Satellite Observations and Products Element

Sustained, Integrated Ocean Observing System for the Gulf of Mexico

SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS AND PRODUCTS ELEMENTS

Alfredo E. Prelat

Chairman

Terry McPherson

Co-Chairman

March 18, 2011

Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) Regional Association
Satellite Observations and Products Element

Executive SUMMARY

1.Introduction

2.Design Considerations

2.1 Parameters to be measured or modeled

2.2Assumptions for Design Considerations

2.3Needed Assets and Resources

2.4 General Integrating Considerations

3.Preliminary Design

4.Cost estimates

4.1Assumptions for Costing

4.2Costs of Upgrading and Maintaining Existing Non-federal Assets

4.3Perceived Requirements of Existing Federal Assets

4.4Costs of New Assets Needed

5.Implementation Priority and Recommendations

5.1Suggested Priority for Implementation

5.2Recommendations and Other Considerations

5.3Other Considerations: Aircraft-based Observations and Products

5.4 Planning Team Members

Appendix 1. Data from Advanced Satellite Aviation Weather Products

Appendix 2. Global Profiling Systems

Appendix 3. Data from Geostationary Operational Satellite (GOES)

Appendix 4. Data from Land, Ocean and Atmospheric Imaging Satellites

Appendix 5. Other Land Imaging Satellites (name, government, launch date)

Appendix 6. New Altimeter and Scatterometer Missions

Appendix 7. New Mission Systems

Executive Summary

The GCOOS-RA is preparing a plan for a comprehensive, sustained observing system for the Gulf of Mexico to guide the NOAA IOOS office in its development of a two to ten-year plan for the Nation. The GCOOS-RA plan is targeted for completion in April 2011. The GCOOS Board of Directors identified 19 elements for the Observing System; one of these is Satellite Observations and Products. A team to develop a Satellite Observations and Products plan was formed to identify the elements of a long-term, real-time weather and oceanographic information system needed to support scientific research, resource management, and commercial decisions. The team was comprised of representatives from academia, NGOs, the energy resources industries, private scientific consulting companies, environmental groups, and government organizations. The team produced a report for NOAA containing recommendations regarding its capability to support with real-time satellite observations and products the monitoring of weather, oceanographic, and other user applications that require real-time synoptic observations. The report considers real-time satellite observations and products, including archived historical data required over the next ten years to evaluate baselines and change as it occurs. It provides a description of observational needs, costs, and a recommended time frame to achieve these goals. A list of the general scientific and operational application areas and relevant observable parameters are provided with generalized observation frequency and primary sensors available to cover the GCOOS-RA real-time and near-real-time requirements. The primary assumptions for design considerations are: 1) Satellite sensors will be launched by the U.S. government, private industry or foreign governments; 2) Raw data covering the GCOOS region will be available for direct broadcast in the GCOOS region, or will be provided by government entities in near-real-time format; 3) Data are well calibrated; 4) Sensors are well-characterized radiometrically and geometrically; and 5) Data transmissions are stable and do not interfere with or are not affected by other uses of the electromagnetic spectrum.

One of the cornerstones of a real-time observing system for the Gulf of Mexico is a robust infrastructure for capturing synoptic observations from satellite-based sensors that target the ocean, adjacent land, and the atmosphere in real time, and process and distribute the data on relevant space and time scales. Operational support to Direct Broadcast Stations for data capture and integration will enable the real-time provision of the products described in the report. Primary up-front expenses include hardware upgrades to sustain present data collections and to enable reception of data from new satellites to be launched by the U.S. and other nations. Recurring costs include the development of software and licensing costs, as well as supporting the IT and science personnel focused on ensuring robust and redundant satellite data reception through coordination between capture sites and other GCOOS observing elements. The IT and science personnel is also dedicated to real-time processing as well as archival, delivery, and integration into the GCOOS “expert” system. The GCOOS satellite element, described here, will ensure that essential customized products are produced in real-time for the broad user communities of the Gulf of Mexico. For the purpose of ensuring robust and redundant data reception, the GCOOS requires new assets at two locations within the Gulf region. An estimate of the costs for the upgrade and installation and the associated work force development and stakeholder training throughout the GCOOS region is provided in this report. Estimates of the costs for the mirror systems at LSU and USF are also included.

