How do NOAA satellites collect data to observe the ocean?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you look up in the sky, all you will see is a blue sky or a night sky, but from a telescope, you might get a glimpse of the satellites orbiting Earth.

In recent months, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has teamed up with NASA and SpaceX to launch satellites into orbit to examine our oceans better.

NOAA recently launched the GOES-19 Satellite in June, which went live in September during Hurricane Helene.

As the satellites orbit Earth, they use remote sensing to collect data by detecting the energy that is reflected from Earth. These satellites provide as much detailed information to the researchers as possible, solely from the Ocean’s surface. In return, the data is gathered, and the signals from the transmitters on the ground are relayed to the researchers in the field.

According to NOAA, the planet is covered by more than 70% of ocean waters.

What does the satellite collect?

Sea Surface Temperatures - Scientists collect sea surface temperatures using a Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIRS). These sensors help capture new data daily, putting together a series of maps showing sea surface temperatures for different regions around the globe.

• Sea Surface Color: These satellites provide the color of the Ocean, which helps determine the impacts of floods along the coast, detect river plumes, and locate harmful algae blooms.
• Sea Level Change: This can check for potential impacts of climate change, which could cause the inundation of coastal areas and islands and shoreline erosion, which could damage ecosystems.
• Mapping: This feature maps coral reefs and the sea floor. According to NOAA, ships have charted only a small fraction of the seafloor to date.
• Weather: There are two types of satellites: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) and Polar-Orbiting Satellites. GOES provides short-range forecasting and warnings, while polar provides longer-term forecasting.
• Tidal Heights: Tides change throughout the day. They refer to the height of water at a given point, such as high and low tide.
• Tracking: Transmitters can relay position information from emergency beacons to help people who are in distress on boats, airplanes, or remote areas. They also track the migration of whales, sea turtles, marine animals, and manatees.