Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D. U.S. Navy (Ret.)

1. Global Earth Observations A New Approach to Prevention, Early Warning and More Rapid Problem-Solving Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D. U.S. Navy (Ret.) Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) November 7, 2006 • American Public Health Association 134th Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.

3. Main Causes of Death Among Children Under Five 2000 - 2003 Acute respiratory infections 19% WHO reports that about 25% of the total burden of disease can be attributed to environmental and occupational factors. Neonatal causes 37% Malaria 8% Measles 4% Diarrheal diseases (post-neonatal) 17% Other 10% HIV/AIDS 3% World Health Report 2005 Injuries 3%

4. First Case Detection/ Reporting Lab Confirmation Response Opportunity for control Outbreak Detection and Response CASES DAY - 120 Adapted from J. Davis, Climate Adaptation Workshop, Nov. 2003

5. First Case Detection/ Reporting Opportunity for control Earth Observations and Monitoring Information Lab Confirmation Response Opportunity for control Effective Health Early Warning CASES DAY - 120 Outreach and stakeholder involvement Adapted from J. Davis, Climate Adaptation Workshop, Nov. 2003

6. Malaria Endemic Countries 2004 By altering the range and amount of rainfall and related changes in ecosystems, El Niño can have a striking effect on the incidence of malaria. NONE LIMITED RISK TRANSMISSIONOCCURS WHO, 2004

7. Precip (mm/day) Rainfall and Malaria Weekly Cases in Niger from 2001 to 2003 Thiaw, W. – NOAA/OHHI

9. El Niño: Early Warning for Cholera

10. Sea Surface Temperature Linked to Cholera Bay of Bengal Lobitz et al. 2000 PNAS 97:1430

11. Thinking Globally, Acting Locally Dr. Rita Colwell

12. Thinking Globally, Acting Locally Sari Cloth Filtration Reduces Cholera CasesFall, 2000 Dr. Rita Colwell

13. Lyme Disease: Predicting the Risk Larvae feed on infected host and becomes infected Larvae dormant over winter Larvae develop In spring, larvae molt into a nymph that transmits disease to a person or animal Nymph grows to adult tick Adult tick drops off host, lays eggs on the ground

14. Biodiversity • Ecosystem Health • Human Health Natural barrier to storm surges and other natural events Major source of protein… over a billion people rely on reef-related fisheries Pharmaceutical promise

15. A Global Earth Observation System of SystemsGEOSS

16. From Observation to Action Achieving Comprehensive, Coordinated, and Sustained Earth Observations for the Benefit of Humankind

17. 66 Countries and the European Commission 43 Organizations Algeria Argentina Australia Bahrain Belgium Belize Brazil Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chile China Croatia Cyprus Denmark Egypt European Commission Finland France Germany Guinea-Bissau Honduras Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Ireland Israel Italy Japan Kazakhstan Latvia Luxembourg Malaysia Mali Mauritius Mexico Moldova Morocco Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Niger Nigeria Norway Paraguay Philippines Portugal Republic of Korea Republic of the Congo Russian Federation Slovak Republic Slovenia South Africa Spain Sudan Sweden Switzerland Thailand Tunisia Uganda Ukraine United Kingdom United States Uzbekistan www.earthobservations.org

18. U.S. Group on Earth Observations • Department of Transportation • Environmental Protection • Agency • National Aeronautics and • Space Administration • National Science Foundation • Smithsonian Institution • Tennessee Valley Authority • U.S. Agency for International • Development • U.S. Department of Agriculture • Agriculture Research Service • U.S. Forest Service • White House Council on • Environmental Quality • White House Office of • Management and Budget • White House Office of • Science and Technology Policy • Department of Commerce • National Oceanic and Atmospheric • Administration • National Institute for Standards and • Technology • Department of Defense • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers • Navy • Air Force • National Geospatial-Intelligence • Agency • Department of Energy • Department of Health and Human Services • National Institute of Environmental • Health Sciences • Department of Homeland Security • Federal Emergency Management • Agency • Department of the Interior • U.S. Geological Survey • Department of State usgeo.gov

19. GEOSS ValueAdded

20. GEOSS Operating Principles Open and Transparent Process Standardized Practices and Protocols User-friendly Formats Interoperable Components

21. Applications, Products, Model Output Malaria Case Example Global Observations Climate Sea Surface Temperature Land Cover Land Use  Other observations Local/Regional Observations GEONETCast Weather Disease Surveillance Mosquito Surveillance Social Factors Demographics

22. Predictions, Warnings, Validation Decision-Making, Implementation Preparation, Response, Mitigation Global Public Health Benefits Malaria Case Example GEONETCast

23. The goal is to access the right information,in the right format, at the right time, for the right people, to make the right decisions. www.earthobservations.org