Global Weather Satellite Count Surges As 320 Orbit The Earth
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) says 11,330 individual satellites orbit the earth. The World Meteorology Organization shows that 323 are for weather observation and forecasting.
Among these satellites, 23 are geostationary, and 223 are polar-orbiting. Ninety-three space agencies or organizations worldwide operate one or more earth observation satellites.
As the US government cuts back on space and weather programs, the number of satellites launched by America could dip sharply. This would impair the country’s ability to anticipate dangerous weather events that can take lives and cause billions of dollars in damage.
Data For Weather And Forecasts
The Organization points out that “Satellite data and products have a wide range of applications serving hydrometeorology and environmental monitoring, such as nowcasting, numerical weather prediction (NWP), climate research and prediction, global temperature measurements, atmospheric humidity and temperature measurements, ocean dynamics research, volcanic eruption monitoring, forest fire detection, global vegetation analysis, etc. The satellite data is crucial in disaster risk reduction and determining long-term changes in global climate conditions.”
Along with forecasting disasters, the statistical data helps determine how to cut global warming and limit infrastructure damage from violent weather.
A cutback in the costs of satellite launches may be largely limited to the US among the world’s larger nations. For example, China is expected to increase this capacity.
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