1 Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) NOAA Contributions to Satellite Calibration and the need for a National and International Framework Al Powell, Director

2 Outline STAR’s Mission and Activities Challenges NOAA-NIST program to address satellite calibration issues for climate

3 STAR’s Mission To provide NOAA with scientific research and development that transitions state ‑ of ‑ the-art satellite data systems, products, and services to operations for use by land, atmosphere, ocean, and climate user communities.

4 STAR Activities STAR is engaged in product development, readiness, and applications with respect to satellites and satellite data STAR’s responsibilities include: –Developing algorithms and prototype software systems that are transitioned into the production of operational environmental satellite products –Monitoring and improving instrument calibration –Validating and analyzing products for weather and climate applications –Overseeing the development of future satellite instruments and their requirements specifications STAR utilizes collaborative environments for product development –Faster research to operations –Interconnectivity across multiple satellite programs and NOAA offices

5 STAR USER Community Connections STAR National Center for Environmental Prediction Weather & Water Commerce & Transportation Ecosystems Climate Critical Mission Support NOAA Goals Supported: International Collaboration: CGMS, WMO, EUMETSAT Bilateral Agreements: China, India NOAA Acquisition Programs: NPOESS (IV&V) GOES-R (AWG & RR) NOAA Projects: NPOESS Data Exploitation (NDE) Scientific Data Stewardship NOAA Programs: Corals, Climate, Ocean, etc NASA Air Force NAVYARMY EPA

6 Mission Support to NOAA Programs Ecosystems –NOAA CoastWatch Program Real-time distribution of regional SST, Ocean Color and Ocean Winds –Coral Reef Watch Program Climate –Integrated Climate Data Record Program Improved calibrated radiances Time Series of Ozone, Vegetation Condition (Drought), Hydrology, Temperature, Moisture, Radiation Budget, Clouds, Aerosols, and Carbon –Reanalysis Project Data assimilation algorithms Radiative transfer models

7 Mission Support to NOAA Programs Weather and Water –Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation Radiative transfer models Surface emissivity models Cloud cleared hyperspectral infrared radiances Satellite Derived Winds Surface conditions –Hazards Air Quality Forest Fires/Biomass Burning Commerce and Transportation –Aviation Weather Satellite Applications Clear-sky turbulence Convective cloud conditions Icing Volcanic Ash

8 STAR Support

9 Support to Existing Observing Systems Calibration and validation across systems Pre-launch and post-launch support Data quality and algorithm improvement Intersatellite Calibration Instrument Calibration In-Situ Systems Product Validation

10 Aqua Terra TRMM SeaWiFS Aura Meteor/ SAGE GRACE ICESat Cloudsat Jason CALIPSO GIFTS SORCE NOAA/ POES Landsat Metop GOES MTSAT MSG TOPEX SUPPORT TO PROTOTYPE AND QUASI- OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS

11 Support to Future Observing Systems Provide services to ensure accurate instrument data and algorithms from future sensors, involving –calibration and validation –algorithm development –instrument performance specifications For –Metop Instrument Functional Chain Teams (IFCT) –NPOESS Operational Algorithm Teams (OAT) –GOES-R Algorithm Working Group and Risk Reduction Plan Risk Reduction applied to acquisition programs, quasi-operational data use from non-NOAA satellites Developing data reduction techniques for user assimilation of hyperspectral data and climate data records GOES-R and NPOESS are the next generation of environmental satellites. STAR’s work will ensure data continuity and advanced products to the benefit of all users

12 Next Generation NOAA Satellite Observing Systems

13 Future Challenges New satellites sensors, both domestic and international, will create new challenges –Continuity of past, present, and future data for climate data records, calibration accuracy, stability of satellite sensors, reprocessing and analysis of long-term series for reproducible results –Data assimilation methodologies for weather, climate, and oceans –Hyperspectral technology applied to radiative transfer models and interpretation of spectral signatures –New applications from advanced sensors, including water and air quality, trace gas monitoring, and coastal and ocean forecasts Generating blended products and multi-disciplinary algorithm development in support of GEOSS Working in a collaborative environment as new operational and research satellite data becomes available

NOAA-NIST Joint Program Plan Climate Calibration and Measurement

15 Goal Reduced measurement uncertainties to meet climate monitoring requirements  Accurate climate information for sound policy decisions Program Strategy NOAA and NIST partnership to leverage complementary expertise to broadened DoC portfolio on climate change Technical Strategy Improved instrument characterization and calibration Aerosols & greenhouse gas measurements and standards Reference sites and satellite intercalibration

16 Background What is the problem? Unreliable estimates of climate trends due to uncertainties in: – pre-launch and post-launch characterization and standards – instrument inter-calibration – physical and chemical properties of atmospheric constituents No joint strategy to leverage DOC’s unique capabilities to address these uncertainties Lack of a framework to relate climate observations with international standards to provide climate change information to policymakers

17 Target Accuracy 1 W m -2 Target Precision 0.3 W m -2 Requirements are not being met! Example: Total Solar Irradiance Year Total Solar Irradiance [W/m 2 ]

18 Aerosols and GHGs are not understood

19 What are the challenges? Instruments are complex and operate in a hostile environment. Opportunities to modify space instrumentation problems are on decadal scale. Integration of multiple observations −different instruments −different spectral ranges −long time periods Gaps in critical chemical & physical reference data (e.g. aerosols, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), GreenHouse Gases (GHG)).

20 Why a NOAA NIST Partnership? DoC is the lead agency on Global Climate Change Leverages NIST’s core competencies in measurement science and standards Leverages NOAA’s core competencies in climate monitoring and satellite remote sensing Partnership will ensure accurate climate data to underpin policy decisions

21 NOAA-NIST Climate Calibration & Measurement Program GOAL Reduced measurement uncertainties to meet climate monitoring requirements On-orbit cal/val and satellite intercalibration Standards for absolute instrument characterization & calibration Chemical and physical reference standards for aerosols & GHGs Reference sites & vicarious calibration Climate monitoring measurements, including aerosols & GHG DATA MANAGEMENTDATA MANAGEMENT * Pre-launch calibration standards *Post-launch calibration standards *Extra terrestrial standards * Field standards * Reference metrology & standards for critical atmospheric constituents *Reference data & standards to validate climate models *Lifecycles of aerosols * Mitigation Strategies *Continue operations Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) for ocean color *Carbon measurements from aircraft and towers coincident with satellite *Benchmark balloon measurements coincident with satellite overpass *Field campaigns * METOP/IASI cal/val system *Cal/Val Framework *NPP cal/val system *NPOESS cal/val sys. * IASI GHG maps (CO2, CO, CH4) * CrIS GHG maps * VIIRS aerosol maps NOAA LeadNIST Lead In current NOAA program

22 Benefits Accurate estimates of climate trends Joint strategy to leverage DOC’s unique capabilities Framework to relate climate observations with international standards Ability to make sound policy decisions based on accepted accurate information

23 Next Steps Develop joint NOAA-NIST program plan on Climate Calibration and Measurements Develop a National Roadmap to include other agencies and institutions Part of a coordinated international WMO effort -- Global Space-based Intercalibration System (GSICS)