Acquisition and processing of meteorological data from the SMS/GOES satellite
- Paper ID
IAF-75-22
- author
- company
Aeronutronic Ford Corporation, WDL Division
- country
U.S.A.
- year
1975
- abstract
The first Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS) was launched May 17, 1974; the second, February 6, 1975. Thus, at this time, some 23 months of satellite operational experience have been acquired on the SMS system. The current phase of the SMS program consists in the development of techniques which adapt the satellite data to the needs of the eventual user — the operational meteorologist. This paper describes the data obtained from the two SMS/GOES satellites now in orbit and certain uses of these data by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in conjunction with its operational National Weather Service. In addition, this paper discusses a data acquisition station and minimal data processing equipment appropriate for regional users without access to NOAA's weather network. This equipment will enable regional users to incorporate SMS data into regional operational systems. Potential uses of these data are also discussed.