The GOES satellite system provides critical environmental data to support NOAA’s National Weather Service weather forecasting operations and scientific research. The satellites and ground segments work together to produce a continuous stream of images that help to monitor and track conditions such as storm development, severe storms, flooding and hurricanes over North America.
Each GOES satellite has two main instruments, the Imager and the Sounder. The Imager detects radiation (heat) emitted by Earth in the visible and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The Sounder measures meteorological parameters such as surface temperature, humidity, pressure and wind speed.
A GOES satellite’s position in geostationary orbit allows it to keep a constant vigil for atmospheric “triggers” of severe weather events such as tornadoes, flash floods and hail storms. Its imagery also helps to estimate rainfall during thunderstorms and hurricanes for the purpose of issuing flood advisories. It can also detect snowfall accumulations to help with issuing winter storm and spring snow melt warnings. Satellite sensors also track ice fields and map the movement of lake and ocean ice.
GOES can also help with monitoring areas affected by wildfires. The pyrocumulonimbus clouds that form above these fires can be seen in near real-time with GOES images. These images have aided in the evacuation of homes and the containment of the fires in places like Manitoba, Canada. GOES images can also monitor for areas of potential air turbulence that can result from the movement of smoke in the atmosphere. This can help to improve aviation safety by informing pilots of hazardous situations ahead of time.
In addition, the GOES-R series will carry the first Geostationary Lightning Mapper that will monitor total lightning activity across the Western Hemisphere with three times more spectral channels and four times greater spatial resolution than the previous GOES satellites. The new GOES-R series will also include the X-ray Imaging Spectrograph, which can detect solar flares and other space weather activity that could disrupt communication satellites, high altitude aircraft and power grids on Earth.
GOES can also detect and relay the location of 406 MHz emergency beacons carried by planes, boats and individuals in distress. These beacons are detected with the Imager instrument on GOES-13. The STAR website hosts examples of experimental products that can be useful for remote sensing researchers, experienced meteorologists and oceanographers. The images hosted on the STAR site are not official NOAA operational products and should be used at your own discretion. Please read the product descriptions carefully before using them. The STAR website is not for general public use. The data and images hosted on the STAR server are intended to be used for remote sensing research, education or other scientific purposes. You must have permission from NOAA or its contractors to download the data and images.