SOCD Status Brief

1. SOCD Status Brief November 2005

2. Outline • Personnel • Performance & Activities • Budget • Grants • Proposals • Safety • Publications

3. Personnel

4. Current & Projected FTE Personnel • Pending FY05 • VanWoert resignation: Package approved by STAR; submitted to HR • Miller promotion: Initial PD drafted • Lavoi promotion: PD being developed; requires ORA-CSC LOA update; 1-year vacancy • FY06 • Strong retirement 01/03/06; PD submitted to HR • Clark retirement 01/03/06; PD in development

5. Personnel Notes • FTE • Maureen Chiarizia: Extended medical issue • Medical documentation received • Submitted application for disability retirement • Supervisor statement submitted • Walter Smith: 1-year detail to NOAA @ UNH • Stephanie Williams hired as support staff 8/22/05 • Postdoc / Visiting Scientists • MetOp SST CIRA postdoc • Dr. Doreatha Ivanova began her post-doc with the SST Team on November 17,2005. She will be involved in the SST validation using ground-based SST, including buoy and climatological SSTs. • Ocean Color NRC postdoc • Wei Shi • SST NRC postdoc • Prasanjit Dash • Ocean Surface Winds Team • Gordana Sindic-Rancic • Contractors • ESDIM GOES SST: Wen Meng hired • Coral Reef Watch: Felipe Arzayus departs 08/22/05; hired as NOS fed • WindSat: Wanshu Wang departs 08/22/05; hired as NIC contractor

6. Travel / Leave

7. Activities & Performance

8. Elevated NESDIS Milestones

9. STAR Level FY06 Milestones

10. STAR Level FY06 Milestones cont’d…

11. SOCD Performance Measures SUSTAIN (Master) • On an annual basis, sustain the determination, documentation, and correction of the quality of NOAA operational satellite ocean remote sensing products through regular calibration and validation activities, maintaining current assessments and adjustments to 100% of NOAA’s operational satellite ocean remote sensing data streams. • Status:MOBY has completed eighth year as the primary vicarious calibration source for ocean color satellite data • On an annual basis, sustain 90% locally-controllable availability of experimental and selected non-NOAA satellite ocean remote sensing products for community use and evaluation. • Status: TBD- Note from CoastWatch – Sathya is working on applicable PM for this (KH). BETTER (Improve) • On an annual basis, implement improvements in the methodology and/or quality of one to three NOAA operational and/or experimental algorithms and products. • Status: Completed retracked altimetry data, improving marine gravity field; completed preliminary validation of QuikScat high wind speed model function; completed MOBY data reprocessing • On an annual basis, improve the outreach, technology transfer, and education to/of users of satellite ocean remote sensing, as measured by a trend of increasing unique user and new education modules made available. • Status: Established China CoastWatch and 2 OceanWatch nodes; Completed coral education module NEW (Create) • On an annual basis, develop one unique new (or new improvement to) operational or experimental technique, algorithm, product, or service for satellite ocean remote sensing. • Status: Blended GOES-POES SST has been implemented FIRST (Invest) • On an annual basis, be the first to provide one new satellite ocean remote sensing algorithm, product, or service. • Status: Completed transition of OSCAR ocean surface currents to operations – operations??? Reword?? Define operations?

12. CoastWatch Milestones NODES: Central OperationsCentral Pacific Node (OceanWatch) Caribbean - Gulf of Mexico NodeWest Coast NodeMid-AtlanticGreat LakesAlaskaNortheast

