1. National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
Helen M. Wood
Director
Office of Satellite Data Processing & Distribution
U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

2. National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service
MISSION: To provide and ensure timely access to global environmental data to promote, protect, and enhance the Nation’s economy, security, environment, and quality of life. To fulfill its responsibilities NESDIS acquires and manages the Nation’s operational environmental satellites, provides data and information services, and conducts related research.

3. NESDIS Programs
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)
Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental
Satellite (POES)
Environmental Data Management
National Climatic Data Center
National Oceanographic Data Center
National Geophysical Data Center
Applications Research and Development
Satellite Data Processing & Distribution
Commercial Remote Sensing Licensing

4. An End-to-End Responsibility

6. NESDIS Operational Hazard Monitoring
Tropical Cyclones
Heavy Precipitation
Volcanic Ash Clouds
Sea and Ice Products
Coastal Hazards
Fire monitoring
Drought Monitoring
Disaster Response and Recovery

7. Focus on near-real
time access

8. Tropical Storm Support
Monitoring
and
Early
Detection
Tracking and
Prediction
Support
Damage
Assessment and
Response
The application of NHIS for tropical storms- diagrammed in 4 phases
In 1979 it was reported that tropical cyclones are responsible for a global average annual total of 10,000 deaths and US$10 billion damage. More recent statistics on tropical cyclone impacts have been published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (Shah, 1983; Smith, 1992). Of course, such numbers can fluctuate greatly as the database changes. In general, due to improvements in tropical cyclone disaster mitigation efforts, over the past 50 years, the tropical cyclone death toll has decreased, while the property damage has increased. The property damage increase is largely due to a population increase in tropical cyclone prone locations. Damage estimates from Hurricane Andrew in south Florida, in 1992, are around US$25 billion, while the number of lives lost was relatively small. However, major loss of life has occurred in recent years. For example, over 100,000 deaths were attributed to a Bay of Bengal Cyclone in Bangladesh, in April Such tremendous death tolls are associated with extremely severe flooding due to storm surge in densely populated regions.
Satellite imagery is the primary tool for tracking tropical cyclones and estimating intensities. However, additional conventional observations and numerical model analysis and forecasting, are required for reliable warnings.
Satellite images are used to provide the tropical cyclone center locations and track their motion. Additionally, pattern analysis techniques and cloud top temperature information are used to estimate present intensity
Global satellite derived tracking and intensity information are provided operationally by NESDIS Satellite Analysis Branch and U.S. Air Force Global Weather Center. In addition, the various tropical cyclone warning centers around the world provide this information which is widely distributed and shared internationally. This information is critical input to track forecast models. The climate/persistence and statistical models use the data directly. The dynamical models may use the data by creating synthetic observations (also known as bogusing) for model initialization. Animated satellite imagery, particularly in the 6.7 micron (water vapor) imagery, may also be used as track forecast guidance. The tracking and intensity information is also critical to the intensity forecast which relies on the Dvorak technique and qualitative assessment of 1) sea surface temperature and landfall influences 2) broad scale environmental wind fields from both satellite imagery and numerical models. Climate/persistence and statistical models may also be used for intensity forecast guidance. Dynamical numerical model forecasts of intensity have been generally unreliable.
The tropical cyclone warning process as described above, produces a forecast (out to at least 48 hr) of the tropical cyclone's center track and the intensity, which is given by the maximum associated surface winds. That information along with a forecast of the radial extent of gale force (> 17 m/s (34 kt)), and hurricane force winds in various directions, are used to issue warnings to the public. The time and severity of expected hazardous conditions with regard to damaging winds, ocean wave heights, storm surge, and rainfall, comprise the key warning information.

9. Tropical Cyclone Meteosat-5 (INDOEX) movie of Tropical Cyclone 05B
Half-hourly full-resolution data available since 2 Feb 99 via Frame Relay circuit to France.
Disseminated to SAB (NCEP), CIMSS, CIRA, AFWA, and FNMOC.
EUMETSAT to continue the INDOEX mission through 2001, when Met-5’s fuel supply is expected to be critically low. EUMETSAT is strongly considering moving Meteosat-6 to INDOEX location after the successful launch and checkout of MSG (officially scheduled for launch Oct 00 but likely to slip).
Project co-funded by NESDIS and Air Force through Shared Processing Agreement.
Meteosat-5 (INDOEX) movie of Tropical Cyclone 05B

