Weather forecasts are actually the best guess that computerized numerical models can make when they are fed data about the conditions in the atmosphere. The key to predicting the weather more accurately lies in measuring these variables in the atmosphere more accurately. Water vapor, or water in its gaseous state, acts like a greenhouse gas, and absorbs longwave energy emitted from the Earth. It can cause clouds to form as it is transferred to the atmosphere through evaporation.
Clouds strongly influence our planet's climate.
As a part of its testing process, it will measure the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, determine the atmospheric temperature and the type of gases present at a given altitude in the atmosphere. By monitoring the movement of water vapor in great detail from a high perch, the direction of the winds can also be better determined. EO3 will provide hourly updates on the movement of winds within different layers of the atmosphere. Current weather satellites provide data on only a single layer of the upper atmosphere.