Three New Satellites: SUOMI NPP, JPSS & GOES-R
JPSS
The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is the Nation's next generation polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system, operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). JPSS will provide continuity of critical observations for accurate weather forecasting, reliable severe storm outlooks, global measurements of atmospheric and oceanic conditions such as sea surface temperatures, ozone, and more.
Below is a June 2012 example of the information-packed imagery that JPSS wil provide. Move the mouse pointer back-and-forth to compare two nightime images of Tropical Storm Debby acquired by the Suomi NPP VIIRS instrument; a colorful IR image (11.45 µm) on the right and a darker visible image from the "Day/Night" band (0.7 µm) on the left. The IR image reveals significant convection as indicated by cold cloud tops of around -90º C (dark violet color enhancement), while the Day/Night band image reveals intense lightning activity depicted by bright white pixels indicating cloud illumination. Notice also several smaller specs of light in the northwest Gulf of Mexico associated with offshore drilling.
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