F
Current Radar or Satellite Image

Flhurricane.com - Central Florida Hurricane Center - Tracking Storms since 1995Hurricanes Without the Hype! Since 1995


Unseasonably stout wave in Caribbean bringing enhanced showers and tstorms for several days, but lacks model support for development 5/26
Days since last H. Landfall - US: Any 273 (Idalia) , Major: 273 (Idalia) Florida - Any: 273 (Idalia) Major: 273 (Idalia)
None
COMMUNICATION
STORM DATA
CONTENT
FOLLOW US
 

You are not logged in. [Login] Other Forums · Search · Active Topics
New user · Who's Online · FAQ · Rules · Calendar

General Discussion >> Other Weather Events
Previous thread Previous   View all threads Index   Next thread Next   Flat Mode Flat  

Ed DunhamAdministrator
Former Meteorologist & CFHC Forum Moderator (Ed Passed Away on May 14, 2017)


Reged:
Posts: 2565
Loc: Melbourne, FL
Re: GLINT
      Tue Jun 10 2014 05:19 AM

This was a great question and I'm sure that many of us have observed this phenomenon - and it took a fair amount of research to figure out what was going on. Finally, with assistance from the satellite loops at Marshall Space Flight Center I was able to piece together an explanation.

The short answer is that the sun glint is only seen (with ease) when the sun passes (overhead) over water. Cloud formations and land masses do a lousy job of reflecting the sun. The sun - relative to the position of the earth - crossed overhead the Equator northbound on March 20, the Spring Equinox. It will be overhead at 23.44 degrees North latitude (The Tropic of Cancer) on June 21st, the Summer solstice - but that is only part of the complex solution of what we see in the satellite timelapse loops. The axis of the earth is tilted from the vertical and the satellite camera is on a geostationary satellite located at about 22,000 miles over the equator. It is positioned to always look down over the same area on the earth - thus the name Geostationary Orbiting Earth Satellite (GOES).

Given all of those various angles to work with, it appears that the sun is reflecting off the earth at the current time at around 8 or 9 degrees North latitude. So for the moment, the sun is shining directly down on clouds associated with the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) all the way from the west coast of Africa to the east coast of northern South America. The sun finally reflects off of water west of Panama and the glint can be observed as it reflects westward while passing south of Tropical Storm Cristina in the eastern Pacific.
Cheers,
ED

Post Extras Print Post   Remind Me!     Notify Moderator


Entire topic
Subject Posted by Posted on
* GLINT srquirrely Tue Jun 10 2014 05:19 AM
. * * Re: GLINT Ed DunhamAdministrator   Tue Jun 10 2014 05:19 AM
. * * Re: GLINT srquirrely   Sun Jun 15 2014 04:20 PM
. * * Re: GLINT Ed DunhamAdministrator   Tue Jul 22 2014 12:50 PM
. * * Re: GLINT srquirrely   Wed Jul 23 2014 08:28 PM
. * * Re: GLINT Ed DunhamAdministrator   Mon Jun 16 2014 05:20 AM

Extra information
0 registered and 1 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator:  



Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is enabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Rating:
Thread views: 3180

Rate this thread

Jump to

Note: This is NOT an official page. It is run by weather hobbyists and should not be used as a replacement for official sources. 
CFHC's main servers are currently located at Hostdime.com in Orlando, FL.
Image Server Network thanks to Mike Potts and Amazon Web Services. If you have static file hosting space that allows dns aliasing contact us to help out! Some Maps Provided by:
Great thanks to all who donated and everyone who uses the site as well. Site designed for 800x600+ resolution
When in doubt, take the word of the National Hurricane Center