Mapeando el viento

Primer satélite para mapear el viento:

A satellite that will be the first to comprehensively monitor wind around the globe is finally ready to fly. After nearly two decades in the planning, the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Aeolus mission is slated to launch from Kourou, French Guiana, on 22 August. Meteorologists think that its data will significantly improve weather forecasts, because the lack of detailed wind measurements is one of the biggest gaps in the global Earth-observing system.
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Until now, meteorologists have pieced together information on winds from a patchwork of sources, including weather balloons and aeroplane flights. No satellite has directly measured winds, although scientists can infer wind speed and direction from satellite measurements of, for instance, how clouds move.

Copiado de World’s first wind-mapping satellite set to launch.