The Earth was prepared for its close-up this 12 months. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, or GOES-16 satellites, captured a number of spectacular climate occasions from hurricanes, supercell storms, wildfires and an incredible complete photo voltaic eclipse.
About the GOES-16 satellite tv for pc – The GOES-16, also referred to as GOES-R earlier than it reached its geostationary orbit, is operated by NOAA and is concentrated on the Americas.
With the usage of subtle imagers, the satellite tv for pc affords excessive spatial and temporal decision imagery of Earth all through 16 spectral bands at seen and infrared wavelengths. Four different scientific devices for monitoring the Sun and area climate are additionally aboard the spacecraft.
Here’s a sampling of its superb photographs captured this 12 months:
The Great North American Eclipse of 2024
Occurring on April 8, the GOES-16 satellite tv for pc captured the Moon’s shadow because it crossed into North America, handed over Texas and headed northeast earlier than coming to an finish over the North Atlantic Ocean.
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California’s Park Fire unfold burned scorching and quick
California’s Park Fire was the most important wildfire within the state this 12 months, beginning on July 24 and totally contained by Sept. 26, the fireplace burned 429,603 acres of land and destroyed 709 constructions, in line with CalFire.
More:24 disasters, billions in harm: Assessing 2024’s local weather catastrophes
Great Plains erupts in supercell storms
Spring’s heat temperatures fueled storms in late April, inflicting massive supercell storms for a lot of the Great Plains states which prompted greater than a number of tornadoes, in line with NOAA. The water vapor imagery proven beneath in inexperienced are areas of most moisture creating within the storms.
The 12 months of the aurora borealis in North America
This 12 months, the Sun’s extra photo voltaic flares and winds wreak havoc on the Earth’s magnetic discipline. It has prompted a number of aurora borealis sightings in North America, in line with NASA.
More:Solar flares, downed satellites: Sun’s photo voltaic max creates havoc in Earth’s environment
Heavy rains primed NC for extreme flooding from Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene left large destruction alongside the Florida coast when making landfall on Sept. 26. It prompted historic flooding, wide-ranging energy outages and different harm in an 800-mile northward path that affected the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, and different states.
More:Maps monitor Hurricane Helene’s 800-mile path of destruction throughout southeastern US
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CONTRIBUTING Karina Zaiets
IMAGE SOURCE CSU/CIRA and NOAA
This story was up to date so as to add new info.