Organization:
Research Title: Earth Observing System Science
Funding Level (millions of dollars):
| FY94 | 58.8 |
|---|---|
| FY95 | 37.3 |
| FY96 | 56.5 |
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Component:
(a) Subcommittee: Global Change Research Subcommittee (100%)
Task Group on Data and Information Management
(b) Environmental Issue: Climate Change (45%), Natural Variability (15%),
Global
Change (20%), Ozone and UV (10%)
Land-use Change (5%), Ocean Ecosystem Change (5%)
(c) Research Activity: System structure and function: Observation (50%),
Understanding
(10%), Prediction (5%)
Data Management (30%); Impact and adaptation: Ecological Systems (5%)
Organization Component:
Earth Observing System Program Science Division
Office of Mission to Planet Earth
NASA Headquarters
Washington, DC 20546
Point of Contact:
Ghassem Asrar
Phone: 202-358-0266
E-Mail: gasrar@hq.nasa.gov
Research Goals:
To provide an integrated, comprehensive measurement program for systematic
observation
of the whole Earth from space that will enable scientists to both monitor global
change and
study a wide range of processes governing the environment. In particular, EOS will
provide observations and focused research on:
Research Description:
EOS is based on a rich scientific heritage; each instrument type baselined for EOS
has flown, or will fly, prior to EOS launch, as a satellite, Space Shuttle, aircraft,
or balloon
payload. All the data will be reduced, analyzed, and made readily available to the
EOS research community and others through the EOS Data and Information System
(EOSDIS).
It includes algorithm development required for translating the raw instrument data
into more usable information essential for specific scientific process model
development.
Scientific guidance of the development and deployment of EOS measurement
capabilities
is provided by selected interdisciplinary research teams and other scientific
participants
affiliated with and supporting each of the EOS instruments. The scientists funded
under the EOS are developing new models and extending the capabilities of those
that
now exist, as well as analyzing current data that contribute to global change research.
Their activities include developing conceptual, diagnostic, and predictive models
along with data assimilation techniques for incorporating satellite and other data
into such models. EOS is the centerpiece of the Global Change Research Program
(GCRP).
As such, the EOS mission embraces the overall goal and addresses each of the three
scientific objectives of the U.S. GCRP. All of the scientific research elements
of EOS have been selected through peer evaluation and have been reviewed by
science
advisory committees both at NASA and at the National Academy of Sciences. The
EOS
mission was reviewed and endorsed by the Earth System Sciences Committee.
Appropriate
agency, interagency, scientific, and international reviews have demonstrated that
EOS is both scientifically and technically sound.
Program Interfaces:
EOS activities include participation by NOAA, USGS, and DOE in the development
and
operation of the EOSDIS. The NOAA Polar-Orbit Earth Observation Mission is
coordinated
with EOS activities, and EOS will provide new instruments with operational
potential.
NOAA will sample data streams from EOS instruments, and incorporate selected
units into their operational meteorological satellite program once they are deemed
sufficiently reliable. The EOS Program is now part of the NOAA/DOD/NASA
Convergence
plan.
EOS has been planned and coordinated with the Earth observations programs of the
European Space Agency (ESA), Canada, France, Japan, and United Kingdom.
Discussions
are underway with Space Agencies of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
for
their potential participation in EOS Program. A coordinated set of platforms and
payloads will be launched, and the resulting data will be fully exchanged.
Instruments
from ESA, France, Canada, and Japan are slated for flight on NASA EOS platforms.
NASA EOS instruments will also fly on Japanese Advanced Earth Observing System
(ADEOS) platforms and the joint U.S-Japan Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission
(TRMM); and possibly a joint U.S.-France follow on to TOPEX/POSEIDON.
Overall activities are guided by recommendations of the interagency Committee on
Environmental and Natural Resources (Subcommittee on Global Change) , the
relevant
panels of the National Research Council (e.g., Climate Research Committee of the
Board
on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, and the Committee on Global Change, Space
Studies Board), and other committees which work to define the U.S. Global Change
Research Program. On the International level, EOS has scientific linkages to projects
of the
World Climate Research Program and of the International Geosphere Biosphere
Program.
The EOS Program also sponsors NASA participation in climate impact assessments
by
the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Japan and ESA are developing
complementary programs, which together with EOS will make up the International
Earth
Observing System.
Program Milestones:
October 1994: EOSDIS Version 0 Information Management System will be released.
November 1994: NASA Research Announcement for EOS Pathfinder Data Analysis
and
Research will be released. January-February 1995: All instruments and major
spacecraft
components for the AM-1 mission will pass the Critical Design Review. June 1995:
Announcement of Opportunity for participation of young investigators and
selection
of
Science Teams for some EOS Instruments will be issued. Mid-1995: EOSDIS Core
System and EOS Communications will pass CDR phase. Late-1995: EOS Data and
Operations System will pass Critical Design Review.
Policy Payoffs:
Current benefits from EOS-supported research include the enhanced production and
availability of key geophysical data sets from past and ongoing satellite observations
and
new modeling results.