Gratitude
& thanks to organizers for invitation to address WSSD Forum on Science,
Technology and Innovation. [Express gratitude for organizing the Session to:
- Professor
Oran Young (Dartmouth College),
- Professor
Jose Achache (IGOS Co-Chair and Director, Earth Observation Programmes,
European Space Agency),
- Professor
Walter Erdelen (IGOS Co-Chair and Assistant Director General, UNESCO)
and
their staffs.
Express
regret for not being able to participate in the entire session, but
had a previous commitment. Would have liked to have heard the thoughts
of the previous speakers:
- Professor
Obasi, Secretary General, WMO
- Agus
Sari, Pelangi, Indonesia
- Dr.
Hama Arba Diallo, Secretary General of U.N. Convention on Desertification
- Professor
Jose Achache (as above, Director, Earth Observation Programmes, European
Space Agency)
- Paul
de Sanker (from Malawi), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
You look forward to the rest of the program. ]
3
Main Points: Global Obs. System, IGOS role, YOU important
I have three goals today. First is to express to you the importance
of establishing a global climate observing system; Second, the important
role that the IGOS Partners play in that; and Third, that each one of
us is important in laying the foundation and assisting in achieving
this important objective.
Climate
& Global Observing System
Many of you have been instrumental to understanding the intricate Earth
system, coupling the oceans, atmosphere, and land. They are inextricably
linked in our Earth's ever changing climate system. Over the years,
as we have come to realize the benefits of improved Earth observation
systems, it has also become increasingly clear that the analysis, understanding,
and forecasting of the natural environment do not respect national boundaries:
So, in
addition to our own national observing system, NOAA supports many developing
country in-situ observing systems, as well as provides extensive regional
and global images and data from our satellites.
CCRI
& NOAA’s role
These are part of the reasons why NOAA plays an important role in President
Bush’s February announcement at NOAA of the Clear Skies and Global
Climate Change Initiatives. He directed the Secretary of Commerce, working
with other U.S. agencies, to review current investments in climate change
research, to prepare a comprehensive plan for the future — including
the setting of priorities and to improve coordination among the federal
agencies. He also announced the commitment of the United States to provide
matching resources to build climate observing systems in developing
countries and to encourage other developed nations to match our commitment. We are working to assure that these efforts move forward both within
the United States and with other donor countries.
NOAA
Leadership
I strongly believe that NOAA is the right agency to take a leadership
role within the United States, but we know full well that we cannot
do this alone. The global observation effort for climate is far too
enormous for one organization, or even one country, to undertake alone. So, we must work together to see that it is done well.
IGOS
(Integrated Global Observing Strategy) - NESDIS to Chair
Perhaps the greatest challenge is to develop one integrated observation
plan for the atmosphere, ocean, and land that everyone can support. This challenge lies in our ability to provide one coherent plan, which
integrates space and in-situ observations across those three elements. I think that the Partners of the Integrated Global Observing Strategy
(IGOS) has played an important role in moving this forward, and when
NOAA (Greg Withee) becomes Co-Chair of the IGOS Partners in November,
we will take the opportunity to build on the solid results that have
been achieved thus far.
The IGOS
Partnership (of which the FAO, IOC, UNESCO, UNEP, WMO, the Committee
on Earth Observation Satellites, and others are members) is an appropriate
body to meet this challenge. If we had one plan that all organizations
could support, then we could work together to secure the necessary funds
to meet priority needs and proceed with implementation. The FAO, IOC,
UNESCO, UNEP, and WMO are logical places to facilitate this process,
and the new IOC-WMO Joint Technical Commission on Oceanography and Marine
Meteorology could certainly serve to help integrate plans for implementation
of ocean observations.
Global
Observing System for taking “Pulse of the Planet”
A fully implemented global observing system for climate will give us
the tools we need to take "the pulse of the planet. " The full
and open sharing of data between nations is an essential part of this
effort — including making the data available within sufficient
time to be of operational use.
Satellites
& NPOESS - role in global climate observing system
Integral to a global climate observing system are satellite observations
from NOAA and other environmental satellites, which provide major contributions
to global modeling and monitoring of climate. Since the Earth’s
surface is 70% water, satellites offer a major way to get a global view
of the atmosphere and surface ocean conditions. The next generation
of NOAA satellites NPOESS will be a keystone to bolstering a global
climate observing system to continue the climate record.
NPOESS
Advancements - satellite technology & use - improved observations
We have been working hard to ensure that NPOESS contributes to our capability
to collect long time-series of science-quality, integrated data sets
to study both climate change and climate-related processes and build-in
the flexibility to take advantage of new science and new technology. We require global observations to reduce the uncertainty in our climate
analyses and predictions a high Presidential priority. NPOESS is planned
and designed to provide the observations necessary to address this and
other critical needs by providing both new and improved sensors that
emphasize instrument stability, improved accuracy, better calibration,
better validation and improved on-board station-keeping to maintain
scheduled crossing-time.
NPOESS,
is part of an effective strategy for our future, using an end-to-end
approach. It will further the Presidential Initiative for better science
to provide the information necessary to formulate sound policy decisions
and improved observations is a first step.
Ocean
observations also critical
Although I have focused on climate, I must emphasize that the Global
Ocean Observing System includes a climate component, as well as serves
many needs beyond climate. Half of new money for observations that NOAA
expects to obtain in the upcoming fiscal year will be spent for ocean
observations. Most of this will be invested to raise the U.S. contribution
to the Argo float array from one-third to one-half. This will support
the Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment/GODAE, which in turn will
support operational oceanography, seasonal to decadal climate forecasts
and analyses, and real-time marine weather and ocean forecasting.
Each
one of us is important
We at NOAA are excited about the prospects for improving the
global observing system, which many of us have been thinking about for
years. And as I stated before, you are integral in this effort. Through
the U.S. Government interagency effort and working with our international
partners over the next several months, we expect to develop proposals
that can identify necessary contributions and activities for the United
States and others. I urge you to join us in this critically important
undertaking. Working together, I am sure we will be successful.
Thank you
very much for your time. I look forward to working with you.
Session 8 Talking Points Outline: Role of Global Observing Systems
- Gratitude
& thanks to organizers for invitation to address WSSD Forum on
Science, Technology and Innovation
- 3 Main
Points: Global Obs. System, IGOS role, YOU are important to next steps
- Climate
& Global Observing System important
- CCRI
& NOAA’s Role
- IGOS
(Integrated Global Observing Strategy) - NESDIS to Chair this Fall
- Global
Observing System for taking “Pulse of the Planet”
- Satellites
& NPOESS - role in global climate observing system
- NPOESS
Advancements - satellite technology & use - improved observations
- Ocean
observations also critical
- Each
one of us is important
Thank You
- look forward to working with you.