1. Comments on the Ocean-related Satellite Needs Identified in the GCOS Implementation Plan Stan Wilson Senior Scientist, NOAA/NESDIS NOAA Climate Observation Program 4th Annual System Review 10-12 May 2006

2. Ocean-related satellite actions from the: IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR THE GLOBAL OBSERVING SYSTEM FOR CLIMATE IN SUPPORT OF THE UNFCCC (October 2004) Action O12 – Sea surface height (SSH) Action A11 – Surface vector winds (SVW) Action O18 – Ocean color Action O9 – Sea surface temperature (SST) Action O23 – Sea ice Action O16 – Sea surface salinity (SSS)

3. Where can NOAA make a difference? Where can we in NOAA make a difference? – Use that as a basis to prioritize and focus For the shorter term, we have been – and will continue to be – dependent on NASA’s remarkable capabilities For the longer term, we need to consider NOPESS: –CMIS – for SVW & SST –VIIRS – for Ocean color & SST –Altimeter option – for SSH Given the Nunn/McCurdy exercise underway, we won’t know its impact on NPOESS until completion on June 5 FY08 budget process is considering two options: –No growth –5 % cut

4. NASA Research & NOAA Operations – 1 Research & operations (R&O) transitioning has been identified as a national issue Congressional language in the NOAA FY05 budget: –“Provide NOAA the capability to transition NASA remote sensed ocean measurements into operational products for the user community” –Observations explicitly mentioned: “ocean winds from scatterometers,…sea level…from altimeters, and…ocean color” $4M R&O earmark was provided in FY05 and again in FY06 – this is the first NOAA funding specifically directed at helping effect the transition of oceanic capabilities from NASA

5. NASA Research & NOAA Operations – 2 Congressional language in the FY06 NASA budget directs the establishment of a Joint Working Group (JWG) –Chet Koblinsky is NOAA lead (with Louis Uccellini, Tom Karl & Stan Wilson) –Jack Kaye is NASA lead This is a priority for the NOAA Administrator The JWG will identify an initial set of a half-dozen capabilities for transitioning, for which initial implementation plans are to be developed this year Progress will ultimately depend on success in the budget process – the first opportunity being FY09

6. Focus and Priorities Capabilities includes the full range of activities – space hardware, calibration & validation, communications, ground data system & archival, timely data access, assimilation of data into models, and the generation of associated analyses and forecasts While not sufficient, space hardware is a necessary element of the overall capability which NOAA should implement This presentation specifically focuses on those aspects for which NOAA needs to take timely action – thus serving as a basis for prioritizing

7. Action O12 – Sea surface height (SSH) – Ensure continuous coverage from one high- precision altimeter and two lower-precision but higher-resolution altimeters. NASA & CNES will implement OSTM/Jason-2 (2008 launch), with NOAA & EUMETSAT doing ground operations If the Jason series is to be extended, NOAA & EUMETSAT must take the lead for a Jason-3 Current possibilities for complementary altimeters include ESA/Sentinel-3, CNES/AltiKa, & NOPESS

8. In orbitApproved Planned / Pendng Approval 97989900010203040506070809101112 2-f MR & 66-deg, 10-day, 315-km 98-deg, 35-day, 80-km ERS-2 ENVISAT JASON 131415 GMES Sentinel 3 Jason 108-deg, 17-day, 160-km NPOESS C-3 98-deg, 17-day, 130-km Jason-3 AltiKa on OceanSat-3 TOPEX-Poseidon Sea Surface Height GEOSAT Follow-on OSTM (Jason-2) ?

9. Planning for a Jason-3 NOAA and EUMETSAT have agreed to pursue a Jason-3 Immediate objective is to develop a conceptual approach for the mission to: –Be presented to EUMETSAT Council this fall for approval –Support FY09 NOAA budget initiative Applications and Implementation Working Groups are being established –Ants Leetmaa will be NOAA co-chair of AWG (with Laury Miller) –David Anderson will be involved on the EUMETSAT side The Applications Working Group will work with its companion NASA Sea Surface Topography Science Team

10. Jason-3 Applications Working Group to address questions such as: To what extent are there orbital options – lower altitude and higher inclination – able to resolve major tidal components? Together with POD and repeat ground tracks, to what extent could such an orbit extend the coverage initiated by TOPEX/Poseidon without compromising the capability to produce climate-quality data records? To what extent are additional altimeters – what type and in which orbit – needed to meet operational needs? If a wide-swath altimeter were to be offered for piggyback flight on Jason-3, to what extent could it also meet the needs for observing mesoscale eddies, coastal variability, and rivers & lakes?

