Back ||NOAA Home Remote Sensing for Enhanced Decision Making in Coastal and Marine Environments Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr NOAA Administrator May 20, 2002 Honored Guests, Industry Partners, my Fellow Federal Colleagues: Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning. It is indeed a great pleasure, privilege, and opportunity to speak to you today. Thank you Dr. Otis Brown for your kind introduction. My thanks also to the Veridian Systems Division for all the great work you do, just one example of which is this very beneficial Coastal and Marine Remote Sensing Conference. I look forward today to sharing with you some of my thoughts and concerns for the future. I come before you today with experience based on 40 years in the Navy, 1 year as president of the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE), and 5 months at NOAA! I do not claim to be an expert at remote sensing, but I certainly have had experience at sea, working within the coastal environment, and have been an avid user of some of the important products remote sensing can provide. These are indeed exciting times for the use of remote sensing in all area of environmental understanding, monitoring and forecasting, and in particular in the coastal and marine environment. My intentions today are to discuss and describe NOAA's involvement and interest in using remote sensing by explaining the following three assertions. First, remote sensing is an essential management tool needed to predict changes and aid decision-making in the coastal and marine environment. Second, remote sensing is an integral part of a larger global ocean and coastal observing system. This system in term serves as the data gathering building block for the management decision support products we produce to form the basis of sound public policy. Third, no one entity can provide all the components of this observing system, therefore NOAA relies on partnerships with users like yourselves--industry, all government levels, and academia, to create products that in turn benefit our partners and the public. I- Remote Sensing, an Essential Management Tool NOAA's mission consists of Environmental Assessment and Prediction, and Stewardship of Living Marine Resources. We have come a long way since 1960, when we launched our first remote sensing satellite to take pictures of clouds, and to help us forecast the weather. Now our satellites are used for such varied uses as search and rescue, fire monitoring, ocean bathymetry, and shoreline delineation. As the population of the coastal zone grows so does our need to invest in remote sensing technology that allows us to increase our capacity to predict changes in the environment. To this end, we need to use tools such as remote sensing to improve urban planning, to increase prediction capabilities for hazardous events, and to expand navigational aides for marine transportation systems. Likewise, we need remote sensing to understand climate change to protect our coastlines. To this end, remote sensing provides the information to measure changes in sea level and shoreline, as well as the health of coral reefs, which are integral to the protection of coastal topography. NOAA has successfully integrated remote sensing and geospatial information into our weather, climate, coastal and marine programs. NOAA scientists are constantly evaluating existing technology, and looking for ways to obtain the most reliable and useful information to support our mission. NOAA offers a number of fully operational programs that provide ongoing assistance to all types of users. For example, Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials, or NEMO, is an educational program for local land use officials that addresses the relationship of land use to natural resource protection. NEMO uses geographic information system (GIS) images of natural resources and remote sensing-derived images of land cover to educate local officials about the impacts of non-point source pollution in their towns and how to address them. Started by the Connecticut Sea Grant Program, NEMO now includes a national network of programs throughout the country. There are currently over 17 NEMO programs nationwide. NOAA is working to expand NEMO's presence on the coast through an effort to establish new NEMO programs in coastal communities and enhance existing ones. NOAA conducts a Coastal and Shoreline Change Analysis Program (CSCAP), which uses remote sensing techniques (tide-coordinated aerial photography controlled by GPS) to survey the 95,000 miles of coastal regions and navigable shoreline water areas to provide a seamless, official, and accurate delineation of the National Shoreline. By keeping this shoreline database current, NOAA can improve electronic charts for navigation including real-time tides measured by GPS at the actual location of the ship and provide docking charts, allowing vessels to dock safely in low visibility conditions using large-scale electronic charts. NOAA uses LIDAR technology to assess post storm damage to beaches, cities and building structures; measure heights within forest timber stands; and airspace obstruction for the Federal Aviation Administration. NOAA recently used LIDAR to map the World Trade Center and the Pentagon after the September 11th tragedy. In addition to our existing services, NOAA is fostering numerous new applications currently under development, which show great promise for operational and routine use. A strong emphasis is being placed on applications with human and ecological impacts. One of the most exciting and socioeconomically beneficial upcoming uses of remote sensing is the ecological forecasting of harmful algal blooms. Remote sensing will allow us to monitor and predict landfall and severity of bloom events that when effectively forecasted can mitigate economic loss and public health incidents. Using satellite imagery scanned for high chlorophyll concentrations, biophysical models predict landfall of HAB events. We will be able to generate real-time HAB-specific remote sensing at the surface and at depth. Improvements to monitoring efforts that include predictions of HAB movement will be useful to agencies in responding when blooms move into shellfish areas. With increased notice of a HAB event, the number of management options can increases from beach clean-up to changing water quality monitoring strategies, temporarily changing harvesting quotas, and notifying the public of health concerns. We are just beginning to understand the real economic benefits of investing in remote sensing technology to mitigate the impacts caused by HAB events. A recent study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute compiled HAB economic impacts over a 6-year period and estimated that annual impacts ranged from $26 million to $73 million with an average of $42 million. Therefore, this is an important topic to address, and we are committing resources to doing so. In FY02, NOAA invested $13.8 million in HAB research and monitoring. The President's request for the FY03 budget sets aside $13.1 million for these purposes. In addition to predicting and tracking harmful algal blooms, NOAA will also apply remote sensing technology to aid fisheries and protected species management. In the Atlantic, NOAA plots high resolution sea surface temperature and bathymetry against fish densities to help define areas of high risk for bycatches of sea turtles and other species. This remote sensing application has already guided managers in defining effective time and area closures in this region. Remote sensing is also becoming helpful to mangers in the Pacific. In Hawaii, satellite sensors can identify protected species distribution and habitat use by measuring wind stress curl, isotherms, and chlorophyll levels associated with these species. NOAA also aids managers with marine debris that adversely affects protected species and habitat. By measuring the spatial and temporal dynamics of subtropical convergence, remote sensing can track concentrations of floating marine debris in the Northwest Hawaiian Island chain, aiding removal efforts and therefore decreasing monk seal entanglement and coral structural damage. In FY01 alone, NOAA removed 60 tons of debris from the Northwest Hawaiian Islands coral reefs, representing an investment of over $3 million. Remote sensing will also become increasingly instrumental in describing the habitat and detecting the health of our fragile coral reef system. NOAA has conducted benthic habitat mapping since the early 1990's. NOAA's Ocean Service is using high resolution satellite imagery to produce benthic habitat maps for the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. We are also conducting several pilot studies in the Hawaiian Islands to investigate strengths and weaknesses of various airborne and satellite remote sensing technologies. Pushing the Limits of Existing Technologies: We continue to push the limits of what we can achieve with remote sensing. However, whether from satellites, or from airplanes, remote sensing is just one of the tools we use to monitor, assess, and predict the state of our environment, to ensure we are being good stewards of marine resources. Remote sensing does have its limitations as well as its advantages: although these instruments give us a global view of activity in the atmosphere and on the surface of the oceans, we still need in situ observations to build a complete picture below the surface of the oceans. Our environment is also extremely complex: the slow climatic changes in the oceans affects the short term weather patterns in the atmosphere. And storms can cause floods and other disasters in coastal regions. By looking at the big picture, we can make progress in better understanding and predicting changes in our environment. To do this, we need a wealth of data, from various sources, to look at many different variables. The analogy here is being able to take the pulse of Mother Earth as a doctor would for a patient. And we all know, you would not operate or prescribe treatment before a complete physical examination. And we need to be smart in how we go about building such an observing system, in a planned and integrated fashion. First, we can continue to make the best of our existing assets, and develop new applications for operating sensors. For instance, from the imager on our polar satellite our scientists have detected the unusual rise in temperature associated with coral bleaching. With an early warning system, we can now alert our colleagues interested in the Australian Great Barrier Reef, or even closer to home in the Florida Keys, that there are strong risks of bleaching occurring in their coral reefs. We have used altimeters to give us better maps of ocean bathymetry. And now, altimetry has been proven critical to improve our forecasting of El Nino, as well as our forecasting of hurricane tracks. In the case of hurricane forecasting, these improvements translate into billions of dollars saved by avoiding costly evacuations. II. Coastal and ocean observing system Although some long term satellite and in situ programs are underway, we do not yet have a robust global observing system. Databases from current and past programs are neither complete, easily accessible