A new satellite — Sentinel-6B — will provide information that will help ships avoid these dangers. The satellite will track sea levels, wind speeds, and more. The new satellite is the result of a collaboration between NASA and three other organizations.
Since 1992, scientists have been rolling out a series of missions to provide global sea level data. From the Topex/Poseidon mission to the Jason 1, 2, and 3 missions, and then the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite.
Sentinel-6B will be the latest on that list when it launches. Using its altimeter instrument, Sentinel-6B will measure key sea data — sea level, wind speed, wave height, among other characteristics. Meteorologists will then input this data into models to produce forecasts that give information about the ocean and the changing location of large currents.
One such current is the Gulf Stream. Currents like this are large, warm, and higher than their surroundings. When waves interact with these currents, it makes the seawater rough, putting ships at risk.
The hundreds of floating sensors scattered across the oceans detect the location of the currents. But they are limited. They are widely dispersed, and each one can only measure the small area around it.
This means that relying on them alone will leave gaps in our visualization of the location of these large currents. Sentinel-6B will bridge those gaps. It will provide a wider coverage, equipping meteorologists with information about areas not regularly monitored.
Sentinel-6B is a joint mission led by NASA and the ESA. It is part of the Sentinel-6/Jason-CS (Continuity of Service) mission. NASA, ESA, the European Union, EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites), and NOAA (U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) collaborated to develop Sentinel-6/Jason-CS.
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Chibuike Okpara – Tech Writer – 197 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2024
I have always been fascinated by technology and digital devices my entire life and even got addicted to it. I have always marveled at the intricacy of even the simplest digital devices and systems around us. I have been writing and publishing articles online for about 6 years now, just about a year ago, I found myself lost in the marvel of smartphones and laptops we have in our hands every day. I developed a passion for learning about new devices and technologies that come with them and at some point, I asked myself, “Why not get into writing tech articles?” It is useless to say I followed up the idea — it is evident. I am an open-minded individual who derives an infinite amount of joy from researching and discovering new information, I believe there is so much to learn and such a short life to live, so I put my time to good use — learning new things. I am a ‘bookworm’ of the internet and digital devices. When I am not writing, you will find me on my devices still, I do explore and admire the beauty of nature and creatures. I am a fast learner and quickly adapt to changes, always looking forward to new adventures.
Chibuike Okpara, 2025-09-14 (Update: 2025-09-14)
