satellites in metreological application

7/31/2019 satellites in metreological application

1/11

1

SATELLITES IN METREOLOGICAL APPLICATION

INTRODUCTION:

Space technology has advanced rapidly in recent years. Satellite plays an important role in daily life.

Here are few important satellite applications:

Navigation Communication

Weather

Earth Observation

Excluding all of the topic we will consider only weather forecast satellites. Weather forecast use

a variety of observations from which to analyses the current state of the atmosphere. Since thelaunch of the first weather satellite in 1960 global observations have been possible, even in the

remotest areas. Observation as obtained from satellite used in Numerical Weather Prediction

(NWP)model.

During the 1970s and 1980s a wide range of satellite missions have been launched from which

many different meteorological observations could be estimated. Some satellite instrumentsallowed improved estimation of moisture, cloud and rainfall. Others allowed estimation of windvelocity by tracking features (e.g. clouds) visible in the imagery or surface wind vectors from

microwave backscatter.

Meteorology

Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the fieldstretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th

century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across

several countries. After the development of the computer in the latter half of the 20th century,

breakthroughs inweather forecastingwere achieved.

Meteorological phenomenaare observable weather events which illuminate, and are explainedby the science of meteorology. Those events are bound by the variables that exist in Earth's

atmosphere; temperature, air pressure,water vapor, and the gradients and interactions of each

variable, and how they change in time. Different spatial scales are studied to determine how

systems on local, regional, and global levels impact weather and climatology.
http://c/Users/srivastava/Documents/metrological%20application%20overall/applications-satellite.asp.htm%23sat1http://c/Users/srivastava/Documents/metrological%20application%20overall/applications-satellite.asp.htm%23sat1http://c/Users/srivastava/Documents/metrological%20application%20overall/applications-satellite.asp.htm%23sat2http://c/Users/srivastava/Documents/metrological%20application%20overall/applications-satellite.asp.htm%23sat3http://c/Users/srivastava/Documents/metrological%20application%20overall/applications-satellite.asp.htm%23sat3http://c/Users/srivastava/Documents/metrological%20application%20overall/applications-satellite.asp.htm%23sat4http://c/Users/srivastava/Documents/metrological%20application%20overall/applications-satellite.asp.htm%23sat4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interdisciplinaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interdisciplinaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospherehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospherehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_forecastinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_forecastinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_forecastinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_meteorological_phenomenahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_meteorological_phenomenahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pressurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pressurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pressurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_vaporhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_vaporhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_vaporhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_%28spatial%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_%28spatial%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_%28spatial%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_vaporhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pressurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_meteorological_phenomenahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_forecastinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospherehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interdisciplinaryhttp://c/Users/srivastava/Documents/metrological%20application%20overall/applications-satellite.asp.htm%23sat4http://c/Users/srivastava/Documents/metrological%20application%20overall/applications-satellite.asp.htm%23sat3http://c/Users/srivastava/Documents/metrological%20application%20overall/applications-satellite.asp.htm%23sat2http://c/Users/srivastava/Documents/metrological%20application%20overall/applications-satellite.asp.htm%23sat1


2/11

2

Meteorological Satellites

: Meteorological satellites carry onboard sensors to capture images of the earth from the space.

There are two types of meteorological satellites characterized by their orbits. They are

geostationary satellites and polar-orbiting satellites (Figure 1).

Geostationary satellites are stationary relative to the earth and as such they capture images of

the same geographical area on the earth 24 hours a day. Located some 35,800 kilometres abovethe equator, they take pictures covering almost half the globe.

Polar-orbiting satellites are low-flying satellites circling the earth in a nearly north-south orbit,

at several hundred kilometers above the earth. Most of them pass over the same place a couple of

times a day. Since they travel at a distance closer to the earth, they are only capable of taking

images of a limited area each time. However, the images are of higher resolution than those fromthe geostationary satellites. In comparison, geostationary satellites offer more satellite images of

the same area per day.

WEATHER SATELLITE SYSTEM

Weather Satellite System ComponentsWeather Satellite Systems consist of two main groups of components: the ground segment andthe space segment. International meteorological organizations and space agencies supply the

space segment, and Automated Sciences provides all of the equipment you need for the groundsegment to receive and display the weather satellite data.

1)The Space SegmentThe space segment is controlled by international meteorological organizations, which havelaunched a number of geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites. These satellites transmit data

via a radio frequency carrier at microwave frequencies between 1680-1720MHz. The data from

these satellites is available to anyone who has the proper equipment to receive, interpret and

display the data.


