Recorded at Chapel Brampton near Northampton UK by G6KIZ Turnstile and Quadrifilar Helix (QHA) antennas and R2ZX receiver
NOAA APT weather satellite images
March 2008. Currently there are 3 NOAA APT weather satellites in operation. All are in circular polar orbits at around 850km altitude
and transmit 10w RF in the 137-138MHz band which makes them relatively easy to receive with a simple antenna. The main problem with
reception in the UK is the staggeringly stupid decision to allow text pagers to operate in the same band. Pager interference will
be seen on most of the pictures as short dark lines where a pager signal wiped out the satellite.
The demodulated signal is processed through a normal PC soundcard and the two greyscale images at different infrared wavelengths combined
to produced the false colour images displayed below.
The MCIR-precip composite images give a good idea of where there is likely to be rain by use of bright false colouring.
Looking at two images taken a few hours apart can usually show the probable path the rain will follow. Note though that the
colours are only an indication of possible rain not that rain is actually reaching the ground.
Feel free to download any images for your own purposes - they can make attractive desktop wallpapers for instance.
