The Importance of Geostationary Weather Satellites (GOES)

Since 1975, NOAA’s geostationary weather satellites (GOES) have provided continuous imagery and data on atmospheric conditions and solar activity (space weather), contributing to the safety of life on Earth and in space. These satellites are essential for enabling experts to make the split-second decisions required to save lives and property. They are also critical to the country’s economy and national security.

The GOES series of satellites provides vital meteorological information for weather forecasting, severe storm tracking and meteorological research. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) owns the satellites, while the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) designs, builds and launches them into geostationary orbit.

Each GOES satellite covers approximately one third of the Earth. GOES-East monitors North and South America and most of the Atlantic Ocean, while GOES-West covers North America and most of the Pacific Ocean. Each GOES satellite has two primary instruments: the imager and the sounder. The GOES imagers are used to acquire the visible, infrared and near-infrared data. The GOES sounders measure the velocity of the atmosphere, sea surface wind and ice, and provide other critical environmental information.

GOES images and soundings are transmitted to the NOAA Regional Operation Centers, where they are processed and disseminated. This data is analyzed and displayed in maps and charts to help the public understand the science behind the images and sounds, and to aid forecasters in making the best possible forecasts.

In addition, GOES imagery is provided to local emergency managers through the EMWIN system. EMWIN uses a teleport facility and nine-meter dishes to transmit the data from the GOES satellites. The data is then available to users through the Internet, telephone and radio.

GOES imagery is also provided to NOAA’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers, which are instrumental in monitoring volcanic activity and associated ash plumes, and alerting the aviation community of the potential dangers. The improved temporal cadence of GOES imagery will enable the centers to provide much more timely and accurate information.

The GOES-R Series is the next generation of geostationary weather satellites for NOAA, which began service in 2015. The four GOES-R satellites are able to provide faster and more detailed information about atmospheric conditions, solar activity and even space weather.

Each GOES-R satellite is equipped with the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) which has three times more spectral channels, four times more resolution and five times faster scanning than previous generations of GOES satellites. It is also equipped with the Extreme Ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensor (EXIS), which can detect and track flares that could disrupt communications and affect high altitude airplanes and power grids on Earth.

NOAA manages the GOES-R program through an integrated NOAA-NASA office. NOAA provides funding and requirements, NASA manages the design, procurement and development of the spacecraft and its instruments, and once in orbit, NOAA operates and provides the services to the user community.

The Dangers of Being Too Nice

Being nice is a positive trait to have. People like to be around nice people and they tend to have good relationships with them. However, being nice is also a double-edged sword. In some cases, being too nice can be damaging to your relationships and career. If you find yourself around a person who constantly makes you feel bad about yourself, is overly critical of your work, or otherwise causes a negative impact on you, it might be time to reconsider how you act and who you surround yourself with.

A defining quality of being nice is kindness. People who are nice genuinely want others to be happy and will often go out of their way to make this happen. They will often give compliments, hold the door for people, and help those in need. They will also be thoughtful of the feelings and thoughts of others, and will always try to put themselves in the other person’s shoes when making decisions or taking action.

Nice is a polysemous word, meaning it has many different meanings and connotations. The most common meaning of nice is pleasant, as in “pleasant people and situations.” The word can also refer to someone’s manners and behavior, being polite and respectful towards others.

The problem with being too nice is that it can be tinged with selfishness. A person may think they are being nice by trying to make others happy, but if their motivation is insecure, they will most likely end up hurting themselves in the process. For example, a person who is overly nice might let their coworker walk all over them because they are afraid of losing their job.

People who are a bit too nice can also be easily taken advantage of by toxic people. Toxic people are able to take advantage of nice people because they know that the person will never stand up for themselves or speak up for their rights.

Another reason nice people are taken advantage of is that they let their guard down with everyone. They do this in an effort to get along with everyone and to be liked. This can lead to them being manipulated by others and having toxic relationships.

Lastly, nice people have a hard time saying no to others. This can cause them to become overcommitted and stretched too thin. They will often have trouble saying no to friends and family members, which can create strain on those relationships.

If you have a friend, coworker, or romantic partner who is a little too nice and always makes you feel bad about yourself or has poor boundaries, it might be time to reconsider how you interact with them. It can be hard to cut ties with a loved one, but it could save you a lot of heartache in the long run. Besides, there are plenty of other great people out there who will treat you well and will make your life happier.