When ordering satellite imagery, the results can sometimes be less than perfect, due to many factors. This article helps explain these factors, and why in many cases the imagery may still be considered acceptable quality.

Clouds and haze are natural elements that can appear in images depending on weather conditions. Clouds and heavy haze completely obstruct ground visibility, while light haze does not.

The following image illustrates an example of clouds and light haze. This image is considered to have approximately 50% coverage.

Before selecting an image to order, it is strongly recommended to review the low resolution preview image to check if any clouds or haze are covering your layer. If clouds or haze are present inside of your layer, then the delivered product will contain them.

You can filter returned products by Cloud Cover using the filter tool in search.

Example #1: Preview image containing clouds

Example #2: Preview image containing no clouds

Image noise refers to the random variation in brightness or colour information in images, and is also known as graininess, speckling, or "salt and pepper".

Noise is common in low-light conditions, where the image is enhanced to reveal features that are otherwise not visible, which can introduce noise.

Noise is often found in images taken during cloudy, hazy, or other low-light conditions for these reasons.

Unless the noise makes the features in the image unrecognizable, it should not be considered a defect.

The image below shows noise resulting from a combination of light haze and low lighting conditions.

Missing parts of an image can occur when there is insufficient satellite coverage available.

In some cases, the satellite data from the search results may only cover a portion of the Area of Interest (AOI), leaving the uncovered areas missing or blank.

Example:

Chromatic aberration occurs when the red, blue, and green bands misalign in certain areas of an image due to natural phenomena during the satellite camera’s capture process. Since this misalignment is a natural result of the satellite's observation, it will not be considered an image defect.

Refraction from cloud/haze:

Intense reflection from a rooftop on a sunny day:

Moving object, such as a car or airplane: