CHARTER FOR THE OCEAN COLOR PRODUCT OVERSIGHT PANEL (OCPOP)

[PURPOSE]{.underline}

The purpose of the Ocean Color Product Oversight Panel (OCPOP) is to
provide end-to-end oversight of the NESDIS ocean color products in
response to NOAA research and operational needs. Each panel member has
specific areas of responsibility including, but not limited to: product
generation, storage, product and algorithm science, validation,
storage/archiving, sensor configuration, data systems design and
calibration/navigation. The OCPOP co-chairs will provide the contact
point for authoritative information on ocean color products and their
generation.

[MEMBERSHIP]{.underline}

The OCPOP membership will be kept flexible, and will necessarily include
a large number of non-NESDIS members, as a large portion of ocean color
use and science within NOAA is outside of NESDIS. Membership will likely
include scientists from NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),
National Ocean Service (NOS), and Office of Applications and Research
(OAR) in addition to NESDIS. Membership may also include scientists from
outside agencies as well, e.g. NASA and the US Navy. Consultants and
advisors (invited specialists) within and outside NESDIS will be
solicited for their opinions, reviews, and product requirements and will
be invited to the meetings as appropriate. The OCPOP will be co-chaired
by two representatives; one from the Center for Satellite Applications
and Research (STAR) and the other from the Office of Satellite Data
Processing and Distribution (OSDPD). Members will include NOAA and
non-NOAA scientists working on some aspect of the ocean color products
(i.e. validation, algorithm development) and personnel from OSDPD who
are responsible for operational generation of the ocean color products.
Panel meetings will be open to all members and invited specialists as
needed to ensure the best possible mix of opinions.

[FUNCTION]{.underline}

The responsibility role of the OCPOP will be directed from the co-chairs
and will result in actions taken by the various panel members to ensure
continued overall product quality. The panel chairs will be recognized
as the NESDIS focal points and experts in this product area.
Correspondence and other miscellaneous actions may be forwarded to the
co-chairs for review and response.

The advisory and coordination role of the OCPOP will result in
recommendations being presented to NESDIS management that certain
actions be taken either to resolve a problem or to make substantive
modifications to the ocean color products. The recommendations for
action will go through the appropriate management levels to assure that
appropriate personnel are tasked properly. In most cases, the panel
members will be tasked to perform aspects of the ocean color product
improvement as part of their regular duties. However, in cases where
significant resources are required, the request for action will be in
writing from the OCPOP co-chairs to the appropriate NESDIS line manager,
the Satellite Products and Services Review Board (SPSRB), or the
Research and Development Council.

The full OCPOP will meet quarterly or more frequently if necessary. Ad
hoc meetings of a few members and consultants (invited specialists) to
address specific topics will be the normal mode of operation between the
regular meetings; the co-chairs should be advised of the results of
these ad hoc meetings as appropriate. The OCPOP will maintain a
definitive record of all action items and recommendations to NESDIS
management; this will include when it was initiated, why it was
necessary, who was approached, what resources were required, how it was
resolved and when it was concluded. The OCPOP will also maintain a
comprehensive repository of all important documents, technical and
management (including correspondence with the outside world), directly
related to the NESDIS ocean color products, using the CoastWatch Web
Server.