What You're Looking At
This page compares cloud patterns between winter and summer across the entire 34-year dataset.
Seasons (Northern Hemisphere):
- Winter (DJF): December, January, February
- Summer (JJA): June, July, August
What the maps show:
- Each map is an average of all winter or summer months from 1983-2017
- Cloud cover shows where clouds are most common in each season
- Optical thickness shows where clouds block the most sunlight
- Notice how patterns shift between hemispheres with seasons
Key Findings:
- Seasonal patterns are clearly visible and measurable
- Different regions have different seasonal cloud cycles
- Satellites measure these patterns consistently over decades
Data Source: NOAA ISCCP D2 Dataset