GSFC Earth-Sun Exploration Division 

Activities, Challenges, and Strategic Plan 

Our Mission 

“To Improve Life on Earth and to Enable Space Exploration

through the Use of Space-Based Observations” 

October 2005 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Goddard Space Flight Center 

Greenbelt, MD 20771

Table of Contents 

Preface...................................................................................................................v

Executive Summary of the ESED Strategic Plan .............................................1

Challenges and Opportunities for ESED ............................................................................4

Development and Management of Long-Term Data Sets ...................................................5

Winning New Business for ESED........................................................................................7

Strengthening Strategic Areas and New Hires..................................................................11

ESED Education and Public Outreach .............................................................................13

Implementation and Updates of Our Strategic Plan .........................................................13

I. The Earth-Sun Exploration Division....................................................15

I.1 The NASA Vision and Mission...........................................................................15

I.2 The Earth-Sun Exploration Division Mission and Goals ................................16

I.3 Inside the Earth-Sun Exploration Division.......................................................18

I.3.1 What the Earth-Sun Exploration Division Does....................................................18

I.3.2 Research and Operational Partnerships ...............................................................18

I.3.2.1 Partnerships with the Academic Community .......................................................19

I.3.2.2 Partnerships with Operational Agencies...............................................................19

I.3.3 Development of Applications for Decision Makers, Technology Transfer and 

Commercialization of NASA Technology...............................................................19

I.3.3.1 The Applications Program....................................................................................19

I.3.4 Education and Public Outreach ............................................................................20

I.3.4.1 Education..............................................................................................................20

I.3.4.2 Public Outreach ....................................................................................................21

I.4 How the Earth-Sun Exploration Division Operates.........................................21

I.4.1 Organizational and Administrative Structure........................................................22

I.4.2 Crosscutting Themes..............................................................................................24

I.4.3 The Workforce Composition ..................................................................................25

I.5 Challenges and Opportunities............................................................................26

I.5.1 The Funding Process and Full Cost Accounting ...................................................26

I.5.2 Retention of Skills and New Hires .........................................................................27

II. Our Scientific Foci and Strategic Plan.................................................29

II.1 Science/Research Areas ......................................................................................29

II.1.1 Atmospheric Composition......................................................................................29

II.1.1.1 Atmospheric Chemistry........................................................................................29

II.1.1.1.1 Observations of Chemical Constituents............................................29

II.1.1.1.2 Chemical Modeling ...........................................................................31

II.1.1.2 Aerosols................................................................................................................32

i
II.1.2 Hydrospheric Processes ........................................................................................34

II.1.2.1 Physical Oceanography ........................................................................................34

II.1.2.2 Cryospheric Research...........................................................................................35

II.1.2.3 Global Water Budget and Terrestrial Hydrology .................................................36

II.1.2.4 Atmospheric Component of the Hydrological Cycle ...........................................38

II.1.3 Biospheric Processes.............................................................................................41

II.1.3.1 The Carbon Cycle.................................................................................................41

II.1.3.1.1 Terrestrial Carbon Cycle ..................................................................42

II.1.3.1.2 Biological Oceanography .................................................................43

II.1.3.2 Terrestrial Ecosystems and Land Cover...............................................................43

II.1.4 Climate and Weather Prediction ...........................................................................44

II.1.4.1 Assimilation..........................................................................................................46

II.1.4.2 Weather Prediction ...............................................................................................47

II.1.4.3 Subseasonal-to-Decadal Climate Variability and Prediction................................48

II.1.4.4 Prediction of Constituents – Chemical Weather Prediction .................................49

II.1.4.5 Long-Range Climate Prediction ...........................................................................50

II.1.5 Solar and Space Physics........................................................................................51

II.1.5.1 Solar Physics ........................................................................................................52

II.1.5.1.1 Solar Magnetic Variability................................................................52

II.1.5.1.2 Exploration of Solar Coronal Dynamics...........................................52

II.1.5.1.3 Coronal Mass Ejections, Flares, and Space Weather.......................53

II.1.5.1.4 Fundamental Atomic Physics of Space Plasmas...............................53

II.1.5.2 Heliospheric Physics ............................................................................................54

II.1.5.3 Geospace Physics.................................................................................................55

II.1.6 Managing and Analyzing Data ..............................................................................56

II.1.6.1 Data Services and Modeling for Earth Science ....................................................56

II.1.6.2 Data Services and Models for Solar and Space Physics.......................................58

II.1.6.3 High Performance Computing..............................................................................59

II.1.6.4 Advanced Software Development........................................................................60

II.2 Instruments, Technology, and New Missions ...................................................60

II.2.1 Instruments ............................................................................................................61

II.2.2 Mission Development.............................................................................................64

II.2.2.1 Earth Science Missions.........................................................................................64

II.2.2.2 Solar and Space Science Missions........................................................................65

II.2.3 Improving the Instrument and Mission Development Process ..............................66

II.2.4 New Platforms and Vantage Points.......................................................................67

II.2.4.1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles...................................................................................67

II.2.4.2 Ultra-Long-Duration Balloons and High-Altitude Sounding Rockets .................67

II.2.4.3 Geostationary Orbit ..............................................................................................68

II.2.4.4 Molniya Orbit.......................................................................................................68

II.2.4.5 The Lagrange Points, L1 and L2 ..........................................................................69

II.2.4.6 The Lunar Vantage Point......................................................................................69

ii
II.3 Applications .........................................................................................................70

II.4 Education and Public Outreach.........................................................................71

Appendix I. Application Activities....................................................75

Appendix II. Education and Public Outreach Activities..................77

Appendix III. Project Scientists and Deputy Project Scientists........87

Appendix IV. Field Campaigns and Workshops................................89

Appendix V. Professional Activities, Honors, and Awards..............93

Appendix VI. Actual, Proposed, or Notional Missions Contained in NASA Strategic Roadmaps........................................................99

Appendix VII. The Organizational Structure of the Division’s 

Laboratories and Offices.................................................................................103

Appendix VIII. Acronyms......................................................................107

iii
iv
Preface 

Welcome to the first description and strategic plan of the Earth-Sun Exploration Division (ESED) at the

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). This Division, Code 610, was created in January 2005 and consists

of all of the Earth science elements of the previous Earth Sciences Directorate, the old Code 900, minus the 

solid Earth and planetary components and the laser remote sensing branch, but with the addition of the 

solar and space physics parts of the Space Sciences Directorate, the old Code 600. The ESED organization 

roughly mirrors the present Headquarters (HQ) organizational structure of the Science Mission Directorate 

(SMD). 

Many things have taken place since the last report for the old Earth Sciences Directorate was written in

September 2003. The last two years have been a complex and uncertain time, with the unprecedented

overlapping of somewhat unrelated events: (1) Full Cost Accounting (FCA); (2) the new financial 

management system, (3) concern that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

activities may impinge on climate areas that we have historically studied; (4) the new Presidential 

Exploration Initiative and its potential impact on science funding at NASA; (5) the reorganization both at 

HQ and at Goddard; (6) the yet to be determined impact of the Decadal Survey that is being carried out by 

the National Academy of Sciences to define missions and research activities in NASA and NOAA; and (7) 

last but certainly not least, the funding situation, especially for Earth Sciences programs, by Congress. All 

of these issues are discussed in this document. 

This document is divided into two parts. The first part is a description of the Division, its internal 

components, processes, and management challenges. The second part describes our intellectual focus and

strategic plan. The Executive Summary highlights the main points of the document. Although the overall 

NASA strategic plan is the responsibility of NASA Headquarters, it behooves us to emphasize which areas 

we want to focus our energies and capabilities on which is the subject of Section II. 

The general form of this document is as follows: Who are we? What are we doing? What do we want to

do? How are we going to do it? Strictly speaking the last question is not strategic but tactical, a strategic 

plan is not very useful if its implementation is unattainable. Thus the last question, basically an

implementation plan, provides a sanity check on the strategic plan elements. 

 

As Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote “... I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is

indispensable.” 

 

The important part of generating the strategic plan part of this document is not the plan itself but the

concentrated focus by the authors on what the vision of ESED will be and how we are going to carry it out. 

The strategic plan as a whole will probably have a short lifetime, but elements of the plan and the vision of

what we are and what we do will influence our approach to new opportunities and ongoing initiatives 

beyond the specific plan. 

There is never a convenient time to develop a document like this. However, right now the Earth sciences 

component of our Division is, as mentioned above, at a crossroads. With the launch of Earth Observing

System (EOS) Aura, the EOS program has changed focus from mission implementation to mission 

operations and data analysis. In addition, the reorganization that created ESED has broadened our 

scientific focus to include the Sun and the response of the Earth’s high altitude plasma environment and

upper atmosphere to solar variability. Thus developing a strategic plan now is of utmost importance. 

Many people have contributed to this document. The tireless leadership of Mark Schoeberl of the Strategic 

Planning Team was essential. The time, energy, and creativity that Mark devoted to the project were a 

great incentive for all members of the team over the last several months. These members include: Waleed 

Abdalati, Bob Connerton, Jim Gleason, Shahid Habib, Jim Hansen, Peter Hildebrand, Tom Moore, Paul

Newman, Doug Rabin, Lorraine Remer, Michele Rienecker, Lars Peter Riishojgaard, Mike Seablom,

Darrel Williams, Warren Wiscombe, and Dot Zukor. They met almost weekly for several months. Many 

other managers, scientists, and engineers of the Division have made comments and contributed sections to

v
this document. I would rather not mention them by name for fear of forgetting someone. Diane Elben also 

contributed to the activities of the committee, compiled most of the data in the report, and formatted the 

entire document. To all I express my gratitude. 

Franco Einaudi

Director of the Earth-Sun Exploration Division 

vi
Executive Summary of the ESED Strategic Plan 

Earth-Sun science is conducted at NASA because NASA provides the infrastructure and technology to 

make significant measurements from space. ESED is the largest Earth-Sun science group within NASA 

and it falls on our shoulders to serve the science community in developing and implementing new space 

missions, serving mission data to the community, analyzing the results from these missions and interacting

with decision makers and the public. This unique role of ESED is codified in our Mission Statement “To 

improve life on Earth and to enable space exploration through the use of space-based observations.” 

There are four overarching Earth Science Questions:

(1) How does the Earth work?

(2) How is the Earth changing?

(3) What are the causes of solar variability and how does the Earth respond?

(4) What do all of these changes mean for life on Earth?

These questions are naturally linked. The first question relies on data taken by satellite and other sensors to

focus on individual processes and feedbacks. The second question can be answered using the long-term

data sets complied by NASA and NOAA scientists using space observations which began in the mid1970s. The third question encompasses the possible effects of long-term changes in solar irradiance, the

nature of “space weather” and the development of forecast capabilities. The last question involves 

prediction, the true test of our understanding. It also indicates our role in communicating our results to

decision makers. 

Members of ESED are working on observations being gathered by a new generation of satellites, the EOS 

platforms, and next generation solar missions. The EOS era began with the launch of EOS Terra a few 

days before the turn of the century. The last EOS mission, Aura, was launched in mid-2004. ESED

scientists are now working on the most complete and compelling Earth-Sun observational data set ever

gathered. Already, significant new discoveries have been made in ocean, land and atmospheric systems. 

These new data are allowing the improvement of climate, land surface, ocean, weather, cryosphere, and airquality prediction models that have direct societal applications. 

