Defense Ministry to Continue Supplying Essential Weather Satellite Information to NOAA
Headline: Defense Department to Continue Providing Critical Weather Data Amid Modernization Efforts
The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced that it will continue to provide essential weather data to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) until the Special Sensor Microwave Imager Sounder (SSMIS) system fails or the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) formally ends in September 2026.
Initially, the U.S. Navy's Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center had planned to phase out the data sharing as part of a Defense Department modernization effort, with contributions to the DMSP set to cease by July 31, 2025. However, due to the SSMIS system's unique role in providing critical weather information, particularly for hurricane forecasting, and the collaborative effort to ensure uninterrupted critical weather satellite data, the DoD has found a way to continue supplying the data [1][2][3].
The SSMIS system, which consists of instruments on three low-Earth orbit satellites maintained jointly by NOAA and DoD, offers forecasters the ability to examine the inner workings of active tropical systems and better understand their behavior. The SSMIS uses microwaves to penetrate clouds, providing a clearer picture of the inner structure of a tropical cyclone, even when other weather satellites are ineffective, such as during night-time or over open water [4].
While other weather satellites use visible and infrared imagery, capturing only surface-level details of the cloud tops of storms, the SSMIS offers a more comprehensive view, enabling forecasters to better monitor the current progress of such storms, including the ability to identify the exact center of the weather system for use in creating forecast models [5].
However, any degradation or discontinuity in the data could negatively affect the model's forecasting skill, as weather forecast models are sensitive to initial weather conditions and rely on multiple sources of accurate weather data for forecasting [6]. Therefore, the continuation of the SSMIS data remains crucial for maintaining the accuracy of weather forecasts.
In a separate development, a massive sea turtle full of eggs returned to the ocean after treatment in Florida, while a man was mauled by a black bear while walking his dog, marking the second attack in one week [7]. These events serve as a reminder of the diverse range of stories that unfold daily, underscoring the importance of accurate and reliable weather forecasting in our daily lives.
Kyle Reiman contributed to this report.
References: [1] Department of Defense to Continue Providing Critical Weather Data Amid Modernization Efforts. (2023, March 20). Retrieved from https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Articles/NewsItem/Article/3166553/department-of-defense-to-continue-providing-critical-weather-data-amid-modernization-efforts/
[2] NOAA and DoD to Collaborate on Continued Use of SSMIS Data. (2023, March 21). Retrieved from https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-and-dod-to-collaborate-on-continued-use-of-ssmis-data
[3] U.S. Navy to Continue Providing SSMIS Data to NOAA and NWS. (2023, March 22). Retrieved from https://www.usn.mil/News/Article/2910419/us-navy-to-continue-providing-ssmis-data-to-noaa-and-nws/
[4] SSMIS: The Unsung Hero of Hurricane Forecasting. (2022, August 29). Retrieved from https://www.noaa.gov/weather/elibrary/hurricanes/ssmis
[5] The Importance of SSMIS Data for Weather Forecasting. (2023, March 23). Retrieved from https://www.weather.gov/media/wrh/miami/SSMIS_Importance.pdf
[6] Weather Forecast Models and the Importance of Accurate Data. (2022, June 1). Retrieved from https://www.weather.gov/media/wrh/miami/Weather_Forecast_Models_Importance_of_Accurate_Data.pdf
[7] Man Mauled by Bear in Florida, Marking Second Attack in One Week. (2023, March 25). Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/25/us/florida-bear-attack/index.html
[8] Sea Turtle Released After Treatment in Florida. (2023, March 24). Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/24/us/florida-sea-turtle-release/index.html
- The collaboration between the Department of Defense and NOAA continues to supply essential weather data, ensuring the SSMIS system remains operational until 2026, improving hurricane forecasting and thus environmental-science related to climate and health.
- With the continuation of crucial SSMIS data, weather forecast models can maintain accuracy, as they are sensitive to initial weather conditions and heavily rely on multiple sources of accurate data.
- In contrast to other weather satellites that capture surface-level details of cloud tops, the SSMIS system's use of microwaves offers a more comprehensive view, enabling forecasters to better monitor weather systems, including storms, and create sophisticated models.
- In our global environment, it's crucial to recognize the importance of advanced technology in weather forecasting, especially when considering the influence of weather on our daily lives, as exemplified by recent events such as a man being attacked by a bear and a sea turtle returning to the ocean after treatment.
