MSGID: 1:317/3 6480c5cb
PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08
TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08
June 7, 2023 - Open- and Closed-Cell Clouds over the Pacific Ocean

   Open and Closed-Cell clouds in the Pacific Ocean
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   On June 6, 2023, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
   (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of a large
   swath of beautifully patterned marine stratocumulus clouds over the
   Pacific Ocean.

   Marine stratocumulus clouds frequently form over water, especially off
   the western coast of both North and South America. They usually form at
   low altitudes (below 6,000 feet) and cover roughly 20 percent of the
   low-latitude oceans, or 6.5 percent of the Earth’s surface. There are
   two primary forms of marine stratocumulus cloud—open- and
   closed-cell—and both types are seen in this image. Both forms are built
   on honeycomb- shaped “cells”. Open-celled clouds look like empty
   compartments, while the structure of closed-cell clouds appears to be
   stuffed with fluffy white cloud.

   A bank of close-cell stratocumulus cloud can act like a large blanket
   over the Earth, covering nearly 100 percent of the underlying land
   surface, and yet reflect a large portion of solar radiation. This can
   create a cooling effect on the Earth under the clouds. On the other
   hand, a bank of the more loosely-formed open-cell clouds block very
   little solar radiation. Open-cell clouds have been associated with the
   development of precipitation, with pockets of open-cell clouds opening
   as rain begins to fall. A deck of closed-cell clouds produces little or
   no drizzle.

   Image Facts
   Satellite:  Aqua
   Date Acquired: 6/6/2023
   Resolutions:  1km (743.8 KB),  500m (2 MB),  250m (1.7 MB)
   Bands Used: 1,4,3
   Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC



https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2023-06-07
 
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