NOAA & NASA Satellite, GOES-16, to Improve Weather Forecasting; GLM Monitoring Lightning Storm from Earth Orbit

In a joint project, NOAA and NASA developed a first of its kind satellite, the GOES-16 with the GLM onboard, to track lightning storms from orbit and alert forecasters of impending hazardous thunderstorms. On March 6, NOAA released the first image and animated video of lightning events.

According to Tech Times, onboard the GOES-16 (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) is the Geostationary Lightning Mapper or GLM, the first lightning detector ever to be put in geostationary orbit above the Earth. The satellite was jointly developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Weather forecasters have begun to receive never-before-available data from the GOES-16 located 22,300 miles above the surface of the Earth. GOES-16, launched from Cape Canaveral last November of 2016, is the first of four satellites that aim to improve weather forecasting of incoming weather hazards.

Scanning the Earth sky at a rate 5 times faster than any other satellites, the GLM continuously monitors lightning flashes in the Western Hemisphere. The data acquired by the GLM is then transmitted to meteorologists to help out in predicting storm patterns or issue flood warnings.

The GLM aboard the GOES-16 can also detect in-cloud lightning. This in-cloud lightning occurs 5 to 10 minutes before the lightning strikes the surface of the Earth, allowing more time for forecasters to issue a warning about severe storms.

Airplanes and sea-faring vessels would also benefit from the GLM. Accurate tracking of lightning and thunderstorms would be a boon to navigators as they can, in real-time, plot a safer course for their vessels.

The launch of GOES-16, with GLM onboard, got the weather community excited. According to Stephen Volz, assistant administrator for NOAA's Satellite and Information Services division, the quality of data from GLM can be compared to "super-high definition TV" as against the "black-and-white TV" from currently existing satellites.

According to Volz, the data from GLM, in turn, would result in "faster, more accurate weather forecasts and warnings." Vols added that the data would mean "more lives saves and better environmental intelligence for state and local officials and all decision makers."

So how does a lightning storm look from orbit? Watch the video clip below to find out!