National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) vs European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)
Are you wondering about weather satellites and which two organizations are at the forefront of meteorological satellites? Look no further as we pit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) against each other.
Coverage and Satellites
NOAA, an agency under the United States Department of Commerce, operates two types of geostationary weather satellites, namely the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) East and GOES West. These satellites monitor the western hemisphere, which includes the United States, South America, and the Pacific Ocean. NOAA also has an additional polar-orbiting satellite, the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), that tracks the planet north to south.
On the other side of the world, EUMETSAT provides weather data for Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. EUMETSAT's fleet of satellites includes five Monsatellites orbiting in geostationary orbit and two Metop satellites flying in polar orbit. These satellites provide a broad range of images and data collected by many instruments and sensors.
Accuracy and Precision
When it comes to accuracy and precision, EUMETSAT is on par with NOAA's records. EUMETSAT provides high-quality data of atmospheric, oceanic, and surface weather conditions with their sophisticated sensors located on their fleet of satellites. NOAA, through GOES and JPSS, provide data that aids in weather forecasting, severe storm tracking, hurricane monitoring, and detecting potential natural disasters.
Numbers Game
Let's indulge in some numbers to witness the sheer scope of their satellite network.
- NOAA's GOES East and West satellites monitor the same hemisphere from two different points in space that are 22,000 miles above the equator, at speeds matching the Earth's rotation.
- NOAA's JPSS, launched in 2017, covers the surface of the earth every 12 hours and makes observations of global weather, climate, and ecosystem factors to enhance environmental forecasting.
- EUMETSAT has an average of around 100,000 direct readout stations, including several receiving centers for specialized users worldwide.
- EUMETSAT provides data to 140 Member States and Cooperating States from around the world.
The Verdict
Both EUMETSAT and NOAA have a similar mission, which is to provide reliable weather data and forecasting for the world. Their operations are comparable and successful, even with the difference in their network's coverage area. It's safe to say that these aerospace giants are competing at the forefront of meteorological satellite technology.
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