES SEE ALL THE CLOUDS?
The satellite mainly see the cloud tops. They really can not see clouds below the top layer when looking straight down. However, if looking at an angle you might be able to see different layers of clouds. That is why your observations from the ground looking up are so important.

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 78 - 17:17:39 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] Hello from Ferson Creek, in St. Charles, Il.
Hello and welcome.

[ Michael - 79 - 17:17:42 ]
RE: [Jacob/WestElementaryOhio/US] Do cumulonimbus clouds always mean rain?
Jacob, the cumulonimbus cloud produces rain, but it may not be at your location. Generally, there is always rain from any of the 'nimbus' clouds.

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 80 - 17:17:48 ]
Where do you get the offical weather for the all the different tv stations in the different cities.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 81 - 17:17:59 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] mR. rUSHER wHY do you need our cloud observations
Great question - I study coastal meteorology, in particular, here in Florida (where we have a lot of coastline). Our weather varies a lot from day to day, and clouds give us signals about these weather changes. Many of our official weather stations, however, now report sky conditions only using automated instruments, which do not report cloud types, and do not report cloud cover above approximately 3.5 km. Meteorologists need this information to help them forecast and observe weather conditions which might evolve into threatening situations, like intense thunderstorms. For example, we like to look for changes in altocumulus clouds which build into castle-like turrets, called castellanus, to indicate things are beginning to get unstable aloft.

[ GraemeandDeb - 82 - 17:18:24 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] Dr. Ledley, how many satlites are there in space
There are so many that we can't give you a number, but somebody keeps count of them so that dead satellites, called space junk, won't become dangerous. For new missions, such as CloudSat, we must bring our dead satellite down to Earth in a controlled manner and safely so that the satellite won't fall on anyone.

[ PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US - 83 - 17:18:30 ]
Paul Ruscher do we call dark cumulus clouds cumulo nimbus

[ DrLedley/TERC - 85 - 17:18:58 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] Dr. Ledley, how many satlites are there in space
There are many satellites in space. Maybe 50 or more. Many are old and no long send us information. Many are working long past when we expected them to.

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 86 - 17:19:19 ]
whyis most of the earth's ozone concentraring over antarctica

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 87 - 17:19:21 ]
How do you know what weather is coming the next day?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 88 - 17:19:31 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] Where do you get the offical weather for the all the different tv stations in the different cities.
I do not know of a specific location for ALL TV stations, but at www.aws.com, you can find a lot of them! Also The National Weather Service and the Weather Channel both have nice Web sites with current data. But of course, the GLOBE web site has great access to official and student observations, don't forget that!!!

[ Michael - 89 - 17:19:55 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] Can we see small objects with the satelites
Satellites are able to 'see' objects of various sizes, depending on the purpose of the satellite. Some specialized satellites are able to see vehicles and small structures.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 90 - 17:20:16 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] Can we see small objects with the satelites
Yes, some satellites can see things only a meter across or so...but most meteorological satellites can "see" things about 250 meters to 1 kilometer across, and larger.

[ Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 91 - 17:20:25 ]
Dr.Ledley: Can satilites read the plates on the pack of cars?

[ Zlatko/OSVladimirNazorViroviticaCroatia/HR - 93 - 17:20:58 ]
During solar noon our sky started to fill with cumulus, but very soon there were altostratus and stratocumulus with dynamic development.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 94 - 17:21:14 ]
RE: [PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US] Paul Ruscher do we call dark cumulus clouds cumulo nimbus
Only if they are raining, snowing, or producing some other form of precipitation! You can have very dark clouds that are not cumulonimbus, too, such as stratus (layered) or cumulus that are very thick.

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 95 - 17:21:46 ]
when was teh first satelite for weather use launched and by what space program

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 96 - 17:21:47 ]
What happens to unused satellites? Should I keep a watch over my head every time I'm outside?

[ GraemeandDeb - 97 - 17:21:54 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] how much does the avreage sattilite cost?
The spacecraft that we fly instruments on cost anywhere from a few million to many tens of millions of dollars. The instruments that we carry on them to observe the atmosphere also range from a few million to many tens of millions. In fact, there is sort of an easy way to estimate the cost of space instruments as one million dollars for every kilogram of weight. It also costs money to launch the satellite, and this is expensive, too. It can cost as much as $30-$100 million dollars. Other costs must be paid, as well, to fly the spacecraft and analyze the data.

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 98 - 17:22:00 ]
How do you get the satellites up into space?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 100 - 17:22:34 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] How do you know what weather is coming the next day?
Experience is the best teacher for weather forecasting. We watch the clouds change during the day to figure out if they are forming or dissipating, and that helps us with our short-term weather forecasts, for a few hours in advance. Clouds are also very important in studing climate, too!

[ DrLedley/TERC - 101 - 17:22:36 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] Where do you get the offical weather for the all the different tv stations in the different cities.
The Weather Channel http://www.weather.com/ Intellicast http://www.intellicast.com/ Weather Satellite Images http://www.datasync.com/~w8je/wxsat.html These are a few

[ Michael - 102 - 17:22:55 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] How do you know what weather is coming the next day?
Ferson Creek Students, welcome. At the National Weather Service we use computer models and surface observations (including GLOBE School data) and we use satellite images a LOT! There are times when the computers and automatic observations just don't match what is really going on.

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 103 - 17:23:27 ]
We're back! How many types of satellites are there? What are there functions?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 104 - 17:23:27 ]
RE: [Zlatko/OSVladimirNazorViroviticaCroatia/HR] During solar noon our sky started to fill with cumulus, but very soon there were altostratus and stratocumulus with dynamic development.
That often happens here in Florida, too, on days in which we later get rain showers or thunderstorms. Are you expecting rain this evening in Croatia?

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 105 - 17:23:58 ]
how are satelites controlled

[ DrLedley/TERC - 106 - 17:24:11 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] whyis most of the earth's ozone concentraring over antarctica
Most of the ozone is not concentrating over Antarctica. The ozone hole is a depletion of ozone. In the Antarctic the conditions are right in the southern hemisphere spring to cause the ozone in the stratosphere to be distroyed causing the ozone hole.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 107 - 17:24:18 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] when was teh first satelite for weather use launched and by what space program
April 1, 1960, TIROS I was launched by the US for weather observation. It was the first weather satellite. The first geostationary satellite was launched in 1970, I believe.

[ PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US - 108 - 17:24:19 ]
should we report haze if its not the full sky?

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 109 - 17:24:42 ]
You mentioned earlier the satellites orbit at the same rate of the Earth's rotation, so what about the ares that are not monitored? Or are these areas ones that have little atmospheric activity?

