national oceanic and atmospheric administration (noaa) earth observations a noaa perspective earth...

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

EARTH OBSERVATIONSA NOAA PerspectiveEARTH OBSERVATIONSA NOAA Perspective

Presenters

Mary E. KiczaAssistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services

Zdenka S. WillisDirector, Integrated Ocean Observing System, National Ocean Service

Kevin J. Schrab, PhDChief, Observing Services Division, National Weather Service

Stephen K. Brown, PhDChief, Assessment and Monitoring Division, National Marine Fisheries Service

March 16, 2009

NOAA’s Vision and Mission

NOAA’s VisionAn informed society that uses a comprehensive understanding of the role of the oceans, coasts, and atmosphere in the global ecosystem to make the best social and economic decisions

NOAA’s Mission To understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment

and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet the Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs

2National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

3

NOAA Services are Responsive to Societal Needs

Monitoring and responding to climate change and its impacts

Monitoring and responding to climate change and its impacts

Reducing the economic and societal impacts of coastal hazards, habitat loss, and coastal pollution

Reducing the economic and societal impacts of coastal hazards, habitat loss, and coastal pollution

Saving lives and property from damaging weather and water events

Saving lives and property from damaging weather and water events

Climate Coasts

Oceans and Marine Life

High Impact Weather and Water Transportation

Sustaining the Nation’s fisheries and ocean ecosystems

Sustaining the Nation’s fisheries and ocean ecosystems

Supporting a safe, efficient and robust transportation system

Supporting a safe, efficient and robust transportation system


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NOAA–0bserving from the Ocean Floor to the Sun’s Surface

NOAA–0bserving from the Ocean Floor to the Sun’s Surface


Value of Earth Observations

Better Information for Better Decision Making

Prediction– Worldwide agricultural benefits of better El Niño forecasts

are conservatively estimated at $450-$550million/year– U.S. average annual hurricane damage is $5.1 billion and 20 deaths

Prevention– More than 90% of natural disaster-related deaths occur in

developing countries– Since 1900, over 200 tsunami events have caused 500 deaths

and $186 million in damages in the U.S. and its territories

Preparedness– More than 50% of the world’s population lives within 60 km of

the shoreline; this could rise to 75% by the year 2020

Protect and Manage Resources– Approximately 1,890 species are listed under the Endangered Species Act– 125 Species are managed under the Marine Mammal Protection Act


NOAA’s Earth Observing Systems

Land-Based

Air-Based

Ocean-Based

Space-Based


NOAA’s Current Earth Observing Systems

Ships—18 NOAA owned and operated vessels

Aircraft—14 NOAA owned and operated planes

Buoys—more than 19 separate systems worldwide (exceeding 3400 buoys)

Radars—121 weather radars

Surface Weather and Climate Systems– NWS Automated Surface Observing System (312)– Surface-based Climate Networks (>1000)

– U.S. Climate Reference Network (114)– U.S. Historical Climate Network (1221)

Upper Air Systems – Weather balloons (92 sites) and 35 wind profilers – Dropped sensors from aircraft (tracking hurricanes and other marine storms)

Research Systems– Autonomous Underwater Vehicles– Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Satellites—16 meteorological satellites in 3 separate constellations

– Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites - Last POES (NOAA-19) was launched February 6, 2009

– Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites - GOES-O scheduled to be launched in April 2009– Defense Meteorological Satellite Program– Jason 2 satellite altimetry

NOAA’s diverse workforce provides crucial value-added interpretation and analysis of data collected from these observing systems


Mandates and Policy Drivers

Directive Authorities Weather Service Organic Act Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and

Management Act Marine Mammal Protection Act Endangered Species Act Coastal Zone Management Act National Marine Sanctuaries Act Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Tsunami Warning and Education Act +…..