11. Jason-3 Implementation Working Group to address questions such as: Compare and contrast the implementation approaches for a clone of Jason-2 in its same orbit versus one in a lower altitude and higher inclination orbit? If a wide-swath altimeter were considered as a piggyback instrument, –What additional spacecraft capabilities would be needed to facilitate a 100% duty cycle? –To what extent would it represent an added risk and/or delay to Jason-3? Identify possibilities for sharing of responsibilities in implementation. Help establish ROM mission costs.

12. Action A11 – Surface vector winds (SVW) – Ensure continuous operation of AM and PM satellite scatterometer or equivalent observations. NWS operational use of QuikScat SVW – NCEP began four years ago & WFOs began within past year ASCAT will launch on METOP later this year, but will have only ~60% of QuikSCAT swath While evaluation of WindSat passive polarimetry is not yet complete, neither passive polarimetry (NPOESS/ CMIS) nor scatterometry (QuikSCAT) will meet all needs Further improvements – required to resolve the wind vs. rain ambiguity – will be addressed in a workshop at NHC early next month NASA has initiated a study of advanced concepts for scatterometry

13. Surface Vector Winds AMI/ERS-2 Seawinds/QuikSCAT WINDSAT CMIS/NPOESS-C1 97989900010203040506070809101112131415 In orbitApproved Planned / Pendng Approval CMIS/NPOESS-C2 CMIS/NPOESS-C3 SeaWINDS/ADEOS-II 895 km1700 km 500 km 1600 km ASCAT/METOP – 3 satellites 2 x 550 km with 768 km gap ?

14. Planning for Surface Vector Winds NOAA is establishing an Applications Working Group with Bob Atlas as chair (with Paul Chang) to work with its companion NASA SVW Science Team Resolution of the wind vs. rain ambiguity will most likely require a two-channel scatterometer with a companion microwave radiometer We are working to have NOAA needs factored into the NASA-funded study of advanced concepts for scatterometry If this were done, NOAA could be positioned to define a budget initiative appropriate for SVW

15. Action O18 – Ocean color – Implement plans for a sustained and continuous deployment of ocean color satellite sensors together with research and analysis. Space observing capabilities for ocean color are in place NASA has essentially been providing sole U.S. support for satellite ocean color (SeaWiFS & MODIS) NOAA just initiated support for research access to SeaWiFS global GAC and U.S. LAC data NPOESS/VIIRS is to serve as the nation’s continuing source of ocean color observations But considering climate-quality data records, NOAA lacks support for: –In-situ calibration capability (included in FY09 initiative with NIST) –Capability for algorithm refinement, routine reprocessing, and science team (include in initiative for Scientific Data Stewardship)

16. MERIS/ENVISAT MODIS/Terra MODIS/AQUA VIIRS/NPP SeaWiFS/SeaStar OCM/OCEANSAT-2 SGLI/GCOM OCM/OCEANSAT FY-3A, B,.. (VIRR/MODI) In orbitApproved Planned / Pendng Approval 97989900010203040506070809101112131415 Ocean Color VIIRS/NPOESS-C1 VIIRS/NPOESS-C2 VIIRS/NPOESS-C3 ?

