Aug. 25, 2011, 8 a.m.
The NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) represents a critical first step in building the next-generation weather satellite system. Goddard Space Flight Center is leading NASA s Radiant Energy System (CERES) instrument on board NPP. The long-term CERES data set will provide a basis for scientific understanding of the mechanisms and factors such as cloud/climate feedback that determine long-term climate variations and trends. An artist rendering highlighting The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) on board NPP. CrIS will produce high-resolution, three-dimensional temperature, pressure, and moisture profiles. These profiles will be used to enhance weather forecasting models, and they will facilitate both short- and long-term weather forecasting. Over longer timescales, they will help improve understanding of climate phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña. An artist concept of the OMPS instrument on board NPP. OMPS is an advanced suite of three hyperspectral instruments, extends the 25-plus year total-ozone and ozone-profile records. These records are used by ozone-assessment researchers and policy makers to track the health of the ozone layer. Raw NPP cleanroom b-roll footage segmentsprovided and shot by Ball Aerospace. For More InformationSee [http://jointmission.gsfc.nasa.gov/misison_details.html](http://jointmission.gsfc.nasa.gov/misison_details.html)
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