In visible images taken by satellites, how do thick clouds typically appear?

Thick clouds typically appear brighter than other clouds in visible satellite imagery due to the way they interact with sunlight. Thick clouds, such as cumulus or stratocumulus, have a significant thickness and water content, which leads to higher reflectivity. When sunlight strikes these clouds, a larger amount of light is reflected back to the satellite sensor, resulting in a brighter appearance in the images.

This reflectivity is influenced by the cloud’s structure and altitude, as well as the size of the water droplets or ice particles within the cloud. Thicker clouds can scatter more sunlight than thinner, wispy clouds, which tend to allow more light to pass through or be absorbed, appearing darker as a result. Hence, when analyzing satellite imagery, recognizing the brightness of clouds can inform meteorologists and scientists about cloud thickness and potential weather conditions.