10
The GOES-R and JPSS Satellite Era
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![GOES-R](../../img/common/GOES-R2.png)
Suomi NPP
Suomi NPP orbits the Earth about 14 times each day and observes nearly the entire surface, continuing key data records that are critical for climate change science.
![NPP Satellite Photo](images/npp.jpg)
NPP Satellite Completion
Ball Aerospace Facility
courtesy: Ball Aerospace
Suomi NPP Specs:
Weight: 4,600 pounds (2,100 kilograms)
Size: About the size of a small
school bus
Timing: Crosses the equator at about 1:30 p.m. local-time
each afternoon
Instruments:
- ATMS (Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder)
- used to create global models of temperature and moisture profiles
- CrIS (Cross-track Infrared Sounder)
- monitors atmospheric pressure and moisture, and used to produce improvements in short and long-term weather forecasting
- OMPS (Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite)
- measures Earth's ozone levels, particularly near the poles where ozone levels fluctuate most
- VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite)
- collects visible and infrared views of Earth's surface processes (wildfires, land changes, ice movement)
- also used to measure atmospheric and oceanic properties (clouds, sea surface temperature)
- CERES (Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System)
- measures reflected solar radiation, emitted terrestrial radiation, and total radiation
- used to monitor the natural and anthropogenic (human-caused) effects on the Earth's total thermal radiation budget.
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