NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center

Space Weather refers to variations in the space environment between the sun and Earth (and throughout the solar system) that can affect technologies in space and on Earth. Space weather is primarily driven by solar storm phenomena that include coronal mass ejections, solar flares, solar particle events and solar wind. These phenomena can occur in various regions on the sun’s surface, but only Earth directed solar storms are potential drivers of space weather events on Earth. An understanding of solar storm phenomena is an important component to developing accurate space weather forecasts (event onset, location, duration, and magnitude).

The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) mission statement, created in 2008 along with its first strategic plan, is: To provide space weather products and services that meet the evolving needs of the Nation.

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ 

NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)

NESDIS provides imagery and information that emergency managers use in their decision-making. Every minute of the day, NESDIS experts use satellites, ground stations, computers and processing systems to provide observations and critical expertise to our partners when they need them. It’s important to note that NESDIS staff are not the first responders, or those issuing forecasts, but have always been considered the first informers.

The NOAA Direct Broadcast Real Time Network provides a faster way for meteorology agencies like the National Weather Service to get access to satellite data for rapidly updating forecast models. Through the Direct Broadcast network, antenna sites across the U.S. acquire and process satellite data in real time, making it available for weather forecasting models in less time than traditional methods. Direct Broadcast has enabled significant improvements in forecasting capabilities for the Rapid Refresh (RAP) and High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) models, which serve a variety of purposes, including notifying people downwind of a fire about the smoke-related hazards headed their way. Direct Broadcast in overseas locations like Puerto Rico and Guam have provided invaluable satellite data to these remote locations, allowing them to access rapidly changing weather conditions to help save lives and property.

https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/ 

NOAA’s National Centers For Environmental Information 

NOAA's former three data centers have merged into the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

The demand for high-value environmental data and information has dramatically increased in recent years. To improve our ability to meet that demand, NOAA’s former three data centers—the National Climatic Data Center, the National Geophysical Data Center, and the National Oceanographic Data Center, which includes the National Coastal Data Development Center—have merged into the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

NCEI is responsible for hosting and providing access to one of the most significant archives on Earth, with comprehensive oceanic, atmospheric, and geophysical data. From the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun and from million-year-old sediment records to near real-time satellite images, NCEI is the Nation’s leading authority for environmental information.

NCEI continues the tradition of excellence, unmatched expertise, and trusted, authoritative data that the previous three Data Centers established. The top priority during the near future is to build on the full spectrum of atmospheric, oceanographic, coastal, and geophysical products and services that the Data Centers delivered.

While NCEI's product portfolio will evolve as current products and services are assessed, no products or services are currently slated to be cut or reduced. By using consistent data stewardship tools and practices across all of our science disciplines and by forging an improved data management paradigm, we expect to provide users with improved access to environmental data and information archive products.

https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/

NOAA’s NESDIS GOES-R Program 

NOAA’s latest generation of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), known as the GOES-R Series, is the nation’s most advanced fleet of geostationary weather satellites. Geostationary satellites circle the Earth in geosynchronous orbit, which means they orbit the Earth’s equatorial plane at a speed matching the Earth’s rotation. This allows them to stay in a fixed position in the sky, remaining stationary with respect to a point on the ground. GOES satellites continually view the Western Hemisphere from approximately 22,300 miles above Earth. GOES satellites are designated with a letter prior to launch and renamed with a number once they reach geostationary orbit.

The GOES-R Series is a four-satellite program including GOES-R, GOES-S, GOES-T and GOES-U. The GOES-R Series Program is a collaborative development and acquisition effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop, launch and operate the satellites. 

The GOES-R Series provides advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s weather, oceans and environment, real-time mapping of total lightning activity, and improved monitoring of solar activity and space weather. 

The GOES-R Series maintains the two-satellite operational system implemented by the previous GOES satellites. However, the locations of the operational GOES-R Series satellites are 75.2⁰ W and 137.2⁰ W, instead of 75⁰ W and 135⁰ W. These shifts eliminate conflicts with other satellite systems. NOAA also maintains an on-orbit spare GOES satellite at 105⁰ W in the event of an anomaly or failure of GOES East or GOES West. The GOES History page of this site provides a look back at the GOES program.

https://www.goes-r.gov/