The Importance of Satellite Imagery in Weather and Climate Stories and How to Utilize Imagery Resources

Satellite imagery has become a staple in news media for highlighting and understanding current and past weather events. Dozens of resources exist to find, use, and display this imagery. While these resources can be highly useful, the needs and skills of users vary which can hinder the overall user experience. The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) has several resources that can be utilized by a broad set of users. Specifically, the Satellite Library is a new, comprehensive digital collection of satellite animations that curates satellite imagery for news media. This library provides easily accessible, timely imagery that illuminates the power and science of newsworthy weather events. The Satellite Library and other tools will be highlighted to show how to best utilize satellite imagery in weather and climate stories.