NOAA TO HOLD CONFERENCE FOR NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE USERS

Scientists who track hurricanes, tornadoes, ocean conditions, solar-flare activity and other environmental hazards with data from the current generation of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites are attending a special users’ conference this week in Broomfield, Colo. The conference will provide an environment for a critical exchange of ideas and information about newer versions of satellite system planned for the future.

The fourth GOES Users’ Conference convenes May 1-3 at the Omni Interlocken Resort Hotel in Broomfield. Top NOAA decision makers and satellite experts will provide a status of the new GOES-N and GOES-R series, and ask for feedback from U.S. and international users on ways to promote readiness to receive data from these new satellites. The first satellite in the GOES N-O-P series is scheduled for launch May 18, 2006 and the GOES-R series is scheduled for launch readiness in 2012.

“Since the first GOES satellite began monitoring the weather and climate in 1975, we have been successful at providing continuous quality data and information products for the user community,” said Mary Kicza, deputy assistant administrator of NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service. “With GOES-R, which will be a significant improvement on the current GOES capabilities, we want the user community ready to capitalize on the increased amount of information. We need users feedback to help us fine tune the details of GOES requirements, products and data distribution.”

The GOES-R series is expected to bring key improvements in data for predicting severe weather, including hurricanes. For example, GOES-R data will result in longer watch and warning lead times and a better definition of the threat area for hurricanes and other dangerous weather. GOES-R will improve monitoring of coastal waters, and surface temperatures in urban, metropolitan areas, crucial for warnings on heat stress. GOES-R is also expected to provide better solar observations, leading to improved radiation forecasts for aviation interests.

NOAA is sponsoring the conference, in cooperation with the American Meteorological Society, the National Weather Association and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. More information about the GOES Users’ Conference is available online at: http://www.osd.noaa.gov/announcement.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, 61 countries and the European Commission to develop a global network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA’s Satellite and Information Services: http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov