Issues in the Integration of Research and Operational Satellite Systems for Climate Research: Part II. Implementation (Compass) - Softcover

National Research Council; Commission On Physical Sciences, Mathematics, And Applications; Space Studies Board; Committee On Earth Studies

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0309069947 ISBN 13: 9780309069946

Publisher: National Academies Press, 2000

Synopsis

This is the second of two Space Studies Board reports that address the complex issue of incorporating the needs of climate research into the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). NPOESS, which has been driven by the imperative of reliably providing short-term weather information, is itself a union of heretofore separate civilian and military programs. It is a marriage of convenience to eliminate needless duplication and reduce cost, one that appears to be working.

The same considerations of expediency and economy motivate the present attempts to add to NPOESS the goals of climate research. The technical complexities of combining seemingly disparate requirements are accompanied by the programmatic complexities of forging further connections among three different agencies, with different mandates, cultures, and congressional appropriators. Yet the stakes are very high, and each agency gains significantly by finding ways to cooperate, as do the taxpayers. Beyond cost savings, benefits include the possibility that long-term climate observations will reveal new phenomena of interest to weather forecasters, as happened with the El Niño/Southern Oscillation. Conversely, climate researchers can often make good use of operational data.

Necessity is the mother of invention, and the needs of all the parties involved in NPOESS should conspire to foster creative solutions to make this effort work. Although it has often been said that research and operational requirements are incommensurate, this report and the phase one report (Science and Design) accentuate the degree to which they are complementary and could be made compatible. The reports provide guidelines for achieving the desired integration to the mutual benefit of all parties. Although a significant level of commitment will be needed to surmount the very real technical and programmatic impediments, the public interest would be well served by a positive outcome.

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Calibration and Validation
• Data Continuity
• Data Systems
• Technology Insertion
• Appendix A: Statement of Task
• Appendix B: Workshop Discussion and Participants
• Appendix C: Solar Reflection Region Measurements
• Appendix D: Acronyms and Abbreviations

About this title

About the Author

Committee on Earth Studies, Space Studies Board, National Research Council

Edition details

• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0309069947
• ISBN 13: 9780309069946
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 98