U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for April 2

WASHINGTON, April 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

FRIDAY, APRIL 2: WEATHER SATELLITE

Profile America — Friday, April 2nd.  We're all used to turning on the television or going to our favorite web site to check on the weather and see the satellite images of moving fronts and storms. The first step toward that ability began this week 50 years ago when the first weather satellite was launched.  Named TIROS-1, it sparked a great jump in weather forecasting.  Previously, observation reports from ground stations, ships and balloons were used to fashion a reasonable guess on upcoming weather patterns.  Today, the capabilities of weather satellites are growing quickly.  The need for accurate, quickly available information is great.  In a recent nine-year period, 505 people were killed and more than 8,100 injured by tornadoes alone.  Profile America is presented by the U.S. Census Bureau, now conducting the 2010 Census.

Sources:  Kane's Famous First Facts, 7058

www.space.com  

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 374  

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau