Main applications in the Earth observation - NOAA applications
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Main applications in the Earth observation - NOAA applications
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Satellites and Information Service (NESDIS: National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service) operates the satellites and manages the processing and distribution of millions of bits of data and images these satellites produce daily. The prime customer for the satellite data is the NOAA National Weather Service, which uses satellite data to create forecasts for television, radio and weather advisory services.
NOAA's operational environmental satellite system is composed of: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) for short-range warning and "nowcasting," and Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES) for longer term forecasting. Both kinds of satellites are necessary for providing a complete global weather monitoring system. The satellites carry search and rescue instruments, and have helped save the lives of about 10,000 people to date. The satellites are also used to support aviation safety (volcanic ash detection), and maritime/shipping safety (ice monitoring and prediction).
A new series of GOES and polar-orbiting satellites has been developed for NOAA by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The new GOES-I through M series provide higher spatial and temporal resolution images and full-time operational soundings (vertical temperature and moisture profiles of the atmosphere). The newest polar-orbiting meteorological satellites (that began with NOAA-K in 1998) provide improved atmospheric temperature and moisture data in all weather situations. This new technology will help provide the National Weather Service the most advanced weather forecast system in the world. [1]
