Bridging the Gap

Faulty predictions about a blizzard in the Northeast United States underscore the need for accurate and timely forecasting capabilities to protect lives and property. Other seasonal weather events, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, also represent a challenge for timely, accurate weather forecasts and warnings. Over the last decade, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has monitored the troubled development of NOAA's weather satellite programs, which provide vital input to weather forecasts. These programs include the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), its predecessor, the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS), and the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite System (GOES). NOAA's satellite systems form the fundamental base for the nation's forecasting ability, providing the majority of the data used in American weather models. A report by the National Research Council found that 80% of the data assimilated into numerical weather models comes from satellites. Satellite data is able to significantly enhance forecasting accuracy. For example, in 2010, data from polar-orbiting satellites helped meteorologists predict the arrival of "Snowmageddon" five days in advance, and early forecasts of Superstorm Sandy's track were aided by polar-orbiting satellites, according to a study by the European Centre for Medium- Range Weather Forecasts.