Satellite Observations
Attribution:
provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Contains information licenced under the
GOES-East satellite observations are a vital addition to the Canadian Mesonet Portal, providing continuous, high-resolution imagery of weather systems over Canada and its surrounding regions. Unlike in-situ observations, which offer localized or regional information, satellite observations deliver a broad, hemispheric view from space. This enables us to track large-scale weather patterns, such as storm systems, cloud cover, and atmospheric moisture, across vast areas, including remote and oceanic regions where ground-based stations and radar coverage may be limited.
By incorporating GOES-East data into the Canadian Mesonet Portal, the Northern Mesonet Project enhances the ability to monitor weather systems in real time from a global perspective. Satellite imagery plays a critical role in identifying severe weather, such as hurricanes, wildfires, and rapid storm development, by capturing their formation and movement across large distances. The combination of satellite data with in-situ observations and radar composites gives a more complete and multi-dimensional understanding of Canada’s weather. This integration supports advanced forecasting, early warning systems, and better preparedness for extreme weather events, benefiting researchers, forecasters, and the public.
Data Description:
Weather satellites operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provide high-resolution observations of Earth's surface, both in terms of time and space. These instruments monitor a range of atmospheric and surface characteristics, including humidity, cloud cover, surface temperature, and lightning activity, enabling the global tracking and forecasting of weather conditions.
One key group of these satellites is the GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) series, developed by NASA for NOAA. Positioned in geostationary orbit, 36,000 km above the equator, these satellites form part of a global network spaced approximately 70º apart in longitude, ensuring near-total coverage of the Earth. Two GOES satellites each monitor about a third of the planet: one, positioned at 75ºW longitude, observes North America, South America, and much of the Atlantic Ocean; the other, near 135ºW longitude, covers western North America and the Pacific Ocean, spanning the region between 20ºW and 165ºE.
