Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D. U.S. Navy (Ret.)Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere andAdministrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)November 7, 2006 • American Public Health Association 134th Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.

Global Earth ObservationsA New Approach to Prevention, Early Warning and More Rapid Problem-Solving

Global Earth ObservationsA New Approach to Prevention, Early Warning and More Rapid Problem-Solving

WHO reports that about 25% of the total burden of disease can be attributed to environmental and occupational factors.

Neonatal causes

37%

Acute respiratory infections

19%

Diarrheal diseases

(post-neonatal) 17%

Injuries 3%

Other 10%

Main Causes of Death Among Children Under FiveMain Causes of Death Among Children Under Five

World Health Report 2005

Malaria 8%

HIV/AIDS 3%

Measles 4%

2000 - 2003

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CASES

- 120

Adapted from J. Davis, Climate AdaptationWorkshop, Nov. 2003

Detection/Reporting

First Case

Lab Confirmation

Response

Opportunity for control

Outbreak Detection and ResponseOutbreak Detection and Response

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Effective Health Early WarningEffective Health Early Warning

- 120

Earth Observations

and Monitoring Information

Adapted from J. Davis, Climate AdaptationWorkshop, Nov. 2003Outreach and stakeholder involvementOutreach and stakeholder involvement

Detection/Reporting

First Case

Lab Confirmation

Response

Opportunity for control

By altering the range and amount of rainfall and related changes in ecosystems, El Niño can have a striking effect on the incidence of malaria.

Malaria Endemic Countries2004

Malaria Endemic Countries2004

NONE

LIMITED RISK

TRANSMISSIONOCCURS WHO, 2004

Rainfall and MalariaWeekly Cases in Niger from 2001 to 2003

Pre

cip

(mm

/day

)

0

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15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

50000

2001 2002 2003

Thiaw, W. – NOAA/OHHI

El Niño: Early Warning for CholeraEl Niño: Early Warning for Cholera

Sea Surface TemperatureLinked to Cholera

Sea Surface TemperatureLinked to Cholera

Bay of BengalBay of Bengal Lobitz et al. 2000 PNAS 97:1430

Dr. Rita Colwell

Thinking Globally, Acting Locally Thinking Globally, Acting Locally

0

1

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Sari Filtration No Filtration

Cas

es /

1,00

0 P

eop

leSari Cloth Filtration Reduces

Cholera CasesFall, 2000

Sari Cloth Filtration Reduces Cholera Cases

Fall, 2000

Dr. Rita Colwell

Thinking Globally, Acting Locally Thinking Globally, Acting Locally

Lyme Disease: Predicting the RiskLyme Disease: Predicting the Risk

Larvae develop

Larvae feed on infected host and becomes infected

Larvae dormant over winter

In spring, larvae molt into a nymph that transmits disease to a person or

animal

Nymph grows to adult tick

Adult tick drops off host, lays eggs on the ground

Biodiversity • Ecosystem Health • Human HealthBiodiversity • Ecosystem Health • Human Health

Pharmaceutical promise

Major source of protein… over a billion people rely on reef-related fisheries

Natural barrier to storm surges and other natural events

A Global Earth Observation System of Systems

GEOSS

From Observation to ActionAchieving Comprehensive, Coordinated, and Sustained

Earth Observations for the Benefit of Humankind

AlgeriaArgentinaAustraliaBahrainBelgiumBelizeBrazilCameroonCanadaCentral African RepublicChileChinaCroatiaCyprusDenmarkEgyptEuropean CommissionFinlandFranceGermanyGuinea-Bissau

HondurasHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIrelandIsraelItalyJapanKazakhstanLatviaLuxembourgMalaysiaMaliMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMoroccoNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNiger

NigeriaNorwayParaguayPhilippinesPortugalRepublic of KoreaRepublic of the CongoRussian FederationSlovak RepublicSloveniaSouth AfricaSpainSudanSwedenSwitzerlandThailandTunisiaUgandaUkraineUnited KingdomUnited StatesUzbekistan www.earthobservations.org

66 Countries and the European Commission43 Organizations

usgeo.gov

U.S. Group on Earth Observations

Department of Commerce

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration• National Institute for Standards and Technology

Department of Defense

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers• Navy• Air Force• National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Department of Energy

Department of Health and Human Services

• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Department of Homeland Security

• Federal Emergency Management Agency

Department of the Interior

• U.S. Geological Survey

Department of State

Department of Transportation

Environmental ProtectionAgency

National Aeronautics andSpace Administration

National Science Foundation

Smithsonian Institution

Tennessee Valley Authority

U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment

U.S. Department of Agriculture

• Agriculture Research Service• U.S. Forest Service

White House Council onEnvironmental Quality

White House Office ofManagement and Budget

White House Office ofScience and Technology Policy

ValueAdded

GEOSS

GEOSS Operating Principles

Open and Transparent Process

Standardized Practices and Protocols

User-friendly Formats

Interoperable Components

Mosquito Surveillance

Social Factors

Demographics

Climate

Global Observations

Sea Surface Temperature

Land Cover

Land Use

Other observations

Local/Regional Observations

Weather

Disease Surveillance

Applications, Products,Model Output

GEONETCast

Malaria Case Example

Predictions, Warnings, Validation

Decision-Making,Implementation

Global PublicHealth Benefits

Preparation, Response, Mitigation

Malaria Case Example

GEONETCast

The goal is to access the right information,in the right format, at the right time, for the right people, to make the right decisions.

www.earthobservations.org