The USA’s Data Challenges for the
Future as a Participant in the Global
Earth Observation System of Systems
(GEOSS)
Wayne M. Faas
Chief, Data Operations Division
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Climatic Data Center
Asheville NC
November 22, 2005
Presentation Outline
The Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS) Overview
Policy Perspectives
Technical Perspectives
Integrated Earth Observing System
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Data Challenges
2
Space
The Backbone of GEOSS
3
GEOSS Vision
Enable a healthy public, economy, and planet
through an integrated, comprehensive, and
sustained Earth observation system
From a Regional View
To a Global Analysis
4
Why GEOSS?
Societal issues often require:
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Data from a variety of observing systems
Analysis of the data
Research
Modeling
Decision support tools
International Collaboration and coordination
GEOSS-Global System To Meet Societal Needs
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Interdisciplinary focus
A coordinated international system using remote sensing & in
situ systems
Foundation for sound decision-making: global, regional, & local
level
5
Examples of Social, Economic &
Science Issues Addressed by GEOSS
More than 50% of the world’s population lives within
60 km of the shoreline, and this could rise to 75% by
the year 2020
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More than 90% of natural disaster-related deaths
occur in developing countries
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25% of Earth’s biological productivity & an estimated
80-90% of global commercial fish catch is
concentrated in coastal zones
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Worldwide agricultural benefits of better El Niño
forecasts are conservatively estimated at $450$550M/year
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The Global Framework
A distributed system of systems
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Improves coordination of
strategies and observation
systems
Links all platforms: in situ,
aircraft, and satellite networks
Identifies gaps in our global
capacity
Facilitates exchange of data and
information
Improves decision-makers’
abilities to address pressing
policy issues
7
What is GEOSS?
Technical Perspective
An end-to-end
system of
existing
systems
(both in situ
and remote
sensing
observation
platforms)
linked with new
systems
8
What is GEOSS?
Policy Perspective
GEOSS is a distributed system of systems built on
current international cooperation efforts among
existing Earth observing and processing systems
GEOSS is
Comprehensive—observations and products from all
components
 Coordinated—leverages contributing members
resources
 Sustained—by will and capacity of all members

GEOSS enables the collection and distribution of
accurate, reliable Earth Observation data,
information, products, and services to both suppliers
and consumers worldwide—through an end-to-end
process
9
From Observations to
Benefits
10
Presentation Outline
The Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS) Overview
Policy Perspectives
Technical Perspectives
Integrated Earth Observing System
NOAA Data Challenges
11
Policy Challenges
Harnessing the political will of nearly 60
countries
Incorporating over 40 international
organizations such as IOC, WMO, ISDR and
UNEP
 These organizations – even different U.N.
agencies - don’t always talk to each other
 GEO offers a mechanism for coordination
12
GEOSS Overview
EOS I
EOS I
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July 31, 2003, Washington, D.C.