[ GraemeandDeb - 110 - 17:25:04 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] whyis most of the earth's ozone concentraring over antarctica
The ozone layer is a thin layer surrounding the entire Earth, about 30 km above the surface of the Earth. It plays a very important role for life on Earth because it absorbs the harmful Ultraviolet radiation. The reason we focus our attention on the Antarctic is because the chemicals that we produce react with the ozone in the polar region, to form a 'hole' in the ozone layer. The cold air over the antarctic is required for this chemical reaction to take place.

[ Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US - 111 - 17:25:12 ]
hello people

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 112 - 17:25:20 ]
How does the satellite take the picture and get it back to earth?

[ ric/westelementaryohio/US - 113 - 17:25:26 ]
Why do some of the clouds turn black?

[ Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US - 114 - 17:25:31 ]
hello all

[ Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 115 - 17:25:32 ]
Micheal: Can the satilities read the licence plates on cars? Please answer

[ Michael - 116 - 17:25:33 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] How do you get the satellites up into space?
Satellites are launched into space using rockets. The satellites are carried as 'payload' and released in space.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 117 - 17:25:33 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] How do you get the satellites up into space?
Rockets launch satellites, Ferson Creek!

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 118 - 17:25:50 ]
How many different uses for sattlelites are there?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 119 - 17:26:08 ]
RE: [JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US] We're back! How many types of satellites are there? What are there functions?
Welcome back, Corpus Christi - do we have your cloud observation yet today? How is the sky there today?

[ Zlatko/OSVladimirNazorViroviticaCroatia/HR - 120 - 17:26:16 ]
Which is influence of solar wind on development of clouds and weather forecast?

[ Felicia/westelementaryohio/US - 122 - 17:26:51 ]
What do satellites tell us about the weather?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 123 - 17:27:05 ]
RE: [PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US] should we report haze if its not the full sky?
Hello, good question. If you cannot see 1/4 of the sky, please report the sky as obscured, in your case, with haze. Then report cloud information along with that, either by checking clouds visible, or reporting them as Metadata. Thanks, Pat.

[ Matt/westelementaryohio/US - 125 - 17:27:42 ]
How does snow form?

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 126 - 17:27:43 ]
What do the POES satelites do

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 127 - 17:27:44 ]
How far above the earth do the satellites travel?

[ DrLedley/TERC - 128 - 17:28:01 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] You mentioned earlier the satellites orbit at the same rate of the Earth's rotation, so what about the ares that are not monitored? Or are these areas ones that have little atmospheric activity?
There are enough satellite that most of the regions where people live are covered by satellites. Most of the satellite pictures overlap. The only regions that don't have as good coverage are the north an south polar regions. That is because the geostationary satellites are at a latitude closer to the equator and can't see the polar regions. However, other satellites that orbit the Earth over the north and south poles can provide that information also.

[ Zlatko/OSVladimirNazorViroviticaCroatia/HR - 129 - 17:28:05 ]
We expect rain during night or morning.

[ Michael - 131 - 17:28:21 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] Micheal: Can the satilities read the licence plates on cars? Please answer
Descent, there are satellites which can view small objects. There are some satellites which can even 'see' small vehicles. I do not know whether satellites exist which can 'read' the license plates of vehicles.

[ Justin/westelementaryohio/US - 132 - 17:28:25 ]
How many satellites can be in orbit at the same time?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 133 - 17:28:28 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] You mentioned earlier the satellites orbit at the same rate of the Earth's rotation, so what about the ares that are not monitored? Or are these areas ones that have little atmospheric activity?
Geostationary satellites are useful between approximately 60 deg. N and 60 deg. S. So we need polar-orbiting satellites to monitor the high latitude regions. The entire earth's surface is monitored, as interesting weather and climate patterns occur everywhere on the GLOBE. We also need good land resource and ocean satellites to monitor things on the earth's surface, too.

[ GraemeandDeb - 134 - 17:28:34 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] how are satelites controlled
Satellites have computers onboard and antennas that receive instructions from people on the ground. We can tell the satellite to make a maneuver and the satellite computer will control the thrusters, like little rockets, to move the spacecraft in one direction or another. Our satellite, CloudSat, can do this so precisely that we are even planning to fly very closely to another satellite, such that the two satellites will only be 15 seconds apart. This sounds very close, but they are moving at 7 km per second, so if you can do the calculation you will find out how far apart in space they really are. There is no danger that they will collide.

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 135 - 17:28:36 ]
Does russia have any satellites?

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 136 - 17:29:22 ]
what can't you see from these orbiting satelites

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 137 - 17:29:28 ]
What was the largest ball of hail recorded?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 138 - 17:29:41 ]
RE: [Felicia/westelementaryohio/US] What do satellites tell us about the weather?
Satellites tell us an awful lot about the weather. They see such a large area of the atmosphere, much more than we can see with our own eyes from our own locations. By showing us the clouds, they show us where all the storm systems are, the active ones and the forming ones.

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 139 - 17:29:42 ]
so far we have had a pretty nice day.hold on a sec and we'll tell you bout the clouds k

[ Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 140 - 17:29:55 ]
Micheal:Thank you for answering; can satlites detect the depth of clouds?

[ Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US - 141 - 17:30:01 ]
can these sattalites detect the difference between good rain and rain or percipatation that contans taoxins. in other words can yoou all detect acid rain/

[ DrLedley/TERC - 142 - 17:30:09 ]
RE: [Felicia/westelementaryohio/US] What do satellites tell us about the weather?
Satellite pictures tell us where the storm systems are. A sequence of pictures can tell us which way they are moving and if the getting stronger or disipating. Using this information scientist and the TV weather man can make a better forcast.

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 143 - 17:30:26 ]
Are there any satellites(to your knowledge) that are in development for defensive puposes?

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 144 - 17:30:31 ]
oh by the way this is Jourdan!

[ Britny/westelementaryohio/US - 145 - 17:30:31 ]
How fast do the clouds move?

[ GraemeandDeb - 146 - 17:30:46 ]
RE: [Justin/westelementaryohio/US] How many satellites can be in orbit at the same time?
There is a lot of room in space and we have not even come close to filling it up with satellites.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 147 - 17:30:47 ]
RE: [Matt/westelementaryohio/US] How does snow form?
Snow forms when water with temperatures less than freezing becomes ice, and ice crystals merge into larger snowflakes. Even in summer, this occurs in the tops of thunderstorms. But the snow melts into rain as it falls.

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 148 - 17:31:11 ]
How long does it take to get the satellites in to space?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 149 - 17:31:13 ]
RE: [Zlatko/OSVladimirNazorViroviticaCroatia/HR] We expect rain during night or morning.
Zlatko - that forecast makes sense based on your nice cloud report!

