Predicting Environmental Disasters begins in SPace
When it comes to environmental disasters like forest fires, flash floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and blizzards, seconds can be the difference between life and death. Our innovative weather satellite solutions increase warning times, enhance long range predictions and enable better estimates of storm intensity – to create a safer, more weather-ready nation.
Weather Mission Solutions
Hurricanes
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Flooding
Fires
Tornados
Snow & Ice
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Managing a growing constellation of satellites and sensors, rapidly processing even larger volumes of data and quickly delivering information and products to users worldwide requires a pivot to cloud-native technologies. L3Harris is investing in high-performance computing, machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to architect a scalable ground system of the future – empowering customers to focus on future missions rather than hardware and facilities.
CURRENT
FUTURE
Built by L3Harris, NOAA's CrIS is the most advanced smallsat compatible sounding instrument in LEO and one of the top contributors to forecast accuracy. L3Harris is evolving CrIs's proven, on orbit accuracy with solutions that are smaller and more affordable without sacrificing performance.
Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS)
As the primary payload onboard NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satelite-R (GOES-R) Series, ABI has revolutionized weather forecasting. ABI's flexible design enables L3Harris to evolve its powerful imaging technology with higher spatial and temporal resolution, additional channels for improved data compression to meet future demands. Advancing ABI's capabilities can be affordably achieved with low-risk, high-reward improvements to its flight-proven technology.
Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI)
Building upon the success of GOES-R and ABI, NOAA's proposed GeoXO constellation seeks to improve its ability to provide timely and accurate weather, ocean, and climate data. NASA has entrusted L3Harris to further develop its next-generation Geo Visible/Infrared Imager and Geo Hyperspectral Infrared Sounder to advance severe storm tracking, weather forecasting, climate and other Earth observations.
Geo XO
Fusing its experience in infrared sounding from LEO and rapid scanning from GEO, L3Harris is developing an innovative geostationary infrared sounder that offers 24/7 persistent sounding instead of once every 12 hours from low Earth orbit.
Geo Sounder
L3Harris' HyperCube sounding technology gives access to low-cost global coverage of temperature and moisture data at more than 30 layers of the atmosphere. HyperCubes can be flown in a constellation and track changes in the 3D moisture field from one sounding to the next.
HyperCube™
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) GOES-R Series is essential to creating a more weather resilient nation. From hurricanes to tornadoes to wildfires, extreme weather creates the need for early and accurate detection to keep people safe and out of harm’s way.
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R) Series
Today’s world moves at the speed of the instant. Decision-makers need timely and accurate insights to keep up, and more than ever the imagery driving those insights is coming from space. Satellite imagery drives strategic and persistent intelligence, tactical support and commercial missions, and L3Harris provides the framework with the SpaceView line of small satellite imaging solutions. The technology makes it more practical and affordable to deploy constellations to obtain high-resolution image intelligence at more frequent revisit rates.
Small Satellite Imaging Solutions
As demand for more innovation in space continues to become larger, L3Harris is achieving critical, advanced missions by offering solutions that are smaller. Small satellite constellations meet customer needs with technology that is responsive, resilient, reprogrammable on orbit and affordable.
End-to-End Small Satellite Solutions
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Learn more about our weather satellite capabilities
Built by L3Harris, NOAA's CrIS is the most advanced smallsat compatible sounding instrument in LEO and one of the top contributors to forecast accuracy. L3Harris is evolving CrIS's proven, on orbit accuracy with solutions that are smaller and more affordable without sacrificing performance.
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Our Cross-Track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) measures 3D temperature and moisture profiles from many levels of the atmosphere to support more accurate prediction modeling. CrIS data helps pinpoint hurricane track and intensity, reducing the cone of uncertainty and providing vital time to plan and prepare.
More Accurate and Timely Forecasting
With unprecedented speed and accuracy, L3Harris’ Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) simultaneously scans the entire western hemisphere every 10 minutes, the continental United States every five minutes and areas of rapidly developing storms every 30 seconds. Its flexibility enables us to develop even more powerful imaging technology to meet future demands.
Built to Evolve
HIGH RISK IN 6 HOURS
Video credit: NOAA
Improved numerical weather predictions
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2010 Cone
2020 Cone
2030 Cone*
*theoretical
Flexible Rapid Scanning
As a powerful partner in GEO, ABI can detect the pooling of low-level moisture (left) that procedes thunderstorm development – approximately one to two hours before any clouds even form (right). Further enhancements to ABI can maximize this unique capability for even earlier storm detection.
