Terrestrial Observations from NOAA Operational Satellites
H. YATES 1,
A. STRONG 2,
D. MCGINNIS JR. 3, and
D. TARPLEY 4
1 Director, at the Office of Research and Applications, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA Washington, DC 20233.
2 Physical scientist, at the Office of Research and Applications, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA Washington, DC 20233.
3 Hydrologist, at the Office of Research and Applications, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA Washington, DC 20233.
4 Physical scientist at the Office of Research and Applications, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA Washington, DC 20233.
Important applications to oceanography, hydrology, and agriculture have been developed from operational satellites of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and are currently expanding rapidly. Areas of interest involving the oceans include sea surface temperature, ocean currents, and ocean color. Satellites can monitor various hydrological phenomena, including regional and global snow cover, river and sea ice extent, and areas of global inundation. Agriculturally important quantities derived from operational satellite observations include precipitation, daily temperature extremes, canopy temperatures, insolation, and snow cover. This overview describes the current status of each area.
