Current Weather Conditions as Depicted by Satellite Imagery
In the world of meteorological research, classic satellites continue to play a significant role, at least for now. Among these operational satellites, we find the US GOES, Metop-B and -C, and the Russian Meteor-M series.
The US GOES satellites are currently operational and are expected to continue working for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, Metop-B and -C are expected to operate until 2027 and beyond. These satellites provide valuable data, with Metop-B and -C focusing on radiation and humidity measurements, while the Jason-3 satellite specialises in these areas as well.
The Meteor-M satellites, an alternative option, share almost the same hardware and software stack as NOAA's. However, a potential disadvantage of Meteor-M is the need for an extra filter due to its intolerance to interference. Despite this, handheld antennas can be used to pick up Meteor-M signals.
For those looking for alternatives to NOAA satellites for obtaining weather data, there are several options available. The MODIS instruments aboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites provide products like snow cover fraction and land surface temperature. Additionally, data from the IMERG precipitation dataset is operational and used for climate and hydrometeorological studies.
As for the older NOAA POES satellites (NOAA-15, -18, -19), they are being decommissioned after about 30 years of service. However, newer satellite systems and international instruments continue to provide weather data. Specific alternative NOAA plans are not detailed in the search results.
Intriguingly, it's possible to print your own antennas for satellite data collection. Jacopo, a well-known figure in the field, explains alternative options for pulling up satellite weather imagery when NOAA's satellites are no longer recommended.
Lastly, new, improved satellites of the Meteor-M series are on their way, promising even better data collection capabilities in the future.
Instructions on how to get started with satellite data collection are available at the bottom of this article.
