Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) are our eyes from space. This satellite system provides continuous, dependable, timely, and high-quality weather observations of North and South America and adjacent areas in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
- Physical Attributes
- In a circular orbit, 35,800 km above the equator, geostationary satellites appear to “hover” over one location. These satellites orbit Earth once every 24 hours.
The United States is monitored by two GOES satellites: GOES-East positioned at 75 W and GOES-West at 135 W. Global coverage is obtained by the coordinated efforts among Japanese, European and Indian geostationary satellites.
- Satellite Imagery
- There are a variety of instruments aboard the GOES satellites. The sounder collects data such as temperature
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and humidity at various levels through the atmosphere. The imager takes a “snap shot” of the atmosphere in both visible and infrared wavelengths. Satellite operations are
- powered by a solar array.
- Applications
- The primary application of GOES data is weather observations for the National Weather Service, a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Other examples of applications include the study of solar activity, forest fires, and volcanic plumes. Data relay from various ground and space-based instruments is also an important function of the GOES system.
The GOES mission is scheduled to run into the first decade of the 21st century. More information on GOES can be found at http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/goesb/chesters/web/goesproject.html
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