3/11

3

Geostationary satellites are those that circle the earthat the same speed as the earth's rotation, such that they

are always above the same location, monitoring that

given region by supplying meteorologists with a newdata set for that area every 15 to 60 minutes. There are

two Geostationary-orbiting Operational EnvironmentalSatellites (GOES) that provide data to the WesternHemisphere: GOES-West, located over the eastern

part of the Pacific Ocean at 135 W and GOES-East,

centered at 75 W. Europe has a GOES satellite

covering their region at 0 E, called Meteosat. TheChinese Meteorological Administration's (CMA)

GOES Satellite, known as Feng Yun 2 (FY-2), is

located at 105 E. The Japan Meteorological Agency's

(JMA) GOES Satellite is called MT-SAT, and islocated at 135 E. Geostationary satellites orbit the

earth in the Clarke Belt, which is located 36,000 km(22,000 mi) above the equator, which is the onlylatitude that allows for stable, geostationary orbits.

GOES satellite coverage areas are shown in the

diagram to the right.

Geostationary satellites provide visible data at a

resolution of 1 km, and multi-spectral infrared

imagery at a 4 km resolution. Since each satellite isalways imaging from the same location, GOES data

may be easily put into time-lapsed animated loops to

watch weather conditions develop, and GOES data isused to track storms and estimate precipitation. View a

sample GOES full disk data set taken from GOES

East.

Areas of the Earth Covered by each of thOperational GOES Satellites

POES Satellite Path shown in

In the United States, Polar-orbiting Operational Environmenta

Satellites (POES) are run cooperatively by the National Aeronautics and

Space Administration (NASA), which launches the satellites, and th

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which

runs the satellites. The Chinese Meteorological Administration also haa polar orbiting satellite. Polar orbiting satellites, as their nam

suggests, pass approximately over the North and South Poles in theiorbit, alternating between ascending and descending passes. Fo

example, a polar orbiting satellite may pass close to the North Pole

descend from North to South crossing perpendicular to the equator, pasnear the South Pole, and then again begin an ascent toward the North

Pole. Users receive POES data as the POES satellites rise over thei
http://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200511151145.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200511151145.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200511151145.shtml


4/11

4

black, with approximateCoverage Area, shown in red

Polar Orbiting Path

radio horizon, pass near their location, and then descend over theiopposite radio horizon; such an event is called a satellite pass. Pola

orbiting satellites are either in morning or afternoon satellites

depending on when they make their passes. Because POES satellites arin sun-synchronous orbits, a morning POES satellite might, fo

example, collect global data at about 9am for each region it passes over

POES satellites provide more detailed data than GOES satellites as the

orbit much closer to earth, at an altitude of about 800 km (500 mi). Th

primary instrument of the POES satellite is the Advanced Very High

Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), which provides 1 km resolution datin all spectral channels, with data sets that are approximately 3,000 km

wide. POES satellites also include atmospheric sounding instruments

Each continuously orbiting satellite provides POES imagery at leas

twice daily at every location on earth. The high resolution data fromPOES is useful for weather forecasting, determining sea surfac

temperatures, monitoring volcanic ash, observing dust storms, andfire/smoke detection.

The Ground SegmentThe ground segment consists of all of the equipment needed to gather and use the data sent down

by the GOES and POES satellites. Once you have acquired ground segment equipment you may

freely receive weather satellite data from your available satellites.

Automated Sciences provides all of the equipment you need for the

ground segment. The supplied satellite dish and integrated feed with

downconverter focus the microwave signal and downconvert the RF

carrier's frequency. This RF signal is then passed along via a cable to theGOES Box or POES Box, which have specialized receivers to

demodulate the scientific data and save it on a hard drive so that it maybe accessed by software. Because you are provided with scientific data

from the satellite, you may choose how you wish to view and work with

the data stream and how you want the images to be displayed. The user

can work with individual images and enhance them in a variety of waysto aid in weather forecasting or other tasks. One popular way to view this

satellite data is to use a time-lapse loop of a series of consecutive images

to show storm motion, such as shown in this Time-Lapse Loop of

Tropical Storm Mala. Or, in a given data set, you may smoothly animate

through space to view details of a storm, such as shown in thisAnimationThrough Space of Hurricane Katrina. The Time-Lapse Loop may take

several moments to load and the Animation Through Space may takeseveral minutes to load.

There are a number of ground segment options available depending onfrom which satellites the data will be received and how you will be using

the data; these options are listed on ourProductspage.

GOES dish with feedworkstation, and software
http://www.automatedsciences.com/products/products.shtml#GoesBoxhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/products/products.shtml#GoesBoxhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/products/products.shtml#PoesBoxhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/products/products.shtml#PoesBoxhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/timelapseloop.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/timelapseloop.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/animatespace.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/animatespace.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/animatespace.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/animatespace.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/products/products.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/products/products.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/products/products.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/products/products.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/animatespace.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/animatespace.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/timelapseloop.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/products/products.shtml#PoesBoxhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/products/products.shtml#GoesBox


5/11

5

Satellite Imagery

The imagery provided directly from satellites is available in real-time, so you receive the satellite

data as it is transmitted and your system stores it on the hard drive, enabling the data to be

immediately worked with and viewed. The data sets from the satellites are multi-megapixel andmulti-spectral, and in addition to the weather satellite image data include navigation, calibration,

and status information. These data sets are not just images, but scientific measurements madewith a radiometer, which detects and measures electromagnetic radiation from earth. Thus, with

the proper software, this numerical data may be calibrated such that the temperature or albedo

values of the data may be determined, the data may be displayed as an image in one of themeasured spectral channels according to user-defined settings, and images or loops may be

enhanced in ways to best view a given high-resolution data set. To facilitate comparisons among

the channels and multi-spectral algorithms, the spectral channels within each data set are co-

registered. The images produced can be saved or exported.

Most of the images below are of Hurricane Wilma, a category 5 storm that damaged areas of theYucatan Peninsula and Florida near the end of the 2005 hurricane season. Click on the smallthumbnail images to view larger versions.

The visible (VIS) channel shows the weather conditions as seen from

space in the wavelengths visible to the human eye: 0.55-0.75 um, so itlooks as though these images are simply taken with a very high-

resolution camera. The visible channel displays how much light is

reflected from the clouds. A high albedo value signifies that more light is

being reflected; this is often seen with clouds or snow. The visiblechannel's 1 km resolution allows fine details of cloud tops and land to be

seen, and dust and smoke may also be viewed in this channel. Since this

channel is based on energy from the sun that is reflected from the earth tocreate its images, visible imagery is only available during daylight hours.

The Visible Channel

The satellites offer several infrared (IR) channels, each of which

measures a different spectral wavelength to show different features. In

contrast to the visible channel, the IR channels provide data 24 hours aday as they do not depend on the reflection of sunlight.

The long-wave infrared channel (LWIR) is the most important of the IR

channels for meteorological purposes. It is optimized for showing cloudtop temperatures. Using empirical algorithms, atmospheric cloud heights

may be determined from cloud top temperatures.

The shortwave infrared channel (SWIR), measuring radiation levels

between 3.8-4.0 um, may be used to show land and sea surface

temperatures. When used with other channels, this channel may be usedto show fog and other low-level atmospheric phenomena.

The Infrared Channel, witcolor enhancement
http://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20VIS.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20VIS.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20VIS.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20VIS.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20VIS.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20VIS.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20IRcol.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20IRcol.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20IRcol.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20IRcol.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20IRcol.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20IRcol.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20IRcol.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20VIS.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20IRcol.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20VIS.shtml


6/11

6

The water vapor (WV) channel, used to show the moisture levels and air

movement patterns of the middle and upper atmosphere, is a special IR

channel at the wavelength where water vapor absorbs infrared energy.Portions of the atmosphere that have higher concentrations of water

vapor absorb more energy between 6.5 um and 7.4 um, and for these

moist regions the satellite detects less energy. Generally the whitesections in a water vapor image represent moist sections of air in the

upper troposphere, which are usually clouds, while darker portions of

water vapor images represent dry regions. Gray areas typically represent

areas of high humidity, but not necessarily clouds.

The Water Vapor Channel

The visible channel and infrared channels are standard channels that display the data collected bythe satellite. With this data, other information and channels may be automatically derived,including the rainfall rate channel, sea surface temperatures, and cloud motion vectors.

The Rainfall Rate Channel

The rainfall rate (RR) channel identifies the probable rainfall rate oconvective cells. Using data from the infrared channel, algorithms yieldthe approximate rainfall rate, based on the fact that cooling an

expanding cloud tops produce the most precipitation. The rainfall rat

channel calculated from satellite data may be preferred over rain gaugeswhich are not real-time and which each provide only discrete data points

covering an area much smaller than that available with satellite imagery

The rainfall rate channel and the associated cumulative rainfall channe

may be used to as a tool to show heavy rains and better predict flooding.