34 Countries + 20 International
Organizations
EOS II
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April 25, 2004, Tokyo, Japan
43 Countries + EC + 26
International Organizations
EOS II
EOS III
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February 2005, Brussels
60 Countries + EC + 34
International Organizations
10-Year Implementation Plan
Commerce Secretary Gutierrez
led the US delegation
EOS III
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GEO I
Geneva, Switzerland
First meeting GEO agreed to 12 member
Executive Committee
 Africa (2), Americas (3), Asia
and Oceania (3), Commonwealth
of Independent States (1),
Europe (3)
 Co-Chairs: US, EC (developed);
China, South Africa (developing)
Tsunami Update – IOC
14
3
1
3
2
3
Americas
Brazil
Honduras
USA
Europe
European
Commission
Italy
Germany
GEO Executive Committee
Africa
South
Africa
Morocco
Asia/Oceania
China
Japan
Thailand
Commonwealth of Independent States
Russia
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GEO Exec Com Initial
Meeting
Immediately after GEO I (June, Geneva)
Establish Functions and Roles
Exec Com = Working Body / GEO = Decision Body
Set Up Committee Structure
S&T Mechanism
 User Interface Mechanism
 Architecture
 Data Policy
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Public Engagement
is a Priority
Public Engagement Workshop—Continuing
the Dialogue
 Washington, DC, May 9-10
 +400 attendees from all sectors
 Discussion of Societal Benefit Areas
 Discussion of Near Term Opportunities
Integration Frameworks
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Data Management
Improved Observations for Disaster Warnings
Global Land Observing System
Sea Level Observing System
National Integrated Drought Information System
Air Quality Assessment and Forecast System
17
Presentation Outline
The Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS) Overview
Policy Perspectives
Technical Perspectives
Integrated Earth Observing System
NOAA Data Challenges
18
Technical Advancements…
Geostationary Satellites
Much improved spatial and
temporal coverage
Current GOES
Sounder
coverage in one
hour
GOES-R: New generation of
current U.S. geostationary
operational environmental
satellite (GOES) series
GOES-R HES
Sounder coverage
in one hour
CIMSS
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Technical Advancements…
Polar Satellites
NPOESS: National Polar-Orbiting
Operational Environmental Satellite
System
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Advanced imager offers near-constant
resolution across scan
Additionally, VIIRS brings a great
increase in multispectral channels
OLS
AVHRR
VIIRS
2
6
22
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… Bring Technical
Challenges
Data Management
Needs
New Systems mean 100fold increase in data
 Current systems already
face challenges
 Development of browser
and visualization
systems— underpinned
by core geospatial
technologies
 Interoperability through
protocols and standards
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Architecture Needs
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Support for a range of implementation options
Addressing planned, research and operational
systems
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Interfaced capabilities through interoperability
specifications
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Inclusion of metadata and quality indicators
Continuity of observations, and
instigation of new observations
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Building on existing systems and
historical data
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In U.S., focus on Federal Enterprise
Architecture Framework
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Architecture Targets: GEO
Within two years, GEOSS will:
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Advocate formal commitments of contributions by
GEO Members and Participating Organizations
Produce a publicly accessible, network-distributed
catalogue
Establish and maintain a process for reaching
interoperability arrangements
Advocate use of existing Spatial Data Infrastructure
(SDI) components as institutional and technical
precedents
Develop a cost-and-benefit-sharing mechanism(s) for
observations
23
Presentation Outline
The Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS) Overview
Policy Perspectives
Technical Perspectives
Integrated Earth Observing System
NOAA Data Challenges
24
U.S. Contribution to GEOSS
An Interagency Effort
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Global Earth Observing
Integrated Data Environment
(GEO-IDE)
• Scope: NOAA-wide architecture
development to guide all NOAA observation
data management systems
• Result: A single system of systems (user
perspective), that allows access to data
sets needed to address societal questions
• GEO IDE Current Status
• Planning has begun now in order to
address US IEOS and GEOSS critical
societal needs
• Cross NOAA Goal planning team formed
• Draft data management plan complete
FY05
• Final plan released to be in FY06
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Global Earth Observing
System of Systems
Discipline Specific View
Whole System View
Atmospheric
Observations
Land Surface
Observation
Ocean
Observations
Space
Observations
Data Systems
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Current systems are program specific, focused,
individually efficient.
But incompatible, not integrated, isolated from one
another and from wider environmental community
Coordinated,
efficient,
integrated,
interoperable
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Architecture — National
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Builds on existing systems
Addresses planned, research
and operational systems
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Capabilities interfaced
through interoperability
specifications
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Preserves continuity of
observations
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Integrated Data Environment
Bridging the gaps between stove-pipe systems
• Integration of data across disciplines
• Improved data stewardship
• Increased efficiency
• Leverage industry and community initiatives
Standard
procedures, protocols, metadata,
formats, terminology.
