The GOES-R Series: Earth in High Definition

NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) – R Series is the Western Hemisphere’s most advanced weather-observing and environmental-monitoring system. The series includes GOES-R (launched in 2016), GOES-S (launched in 2018) and the upcoming GOES-T (scheduled for launch in 2020) and GOES-U (planned for launch in 2024). GOES satellites receive a number designation upon reaching geostationary orbit. GOES-R is now GOES-16 and GOES-S is GOES-17.

GOES-16 is now operational as NOAA’s GOES East and GOES-17 recently moved west and is now being used operationally. With an operational GOES-17, our nation now has two next-generation geostationary satellites watching for developing storm systems from the west coast of Africa all the way to New Zealand.

These satellites are a game changer for forecasters. The improved resolution, faster coverage, and increased number of spectral channels available from the satellite’s Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) allow for “nowcasting” of severe storms and discernment of atmospheric features not available with the previous GOES imager. The Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), the first operational lightning mapper flown in geostationary orbit, delivers further benefit for severe storm forecasting. Total lightning (in-cloud and cloud-to-ground) data from GLM, used in combination with radar, ABI data, and surface observations, has great potential to increase lead time for severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings and reduce false alarm rates. The GOES-R Series also hosts a suite of instruments that provide significantly improved monitoring of the sun and detection of approaching space weather hazards.

This presentation provides an operational status on GOES-16 and GOES-17, including data validation and release as well as imagery and data usage in operational forecasts. It also includes an update on GOES-T and GOES-U development.