Polar Max 2005

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Polar Max 2005

• VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. US Navy (Ret.)
• Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
  Atmosphere
• October 25, 2005

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NPOESSThe U.S. Polar Satellites Of Tomorrow
TIROS
POES
DMSP
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Why Polar Satellites?Hurricane Katrina is an
Example

• Due to advance warning provided by NOAA
• A mandatory evacuation was put in place for New
  Orleans 24 hours before landfall
• The President declared a state of emergency prior
  to landfall, enabling Louisiana to use Federal
  resources before the hurricane hit

MODIS imagery of Hurricane Katrina moving into
the Gulf of Mexico
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Technical Improvements Lead to Benefits

• Advanced imager offers near-constant resolution
  across scan
• Additionally, VIIRS brings a great increase in
  multispectral channels

Existing AVHRR example
Improvement through VIIRS instrument (MODIS
enhanced example)
OLS
AVHRR
VIIRS
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6
22
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Improvements in Data Latency
Latency (minutes)
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Space-based Observing SystemsOperational
Environmental Satellites
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From Observations to Benefits
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Satellite ContributionsNPOESS as an Example
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GEOSS Milestones

• First meeting of new GEO at WMO headquarters was
  in May
• IOC Update on Global Tsunami Early Warning
  Capabilities
• Elected GEO Executive Committee
• Begin Implementation of 10-year Plan
• Next report to GEO in December 2005
• Selected a GEO Secretariat DirectorJosé Achache

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U.S. Contribution to GEOSS
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Vision for the Future

• Moving towards the vision
• Establish a governance structure (international
  and domestic)
• Identify near-term opportunities and begin
  development of implementation plans
• Develop a common system architecture
• Integrate existing systems and capabilities
• Identify and address gaps
• Improve capabilities through research and
  innovation

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Broad Participation

• Participation by user community is critical to
  ensure that priorities are properly aligned with
  needs

For more information http//www.earthobservation
s.org
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Todays Capabilities to Tomorrows Technologies

• Polar satellites provide key benefits to the
  Nation
• NPOESS will augment those benefits by bringing
  current research capabilities into operations
• Satellite and in situ Earth observations must be
  coordinated to maximize benefits
• The GEOSS initiative is moving forward to provide
  that coordination