Science Serving Society: U.S. IEOS and GEOSS

VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. US Navy (Ret.)

Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

NOAA AdministratorNovember 21, 2005

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OutlineSocietal Benefits as Drivers of the SystemThe United States Contribution to GEOSSNOAA’s role in Earth ObservationsThe Future of GEOSS

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Integrated Earth System Requires Integrated

Observations

The dynamic Earth is a complex system of systems.

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From Observations to Benefits

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Linking Observations to Benefits

Better observations will allow us to provide better information and forecasts to aid in decisions across a variety of sectors:

More than half the world’s population lives within 60 km of the shoreline, and this could rise to 3/4 by the year 2020

More than 90% of natural disaster-related deaths occur in developing countries

25% of Earth’s biological productivity and an estimated 80-90% of global commercial fish catch is concentrated in coastal zones

Worldwide agricultural benefits of better El Niño forecasts are conservatively estimated at $450-$550M/year

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Disaster ResponseDue to advanced warning provided by NOAA during Hurricane Katrina:

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

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OutlineSocietal Benefits as Drivers of the SystemThe United States Contribution to GEOSSNOAA’s Role in Earth ObservationsThe Future of GEOSS

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GOOS And GEOSS

December 17, 2004Executive Order:Committee on Ocean Policyhttp://ocean.ceq.gov

U.S. IOOS GOOS

GEOSS

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U.S. IEOS

U.S. IOOS GOOS

Ocean Component of U.S. IEOS

Ocean Component of GOOS

U.S. Component

U.S. Component

GEOSS

IEOS and GEOSSA System of Systems

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U.S. ProgressUS Strategic Plan provides the framework for the US contribution to GEOUSGEO focusing on 6 Near Term Opportunities

Disasters Drought / NIDIS Land Observation Air Quality Sea Level Data Management

USGEO tracking US activities to GEO WorkPlan

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OutlineSocietal Benefits as Drivers of the SystemThe United States Contribution to GEOSSNOAA’s Role in Earth ObservationsThe Future of GEOSS

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NOAA and Earth Observation

NOAA: Where Science Gains ValueEarth observations…

Are at the core of NOAA’s mission Support virtually every activity we perform

NOAA has… Observing capabilities being advanced through

scientific and technological research A broad scope of domestic and international

partnerships Commitment to transform research into useful,

operational information The NOAA Observing Systems Council, which serves

as the principal advisory body to the Administrator

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NOAA Observations Systems

Land-Based

Air-Based

Space-Based Ocean-Based

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OutlineSocietal Benefits as Drivers of the SystemThe United States Contribution to GEOSSNOAA’s Role in Earth ObservationsThe Future of 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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Research Community’s Role

The academic and research communities have already contributed to the U.S. Strategy by commenting early in the process.Further opportunities to contribute to the success of GEOSS include:

Playing a lead role in getting user needs incorporated into the development of the system

Bringing together scientific expertise to foster the development of new technologies

Promoting an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to research, outreach and education

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Broad Participation

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

Science Serving Society: U.S. IEOS and GEOSS

VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. US Navy (Ret.)

Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

NOAA AdministratorNovember 21, 2005

http://earthobservations.org

http://iwgeo.ssc.nasa.gov