Space Studies Board Annual Report 2007 (2008) / Chapter Skim
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5.6 Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond
5.6 Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond
Pages 66-78
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From page 66... ...
These declarations, first made in the interim report of the Committee on Earth Science and Applications from Space: A Community Assessment and Strategy for the Future, are the foundation of the committee's vision for a decadal program of Earth science research and applications in support of society -- a vision that includes advances in fundamental understanding of the Earth system and increased application of this understanding to serve the nation and the people of the world. The declarations call for a renewal of the national commitment to a program of Earth observations in which attention to securing practical benefits for humankind plays an equal role with the quest to acquire new knowledge about the Earth system.
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From page 67... ...
Addressing these societal challenges requires that we confront key scientific questions related to ice sheets and sea-level change, large-scale and persistent shifts in precipitation and water availability, transcontinental air pollution, shifts in ecosystem structure and function in response to climate change, impacts of climate change on human health, and the occurrence of extreme events, such as severe storms, heat waves, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. The key questions include: • Will there be catastrophic collapse of the major ice sheets, including those of Greenland and West Antarctic and, if so, how rapidly will this occur?
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From page 68... ...
140 120 Number of Instruments 100 Solid Earth 80 Water Cycle Ecosystems 60 Climate 40 Weather 20 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Year FIGURE ES.2 Number of U.S. space-based Earth observation instruments in the current decade.
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From page 69... ...
Inaccurate wording of this four-part recommendation in the initially released prepublication copy of this report was subsequently corrected by the committee to reflect its intent to recommend a capability for ensuring continuity of the ongoing record of measurements of total solar irradiance and of Earth's radiation budget. As explained in the description of the CLARREO mission in Chapter 4, the committee recommends that the CERES Earth radiation budget instrument and a total solar irradiance sensor be flown on the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP)
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From page 70... ...
The committee also recommends that NASA continue to seek cost-effective, innovative means for obtaining information on land cover change. Sustained measurements of these key climate and weather variables are part of the committee's strategy to achieve its vision for an Earth observation and information system in the next decade.
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From page 71... ...
As described in Chapter 2, the committee derived a total of 17 missions for implementation by NASA and NOAA. In developing the recommended set of missions, the committee recognized that a successful Earth observation program is more than the sum of its parts.
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From page 72... ...
As part of this strategy: • NOAA should transition to operations three research observations. These are vector sea-surface winds; GPS radio occultation temperature, water vapor, and electron density soundings; and total solar irradiance (restored to NPOESS)
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From page 73... ...
SMAP Soil moisture and freeze-thaw for weather and LEO, SSO L-band radar 300 water cycle processes L-band radiometer ICESat-II Ice sheet height changes for climate change LEO, Laser altimeter 300 diagnosis Non-SSO DESDynI Surface and ice sheet deformation for LEO, SSO L-band InSAR 700 understanding natural hazards and climate; Laser altimeter vegetation structure for ecosystem health 2013-2016 HyspIRI Land surface composition for agriculture and LEO, SSO Hyperspectral spectrometer 300 mineral characterization; vegetation types for ecosystem health ASCENDS Day/night, all-latitude, all-season CO2 column LEO, SSO Multifrequency laser 400 integrals for climate emissions SWOT Ocean, lake, and river water levels for ocean LEO, SSO Ka- or Ku-band radar 450 and inland water dynamics Ku-band altimeter Microwave radiometer GEO-CAPE Atmospheric gas columns for air quality GEO High-spatial-resolution 550 forecasts; ocean color for coastal ecosystem hyperspectral spectrometer health and climate emissions Low-spatial-resolution imaging spectrometer IR correlation radiometer ACE Aerosol and cloud profiles for climate and LEO, SSO Backscatter lidar 800 water cycle; ocean color for open ocean Multiangle polarimeter biogeochemistry Doppler radar 2016-2020 LIST Land surface topography for landslide hazards LEO, SSO Laser altimeter 300 and water runoff PATH High-frequency, all-weather temperature and GEO Microwave array spectrometer 450 humidity soundings for weather forecasting and sea-surface temperatureb GRACE-II High-temporal-resolution gravity fields for LEO, SSO Microwave or laser ranging 450 tracking large-scale water movement system SCLP Snow accumulation for freshwater availability LEO, SSO Ku- and X-band radars 500 K- and Ka-band radiometers GACM Ozone and related gases for intercontinental LEO, SSO UV spectrometer 600 air quality and stratospheric ozone layer IR spectrometer prediction Microwave limb sounder 3D-Winds Tropospheric winds for weather forecasting LEO, SSO Doppler lidar 650 (Demo) and pollution transport NOTE: Missions are listed by cost.
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From page 74... ...
The set of recommended missions listed in Tables ES.1 and ES. 2 reflects an integrated, cohesive, and carefully sequenced mission plan that addresses the range of urgent societal benefit areas.
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From page 75... ...
If necessary, eliminate specific missions related to a theme rather than whole themes. • In the event of large budget shortfalls, re-evaluate the entire set of missions in light of an assessment of the current state of international global Earth observations, plans, needs, and opportunities.
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From page 76... ...
While exploratory, sustained, and operational measurements often share the need for new technology, careful calibration, and long-term stability, there are also important differences among them; exploratory, sustained, and operational Earth observations are distinct yet overlapping categories. An efficient and effective Earth observation system requires a continuing interagency evaluation of the capabilities and potential applications of numerous current and planned missions for transition of fundamental science missions into operational observation programs.
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From page 77... ...
These are issues whose solutions will require action at high levels of the federal government. Thus, the committee makes the following recommendation: Recommendation: The Office of Science and Technology Policy, in collaboration with the relevant agencies and in consultation with the scientific community, should develop and implement a plan for achieving and sustaining global Earth observations.
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From page 78... ...
Recommendation: NASA, NOAA, and USGS should pursue innovative approaches to educate and train scientists and users of Earth observations and applications. A particularly important role is to assist e ducators in inspiring and training students in the use of Earth observations and the information derived from them.
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