NOAA’s new satellite, GOES-16, has sent its first high-resolution images back to Earth.
NOAA's new satellite, GOES-16, has sent its first high-resolution images back to Earth.
They were taken on January 15 and include a stunning view of the Western Hemisphere that shows how impressive the capabilities of the spacecraft’s Advanced Baseline Imager, or ABI, truly are.
Not only can the ABI’s 16 spectral channels provide great detail, the imager is able to produce astounding pictures at swift speeds.
It takes only 15 minutes to create a full-disk image of the planet and 5 minutes to assemble one of the continental U.S.
The ABI can also scan regions in only seconds, making it a valuable tool in identifying areas vulnerable to nature’s most damaging events, including hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and fires.
Louis W. Uccellini, the director of NOAA’s National Weather Service in Silver Spring, noted, “High resolution imagery from GOES-16 will provide sharper and more detailed views…As a result, forecasters can issue more accurate, timely, and reliable watches and warnings, and provide better information to emergency managers and other decision makers.”
