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Transitioning Capabilities between NASA Research and NOAA Operations

Transitioning Capabilities between NASA Research and NOAA Operations. Presentation to CIOSS Executive Board Meeting Aug 30, 2005 (rev 25). Background. The transition between NASA research and NOAA operations has been identified as a national issue:

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Transitioning Capabilities between NASA Research and NOAA Operations

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  1. Transitioning Capabilities between NASA Research and NOAA Operations Presentation to CIOSS Executive Board Meeting Aug 30, 2005 (rev 25)

  2. Background • The transition between NASA research and NOAA operations has been identified as a national issue: • Reports of the National Research Council • Recommendations from the Commission on Ocean Policy • This is being addressed in two ways: • Near-Term – Senate language in the NOAA FY05 budget for NOAA: • “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” • This is a one-year $4M level of effort, with no assurance for continuation • Longer-Term – The establishment of a more formal process process between the two agencies to facilitate the transitioning

  3. Near-Term Approach • Prepare an FY05 Implementation Plan for a Research & Operations Program and show early results for the $4M • Development of plan initiated in January 2005 • Plan approved by Jack Kelly on April 1, 2005 • Elements of plan were to have been funded and underway • Link the elements of the Research & Operations Program to NOAA Goals and engage in the FY08 budget process

  4. Surface Vector Winds Objective • Identify the most appropriate path for NOAA to collect operational surface vector winds (SVW) Status • NASA QuikSCAT data have been used operationally by NWS for 3+ years • Post-QuikSCAT SVW are to be provided by NPOESS/CMIS, but its performance is predicated on an evaluation of WindSat Identified Tasks • Ensure timely access by NWS to WindSat SVW to enable user evaluation • Refine QuikSCAT products – rain & spatial resolution Overall Issue • To the extent that CMIS is inadequate, explore options for flight of a a scatterometer to follow QuikSCAT

  5. Sea Surface Height Objective • Transition satellite altimetry from NASA research to NOAA operations by implementing Jason-3 Status • NASA has provided 13+ years of high-quality SSH, with TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1, but will not continue support beyond Jason-2 Identified Tasks • Justify user requirements for operational SSH – hurricane intensity, coastal sea level, seasonal/interannual, climate analyses, global sea level rise... Overall Issues • Build the case for a Jason-3 via an FY08 budget initiative, including prospects for a European partner

  6. Ocean Color* Objective • Transition ocean color from NASA’s SeaWifs and Aqua/MODIS to NOAA operations with VIIRS Status • SeaWiFS has been used since 1997 for research & HAB forecasting, but NASA is discontinuing free access needed by the research community to fix MODIS deficiencies in coastal areas and maintain climate data records Identified Tasks • Jointly support with NASA continued access to SeaWiFS data for research community • Develop a robust in-situ calibration capability for ocean color • Justify support for climate-quality ocean-color data records Overall Issues • Assess prospects for VIIRS to meet requirements for ocean color – pre-launch characterization, on-orbit and concurrent in-situ calibration, and a capability for continuing algorithm development and re-processing * The term, Ocean Color, is used tomean normalized water-leaving radiances – from which parameters like chlorophyll aconcentration, characterization of harmful algal blooms, water clarity, and inherent optical properties can be derived

  7. Near-Term – Status • The Research & Operations Program beyond FY05 • Senate mark for FY06 includes $4M, but the House mark does not • Continuation will depend on the Conference Committee • Progress on the Overall Issues will ultimately be dependent on success in the budget process, the first opportunity for NOAA being in FY08

  8. Longer-Term Approach (1) Establish a Plan to transition key capabilities between NASA and NOAA • This plan is included in the Administrator’s priorities for NOAA and is to be available for high-level agency review by the end of the year • The term, capabilities, includes the full range of activities extending from space hardware, calibration & validation, communications, ground data system including archival, timely access to data, assimilation of data into models, and the generation of associated analyses and forecasts

  9. Longer-Term Approach (2) Research & Operations (R&O) Transition Management Oversight • Establishes framework for collaboration, sets bilateral policy and priorities, approves Transition Plan, and oversees execution • NOAA/Greg Withee • NASA/Mary Cleave R&O Joint NASA/NOAA Working Group • Identifies initial set of key Capabilities, prepares overall Transition Plan including those Capabilities, and executes • NOAA/Gary Davis • NASA/Ron Birk R&O Transition Teams • Prepare an implementation plan for each identified Capability • We worked to get the three ocean-related capabilities included in the initial set

  10. Longer-Term – Status • Terms of Reference for the R&O Joint NASA/NOAA Working Group (JWG) have been agreed to by both agencies • The JWG has recommended an initial set of capabilities for transitioning • Surface Vector Winds • Sea Surface Height • Ocean Color • Global Precipitation • NASA Research Sensor(s) on GOES-R • We are awaiting formal approval for these capabilities • Discussions are underway regarding the establishment of an implementation team for each

  11. Longer-Term – Prospects • Prospective next steps for each capability • Surface Vector Winds – possible new start for a NASA Ocean Vector Wind Mission • Sea Surface Height – proposed NOAA new start in FY08 for Jason-3 • Ocean Color – institutionalize a mechanism for the collection of Thematic Climate Data Records (TCDRs) from SeaWiFS/MODIS/VIIRS

  12. Functions Neededfor Ocean Color TCDRs • Pre-launch characterization • On-orbit calibration • Independent in-situ cal/val capability • Continued algorithm development/refinement • Continued reprocessing capability • Archival • Establishment of a NASA-like, competitively selected, NOAA-funded science team

  13. Functional Responsibilities for Ocean Color TCDRs from VIIRS

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