With the recent onslaught of severe weather the United States has seen in recent weeks, I wanted to fill you in on some of the technology on board NOAA’s polar-orbiting satellites that have helped to alert meteorologists and forecasters know of the impending danger.
According to the latest Storm Prediction Center (SPC) figures, there were a total of 312 tornado reports across the US during the entire outbreak from 8 a.m. April 25 to 8 a.m. April 28. NOAA’s National Weather Service forecast offices had a 27 minute average warning lead time for tornado touchdowns. The national average for lead-time on tornadoes is 13 minutes.
NOAA operates five Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES) which circle the globe every 102 minutes at an altitude of 517 miles above the Earth. It’s primary job is to take images and data of the land, seas and air. POES data tracks the subtle changes in the environment that can trigger potentially deadly weather conditions.
In addition to monitoring conditions that spawn tornadoes, POES are vital in forecasting drought, wildfires, ash plumes from volcanoes, global sea surface temperatures and developing advanced forecast for activity in the tropics.
The POES has a new data collection system that delivers a wide range of environmental observations from around the world. This includes stream gauge and sea-level readings, to the migration patterns of tagged wildlife. This helps scientists stay on top of developing trends.
The satellite that compliments the POES is one you may have already heard about, the GOES or Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites. NOAA has two GOES in operation, they are in orbit over the Earth’s equator 22,300 miles above the surface. One focus’ on the east coast and the second focus’ on the west coast. These satellites are in fixed positions and constantly taking images of severe weather across and around the United States. Here in Missouri we are covered by both GOES satellites.
Another feature of both the GOES and the POES is that they carry instrumentation that can pinpoint the location of distress signals from emergency beacons. This is helpful to first responders that are trying to rescue people from potentially life threatening situations. They also monitor disturbances (solar flares, sun spots) that are in space between the Earth and the Sun. These disturbances can disrupt power grids, airline and military communications and Global Position Systems.
Since severe weather can happen at any time, you must make sure that you have a plan in place should severe weather strike here.
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