Translators and middleware
Weather
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Climate
Hydrology Oceanography
Biology
Geophysics
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Products
“Success requires the interaction,
cooperation, and feedback that comes
only if all parties work together”
Users
VADM Lautenbacher
NOAA’s Strategic Plan
Observations
Benefits
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Overview
Architecture and Data Management
IEOS Near Term Opportunity (NTO)
Starting with NTOs and expanding to all IEOS
data management systems, the following gaps
will be addressed:
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Federal Agency coordination of strategies and
observation systems
Not a single system; rather Interoperability
among existing data management systems
Data linkages for All platforms: in situ,
aircraft, satellite
Innovative approaches to information and
knowledge management across agencies
Implemented standards/protocols for data and
metadata
Improved decision-makers’ abilities to
address policy and societal benefit issues
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Presentation Outline
The Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS) Overview
Policy Perspectives
Technical Perspectives
Integrated Earth Observing System
NOAA Data Challenges
32
NOAA’s Satellites and
Information Service:
Mission
NOAA’s Mission
For the protection and enhancement of the Nation’s
economy, security, environment, and quality of life...
• NOAA’s Satellites and Information Service:
– Provides and ensures timely access to global
environmental data, and
– Provides information services including earth
system observation, monitoring and
environmental assessments
• To fulfill its responsibilities, NOAA’s Satellites and
Information Service acquires and manages the
Nation’s civil operational environmental satellites
and operates the NOAA National Data Centers
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NOAA’s
Satellite
and Information
Services:
NOAA’s
Satellite
and Information
Programs
Services:Major
Major
Programs
• Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite (GOES)
• Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental
Satellite (POES)
• National Polar-orbiting Operational
Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS)
• Environmental Satellite Observing
Services
• NOAA’s Data Centers & Information
Services
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Fire Detection
Satellite Winds
Severe Weather
NOAA Satellite Products
Aerosols
Volcanic Ash
Monitoring
Sea Surface Temp
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NOAA’s Data Products
Multibeam data
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Planned Satellite Data
Volumes
Integrated Joint Polar Program/Metop
 35 GB/Day – 12.3 TB/Year
 December 2005
NPP/NPOESS
 4 TB/Day – 1.5 PB/Year/Satellite
 December 2006
 Operational 2 Spacecraft Constellation in 2010
GOES R-series
 3 TB/Day – 1.1 PB/Year/Satellite
 2012
 Operational 2 Spacecraft Constellation in 2014
NASA EOS
 4 TB/Day
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Comprehensive Large-Array
Data Stewardship System
(CLASS)
CLASS is NOAA’s long-term, permanent, on-line data archive for all of
NOAA’s environmental data.
Target data holdings by 2015 is 80 Petabytes; 160 Petabytes with the
replication/backup
Total existing data volume from NOAA and NASA environmental assets
destined for archive in CLASS is about ….
20 Petabytes
60 Petabytes projected by 2012
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Planned Model Data
Volumes
Over the next ten years access to real-time and archived
models are required for climate projections, reducing
uncertainty in those projections, impacts assessments
and downscaling issues. These data include:
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Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP),
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NWP Reanalysis
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Ensembles (probability predictions)
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National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD)
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Regional and Global Climate models
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2005-2010: 1000 Terabyte
2010-2017: + 4000 Terabyte
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Planned Radar Data
Volumes
Increased radar data volumes to approximately 2 petabytes per year
by 2010
Improved capabilities
 Faster volume coverage pattern and more scans per volume
coverage pattern
 Increased resolution from 1.0 km reflectivity data to 0.25 km
reflectivity data
 Increased azimuthal sampling from 1.0 degree to .5 degree
 Implementation of dual polarization
Benefits
 Faster and better detection of severe weather
 Improved precipitation amount estimation
 Improved estimation of rain and snow rates
 Identification of precipitation type in winter
storms
 Identification of electrically active storms
 Identification of aircraft icing conditions
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Future Archive Data
Volumes
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GEOSS, IEOS, AND NOAA
SUMMARY
Improved observation collection and use
for model enhancements
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Improved forecast and warning services
worldwide
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Improved understanding of oceans and
atmosphere
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Improved societal benefits worldwide
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Questions?
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