<P> Snowfield monitoring, especially in the Sierra Nevada, can be helpful to the hydrologist keeping track of available snowpack for runoff vital to the watersheds of the western United States . This information is gleaned from existing satellites of all agencies of the U.S. government (in addition to local, on - the - ground measurements). Ice floes, packs and bergs can also be located and tracked from weather space craft . </P> <P> Even pollution whether it is nature - made or man - made can be pinpointed . The visual and infrared photos show effects of pollution from their respective areas over the entire earth . Aircraft and rocket pollution, as well as condensation trails, can also be spotted . The ocean current and low level wind information gleaned from the space photos can help predict oceanic oil spill coverage and movement . Almost every summer, sand and dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa drifts across the equatorial regions of the Atlantic Ocean . GOES - EAST photos enable meteorologists to observe, track and forecast this sand cloud . In addition to reducing visibilities and causing respiratory problems, sand clouds suppress hurricane formation by modifying the solar radiation balance of the tropics . Other dust storms in Asia and mainland China are common and easy to spot and monitor, with recent examples of dust moving across the Pacific Ocean and reaching North America . </P> <P> In remote areas of the world with few local observers, fires could rage out of control for days or even weeks and consume millions of acres before authorities are alerted . Weather satellites can be a tremendous asset in such situations . Nighttime photos also show the burn - off in gas and oil fields . Atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles have been taken by weather satellites since 1969 . </P>

How do satellites in space detect weather conditions such as haze on earth