Example of interpretation
Two cases are shown with annotations to demonstrate the proper interpretation of different surface and cloud types (Figs. 11 and 12).
Figure 11: AVHRR Natural Colour RGB image of the Caspian Sea region on 10 March 2014 at 06:55 UTC
Cloud-free snowy land can have a variable appearance in satellite imagery. If the snow lies on a plain or low hill, it often has patches, spots or lines in it. Patches might be wooded areas, with shadows and branches not covered by snow. Lines might be rivers and spots (small patches) might be settlements. With snow-covered mountains the layout of valleys and ridges is often easy to see. Snow usually has a brighter color on high mountains than on hills or lowlands, as the snow cover is less disrupted by vegetation.
Figure 12: AVHRR Natural Colour RGB image on 15 March 2014 at 09:20 UTC