NOAA WILL LAUNCH NEW SATELLITE TO TRACK GLOBAL SEA LEVEL

There is a new satellite called the Jason-2/Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM) that will be launched on June 15th at 1:47am. This satellite will continue the work if its predecessors: Jason-1, and TOPEX/Poseidon. Its main goal is to continue the long-term survey of the oceans, their circulation patterns, measuring sea-surface heights and their RATES of sea-level rise.

How does it work? It uses a radar altimeter and flies in a low orbit. It will monitor 95% of the ice-free oceans. The best part about this new satellite, in my opinion, is that it will be able to help meteorologists make better predictions when it comes to a hurricane's intensity. According to Dr. Laury Miller, chief of NOAA's Laboratory for Satellite Altimetry "If we increase the accuracy of intensity predictions, we help save lives." In the past, using data received by other altimeter missions with hurricane strengths of category 5 on the Saffir Simpson scale (wind speeds 155 mph or greater), the error for intensity prediction has decreased by 5% and as much as 20%, according to Miller.

This will be a major boost for the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, MD. Right in our back yard, those folks will be the ground support for this satellite. Hurricane season, by the way, officially starts June 1.