The Cloud Height Channel

The Cloud Height channel provides estimated cloud top heights

estimated empirically from infrared data temperatures. This empirica

derivation, in addition to cloud top temperature, also considers th

latitude. Cloud height estimates are only accurate for thick, middle tupper atmosphere single-layer clouds

The Sea Surface Temperature

Channel

The sea surface temperature (SST) channel calculates the temperature o

the very surface of the ocean from infrared channel satellite data. SST

data is important to fishermen and boaters, and meteorologists use thdata to aid in the prediction of coastal fog and low-level clou

development. High SSTs are monitored as they are often a facto

associated with tropical storm intensification. The sea surfactemperature can only be calculated for oceanic regions not obstructed b

clouds, so cloud covered areas of the ocean are displayed in white t

signify the unavailability of data. Because the SST measures the very toplayer of the ocean, the measurement is sensitive to solar reflection an

surface evaporation.
http://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20WV.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20WV.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20WV.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20WV.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20WV.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20WV.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20WV.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191915%20SST.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20CH.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20RR.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20WV.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191915%20SST.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20CH.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20RR.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20WV.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191915%20SST.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20CH.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20RR.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20WV.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191915%20SST.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20CH.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20RR.shtmlhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510191815%20WIL%20WV.shtml


7/11

7

Cloud Motion Vectors

Cloud motion vectors provide the user with an idea of the overal

direction and intensity of cloud movement in an image. These vectors are

automatically obtained through examining a series of consecutive imageand the cloud features within them, and tracking how those feature

move from one image to another. Longer arrows and those with more

barbs represent vectors with higher velocities. The direction and speed awhich clouds move fairly closely reflects winds in the middle and uppe

atmosphere.

DEVELOPMENTS

Beginning in the early 1960s, meteorological, or weather, satellite programs have been animportant focus of government agencies. In the United States, the National Aeronautics and

Space Administration (NASA), theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA),

and the Department of Defense (DOD) have all been involved with developing and operatingweather satellites. In Europe, the European Space Agency (ESA) and EUMETSAT (European

Organisation (the European spelling for Organization) for the Exploitation of Meteorological

Satellites) operate the meteorological satellite system.

The world's first weather satellite, a polar-orbiting satellite, was launched fromCape Canaveral,

Florida, on April 1, 1960. Named TIROS for Television Infrared Observation Satellite, thiswas NASA's first experimental step to determine if satellites could be useful in the study of the

Earth and whether they could continue operating for an extended period of time. The seriesproved extremely successful, with one satellite operating for almost five years and severaloperating more than three years.

An operational system of meteorology satellites flying in low-Earth orbit (about 450-470nautical miles [833-870 kilometers] altitude) began operating in 1970. These satellites were

called the Improved TIROS Operational System (ITOS) at launch and NOAA once they were

checked out and became operational. The primary objective of this series of sun-synchronoussatellites was to provide improved infrared and visual observations of Earth cloud cover for use

in analyzing weather and forecasting. Other objectives included measuring snow and ice and the

sea surface, and gathering information on the vertical structure of temperature and moisture in

theatmosphereon a regular daily basis. Six of the eight satellites in this series were launched andoperated successfully, with one operating more than four years.

NASA's Nimbus satellites were flown from 1964 through 1978, as advanced research satellitesthat tested new sensing instruments and data-gathering techniques rather than as operational

weather satellites. Instruments on the Nimbus satellites included microwave radiometers,

atmospheric sounders, ozone mappers, the Coastal Zone Color Scanner, and infrared radiometersand provided significant global data on sea-ice coverage, atmospheric temperature, atmospheric
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/meteorology/DI63.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/meteorology/DI63.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/NOAA/DI182.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/NOAA/DI182.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/NOAA/DI182.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/SPACEFLIGHT/space_agencies/SP45.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/SPACEFLIGHT/space_agencies/SP45.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/SPACEFLIGHT/KSC/SP46.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/SPACEFLIGHT/KSC/SP46.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/SPACEFLIGHT/KSC/SP46.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/ORBIT/DI153.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/ORBIT/DI153.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/SUN_SYNCH_ORBIT/DI155.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/SUN_SYNCH_ORBIT/DI155.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/Atmosphere/DI139.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/Atmosphere/DI139.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/Atmosphere/DI139.htmhttp://www.automatedsciences.com/intro/200510172015%20CMVs.shtmlhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/Atmosphere/DI139.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/SUN_SYNCH_ORBIT/DI155.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/ORBIT/DI153.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/SPACEFLIGHT/KSC/SP46.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/SPACEFLIGHT/space_agencies/SP45.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/NOAA/DI182.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/meteorology/DI63.htm


8/11

8

chemistry (i.e., ozone distribution), the amount of radiation in the Earth's atmosphere, and sea-

surface temperature. The Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) instrument aboard thefinal Nimbus, Nimbus-7, mapped the extent of the phenomenon known as the ozone hole.

