Workshop on Regional Remote Sensing Needs: Preliminary Report

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Workshop on Regional Remote Sensing Needs
Preliminary Report

• October 3-5, 2006
• University of New Hampshire
• Sponsored by NOAA, NASA, Ocean US and NFRA

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Overview

• Steering Committee Janet Campbell, Mary Culver,
  Dave Foley, Roger Gauthier, Paul DiGiacomo,Eric
  Lindstrom, Tom Malone, John Malay and Stan Wilson
• NASA and NOAA wanted to know regional needs for
  coastal satellite remote sensing
• 2 representatives from each RA
• RA survey of user needs for satellite RS in the
  context of IOOS
• Who are the users,
• How are they accessing information
• For what purposes
• What are the challenges for meeting needs
• Knowledge challenges
• Resolution/Coverage
• Integration/IT
• Continuity
• Short and long term recommendations for
  fulfilling gaps

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Common Needs across Regions

• Nowcasts (present/real-time accurate and
  absolute values)
• Ocean Conditions (wave direction, wave height,
  currents, temperature, wind, salinity, biological
  water quality) for navigation, fisheries,
  aquaculture
• Marine weather (wind, pressure, dew pt., water
  vapor, precip, temp)
• Long Term Trends and Change Detection
• Short-term and seasonal forecasts (wind, weather,
  sea state, eddies)
• Patterns/front identification (present and
  forecast states)
• Trends in environmental conditions over time
• Plume tracking
• Vessel monitoring (fisheries, homeland security,
  protected areas, insurance)
• Early Warning Capacity
• For events such as HABs, flooding, erosion, ice
  coverage
• Data assimilation for forecast models for HABs,
  storm surge, erosion, ice maps ( type,
  concentration, thickness, movement)
• Coastal circulation
• Indices and thresholds for management purposes
• Water quality status (HABs, nutrient loading,
  pathogens, suspended sediment)
• Wetland restoration soil moisture
• Land cover and change detection
• Benthic habitat (present state, change, and
  impact analysis)
• Bathymetry and nearshore topography (present
  state and change)

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Gaps Resolution and Data Management

• Gaps Resolution/Coverage
• More, closer, better
• See through clouds
• Gaps Data Management
• Web-based tools to apply algorithms, format, and
  project imagery (e.g. build-on OGC standards)
• Accessible data for broad base of users
• Need user-friendly interface
• Ability for data integration by non-experts

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Gaps Continuity
Source CEOS/GCOS Task Team Assessment
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Preliminary Recommendations

• Maintain existing capabilities
• Increase resolution and bring measurements from
  open ocean to littoral zone
• Spatial scale of 100 meter resolution is
  necessary, except for mapping which requires
  resolutions of 30 meters or less.
• Temporal resolution of between 1-3 hours
• Spectral resolution MERIS bands as a minimum for
  color dependent on the absorption/scattering
  features of interest.
• Endorsement of the resolutions for specific
  parameters outlined in the IGOS Coastal Theme
  Report
• Fill gap in ocean color.
• Show locally how hi resol in the coastal area, ie
  HF radar will demonstrates the important of hi
  res currents, there will be a drive for hi res
  from space. NASA needs a demonstrated
  capability. Make space borne sensors for
  nearshore.
• FLH floresence line height for color.

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Preliminary Recommendations Cont

• Develop capacity to see through clouds (microwave
  sensors)
• Easier access to data -- searching capabilities
  (Google Data), data formats, preprocessing data
  to a standard format,
• Sophisticated software with simplified interface
  for end users
• Enhance regional capacity to address user needs
  for RS products
• The capabilities of the Regional Associations
  with regards to satellite remote sensing vary.
• NOAA NESDIS willing to assist regions to develop
  RS requirements

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Preliminary Recommendations Cont

• Next workshop should focus on high resolution
  airborne sensors.
• Develop compelling education and outreach
  material that demonstrates the power of RS
• Visualizations demonstrating RS powerDevelop
  State of the ocean report that shows whats
  different about this year, what can be expect
  next year, etc.
• Sponsor technical training sessions, with a focus
  on problem-driven formats where users bring a
  project as a focus of their learning
• Encourage existing educational networks such as
  COSEE to develop K-12 curriculum modules
• Case studies such as natural hazards, coastal
  development/urbanization, public and individual
  health.
• Need strategy to develop climatologies (data
  storage strategy, roles and responsibilities) at
  a scale beyond individual researchers efforts