Much of the infrastructure presently in place around the Gulf of Mexico to collect, process, validate, archive, and distribute the core satellite data products for the GCOOS domain wasestablished15-20 years ago. Specifically, three real-time research satellite data nodes have been established at the University of South Florida, Louisiana State University, and the University of Colorado. The U.S. Navy (Naval Research Lab at Stennis) has also been generating and distributing real-time satellite data products. Private entities use some of this infrastructure to deliver value-addedproducts to the region. The preliminary design of the GCOOS real-time satellite observations element seeks to maintain this basic level of service to the GCOOS as well as other IOOS RA stakeholders, byboth maintaining real-time collections of existing satellite sensors as well as implementing the infrastructure to collect data from satellite sensors planned for launch starting in 2011. Linking the satellite data nodes together, including their team members and infrastructure, will help with coordination, increase efficiency, enhance scientific quality, and provide 24/7 coverage. The main recommendations are: (1) Maintain current support for the satellite data nodes which currently provide the core data products (Table 1) to various stakeholders, (2) Develop a strategy and implement plans to prepare for the new US NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP), scheduled for launch in November 2011, and include relevant foreign satellite missions, (3) Prepare the GCOOS infrastructure for the transition to the new operational oceanographic and meteorological satellites, including polar-orbiting (JPSS 1 and 2) and geostationary (GOES-R), (4) Develop a strategy to develop new data products tailored for user needs, including those listed in Table 1, (5) Design interactive workshops where remote sensing specialists present current and proposed products and elicit feedback from user groups to refine the satellite products, (6) Promote common entry points among several RAs covering the Intra-Americas Seas, with a common look and feel to information, (7) Develop a robust set of products that is consistent and seamless across regions, (8) Build the ability to generate the same products at each of the three real-time stations for fail-safe service in case one or two of the stations fails to operate, (9) Collaborate with physical, biological, chemical and geological oceanographers to develop and deploy in situ real-time systems (acoustics, bio-optics, robotics, etc.) to provide high quality biological and chemical observations that serve as ground truth, (10) Continue to develop applications for synoptic ecosystem, climate, and renewable/nonrenewable energy siting assessments, and search and rescue and other operations, (11) Collaborate with modelers to provide appropriate data for initializing and validating numerical models, and (12) Enhance product usefulness by integrating (fusing) ocean color, infrared, altimeter, scatterometer, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and in situ observations.

1.Introduction

Important economic, job market, and social benefits will be derived from the increased availability and reliability of satellite data. Satellite data provide highly resolved synoptic, frequent, repeated, and long-term coverage of the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent waters. Satellite-derived maps of surface conditions in the region place point measurements made on the ground using buoys in a dynamic geographic context. Satellite data also provide input 'directly' into numerical models for both ocean and atmosphere, using data assimilation. For ocean monitoring, this includes both the physical circulation models and ecological models. Without these satellite inputs, the models are not constrained and the nowcast and forecasts are very poor. The model skill is highly dependent on availability and timeliness of satellite data.

NOAA operational satellites provide a critical backbone to resource management, research, and maritime, fisheries and other commercial stakeholders. Other U.S. agencies and a growing number of nations presently operate and plan to launch additional research and operational satellite missions that provide an important complement to the NOAA missions. The plan outlined in this document enhances NOAA’s capability to generate real-time and near-real time synoptic information by engaging the substantial capability distributed throughout the region and which is focused on solving problems relevant to the NOAA mission through the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). In this particular case, this plan outlines infrastructure and capabilities in the GCOSS-RA to contribute to the NOAA mission.

The team was comprised of representatives from academia, NGOs, the energy resources industries, private scientific consulting companies, environmental groups, and government organizations. The output of the team is a report to NOAA with recommendations regarding the capability to support with real-time satellite observations and products the monitoring of weather, oceanographic, and other user applications that require real-time synoptic observations. The report considers real-time satellite observations and products, including archived historical data required over the next ten years to evaluate baselines and change as it occurs. It provides a description of observational needs, costs, and a recommended time frame to achieve these goals.

GCOOS seeks to provide basic data products and resilience to data processing systems so that information is generated during storms, floods, outages or other emergencies. This system will facilitate and enable the generation of new value-added products by the private sector.

2.Design Considerations

2.1 Parameters to be measured or modeled

A list of the general scientific and operational application areas and relevant observable parameters are provided in Table 1. The major observable parameters, with generalized observation frequency and primary sensors available to cover the GCOOS-RA real-time and near-real-time requirements are provided in Table 2. Both tables use a color coded matrix to identify the availability of the information: Blue=products currently available to GCOOS; Green=products that can be developed and served to GCOOS with moderate effort; Gray= products that can be developed and served to GCOOS with substantial effort; Orange=products that require infrequent (e.g. semiannual, annual, as needed) updates.

Table 1. General scientific and operational application areas and most relevant observable parameters.

SATELLITE BASED PARAMETERS (core products: 30m, 250m, 500m, 1 km, 25-60 km pixels)
SCIENCE AND APPLICATIONS / Currently Produced / Can produce with moderate effort / Can produce with substantial effort / Products requiring infrequent updates
Ocean Biogeochemistry, Ecology, Coastal Water Quality / chlorophyll-a concentration,Sea Surface Temperature-SST, spectral reflectance-ocean color / photosynthetically available radiation, primary production, euphotic depth, colored dissolved organic matter, turbidity, water clarity, total suspended matter / particulate organic carbon, partiulate inorganic carbon, phytoplankton functional types, bathymetry, salinity** / benthic habitat type
Ocean Physics / Sea surface height-SSH, Sea Surface Temperature-SST / wind speed and direction, heat flux (radiation budget), major current and eddy detection/characterization / front detection, internal waves, salinity**
Meteorology / wind, clouds, aerosols precipitable water, water vapor, radiation budget
Coastal Air Quality / aerosols, clouds, wind, water vapor, ozone / fog
Coastal Land Use / Vegetation index / land change index, sea floor/benthic change
Episodic Events and Hazards / Harmful algal blooms, inundation index, petroleum, aerosols (smoke), hypoxia, coral bleaching index, extreme (hot, cold) events

*Accuracy of the satellite-based parameters varies, and validation is required for a specific topic.

