AMS85

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AMS85
From Information to ActionGlobal Earth
Observation System of Systems

• Dr. James R. Mahoney
• Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
  Atmosphere NOAA Assistant Administrator
• January 10, 2005

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Benefits of Earth Observations
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Earth Observations Value Harmful Algal Blooms

• GOESS requires cross disciplinary partnerships

Research Operations
Oceanographers
Meteorologists
Biologists
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Earth Observations Value Health

• Malaria killed more than a million people in 2003
• Primarily in developing world
• Early warning system
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Vegetation
• Soil Moisture
• Possible outbreak prevention

AVHRR
AVHRR-SST
TOPEX-SSA
SeaWiFS-Chl-a
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Earth Observations Value Air Quality
Observations Wet deposition trends Aerosol
composition Global ozone distributions Forest
fire locations
Improved Understanding Aerosol formation Nighttime
chemistry Boundary layer Emissions
Modeling Aerosol mechanisms Boundary
conditions Data assimilation Operations
Collaborators from many universities, companies,
agencies, and countries
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Earth Observations Value Agriculture

• Production tied to healthy environment sound
  planning
• Understanding El Niño/La Niña patterns
• Worldwide benefits to agriculture
• Help predict understand droughts, harvests,
  potential crop damage
• Make decisions based on sustainable agriculture
  practices

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Earth Observations Value Water Resources
Observations
Sound Decision Making
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National Integrated Drought Information System
(NIDIS)

• Supported by Western Governors
• Key Components
• Integrated National Drought Monitoring
  Forecasting System
• Multi-agency collaboration NOAA lead
• Facilitates information exchange between local,
  state and federal agencies
• Proactive, Not Passive, Drought Response
• Improve Drought Indicator Data/Networks
  (Physical, Hydrological, Socio-Economic, Impacts)
• Integrate Interpret that Data with Easily
  Accessible Understandable Tools
• Near-term Outcome of Strategic Plan for the U.S.
  Integrated Earth Observing System

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Administrations Response to the U.S. Commission
on Ocean Policy

• December 17, 2004
• Executive Order Committee on Ocean Policy
• U.S. Ocean Action Plan

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Committee on Ocean Policy

• Chaired by chairman of the White House Council on
  Environmental Quality
• Cabinet level membership
• Will advise President and heads of agencies on
  policies concerning ocean-related matters
• Responsibilities
• Ocean science and technology
• Ocean literacy and education
• Ocean resource management

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U.S. Ocean Action PlanAction Highlights

• Create a National Water Quality Monitoring
  Network
• Implementing New Legislation on Oceans and Human
  Health, Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia
• Expanding NOAAs Authority to Education and
  Outreach
• Improved Management of Coasts and Watersheds
• Share U.S. Ocean Science Expertise Abroad
• Support Marine and Multi-modal Transportation
• Integrate U.S. Ocean Observing Efforts into the
  Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS)

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Indian Ocean Tsunami Tragedy

• NOAA deploying existing DART buoys to Indian
  Ocean
• Buoys transmit vital data to established
  satellite networks
• USGS real-time data and tide gauges information
• Increased coordination with affected countries
• Part of Global Earth Observing System of Systems
  (GOESS)

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NOAAs TsunamiReady Program

• Increased awareness/education
• Maximize warning dissemination methods
• Emergency management/NOAA cooperative effort
• 15 TsunamiReady Communities in 5 states
• Including UCSB first higher learning
  institution recognized

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Focus on Education