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Quackers

(2,256 posts)
Wed Jan 25, 2017, 12:22 AM Jan 2017

NOAAs GOES-16 Satellite Sends First Images to Earth


GOES-16, the first spacecraft in NOAA’s next-generation of geostationary satellites, has sent the first high-resolution images from its Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instrument. Included among them are a composite color full-disk visible image of the Western Hemisphere captured on January 15, 2017. Created using several of the ABI’s 16 spectral channels, the full-disk image offers an example the satellite’s advanced technology.


The ABI can provide a full disk image of the Earth every 15 minutes, one of the continental U.S. every five minutes, and has the ability to target regional areas where severe weather, hurricanes, wildfires, volcanic eruptions or other high-impact environmental phenomena are occurring as often as every 30 seconds. The ABI covers the Earth five-times faster than the current generation GOES imagers and has four times greater spatial resolution, allowing meteorologists to see smaller features of the Earth’s atmosphere and weather systems.

More at link:
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/goes-16-sends-first-images-to-earth

I remember when they launched this as GOES-R last year. They said that it would provide more astrological and meteorological data in 6 months than we've collected in the past 40 years. After leaving Earth, it takes 6 months for the satellite to unpack itself and be fully functional. This is one of my favorite projects that I follow closely. GOES-S should be ready to launch this year.
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NOAAs GOES-16 Satellite Sends First Images to Earth (Original Post) Quackers Jan 2017 OP
Are those clouds or polution? Doreen Jan 2017 #1
Clouds mostly Quackers Jan 2017 #2
I am glad mostly clouds because it would be Doreen Jan 2017 #3
Water vapor is a stronger greenhouse gas than CO2. However.... Buckeye_Democrat Jan 2017 #5
Side by side comparison Quackers Jan 2017 #4

Quackers

(2,256 posts)
2. Clouds mostly
Wed Jan 25, 2017, 12:38 AM
Jan 2017

Pollution adds to it as well as wildfires and volcanic eruptions when they happen. It's not too bad for being January though. Just wait till the satellite becomes fully operational. The live storm data in HD will be amazing!

Doreen

(11,686 posts)
3. I am glad mostly clouds because it would be
Wed Jan 25, 2017, 12:56 AM
Jan 2017

sad if that much was pollution. Well, I guess we better enjoy seeing that before the cover is pollution or dictator does shut off the satellite.

Buckeye_Democrat

(14,846 posts)
5. Water vapor is a stronger greenhouse gas than CO2. However....
Wed Jan 25, 2017, 07:18 AM
Jan 2017

what climate change deniers don't mention, when they bring that up, is that it doesn't stay in the atmosphere nearly as long. Water evaporates and precipitates back to the ground a few days later.

CO2 stays in the atmosphere FAR longer, so it's a more consistent driver of overall warming.







Quackers

(2,256 posts)
4. Side by side comparison
Wed Jan 25, 2017, 06:56 AM
Jan 2017

Here is a side by side comparison with an older model satellite and the new GOES-16. The pictures were taken at the same time on the same day.

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