Earth Observations What Does It Take To Predict And Protect

Earth Observations What Does it Take to Predict and Protect? VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere NOAA Administrator Ocean Sciences Meeting February 21, 2006 What Does It Take To Predict & Protect? An informed society that uses a comprehensive understanding of the role of the oceans, coasts and atmosphere in the global ecosystem to make the best societal and economic decisions NOAA’s Vision Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 2 What Does It Take To Predict & Protect? To understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and to conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet the Nation’s economic, social and environmental needs Mission Goals:  Protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem     NOAA’s Mission approach to management Understand climate variability and change to enhance society’s ability to plan and respond Serve society’s needs for weather and water information Support the Nation’s commerce with information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation Provide critical support for NOAA’s mission Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 3 What Does It Take To Predict & Protect? The Global Earth Observation System of Systems Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 4 What Does It Take To Predict & Protect? The Global Earth Observation System of Systems Adopted formal GEO organization and 10-year implementation plan Held GEO I in May 2005, and GEO II in December 2005 Selected new GEO Secretariat Director, Jose Achache Accepted 2006 Work Plan, adopted a budget and formally created GEO Committees  Architecture and Data; Capacity Building; Science and Technology; User Interface; and Working Group on Tsunami Activities Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 5 Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction “This document presents six Grand Challenges for disaster reduction and provides a framework for prioritizing the related Federal investments in science and technology. Addressing these Grand Challenges will improve America’s capacity to prevent and recover from disasters, thus fulfilling our Nation’s commitment to reducing the impacts of hazards and enhancing the safety and economic well-being of every individual and community.”  Dr. John H. Marburger, III, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Science Advisor to the President Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 6 What Does It Take To Predict & Protect? 1. Provide hazard and disaster information where and when it is needed Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 7 Providing Hazard & Disaster Information Hurricane Buoy Expansion Program DART Mooring System NOAA Green—Existing buoys Yellow—Proposed locations Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 8 Providing Hazard & Disaster Information GEOSS & USGEO USGEO Near-Term Opportunity  Improved tsunami and coastal inundation forecast and warning capability GEO Near-Term Effort  Working Group on Tsunami Activities continuing to provide integration observation requirements to the Indian Ocean Tsunami Early Warning System effort Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 9 Providing Hazard & Disaster Information NOAA Navigation Response Teams Google Image Overlays Oil Spill Cleanup Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 10 Providing Hazard & Disaster Information GEOSS & USGEO The Bam earthquake region in 2003 as seen by Envisat’s ASAR instrument Can we really Google Earth? Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 11 What Does It Take To Predict & Protect? 1. Provide hazard and disaster information where and when it is needed 2. Understand the natural processes that produce hazards Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 12 Understanding Natural Processes that Produce Hazards NOAA SLOSH Model Source: Kori Rumore, Marine Technology Society: US Commission on Ocean Policy Real-time Ocean Forecast System (Atlantic) Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 13 Understanding Natural Processes that Produce Hazards GEOSS Tide Gauge Coastal Observations  National Water Level Observing Network  Wave Buoys/Current Meters Aerial Survey/LiDAR Mapping Digital Elevation Models from Global Positioning System and LiDAR Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect Near Term Opportunity – Sea Level Identifies needs for direct ocean observations, coastal observations, ice sheet measurements and associated observations, and reference frames 14 What Does It Take To Predict & Protect? 1. Provide hazard and disaster information where and when it is needed 2. Understand the natural processes that produce hazards 3. Develop hazard mitigation strategies and technologies Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 15 Developing Hazard Mitigation Strategies and Technologies NOAA Community Based Restoration South Louisiana Marsh Creation Project Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 16 Developing Hazard Mitigation Strategies & Technologies USGEO Near-Term Opportunity  Improved tsunami and coastal GEOSS & USGEO inundation forecast and warning capability Credit: University of Hawaii at Manoa, School of Ocean and Earth Sciences & Technology (SOEST) Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 17 What Does It Take To Predict & Protect? 1. Provide hazard and disaster information where and when it is needed 2. Understand the natural processes that produce hazards 3. Develop hazard mitigation strategies and technologies 4. Recognize and reduce vulnerability of interdependent critical infrastructure Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 18 Reducing Vulnerability of Critical Infrastructure NOAA Current Hurricane Buoy Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 19 Reducing Vulnerability of Critical Infrastructure EPA employee assessing storage tank Oil spill, Chalmette, LA GEOSS Small Pox Vaccination Oil spill, Chalmette, LA Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect Oil terminal damage, MS/AL coast US EPA photos, 08/2005 20 What Does It Take To Predict & Protect? 1. Provide hazard and disaster information where and when it is needed 2. Understand the natural processes that produce hazards 3. Develop hazard mitigation strategies and technologies 4. Recognize and reduce vulnerability of interdependent critical infrastructure 5. Assess disaster resilience using standard methods Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 21 Assessing Disaster Resilience NOAA Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 22 Assessing Disaster Resilience Banda Aceh, Indonesia: 12/2004 Tsunami Damage GEOSS Gleebruk Village before Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect Gleebruk Village after 23 What Does It Take To Predict & Protect? 1. Provide hazard and disaster information where and when it is needed 2. Understand the natural processes that produce hazards 3. Develop hazard mitigation strategies and technologies 4. Recognize and reduce vulnerability of interdependent critical infrastructure 5. Assess disaster resilience using standard methods 6. Promote risk-wise behavior Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 24 Promoting Risk-wise Behavior NOAA Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 25 Promoting Risk-wise Behavior GEOSS The goal is to access and provide the right information, in the right format, at the right time, to the right people, to make the right decisions. Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 26 Questions? Background Material Near-Term Opportunities USGEO focusing on 6 Near-Term Opportunities  Disasters  Drought / National Integrated Drought Information System  Land Observation  Air Quality  Sea Level  Data Management USGEO Currently developing plans for all the Near-Term opportunities  Will be available for public review in the next several months 29 Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect NTO—Disasters Identifies need for integrated, end-to-end, disaster reduction framework, and explores multi-hazard demonstration projects for two regions at high risk: the Pacific states and the Gulf of Mexico coast Projects would deliver the following products and services:  Real-time earthquake information delivery for targeting rapid emergency response  Improved tsunami and coastal inundation forecast and warning capability  Rapid detection of conditions allowing forecasting of volcanic eruptions, especially ash-forming events endangering aviation  Prototype early warning system for debris flows and landslides in wildfire-impacted areas Tracks to GEOSS and IEOS benefit areas:  Disasters Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 30 Earth Observations: What Does It Take To Predict & Protect 31