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 150 - 17:31:16 ]
what new weather satelites are being prepared for luanch?

[ Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US - 151 - 17:31:19 ]
what did most of youallmajor inin college?

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 152 - 17:31:42 ]
What is earth's biggest satelite

[ Michael - 154 - 17:31:57 ]
RE: [Matt/westelementaryohio/US] How does snow form?
Matt, working as a forecaster, I have to say that forecasting snow is the most difficult task. Snow forms when the air in the clouds and above the earth is below freezing. If the air is warm enough, snow will melt and change to rain. Did you know that snow can fall when the temperature at your observation station is above 0 degrees Celsius?

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 155 - 17:31:57 ]
Are there any cool satellites in development for future launch/use

[ GraemeandDeb - 156 - 17:32:13 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] Micheal:Thank you for answering; can satlites detect the depth of clouds?
Satellites that are flying today can not measure the depth of clouds. Our new satellite, CloudSAt, will launch in 2004 and it is the only way to measure the depth of clouds by using a radar and bouncing signals off the cloud particles through the depth of the clouds.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 157 - 17:32:29 ]
RE: [Britny/westelementaryohio/US] How fast do the clouds move?
Clouds move as fast as the winds can blow them. Strong jet streams blow at approximately 100 meters per second.

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 158 - 17:32:48 ]
ok here are the clouds: there's about 75% coverage (it's broken) with cumulus,cirrostratus,cumuloninbus,cirrus,and stratocumulus

[ GraemeandDeb - 159 - 17:32:50 ]
RE: [Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US] what did most of youallmajor inin college?
Physics and meteorology.

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 161 - 17:32:58 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] Are there any satellites(to your knowledge) that are in development for defensive puposes?
Hi Joseph-- We're not talking today about defense and military. We're talking about satellites and weather, specifically how GLOBE measurements help scientists. Let's stay on topic, okay? Thanks!

[ PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US - 162 - 17:33:03 ]
SORRY THAT WAS ONE OF MY STUDENTS PLEASE EXCUSE THAT!

[ MylinaStanfield/BoazMiddleSchoolIntegratedScience7thgrade/US - 163 - 17:33:08 ]
Hello everyone from Mrs. Stanfield's 7th grade integrated science class in Boaz, Alabama. It is nice to meet you all. Today we have some cirrus and cirrostratus clouds with a coverage about 30%. We are still waiting for the rain.

[ GraemeandDeb - 164 - 17:33:22 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] What is earth's biggest satelite
The moon! The biggest manmade satellite is Space Station.

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 165 - 17:33:36 ]
Talor just informed us that our cloud cover is overcast and we have nimbostratus clouds wtih a light sprinkle right now. He's one of our offical GLOBE data collectors today.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 167 - 17:33:44 ]
RE: [Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US] can these sattalites detect the difference between good rain and rain or percipatation that contans taoxins. in other words can yoou all detect acid rain/
The satellites presently do not have the ability to detect acid rain, but satellites are being designed and built to detect some of the chemicals that make rain more acidic than normal, and hence, more harmful to the environment. Stay tuned you'll hear more about this in a few years, I expect.

[ DrLedley/TERC - 168 - 17:33:51 ]
RE: [Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US] what did most of youallmajor inin college?
I first majored in astronomy. Then in graduate school I got my degree in meteorology. You also have to take a lot of physics, chemistry, and math.

[ danielle/westelementaryohio/US - 169 - 17:34:10 ]
Do you see evidence of Global warming?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 171 - 17:34:23 ]
RE: [Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US] what did most of youallmajor inin college?
I'm a weather weenie. I majored in Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences. Math is very important for a career in meteorology!

[ GraemeandDeb - 172 - 17:34:39 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] Are there any cool satellites in development for future launch/use
Yes, CloudSAt!!!! But there are others, too. Search the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (jpl.nasa.gov) and the NASA web page and you will find all kinds of neat satellites that are being readied for launch.

[ Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US - 173 - 17:34:52 ]
do sattilites have any thrusters once they are in the orbit. the earths gravity sucks thins in right? so when it is launched, is there a burst of speed to keep it going around instead of being sucked?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 174 - 17:34:53 ]
RE: [PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US] what do u look like
See the GLOBE scientist's web pages on the main globe home page for pictures of all the GLOBE scientists.

[ Michael - 175 - 17:35:12 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] Micheal:Thank you for answering; can satlites detect the depth of clouds?
Weather satellites can detect some features about the atmosphere. The latest GOES satellites can actually tell us what the temperature and winds are like from the surface to the tropopause.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 176 - 17:35:17 ]
RE: [PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US] SORRY THAT WAS ONE OF MY STUDENTS PLEASE EXCUSE THAT!
That is alright, pat - Do they have any cloud questions?

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 177 - 17:35:28 ]
Do you know if any other countries have satellites? If so, do you share weather info

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 178 - 17:35:45 ]
can satleites detect different types of precipatation

[ Zlatko/OSVladimirNazorViroviticaCroatia/HR - 179 - 17:35:50 ]
My students are happy with our contribution to GLOBE community. Best wishes to all participants of GLOBE Space Week Chat from warm and dark evening in NE Croatia, Europe!

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 180 - 17:35:52 ]
RE: [JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US] ok here are the clouds: there's about 75% coverage (it's broken) with cumulus,cirrostratus,cumuloninbus,cirrus,and stratocumulus
Thanks for the cloud report, Jourdan - you have one half of the possible cloud types in your report! Is it raining at your school or nearby?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 181 - 17:36:26 ]
RE: [MylinaStanfield/BoazMiddleSchoolIntegratedScience7thgrade/US] Hello everyone from Mrs. Stanfield's 7th grade integrated science class in Boaz, Alabama. It is nice to meet you all. Today we have some cirrus and cirrostratus clouds with a coverage about 30%. We are still waiting for the rain.
Thanks for the report from Boaz - the rain is coming...we are in Florida waiting for that front, too! We should get it a day or so after you!

[ MylinaStanfield/BoazMiddleSchoolIntegratedScience7thgrade/US - 182 - 17:36:34 ]
How does your class become a part of the interraction between satellites and them? Is it just from doing the GLOBE atmosphere protocols? I wasn't for sure.

[ MylinaStanfield/BoazMiddleSchoolIntegratedScience7thgrade/US - 183 - 17:36:38 ]
How does your class become a part of the interraction between satellites and them? Is it just from doing the GLOBE atmosphere protocols? I wasn't for sure.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 184 - 17:36:44 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] Talor just informed us that our cloud cover is overcast and we have nimbostratus clouds wtih a light sprinkle right now. He's one of our offical GLOBE data collectors today.
Thanks, Talor, nice observation!

