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NOAA Satellites: Data to Predict and Protect our World

July 24, 2017
Infographic

Full Transcript

Geostationary GOES provides immediate weather tracking information for the Western Hemisphere.

Polar-Orbiting JPSS orbits Earth twice a day tracking large weather events as they cross the globe.

The US Relies on NOAA Satellites to Predict All US and Global Weather

$40 billion in household benefits for the American public from industries that rely on predicting our weather and environment

300 billion weather forecasts per year

95% of all data used by US forecasts comes from US satellites

Satellite Data Helps Save Lives

NOAA Satellites generate vital advance warnings for severe weather events helping us to make informed decisions on everything from population evacuations to flight patterns.

Fires

Satellite monitor location, extent, temperature of wildfires, movement of smoke and ash. On March 2017, NOAA's GOES-16 warned of the wildfire outbreak that would burn 1 million acres across the Great Plains before calls even came through to 911.

Rescues

Satellite relay distress signals and detect mariners, aviators and long-based recreational users in distress around the globe. On July 16, forty-six crew members, with their lives hanging in the balance, were safely pulled from a sinking fishing vessel in the Bering Sea near Alaska. In 2016, a total of 307 people were rescued.

Floods

Satellites monitor the dynamics of flooding after a severe storm, providing high resolution detail over vast areas. This allows FEMA and teams on the ground to plan for evacuations and recovery efforts. On September 2017, NOAA's flood zones maps help FEMA officials plan for response efforts after Hurricane Harvey and Irma.

Storms

Satellites track cloud movements, temperature and wind speeds to help forecast where and when severe weather will hit. On October 2012, Superstorm Sandy--polar-orbiting satellite data improved forecast accuracy by hundreds of miles--providing critical information for emergency managers.