Environmental space missions: how to improve the U.S. strategy?
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A series of hearings on the space programs of environmental monitoring took place in Congress in recent weeks in the Committee on Appropriations of the House. The information provided by the experts invited to testify should inform the legislators of this Committee in charge of allocating funds to agencies that are preparing for the debates on the 2010 budgets of NASA and NOAA in particular in a few weeks.
Compton Tucker specialist observations of the vegetation at Goddard Space Center, NASA-emphasized
the essential role of this type of
observation for the understanding of climate change.. The continuity of Landsat satellite data, development of the VIIRS sensor photosynthesis (Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite) which the satellite will fly on NPP (NPOESS Preparatory Project) or the design of
an instrument measuring the height of the canopy are the priorities raised by the scientist.
His colleague Robert Bindschadler Goddard stressed the importance of data from satellites observing the melting of ice and sea levels as Terra, Aqua, ICESat and Grace of NASA, ERS 1 and 2 of the ESA and the altimetry missions Franco-American Topex and Jason. The National Research Council (NRC) has recognized the observation of ice and space oceanography as key components of the next plan recommending missions SWOT (Ocean Surface Topography Weather) - Franco American - and Grace II.
Antonio Busalacchi, University of Maryland, has also advocated the continuation of ocean altimetry data and the need to improve models of ocean / atmosphere with parameters more precise. He recalled the crucial role of Jason-3 prior to deplore the political uncertainties that remain about the satellite-Senator Bill Nelson had asked the new Secretary of Commerce on this matter at his confirmation hearing and discuss the lack of clear and consistent about climate observations to long-term.
It is also the opinion of President Richard Anthes of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research-which also questioned the cooperation between agencies (starting with the layout NASA / NOAA which gives research and development in the first and operations in the second) and the lack of an independent agency mandated and funded to make clear to the nation of the observations and predictions about climate change.
A study by the NRC has just been launched to assess the obstacles posed by the inter-agency cooperation in the field of Earth observation. The exchange of data through international cooperation has been recognized as an indispensable part of environmental monitoring and applications have also been cited (USAID Famine Early Warning System) to African countries in particular.
For information, the "Omnibus Bill" passed 2 weeks ago provides $ 150 million to accelerate the implementation of the tasks recommended by the plan (Decadal Survey) of the NRC.
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on Jul 6th, 2009 and filed under
Space Environment.
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