External Recommendations U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Ocean Action Plan Joint Ocean Commission Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) +……

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Unifying Principle: The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)

Group on Earth Observations (GEO)Membership consists of 76 countries and the European Commission, over 56 participating organizations and observersEarth Observation Ministerial Summit held every 3 years, GEO Plenary every year, and GEO Executive Committee 3 times per yearGEO is governed by an Executive Committee, Plenary, Secretariat, and 4 CommitteesNext GEO Plenary is planned for Washington, D.C., in November 2009

U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO)Currently 25 participating U.S. Government Department and Agency members including 2 White House offices Standing subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council Committee on Environment and Natural Resources 5 functional groups; full committee meets monthly

Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)Improves coordination of strategies and observation systemsLinks all platforms: in situ, aircraft, and satellite networksIdentifies gaps in our global capacityFacilitates exchange of data and information Improves decision makers’ abilities to address pressing policy issues

GEO and USGEO Overview


IOOS® contains the following:•Global Component•Coastal Component

17 Federal Agencies11 Regional Associations

Initial IOOS® activities include:•Regional data integration•Building a Data Integration Framework•Observing the Global Ocean for Climate

IOOS® contains the following:•Global Component•Coastal Component

17 Federal Agencies11 Regional Associations

Initial IOOS® activities include:•Regional data integration•Building a Data Integration Framework•Observing the Global Ocean for Climate 10

NOAA’s PartnershipsKey GEOSS Example: U.S. IOOS®


NOAA’s Measurements/Products

AtmosphereSurface

Upper-Air

Ocean Surface

Sub-surface

Space and Solar

Marine EcosystemsFishery Independent and Dependent Data

Plankton Surveys

Protected Resource Surveys

Environmental Data Management


Atmosphere (Surface)

Measurements Pressure/temperature/moisture Precipitation Wind/visibility Soil moisture Surface radiation flux Aerosols Greenhouse gases Ozone-depleting gases

Observing Platforms Remote-Sensing

– Satellites/aircraft– Radars

In Situ – Surface weather networks– Surface-based climate networks (U.S.

Climate Reference Network)– Cooperative Observer Network (citizens)– Ships/buoys

Benefits Severe storms and weather

forecast (hurricane, tornado, flash flood)

Drought monitoring Climate monitoring Pollution/air quality Transportation (air, surface &

marine)

Strategic Emphasis Sustaining and upgrading aging

surface climate & weather networks ASOS IT upgrade & modernizing

the Historical Climate Network Carbon Tracker NEXRAD Dual Polarization upgrade Snow surveys Air quality for human health


Atmosphere (Upper-Air)

Measurements Pressure Temperature Water vapor Wind Clouds Aerosols Volcanic ash Stratospheric ozone


– Satellites – Radar Wind Profilers – GPS weather application measurements

In Situ – Weather/climate balloons– Aircraft (manned and unmanned)– Ships

Benefits Severe storms and weather

forecast (hurricane, tornado, flash flood)

Climate monitoring Aviation efficiency and safety

Strategic Emphasis Volcanic ash

Aviation hazard • Carbon Tracker• Ozone depletion monitoring• Expand upper atmosphere winds

detection– Ground and space LIDAR

techniques


Ocean (Surface)

Measurements Temperature Sea level - altimetry/seastate/waves Winds Color Nutrients/contaminants/pathogens Tides/currents/sea ice Air-sea exchange of CO2 Marine debris Turbidity/sediment

Observing PlatformsRemote-Sensing

– Satellites – Coastal high frequency current radars

In Situ – Ship/buoy – Aircraft/autonomous vehicles– Real-time ocean information

– Tide gauges – Port observing systems

Benefits Marine transportation Climate monitoring & forecasting Hurricane/storm response Harmful algal bloom detection Fishery management Coral conservation/restoration Human health/hypoxia Ecosystem assessments Coasts and Great Lakes

Strategic Emphasis Expand ocean color observations

– Reviewing alternatives for long-term continuity

Continuity of remote sensing ocean observations

– Consideration of continuity for system acquisition decisions


Ocean (Sub-Surface)

Measurements Hazard assessment-clear

passage Bathymetry/sediments Ocean acidification Nutrients and contaminants Ocean profiles of:

– Temperature– Salinity– Currents


– SONAR depth mapping In Situ

– Ships/buoys/Argo floats – Certified divers– Autonomous underwater vehicles– Real-time ocean information

Benefits Marine transportation Climate monitoring & forecasting Fishery management Coral conservation/restoration Storage & global transfer of heat Sea level rise/tsunami warnings Ocean carbon Ecosystem assessments

Strategic Emphasis Expanded hazard detection

Ship recapitalization plan and ship operating days

Tsunami Warning Buoys National Water Level Observation

Network & Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS) Divers install and maintain

components


Space and Solar

Measurements Solar winds/storms Energetic particles (radiation) Auroral energy deposition Ionosphere characterization Solar flares/corona mass ejections Radio bursts Geomagnetic fields