In a similar manner, new measurements of the Sun and its output of light, solar wind plasma and energetic

particles, their propagation through the interplanetary medium and the response of the Earth’s 

magnetosphere, thermosphere and mesosphere are being collected by a wide-ranging fleet of spacecraft. 

The solar, interplanetary and terrestrial missions (e.g., SOHO, Wind, RHESSI, Polar, Cluster, FAST, 

TIMED, etc.) that are making these observations collectively are termed the “Great Observatory.” The 

Great Observatory is producing the discoveries and helping develop the numerical models that will 

eventually lead to a national capability to forecast long-term changes in solar irradiance and the massive 

space storms that originate in the Sun’s corona. These storms produce sudden, large increases in energetic 

particle radiation throughout the solar system which modify the Earth’s upper atmosphere and adversely 

affect robotic and manned exploration missions. 

 

ESED is at the forefront of interdisciplinary science – more and more, we see our planet as one system with 

the most exciting discoveries occurring at the interfaces between the traditional disciplines. It is from the 

vantage point of space that the global view of the planet is most compelling. The overall science questions

ESED will be attacking are given in Table 1. These science questions are consistent with Earth Science 

and Applications from Space Strategic Roadmap and the Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap. Note 

that the Earth Science roadmaps are currently being revised by the National Academy of Science’s Decadal 

Survey. The Decadal Survey’s final report will be available toward the end of 2006. These Earth Science 

questions are also consistent with the Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI) launched in 2001 to

accelerate progress on the most important issues and uncertainties in climate science. 

1
Table 1. Major ESED Science Focus Areas 

Major ESED Research Focus Areas 

Administrative area

(see Section I.4.1) 

Understand the Nature, Origins, and Terrestrial Impacts of Solar Variability

Understand the long-term variations of solar activity and irradiance that affect 

Earth’s space climate and thermal balance. 

611, 612, 613, 614 

Quantify the response of the Earth's mesosphere, thermosphere, and 

magnetosphere to solar variability. 

612.2, 612.3

Apply new understandings of space plasma physics to the role of stellar activity and 

magnetic shielding to planetary system evolution and habitability. 

612.1, 612.2

Understand the Global Carbon Cycle 

Quantify the carbon budget. 613, 614, and 610.1 

Quantify land cover and ecosystem change. Mostly within 614

Predict the impact of climate change on the biosphere. 614 and 611 

Understand the Global Water Cycle 

Quantify changes in ice sheets and glaciers. Mostly within 614

Determine the extent, storage of water and variability of global snow cover. Mostly within 614

Quantify variability and changes in precipitation, clouds, and water vapor. 613, 610.1, and 611

Determine the global water cycle and energy cycle budgets and changes associated 

with climate trends. 

613, 614.1 and 610.1

Understand/Predict Climate Variability and Change

Understand the role of the Sun as an energy source to Earth’s atmosphere, and in 

particular the role of solar variability in driving change. 

612, 613, and 611 

Predict the ocean circulation changes. 614 and 611 

Predict Long-Term Climate Change due to greenhouse gases and other forcings. 611 and 610.1

Determine the effect of aerosols and clouds on climate change. 611, 610.1 and 613 

Quantify changes in sea ice. Mostly in 614

Determine predictability limits for climate from subseasonal to decadal timescales. 610.1 and 613 

Predict regional climate variability. 611 and 610.1 

Understand/Predict Atmospheric Composition 

Determine the impact of long-range transport on local air quality. Across 613 and 610.1

Determine the interaction of aerosols, rainfall, clouds, and the large-scale 

circulation. 

611 and 613 

Predict the recovery of the stratospheric polar ozone depletion. 613 and 610.1

Enable the Improvement of Weather Prediction

Determine which observations are likely to have the highest impact on prediction

skill. 

Mostly within 610.1

Develop technology, instruments, and space missions that will lead to improvements 

in weather prediction.

Mostly within 610.1

Develop analysis methodologies suitable for assimilation of data into predictive 

models. 

