Weather satellites can also help with search and rescue missions

Weather satellites can also help with search and rescue missions Today’s Video of the Day comes from the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and features a look at weather satellites that can help aid in search and rescue missions.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launched the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) constellation to predict weather and track environmental changes, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and thunderstorms. But the latest addition, GOES-S, will help first responders locate people in disaster areas and various emergencies.

The satellites relay distress signals from emergency beacons to a network of ground stations and ultimately to the U.S. Mission Control Center (USMCC) in Suitland, Maryland. The USMCC processes the distress signal and alerts the appropriate search and rescue authorities to who is in distress and, more importantly, where they are located.

The satellites provide constant coverage of the western hemisphere by taking photographic images every 15 minutes. These “constant eyes” are critical for identifying severe weather, snow storms, tropical storms and hurricanes.

Using environmental satellites to observe the Earth from space is one of the key tools in forecasting weather, analyzing climate, and monitoring hazards worldwide. Weather satellites can also help with search and rescue missions as seen above in the video will show you the rescue mission and its process. Also including satellites from other countries and coordination between governments. NOAA GOES are also used in identifying when satellite emergency locator beacons have been activated tohelp withSearch and Rescue activities.

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By Rory Arnold, Earth.com Staff Writer

Video Credit: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio