1. Light and Life   (2/8)

Ocean colour sensors

Ocean colour sensors are especially designed to accurately measure the visible (and near- infrared) light. Some of these sensors are mounted on satellites.

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Satellite Sensor Registers Light
Satellite sensor registers light.

Question: What caused the shape of the spectrum that is registered by the satellite sensor?

Answer ↓




Clouds in the true colour image below are white because they scatter light back to the satellite sensor.

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True Colour SeaWiFS image
Mapped True Colour SeaWiFS image.
Source: NASA

Question: What do you think causes the lighter shades in the North Sea?

You will find the answer on the next page.