Exploring and Animating GOES Images

Nick Haddad, TERC, Nick_Haddad@terc.edu, Author,

Published: December, 2006

Description

Artist's rendition of a goes satellite in orbit at 22000 miles above earth. Source: NASA

Today's meteorologists use data collected by an extensive set of instruments as they develop their weather forecasts. Some of those instruments are just outside the buildings in which they work. Others, such as the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) hover 35,800 m (22,300 mi.) above Earth's surface. (Geostationary means that the satellite always remains positioned above the same point on Earth.) From this altitude, GOES satellites monitor large sectors of Earth's surface. The primary mission of the GOES program is to help scientists provide early warning of developing storms, such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, and other severe weather. In addition, the satellites help scientists develop estimates of rainfall and snowfall, predict stream flooding and flash floods, and track the movement of hurricanes, smoke from forest fire, volcanic ash, and even sea ice.

The image below, showing the Western Hemisphere, was composed from data collected by a GOES satellite. This so-called "full disk" image is only one of the image types produced by the GOES satellites; GOES satellites also produce more detailed images showing smaller portions of Earth's surface. The white outlines of the landmasses (and sometimes of states and counties) are superimposed on the satellite images to help users pinpoint the areas being affected by weather.

An image of the western hemisphere as seen from a geostationary stellite.

This chapter guides users through the process of locating GOES images on the Web, exploring those images, and using the freely available software Image J to create animations of storm and cloud movement. Using these animations, students learn to calculate the speed and direction of clouds and storms. In the Extensions section of this chapter, users will learn how to create customized views of GOES images.

This chapter can be used to supplement to a study of weather, or a study of the water cycle. It is not a curriculum unit on meteorology.

This chapter is part of the Earth Exploration Toolbook. Each chapter provides teachers and/or students with direct practice for using scientific tools to analyze Earth science data. Students should begin on the Case Study page.


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