Satellites that detect and observe different characteristics and features of the Earth's atmosphere, lands, and oceans are often referred to as environmental satellites.
Most environmental satellites have one of two types of orbits: geosynchronous or sun-synchronous.
Geo-synchronous satellites orbit the Earth at a speed matching the Earth's rotation.
Geo-synchronous environmental satellites are used primarily for weather forecasting.
Sun-synchronous satellites pass over a point on the Earth at the same time each day.
The sun-synchronous environmental satellites are “polar orbiting,” meaning that they orbit the Earth from north to south, passing over the North and South Poles during each orbit.
PROVIDE THREE EXAMPLES IN WHICH IT IS USED OUTSIDE OF SCIENCE
NASA has more than a dozen Earth science satellites in orbit. They help NASA study the oceans, land and atmosphere.
They also measure gases in the atmosphere, such as ozone and carbon dioxide, and the amount of energy that Earth absorbs and emits. And satellites monitor wildfires, volcanoes and their smoke.
With satellites, TV signals and phone calls are sent upward to a satellite. Then, almost instantly, the satellite can send them back down to different locations on Earth.