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New satellite technology to help with severe weather emergencies
 | 05.01.2006 | 08:06:26 | Views: 5152 | ID:

May 1 '06: New plans for a satellite being designed will help weather forecasters communicate possible threats stemming from hurricanes and other severe weather to state and local responder communities and governments.

USA Today reported Monday that the plans for the satellite were unveiled by the "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [which] is holding a three-day conference in a Denver suburb this week on the next decade's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. NOAA will exchange ideas with about 200 scientists, weather company representatives and government, academic and industry experts." The satellite, called GOES-R, will be ready for launch 2012. Another GOES satellite called the GOES-N will be sent into space on May 18 while the first GOES was launched in 1975.

In addition to satellite technology, NOAA also is currently working on a five-day, five-city mission which will "increase hurricane awareness and encourage preparedness in vulnerable coast and inland communities along the Gulf Coast and Florida," the NOAA website read.

NOAA officials will meet with emergency management officials in several communities along the Gulf Coast. According to retired Air Force Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, director of the NOAA National Weather Service, "Working in partnership with federal, state and local emergency managers and the media - we can help educate the public."

Greater information awareness coming from technology to help educate the public is essential according the Max Mayfield, director of the NOAA National Hurricane Center. "I believe those who directly experience Hurricane Katrina last year will need little convincing," for greater coordination and information awareness, Mayfield said.

Much of the real-time information before and during the storms is what emergency managers and meteorologists need officials said. Some of the technology on board the new satellite "will be a big boost in capability," John J. "Jack" Kelly Jr. director of the day-to-day operations of NOAA told USA Today. The additional technology being built will help improve "our intensity forecasts for hurricanes," Kelly added.

 

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