13. CoastWatch / OceanWatch Performance Measures • Performance Measure 1:Maintain and improve CoastWatch/OceanWatch readiness • Performance Measure 2:Increase numbers of new validated products • Add blended GOES/POES to distributed CoastWatch product suite in pre operational status – Work delayed due to late delivery of code from science contractor – Rescheduled for 06/06. • Performance Measure 3: NOAA specific EOS product processing system operational • Working w/ OSDPD to transition to Operational • Performance Measure 4:Increase areal coverage of NOAA OceanWatch - completed in FY05 • Add limited South Pacific coverage to OceanWatch distributed product suite – Completed see MODIS coverage images • OceanWatch Pacific Basin – Established at Central Pacific Node (OceanWatch Node) Completed June 2005 • Performance Measure 5:Improve customer access and utilization opportunities • Establish Gulf of Mexico as OceanWatch demonstration – Project on hold • Establish one additional OceanWatch demonstration – Established in Pacific, HI, CA. • Establish preliminary climate observational capability within OceanWatch (Ocean Carbon Watch collaboration with AOML and PMEL); Ocean Carbon Dioxide Watch established with AOML — In progress • Establish China CoastWatch – In progress, on track • Exploring additional International CoastWatch opportunities, including Europe and S. America.

14. CoastWatch Highlights MODIS extended coverage

15. CoastWatch Highlights December 7, 2005 December 8, 2005 First GOES / POES blended SST products for December 2005.

16. CoastWatch Highlights First China CoastWatch image: AVHRR false color composite of coastal China near Shanghai. You can see sediment in the waters coming from the various rivers, and clouds offshore.

17. Coral Reef Watch • Performance Measures • Provide local coral reef managers with reliable and accurate coral bleaching forecasting tools. • Develop and make operational a comprehensive coral reef ecosystem monitoring program. • 55% of coral bleaching events accurately predicted.

18. Cooling Effect of Hurricane Katrina on Coral Reefs • In August 2005, the NOAA Coral Reef Watch Satellite (CRW) Bleaching Alert system indicated high levels of temperature stress at Sombrero Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary • Subsequently, Hurricane Katrina blew through southern Florida, mixing waters in the Keys and dropping temperatures. • While the cooling provided by Hurricane Katrina did lower HotSpot values and reduce the alert status, substantial bleaching was observed in the vicinity of Sombrero Key at Looe Key, the middle Florida Keys, and Biscayne National Park. • A subsequent return of warm water at this site was cooled by the passing of Hurricane Rita a short time later. NOAA CRW’s HotSpot product measures sea surface temperature anomalies in excess of 1 degree C above maximum monthly mean.

19. NOAA Caribbean Bleaching Response Effort • NOAA Coral Reef Watch Satellite Bleaching Alert (SBA) monitoring system first alerted possible bleaching conditions: • Florida Keys in late Aug. • Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in early Oct. • The DHW and SBA products have been invaluable to researchers and managers who have redirected efforts to monitor the resulting bleaching. • NESDIS is leading an international effort to fully document the extent of the bleaching event. • A major coral bleaching event is underway in the Caribbean • Thermal stress reached record levels, exceeding 15 Degree Heating Weeks (DHWs) at some sites

20. Sea Ice

21. Sea Ice Performance Measures • Tasks 1 and 3 - Sea Ice Product and Research Development and National Ice Center Polar Research. Products are evaluated using model, buoy data and observations using NOAA as well as other ships and aircraft resources of opportunity. Product evaluation and feedback by present and new users is sought after. The number of new and updated experimental products, transitioned products, and new users will be followed. In addition, where appropriate skill scores will be developed to determine product performance. • Status: Increasing number of active users and products under both tasks including USCG (for iceberg monitoring under task 1) and the NWS (for customized AWIPS sea ice edge products under task 3) • Task 2 - Sea Ice Altimetry Research. For altimetry Cal/Val, a decrease in the amplitude of error in estimated sea-ice freeboard from approximately 1.0 m to 15 cm by 2006 along CryoSat ground tracks and wavelength of freeboard error to 0.5 km. For altimetry climate - establish first year of sea-ice mass time series (monthly intervals) by end 2007. • Status: Delayed CAL/VAL activities continue into 2006 as CryoSAT launch delays and problems with aircraft access were experienced.

