Revolutionizing Our Understanding Of the Earth:

Implications for Global Public Health

Revolutionizing Our Understanding Of the Earth:

Implications for Global Public Health

Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. U.S. Navy (Ret.)Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)11th World Congress of Public Health • 8th Brazilian Congress of Collective Health

August 22, 2006 • Rio de Janeiro

Malaria Endemic Countries, 2003

Dr. John Snow’s Map – 1843London

Dr. Valentine Seaman’s 1796 map of yellow fever deaths in New York City

Broad Street Pump

“Whoever wishes to investigate medicine properly should consider the seasons of the year, and what effects each of them produces. They are not at all alike, but differ much from themselves in regard to their changes. Then the winds, the hot and the cold, especially as are common to all countries, and as peculiar to each locality. We must also consider the qualities of the waters, for as they differ from one to another in taste and weight, so also do they differ much in their qualities.” 

Hippocrates: 400 BCAir, Water and Places

An informed society that uses a comprehensive understanding of the role of the ocean, coasts, and atmosphere in the global ecosystem to make the best social and economic decisions.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Vision:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Integrated Drought Information System

NOAA National Weather Service Heat Index Program

Hydrologic Services Program

Storm Surge Model

Coral Reef Conservation Program

Oceans and Human Health Initiative

Rainfall and MalariaWeekly Cases in Niger from 2001 to 2003

Pre

cip

(mm

/day

)

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

50000

2001 2002 2003

High Risk

Low Risk

June 2005 Predicted June 2006 Predicted

Hantavirus Predictive Risk Map

High Risk

Low Risk

June 2005 Predicted June 2006 Predicted

Several thousand cases annually in South America

UGANDA

CDCFort Collins

CDCAtlanta

TANZANIA

KENYASOMALIA

0 200 400

Kilometers

Ngong Hills

Torosei

Olkarimatian

Terrat

Olbalbal

Loita

Entasopia

02468

101214161820

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Week Number (week 1 commenced Nov. 25, 1997)

Case

s

HF (n=84)

Managing Health and Economic Consequences

Cases in Kenya Related to Rift Valley Fever

• Health Barrier• Trade Barrier• Long-Term Nutritional Impact

Monitoring Cholera Transmission RiskMonitoring Cholera Transmission Risk

Advanced Planning in Pohnpei

Emergency and Response: Behind the Curve

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

DAY

CASES

LabConfirmation

Outbreak Detection and Response

Response

Detection/Reporting

First Case

Adapted from J. Davis, Climate Adaptation Workshop, Nov. 2003

Opportunity for control

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

DAY

CASES

First Case

Detection/Reporting

Lab Confirmation

Response

Opportunity for control

Effective Health Early Warning

- 120

Earth Observations

and Monitoring Information

Adapted from J. Davis, Climate AdaptationWorkshop, Nov. 2003

Outreach and stakeholder involvement

Earth is a complex system of systems

Data is required from multiple observation networks . . . and systems . . .

A Global Earth Observation System of Systems

GEOSS

From Observation to ActionAchieving Comprehensive, Coordinated, and Sustained

Earth Observations for the Benefit of Humankind

AlgeriaArgentinaAustraliaBahrainBelgiumBelizeBrazilCameroonCanadaCentral African RepublicChileChinaCroatiaCyprusDenmarkEgyptEuropean CommissionFinlandFranceGermanyGuinea-Bissau

HondurasHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIrelandIsraelItalyJapanKazakhstanLatviaLuxembourgMalaysiaMaliMauritiusMexicoMoroccoNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNigerNigeria

NorwayParaguayPhilippinesPortugalRepublic of KoreaRepublic of the CongoRussian FederationSlovak RepublicSloveniaSouth AfricaSpainSudanSwedenSwitzerlandThailandTunisiaUgandaUkraineUnited KingdomUnited StatesUzbekistan www.earthobservations.org

65 Countries and the European Commission43 Organizations

www.noaa.gov/eos.html

U.S. Interagency Working Group on Earth Observations Membership

Department of Commerce

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration• National Institute for Standards and Technology

Department of Defense

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers• Navy• Air Force• National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Department of Energy

Department of Health and Human Services

• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Department of Homeland Security

• Federal Emergency Management Agency

Department of the Interior

• U.S. Geological Survey

Department of State

Department of Transportation

Environmental ProtectionAgency

National Aeronautics andSpace Administration

National Science Foundation

Smithsonian Institution

Tennessee Valley Authority

U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment

U.S. Department of Agriculture

• Agriculture Research Service• U.S. Forest Service

White House Council onEnvironmental Quality

White House Office ofManagement and Budget

White House Office ofScience and Technology Policy

32

3

1

3

Americas Europe Africa Asia/Oceania

Commonwealth of Independent States

US (co-chair)Brazil

Honduras

EC (co-chair)Italy

Germany

SA (co-chair)Morocco

Russia

China (co-chair)Japan

Thailand

Group on Earth Observations Executive Committee (GEO)

GEO-NETCastReal-time Benefits for the Health and Other

Communities!

A real-time global data dissemination system to support a range of societal benefits.

Environmental in situ, airborne and space-based observations, products and services will be transmitted to users through satellites.

Built on existing dissemination systems with data collection and dissemination hubs around the globe.

Data will be divided into channels that user can select based on need.

GEOSS Operating Principles

Open and Transparent Process

Standardized Practices and Protocols

User-friendly Formats

Interoperable Components

Typical Receiver Station Configuration

- Dedicated personal computer (~ $1000)

Data analysis and processing should be done on separate computer(s)

- Satellite antenna dish (1-3 m) (~ $300-1200)

- DTH receiver card or box (~ $200)

Value-Added

Weather and HealthEbola

ESA Initiative: Solving the Ebola Enigma

Sound Science for Sound Policy

Famine Early WarningSystems Network

Predicting Drought

Understanding El NiñoPatterns

EPA / NASA

Visualizing Movement of Polluted Air

Projecting Impact of Smoke Plumes

www.earthobservations.org