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NOAA scientists collaborate on Remote Sensing Efforts
Ben Tuttle, representing NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) served on a panel of the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) at its annual meeting held in Portland, Oregon on April 29th - May 2nd, 2008. Along with fellow panelists Rob Edsall of Arizona State University, Monica Moskai of the University of Washington, and Matthew Dunbar of Kansas University, the panel explored the implications of using imagery as base information in popular maps such as Google Earth, Microsoft Virtual Earth, and Google Maps as well as use of default methods of cartographic symbolization. The panel called for systematic examination of traditional cartographic abstraction guidelines with regard to geographic information communication through these dynamic applications.
Significance: ASPRS is a scientific association for advancing understanding of mapping sciences to promote the responsible applications of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems and supporting technologies.
Outcome: This activity supports the Goal 3 objective of demonstrating global leadership in environmental science.
( or 303-497-3948)
NOAA scientists aid State Department efforts in Africa
Justin Mabie of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) and Tim Fuller-Rowell of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SPWC) met with David Murr and David Turner of the U.S. Department of State at SWPC's Space Weather Workshop held in Boulder, CO on April 29th - May 2nd, 2008 to discuss how to advance infrastructure and promote education across Africa. NGDC provided the State Department with information on benefits and difficulties in maintaining Global Positioning System (GPS) reference stations across Africa.
Significance: This is in support of the ongoing International Heliophysical Year effort and our mission to be responsible stewards of environmental data and to promote science education across the globe.
Outcome: This activity supports the Goal 3 objective to demonstrate global leadership in environmental issues.
( or 303-497-6346)
National Geophysical Data Center completes NESDIS Succession Planning Pilot Project
The National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) completed a pilot competency assessment for each of its federal, contract and cooperative institute employees. This anonymous exercise was conducted by NGDC managers as part of a NESDIS-wide project to develop a comprehensive, integrated strategic human capital plan focusing on the next ten years. To date, the project has explored a high-level perspective of the future of NESDIS, identified the future drivers of change and their likely impacts on the organization, and identified key organizational roles. After the competency assessments are complete for the whole line office, NESDIS will develop and implement strategies and tools to fill competency gaps to meet the future needs of the organization (e.g., training, hiring, changes in personnel policies, etc.)
Significance: Supports NOAA Strategic Workforce Management and Planning.
( or 303-497-6767)
Pacific Geology Workshop for the Extended Continental Shelf (ECS)
The United States has begun an extensive mapping and data collection project to characterize the limits of its Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) as described in Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In February, 2007, a U.S. Interagency ECS Task Force was formed to coordinate the project. As part of that effort the Task Force has initiated a series of workshops, designed to elicit expert opinions from outside of the U.S. government on the best approach to the project.
Significance: The Pacific Geology Workshop, held at the East-West Center in Honolulu, HI on April 25 - 26, 2008, brought together leaders from academic and research institutions, experienced in Pacific geology, satellite altimetry, bathymetry, seismology, coral reef mapping and sea floor dynamics. NOAA participants included Dr. Christopher Fox, Director National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), Joyce Miller, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Heather Allen, International Affairs Office. The goal of the workshop was to identify priority Pacific regions for further bathymetric or seismic research cruises. Additionally, the group was asked to share any existing data pertinent to the ECS project. At the end of the two-day workshop, participants identified priority areas for further research including Necker Ridge near Hawaii, the Northern Marianas (both East and West) and Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll. The regions were chosen based on the available data (geological and morphological) and the likelihood of further research to result in an expanded ECS area.
Outcome: On May 27, 2007, President Bush asked the Senate to ratify UNCLOS. Once ratified, the U.S. will have ten years to assemble its submission to the UN. NOAA will have the central role in bathymetric data collection and NGDC will have the central role in data management, integration, and analysis.
( or 303-497-6215)
Improving Tsunami Data Flow at NOAA's Real-time and Retrospective Data Centers
The National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) and NOAA's Integrated Data and Environmental Applications (IDEA) Center, National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), and Center for Operational Ocean Product Services (CO-OPS) are collaborating to develop standard tools and formats to automate the flow of data and metadata from the real-time reporting centers to the long-term archive. The Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), contracted through the IDEA Center, is working with NGDC and NDBC to implement a data and metadata Enterprise Service Bus for transfer of Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoy data. The system is standards and XML based and will be extended to address transfer of the high-resolution tsunami coastal tide gauge data at CO-OPS and the Tsunami Warning Centers. The "bus" is built on a system prototyped by the IDEA Center last year that is being extended into an "operational" environment. Lee Napravnik, a software engineer with SAIC, visited NGDC on May 5th, 2008 to better understand the requirements and systems environment at the long-term archive. This is an example of "one-NOAA" collaboration, drawing on expertise and resources from the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Weather Service, and National Ocean Service to implement a sustainable solution for preservation of key NOAA observational data.
Significance: The NOAA/NGDC efforts in data management and its role in archiving NOAA's tsunami and bathymetry data are essential aspects of the NOAA effort to forecast and mitigate impacts from tsunami events. The integrated hazards archive provides data essential for coastal hazard assessment, improved data for research, and assured access to data related to past hazardous events for monitoring and mitigating the socio-economic impact of coastal hazards. Developing standard transmission methods and formats for instrumental data and accompanying metadata will improve the efficiency and reliability of the data archive and services.
Outcome: This activity supports the Integrated Oceans and Coastal Mapping program and the general goal to improve our environmental and marine infrastructure and to develop a more robust Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) as well as directly supporting NOAA's responsibilities under P.L. 109-424.