10. Tropical Cyclone Classifications
WWIO21 KWBC
SATELLITE WEATHER BULLETIN
SOUTH INDIAN OCEAN METEOSAT 5 IRNIGHT .
MARCH Z
26.2S 114.5E OVER LAND STEVE (14P)
PAST POSITIONS S E 09/0232Z VIS/IRDAY
24.5S E 08/1232Z IRNIGHT
REMARKS....CENTER IS NOW OVER LAND.
CONFIDENCE FACTOR IS 3.
THIS WILL BE THE FINAL BULLETIN ISSUED ON STEVE.
TURK
NNNN
A recent view of “Steve.” Note that it’s spinning clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
Hurricane intensity and location “fixes” are provided by SAB for all Tropical Cyclones outside of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center responsibility. Fixes are made for all storms in the North and South Pacific Ocean, as well as the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. For western Atlantic, eastern Pacific, and central Pacific storms, SAB provides satellite interpretation assistance to NWS forecasters at NHC for their 6-hourly storm updates. SAB fixes are also a great benefit to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, whose responsibilities to protect DOD assets cover much of the western North Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Sea.

11. Precipitation Estimates
NOAA/NESDIS RAINFALL
AUTOESTIMATOR PRODUCT
MORE SPENES MESSAGES- 110 messages distributed one week in June; second highest total in 10 years
BETTER COVERAGE- 54 heavy rain systems for which messages were sent; highest weekly total ever
FASTER DELIVERY - 21 minutes average time between satellite data and SPENES transmission (compared to 30 min for IFFA)

12. Damage Assessment and Response
Who is looking for information now: In addition to NWS and FEMA, state and local officials, emergency management directors, law enforcement, public works etc..
Under NHIS this web of information would be more readily available to all who need it
Concept of central location for all useful pieces of information. Presenting information in a format useful to the public.
Auto-Estimator
FASTER DELIVERY - 21 minutes average time between satellite data and SPENES transmission (compared to 30 min for IFFA)
BETTER COVERAGE- 54 heavy rain systems for which messages were sent; highest weekly total ever
MORE SPENES MESSAGES- 110 messages distributed one week in June; second highest total in 10 years

13. Damage Assessment and Response
Who is looking for information now: In addition to NWS and FEMA, state and local officials, emergency management directors, law enforcement, public works etc..
Under NHIS this web of information would be more readily available to all who need it
Concept of central location for all useful pieces of information. Presenting information in a format useful to the public.
Auto-Estimator
FASTER DELIVERY - 21 minutes average time between satellite data and SPENES transmission (compared to 30 min for IFFA)
BETTER COVERAGE- 54 heavy rain systems for which messages were sent; highest weekly total ever
MORE SPENES MESSAGES- 110 messages distributed one week in June; second highest total in 10 years

14. IKONOS Image of Venezuela Mudslide
This one-meter resolution black-and-white image of the outskirts of Caracas, Venezuela was collected by IKONOS on December 30, The image shows the effect of mudslides. Imagery collected after severe flooding could be used to assess damage to buildings and infrastructure, evaluate impact of flooding onenvironmental concerns such as coastlines, forests and open space, and measure the extent of damage to a larger geographic area. Credit: “spaceimaging.com."
Credit: Spaceimaging.com

15. Direct Services Direct Broadcast Services
GOES GVAR/WEFAX
POES HRPT/APT
Data Collection Systems (DCS)
GOES DCS
Argos DCS

16. Global Receivers WMO Registrations APT = 4,910 HRPT = 630
WEFAX = 4,900
HR / GVAR = 930
Registration not required. Estimated numbers of
receivers 2X or 3X or more

17. GOES Data Applications
Analysis & Forecast 19%
River Forecast 19%
Seismic 2%
Reservoir
Management 16%
Irrigation Control 3%
Navigation 4%
Fire Potential 6%
Other 14%
Improved DCS Ops 8%
Water Quality Mont. 9%

18. DCS SUPPORT to Hurricane Mitch Project
NWS installing DCP’s in Central America for Hazards Preparedness
Approximately 120 stations to date
Flood Monitoring, Tide Monitoring, Standard Environmental Measurements, etc.
Worked with NOAA and other U.S. agencies in Hurricane Mitch relief efforts for Central America. Use of the GOES DCS is a vital component of the warning system being placed in underdeveloped countries to provide advance warning of future events. Four countries (Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatamala) are expected to install DCP networks within the next several months. All but Guatamala have been given permission to use the system, and have received resource allocations.

19. Prototype website for proof of concept

20. Goal

21. Objectives
 Improve decision making before, during, and after emergencies through better access to and quality of data and information
 Identify users and their needs
 Provide information products specifically designed to meet users’ needs
 Promote efficiency and cost effectiveness
 Stimulate and facilitate mitigation

22. Guiding Principles
 The products should be based from the outset on user needs
 A major focus should be on integration of various data types
 Data and information quality and reliability are major issues that need to be addressed
 An effective dissemination and access plan is critical to the success of any information system

23. National Hazards Information Strategy