[slate]
So the cool thing about NOAA
satellites is that we have a lot of capability. Not only can we warn you about the
bad weather, but we can also tell you about the good weather as well. So everyone wants to see
the spring coming through. Well through our satellites you actually have the ability to see spring
actually coming through by the vegetation, by actual blooming. You can actually see
it getting greener through the season.
[slate]
So NOAA satellites, we have actually two sets. We have a polar orbiting satellite. So if I use
my hands as the globe, we have a polar orbiting set that actually pulls data
from the planet, but actually pushes that information into the numerical model
that forecasters use to actually forecast the conditions and weather. And then we also have the geostationary
So as we sit in geostationary sync, we can actually look at
one spot on the globe for a continuous timeframe. And its from that benefit that we can actually
watch weather move from east to west or from west to east. And as a result of that
we can watch entire systems develop and actually go through their entire evolution.
[slate]
So in the past 60 years we've made tremendous advancements
in the science and meteorology as well as with satellites. Satellites
now have the ability, at least the current GOES series, has the ability to see
more information, three times more information than the previous series. We also have a
ability to have four times the resolution. And what that provides forecasters
now is a greater understanding of real-time development which gives them
a greater ability to provide forecasts for what's going to happen.
And for the climate monitoring perspective we now have multiple channels
more channels in which we can see or interrogate the atmosphere and have a better understanding
of what the atmosphere is doing over a longer
and prolonged period of time. [slate]
[slate] So NOAA is able to pull all that data
from the satellites, both from the polar orbiters as well as the geostationary, into
the numerical models in which forecasters use to give you your daily forecasts. The same forecast
that you use on the phone or that you see on your nightly news. All that information
goes into those numerical models to provide you with high temperatures,
winds, and when you can expect the winds be stronger
or more importantly when you can see the temperatures dropping off. So
all that information goes into those daily forecasts.
[slate]
So the good news is with both satellites, with the polar orbiting as well as
the geostationary satellites, you can see all types of weather. And
in weather speak all scales of weather. You can see the very large scale and the very
small scale. Specially with the geostationary with the ability to see
directly into one area, we can target one specific area for forecasters
and they can look at actual storms that will develop and move through
a particular area. In the case of the mid-west if you see a thunderstorm that's going to develop
they have the ability to task that satellite, or request that satellite, to look at
particular area for severe weather every 30 seconds. So they
have near real-time capabilities to watch a storm mature
and it's through that they have the ability to actually forecast and warn you on where
to get out and if you have to actually take shelter. [slate]
[slate]
Well satellites have come a long way, but right now where they have become is actually
an essential tool for emergency managers to manage the message
on when people need to both get out and get away or even to stay
put because of severe weather that could be moving into the area. That information goes directly
into operation centers, more importantly it goes directly into the forecasters that provide
that forecast to those emergency managers to provide you with that message
whether there's going to be shelter in place or that you need to evacuate.
[slate]
[slate] So the question is how different would the world be without satellites
Well again we'd actually be blind. Without the ability to forecast
conditions as they are going to develop and more importantly how they would impact us over the next
day, two days, or even the next couple of weeks. Now we have the capability to
look at our atmosphere and look at the conditions and actually forecast for those conditions
over at least a 3-7 day period with good confidence. [slate]
[slate]
So how do the NOAA satellites work together in providing us with a forecast?
Well the polar satellites as they rotate over the Earth they actually
are providing atmospheric data that goes directly into the models. And it's with those models
that forecasters provides you with that forecast whether it's the 12 day
3 day or next 24 hour forecast. Geostationary
satellites however, it has the ability to watch one specific spot of the globe
and watch systems develop and move through. So it provides near real-time
capability for forecasters to see how conditions will develop and more importantly how
storms will move through the area. [slate]
[slate]
So the cool thing about our new satellite for the GOES satellite is that we have a lightening mapper onboard
And that lightening mapper looks at one specific spot, specifically when thunderstorms
are developing and it gives us an idea of the intensification of that lightening. And lightening
and its activity is a key indicator for forecaster to know how strong
the storm is, more importantly where is it is within its life
and how soon it will actually die off.