Resources to educate students, teachers, and the general public about meteorology, space science, earth-observing satellites, weather phenomena and benefits GOES-R will provide to society.
Information and resources to ensure that the user community is prepared for the new types of satellite imagery and data that will be available from the GOES-R satellite series.
GOES-R is the next generation of NOAA geostationary Earth-observing systems. The satellite’s advanced spacecraft and instrument technology will support expanded detection of environmental phenomena, resulting in more timely and accurate forecasts and warnings. » More
GOES-R will make available 34 meteorological, solar, and space weather products. An additional 31 products may be made available as future capabilities for the GOES-R Series. » Learn More
GOES-R advanced spacecraft and instrument technology will support expanded detection of environmental phenomena, resulting in more timely and accurate forecasts and warnings. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), a sixteen channel imager with two visible channels, four near-infrared channels, and ten infrared channels, will provide three times more spectral information, four times the spatial resolution, and more than five times faster temporal coverage than the current system. Other advancements over current GOES capabilities include total lightning detection (in-cloud and cloud-to-ground flashes) and mapping from the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), and increased dynamic range, resolution, and sensitivity in monitoring solar X-ray flux with the Solar UV Imager (SUVI).
Meteorologists need sensors that are on the ground directly measuring local weather conditions, as well as in orbit high above Earth’s atmosphere observing the “big picture” remotely. The United States has a network of ground stations for measuring surface and upper-air weather conditions at particular locations and times. However, this network leaves gaps in the information about the geographical extent of weather phenomena, their speed and direction of movement, and their duration. Satellite data are also needed to provide a complete and continuous picture of atmospheric conditions. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and supporting data processing centers provide timely environmental information to meteorologists and their audiences alike – graphically displaying the intensity, path, and size of storms. Forecasting the approach of severe storms for 35 years, the GOES are a cornerstone of weather observing and forecasting.
Geostationary satellites rotate with Earth from west to east directly over the equator at an altitude of 35,800 km (22,300 statute miles). Because the satellite orbits in the same direction as Earth turns on its axis and matches the speed of Earth’s rotation at the equator, the satellite always has the same view of the Earth’s surface. The U.S. has two Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) in service, one positioned to view the west coast and the Pacific Ocean and one to view the east coast and the Atlantic. Geostationary satellites are in position to maintain a constant vigil over nearly half the planet.
Geostationary weather satellites work by sensing electromagnetic radiation to indicate the presence of clouds, water vapor, and surface features. Unlike ground-based radar systems and some other types of satellites, these satellites do not send energy waves into the atmosphere and analyze returning signals. Rather, the GOES work by passively sensing energy. The GOES sense visible (reflected sunlight) and infrared (for example, heat energy), from the Earth’s surface, clouds, and atmosphere. The Earth and atmosphere emit infrared energy 24 hours a day, and satellites can sense this energy continuously. In contrast, visible imagery is available only during daylight hours when sunlight is reflected.
The instruments on the GOES that measure electromagnetic energy are called radiometers. GOES carries two types of imagers: One measures the amount of visible light from the sun that Earth’s surface or clouds reflect back into space. The second measures the infrared energy that Earth’s surface and clouds radiate back to space. Because the GOES can sense infrared radiation, they can operate at night.
Most visible light passes right through the atmosphere, but no so much through the clouds. Clouds reflect some of the visible light back into space. How much depends upon the thickness and height of the cloud. Earth’s surface absorbs the visible light energy, gets warmer, and re-radiates the energy as infrared radiation. Clouds also absorb some of the visible light energy, as well as the infrared energy re-radiated from Earth. Satellite sensors are particularly sensitive to those wavelengths of infrared energy re-radiated up through to the atmosphere to space. Scientists can measure the height, temperature, moisture content (and more) of nearly every feature of the Earth’s atmosphere, ocean, and land surface, with and without vegetation.
Beginning with GOES-I, the Search and Rescue subsystem has been carried on each of the GOES. Distress signals are broadcast by Emergency Locator Transmitters carried on general aviation aircraft, aboard some marine vessels, and by individuals, such as hikers and climbers. A dedicated transponder on each GOES detects and relays signals to a Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) ground station. Through a rescue coordination center, help is dispatched to the aircraft, ship, or individual in distress. SARSAT is an international program, with many satellites making up a world-wide network of emergency beacon transponders. Since 1982, SARSAT has helped to save over 28,000 lives worldwide. Learn more.
GOES-R is engaging users early in the process through Proving Ground and NOAA testbed activities, simulated data sets, scientific and user conferences, and other communication and outreach efforts. » Click here for user training information.
The GOES-R Proving Ground engages the National Weather Service (NWS) in pre-operational demonstrations of select capabilities of GOES-R. This venture facilitates the examination and validation of new ideas, technologies, and products through the Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS).
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GOES-R is a collaborative development and acquisition effort between NASA and NOAA. The GOES-R Program includes two projects: The Flight Project, managed by NASA, and the Ground Segment Project, managed by NOAA.
Communications, transportation, and electrical power systems can be disrupted and damaged by space weather storms. Exposure to radiation can threaten astronauts and commercial air travelers alike, and has affected the evolution of life on Earth. Geomagnetic storms and other space weather phenomena pose a serious threat to all space operations, and can result in total mission failure.
Users must either acquire new systems to receive GRB or upgrade components of their existing GVAR systems. At a minimum, GVAR systems will require new receive antenna hardware, signal demodulation hardware, and computer hardware/software system resources to ingest the extended magnitude of GOES-R GRB data.
Users must either acquire new systems to receive GRB or upgrade components of their existing GVAR systems. At a minimum, GVAR systems will require new receive antenna hardware, signal demodulation hardware, and computer hardware/software system resources to ingest the extended magnitude of GOES-R GRB data.
It is the remote back-up facility from which NOAA will command and control the GOES-R satellites in the event the primary satellite operating locations (NSOF & WCDAS) become disabled. It will include the components, antennas, and ground infrastructure needed to communicate with the GOES-R satellites to control the spacecraft and capture the telemetry and science data from the instruments. This site will be able to perform all of the operational functions in case of a failover scenario at the NSOF and/or the WCDAS ground segment facilities. The RBU is located at the I-79 Technology Park Research Center in Fairmont, West Virginia. » Learn More
