Satellite Data

Most of us are well aware of the GOES satellite data that are available in investigating aviation incidents and GOES data can be very helpful.  Recently, however, NASA has made available data from two low-orbiting satellites that can greatly enhance a weather analysis. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has an onboard radar and can provide precipitation rates and lightning detection. The CloudSat satellite can provide information on the ice crystal content and liquid water content of clouds as well as some information on precipitation rates– information that can prove useful in determining when icing, turbulence or thunderstorms are present. Since both these satellites are in low-Earth orbits (CloudSat at 438 miles and TRMM at 250 miles), data are not always available, as they are dependent on the timing of an orbital pass. However, a satellite pass near the time of an incident can often provide valuable data to enhance an investigation.