The first series of TIROS satellites was followed by a series that began with the October 1978

launch of TIROS-N, an experimental spacecraft that served as a model for the operationalfollow-on series: NOAA-6 through NOAA-17. The technological improvements integrated into

this series of satellites, the current ATN or Advanced TIROS series (the launch of NOAA-17 isplanned for 2004), have provided higher resolution images, and more day and nighttime data for

both local and global areas than the earlier series. Polar-orbiting satellites can collect data for

almost the entire Earth, and when two operate simultaneously, as this system is designed,environmental data for any region of the Earth is collected at least twice every 12 hours

Geosynchronous weather satellites provide a different type of coverage. Flying in orbit some

22,400 miles (35,790 kilometers) above the equator, a pair of satellites provides the continuousday and nighttime monitoring of almost an entire hemisphere necessary for intensive data

analysis. NASA launched the first geosynchronous meteorological satellite (SMS-1) on May 17,1974, from Cape Canaveral Florida. GOES-1, launched on October 16, 1975, was the first of theGeostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES). It formed part of a two-satellite

constellation that viewed nearly 60 percent of the Earth's surface. Twelve more GOES have been

launched since, with only one launch failure.

As with the polar-orbiting satellites, NASA manages development, launch, and checkout of these

satellites and then turns them over to NOAA for operation.NOAA also currently operates the

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), a near-polar-orbiting series of satellitesinitiated by the Defense Department in the mid-1960s and the responsibility of the U.S. Air

Force. Each DMSP satellite, orbiting at approximately 516 miles (830 kilometers) above the
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/POLAR_ORBIT/DI154.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/POLAR_ORBIT/DI154.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/GEO_ORBIT/DI146.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/GEO_ORBIT/DI146.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/GEO_ORBIT/DI146.htmhttp://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/POLAR_ORBIT/DI154.htm


9/11

9

Earth, crosses any point on the Earth up to twice a day. They see such environmental features as

clouds, bodies of water, snow, fire, and pollution in the visual and infrared spectra. Scanningradiometers record information that can help determine cloud type and height, land and surface

water temperatures, water currents, ocean surface features, ice, and snow. Communicated to

terminals on the ground, the data is processed, interpreted by meteorologists, and used in

planning and conducting U.S. military operations worldwide.

The European meteorological satellite system is called Meteosat. First proposed by the Frenchnational space agency Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), in 1969, eight member

nations of the European Space Research Organization (ESRO), the predecessor to ESA, decided

in 1972 to finance the effort. On November 23, 1977, Meteosat-1 was launched from CapeCanaveral, Florida. Meteosat-2 followed in June 1981, launched from Kourou, French Guyana,

as were all later Meteosat satellites. The most recent satellite, Meteosat-7, was launched in 1997.

Currently, EUMETSAT and ESA are cooperating on the production of a completely new system

to take over and significantly improve the operational service by 2003


10/11

10

AN EXAMPLE OF METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITES

Observation function by MTSAT Series

The most valuable feature of geostationary meteorological satellites is that they can globallyobserve atmospheric phenomena uniformly, including overlying areas in the sea, desert, andmountain regions where weather observation is difficult.

The World Weather Watch Programme, as an important part of the World Meteorological

Organization's is supported by multiple geostationary meteorological Satellites and polar-orbiting meteorological satellites that comprise an space-based part of an observation network

for severe weather, typhoons, hurricanes, or cyclones around the earth.

To improve meteorological services in a wide field of activity, such as weather forecast,

natural disaster countermeasures, and securing safe transportation, MTSAT series will replacethe GMS series that has been in operation since 1977, and will occupy the role in the GMS

series, covering East Asia and the Western Pacific region from 140 degrees East longitude above

the equator.

Geostationary Meteorological Satellite System of MTSAT-1R
http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/satellite/parts/Geostationary_Meteorological_Satellite_System_of_MTSAT-1Rb.gif


11/11

11