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 186 - 17:37:08 ]
can satekites detect where acid rain is falling

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 187 - 17:37:28 ]
Do you study tornados and tornado speed?

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 189 - 17:37:45 ]
How fast do the satellites that dont orbit the same speed as earth rotates travel, if any

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 190 - 17:37:47 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] Do you know if any other countries have satellites? If so, do you share weather info
Yes, many nations have weather satellites. The US, India, Japan, China, Russia, and a group of European nations together have the most.

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 191 - 17:38:09 ]
Not yet but i think there might be a chance!

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 192 - 17:38:21 ]
RE: [Zlatko/OSVladimirNazorViroviticaCroatia/HR] My students are happy with our contribution to GLOBE community. Best wishes to all participants of GLOBE Space Week Chat from warm and dark evening in NE Croatia, Europe!
Thanks for staying up late to join us Croatia!

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 193 - 17:38:36 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] Do you know if any other countries have satellites? If so, do you share weather info
In answer to your second question, yes the data are mostly shared freely between all nations, with a few exceptions. Scientists generally are very cooperative in sharing their data with others.

[ Michael - 194 - 17:38:44 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] can satleites detect different types of precipatation
Satellites can detect temperatures of the clouds and from that there are mathematical equations which can 'infer' whether there is liquid or solid water present.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 195 - 17:39:01 ]
RE: [Zlatko/OSVladimirNazorViroviticaCroatia/HR] My students are happy with our contribution to GLOBE community. Best wishes to all participants of GLOBE Space Week Chat from warm and dark evening in NE Croatia, Europe!
Thank you Zlatko, same to you! And thanks for the data!

[ sarah/westelementaryohio/US - 196 - 17:39:03 ]
how many kinds of clouds can be in the sky at the same time?

[ PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US - 197 - 17:39:21 ]
i majored in microbiology and education!

[ Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 198 - 17:39:24 ]
Can pilots curentyly use pictures from satilites to tell if they are flying into a major storm front?

[ DrLedley/TERC - 199 - 17:39:25 ]
RE: [danielle/westelementaryohio/US] Do you see evidence of Global warming?
Individual satellite pictures can not show you evidence of global warming. However, large datasets over a long period of time can give you information about the Earth system is changing. You still have to consider if the changes you see are within the normal range of variability (this means the weather changes you see from day to day, month to month, or year to year, that reverse themselves the following, day, month or year) or if the changes are outside of the normal variation. If they are outside the normal you have to figure out if they are caused by man or some other natural phenomenon. At this time most scientists believe that global warming is happening.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 201 - 17:39:43 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] Do you study tornados and tornado speed?
I do not, but many do, and for this purpose both satellite data and radar data are important.

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 202 - 17:40:02 ]
What does CloudSat do?

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 203 - 17:40:04 ]
can satelites detect the temperature of places

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 204 - 17:40:07 ]
If you exceed the speed of sound, is everything dark because you are moving faster than light can travel, aand what happens if you are going that fast and you hit, say, a piece of dust? Boom?

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 205 - 17:40:09 ]
What was the largest rain fall ever recorded? Was it predicted by the satellites?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 206 - 17:40:18 ]
RE: [Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US] i know thishas nothing to do with sattalites but, what are yoiur opinions on the theory of relitivity dispite the 2law of thero dinamics
An entropy question! Wow!!! That's all I'm prepared to say here, thanks for asking, though.

[ Scott/westelementaryohio/US - 207 - 17:40:31 ]
why is cloud cover important?

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 209 - 17:40:44 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] can satekites detect where acid rain is falling
That question was answered early. Actually you can always look up web chats afterwards on the GLOBE web page under news and events under the nag bar!

[ MylinaStanfield/BoazMiddleSchoolIntegratedScience7thgrade/US - 210 - 17:40:59 ]
Thanks, Paul. Like I said, we have some cirrostratus clouds and our cloud coverage is increasing, so...we'll send it on. I think there is another one in behind this one too and we're expecting more rain next week. The weather here is wonderful and the trees are starting to turn. They said the other night that with the weather and rain like is has been the trees should really be pretty? Can you get pictures like that from the satellites?

[ Michael - 211 - 17:41:12 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] Can pilots curentyly use pictures from satilites to tell if they are flying into a major storm front?
We brief pilots from time to time at our office. Every pilot we talk with wants to see the current satellite, the past hour of satellite images and the most current radar pictures. Anything to help plan for the flight.

[ Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US - 212 - 17:41:22 ]
sorry that i asked again did not see it

[ DrLedley/TERC - 213 - 17:41:25 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] Can pilots curentyly use pictures from satilites to tell if they are flying into a major storm front?
Yes, pilots can use satellite pictures to tell them how to steer around a storm. I was once on a ship in the Carribean sea trying to see a total solar eclipse. It was completely cloudy in the morning but the captain got the satellite pictures to steer the ship to a place where there was clear skies in time to see the eclipse.

[ GraemeandDeb - 214 - 17:41:30 ]
RE: [danielle/westelementaryohio/US] Do you see evidence of Global warming?
There is still debate about global warming, but the weight of the evidence points to the existence of warming that has taken place over the past 20 years. The nature of this warming suggests it occurs from the effects of greenhouse gas build up, such as carbon dioxide. This warming is observed in the measurements of surface temperature, like the temperature you measure for GLOBE. Detecting small temperature changes using satellite measurements is more difficult, so there is some debate remaining about these measurements. Other evidence for warming exists, such as retreats of glaciers, reduction of sea ice amount and depth, and this change can be seen from satellites.

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 215 - 17:41:32 ]
Where are these scientists we are talking to located?

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 216 - 17:41:34 ]
Why is the eye of a storm always calm ?

[ PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US - 217 - 17:41:46 ]
if there is no rain do we still count a cumulus cloud cumulonimbus?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 218 - 17:41:50 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] How fast do the satellites that dont orbit the same speed as earth rotates travel, if any
This is a good math problem. If the radius of the earth is 6370 kilometers, and the satellite in geostationary orbit is at 38,400 kilometers (I think the numbers are correct), and the satellite travels one complete revolution per day, you can figure out the orbital speed of the satellite. Then you can do a similar calculation for any other satellite in any other orbit, right? Who has a calculator?

[ Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US - 219 - 17:42:07 ]
whatis entropy question?

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 220 - 17:42:24 ]
Is Michael- the "cool" Michael Lewis from Kentucky?

[ PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US - 221 - 17:42:44 ]
dark cumulus cloud*

[ jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US - 222 - 17:42:45 ]
Are there any manned satellites or has there been?