( or 303-497-6478)
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) hosts the 2008 Space Weather Workshop (SWW)
Over 300 registered participants, including eleven from the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) attended the 2008 SWW held in Boulder, CO on April 28 - May 2, 2008. The SWW was hosted by the SWPC/National Weather Service (NWS). SWW is an annual workshop that brings industry, academia, and government agencies together in a lively dialog about space weather. This year's conference was highly focused on operational needs as the SWPC re-aligns itself within the NWS. Opening remarks were provided by Ms. Barbara O'Brien, the present Lieutenant Governor for the state of Colorado. Other notable speakers this year included Drs. Louis Uccellini, director of the NOAA National Center for Environmental Prediction, and Fred Lewis (BGen, retired), director of Air Force Weather. As part of a technical session, Dr. Eric Kihn from NGDC provided a well-received oral presentation on user tools and access to space environmental databases within NOAA and other data centers. The SWW is the technical complement to the more policy oriented Space Weather Enterprise Forum currently scheduled for May 21st, 2008 in Washington, D.C. at the National Press Club.
Significance: SWW provides an excellent forum to assess the current state of Space Weather by considering society's most pressing needs and identifying challenges and opportunities for addressing these needs.
Outcome: This supports the Goal 3 outcome to demonstrate global leadership in environmental issues by advancing GEOSS
( or 303-497-6323)
Bilateral Meeting with Australian officials on the Extended Continental Shelf (ECS)
A tri-agency delegation from the Departments of State, Interior (USGS), and Commerce (NOAA) met with the Australian government team that accomplished the Australian submission to the United Nations (UN) under Article 76 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The meetings took place at the offices of Geoscience Australia (GA) in Canberra on April 28 - 29, 2008. NOAA was represented by National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) Director Dr. Christopher Fox and Ms. Heather Allen of NOAA International Affairs. Members of Australia's ECS team included officials from GA, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Attorney-General's Department of Australia.
Significance: In mid-April the UN Commission on the Limits to the Continental Shelf released its recommendations based on Australia's submission, concurring 95% with the Australian delimitation. On April 21, 2008 the Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson welcomed findings from the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in New York confirming Australia's jurisdiction over an additional 2.5 million square kilometers of seabed. The Australians provided document templates and project management information to the U.S. delegation, critical guidance for the U.S. as it embarks on a multi-year multi-million dollar program.
Outcome: On May 27, 2007, President Bush asked the Senate to ratify UNCLOS. Once ratified, the U.S. will have ten years to assemble its submission to the UN. NOAA will have the central role in bathymetric data collection and NGDC will have the central role in data management, integration, and analysis.
( or 303-497-6215)
World Data Center System (WDC) to be disbanded
David Clark, Assistant Director of the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) and the Secretary to the International Council for Science (ICSU) WDC Panel, attended the WDC Panel meeting hosted at the ICSU Secretariat in Paris, France, April 21-23, 2008. The WDC Panel is an ICSU interdisciplinary body which coordinates 50 WDCs world wide in twelve countries. There are seven WDCs co-located at the NOAA National Data Centers (NNDC). The major topic of discussion at the meeting was ICSU's plan to disband the WDCs and reconstitute a new system of data centers and data services to address the current data activities of ICSU programs including the Group on Earth Observations' Global Earth Observation Systems of Systems (GEOSS), and the International Polar Year (IPY). Some of the existing WDCs may be included in the new system which is expected to be established after the ICSU General Assembly in October 2008.
Significance: NOAA hosts seven WDCs co-located within its NNDCs. The new ICSU data system may have a critical role in the data activities of GEOSS and the IPY. Both of these programs are of high interest within NOAA. NOAA's NNDCs, with their co-located WDCs (which may become a part of the new ICSU data system), may begin to address similar data activities related to these priority ICSU programs.
Outcome: Advance GEOSS
( or 303-497-6215)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) visits the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)
A group of seven scientists and engineers from the EPA Denver office visited NSIDC on April 23, 2008. NSIDC's research on the environment and climate change is closely related to EPA's primary mission: to protect human health and achieve a healthier and cleaner environment. The visitors were briefed on NSIDC's climate change research and on how humans affect climate. Some of this work contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2007 report that led to a Nobel Peace Prize. The EPA group also wishes to promote diversity and to invite talented and accomplished Asian-Americans to discuss their work and learn about their achievements. Dr. Clark Judy, NSIDC Deputy Director, gave an overview of NSIDC operations, Dr. Mark Serreze gave an overview of NSIDC research, and Dr. Tingjun Zhang briefed the delegates about IPCC process and NSIDC contribution to the IPCC 2007 report. A lengthy discussion of issues of common concerns followed.
Significance: Collaboration between NOAA and other government agencies, such as the EPA supports common research goals that relate to the environment and climate change.
Outcome: This supports the Goal 3 outcome to demonstrate global leadership on environmental issues by advancing GEOSS
(Florence Fetterer, 303-492-4421 or fetterer@nsidc.org)
National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) participates at the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair 2008
NGDC's Karen Horan, Eric Kihn, Dan Kowal, and Kim Nye were Special Awards Judges at the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair held in Fort Collins, CO on April 10, 2008. Each year NGDC selects an outstanding science fair project in the junior division of the Environmental Sciences. The selected student receives an award plaque, certificate of recognition, and a savings bond. This year's award was presented to Heather Hilson from Summit Middle School whose project was entitled "A Century in the Life of Trees". She studied an area of forest in Sunshine Canyon, CO and hypothesized that the tree stand density and health over the last 133 years had changed due to factors such as grazing, logging, fire suppression and changes in forest environment. Heather performed careful analysis and comparisons between tree stands from 1875 and 2007. Based on her results, Heather concluded that fire suppression most likely helped lead to a 400% tree stand increase and that the main reason for the increase in stand density was the geology of the site and natural fluctuations in the forest environment.
( or 303-497-6160)
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