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Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR)
NOAA Contributions to Satellite Calibration and the need for a
National and International Framework
Al Powell, Director
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Outline
• STAR’s Mission and Activities
• Challenges
• NOAA-NIST program to address satellite calibration issues for climate
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STAR’s Mission
• To provide NOAA with scientific research and development that transitions state‑of‑the-art satellite data systems, products, and services to operations for use by land, atmosphere, ocean, and climate user communities.
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STAR Activities
• STAR is engaged in product development, readiness, and applications with respect to satellites and satellite data
• STAR’s responsibilities include:– Developing algorithms and prototype software systems that are
transitioned into the production of operational environmental satellite products
– Monitoring and improving instrument calibration– Validating and analyzing products for weather and climate
applications– Overseeing the development of future satellite instruments and
their requirements specifications
• STAR utilizes collaborative environments for product development– Faster research to operations– Interconnectivity across multiple satellite programs and NOAA
offices
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STAR USER Community Connections
STAR
National Center for Environmental Prediction
Weather & Water
Commerce & Transportation
Ecosystems
ClimateCritical Mission Support
NOAA Goals
Supported:
International Collaboration:CGMS, WMO, EUMETSAT
Bilateral Agreements:China, India
NOAA Acquisition Programs:
NPOESS (IV&V)GOES-R (AWG & RR)
NOAA Projects:NPOESS Data
Exploitation (NDE)Scientific Data Stewardship
NOAA Programs:Corals, Climate, Ocean,
etc NASA
Air ForceNAVY ARMY
EPA
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Mission Support to NOAA Programs
• Ecosystems– NOAA CoastWatch Program
• Real-time distribution of regional SST, Ocean Color and Ocean Winds
– Coral Reef Watch Program
• Climate– Integrated Climate Data Record
Program• Improved calibrated radiances• Time Series of Ozone ,
Vegetation Condition (Drought), Hydrology, Temperature, Moisture, Radiation Budget, Clouds, Aerosols, and Carbon
– Reanalysis Project• Data assimilation algorithms• Radiative transfer models
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Mission Support to NOAA Programs
• Weather and Water– Joint Center for Satellite Data
Assimilation• Radiative transfer models• Surface emissivity models• Cloud cleared hyperspectral
infrared radiances• Satellite Derived Winds• Surface conditions
– Hazards• Air Quality• Forest Fires/Biomass Burning
• Commerce and Transportation– Aviation Weather Satellite
Applications• Clear-sky turbulence• Convective cloud conditions• Icing• Volcanic Ash
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STAR Support
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Support to Existing Observing Systems
• Calibration and validation across systems• Pre-launch and post-launch support• Data quality and algorithm improvement
IntersatelliteCalibration
InstrumentCalibration
In-Situ Systems Product Validation
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Aqua
Terra
TRMM
SeaWiFS
Aura
Meteor/SAGE
GRACE
ICESat
Cloudsat
Jason
CALIPSO
GIFTS
SORCE
NOAA/POES
Landsat
Metop
GOES
MTSAT
MSG
TOPEX
SUPPORT TO PROTOTYPE AND QUASI-OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS
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Support to Future Observing Systems
• Provide services to ensure accurate instrument data and algorithms from future sensors, involving
– calibration and validation– algorithm development– instrument performance specificationsFor– Metop Instrument Functional Chain Teams (IFCT)– NPOESS Operational Algorithm Teams (OAT)– GOES-R Algorithm Working Group and Risk Reduction Plan
• Risk Reduction applied to acquisition programs, quasi-operational data use from non-NOAA satellites
• Developing data reduction techniques for user assimilation of hyperspectral data and climate data records
GOES-R and NPOESS are the next generation of
environmental satellites. STAR’s work will ensure
data continuity and advanced products to the
benefit of all users
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Next Generation NOAA Satellite Observing Systems
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Future Challenges
• New satellites sensors, both domestic and international, will create new challenges– Continuity of past, present, and future data for climate data
records, calibration accuracy, stability of satellite sensors, reprocessing and analysis of long-term series for reproducible results
– Data assimilation methodologies for weather, climate, and oceans– Hyperspectral technology applied to radiative transfer models and
interpretation of spectral signatures– New applications from advanced sensors, including water and air
quality, trace gas monitoring, and coastal and ocean forecasts• Generating blended products and multi-disciplinary algorithm
development in support of GEOSS• Working in a collaborative environment as new operational and
research satellite data becomes available
NOAA-NIST Joint Program Plan
Climate Calibration and Measurement
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Goal•Reduced measurement uncertainties to meet climate monitoring requirements
Accurate climate information for sound policy decisions
Program Strategy•NOAA and NIST partnership to leverage complementary expertise to broadened DoC portfolio on climate change
Technical Strategy•Improved instrument characterization and calibration•Aerosols & greenhouse gas measurements and standards
•Reference sites and satellite intercalibration
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BackgroundWhat is the problem?
• Unreliable estimates of climate trends due to uncertainties in:
– pre-launch and post-launch characterization and standards
– instrument inter-calibration – physical and chemical properties of atmospheric
constituents
• No joint strategy to leverage DOC’s unique capabilities to address these uncertainties
• Lack of a framework to relate climate observations with international standards to provide climate change information to policymakers
17Target Accuracy 1 W m-2Target Precision 0.3 W m-2
Requirements are not being met! Example: Total Solar Irradiance
Year
Tota
l Sol
ar Ir
radi
ance
[W/m
2 ]
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Aerosols and GHGs are not understood
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What are the challenges?• Instruments are complex and operate in a hostile
environment.• Opportunities to modify space instrumentation problems
are on decadal scale. • Integration of multiple observations
−different instruments−different spectral ranges−long time periods
• Gaps in critical chemical & physical reference data (e.g. aerosols, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), GreenHouse Gases (GHG)).
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Why a NOAA NIST Partnership?
• DoC is the lead agency on Global Climate Change
• Leverages NIST’s core competencies in measurement science and standards
• Leverages NOAA’s core competencies in climate monitoring and satellite remote sensing
• Partnership will ensure accurate climate data to underpin policy decisions
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NOAA-NIST Climate Calibration & Measurement ProgramGOAL
Reduced measurement uncertainties to meet climate monitoring requirements
On-orbit cal/val and satellite intercalibration
Standards for absolute instrument characterization & calibration
Chemical and physical reference standards for aerosols & GHGs
Reference sites & vicarious calibration
Climate monitoring measurements, including aerosols & GHG
DATA MANAGEMENT
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
*Pre-launch calibration standards *Post-launch calibration standards *Extra terrestrial standards * Field standards
*Reference metrology & standards for critical atmospheric constituents *Reference data & standards to validate climate models *Lifecycles of aerosols * Mitigation Strategies
*Continue operations Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) for ocean color *Carbon measurements from aircraft and towers coincident with satellite *Benchmark balloon measurements coincident with satellite overpass *Field campaigns
*METOP/IASI cal/val system *Cal/Val Framework *NPP cal/val system *NPOESS cal/val sys.
* IASI GHG maps (CO2, CO, CH4) * CrIS GHG maps * VIIRS aerosol maps
NOAA Lead NIST Lead In current NOAA program
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Benefits
• Accurate estimates of climate trends
• Joint strategy to leverage DOC’s unique capabilities
• Framework to relate climate observations with international standards
• Ability to make sound policy decisions based on accepted accurate information
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Next Steps
• Develop joint NOAA-NIST program plan on Climate Calibration and Measurements
• Develop a National Roadmap to include other agencies and institutions
• Part of a coordinated international WMO effort -- Global Space-based Intercalibration System (GSICS)