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Issues in the Integration of Research and Operational Satellite Systems for Climate Research Part II. Implementation (2000) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Pages 1-6

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From page 1...
... NPOESS will collect critical data sets on variables that are not currently included in operational measurements (such as radiation budget, total ozone, wind speed and direction, ocean topography, and ocean color) and will offer improved quality for some variables now being measured (such as atmospheric moisture and temperature profiles, all-weather sea surface temperature, and vegetation indices)
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From page 2...
... Operational satellites represent a unique asset that could produce long time series with sufficient quality, although their primary mission is not climate research. NPOESS officials appear to be making significant progress toward facilitating such data records, particularly in their attempts to set stability requirements for some of the critical data sets.
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From page 3...
... , then the objective of the lunar characterization program should be to measure changes in the relative reflectance as a function of the phase and position of Earth, the Sun, and the Moon rather than absolute spectral radiance. · The establishment of traceability by national measurement institutions in addition to the National Institute of Standards and Technology should be considered to determine if improved accuracy, reduced uncertainty in the measurement chain, and/or better documentation might be achieved, perhaps even at a lower cost.
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From page 4...
... · The system should have the ability to reprocess large data sets as understanding of sensor performance, algorithms, and Earth science improves. Examples of sources of new information that would warrant data reprocessing include the discovery of processing errors, the detection of sensor calibration drift, the availability of better ancillary data sets, and better geophysical models.
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From page 5...
... Technology Insertion Qualifying technological innovations span a wide range of implied changes and, thus, impose a wide range of risk levels on the operational performance of the system. For example, replacing a computer with a faster model that preserves the form, fit, and function of the earlier model is quite different from changing the computer's operating system or data processing algorithm.
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From page 6...
... Even if a new technological innovation is proven to offer unique scientific value and is shown to be technically feasible, there are no firm plans to guide its transition onto NPOESS. Recommendations The IPO and NASA should strive to accommodate technological change in a timely manner, while ensuring that the modified system will sustain operational functionality.
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Key Terms

  • technology insertion
  • data product
  • sensor performance
  • data processing
  • operational satellite

  • operational environmental
  • data archiving
  • sensor calibration
  • requirements document
  • critical data

  • operational requirements
  • sensitivity studies
  • designed primarily
  • development plan
  • accommodate technological

  • maintaining data
  • quality assessment
  • integrated operational
  • data products
  • science teams

  • environmental satellite
  • sea surface
  • instrument characterization
  • surface temperature
  • operational functionality

  • data quality
  • time series
  • research satellite
  • integrated program
  • product validation


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