Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems Mr. Timothy R.E. Keeney Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere National Oceanographic Data Center March 30, 2006

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 2 Topics Moving Toward Integrated Observation Systems GEOSS and the Major Societal Benefits Existing Ocean Observation Systems and Tools NOAA Goal Teams and Observations Vision for the Future

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 3 NOAA Vision An 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

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 4 Linking Earth Observations to Societal Benefits

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 5 Linking Observations to Benefits Better observations will allow us to forecast with more accuracy allowing us to get our coastal communities more effective warnings More than half the world’s population lives within 60 km of the shoreline, & this could rise to 3/4 by the year 2020 Coastal storms account for over 70 percent of recent U.S. disaster losses annually 25% of Earth’s biological productivity & an estimated 80-90% of global commercial fish catch is concentrated in coastal zones Worldwide agricultural benefits of better El Niño forecasts are conservatively estimated at $450-$550M/year

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 6 Natural & Human Induced Disasters Human Health & Well-Being Energy Resources Climate Variability & Change Water Resources Weather Information, Forecasting & Warning Ecosystems Sustainable Agriculture & Desertification Oceans Benefits of Earth Observations

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 7 U.S. IEOS U.S. IOOSGOOS Ocean Component of U.S. IEOS Ocean Component of GEOSS U.S. Component GEOSS IEOS and GEOSS A System of Systems

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 8 From Observations to Benefits

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 9 Provide the right information, in the right format, at the right time, to the right people, to make the right decisions.

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 10 Observation Tools Tide Gauge LiDAR Image of Moss Landing Harbor Channel Physical Oceanographic Real Time System Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Electronic Navigation Charts

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 11 Existing Ocean Observing Capabilities Tide Gauges Argo Floats Tsunami Buoys Hurricane Buoys AVHRR

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 12 Disaster Response Due to advanced warning provided by NOAA during Hurricane Katrina: A mandatory evacuation was put in place for New Orleans 24 hours before landfall The President declared a state of emergency prior to landfall, enabling Louisiana to use Federal resources before the hurricane hit

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 13 Ocean Action Plan HIGH PRIORITY: Building an Integrated Ocean Observation System to support GEOSS

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 14 NOAA’s Observation System Development Alternatives Alternative 1: Status quo Evolve observing systems on PPBES alone Don’t approve policy Pros: Less costly to implement Cons: Less efficiency High opportunity cost Alternative 2: Use architecture process Approve development process Approve target architecture (including principles) Approve investment policy Pros: Increased integration/efficiency Enhanced partnering Increased capability Cons: Higher cost to implement

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 15 Observation System Components and Relationships Observational Requirement Program Capability Program Parameter Measured Observing System Data Management Systems Output Products Standards

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 16 What are the Benefits of this Strategic Thinking? Facilitates alignment of technology to mission goals and programs Provides a corporate methodology to prioritize budget initiatives/alternatives Provides a corporate methodology to find cost reductions and/or to realign resources Architecture allows NOAA to evolve its Observation System. MissionTechnology

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 17 Evolution of Integrating Systems Where We Are Going Architecture built on Target Principles UtilityInteroperability FlexibilitySustainability Affordability Continued NOSC oversight Full cross integration Requirements validation and verification in place Fully implemented NOAA Research to Applications Strategy Where We Are NOSC oversight Some cross integration Data management integration awareness raised NOAA-wide Observing requirements collection process in place New NOAA Research to Applications Policy Where We Were No NOAA-wide oversight Little cross integration No NOAA-wide requirements process Poor research to operations transition

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 18 We will be measuring our performance NOAA’s Observation System development process Linked to PPBES and Goal Teams Provides investment recommendations based on requirements Metrics: Increased requirements satisfaction for given NOAA Observation System budget Increased use of collected observations

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 19 NOAA’s Mission and Goals To understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and manage coastal and marine resources to meet the Nation’s economic, social and environmental needs Mission Goals: Ecosystem approach to management Climate variability and change Weather and water Commerce and transportation

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 20 Process for Developing NOAA’s Observation System Identify Requirements 1. Prioritize & Make Recommendations 2. Develop Alternatives 3. Make Recommendations 4. Execute Observation System Decisions 5. Update NOAA Architecture 0. Annual Repeating Cycle Goal/Program Input Goal/Progra m Input Goal/Program Input Goal/Program Input Ocean & Observation s Council Transition Board

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 21 Vision for the Future “Managing ocean resources requires accurate information from an integrated observation system to allow for detection and prediction of the causes and consequences of changes in marine and coastal ecosystems, watersheds and non-living resources” Strategic Plan for the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System

Moving Forward: NOAA & Earth Observation Systems 22 More Information?