Published: January 20, 2006

Satellite Orbit Shift To Improve South America Weather Forecasts

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Move will help protect lives, property in Western Hemisphere, U.S. agency says

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Argentina Comisión Nacional de Activades Espaciales and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced in Buenos Aires, Argentina, January 17 the upcoming repositioning of NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-10.

Shifting the spacecraft to a new spot in orbit will improve environmental satellite coverage of the Western Hemisphere, especially over South America.

The shift will help protect lives and property in North, Central and South America by improving satellite detection of such natural hazards as severe storms, floods, drought, landslides, volcanic ash clouds and wildfires, according to NOAA.

In a January 18 press release, the agency announced the move is planned for October pending the successful launch of GOES-N, NOAA's new geostationary satellite, and the continued operation of GOES-12.

The move also will strengthen the WMO World Weather Watch Global Observing System by allowing improved prediction, response and follow-up and expanded understanding of how the Earth system works.

Nearly half the disasters in South America are caused by flooding. In February 2005, massive flooding and landslides in low-lying coastal areas of Venezuela, Guyana and Colombia caused almost 100 deaths and left tens of thousands of South Americans homeless.

Strengthening satellite detection of severe weather and other natural hazards in the Western Hemisphere will be a key element of the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

By linking thousands of individual pieces of technology in one comprehensive global system, GEOSS, over the next decade, will integrate 21st century technology, making it more reflective of the planet it observes, predicts and protects, NOAA said.

In addition to Argentina and the United States, 58 other countries, the European Commission and 43 international organizations are GEOSS supporters.

"We are pleased with NOAA's response to the South American hydro-meteorological community's request for a more continuous data stream," said Miguel Angel Rabiolo, general director of the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional of Argentina.

Repositioning the spacecraft is part of the Earth Observation Partnership of the Americas (EOPA) initiative. The president of the WMO Regional Association for South America also requested that NOAA consider the shift.

Through EOPA, NOAA is exploring partnerships with countries and scientific organizations in the Americas and the Caribbean to share Earth observations, develop and strengthen data networks and enhance delivery of benefits to society.

Additional information about the NOAA Office of Satellite Operations and the Global Earth Observation System is available on NOAA's Web site.

Text of the NOAA press release follows:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Washington, D.C.]
Press release, January 18, 2006

NOAA PLANS SHIFT IN GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITE ORBIT TO IMPROVE WEATHER FORECAST COVERAGE OVER SOUTH AMERICA

Continent Will Benefit from Emerging Global Earth Observation Network

Jan. 18, 2006 - In Buenos Aires on Tuesday, NOAA, the Comisión Nacional de Activades Espaciales, and the World Meteorological Organization announced news of the repositioning of GOES-10. Shifting the spacecraft from its current position above the equator in the West to a new spot in orbit will greatly improve environmental satellite coverage of the Western Hemisphere, especially over South America. The repositioning is planned for October 2006 pending the successful launch of GOES-N, NOAA's new geostationary satellite, and the continued operation of GOES-12.

The shift will help protect lives and property in North, Central and South America by significantly improving satellite detection of such natural hazards as severe storms, floods, drought, landslides, volcanic ash clouds and wildfires. The shift will further strengthen the WMO's World Weather Watch Global Observing System. It will allow for improved prediction, response and follow-up and expanded understanding of how our Earth system works. Nearly half the disasters in South America are caused by flooding.

In February 2005, massive flooding and landslides in low-lying coastal areas of Venezuela, Guyana and Colombia caused nearly 100 deaths and left tens of thousands of South Americans homeless.

"Repositioning NOAA's GOES-10 geostationary satellite will help limit the effects of natural disasters in our region and improve energy and water resource management and over-all economic development, all key elements of the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), of which Argentina is a member country," said Conrado Franco Varotto, executive and technical director, CONAE, and chair, Committee on Earth Observation Satellites.

By linking many thousands of individual pieces of technology as one sustained, comprehensive global system, GEOSS will, over the next decade, integrate 21st century technology, making it more reflective of the planet it observes, predicts and protects. In addition to Argentina and the U.S., 58 other countries, the European Commission and 43 international organizations are active supporters of GEOSS.

Strengthening satellite detection of severe weather and other natural hazards in the Western Hemisphere will be a key element of the new global network. "A benchmark of GEOSS is full and open access and exchange of environmental satellite and other data, and the GOES-10 move enables the U.S. to improve the quality and quantity of data available to our Latin American partners, especially for near-term forecasting," said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. John J. Kelly, Jr., NOAA deputy undersecretary for oceans and atmosphere, and the U.S. Permanent Representative to the World Meteorological Organization.

Comodore Miguel Angel Rabiolo, general director of the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional of Argentina, said: "We are pleased with NOAA's response to the South American hydro-meteorological community's request for a more continuous data stream. The move of GOES-10 will allow us to optimize the availability of satellite information in order to improve weather monitoring and forecasting. Without any doubt, GEOSS, the Earth Observation Partnership of the Americas initiative, and the WMO Space Program play a critical role in the forecasting of severe meteorological events and in mitigating the effects of the natural disasters."

Repositioning the spacecraft is part the Earth Observation Partnership of the Americas (EOPA) initiative. Additionally, the president of the WMO Regional Association for South America requested that NOAA consider the shift. Through EOPA, NOAA is exploring partnerships with countries and scientific organizations in the Americas and the Caribbean to share Earth observations, develop and strengthen data networks and enhance delivery of benefits to society. By ensuring that users in the Americas and Caribbean can receive and fully utilize data from current and next generation observing systems, EOPA will help both policymakers and other citizens understand their environment and make informed decisions of economic and other societal importance.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.

Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners and nearly 60 countries to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA Office of Satellite Operations: http://www.oso.noaa.gov/goes/

NOAA Satellites: http://www.noaa.gov/satellites.html

Global Earth Observation System: http://www.noaa.gov/eos.html

Source: U.S. Department of State