22. Sea Surface Temperature

23. Sea Surface Temperature cont’d…

24. SST Performance Measures Indicator = satellite SST product algorithm validation results • These project performance measures refer to algorithmic maximization of the instrument (not instrument design or specs) and apply to all project task objectives. • Accuracy / Precision • Target = 0.1K instantaneous • Metric = systematic (mean) and random (std) error relative to ground truth • Indicator = statistics determined from ground truth matchups • Baseline = 0.5K rms random; <0.1K systematic • Status: TBD • Stability • Target = 100% up time • Metric = up time / year • Indicator = operational log history • Baseline = 95% up time • Status: TBD

25. Sea Surface Height

26. Sea Surface Height Task 1: Altimeter Data Sets Improve GFO GDR sea surface height accuracy from 5 cm in FY04 to 4 cm in FY06 using Topex/Poseidon and Jason-1 as the standard. • Status: In progress Task 2: Ocean Dynamics. Increase percentage of ocean area covered by OSCAR analysis from ~20% (tropical Pacific) in FY04 to ~50% (all tropical oceans) by FY06, to ~80% (all mid to low latitude oceans) by FY08. • Status: Oscar-2 contract to be awarded end of FY05 Decrease turn-around time for OSCAR product from 10 days in FY04 to 1 week in FY06. • Status: In progress Task 3: Marine Gravity & Bathymetry. Decrease error in marine gravity from 7 mGal in FY05 to 5 mGal in FY08. • Status: Completed Improve global G&B resolution from 30 km in FY05 to 20 km in FY08. • Status: In progress Task 4: Climate. Increase confidence in historical global sea level rise value from +/- 0.5 mm/yr in FY04 to +/- 0.3 mm/yr in FY08. • Status: In progress

27. Ocean Surface Winds

28. Ocean Surface Winds Performance Measures Task 1: Scatterometry • Full utilization of QuikSCAT scatterometer data by the operational weather community. • Status:complete – products available in AWIPS, NAWIPS and web page • Implementation of an improved high wind speed model function for QuikSCAT based on aircraft experiment data. • Status: complete – implemented in 12.5km processing on web page • Quantification of rain impacts on scatterometer wind vector retrievals • Status: ongoing • Validation and implementation of a reduced landmask to allow use of QuikSCAT winds closer to the coast • Status: ongoing • Full readiness to support operationally utilization of ASCAT, which is currently scheduled for a December 2005 launch. • Status: ongoing – launch delayed to June 30, 2006 Task 2: Radiometry • A full evaluation of the capabilities and limitations of ocean vector wind retrievals from WindSat • Status: ongoing • A comparison of WindSat and QuikSCAT wind vector retrievals • Status: ongoing Task 3: Applications • An operational demonstration of a global ocean upwelling index product running in near real-time. • Status: ongoing

29. Ocean Color

30. Ocean Color Performance Measures Overarching Performance Measure: Develop and maintain the capability to produce climate quality Ocean Color derived products. Task Performance Measures: Task 1. Marine Optical BuoY (MOBY) Goal: Sustain and improve vicarious calibration of all ocean color satellite sensors. Indicator: Days Normalized Water-Leaving Radiance measured by MOBY corresponding to Ocean Color Satellite overpasses. Unit of Measure: Percent Baseline: FY05 – 95% Target: FY06 – 98% Status: Ongoing Task 2. Marine Optical Characterization Experiment (MOCE) Goal: Maintain and reduce uncertainties in Normalized-Water Leaving Radiance measurements for use in vicarious calibration by MOBY. Indicator: Uncertainty in Normalized Water-Leaving Radiance measurements by MOBY. Unit of Measure: Percent Baseline: FY05 – ±7% Target: FY06 – ±5% Status: Ongoing Task 3. Ocean Color Validation Goal: Operational validation of the ocean color data stream using the MODIS Quality Assurance Browse Imagery quality assurance system. Indicator: Implementation of MQABI Unit of Measure: Percent Completion Baseline: FY05 – Not begun. Target: FY06 – 50% Status: MQABI Installed for internal evaluation Task 4. Ocean Color Applications Goal: The development and improvement of Ocean Color Product Algorithms. Indicator: Ocean Color Product Algorithms developed or improved Unit of Measure: Number Baseline: FY05 – 5 Target: FY06 – 7 Status: Ongoing Task 5. Optical Water Mass Applications Goal: Demonstrate feasibility of NRL developed Optical Water Mass Classification Technique. Indicator: Implementation of Classification of Coastal Water Mass Features. Unit of Measure: Percent Completion Baseline: FY05 – Not begun. Target: FY06 – 50% Status: Ongoing