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 223 - 17:42:49 ]
are there any manned satelites

[ Dillon/westelementaryohio/US - 224 - 17:43:07 ]
How do weather balloons help us with the weather?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 225 - 17:43:19 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] can satelites detect the temperature of places
Yes, by using infrared satellite imagery, which detects the temperature of a surface emitting infrared radiation, we can find temperature. Something has to be known about the type of surface, however, for example, if it is called a blackbody or not. Emissivity is the name of the property we also need to know here.

[ Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US - 227 - 17:43:32 ]
cani have the opinion of the other scientest???

[ hounsoujulie/cegapplication/BJ - 228 - 17:43:33 ]
hi doctor ruscher.i'm a student in a secondary school I wonder why the cirrus cloud make difficult cloud cover determination

[ DrLedley/TERC - 229 - 17:44:11 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] If you exceed the speed of sound, is everything dark because you are moving faster than light can travel, aand what happens if you are going that fast and you hit, say, a piece of dust? Boom?
The speed of sound is much much much much slower than the speed of light. So if you go faster than the speed of sound the light does not look any different. At those speeds a plane can hit dust and nothing bad will happen.

[ GraemeandDeb - 230 - 17:44:11 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] can satekites detect where acid rain is falling
Satellites can detect where rain is falling, but can not determine if the rain is acid or not. CloudSat can measure rainfall and snowfall. The only way to determine if the rain is acid or not is to bring other information into the analysis, such as the pH information that you record for the GLOBE program.

[ Michael - 231 - 17:44:14 ]
RE: [Scott/westelementaryohio/US] why is cloud cover important?
From the scientific end, GLOBE cloud observations help to verify that computer models are properly forecasting cloud cover, and to fill in what is going on UNDER the clouds. Remember, satellites see from the top, we need people to see from the bottom.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 233 - 17:44:56 ]
RE: [Scott/westelementaryohio/US] why is cloud cover important?
Cloud cover is important because the more clouds there are covering the sky, the less sunlight gets through to the earth's surface, to be used for photosynthesis, for example. And lots of clouds present at night absorb lots of infrared radiation escaping from the earth's surface, keeping things warm. There are very important relationships between cloud cover and temperature on a day-to-day basis, and in an average sense, related to an area's climate.

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 234 - 17:45:07 ]
How high does/did the highest satellite go?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 235 - 17:45:20 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] Where are these scientists we are talking to located?
I'm in Tallahassee, Florida, Joseph.

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 237 - 17:46:20 ]
how do you program a satelite to take a certain course around the earth like the north ploe

[ GraemeandDeb - 238 - 17:46:23 ]
RE: [jOSEPHmILLER/pAISLEYmATHSCIENCEaCADEMY/US] Where are these scientists we are talking to located?
Hi, I am Graeme Stephens and I am a professor at Colorado State University in the Department of Atmospheric Science (atmos.colostate.edu). Hi, I am Deborah Vane and I am a NASA Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California (jpl.nasa.gov). We have colleagues all over the world, including Europe, Canada, Japan and Australia.

[ Michael - 239 - 17:46:25 ]
RE: [PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US] if there is no rain do we still count a cumulus cloud cumulonimbus?
Cumulus clouds do not have rainfall associated with them. If the clouds are producing rainfall, you hear thunder or see lightning, you have a cumulonimbus. Keep in mind that a 'nimbus' type of cloud may not be producing rain ON you.

[ Walter/westelementaryohio/US - 240 - 17:46:30 ]
How does a funnel cloud form?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 241 - 17:46:35 ]
RE: [JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US] Why is the eye of a storm always calm ?
Hi, Joseph -- that is true for hurricanes, in particular. The most intense rising motion is in the eye wall that surrounds the low pressure system; the cloud features will be present where air is rising, so you can guess what the air might be doing near the center.

[ DrLedley/TERC - 242 - 17:46:53 ]
RE: [JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US] Why is the eye of a storm always calm ?
The eye of a hurricane is calm because the winds are blowing around the storm. Toward the center of the storm the air moves upward and forms tall clouds around the region of calm in the middle.

[ Michael - 244 - 17:47:15 ]
RE: [PaulRuscher/FSU] I'm in Tallahassee, Florida, Joseph.
I am in Jackson, Kentucky (far Eastern Kentucky.)

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 245 - 17:47:28 ]
RE: [Dillon/westelementaryohio/US] How do weather balloons help us with the weather?
We can attach instruments to weather balloons to find out direct measurements of water vapor content (humidity), pressure changes, and temperature, for example. We can also track the balloon's movement and get wind direction and wind speed aloft, too.

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 247 - 17:48:04 ]
Is the teacher from Paisley School there?

[ PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US - 248 - 17:48:12 ]
paul ruscher... should we call dark cumulus clouds cumulonimbus even if there is no rain?

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 249 - 17:48:28 ]
Can te satellites tell what country in the world will have the most sevre weather?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 250 - 17:48:28 ]
RE: [hounsoujulie/cegapplication/BJ] hi doctor ruscher.i'm a student in a secondary school I wonder why the cirrus cloud make difficult cloud cover determination
Hi! Cirrus clouds are very thin sometimes, and infrared radiation from the earth's surface sometimes passes right through them from below, so the satellite might detect some combination of very cold temperatures of the cirrus cloud and very warm temperatures of the underlying surface. Good question!

[ GraemeandDeb - 251 - 17:48:30 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] How high does/did the highest satellite go?
At this time, thehighest Earth satellites orbit at 40,000 km. But there is a plan to fly a satellite in a special orbit, called L2, that is about 2/3 of the way to the Moon. I think that this is about 200,000 miles up. You can find out for sure, since we don't have a library with us.

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 253 - 17:48:52 ]
will the international spacestation do weather observations

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 255 - 17:49:21 ]
RE: [PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US] paul ruscher... should we call dark cumulus clouds cumulonimbus even if there is no rain?
Not unless there is rain - please use cumulus or even stratocumulus depending on the shape of the clouds if there is no precipitation. Thanks.

[ Jaclyn/westelementaryohio/US - 256 - 17:49:29 ]
how big is the biggest satellite?

[ Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 258 - 17:49:55 ]
Michael, Dr. Ledley, or PaulRuscher:At the speed of moc4 can a craft pass through a larg object, such as a piece of stell, without taking heavy 0damage?

[ Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US - 259 - 17:50:03 ]
there are teachers

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 260 - 17:50:17 ]
RE: [Walter/westelementaryohio/US] How does a funnel cloud form?
A funnel cloud forms when there is very strong rotation in a cumulonimbus cloud. It is often a sign that a tornado is forming.

