The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launched the new GOES-18 satellite on March 1. GOES-18, the third satellite in NOAA’s next-generation GOES-R series, will work with GOES-16 and GOES-17, which were launched in 2016 and 2018.
NOAA’s new satellite observes a huge area that includes the US West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Central America and the Pacific Ocean. Continuing to calibrate its systems within the scope of test procedures, GOES-18 has already observed many weather events.
GOES-18 weather satellite reveals Earth!
NOAA has shared the first images from the recently launched GOES-18 weather satellite. The stunning images were captured by the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instrument, as the satellite orbits about 35,000 kilometers above Earth.
ABI observes the Earth through sixteen different channels. Each can detect different wavelengths of energy across the electromagnetic spectrum, collecting data about Earth’s atmosphere, lands, and oceans. Meteorologists can analyze the incoming data and examine various interesting events in this way.
NOAA has the following statements about the ABI on its website:
The ABI provides high-resolution imagery and atmospheric measurements for short-term forecasts and severe weather warnings. ABI data is also used to detect and monitor environmental hazards such as wildfires, dust storms, volcanic eruptions, turbulence and fog.
GOES-18 orbits the Earth at a position directly above the equator. In this way, NOAA states that the new weather satellite enables it to continuously monitor the same area of the Earth to monitor evolving weather events and hazards.
What do you think about watching weather events from space? You can share your views with us in the comments section or on the SDN Forum.
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