US BENEFITS

1. US BENEFITS

2. It Addresses Priorities • The US and Canada have common scientific, economic and strategic interests in arctic observing: marine and air transportation safety, operational weather forecasting, climate monitoring, space weather, and more. • Cooperation on PCW fulfills the intent of bilateral agreements between Canada and US; Current collaborations between US and Canadian scientists on PCW map to focus areas identified in the NOAA – Environment Canada MOU • PCW complements GOES-R, JPSS and international constellations under development for GEOSS, and therefore contributes internationally. Would seem a necessary addition to a truly global observing system. • NOAA’s Next-Generation Strategic Plan gives top priority to Arctic Science, Space Weather, and Climate Monitoring.

3. It Addresses Gaps in Observing • PCW will enable spatially contiguous high latitude observing at a temporal frequency that current polar and geostationary systems cannot deliver; PCW performance can only be weakly emulated by stitching together observations from existing geo and polar constellations. • PCW sensors matching GOES-R ABI channels and resolutions enable scientific collaboration and could effectively extend GOES-R algorithms consistently and seamlessly to 90 N -- A significant opportunity to leverage GOES-R investments. • Thus, PCW could supply Alaska Region NWS forecast offices with valuable operational observations and derived products unavailable from GOES • Addresses gap in high latitude motion vector winds between 60N and 70N (limitation of polar and geostationary orbit geometries), and provides higher quality 15-minute refresh winds from 50N to the pole; impacts on medium range NWP • Space Weather

4. EXTRA SLIDES

5. I believe it is in US and international interest to see a PCW mission succeed support of US operational agencies is critically important • Cooperation on PCW instantiates the intent of bilateral agreements between Canada and US; Current ad hoc collaborations between US and Canadian scientists map closely to focus areas of the NOAA – Environment Canada MOU

6. How US Contributes • U.S. and other international expressions of interest validates PCW mission to Canadian government decision-makers. • Can facilitate rapid build-out of PCW capacity for science product and application development, processing, dissemination, and instrument calibration. PCW Fills Gaps • Unique observations that support NOAA high-latitude operational forecasting and monitoring, and advance NOAA strategic priorities in Climate, Arctic Science & Applications, and Space Weather. • .

7. Enabling Agreements • NOAA / Environment Canada MOU for Cooperative Activities • Steering Committee co-chaired by Mary Kicza and David Grimes • Agreed to four themes: Hydrology, Arctic, Climate, Forecast System Design • North American Ice Service • Collaboration among the Canadian Ice Service, U.S. National Ice Center and International Ice Patrol • Canada-US Agreement on Cooperation on Space Activities • NASA-CSA leadership • Current PCW Collaboration (based on hand-shakes) • NESDIS scientists support PCW International Science & Users’ Team • EC scientists serve on GOES-R Algorithm Review, JCSDA science steering committee • Environment Canada and NESDIS STAR /CIMSS Activities: winds, proxy data sets • NESDIS supported JPL trade study showing ABI easily adapted to PCW mission

8. Session III: Focus QuestionsScience Algorithms & Applications Do you have observational requirements and gaps that PCW could uniquely meet? • What geophysical observation might be obtained through PCW that would be of special operational or research importance to your agency or mission? • To what extent could comparable information be derived using existing and planned polar and geo systems, or derived by other methods, and still meet your needs? • Are there high priority high-latitude measurements that cannot be acquired, or acquired as well except through the vantage of an HEO? • Are there specific scientific applications, improvements to situational awareness, or forecast benefits that PCW would more effectively enable? • Can you conceive of enhanced economic benefits or environmental services that would be enabled by PCW? • Can you conceive of a US payload of opportunity that could benefit your organization and mission?

9. Session IV: Focus QuestionsData Processing and Distribution • Will the proposed Canadian PCW ground architecture and products meet NOAA/US user requirements (from previous session)? If not, where are there gaps? • Is there a requirement/desire for processing by NOAA (or other US agency) of: • Level 0 ; Level 1a-c image products; Level 2+ derived products • How will PCW data and products interface to the NOAA (or other US agency) architecture? • What technical capabilities do NOAA or other US agencies have that could augment or complement the proposed Canadian infrastructure to meet US requirements? e.g., • backup reception; science and processing algorithms; product generation, distribution, archive • What ground segment coordination and development activities are required to maximize the access and utility of PCW data and products to meet US requirements?