Water Vapor satellite images

[Portastorm]

When we look at a water vapor satellite image ... at what altitude in the atmosphere is the image registering? In other words, is it upper level water vapor like maybe at 250mb or 500 mb? Low level water vapor at the 850mb level?

[wjs3]

Eek!

Another simple sounding question that can get really hard, really fast...

I just looked it up and I got 23,000-40,000 feet (from one source) as a direct answer to your question. That would be a little above 500 MB up to about 200 MB.

I also got (from two other sources) "middle and upper troposphere"--which I would interpret as 500 MB to about 150-200 MB (the tropopause is at different heights depending on a bunch of things).

WV imagery does not look at one particular level, you see...

I think if we got into some of how water vapor imagery works...if you want...you might find that to be interesting.

If we do, we could end up with a journey into satellite-derived winds

http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/real- ... winds.html

...be careful what you ask for...

Let me know.

[Portastorm]

Um ... yeah ... complicated ...

After some reading I think I get "it" now. My initial understanding was a bit, for lack of a better phrase, two dimensional.

Appreciate the help, wjs3!