Parallax

From Glossary of Meteorology

parallax[edit | edit source]

In satellite meteorology, parallax displacements are shifts in the apparent (or mapped) position along a reference ellipsoid of Earth's surface or atmospheric features (e.g., high terrain, clouds, lightning) due to non-nadir viewing geometry. Parallax displacements for features at altitudes above the reference ellipsoid occur in a direction away from the viewer, along the great circle defined by the subsatellite point and the subfeature point. The effect is maximized for high-altitude features observed at very oblique viewing angles, minimized for low-altitude features, and nonexistent for features observed at nadir.

Term edited 6 May 2019.


  1. A measure (or condition) of height, especially of great height, as a mountain top or aircraft flight level.
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