Mostly within 610.1

2
Table 1. Major ESED Science Focus Areas (continued)

Major ESED Research Focus Areas 

Administrative area

(see Section I.4.1) 

Understand the Fundamental Processes Necessary to Support Space Weather

Prediction

Understand magnetic reconnection as revealed in solar flares, coronal mass 

ejections, and geospace storms. 

612.1, 612.2, 612.3 

Understand the plasma processes that accelerate and transport particles. 612.1, 612.2, 612.3 

Understand the role of plasma and neutral interactions in nonlinear coupling

between the thermosphere and magnetosphere. 

612.2, 612.3

Develop models and forecast tools for solar flares and coronal mass ejections, their 

propagation through the heliosphere, and the response of geospace to extreme 

solar events.

612.1, 612.2

Safeguard our Outward Journey

Characterize typical and extreme space environments to be encountered by robotic 

and manned exploration missions. 

612.1, 612.2, 612.3 

Develop the capability to predict the origin and onset of solar activity and

disturbances that produce potentially hazardous space weather events. 

612.1, 612.2, 612.3 

While ESED is in a good position to respond to opportunities regarding the listed research activities, 

strategic hires discussed in Section II and summarized in Table 5, shown later, will strengthen the program

considerably. In Section II, we detail our specific activities and plans with regard to the science questions in

Table 1. These plans vary from research group to group as the science focus itself varies, but all of the 

plans discuss strategies to analyze remote sensing data and/or improve models that can be verified using 

such data. Ultimately this kind of analysis will reduce uncertainty in model predictions of weather, climate 

change, solar variability, the near-space environment and will impact health and safety of the people on our 

planet and of the astronauts making the journey outward. 

With the launch of EOS Aura in 2004, the EOS era has reached its peak, but by 2010 all of the EOS 

spacecraft will be beyond their planned lifetime. It is time to begin the next generation of space 

observations, observations that will answer the new science questions developed from EOS measurements 

and observations that will use the new technologies that have been developed over the last 10 years. These 

next generation missions also need to track our changing planet: Are ice sheets continuing to melt? Is air 

quality getting better? Is the ozone layer recovering? Will the next solar cycle be different from the last?

Table 2 lists NASA space missions approved for launch in the next five years. Starting around 2010, many 

measurements made by the current EOS instruments will be continued by the National Polar-orbiting

Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) and the European Organization for the Exploitation

of Meteorological Satellites (EUMetSat) series. 

Beyond 2005, the Sun-Solar System Connection community also has a series of important new missions 

(Table 2). These missions include Solar B, Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), Solar 

Dynamics Observatory (SDO), Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions During Substorms 

(THEMIS), Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM), Radiation Belt Storm Probes, and Magnetospheric 

MultiScale. These missions will reveal the roles of magnetic field intensity and topology on energy release 

and transport in the solar coronal and the terrestrial magnetosphere, how large coronal flares and mass 

ejections accelerate charged particles and propagate though the “heliosphere” (i.e., interplanetary space) 

and how these solar drivers produce large variations throughout “geospace” from the high altitude

magnetosphere down to the mesosphere. 

3
Table 2. Near-Term Approved Missions 

Mission Name Launch Date Science Focus

Earth Science

CALIPSO Early 2006 Aerosol/ Cloud height

CloudSat Early 2006 Cloud particles

NPP 2007 Multiple instruments for land, atmosphere and ocean science – 

NPOESS precursor 

OCO 2007 Carbon dioxide

Glory 2008 Aerosols

Aquarius 2008 Ocean salinity

Hydros* 2010 Soil moisture

Solar and Space Physics 

C/NOFS 2006 Ionospheric turbulence; communication and navigation outages 

AIM 2006 Noctilucent cloud formation and long-term variability 

STEREO 2006 Propagation of coronal mass ejections 

THEMIS 2006 Magnetospheric substorms

Solar-B 2007 Solar magnetic fields and convection 

SDO 2008 Helioseismology; origin of coronal mass ejections

IBEX 2009 Interstellar Boundary Explorer 

TWINS 2006 Imaging magnetosphere plasma cloud and geospace storms

Because mission development takes at least five years, we must look beyond 2010 in our planning process 

