Application of Joint Polar Satellite System and Other Low Earth Orbit Data for Environmental Monitoring

The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) constellation with three satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO)—Suomi-NPP, NOAA-20, and NOAA-21—has provided critical environmental observations for weather and climate monitoring with robust and redundant coverage for over a decade. Recent observing system experiments and operational numerical weather prediction models demonstrate the high value of LEO observations from polar orbiting satellites such as JPSS and other complementary missions, which are essential for enhancing the accuracy of weather and climate applications. Science innovations using JPSS observations, including vegetation health indices, flood maps, temperature and water vapor profiles for detecting pyrocumulonimbus clouds from wildfires, hurricane intensity and structure products from microwave sensors, and fuel moisture content maps, showcase the continuous evolution and maturity of JPSS data, products, and services that lead to new and enhanced applications. For instance, LEO satellites were instrumental in tracking the evolution of the 2023 El Niño and its global impacts, including increased sea surface temperatures, droughts, heavy precipitation, and floods. The synergy between NOAA and its partner missions offers significant benefits to users through improved global refresh of observations and complementarity of measurements across multiple regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, enabling detailed monitoring of the Earth. Building upon the success of the JPSS program, NOAA is evolving its LEO portfolio to not only continue its current suite of observations but also to improve them in the future to support evolving user needs, as well as to maintain the long historic data record from LEO satellites that is critical for climate monitoring. This presentation highlights some applications and impacts of the JPSS mission and NOAA’s plans for future LEO missions.