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NOAA Image of the Day - Temp 80.7° F

NOAANESDIS

Below is the latest NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory image. It has been reduced in size for display purposes. It was provided by the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Note that although they call it the 'Image of the day" it is not updated on a daily basis.

Satellite Launch Improves Global Water Cycle Monitoring

Satellite Launch Improves Global Water Cycle Monitoring

On May 18, 2012 at 1:40am JST, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched its newest polar-orbiting satellite into space. GCOM-W1, nicknamed "SHIZUKU" (or "water drop"), is intended to provide global monitoring of Earth's water cycle. On board is the AMSR-2 sensor that continues the legacy of the AMSR-E sensor flown on NASA's Aqua satellite. AMSR detects microwave energy emitted by the planet, which is very sensitive to changes in water concentration, density, and heat. AMSR-2 will improve NOAA's current monitoring of atmospheric moisture, precipitation, sea ice, temperature, and many other variables.

Shown here is a plot of soil moisture, acquired from the NASA AMSR-E satellite sensor from September 28 - October 2, 2011. Satellite-based soil moisture products, such as those from AMSR-E and the Suomi NPP ATMS sensor, are critical tools for both monitoring and predicting drought patterns across the globe.