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Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (2003)

Chapter: Appendix D: NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives

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Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives." National Research Council. 2003. Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10773.
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Appendix D NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives

NGDC MISSION AND VISION

NGDC Formal Mission Statement

The National Geophysical and Solar-Terrestrial Data Center1 acquires, processes, archives, analyzes, and disseminates solid Earth and marine geophysical data as well as ionospheric, solar, and other space environment data; develops analytical, climatological, and descriptive products to meet user requirements; and provides facilities for World Data Center-A (Solid Earth Geophysics, Solar Terrestrial Physics, and Glaciology).

  1. Geophysical and solar-terrestrial data available from NGSDC include:

    1. Marine geology and geophysics. Bathymetric measurement; seismic reflection profiles; gravimetric measurements; geomagnetic total field measurements; and geological data, including data on heat flow, cores, samples, and sediments.

    2. Solar-Terrestrial physics. Ionosphere data, including ionograms, frequency plots, riometer and field-strength strip charts, and tabulations; solar activity data; geomagnetic variation data, including magnetograms; auroral data; cosmic ray data; and airglow data.

1  

NGDC was named the National Geophysical and Solar-Terrestrial Data Center from 1972 to 1982.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives." National Research Council. 2003. Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10773.
×
  1. Seismology. Seismograms; accelerograms; digitized strong-motion accelerograms; earthquake data list (events since January 1900); earthquake data service with updates on a monthly basis.

  2. Geomagnetic main field. Magnetic survey data and secular-change data tables.2

NGDC Web Site Statement

The National Geophysical Data Center’s mission is data management in the broadest sense. We play an integral role in NOAA’s environmental research and stewardship, and provide data services to users worldwide.3

NGDC Functional Statement

The National Geophysical Data Center conducts a data and data-information service in all scientific and technical areas involving solid earth geophysics, marine geology and geophysics, glaciology (snow and ice), the space environment, solar activity and the other areas of solar-terrestrial physics. The scientific specialties treated include seismology, geomagnetism, topography, bathymetry, paleoclimatology, gravimetry, earth tides, crustal movement, geothermics, glaciology, ionospheric phenomena, solar activity and related areas. The services are provided for scientific, technical, and lay users in governmental agencies, universities and the private sector in the U.S. and their counterparts in foreign countries. The Center prepares systematic and special data products and performs data-related research studies to enhance the utility of the service to the users. It performs all functions related to data acquisition, archiving, retrieval, indexing, quality assessments, evaluation, synthesis, dissemination, and publication. The Center operates World Data Center-A for the respective scientific areas listed above under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences. It performs necessary liaison with other NOAA components and with national and foreign contributors and users of data and information about data. The Center coordinates with other NESDIS data centers and with data centers outside of NOAA in areas of related scientific and technical concern to achieve a useful degree of homogeneity in the data services in the environmental sciences and to avoid duplication of effort. It takes part in jointly planning national and international scientific programs to assure that data collection and management needs are adequately considered.4

2  

15 CFR Ch IX (1-1-97 edition) §950.5.

3  

<www.ngdc.noaa.gov/ngdcinfo/aboutngdc.html>.

4  

NOAA Organizational Handbook, <http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~ohb/E/EH0000.html>.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives." National Research Council. 2003. Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10773.
×
NGDC Vision

To be the preeminent national stewards of geophysical and relevant environmental data, and to transform these data, using pioneering scientific thought and cutting-edge technology, into effective information necessary to secure a sustainable, flourishing future for our nation and world.

This vision requires:

  • Building authoritative long-term archives

  • Acquiring satellite and other emerging data streams

  • Providing unrivaled data access analysis and integration

  • Contributing to significant scientific research

  • Forging new partnerships

  • Energizing outreach efforts

  • Creating an invigorated environment in which our talented workforce can excel5

NESDIS MISSION, VISION, AND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

NESDIS Vision

To provide and ensure timely access to global environmental data and information services from satellites and other sources to promote, protect, and enhance the nation’s economy, security, environment, and quality of life.6

NESDIS Vision

To be the source for the world’s most comprehensive and easily accessible satellite products, environmental information, and assessments of the environment.7

NESDIS Strategic Objectives
  1. Enhancing operational satellite sensing systems

  2. Promoting critical environmental data and information services

5  

Presentation to the committee by Michael Loughridge, director, NGDC, August 13, 2002.

6  

Department of Commerce, 2001, A Strategic Plan for NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Md., p. 4.

7  

Ibid., p. 5.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives." National Research Council. 2003. Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10773.
×
  1. Ensuring a world-class workforce

  2. Executing sound and strategic resource management

  3. Improving understanding through outreach

  4. Improving weather products and services

  5. Extending climate services

  6. Improving coastal services

  7. Providing operational ocean services

  8. Saving lives and property through hazards support.8

NOAA MISSION, MISSION STRATEGIES, AND VISION NOAA Mission

To understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet the Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs.9

NOAA Mission Goals
  1. Protect, restore and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through ecosystem management approaches.

  2. Understand climate variability and change to enhance society’s ability to plan and respond

  3. Serve society’s needs for weather and water information

  4. Support the nation’s commerce with information for safe and efficient transportation.10

NOAA’s Crosscutting Priorities
  • Integrated global environmental observation and data management system

  • Environmental literacy, outreach, and education

  • Sound, reliable state-of-the-art research

  • International cooperation and collaboration

  • Homeland security

8  

Ibid., pp. 14-26.

9  

Department of Commerce, 2003, New Priorities for the 21st Century: NOAA’s Strategic Plan for FY 2003 - FY 2008 and Beyond, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, January 16, 2003 draft, p. 1, <www.osp.noaa.gov/docs/publicdraft.pdf>.

10  

Ibid., p. 2.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives." National Research Council. 2003. Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10773.
×
  • Organizational excellence: facilities, infrastructure, security, human capital and administrative services.11

NOAA Vision

To move NOAA into the 21st Century scientifically and operationally, in the same interrelated manner as the environment that we observe and forecast, while recognizing the link between our global economy and our planet’s environment.12

11  

Ibid., pp. 11-15.

12  

Ibid., p. 1.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives." National Research Council. 2003. Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10773.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives." National Research Council. 2003. Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10773.
×
Page 93
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives." National Research Council. 2003. Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10773.
×
Page 94
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives." National Research Council. 2003. Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10773.
×
Page 95
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives." National Research Council. 2003. Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10773.
×
Page 96
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives." National Research Council. 2003. Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10773.
×
Page 97
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: NOAA, NESDIS, and NGDC Missions, Visions, and Strategic Objectives." National Research Council. 2003. Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10773.
×
Page 98
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Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center Get This Book
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The report reviews the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) and assesses how well the center is managing its holdings, serving its users, and supporting NOAA's mission. It concludes that NGDC is the natural place within NOAA and the nation for stewardship and dissemination of data related to the solid Earth and space environment. These subject areas are also relevant to NOAA’s new priority on integrated environmental approaches. For NGDC to fulfill its potential, however, it must first rearticulate its mission and overcome some solvable problems, including obtaining effective feedback from its users and organizing the center to eliminate parallel activities and reduce scientific isolation among the divisions.

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