GOES (geostationary operational environmental satellite) is a series of geosynchronous weather satellites operated by NOAA. They are used by National Weather Service meteorologists to provide a continuous stream of environmental data for weather forecasting and severe storm tracking.
A satellite sensor on the GOES 16 satellite can detect the light reflected from clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans, which can help with predicting the speed of approaching storms. A bright cloud will reflect more light, and a darker one will absorb more. The color of a cloud is also related to its moisture content. For example, a thick cloud with more water will appear lighter in color, and a thin cloud with less water will appear darker. This information, along with other data gathered by GOES, can be combined to produce accurate storm forecasts.
The GOES-R Series satellites have advanced sensors that enable a wide range of observations and analyses. The GOES-16 satellite, which is scheduled to launch March 1, has the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) and the Extreme Ultraviolet and Solar Irradiance Sensors (EXIS). The ABI instrument provides images of Earth with three times more spectral channels, four times more resolution, and five times faster scanning than previous GOES models. EXIS can detect solar flares that could cause interference with communications satellites, reduce navigational accuracy for high altitude airlines, and disrupt power grids.
In addition to its own instruments, GOES gathers information from free-floating balloons and buoys, and from remote automatic data collection stations located around the world. The Wallops Command and Data Acquisition Station in Virginia is the primary point of telemetry, tracking, and command of the GOES satellites. The data are sent to the GOES DCS computer system, which then transmits them in real time over satellite radio frequencies.
Because they orbit in a geosynchronous plane 35,790 kilometers (22,240 miles) above the Earth, GOES satellites continuously view most of the continental United States and the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They are also able to monitor the evolution of weather phenomena, such as severe local storms and tropical cyclones, because they can track their motion.
The GOES satellites constantly send data to the ground system via a radio link that uses 128 kbit/s of information. This information is then disseminated to users through a number of methods, including the Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN), which provides a live stream of GOES imagery and other data to local emergency managers and federal agencies. In the future, GOES will provide new products that include an enhanced version of the WEFAX data dissemination system and the Low Rate Information Transmission (LRIT) system. These technologies will enable the GOES satellites to provide more precise, timely, and comprehensive information for weather forecasting and severe storm tracking. GOES will also be equipped with the GOES-16 Geostationary Lightning Mapper, which can track individual strikes as they occur over large areas of the Earth. This capability can be particularly valuable in assessing the impact of hurricanes and tornadoes.