or sufficiently quality controlled. Large observational gaps in space and time are the norm according to international science groups. We also lack a regulated process with which to move space R&D into operational systems. To address these deficiencies, NOAA has embarked on a new global effort to create an integrated ocean and coastal observing system. Through our advancement with remote sensing tools and technologies, NOAA has become a leader in atmospheric and oceanographic monitoring. No other federal agency's mission includes the breadth of issues and responsibilities, both temporal or geographical. As such, we are now working to coalesce local and regional efforts into one national observing system to avoid redundancy and ensure that regional observation efforts are linked to our federal efforts. As we better understand the capabilities of our existing sensors, their application to management becomes more apparent. NOAA is now striving to create a steady flow of information from our sensors to our users. This concept of an "end-to-end" system allows the user to obtain the information he or she needs at any point along this information continuum. Remote sensing is a building block of this system, giving us the capability to collect data that determines the quality of the products delivered to the user. One of NOAA's best examples of this end-to-end system is our Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System, or PORTS as it includes observations, data management & delivery, and forecasting. Through this program, NOAA provides the marine transportation industry with real-time integrated data on water levels, currents, and other oceanographic and meteorological data from bays and harbors. This information is compiled and available to users over the phone or via the internet in a user-friendly format. Through PORTS, NOAA helps mariners prevent maritime accidents, such as oil and chemical spills, and assist hazardous incident response. Another point that is important to note is that competition among means to meet requirements is another key to end-to-end system design and acquisition. We must ensure that we determine the most cost effective sensor to meet the requirements whether it be remote or in situ, satellite or aircraft. Looking at total system requirements means that we must be willing to think outside the box for new more efficient applications. Our Investment: I believe that ocean observing systems are extremely important in understanding the complex interactions between the earth's oceans and atmosphere, and in improving our assessment and prediction capabilities. NOAA is committed to the development of this system, and is applying both financial and personnel assets to this effort. In FY03, the President's budget request has $18M for NOAA to conduct climate research with $4 Million of those funds allotted to ocean observations. This system will not only be about climate, but will involve other important environmental parameters, such as coastal weather forecasting and sustaining and restoring healthy coastal ecosystems and living marine resources. In parallel to our climate efforts, we are serious about growing NOAA's efforts in coastal remote sensing. In addition to our ongoing work in developing new coastal products and decision tools based on existing remotely sensed data, we have requested in the President's FY03 budget a total of $6.0 million [(NESDIS) to develop and deploy a prototype high-resolution imaging sensor, to meet long-standing NOAA requirements.] As part of this initiative, NOAA will work with NASA to develop a conceptual design and capabilities for this instrument, which will continuously monitor coastal ocean areas for harmful algal blooms, coral reef deterioration, and pollution, as well as fisheries management and navigational purposes. We are working towards an Integrated Coastal Observing System: this year (FY02), Congress appropriated about $11 million to establish a Coastal Observation Technology System (COTS), which provides a national framework, technical assistance, and support for sustained coastal observation systems. With all the players involved in coastal issues, this will allow us to coordinate the effort between all the players, at the regional level to avoid redundancy. This is not just a NOAA issue: We are working with other federal agencies such as the Office of Naval Research on coastal observing systems. This program will also ensure that the regional efforts have linkages to the Federal efforts, in order to maximize their utility. More about the value of partnerships later. There are currently a number of other complementary observing system efforts on the international and national level. On the international level, the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is intended to be a global network for the measurement and analysis of a common set of core variables to address issues of greatest concern to users. Within our own boundaries, Ocean.US, an interagency consortium, is focusing on the national strategy for a sustained and integrated global coastal and ocean observing system. I recently addressed Ocean.US at their March workshop, and I am a strong supporter of their efforts to develop this critical plan. For its part, NOAA is working closely on a broad front to support all efforts regarding an Integrated and Sustained Ocean Observing System (ISOOS) and to align coastal components into this system. III- Importance of Partnerships As the administrator of NOAA, I have an expansive view of the role of the federal government: NOAA has its own remote sensing technology: we fly satellites, we fly