[ Michael - 261 - 17:50:44 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] will the international spacestation do weather observations
I was looking at a set of pictures taken from the ISS. There were fantastic pictures of thunderstorms and a dust storm. They have a 'birds eye' view of the weather.

[ PatZalo/ManateeHigh/US - 262 - 17:50:54 ]
thank you very much!

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 263 - 17:50:56 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] will the international spacestation do weather observations
Probably for special occasions like certain types of storms, or dust storms, etc. But there will be no routine cloud photography that I know of.

[ CatherineMcEwen//CA - 264 - 17:51:20 ]
Hello all, Cate McEwen from Canada. I had the opportunity to join into an arctic science camp and join GLOBE trainer Bill Cooper teaching cloud cover to Inuit students and their teachers. There were also 3 elders present at the science camp. The students interviewed the elders about the cloud chart and the elders told them that not all the clouds were on the chart. Upon researching on the web, we discovered that indeed the 10 cloud types are a summary, because satelite resolution is not adequate to pick up more diversity accurately. On reflection, it makes sense that 10 cloud types have to be an approximation but I was not aware of the great variety of types. Philosophically I found this interesting - that truths in science are not singular. The elders, relying on the weather patterns to discern when to go out on the land and hunt, or out on the water, can differentiate great detail in clouds.

[ Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US - 265 - 17:51:23 ]
i am wondering why are there sattilites? i mean thatsounds dumb but why?

[ GraemeandDeb - 266 - 17:51:23 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] Can te satellites tell what country in the world will have the most sevre weather?
Yes. Present satellites can determine the heights of clouds. And there is a relationship between the height of a cloud and how severe the weather is. For example, some satellite studies have been able to demonstrate a relationship between the coldest and highest parts of clouds and the probability that there is hail that will fall from the cloud. Also, satellite observations are used by weather forecasting agencies to improve the prediction of weather.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 267 - 17:51:32 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] Michael, Dr. Ledley, or PaulRuscher:At the speed of moc4 can a craft pass through a larg object, such as a piece of stell, without taking heavy 0damage?
That's a pretty good physics question, but I think not.

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 268 - 17:51:42 ]
what is the worst effect of Global Warming?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 269 - 17:52:12 ]
RE: [Jaclyn/westelementaryohio/US] how big is the biggest satellite?
Hi, Jaclyn I honestly don't know!

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 270 - 17:52:16 ]
RE: [CatherineMcEwen//CA] Hello all, Cate McEwen from Canada. I had the opportunity to join into an arctic science camp and join GLOBE trainer Bill Cooper teaching cloud cover to Inuit students and their teachers. There were also 3 elders present at the science camp. The students interviewed the elders about the cloud chart and the elders told them that not all the clouds were on the chart. Upon researching on the web, we discovered that indeed the 10 cloud types are a summary, because satelite resolution is not adequate to pick up more diversity accurately. On reflection, it makes sense that 10 cloud types have to be an approximation but I was not aware of the great variety of types. Philosophically I found this interesting - that truths in science are not singular. The elders, relying on the weather patterns to discern when to go out on the land and hunt, or out on the water, can differentiate great detail in clouds.
Welcome Cate!

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 271 - 17:52:26 ]
do you have any questions for us

[ Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US - 272 - 17:52:29 ]
is there a sattilite ove nc?

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 273 - 17:52:29 ]
Do the weather satellites also transfer tv weather information?

[ GraemeandDeb - 274 - 17:52:58 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] will the international spacestation do weather observations
I don't think so. But plans are changing all the time and there might be some observations from the space station in the future.

[ Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 275 - 17:53:08 ]
PaulRuscher: how about a the speed of light?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 276 - 17:53:54 ]
RE: [CatherineMcEwen//CA] Hello all, Cate McEwen from Canada. I had the opportunity to join into an arctic science camp and join GLOBE trainer Bill Cooper teaching cloud cover to Inuit students and their teachers. There were also 3 elders present at the science camp. The students interviewed the elders about the cloud chart and the elders told them that not all the clouds were on the chart. Upon researching on the web, we discovered that indeed the 10 cloud types are a summary, because satelite resolution is not adequate to pick up more diversity accurately. On reflection, it makes sense that 10 cloud types have to be an approximation but I was not aware of the great variety of types. Philosophically I found this interesting - that truths in science are not singular. The elders, relying on the weather patterns to discern when to go out on the land and hunt, or out on the water, can differentiate great detail in clouds.
Hi, Cate - that is so interesting! Our cloud classification system is based in large part on observations taken 200 years ago, but meteorologists have for many years broken them down into far more than 10 cloud types, or subtypes. You can really find the clouds to be different each and every day you have them in your sky! Sketching clouds (often!) is a good activity to teach students about variety.

[ kelly/westelementaryohio/US - 277 - 17:53:55 ]
why dosn 't the sky always have clouds?

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 278 - 17:53:57 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] do you have any questions for us
How often do you take GLOBE measurements?

[ Michael - 279 - 17:54:04 ]
RE: [CatherineMcEwen//CA] Hello all, Cate McEwen from Canada. I had the opportunity to join into an arctic science camp and join GLOBE trainer Bill Cooper teaching cloud cover to Inuit students and their teachers. There were also 3 elders present at the science camp. The students interviewed the elders about the cloud chart and the elders told them that not all the clouds were on the chart. Upon researching on the web, we discovered that indeed the 10 cloud types are a summary, because satelite resolution is not adequate to pick up more diversity accurately. On reflection, it makes sense that 10 cloud types have to be an approximation but I was not aware of the great variety of types. Philosophically I found this interesting - that truths in science are not singular. The elders, relying on the weather patterns to discern when to go out on the land and hunt, or out on the water, can differentiate great detail in clouds.
Cate, Welcome and excellent comment. I have a cloud atlas in my book case here and it has over 150 pages of clouds. Like biology, we have genus and species for clouds. The ten common genus have been identified for GLOBE.

[ DrLedley/TERC - 281 - 17:54:53 ]
RE: [JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US] what is the worst effect of Global Warming?
I think it depends on where you are to identify for you what is the worst affect. Models predict that there will be more severe storms and droughts. Regions will warm and the hydrologic cycle will become more active. In some places this might even be good if it helps crops grow. However, if it becomes to hot to grow your crops, or you get severe floods or dought that would be bad.

[ GraemeandDeb - 282 - 17:54:59 ]
RE: [Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US] i am wondering why are there sattilites? i mean thatsounds dumb but why?
The atmosphere covers the entire globe and the weather doesn't belong to any one country or continent. So, severe weather could form in one place and move far away and affect another place. Weather systems are very large in scale and you can see this from satellite pictures. So the only real way to observe the whole atmosphere and the way that weather evolves and moves far away, is from satellites.

