GOES-12 Update GOES-12 is located at 60W and providing routine Imager and Sounder data, running the GOES-South America schedules (See links below). GOES-12 (GOES-South America) Imager will be transitioned to XGOHI (eXtended GOES High Inclination) operations, effective November 14, 2011 at 1915 UTC.  Without XGOHI, the growing satellite inclination would continue to cause loops with an ever increasing "wobble".  At this point and based on a number of factors, GOES-12 is not expected to operate past May of 2013.

GOES-10 Paper (25 February 2009):   Schmit, T. J., R. M. Rabin, A. S. Bachmeier, J. Li, M. M. Gunshor, H. Steigerwaldt, A. J. Schreiner, R. M. Aune, and G. S. Wade, 2009: Many uses of the geostationary operational environmental satellite-10 sounder and imager during a high inclination state (2.6Mb PDF), Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, Vol. 3, 033514.

GEOSS in the Americas refers to the efforts of governments and others to support the realization of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) in the Western Hemisphere. GEOSS is a global effort to achieve comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained observations of the Earth system. GEOSS in the Americas provides a conceptual, umbrella framework to highlight existing collaborative efforts among governments, private industry, NGOs, and academia throughout the Western Hemisphere that support the aims of GEOSS, and to serve as a catalyst for new regional initiatives and cooperative opportunities.

NOAA's GOES-12 team aims to coordinate NOAA’s efforts in making the satellite available; to work with international partners to ensure that GOES-12 data can be received, distributed and utilized in the region; and to connect GOES-12 activities to regional cooperation and GEOSS in the Americas.

An Ad hoc GOES-12 Operations Committee consists of representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras and Peru participated. Membership is open to all governments with agencies that plan to use GOES-12 data. The objectives of the Ad hoc GOES-12 Operations Committee are to 1) recommend changes in the operations of GOES-12, 2) give technical recommendations in the case of unexpected events, 3)serve as a means of communication between NOAA and the users of the satellite data, 4) organize and discuss aspects related to GOES-12 such as data recording, data dissemination, product dissemination and training events.