Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 Image: MODIS Land Group, NASA GSFC March 2000 Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 Jason-2 and Jason-3 Altimetry Missions Presented by John Lillibridge Presented by John Lillibridge

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 Requirements, Science, and Benefits Requirements/Objectives Mission support - Satellite Sub goal: Increase the quantity, quality, and accuracy of satellite data that are processed and distributed within targeted time Research, develop, and operate satellites to collect, calibrate, and distribute the data necessary to monitor land, sea, atmosphere, and space Climate: Describe and understand the state of the climate system through integrated observations, monitoring, and data management Understand and predict climate variability and change from weeks to decades to a century Weather & Water: Increase development, application, and transition of advanced science and technology to operations and services Increase lead-time and accuracy for weather and water warnings and forecasts Science How can we extend the climate data record for global sea level rise while improving estimates through multi-mission altimetry? How can we increase the skill and timeliness of altimetric upper-ocean heat content for hurricane intensity forecasts? How can we integrate all available altimetric wind and wave measurements into operational high-seas forecasting system? Benefits Provide better estimates of global and regional sea level rise - Benefits climate modeling within the IPCC framework. Provide more timely and accurate hurricane intensity forecasts - Benefits decision makers with better severe weather guidance. Provide all possible wind/wave data for maritime safety and wave model validation - Benefits ship routing planners & risk managers.

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 Challenges and Path Forward Science Challenges Altimetric climate date record requires careful analysis of ALL corrections Orbit errors in real-time products impacts use for hurricane forecasting Altimetry missions provide insufficient coverage for high-seas forecasts Next Steps Evaluate altimetry data from new SARAL/Altika and Cryosat-2 missions (2010 launches) Continue to refine multi-mission sea level rise time series Transition Path Continue planning, development, and integration of Jason-3 into NOAA operations Long-range planning for Jason-CS, Sentinel-3, GFO-2, SWOT missions

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 The Altimetric Measurement System Sea Surface Height –Global Sea Level Rise –Upper Ocean Heat Content Hurricane Intensification –Upper Ocean Currents –El Niño Seasonal Forecast Significant Wave Height & Surface Wind Speed –High Seas monitoring –Ship routing / hazards

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 NOAA's Role in Jason-2/Jason-3 Satellite Operations Systems Development Near Real-Time Data Production & Distribution Archive & Access STAR Satellite Oceanography & Climatology Division NASA/JPL CNES EUMETSAT Ocean Surface Topography Science Team STAR Internal Roles Develop mission requirements with OSD Provide expertise for near real-time product generation with OSPO Monitor high-level data quality via automated QA system Act as liaison to NODC/CLASS for archive & access for all mission data STAR External Roles Co-lead Ocean Surface Topography Science Team - Project Scientist Participate in 4-partner mission reviews (pre-launch & annually thereafter) Provide external funding to operational users

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 Operational High-Seas Monitoring

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 Hurricane Intensity Forecasting - Upper Ocean Heat Content Ocean Heat Content – estimates amount of heat available over a column of warm water The greater the depth the more available heat that can be potentially converted to energy Sea Surface Temperatures only provide a view of the very top layer of the ocean.

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 Global Sea Level Rise Climate Data Record Primary Application of Jason Altimetry Continuity of Climate Data Record: TOPEX  Jason-1  Jason-2  Jason-3  Jason-CS Critical to have mission overlap for precise calibration/validation Several mm/yr regional variations around global mean sea level rise of 3.0 mm/yr

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 Radar Altimeter Database System RADS developed at TU Delft, Netherlands Supported by STAR/LSA for past ~10 years Combines observations of eight missions: 1985-present Standard & alternative corrections and models are user selectable Cross-calibrated measurements & corrections Adopted by altimetrists & oceanographers worldwide: MIT, JPL, Southampton… Basis of NOAA sea level climate data record Multi-Mission Altimetric Climate Data Record Remko Scharroo Altimetrics LLC

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 Jason + Argo + GRACE: Closing the Sea Level Rise Budget Total Sea Level (Jason) = Argo + GRACE Eric Leuliette STAR/SOCD Steric Sea Level (Argo) = Jason - GRACE Ocean Mass (GRACE) = Jason - Argo

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 Climate Monitoring Requires Foresight & Commitment Altimetry : 15 Years CO 2 : 50+ Years

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 Research to Operations: Continuity of the Topex/Jason Series

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) Review 09 – 11 March 2010 Challenges and Path Forward Science Challenges Altimetric climate date record requires careful analysis of ALL corrections Orbit errors in real-time products impacts use for hurricane forecasting Altimetry missions provide insufficient coverage for high-seas forecasts Next Steps Evaluate altimetry data from new SARAL/Altika and Cryosat-2 missions (2010 launches) Continue to refine multi-mission sea level rise time series Transition Path Continue planning, development, and integration of Jason-3 into NOAA operations Long-range planning for Jason-CS, Sentinel-3, GFO-2, SWOT missions