The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is set to launch its most advanced weather monitoring system soon, replacing an old satellite that has been in use for years. The new system, GOES-R Series, will provide more accurate and reliable forecasts, severe weather warnings, and a range of other benefits.
Satellites play a critical role in providing data on atmospheric, hydrologic, oceanic, climatic, solar, and space phenomena. The GOES-R Series consists of four satellites that cover the globe from Africa to New Zealand, with improved scanning speed, resolution, and channel capacity compared to previous satellites.
The new system will offer features such as:
– Hurricane track and intensity forecasts
– Early warning of severe storms and tornadoes
– Fire detection, monitoring, and intensity estimation
– Identification of lightning strikes most likely to ignite fires
– Detection of low clouds and fog
The GOES-R Series also includes a brand-new instrument, the Compact Coronagraph-1 (CCOR), which will support NOAA’s Space Weather Follow On (SWFO) mission. This tool will provide real-time information on impending geomagnetic storm conditions, enabling warnings to be issued in advance.
The launch of GOES-19 is set to mark the end of a degraded satellite imaging period, where some images from GOES-16 were noticeably flawed due to its drift into new orbit. The new system will significantly improve detection and observation of environmental phenomena that affect public safety, property protection, and the nation’s economic health.
As the most advanced weather-observing and environmental monitoring system, the GOES-R Series marks a culmination of nearly five decades of research, providing enhanced imagery, atmospheric measurements, real-time mapping of lightning activity, and space weather observations.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/noaas-most-advanced-weather-monitoring-system-operational-soon