Satellites come in two major catagories:
1. Orbital satellites
2.Geostationary satellites.
There have been three stages in the lead up to current Earth Observation capabilities:
a, Experimentation with satellite systems
b, Development of satellite systems and
c, Operational satellite systems.
| USA Government | TIROS (1960-64) | TIRON-N (1978) | AVHRR (NOAA) |
| N.A.S.A. | Nimbus | ERTS (LANDSAT'72) | LANDSAT4/5 ('85) |
| SPOT (1986) | |||
| METEOSAT (1977) | METEOSAT(ESA) |
This diagram shows the different types of satellite. Orbital satellites travel over the poles while geostationary satellites remain in the same place as the Earth rotates. Aquistion frequency varies as does spatial resolution depending on which type of satellite is being used.
EOS (or Earth Observation Systems can be used to study numerous
things including:
See how NASA uses remote sensing at NASA's Mission to Planet Earth
This page explains how scientists observe ENSO. It shows new advances in the thoery and modelling behind ENSO, explaining the physics and irregularities of the Southern Oscillation.
