Transitioning to the Integrated Earth Observing System

A Presentation to the NOAA Science Advisory Board

Gregory W. Withee

Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services

March 23, 2005

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Outline

• Purpose

• Issue

• Presentation of Briefing

• NOAA Coordination and Views

• Desired Outcomes

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Purpose

To address the following SAB question

“How do we transition from the Integrated Ocean Observing System, NPOESS, GOES-R, NEXRAD, etc, to the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System?”

In other words: "How do we put the observation pieces together to achieve a National integrated Earth observing system with all of the anticipated benefits?"

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Issues

• Organizational– How do we effectively organize to implement the U.S.

Strategic Plan?

• Technical– What is the level of integration to be achieved?– How do we formally recognize research to operations roles

among agencies?

• Fiscal– How do we budget for integrated observations across

agencies?

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Observations Support NOAA Goals

Climate

Ozone Layers SO2 Concentration

Fires

Land & Sea Surface Temperatures

Cloud Profiles

Commerce and Transportation

Volcanic Ash

Ice, Fog, Snow, and Wind

Thunderstorm Detection

MTS, Nautical Charts/Ports

Ecosystem

Phytoplankton Blooms

Surface Vegetation Fraction & Index

Location of hazardous materials

Upward Longwave Radiation

Weather and Water

Temperature and Moisture Profiles

Lightning Detection

Wind Analysis

Solar and Space Weather

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NOAA Observing Systems Contribution

Applied Research

Observing Systems

Partnerships Environmental Environmental ServicesServices

Data Assimilation & Modeling

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Linking Earth Observations to Societal Benefits

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Earth Observation Principles

• Comprehensive– Consists of physical, chemical, and biological systems– Encompasses in situ, mobile, airborne, and satellite

observations

• Integrated– Multiple platforms orchestrated to serving one or more missions– One platform serving multiple missions

• Sustained– Consists of future, current, and predecessor systems– Includes sustained R&D program feeding into evolving long-term

operational program

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Integration Perspective

• Policy and Planning Integration– Focus on specific societal benefits

• Issue and Problem Focused Integration– Address a particular issue

• Scientific Integration– Modeling of Earth processes

• Technical Systems Integration– Coordination of observing system technology and

data management systems– Account for observing system evolution

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Integration Benefits

Observation Level• Satellite and in situ• Multipurpose observation platforms• Interoperability of observation system

Interagency Level• Analysis of gaps and duplication• Building a comprehensive integrated Earth observation

budget

International Level• Leverage international efforts where practical

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NOAA Integration Strategy Implementation

• NOAA Observing Systems Council established

• First NOAA observing systems inventory achieved in 2003

• Strategic Direction for NOAA’s Integrated Environmental Observation and Data Management System published in 2004

• NOAA data management systems inventory underway (includes data assimilation)

• Requirements analysis underway

• Gap analysis and prioritized observation systems underway

• Technical Director for Integrated Observations and Data Management appointed in 2005

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Implementing NOAA Observing System Architecture

• Ensure continuity of observations

• Develop new systems

• Obtain data from non-NOAA sources

• Add capacity to existing systems

• Retire unnecessary duplicative systems

• Ensure best use of all available data

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FY 2005 Objectives

• Prioritize observing system investments for FY 2008 budget cycle

• Carry out major systems acquisition (ships, GOES-R, NPOESS, CLASS)

• Increase observation integration efforts (tsunami warning network)

• Develop NASA/NOAA Research to Operations Plan

• Implement Strategic Plan for U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System

• Continue active leadership in GEOSS implementation

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Drivers for Research to Operations

• NASA and NOAA Research to Operations experience– TIROS, SeaSat, –> Nimbus,POES, GOES– EOS -> NPP/NPOESS– EOSDIS data system– JCSDA

• Inventory of NASA Earth-Sun System research results to be addressed

• National Goal and Agency Objectives– “…demonstrate new technologies for improving operational systems of the

future.”

• IWGEO and GEO– Configuring/enabling sustainable solutions for societal benefits

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IEOS Benefits Focus

Reduce Loss of Life and Property from

Disasters

Understand Effect of Environmental

Factors on Human Health & Well-

Being

Monitor & Manage Energy Resources

Understand Climate Variability & Change

Protect & Monitor Water Resources

Improve Weather Forecasting

Protect & Monitor Ocean Resource

Support Sustainable Agriculture & Combat Land Degradation

Develop Capacity for Ecological Forecasts

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U.S. Agencies Related to Societal Benefit Areas

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Interagency Working Group on Earth Observations (IWGEO)

• IWGEO reports to the White House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR)

• 15 agencies participate as members

• CENR Subcommittee Co-chairs are ex officio members

• Co-chairs– Ghassem Asrar, NASA– Teresa Fryberger, OSTP– Greg Withee, NOAA

• 5 Teams – mirror the GEO sub-group structure

• Includes a planning and integration team for development of the US strategic plan

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U.S. Contribution to GEOSS

Vision

Enable a healthy public, economy, and planet through an integrated, comprehensive, and sustained Earth observation system.

Presented at the Earth Observation Summit-III in Brussels, Belgium, February 16, 2005

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Implementation Approach

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• Builds on existing systems

• Addresses planned, research and operational systems

• Capabilities interfaced through interoperability specifications

• Preserves continuity of observations

Architecture

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Data management needs

– Current systems already challenged

– New systems mean 100-fold increase in data

– Development of access systems

– Integration through interoperability

Data Management System for Earth Observations

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The Road Ahead for the U.S. Interagency Effort

• Continue to engage academic, industry, and non-profit partners to guarantee plan comprehensive and useful– Public Engagement Workshop scheduled for May 9-

10, 2005 in Washington, D.C.– Industry alliance has been formed

• Establish CENR Earth Observation Subcommittee as successor to IWGEO

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Key Earth Observation Opportunities

NOAA• Prioritize observing system investments for FY 2008 budget cycle • Carry out major systems acquisition (ships, GOES-R, NPOESS, CLASS)• Continued work on our Integrated Surface Observation System and

Integrated Upper Air Observation System• Increase observation integration efforts (tsunami warning network)

Interagency• Develop NASA/NOAA Research to Operations Plan• Develop and implement Strategic Plan for U.S. Integrated Earth Observation

System• Continue to engage academic, industry, and non-profit partners to implement

U.S. Plan

International• Continue active leadership in GEOSS implementation

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NOAA Coordination & Views

• Coordination with– NOAA Observing Systems Council (NOAA link to national

effort)– Interagency Working Group on Earth Observations (national

link to international effort)– Group on Earth Observations (international)

• What has NOAA done to address this issue?– Strategic Direction for NOAA’s Integrated Global

Environmental Observation and Data Management System– Strategic Plan for the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation

System (national)– Global Earth Observation System of Systems Implementation

Plan (international)

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Desired Outcomes

Answer the SAB question on transitioning to the Integrated Earth Observation System

– Open discussion with SAB on presentation

– SAB recommendations on the “way ahead”

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Working Schedule

NASA/NOAAResearch to

Operations White Paper

FY2008 BudgetPlan(s)

submitted

PreliminaryNASA/NOAA Research to

Operations Plan

NASA & NOAAManagement

Briefings

4/05 6/051/05 3/05

Framework Document complete

9/05

N/N Research to Operations Transition

Plan Submitted

12/04 5/05

Pathfinder Unit

Transition Plans

drafted

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Near Term Opportunities

• Improved Observations for Disaster Warnings

• Global Land Observing System

• Sea Level Observing System

• National Integrated Drought Information System

• Air Quality Assessment and Forecast System

• Data Management System for Earth Observations