1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000
[pulsing music begins]

2
00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:08,000
Peering down on the planet, NOAA satellites often observe striking reflections.

3
00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:12,000


4
00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:16,000


5
00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,000
This is called sunglint, where the sun reflects off Earth’s surface, and is seen every day over Earth’s lakes, rivers, and oceans.

6
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:24,000


7
00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:28,000


8
00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,000
When the sun hits solar arrays at just the right angle, they shine brilliantly in GOES satellite imagery.

9
00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,000


10
00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,000
The satellites provide valuable information for solar energy production forecasts. 

11
00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,000


12
00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:48,000
Clouds affect the output of solar power generation systems. 

13
00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:52,000


14
00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:56,000
GOES satellites monitor cloud coverage and how much shadow they create over solar farms. They also predict where clouds will move next.

15
00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,000


16
00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:04,000
This information helps managers maintain the critical balance between generation and consumption of energy,

17
00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,000


18
00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:12,000
and can help avoid damage to utilities and power outages to millions of customers.

19
00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:16,000
Title: Earth from Orbit, Satellites and Solar Energy

20
00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:19,829
Special thank you to CIMSS and the Satellite Liaison Blog for solar farm sunglint imagery