31. Sea Surface Roughness

32. Sea Surface Roughness Performance Measures 1. Increase the number of other nation's synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observation platforms which have been used in applications demonstrations to meet user observation requirements from 1 to 3 by 2008. • Status: ENVISAT demonstration to begin this winter (in addition to current Radarsat-1 demonstration) 2. Increase the number of synthetic aperture radar user observation requirements met within applications demonstrations from 1 to 3 by 2008. • Status: Wave state and improved ship detection products being developed 3. Increase the number of new research findings and progress toward their implementation in applications demonstrations by completing at least two papers or technical reports per year on research findings in SAR applications. • Status:11 peer-reviewed articles published in FY 2005 by SSR Science Team members • SSR Science Team: 1 Paper Published; 1 Paper submitted 4. Improve ship detection algorithm and data processing techniques to yield a 60% or greater detection performance in FY 2006. • Status: Software developed – will validate in FY 2006; Algorithm being updated.

33. Key Projects • Status • SOCD S&T Roadmap Final Draft Submitted • Division Status Brief • Concept slides generated • Monthly reports being produced • Roadmap reviews • Review one dimension each month on rotating basis. • Functional Areas • Science Teams • Strategic Priorities • CIOSS Science Interchange (8-9 Sep @ CIOSS)

34. Operational Transitions • GOES-POES blended SST • Code completed transition to SOCD: December 05 • Validation match-up data base commenced by January 06 • Initial validation expected by March 06 • NASA – NOAA Research to OPS • R2O: Grants still not issued • R2O: Some contracts pending • Pending FY05 end-of-year status reports • SeaWiFS – MODIS Aqua Comparison Completed – Sept 2005

35. Ground Systems Update

36. Significant Pending Actions • SOCD S&T Roadmap • Final Draft due 2nd September: Submitted, Completed • Division Status Brief • Finalize briefing format: Completed • PPBES • FY05 • Close out expenditures • FY06 • Develop budgets and spend plans • FY08 • Programming • Mission Goal 3/Coasts, Estuaries & Oceans/Ocean Remote Sensing • Mission Goal 1/Coral Reef Conservation Program • Mission Goal 5/Satellite Services • R2O • Joint NOAA – NASA transition implementation plans • Altimetry • Scatterometry • Ocean color • Annual Performance Reviews • Input interviews during September: In progress • Rating levelings • Feedback sessions during Oct/Nov: In progress

37. Budget

39. Variances • ORS Total • Total vs Obligated - 49.7% $1,819,916 • Total vs Committed - 1.1%$40,666 Obligated  Committed  • Contracts: - 39.5% + 0.6% • Grants: - 62.9% - 13.3% • Equipment: +125.7% +199.6% • Travel: - 18.7% 0.6% • Supplies: - 17.5% - 43.5%

40. Grants

41. Grants Status • ORS competitive grant process • FY05 continuation awards processed Feb 05 • ORS FY06 AO for the NOAA omnibus submitted May 05 • NOAA omnibus AO published 30 June 05 • ORS call for proposals closes 23 Sep 05 • Reviews will be completed by 23 Dec 05 • CIOSS • Year-3 award processed Apr 05 • Year-3 R2O supplemental processed May 05 • Year-3 GOES-R COAST supplemental processed Jun 05 • Directed research • CIMSS • Year-3 split processed (due to CIMSS renewal) • CIMSS Year-3 proposal submitted • CICS • Year-3 CICS omnibus ORS component submitted • Pass-throughs • MISST NOPP • CICOR grant processed Jun 05