and sometimes much longer. To propose new missions we must prepare carefully. This preparation

includes investing in new technology and engineering, crystallizing science questions, making suborbital 

measurements, and simulating processes in Earth and Space system models. Part of this document is

devoted to suggestions on the improvement and coordination of these processes. 

Challenges and Opportunities for ESED 

Our first challenge is to retain a vibrant creative workforce. Figure I.5.2 shows that nearly a fifth of the 

ESED workforce can retire within the next five years. The figure also shows that about one tenth of our 

workforce is between ages 30-40. If the hiring is not increased, the total civil servant workforce will drop

by two thirds in the next 30 years. Table 5, shown later, outlines our immediate hiring needs. 

The second challenge is also an opportunity. The NASA Exploration Initiative emphasizes the outward 

journey, first to the Moon and then to Mars. Some of the cost of this activity will no doubt come from

funds for Earth exploration; however, many of the models and techniques developed for Earth observations

are also relevant to observations of the Moon, Mars, and newly discovered extra-solar planets. It is a

challenge to ESED to take advantage of the Exploration Initiative opportunities as they avail themselves. 

 

*

 Funding of this mission is uncertain. 

4
Development and Management of Long-Term Data Sets 

Earth and space observing satellites have been flown by NASA since the mid-1970s. After launch 

scientists continue to develop algorithms and explore techniques for improving the data obtained from the 

sensors. This effort often extends well beyond our own satellites and sensors to those launched by other 

organizations – both domestic and international. In this way, Goddard scientists lead the scientific 

community in developing a space-based understanding of the Earth and solar environments. 

Over time, the collection and reprocessing of the data from these early sensors and the process of

combining data from more recent sensors with older data has led to the development of what is called 

“long-term data sets.” The scientific community regards these long-term data sets as an important resource. 

For example, the column ozone data from the first BUV instrument flown on Nimbus 4 in the mid-1970s 

combined with the Nimbus 7 Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS)/ Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet 

(SBUV), the NOAA SBUV-2 series, Meteor TOMS, Earth Probe (EP) TOMS, up to the recent Aura Ozone

Monitoring Instrument (OMI) instrument has provided the stratospheric community with a near continuous

measure of changes in the stratospheric ozone layer. 

The development of long-term satellite data sets is time consuming, specialized work. Knowledge of both

remote sensing and sensor performance is required, and these data sets also incorporate ground-based

measurements as well. The development of long-term data sets from satellite systems is an appropriate 

function for NASA, although for some of the Earth science data sets, we expect this activity will eventually 

transition to NOAA as the NPOESS system comes on-line. We view the maintenance and improvement of 

these data sets as a serious responsibility of ESED and an important service to the community. 

Table 3 below lists some of the key data sets that ESED maintains and the sensor suites from which the 

data sets are derived. This list does not include all the data sets held or being developed by ESED, but

includes those data sets that merge data products from multiple sensors as in the column ozone example 

given above. 

Table 3. Long-Term Data Sets 

Focus Area Description of Data Set Source of Data 

Satellite ozone data sets – total ozone and ozone

profile data set since 1970, surface UVB and 

aerosol absorption data since 1978. 

(http://jwocky.gsfc.nasa.gov) 

SBUV, TOMS, OMI 

Global Aerosol Climatology Project (GACP) data 

set since 1983. (http://gacp.giss.nasa.gov) 

NOAA/AVHRR 

Aerosol products for land and ocean since 2000. Terra, Aqua, MODIS 

Atmospheric 

Composition 

Aerosol products from ground-based network

since 1993. (http://aeronet.gsfc.nasa.gov/) 

AERONET 

Global precipitation data set – global three 

hourly, daily, and monthly averages precipitation 

data sets since 1979. (http://precip.gsfc.nasa.gov) 

TRMM, SSM/I, 

geosynchronous IR

observations, TOVS data, and 

rain gauges 

Global Water Cycle 

ISCCP cloud products since 1983. 

