Canada will witness a new era in satellite surveillance as GOES-19, a state-of-the-art geostationary operational environmental satellite, took to the skies on April 7, 2025. The satellite is set to monitor the Americas and Atlantic Ocean for the next decade, providing advanced warning of storms and improving weather forecasts.
The launch marks the beginning of a new chapter in Canada’s weather surveillance system, which has been in operation since the 1970s. GOES-19 will join its predecessors, GOES-East and GOES-West, in tracking weather patterns across North America. The satellite’s Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instrument will provide high-resolution imagery of clouds, sea surface temperatures, and ice coverage.
One of the satellite’s most exciting features is the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), which detects lightning flashes and helps meteorologists predict severe thunderstorm activity. The GLM can also detect meteors entering the atmosphere, providing a unique perspective on space weather.
GOES-19 will be closely monitored by scientists at NOAA, who have spent nine months testing the satellite’s instruments to ensure they are functioning properly. Once operational, the satellite will provide continuous coverage of the Americas and Atlantic Ocean until 2035.
This new satellite represents the fifth generation of GOES satellites, which have been a cornerstone of Canada’s weather surveillance system for over four decades. The GOES program has come a long way since its inception in 1975, with each new generation bringing significant improvements in technology and capabilities.
Source: https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/science/space/brand-new-satellite-to-begin-watching-over-canada-into-the-2030s