The Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites are equipped with advanced multispectral imagers capable of capturing optical images across 13 spectral bands, from visible to shortwave-infrared light. In August 2024, the satellites captured two distinct images of the Australian Alps in southeast Australia using different spectral channels.

The image on the left, in true colour, reveals how the landscape would appear to the human eye, showing a cloud-covered expanse with aircraft contrails stretching across the sky along the Canberra-Melbourne flight path. The scene includes both snow and cloud-covered areas, which both reflect visible light and appear similarly white to the naked eye.

However, in the false-colour image on the right, shortwave-infrared bands come into play. This spectral technique distinguishes snow and ice, shown in bright electric blue, from clouds, which remain white. Thinner cloud formations and contrails are faintly visible, providing a clear comparison of snow in contrast with thicker clouds.

This distinction is crucial for satellite image processing, particularly as Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms advance to improve the classification of clouds versus snow. The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission, with its multispectral imaging capabilities, is instrumental in facilitating these AI-driven analyses, offering a comprehensive view of Earth's varying features.

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