Half A Century of GOES: A Visual Odyssey Through Earth’s Extremes

The GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites) have been our “eyes in the sky” for nearly 50 years, so scientists could monitor dramatic events unfolding on Earth, the sun, and in space. Since the launch of GOES-A/1 on October 16, 1975, these satellites have continuously monitored everything from explosive volcanic eruptions and powerful hurricanes to intense blizzards and frightening wildfires. This talk will take you on a journey through time, showcasing captivating loops from each GOES generation. Watch as we evolve from the two spectral bands of the GOES-1/3 imager to the modern 16 spectral bands on the GOES-16/19 Advanced Baseline Imagers (ABI). While often dubbed 'weather satellites,' GOES truly are environmental satellites, capturing the natural, breathtaking forces and events that have shaped people’s lives.