What Is the Purpose of a Weather Satellite?
Weather satellites are used to track many different environmental, atmospheric, and even geological conditions that affect the Earth and the Earth's atmosphere. Two main types of weather satellite are used. Geostationary satellites stay in a fixed position above one particular area of the Earth's surface. Polar orbiting satellites, meanwhile, circle the Earth collecting data from the various locations over which they pass. Both types of satellite use visual and infrared images to transmit vital information to land-based receiving stations.
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Weather
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The most obvious function of a weather satellite is weather prediction. Data is gathered by satellites for both short- and long-term predictions, the type of analysis commonly given on television, newspaper, and Internet weather reports. The data range is vast and, thanks to the combination of geostationary and polar orbiting satellites, encompasses the entire globe. Using data gathered by weather satellites, forecasters can make accurate predictions based on planetary weather patterns.
Pollution
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Weather satellites can track the energy and heat being released by the planet as a whole. This information is used to help monitor the degree of global warming. Environmental pollution can also be observed using visual and infrared satellite images. Pollution generated by factories, city centers, and even airplanes can be seen by satellite imagery. Manmade environmental disasters can also be tracked from space. The extent and movement of oil spills at sea, for example, can be monitored by satellite, providing vital information to on-site cleanup crews. The polar ice caps are also observed from space; satellite images have provided much evidence in regards to the melting of these ice sheets. Deforestation can also be monitored by satellite.
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Natural Disasters
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Weather satellites are used to monitor natural disasters. Volcanoes can release huge amounts of ash into the atmosphere when they erupt. This ash can cause respiration problems to people on the ground as well as numerous complications for air transportation. The volcanic ash cloud from Mount St. Helens, which erupted in 1980, was tracked by weather satellites. Forest fires are also monitored, and often first detected, from space. Many forest fires cover vast and isolated areas, making them extremely difficult to observe from both the ground and from airplanes. Weather satellites can provide a vital visual overview to those fighting the flames. Similarly, potentially catastrophic hurricanes can be predicted and tracked by satellite.
Commercial Activities
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The weather can have a huge effect upon a number of commercial activities. The fishing industry, for example, relies upon satellite data in order to check current and future sea conditions. This is vital for safety reasons as well as for predicting the movements of fish using satellite sea temperature data. The global crop growing industry is also heavily reliant upon weather satellite information. Potential droughts can be predicted and measures can be taken in advance to protect against or limit the effects of drought upon crop harvests. Furthermore, infrared satellite data can also be used to examine crop conditions.
Relay
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Weather satellites function as a relay point for land-based weather monitoring systems. Data collected by numerous land-based weather stations is transmitted to orbiting satellites. This data, which includes earthquake and tidal information, is received by the weather satellite, which in turn compiles the various information streams and transmits them to a central receiving station back on the ground.
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References
- Photo Credit earth in a global grid-focus on americas image by Michael Brown from Fotolia.com
