Atmosphere Observation

The most sophisticated atmospheric observational systems of all are those that make use of artificial satellites. A weather satellite is a device that is lifted into Earth orbit by a rocket and that carries inside it a large number of instruments for measuring many properties of the atmosphere. The first weather satellite ever launched was put into orbit by the U.S. government on April 1, 1960. Its name was TIROS 1 (Television and Infrared Observation Satellite). Over the next five years, nine more satellites of the same name were launched. One of the primary functions of the TIROS satellites was to collect and transmit photographs of the Earth's cloud patterns.

In addition to the TIROS program, the U.S. government has put into operation a number of other weather satellite systems, including Nimbus, ESSA (Environ-mental Sciences Service Administration), and GOES (geosynchronous environmental satellites). The former Soviet Union also had an active program of weather observation by satellite. The first Soviet satellite was known as Kosmos 122, followed by a series of satellites known by the code name of Meteor. Following the launches by the United States and the former Soviet Union, Japan, the European Space Agency, India and China have all launched weather satellites.

Satellites provide a variety of data about atmospheric properties that can contribute to improved weather forecasting. Satellites can track the development, growth, and movement of large storm systems, such as hurricanes and cyclones. This information can be used to warn human populations of oncoming storms and thereby save human lives and reduce some property damage.

Satellites can also take measurements using various wavelengths of light, thereby collecting data that would not be accessible to some other kinds of instruments. As an example, a satellite can photograph a cloud cover using both visible and infrared light and, by comparing the two, predict which cloud system is more likely to produce precipitation.