Global Cloud Coverage (IMAGE)

Princeton University

Global Cloud Coverage

Caption

The researchers used both reanalysis data and satellite images from 1986-2005 to calculate the average diurnal cycles of clouds in each season worldwide. The reanalysis (above) shows (left to right) the mean (average), standard deviation (amplitude) and phase (timing) of global cloud coverage by season. The color scale indicates low (blue) to high (red) coverage, amplitude and timing. The majority of models suggest that clouds are thickest over land in the early morning. The Princeton study showed, however, that cloud coverage peaks more frequently in the afternoon.

Credit

Image by Jun Yin, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

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