Why is EarthDesk contacting other sites?
To download cloud images. The cloud images are provided by the Dundee UK Satellite tracking station. They provide six images which together cover the globe. These images are assembled into a single flat map by an open-source, volunteer organization and then distributed to a number of mirror sites. The image can then be accessed by programs like EarthDesk for free. EarthDesk selects a random mirror each time it needs to update the clouds. Many other applications use the same list of mirrors. The goal is to distribute network traffic to help reduce bandwidth on individual servers. It also reduces the burden on the Dundee UK Satellite Station as only one site is pulling back the six images every three hours. By keeping bandwidth to a minimum, it is hoped that this free data service can continue indefinitely.
