NPOESS Preparatory Project Science Objectives

1. NPOESS Preparatory Project Science Objectives Pete Kealy UMBC at NASA/GSFC & Entire NPP Team October, 2005

2. DB Italy - 2 Agenda NASA’s Measurement Based Approach Ocean Color Ozone EOS to NPP Transition Sensors and Data Products NPP Contribution to the NASA Objectives SDS NPP Science Team Significant Differences between EOS and NPP Operational Products

3. DB Italy - 3 NPP Origins NPP is a joint partnership between NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (formerly the Office of Earth Sciences (OES)) and the NPOESS Integrated Program Office (IPO) initiated in 1998 Feasibility study began in November 1998 Formulation began in November 1999 NASA Confirmation Review completed in November 2003 The partnership provides both organizations with considerable cost savings while achieving their key program objectives: To provide NASA with continuation of a group of global change observations initiated by the Earth Observing System (EOS) TERRA, AQUA, and Aura missions To provide the NPOESS operational community with pre-operational risk reduction demonstration and validation for selected NPOESS instruments, and algorithms, as well as the ground system

4. DB Italy - 4 NPP in NASA’s Future Data Processing The NPP Science Charter is to: Continue the scientific data record started in the EOS era. NASA is moving toward “Measurement-based”, not “Mission-based,” science and data processing teams. Processing done by a Climate Analysis Research System (CARS) NPP is the first post-EOS mission to have this new science data processing strategy. NPP data products will be produced by NPOESS data processing system (IDPS) NPP data products will be archived by NOAA (CLASS/LTA). NPP data products will be assessed for science data quality at the NASA Science Data Segment (SDS). NPP EDR assessment will be done by the NPP Science Team. SDS is part of science-discipline-based, community algorithm science data processing system.

5. DB Italy - 5 Uses/requires existing expertise and infrastructure Minimizes expense & start-up time Allows handling of multiple data sets simultaneously Not limited to mission-specific requirements and objectives Provides flexibility to support discipline science requirements Products, algorithms, formats, gridding, reprocessings, etc. Facilitates strong link between flight projects & science community Requires discipline teams responsive/accountable to the flight project(s) Discipline Processing Rationale

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9. DB Italy - 9 Ozone: A True NASA/NOAA CDR Ozone is adjusted to NOAA-9 Validated against Dobson Stations Reprocessed when new algorithms are developed Compared with models

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12. Science Data Segment (SDS)

13. DB Italy - 13 NPP Mission Segments

14. DB Italy - 14 SDS Mission Statement The NPP SDS is intended to be a research tool for the purposes of facilitating prototype elements for the future Earth Science Enterprise distributed sciences data systems The NPP SDS assess EDRs for climate quality The NPP SDS can provide Algorithm Improvements The SDS is a distributed architecture with 5 functionally independent elements called Product Evaluation & Algorithm Tool Elements (PEATEs) centered around: Ocean, Land, Atmosphere, Ozone, and Sounder The SDS PEATEs support the Cal/Val activities in processing selected data subsets

15. DB Italy - 15 NASA’s Science Data Segment (SDS) ProvidesTest Bed for xDR Analyses

16. DB Italy - 16 SDS Elements SD3E – SDS Data Delivery & Depository Element Supports acquisition and temporary storage of data from NOAA/CLASS and IDPS Capable of storing up to ~32 days of NPP xDR data in a “rolling storage” for pick-up by PEATEs and the NICSE Communication Networks I&TSE – Integration and Test System Element A Mini-Version of the IDPS for purpose of demonstrating algorithm enhancements and / or calibration improvements Intermediate Product Generation PSOE - Project Science Office Element Provides management direction and science guidance to the SDS Elements Manages algorithm and calibration recommendations for submission to the NPP/NPOESS Algorithm CCB (TBR).

17. DB Italy - 17 SDS Elements (Cont’d) PEATE – Product Evaluation and Algorithm Test Element Performs EDR Evaluation / Characterization and algorithm improvements coordinated with External Science Investigators, and Science Team, and NICSE (for Land, Ocean, & Atmosphere PEATES). Five PEATEs are: Ocean Color Land Ozone Sounder Atmosphere NICSE - NPP Instrument Calibration Support Element Supports assessing and validating pre-launch and post-launch radiometric and geometric characterization and calibration assessment of VIIRS instrument data.

18. DB Italy - 18 PEATEs Pre Launch Acquire, adapt and integrate operational SDR and EDR processing software into processing Systems Perform functional testing of operational code. Acquire and manage various preflight instrument characterization data sets provide to ST. Support Interface Confidence Tests, Functional Thread Tests and NPP Compatibility Tests Support (as needed) generation of test data sets for software and algorithm testing. Post Launch Acquire all RDRS, selected SDRs, EDRs and ancillary data Process RDRs to SDRs and EDRs using operational code using alternative calibration LUTS Process SDRs to EDRs using revised or alternative algorithms, as directed by ST Support browse and distribution of locally generated xDRs to ST Perform matchups and evaluation of EDRs with other Mission Data, e.g., MODIS, SeaBASS SDR Evaluation for Long-term stability

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20. DB Italy - 20 EOS to NPP Principal Differences Sensor Differences VIIRS has no TIR bands beyond 13mm Alternate cloud top algorithms developed VIIRS thermal band range limitations prevent detection of small/medium fires in some cases, and characterization (area, temperature) of large/hot fires Geolocation Land algorithms require precise geolocation information NPP and NPOESS will be approximately 2X and 3X worse than MODIS, respectively Algorithm Implementation Differences Latency (the need for speed) may influence processing implementations not considered for EOS Algorithm versions in the operational system may not be in sync with the latest EOS versions Metadata and quality information may be different Several key EOS biophysical products such as LAI, FPAR, burn scar, detection are beyond NPOESS scope Processing higher than level 2 is beyond NPOESS scope Reprocessing is beyond NPOESS scope

21. DB Italy - 21 NPP Science Summary NPP has no traditional NASA “Science” Charter Climate and Science processing performed by CARS NPP facilitates the use of NPOESS data by funding PEATES within the SDS SDS is a research tool used to assess climate data quality of EDRs NPP Science Team will assess EDR algorithms and sensor developments for climate study suitability and advise Project & Program Scientists NPP Science Team will work through the Operational Algorithm Teams (OATs) to provide potential algorithm updates for NPOESS