Spatial and temporal resolution also varies.

**Salinity-preliminary work has been done to estimate salinity from MODIS/SeaWIFS ocean color. The product is experimental.

Color codes

Blue: Products currently being produced and served to GCOOS (by academia, NOAA, private entity);

Green: Products that can be developed and served to GCOOS with moderate effort;

Gray: Products that can be developed and served to GCOOS with substantial effort;

Orange: Products that require infrequent (e.g. semiannual, annual, as needed) updates.

Table 2. Major observable parameters, with generalized observation frequency and primary sensors available to cover GCOOS real-time and near-real-time requirements. Colors are as above in Table 1.

Satellite Based Parameter / Spatial Resolution / Temporal Resolution / Satellites/Instruments (Existing) / Satellites/Instruments (near future)
Currently Measured
SST / 1 km
4 km
25 km / >Daily
15 min
Daily / AVHRR, MODIS
GOES
Microwave / VIIRS
GOES-R
SSH, SSHA / 25 km / Daily / Gridded satellite altimetry from Jason-1, Jason-2, ,Envisat
Chl-a, Reflectance / 1 km
1 km / Daily
>Daily / MODIS
MODIS, MERIS
Measured with Moderate Effort
PAR, primary production euphotic depth, CDOM, turbidity, water clarity (transparency), total suspended matter True Color (RGB) / 1 km, 300 m / Daily / MODIS, MERIS
False color / 1 km / 15 min / GOES Visible
Vector Winds / 25 km / >Daily / ASCAT
Wind speed and wave height / 6 km along track / 10-day to 35-day repeat / Jason-1, Jason-2, Envisat
Aerosols / 1 km / Daily / MODIS, AVHRR
Clouds / 1 km / MODIS, GOES
Pressure, ozone, water vapor / 100 km / >Daily / NASA ocean color ancillary data (ensemble of UV sensor data), NCEP
Ocean currents (including Loop Current and eddy detection, tracking and characterization) / 25 km
1 km
4 km / Daily
Daily
15 minutes / Satellite altimetry
MODIS, AVHRR
GOES GVAR, MERIS
Measured with Substantial Effort
Particulate organic and inorganic carbon (POC, PIC), cyanobacteria, HABS / 1 km, 300 m / Daily / MODIS, MERIS
Petroleum, Internal Waves / 250 m
20-50 m / Daily
Weekly / MODIS, MERIS
SAR
Ocean Fronts / 1 km / Daily / MODIS, AVHRR, GOES,
MERIS
Fog / 1 km / Daily / MODIS
Vegetation Index / 1 km, 250m / Daily / AVHRR, MODIS, Landsat (black)
Benthic Habitat Type / 30 m / 16 days / Landsat
Land Change Index / 30 m, 250 m / Annual / Landsat, MODIS
Coral Bleaching Index / 1 km / Weekly / MODIS, GOES (black)
Salinity** / 200 x 200 km
1 km / 10-30 day
>Daily / SMOS
MODIS / Aquarius

**Salinity-preliminary work has been done to estimate salinity from MODIS/SeaWIFS ocean color. The product is experimental.

In addition to the parameters described in Tables 1 and 2, the proposed satellite design supports convective weather information needs of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). To address the high risks thunderstorms pose for departures, landings, and flying aircraft, a collaborative research effort has been undertaken. The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), are working to incorporate satellite-derived information into systems designed to nowcast atmospheric convection and its first-time initiation (see Appendix 1). Developing improved means of monitoring and characterizing convective clouds to nowcast convection initiation is a key goal. Data sets currently being processed include GOES visible, infrared and sounder-based satellite imagery (from GOES-10 and GOES-12). Future work will involve the use of MODIS, MSG and eventually GIFTS imagery.

A detailed description of this and other existing regional satellite capabilities can be found in the appendices as follows: 1) Global profiling systems (Appendix 2); 2) Data from Geostationary Operational Satellite (GOES, Appendix 3); 3) Data from Land, Ocean and Atmospheric Imaging Satellites (Appendix 4); and 4) Data from other land imaging satellites (Appendix 5).

2.2Assumptions for Design Considerations

The primary assumptions for design considerations are: 1) Satellite sensors will be launched by the U.S. government, private industry or foreign governments; 2) Raw data covering the GCOOS region will be available for direct broadcast in the GCOOS region, or will be provided by government entities in near-real-time format; 3) Data are well calibrated; 4) Sensors are well-characterized radiometrically and geometrically; and 5) Data transmissions are stable and do not interfere with or are not affected by other uses of the electromagnetic spectrum.