42. Proposals

43. Proposals • AOs • EPA Global Change Research Program: Non-linear responses to global change in linked aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and effects of multiple factors on terrestrial ecosystems. • Proposals due: 29 Sep 05 • LOI • None pending • Proposals • Submitted to NASA: Menghua Wang “Ocean Color Remote Sensing in the Coastal Regions” • Ocean Surface Winds Science Team FY06 Pending Proposals • IPO IGS • HPCC • NASA OSWST

44. Safety

45. Safety Status • NOAA Safety Inspection of WWB held August 30 – no feedback ??? • Monthly inspection report • September SOCD WWB: Completed? • October SOCD WWB: Completed? • November SOCD WWB: Completed? • Discrepancy correction status • NESDIS WWB monthly • Discrepancies • Wiring in WWB102 computer room: Requisitions submitted for the necessary network equipment (cables and network switch) to correct the wiring issue (Chang). • No fire detection system in WWB 102 & 602 Computer Rms: being investigated, in progress • General house keeping – In progress • Conference room 602: Cables/wiring exposed. Doors (exits) blocked by equipment. No Signage indicating means of egress – Temporary storage area for equipment.

46. Publications

47. Publications • Pending November… • 2 SSR Papers • 1 SSR Book being printed • Internal review September… • Degradation of GRACE Monthly Geopotentials in 2004: Explained • “ABYSS-Lite” Concept paper for NRC Decadal Survey study panel • 2500 m Isobath from Satellite Bathymetry: Accuracy assessment in light of IHO S-44 standards • Sea surface topography in the Arctic Ocean from ICESat • The NOAA/NESDIS/ORA WindSat Calibration/Validation Collocation Database • Ocean wind field mapping from synthetic aperture radar and its application to research and applied problems; Johns Hopkins University Technical Digest • A review of coral d18O and delta 14C proxy records November… • 3 SSR Papers • External review • Published September… • AGU Paper No (2005GL022917): “Estimation of Ocean Contribution at the MODIS Near-Infared Wavelengths along the East Coast of the U.S.” by Menghua Wang. • AMS (Journal of Physical Oceanography): “25-Day Period Large-Scale Oscillations in the Argentine Basin Revisited” by Chang-Kou Tai and Lee-Lueng Fu. • NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 118: Simultaneous Nadir Overpasses for NOAA-6 to NOAA-17 Satellites from 1980 to 2003 for the Intersatellite Calibration of Radiometers. Changyong Cao, Mitch Goldberg, Fuzhong Weng, and Cheng-Zhi Zou. • IEEE Journal on Oceanic Engineering: “Sythetic Aperture Radar Imaging of Axial Convergence Fronts in Cook Inlet, Alaska” by Xiaofeng Li, Chunyan Li, William G. Pichel, Pablo Clemente-Colon, and Karen S. Friedman. October… • K. M. Marks and W. H. F. Smith, 2500 m Isobath from Satellite Bathymetry: Accuracy assessment in light of IHO S-44 standards, The International Hydrographic Review, Vol. 6, No. 2, 19-29, August 2005. • K. M. Marks and W. H. F. Smith, An Evaluation of Publicly Available Global Bathymetry Grids, Marine Geophys. Researches, In Press, 2005. • R. Scharroo, W. H. F. Smith and J. L. Lillibridge, Satellite  altimetry and the intensification of Hurricane Katrina, Eos Trans.  AGU, 86(40), 366, 2005. November… • 1 SSR Paper • Nghiem, S. V., M. L. Van Woert, and G. Neumann, 2005, Rapid formation of a sea ice barrier east of Svalbard, Journal Of Geophysical Research, Vol. 110, C11013, 11 pp.