The Calm Before the Storm
Preparation is Key
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an average of 85 people are killed each year due to flooding in the U.S. That’s more than any other thunderstorm related event. In preparation for a future that could bring more frequent flooding, L3Harris’ CrIS provides data to improve rainfall predictions, enabling advanced flood warnings that save lives and property.
Images courtesy of CIRA
NOAA’s Joint Polar Satellite Systems (JPSS) measures the key indicators of fire formation and trajectory every 12 hours in low Earth orbit (LEO). Deploying a hyperspectral sounder in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) will collect these critical measurements every 30 minutes compared to an instrument in LEO. With its increased speed and resolution, adding a hyperspectral sounder on NOAA’s next-generation GeoXO constellation is the next logical breakthrough in wildfire prediction. A GeoXO Sounder (GXS) will enable advanced sensitivity for earlier detection of smaller fires and better characterization of fire boundaries and propagation.
Accelerated Data Fuels Accurate Forecasting
With ABI, NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R) Series provides the critical data needed to track wind patterns, smoke, frontal systems and even the faintest fire hotspots across the continental U.S.
Video credit: CIRA
3.90 µm ABI modeled (2 km / single gain)
3.90 µm GXi modeled (1 km / dual gain combined)
L3Harris’ next-generation weather satellite solutions will ensure our mission partners are armed with the most accurate and timely data required to provide trusted and life-saving severe weather predictions and warnings.
According to the National Weather Service, the average lead time for a tornado warning is 9 minutes. In LEO, rich temperature and moisture observation from CrIS support targeted warnings for tornados and severe storms. Deploying a hyperspectral sounder, like CrIS, in GEO would enable early warning of imminent tornados – potentially up to 6 hours before touchdown. CrIS supports long-term forecasting, but a sounder in GEO is critical for tornados and other quick-changing storms.
Life-saving Severe Weather Predictions and Warnings
2030 Cone
Enables creation of new weather products that will greatly enhance short-term “now-casting” and long-term forecast models
Provides enhanced intensity and path prediction for severe weather development, including tornados, blizzards, fires, floods, thunderstorms and other life-threatening events
Next-Generation Weather Solutions: GeoXo Sounder (GXS)
Critical technology for increasing severe weather warning times and, ultimately, saving lives.
Measures key indicators of severe weather including moisture, temperature and 3D winds
Provides persistent observations over the United States Leverages common subsystems and proven technology to drive affordability and performance
ABI’s ability to measure snow and ice— one of the most under-sampled parts of the climate system—will be increasingly essential to weather forecasters, climate scientists and numerous industries. Advancing ABI will give scientists a better understanding of the impact snow and ice has on water supply, agriculture, mar-ine navigation, hydropower, flooding, droughts, sea level rise and other growing global concerns.
Today, gaining deep insights into the intricacies of climate change on a global level and its relationship to increasingly severe, life-threating weather is a top priority for scientists. For more than five decades, L3Harris has worked with NOAA to design and build critical weather satellite technology to monitor severe weather and improve daily weather forecasts. CrIS provides a continuous record of temperature changes over time, while ABI captures the effect that climate change has on our environment. An ABI in a tundra orbit could also enhance snow and ice measurements in the arctic. They each play a fundamental role in understanding chemistry and climate interactions.
The New Age of Climate Monitoring
A Rising Concern
Advances climate science by providing measurement con-tinuity for long-term weather observations, a key indicator for climate change measurement, and predictions
ABI’s ability to measure snow and ice—one of the most under-sampled parts of the climate system—will be increasingly essential to weather forecasters, climate scientists and numerous industries. Advancing ABI will give scientists a better understanding of the impact snow and ice has on water supply, agriculture, mar-ine navigation, hydropower, flooding, droughts, sea level rise and other growing global concerns.
Constellations of the Future
A multi-layered approach to weather observation requires satellites, of various sizes and in multiple orbits, and ground systems working together to ensure critical decision-making data gets in the hands of those who need it most. L3Harris rapidly delivers affordable end-to-end solutions by streamlining sensor development, spacecraft procurement, system integration, launch, ground system and mission operations for our mission partners.
Provides constant coverage of the same area on Earth’s western hemisphere, enabling forecasters to monitor severe weather as it unfolds. Supplies greater coverage of weather hotspots and increased warning times for thunderstorms, fires, tornadoes, flash floods and other severe weather.
Geostationary Orbit (GEO) Satellites
Delivers global data with more fre-quent refresh to reduce errors in storm track and intensity forecasts, boost forecast confidence and improve storm preparation. Provides improved data latency through expansion of commercial communication capabilities.
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites
