Organization:
Research Title: Climate Observations
Funding Level (millions of dollars):
| FY94 | 8.4 |
|---|---|
| FY95 | 7.1 |
| FY96 | 8.0 |
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Component:
(a) Subcommittee: Global Change Research Subcommittee (100%)
Task Group on Observations and Data Management
(b) Environmental Issue: Climate Change (100%)
(c) Research Activity: System structure and function: Observations (100%)
Organizational Component:
Office of Global Programs
NOAA/OGP
1100 Wayne Ave., Suite 1225
Silver Spring MD 20910
Point of Contact:
William L. Murray
Phone: 301 427-2089 ext 26
E-Mail: murray@ogp.noaa.gov
Research Goals:
To meet the scientific requirements for information that can be used to monitor the
climate, detect climate change, predict the climate system on time scales ranging
from seasonal to centennial, and perform integrated impact assessments.
Research Description:
NOAA's USGCRP contribution to Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) consists
of (i) a program of long-term ocean observations with an emphasis on in-situ
measurements of key parameters that have a strong and demonstrable impact on
describing and understanding climate variability, detecting trends and supporting
prediction at time scales from seasons to several decades; and (ii) the development,
validation, and implementation of high quality, climate-relevant data products
derived from NOAA operational observing systems, with a primary emphasis on
operational meteorological satellite measurements. A critical component of the
ocean observation program is the transition and maintenance of the Tropical Ocean
Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Observing System to operations while
studies are undertaken to determine the optimum Pacific Ocean observing system to
facilitate climate predictions. NOAA is also currently exploring the possibilities
of strengthening the organizational linkage between the NOAA Climate & Global
Change observational efforts that include the contribution to GCOS and the Climate
Change Data and Detection program activity.
Program Interfaces:
NOAA's contribution to GCOS directly supports national and international science
programs of the World Climate Research Program (WCRP) including the Global
Energy Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX), the World Ocean Circulation Experiment
(WOCE), the Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) Program, and the
NOAA/NASA Pathfinder project.
Program Milestones:
Autumn, 1994: Begin Collection of GOES 8 data for International Satellite Cloud
Climatology Project (ISCCP); Summer, 1995: Complete instrument installation for
three sites of the Surface Radiation Budget Network (SURFRAD); Summer, 1995:
Complete full implementation of the Indian Ocean XBT Program to coincide with
the WOCE Indian Ocean Expedition; Autumn, 1995: Complete development of a
global gridded precipitation analysis procedure; Spring, 1996: Complete the field
phase of project to improve the quality of SST measurements from volunteer
observing ships.
Policy Payoffs:
As stated in the GCOS Draft Plan, comprehensive global observations, when
integrated into numerical models of the climate system, will "provide immediate
benefits to society in the form of improved short-term climate forecasts and "long
term" benefits in providing a deeper understanding of the planet." The long-term,
reliable observational record provided by NOAA's contributions to GCOS are
essential components of: (i) seasonal to interannual climate forecasting to address
public safety and economic decision making issues; (ii) U.S. contributions to the
IPCC; and (iii) assessments of observed and anticipated climate
change. Before the advent of EOS, NOAA's program is providing the only major
global observations available for understanding, modeling, and predicting the
environment.