Frequently Asked Questions - Clouds Protocol

Answer: Satellites orbiting and studying the Earth give NASA and scientists around a big picture of what is going on and the role of clouds in Earth’s changing climate. Satellites only see the tops of clouds, where you can see the bottom of clouds. By putting these two vantage points together, we get a much more complete picture of clouds in the atmosphere.

Answer: For clouds, we recommend you look at the clouds higher than approximately 14 degrees above the horizon, or about the angle of holding your arms outstretched and slightly above your shoulders. In contrast, for sky visibility, you will look directly at the horizon in the distance. To observe sky color, turn your back to the Sun and observe the bluest part of the sky in front of you.