17. Action O9 – Sea surface temperature (SST) – Ensure a continuous mix of polar orbiting and geostationary IR measurements combined with passive microwave coverage. Space observing capabilities for SST are in place GHRSST and NOPP provide a direction for SST-related efforts internationally and nationally Work is underway to demonstrate improved SST based on combining IR and microwave observations But considering climate-quality data records, NOAA lacks support for a capability for algorithm refinement, routine reprocessing, and science team (include in initiative for Scientific Data Stewardship) Some improved SST coordination within NOAA might be helpful (OAR/ESRL; NESDIS/NCDC, NODC, ORA; JCSDA)

18. Action O23 – Sea ice – Ensure sustained satellite (microwave, SAR, visible and IR) operations. A variety of space observing capabilities for sea ice are in place Future visible, IR & microwave radiometry to come from VIIRS & CMIS on NPOESS Data access – timeliness and cost – is an issue for SAR observations (Radarsat and ENVISAT) Ice thickness is a challenge The same comment can be made regarding climate-quality data records

19. Action O16 – Sea surface salinity (SSS) – Research programs to demonstrate feasibility of utilizing satellite data to help resolve global fields of SSS. ESA SMOS in 2007 and NASA/CONAE Aquarius in 2009 represent opportunities to demonstrate the utility of satellite determination of SSS

20. SUMMARY Where can NOAA make a difference? Pursue joint Jason-3 initiative with EUMETSAT in NOAA FY09 budget Harmonize NASA/NOAA planning for an improved capability to observe SVW Include support for in-situ calibration capability for Ocean Color in NOAA/NIST initiative in FY09 Include support for oceanic parameters in NOAA initiative for Scientific Data Stewardship

21. SUMMARY Where can NOAA make a difference? Pursue joint Jason-3 initiative with EUMETSAT in NOAA FY09 budget Harmonize NASA/NOAA planning for an improved capability to observe SVW Include support for in-situ calibration capability for Ocean Color in NOAA/NIST initiative in FY09 Include support for oceanic parameters in NOAA initiative for Scientific Data Stewardship But these will not happen because of NESDIS – support must come from the NOAA Goal Teams and Line Office Heads

22. A Sustained, Systematic Global Ocean Observing, Assimilation, Analysis & Forecasting Capability KEY SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS A state variable: Surface pressure field – Extend the Jason series of altimetry as a complement to Argo A boundary condition: Surface stress field – Use what exists (QuikSCAT, WindSat, CMIS on NPOESS, ASCAT on METOP) and pursue advanced scatterometry with NASA A non-physical variable: Near-surface chlorophyll – Effect the collection of scientific-quality data records linking SeaWiFS, MODIS, and VIIRS on NPP/NPOESS

23. Backups

24. Sea Surface Temperature AVHRR/NOAA am orbit AVHRR/NOAA pm orbit TRMMWINDSAT VIIRS/NPOESS C1 VIIRS/ C2 ATSR/ERS-2AATSR/ENVISAT MODIS/EOS-Terra VIIRS/NPP MOS/IRS-P3 MODIS/EOS-Aqua ADEOS-2 HY-1 MSMR/IRS-P4 HY-2 FY-3A, B,.. (VIRR/MODI) FY-1DFY-1C CBERS-2 ESA GMES S-3 SGLI/GCOM-B1 **Geostationary sats: GOES, MSG important but not shown AVHRR/EPS(Metop) am orbit CBERS-4CBERS-2B CBERS-3 97989900010203040506070809101112131415 In orbitApproved Planned / Pendng Approval

25. Sea Ice (Concentration, Extent, Drift, Thickness) GODA E Seawinds/QuikSCAT VIIRS/NPP OLS & SSMI/DMSP—AVHRR & AMSU/NOAA MODIS/EOS-Terra ALOS L-band RADARSAT-2 C- band RADARSAT-3 COSMO-SKYMED X band HY-1 TERRASAR X band JERS-1 L band MODIS & AMSR-E/EOS-Aqua ICESAT SMOS WindSat CRYOSAT CMIS / NPOESS- C1 ESA GMES S- 3 ESA GMES S-1 ASAR/Envisat C-band AMI/ERS C-band RADARSAT-1 C-band Drift Thickness 97989900010203040506070809101112131415 In orbitApproved Planned / Pendng Approval

26. Geoid and Salinity Missions CHAMP GRACE SMOS GOCE Gravity/Geoid missions (for absolute circulation ) Salinity AQUARIUS 97989900010203040506070809101112131415 In orbitApproved Planned / Pendng Approval Oersted SAC-C Swarm