This module is an introduction to NOAA's next generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R) series, focusing on the value and anticipated benefits derived from an enhanced suite of instruments for improved monitoring of meteorological, environmental, climate, and space weather phenomena and related hazards. An extensive set of visualizations highlight GOES-R and its advanced observing capabilities for providing support in thirteen key environmental application areas including air quality and visibility, climate, cloud icing, fires, hurricanes, land cover, lightning, low clouds and fog, marine and the coastal environment, precipitation and flooding, severe storms and tornadoes, space weather, and volcanoes. The module includes an overview of the GOES-R space and ground infrastructure, highlighting key elements and services of the GOES-R program. In addition, the module reviews and contrasts basic concepts and capabilities applicable to geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites, exploring the complementary nature of the two systems. The module concludes with a collection of resource materials, including imagery, animations, and tables extracted from the module for easy access and for use in development of presentations and other learning materials.
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After completing the module the learner will be able to:
- List several environmental hazards and phenomena where GOES-R satellite observations are expected to benefit users.
- Describe some of the key anticipated benefits as they relate to GOES-R monitoring of those same environmental hazards and phenomena.
- Describe the main GOES-R mission objectives.
- State the fundamental difference between geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites and briefly describe the advantages of each.
- List the major instruments (or instrument suites) on board the GOES-R satellites and briefly describe what each is designed to provide.
- Describe some of the GOES-R services and their significance to the overall success of the GOES-R mission.
- Describe the concept of a global observing system and the role of environmental satellites.
GOES-R, geostationary satellites, polar-orbiting satellites, global observing system, GOS, global observing system of systems, GEOSS, World Meteorological Organization, WMO, ground segment, space segment, Advanced Baseline Imager, ABI, Geostationary Lightning Mapper, GLM, Solar Ultraviolet Imager, SUVI, Extreme Ultraviolet and X-Ray Sensor Irradiance Suite, EXIS, Space Environment In-Situ Suite, SEISS, Magnetometer, MAG, Unique Payload Services, GOES Re-Broadcast, GRB, Low Rate Information Transmission service, LRIT, Emergency Managers Weather Information Network, EMWIN, Data Collection System, DCS, Search and Rescue Satellite-aided Tracking, SARSAT, air quality, atmospheric chemistry, trace gases, dust, aerosols, hurricanes, tropical cyclones, volcanoes, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, hail, microbursts, cloud icing, fires, smoke, precipitation, floods, flash flooding, low clouds, fog, land cover, sea surface temperature, climate, climate change, climate variability, space weather, geomagnetic storms, solar event, coastal, marine
2016-05-02: HTML and media assets in this lesson have been updated for current browsers and mobile devices.
2013-04-13: All of the stand-alone movies in the module were converted from Flash to MP4s. In addition, the animations in the print version were replaced by still images so the file is easier to print.