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 283 - 17:55:01 ]
How is the weather where you are at?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 284 - 17:55:09 ]
RE: [JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US] what is the worst effect of Global Warming?
Hi, global warming has many possible consequences, perhaps the most problem might be associated with warming conditions which might bring tropical diseases into areas that have not had them before? Many opinions exist on this matter.

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 285 - 17:55:26 ]
everyday, victoria

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 286 - 17:55:30 ]
We're coming to the end of our hour, but if some of the experts can stay a few extra minutes, we can continue, say until 18:15 UT?

[ GraemeandDeb - 287 - 17:55:50 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] Do the weather satellites also transfer tv weather information?
TV weather stations use satellites images to help them describe and present the weather forecasts.

[ jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 288 - 17:55:59 ]
correction, every school day, Victoria

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 289 - 17:56:28 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] Do the weather satellites also transfer tv weather information?
Yes, many satellites are also used to broadcast TV information. Some satellites also broadcast their images directly to anyone with a proper radio receiver. This is called direct readout; if you are interested, you can do web searches for this on APT and WEFAX.

[ DrLedley/TERC - 290 - 17:56:43 ]
RE: [kelly/westelementaryohio/US] why dosn 't the sky always have clouds?
Clouds form when the air is moist and is being lifted. In that situation the water condenses and clouds form. If the air is dry and/or discending there will be no clouds.

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 292 - 17:56:49 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] everyday, victoria
Great! Thanks and keep it up, please.

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 293 - 17:56:50 ]
RE: [jaYPIERSON/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US] everyday, victoria
Great! Thanks and keep it up, please.

[ JoeHenry/JeffersonCentralSchool/US - 294 - 17:56:50 ]
To Paul Ruscher: On certain days a very thin layer of cirrostratus clouds is covering over 90% of the sky yet the sun is shining and the sky is actually a bluish color. We don't know whether to check overcast or clear. What do you recommend?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 295 - 17:57:02 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] PaulRuscher: how about a the speed of light?
Do you mean would something not get damaged if it travelled through something at the speed of light?

[ Scott/westelementaryohio/US - 296 - 17:57:04 ]
What makes the clouds come low enough (fog)?

[ Michael - 297 - 17:57:24 ]
RE: [Victoria/GLOBE] We're coming to the end of our hour, but if some of the experts can stay a few extra minutes, we can continue, say until 18:15 UT?
I'll stay for a extra 15 minutes!

[ GraemeandDeb - 298 - 17:57:44 ]
RE: [Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US] if you are traviling at the speed of light, youwill not age as fast as normal according to the theory of relitivity, wehats yous opinion??
Yep. And you will also be SHORTER! There are some wonderful stories about the effects of relativity that you can read. I recommend the books by George Gamow (check the spelling) and the titles are Mr. Tompkins something....something...I can't remember the exact title.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 299 - 17:57:47 ]
RE: [kelly/westelementaryohio/US] why dosn 't the sky always have clouds?
Hi, Kelly - if the atmosphere has insufficient water vapor content to become saturated anywhere, or the air is sinking slowly everywhere (such as in high pressure situations), you can have completely clear skies.

[ Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 300 - 17:57:58 ]
ANY EXPERT:at the speed of light can an object pass through a solid object without heavy damage, like steel

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 301 - 17:58:09 ]
I am happy to stay on until 1810. Paul

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 302 - 17:58:16 ]
Joseph -How many types of sattelites are there? What are there functions? Jourdan -What does CloudSat do? Ryan -What do you do?

[ Addie/westelementaryohio/US - 303 - 17:58:28 ]
How are satellites controlled and who does it?

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 305 - 17:59:22 ]
Can satellites see lightning and tornadoes?

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 306 - 17:59:41 ]
RE: [JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US] Joseph -How many types of sattelites are there? What are there functions? Jourdan -What does CloudSat do? Ryan -What do you do?
That's been answered --check the archive, please!

[ Britny/westelementaryohio/US - 307 - 18:00:04 ]
What type of clouds produce snow?

[ Michael - 308 - 18:00:08 ]
RE: [Scott/westelementaryohio/US] What makes the clouds come low enough (fog)?
Scott, as with all clouds, you need moisture and temperatures cool enough for 'condensation' to occur. Fog can form in several ways, from warm air moving over cold land/water/snow, to cooling temperatures during a clear night. Sometimes fog forms because the clouds are form low enough to cover mountain tops...on the mountain you see fog!

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 311 - 18:00:42 ]
RE: [JoeHenry/JeffersonCentralSchool/US] To Paul Ruscher: On certain days a very thin layer of cirrostratus clouds is covering over 90% of the sky yet the sun is shining and the sky is actually a bluish color. We don't know whether to check overcast or clear. What do you recommend?
It's overcast because the sky is more than 90% covered; report in your metadata though that you do see blue sky and that some sun is poking through. This is very helpful for us as satellites sometimes may not be able to tell the difference between a 92% cloud cover, 96% cloud cover, or 100% cloud cover, depending on how large the spaces are between the clouds. Paul

[ Sarah/westelementaryohio/US - 312 - 18:00:48 ]
How many different kinds of clouds can be in the sky at one time?

[ DrLedley/TERC - 313 - 18:01:00 ]
RE: [Scott/westelementaryohio/US] What makes the clouds come low enough (fog)?
Clouds form whenever the air has enough water and it is cold enough to become saturated. If the air at the surface is full of water and cools to the dew point fog will form. The cloud doesn't descend after being formed high up.

[ magnolia/danagray/US - 314 - 18:01:25 ]
how many satellites are there?

[ GraemeandDeb - 316 - 18:01:30 ]
RE: [Scott/westelementaryohio/US] What makes the clouds come low enough (fog)?
Fog forms when air cools and this takes place close to the ground, where the ground is cool at certain places, such as in valleys at night. This air also has to have water vapor in it. The water vapor is measured as relative humidity. As the air cools, it can no longer hold the same amount of water vapor it did when it was warm. The water vapor that can no longer be held in the air forms into little droplets, creating fog.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 317 - 18:01:31 ]
RE: [Britny/westelementaryohio/US] What type of clouds produce snow?
Nimbostratus and Cumulonimbus clouds produce snow.

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 318 - 18:01:48 ]
HOW DO YOU CHECK THE ARCHIVE? WE ARE SORRY! WE WERE EATING LUNCH AT THAT TIME!

[ DrLedley/TERC - 319 - 18:01:52 ]
RE: [Sarah/westelementaryohio/US] How many different kinds of clouds can be in the sky at one time?
You can see many type of clouds at one time. It all depends on the temperature and moisture conditions along with the movement of air masses that determine what kinds of clouds form.

[ studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US - 321 - 18:01:59 ]
We've got to go! Thank you all so very much for your time and anwers? Diane Duncan and kids for Ferson Creek!

[ jaypierson/PAISLEYMATHsCIENCEACADEMY/US - 322 - 18:01:59 ]
soory about our spelling, but got to go

[ GraemeandDeb - 323 - 18:02:02 ]
RE: [Michael] I'll stay for a extra 15 minutes!
We'll stay around 15 more minutes.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 325 - 18:02:14 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] Can satellites see lightning and tornadoes?
The space shuttle has taken lightning photos, and tornadoes occur underneath clouds so I don't think they have taken pictures of them.

[ Michael - 326 - 18:02:19 ]
RE: [studentsof4DD/FersonCreek/US] Can satellites see lightning and tornadoes?
Satellites don't actually see lightning or tornadoes, however the latest weather satellites that we use can see rapid development of storms and we can 'interpret' the images to help us pinpoint which storms are more severe.

[ GraemeandDeb - 327 - 18:02:29 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] PLEASE ANSWER
What question?

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 328 - 18:02:43 ]
RE: [Sarah/westelementaryohio/US] How many different kinds of clouds can be in the sky at one time?
You could actually have all 10 types present at the same time, but that is unlikely.

[ Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 330 - 18:03:19 ]
at the speed of light can an objet pass through a solid object lik steel

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 331 - 18:03:25 ]
RE: [JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US] HOW DO YOU CHECK THE ARCHIVE? WE ARE SORRY! WE WERE EATING LUNCH AT THAT TIME!
Go to the GLOBE home page www.globe.gov. Go to the Nav bar on the left. Scroll down to News and Events and click on the Chat you want to review. It's a good research tool.

[ Michael - 332 - 18:03:31 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] PLEASE ANSWER
What is your question?

[ DrLedley/TERC - 333 - 18:03:45 ]
I have to go. Great questions everyone!

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 334 - 18:03:59 ]
THANX

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 336 - 18:04:21 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] PLEASE ANSWER
Do you have a question, Descent? I only see static from your school, so far. Paul

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 338 - 18:04:49 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] at the speed of light can an objet pass through a solid object lik steel
I don't think so, but electromagnetic waves can.

[ Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 339 - 18:05:23 ]
can an object travling at the speed of light pass through a solid object like steel

[ JosephRyanandJourdan/CorpusChristiSchoolGLOBEProgram/US - 340 - 18:05:36 ]
thanks all ya'll (that's some southeren hospitality)

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 342 - 18:05:57 ]
Looks like we're winding down. Thank you to everyone--especially our distinguished experts. And, of course, the GLOBE teachers and students who make the Program work!

[ Ben/westelementaryohio/US - 343 - 18:06:00 ]
Why are cumulonimbus clouds rain clouds?

[ GraemeandDeb - 344 - 18:06:04 ]
RE: [Michael] Satellites don't actually see lightning or tornadoes, however the latest weather satellites that we use can see rapid development of storms and we can 'interpret' the images to help us pinpoint which storms are more severe.
Well, actually, there are satellite instruments that do detect lightning flashes. There are now maps of the world that show the number of flashes. What we learn fromt this is that most of the lightning flashes occur in clouds that form over the land. Very few flashes occur in clouds that form over water (the oceans). There are lots of interesting reasons for this. You might be able to find more information about this if you search the NASA web site (nasa.gov) and search for the key word "lightning".

[ Michael - 345 - 18:06:05 ]
RE: [magnolia/danagray/US] how many satellites are there?
This has been answered earlier, but I would suggest looking at this website... it has a list of all the satellites currently being monitored.

[ Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US - 346 - 18:06:10 ]
thank you see ya when you do another chat

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 347 - 18:06:14 ]
I am going to have to leave shortly - does anyone have any cloud or weather satellite questions before I go? If not I hope everyone enjoys International Space Week!

[ Victoria/GLOBE - 348 - 18:07:38 ]
So long to all and thanks. Please take lots of GLOBE measurements throughout World Space Week.

[ alidjennaemmanuelandsomestudents - 349 - 18:07:55 ]
hello paul! tis afternoon we have the skywhith broken cumulus and stratus bye

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 350 - 18:08:03 ]
RE: [Ben/westelementaryohio/US] Why are cumulonimbus clouds rain clouds?
Nimbostratus clouds are too...some form of the word nimbus must be in clouds which produce precipitation.

[ GraemeandDeb - 351 - 18:08:15 ]
RE: [Ryanwidemanthema/Paisely/US] based on thery of thero dynamics, what do you think of the theory of evolution??
The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy is always increasing (that means that all systems tend to become more disordered with time). This seems to be contradictory to the notion of species becoming more organized and specialized. You figure this out and let us know.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 352 - 18:08:25 ]
RE: [Descent/PaisleyMathScienceAcademy/US] thank you see ya when you do another chat
And thanks for your questions!

[ Michael - 353 - 18:08:30 ]
RE: [GraemeandDeb] Well, actually, there are satellite instruments that do detect lightning flashes. There are now maps of the world that show the number of flashes. What we learn fromt this is that most of the lightning flashes occur in clouds that form over the land. Very few flashes occur in clouds that form over water (the oceans). There are lots of interesting reasons for this. You might be able to find more information about this if you search the NASA web site (nasa.gov) and search for the key word "lightning".
Excellent information. I'll have to bookmark that information. Thanks.

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 354 - 18:09:05 ]
RE: [alidjennaemmanuelandsomestudents] hello paul! tis afternoon we have the skywhith broken cumulus and stratus bye
Hello, Adlidjennaemmanuel in Benin! Thanks for joining us..!

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 355 - 18:09:42 ]
RE: [Michael] Excellent information. I'll have to bookmark that information. Thanks.
Thanks, Graeme and Deb!!!

[ PaulRuscher/FSU - 356 - 18:10:06 ]
RE: [Michael] Excellent information. I'll have to bookmark that information. Thanks.
Bye, Michael and all...I'll see you next chat!

[ GraemeandDeb - 357 - 18:10:13 ]
RE: [Ben/westelementaryohio/US] Why are cumulonimbus clouds rain clouds?
Basically, cumulonimbus clouds are deep clouds. What that means is that the vertical air motions are relatively strong compared to shallow clouds. Strong vertical motions means that the winds lift the cloud droplets higher and hold them in the air longer, allowing the small droplets to become larger drops of rain.

[ GraemeandDeb - 358 - 18:10:42 ]
By everyone! It was fun.

[ Michael - 359 - 18:10:58 ]
To all the experts, and students, thanks for all the information. I hope to see you and/or your data soon. I do have to go now. Thanks again.