Satellites

GOES-8 through GOES-13 (9 is operational at ~155°E; 10 is operational at ~135°W; 12 is operational at ~75°W; 11 is in storage; 13 is scheduled for launch June 2005)

Orbit Type

Geostationary

Instrument

Sounder

Resolution

10 km

Band

Central
Wavelength
(µm)

Absorbing
Gases

Wave
Number
(cm-1)

Sounding
Level (mb)

Primary Uses

1

14.7

CO₂

680

90

Stratosphere temperature

2

14.4

CO₂

694

300

Sounding; tropopause temperature

3

14.1

CO₂

709

550

Sounding; upper-level temperature

4

13.6

CO₂; H₂O

735

850

Sounding; mid-level temperature

5

13.4

CO₂; H₂O

746

900

Sounding; low-level temperature

6

12.7

H₂O

787

Surface

Sounding; total precipitable water

7

12.0

H₂O

833

Surface

Surface temperature and moisture

8

11.0

H₂O

909

Surface

Surface temperature

9

9.7

O₃

1031

25

Total ozone

10

7.4

H₂O

1351

725

Low-level moisture

11

7.0

H₂O

1428

550

Sounding; mid-level moisture

12

6.5

H₂O

1538

350

Sounding; upper-level moisture

13

4.6

N₂O

2173

1000

Sounding; low-level temperature

14

4.5

N₂O

2222

950

Sounding; mid-level temperature

15

4.4

CO₂; N₂O

2272

650

Sounding; upper-level temperature

16

4.1

CO₂

2439

Surface

Sounding; boundary layer

17

4.0

Window

2500

Surface

Temperature

18

3.7

Window

2702

Surface

Temperature

19

0.70

Window

14286

Surface

Clouds

20

Star scan