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Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite
The new generation Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite (GOES I through M) is a basic element of the NWS monitoring
and forecast operations and is a key component of the NWS operations
and modernization program. Spacecraft and ground-based systems work
together to accomplish the GOES mission of providing weather imagery
and quantitative sounding data that forms a continuous and reliable
stream of environmental information used for weather forecasting and
related services.
The Instruments
Each satellite has two major instruments.
One instrument is called the Imager. It transmits
images which provide information on clouds, water vapor, fire, smoke,
wind, and temperature. The other instrument is called the Sounder.
It sends back information on temperatures in the atmosphere and on the
land and sea surface. It also transmits data on ozone and clouds, and
on water vapor in different layers of the atmosphere.
New Capabilities
The new series of GOES satellites
provides significant improvements over the previous GOES system in weather
imagery and atmospheric sounding information. This enhanced system improves
weather services, particularly the forecasting of life-and property-threatening
severe storms. GOES I-M represents the next generation of meteorological
satellites and introduces two new features. The first feature, flexible
scan, offers small-scale area imaging that lets meteorologists take
pictures of local weather trouble spots. This allows them to improve
short-term forecasts over local areas. The second feature, simultaneous
and independent imaging and sounding, is designed to allow weather forecasters
to use multiple measurements of weather phenomena to increase the accuracy
of their forecasts.
Location
GOES serves a region covering the
central and eastern Pacific Ocean (including Hawaii); North, Central,
and South America; and the central and western Atlantic Ocean. This
is accomplished by two satellites, GOES West located at 135 degrees
west longitude and GOES East at 75 degrees west longitude. Dual-satellite
coverage will be assured throughout the remainder of this century.
A ground station at Wallops, Virginia, supports the interface to both
satellites.
Day or night, photo images and atmospheric soundings
provide forecasters with critical global information about hazardous
weather over the continents and oceans. While revolutionizing the ability
to track large-scale weather features, satellites have only begun to
meet their potential for providing valuable data for forecasters.
To learn more about weather satellites, their history, and the images
that meteorologists use from them... visit the University of Illinois'
tutorial.
Color images used on this page courtesy of NASA's
Goddard Space Flight Center.
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