airplanes, we deploy buoys and tide gauges. We are in the business of acquiring quality controlled data, processing it, and developing products and services that assist us in doing our mission of Environmental Assessment and Prediction, and Stewardship of Living Marine Resources. We are also a user of data: We have forecasting, management and regulatory responsibilities that require us to use the remote sensing and in situ data. We have a robust research program to constantly improve our effectiveness at using the data. We also look for other providers of data, in other government agencies or in the private sector. No one entity, whether in the federal, state or local government, nor any private company can meet the challenges that we all face when looking at coastal and marine environments. No one entity can even approach the issue of developing, operating and funding a truly global observing system. So we must work as a team: a multi-national, multi disciplinary team, involving governments and the private sector; both decision makers and users. Interagency and state government partnerships have been instrumental in studies involving our changing shoreline and flood hazards. In an Oregon coastal erosion study, NASA provided the LIDAR topography instrument, NOAA provided the plane and the end user application, and USGS provided some of the beach dynamics expertise. Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development provided the problem and a conceptual mathematical model of coastal erosion. NOAA and its partners used LIDAR as one input to create a numerical model of beach erosion. Managers were able to use this information to analyze erosion risk and make permitting and zoning decisions. Another successful partnership between federal agencies and state government is the North Carolina Flood Warning System. This partnership involves NOAA's Ocean Service and Weather Service, USGS, and the State of North Carolina. Together these folks are working to provide a framework for cooperation and collaboration to address the hazards associated with migrating coastal storms and inland flooding. This enhanced flood warning system will provide managers in North Carolina with flood forecast maps and near real-time flood inundation maps to enable the state to improve planning for, responding to, and recovering from potential flood events. There is a long standing history of cooperation between NOAA and its foreign counterparts. This cooperation comes in many forms, and is a great example of the value of international cooperation and diplomacy. We are always working to leverage each other's resources to minimize costs. For instance NOAA's satellite data is used worldwide to assist countries in their weather forecasting. In some cases, it is the only source of weather information. Ultimately, we hope to achieve a global Earth observing system, with data to be used for the common good. We believe that free and open access to environmental data is necessary to further scientific progress in understanding the Earth's environment. Through partnerships, we are also learning from each other's experience. When trying to solve the complex problems associated with marine and coastal environment, we can all benefit from each other's expertise. NOAA's products form a critical part of the economic foundation of our country and daily decisions made by Americans across the Nation. From our weather and climate predictions that directly impact the farming and energy industry, to our ecosystem management products that support sustainable fisheries and coastal development. That being said, NOAA stops where private enterprise starts. In order to stay ahead of the curve in understanding our changing environment, NOAA has built, and will continue to build, strong relationships with both data providers and data users to create products that will benefit society. NOAA serves two groups: the private sector and managers. This poses a unique challenge as these two groups operate on very different timelines and maintain very different information needs. The private sector wants to create value-added tools to market to specific users. NOAA provides the remote sensing technology to collect the data needed for these tools. Managers, on the other hand, need free, user-friendly decision making tools, and they need them fast, in formats that are readily applicable to their coastal and marine management challenges. We at NOAA find ourselves left with this challenge of molding the data collected by remote sensing to satisfy both important groups. So there is a very important place for government, both in providing data, and in providing services for the public good. However, we are not in the value added business. And I encourage the private sector to use our data, use the results of our research, and make real life applications to help customers. CONCLUSION Thank you for giving me the opportunity to kick off what will surely be an inspiring few days of sharing new ways of using remote sensing tools and technologies for management. Let me once again emphasize the importance of remote sensing to coastal and marine management as a critical piece of our end-to-end management model. This tool can serve as an indispensable building block for an integrated ocean and coastal observing system that will be of long lasting benefit to the nation. Make the most of this unique opportunity to interact with your international colleagues, to foster partnerships, and to ensure that our individual efforts contribute to a truly global system of predicting and monitoring our one living planet. I believe I have time to take a few questions.