Temperature and water vapour soundings from satellites have been available for more than 20 years. Because of the global nature of these data, satellite soundings were expected to improve significantly global numerical weather prediction (NWP). Indeed, experiments with the satellite soundings provided during the Global Weather Experiment (GWE) in 1979 revealed the positive impact of these data on extended-range forecasts, particularly in the southern hemisphere. Unfortunately, since the GWE, the value of satellite soundings has apparently diminished. I believe this to be due largely to improvements in the models which have surpassed the inherently poor vertical resolution of these data relative to that of the contemporary NWP models. The satellite data can even degrade the analysis/forecast operation through the aliasing of small-scale features which may be properly represented by the vertical scale resolved by the model.

This lecture addresses, from a historical perspective, the dilemma of the decreasing value of satellite soundings in the weather-forecast application (i.e., the reasons for the unfulfilled expectations of these data). Attention is then turned to the improvements in the satellite technology and the application techniques needed to reverse this trend.

Atmospheric soundings from satellites—false expectation or the key to improved weather prediction?

Satellite meteorology is a relatively new branch of the atmospheric sciences. The field emerged in the late 1950s during the Cold War and built on the advances in rocketry after World War I...

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Satellites See the World’s Atmosphere

Preface to 2nd Edition,- Preface to 1st Edition,- Chapter 1 Introduction: scientific and applied rationales for study of the tropical cyclogenesis,-Chapter 2 Global tropical cyclogenesis as a stochastic process,- Chapter 3 Regional tropical cyclogenesis,- Chapter 4 Global TDropical Cyclogenesis and Global Change,- Chapter 5 The Sun and tropical cyclones activity,- Chapter 6 Ionosphere and tropical cyclones activity,- Chapter 7 Physical models and simulations of global tropical cyclogenesis,- Chapter 8 Databases of global tropical cyclogenesis,- Chapter 9 Remote sensing activity for cyclogenesis studies,- Conclusion

Global tropical cyclogenesis

The first weather satellite was launched on 1 April 1960. In the 25 years since, weather satellites have contributed to improved weather analyses and forecasts worldwide. As a maturing component of a global observing system, the meteorological satellite promises even greater financial benefits and a higher quality of life to mankind.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/231/4737/455.full.pdf

The Meteorological Satellite: Overview of 25 Years of Operation

In his keynote address celebrating the 25th anniversary of the launch of TIROS-1 at the Second International Satellite Direct Broadcast Services Users’ Conference in April 1985, G.O.P. Obasi, secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), remarked: 
We can marvel at the many significant technological developments which have taken place in meteorological satellites since 1 April 1960 … We need to express our gratitude that the countries now operating meteorological satellites recognized TIROS as only the first step and followed up, through generations of improved satellites, to the current global network.

Every day, over 120 countries use information from this network of geostationary and polar-orbiting meteorological satellites. Never before has a technology developed so rapidly to become so essential to so many national weather services. The development of Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) was the prime catalyst in focusing the world’s attention on what satellites could do in improving meteorological services.

M. Mayfield

Papers

Applications of VAS and TOVS to tropical cyclones. [Visible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer Atmospheric Sounder and Tiros Operational Vertical Sounder]