– Satellites– Surface observatories

In Situ – Satellites

Benefits Aviation Power industry Satellite health and safety Astronaut safety GPS navigation uncertainty Telecommunication

Strategic Emphasis

Power grid impacts Continuity of solar

winds/storms detection Studies of alternatives for

solar wind instrument in progress


Marine Ecosystems

Measurements Abundance and distribution of living

marine resources (LMR) Monitor fishery catch and bycatch Evaluate recovery of threatened and

endangered species Assess status of marine ecosystems Evaluate health of coral & other habitats Monitor effects of ocean acidification

Observing Platforms Ships Aircraft Buoys Autonomous and remotely-controlled

vehicles Satellites Animal tagging Fishery-dependent modes of observation

(e.g., observers, video)

Benefits Fishery management Health of LMRs and their habitat Recovering endangered species Coral health Effect of ocean acidification and

other climate impacts Integrated Ecosystem Assessments

(IEAs)

Strategic Emphasis Developing annual catch limits Rebuilding fish stocks Protecting and conserving

protected species Habitat characterization and

mapping


Environmental Data Management

Requirements Accessibility Discoverability Usability Integration Preservation/reuse

Approaches/Systems Comprehensive Large Array-data

Stewardship System (CLASS) Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest

System Global Earth Observations-Integrated Data

Environment Integrated Ocean Observing System Data

Integration Framework National Integrated Drought Information

System/climate portals

Strategic Emphasis Access to long-term archives

Applying CLASS to address large data records

Addressing increased information volume and diversity Developing high performance

computing plan Gaps in environmental data records Integration of observations and products

Benefits Weather and water Climate Ecosystems Commerce and transportation

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Summary

• Earth observations are a critical element of NOAA’s mission

• NOAA has a broad mission--requires extensive observing systems

• NOAA leads U.S. Government in operational Earth observing systems

• Demand for Earth observations continues to grow

• NOAA must continue to invest in EO to ensure the Nation has access to crucial observations in the future

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Final Presentation will be posted online:

www.legislative.noaa.gov/policybriefs.html"



Conclusion

NOAA cannot achieve its Mission to Understand and Predict without a sustainable,

robust Earth observation system

Image description: Sea surface temperature (SST) during El Nino in 1997


BACKUP SLIDES

NOAA’s Geospatial Foundation

Geodetic ControlAerial Imagery

Elevation

Boundaries

Surface Waters

Transportation

Land Ownership

NOAA’s National Spatial Reference System provides the solid thread that weaves through all of NOAA’s observation systems. The positional framework it provides is integral to supporting the agency’s and the Nation’s data collection and validation efforts.



NOAA’s Areas of Strategic Emphasis

Ships—Recapitalization Plan Aircraft—Recapitalization Plan Buoys—Recapitalization Plan Phase 1and 2 Radars

– Dual-Polarization– Multi-function Phased Array– Wind Profiler Network

Satellite – Continuity and Research to Operations (R2O)

Surface Weather and Climate Systems– Historical Climate Network Modernization– U.S. Climate Reference Network sustainment– Surface weather sensor sustainment

Upper Air Systems– Climate Reference Radiosonde– GPS improved resolution upgrade

Fishery Dependent Systems– National Observer Program/Fisheries Information System/Port Sampling System– Socio-economic surveys

Build the U.S. IOOS

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Subsurface Ocean Example:Climate Monitoring – Global Ocean Heat

Warming ocean waterexpands, leading to

Sea Level Rise

Measuring Ocean Temperature with buoys, ships, Argo profiling floats, and satellitesMeasuring Ocean Temperature with buoys, ships, Argo profiling floats, and satellites

Deploying an Argo Float

Ocean Climate Reference StationHow Argo Floats work

One month of Subsurface Temperature observations from theOne month of Subsurface Temperature observations from theGlobal Ocean Observing System.Global Ocean Observing System.

NOAA provides 48% of the platforms in this international system.NOAA provides 48% of the platforms in this international system.

World OceanHeat Content

The Ocean has potential to store 1000 times more Heat than the AtmosphereThe Ocean has potential to store 1000 times more Heat than the Atmosphere.


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