(http://isccp.giss.nasa.gov) 

International constellations of 

weather satellites 

5
Table 3. Long-Term Data Sets (continued) 

Focus Area Description of Data Set Source of Data 

Satellite ocean color and biology data sets – 

global ocean chlorophyll concentrations, optical 

attenuation coefficients, and water-leaving 

radiances beginning in 1996. 

(http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/)

Routine global data from

OCTS, SeaWiFS, MODIS; 

Sparse global sampling from

CZCS (1978-1986)

Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies 

(GIMMS) Normalized Difference Vegetation 

Index (NDVI) data set since 1981. 

(http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/data/gimms) 

NOAA/AVHRR 

Global Carbon 

Cycle 

Land surface albedo since 2000. Terra, Aqua, MODIS 

Global radiation budget data sets – short-wave

and long-wave radiative fluxes at the surface, topof-atmosphere, and other levels since 1983. 

(http://isccp.giss.nasa.gov/projects/flux.html) 

ISCCP data set combined with

TOVS, SAGE, TOMS, and

other satellites 

Total solar irradiance since 1978. Nimbus-7 ERB,ACRIM I, II, 

ACRIM III, SORCE, 

SOHO/VIRGO 

Sea Ice extent, concentration, and type (ESMR 

since 1973; SMMR since 1978). 

ESMR (extent only), SMMR, 

SSM/I, and AMSR 

Ice sheet elevation changes since 1978. SeaSat, ERS-1/2, Envisat, 

ICESat, airborne laser 

altimetry 

Climate Variability 

and Change 

Spatial extent and water equivalent of snow. AVHRR and MODIS SMMR, 

SSM/I, AMSR

Solar wind – 

magnetosphere

Single 1963-2005 data set with hourly solar wind

magnetic field, plasma, energetic proton, and 

geomagnetic activity index data inter-calibrated.

(http://omniweb.gsfc.nasa.gov/) 

ACE, Wind, All 9-IMP's, 

ISEE-1, ISEE-2, Prognoz,

HEOS, OGO 5, Vela 

Heliospheric 

plasma and 

magnetic field

Commonly formatted, spacecraft-specific 

magnetic field and plasma data sets for >140 

spacecraft-years spanning 1962 - 2005. 

(http://cohoweb.gsfc.nasa.gov/) 

Ulysses, 2 Voyagers, 5 

Pioneers, Helios-1, Helios-2,

Mariner 2. 

Solar Flares X-ray and gamma ray intensity histories and 

spectra, 1980 – 1989, 1991 – 2000, 2002 to

present.

SMM, CGRO, RHESSI 

Coronal Mass

Ejections

Times, locations, and velocities of CMEs, 1980 –

1989, 1996 to present. 

SMM, SOHO

Solar Magnetic 

Field 

Photospheric magnetograms, synoptic maps, and 

computed coronal fields since 1973. 

SOHO combined with groundbased data

Solar Interior

Structure 

Helioseismic mode frequencies and widths since 

1995. 

SOHO combined with groundbased data

6
Winning New Business for ESED

As part of our strategic plan, we intend to develop a small staff specifically devoted to responding to new 

science mission opportunities and improving our coordination with the Mission Support and Engineering

Directorates. This group will also coordinate the expenditure and application for Bid and Proposal (B&P)

funds, coordinate with the Center’s New Business Office (NBO), and review the ongoing new business

activities. The current list of new missions and concepts under development within ESED along with the 

technology requirements are shown in Table 4 and briefly described in Section II.2.2. Notional and 

approved missions derived from NASA HQ roadmaps are given in Appendix VI. 

Table 4. Future ESED Satellite Science Missions 

This table illustrates the connection between the science themes and the technology investments. The 

mission acronyms are described in Section II. The mission opportunities [either Earth System Science 

Pathfinder (ESSP) or “Roadmap” indicates the mission appears on a HQ roadmap] are given when relevant; 

no opportunity is given if the mission has already been selected. The term “roadmap” indicates that the

mission is either on the Earth Science or the Solar Science/Space Physics roadmap given in Appendix VI. 

Major 

Research 

Focus Area

Science Objective Measurement 

Objective 

 MissionOpportunity Technology 

Investment 

BIOMM -

ESSP 

Pulse resolved

lidar 

Accurate 

assessment of 

carbon 

sequestration on

land and ocean

Flora* - ESSP Hyperspectral 

Imager 

CO2 Profiler –

mission –

Roadmap

Laser profiling of 

CO2 and O2

column

Quantify CO2

amounts.

CO2 Column – 

mission –

Roadmap

Passive FP 

Imager for O2 

and CO2

Quantify the carbon budget. 

Ocean Carbon 

Assessment 

OCEaNS -

ESSP 

UV/Vis Imager 

Vegetation

Biomass 

BIOMM - 

ESSP 

Vegetation

Canopy Lidar 

Vegetation

Recovery

Flora* - ESSP Hyperspectral 

Understand

the Global 

Carbon

Cycle 

Quantify land cover and

ecosystem change. 

Quantify light

use efficiency 

and evapotranspiration

GEOTRACE - 

Roadmap

High resolution

Imaging 

spectrometer 

(GEO) 

 * Joint with JPL 

7
Table 4. Future ESED Satellite Science Missions (continued) 

Major 

Research 

Focus Area Science Objective 

Measurement 

Objective 

Measurement

- Mission

Category 

Technology 

Investment 

Altimetry of

Ice Sheets - 

Roadmap

Quantify changes in ice sheets Topographic Lidar 

and glaciers.

Ice sheet height 

and thickness 

Ice sheet 

ThicknessRoadmap

Radar 

Quantify surface water storage 

and discharge.

Surface water 

height and flow

WatERRoadmapLaser altimetry 

Quantify global soil moisture. Soil microwave 

emission and 

backscatter 

HYDROS* Active/passive μwave 

Quantify ground water storage 

and exchanges. 

Ground water 

volume changes 

GRACE-IIRoadmapEarth gravity 

mapping

Determine the extent, storage of

water and variability of global 

snow cover. 

Snow and ice 

cover 

CLPP*- ESSP Active/passive μwave 

Rainfall GPM*-

Roadmap

Active radar, 

passive μ-wave

Understand

the Global 

Water Cycle 

Quantify variability and changes 

in precipitation, clouds, and

water vapor. 

Atmospheric 

water vapor 

GIFTS - NMP Geostationary IR 

imager 

Glory Active cavity 

radiometers

Understand the role of the Sun

as an energy source to Earth’s 

atmosphere, and in particular

the role of solar variability in

driving change. 

Total Solar 

Irradiance 

Janus Solar observing

sensors 

Predict the ocean circulation 

changes.

Salinity Aquarius* Active/passive μwave 

Understand/

Predict 

Climate 

Variability 

and Change 

 

Assess changes in sea ice and 

their associated implications for 

climate. 

Sea ice 

freeboard height

Altimetry of

sea ice 

Roadmap

Topographic lidar

and radar 

 * Joint with JPL 

8
Table 4. Future ESED Satellite Science Missions (continued) 

Major 

Research 

Focus Area Science Objective 

Measurement 

Objective 

Measurement

- Mission 

Technology 

Investment 

Earth Radiation 

Budget 

Janus 

Geo-Trace 

Determine the effect of aerosols UV/Vis imagers 

and clouds on climate change. 

Aerosol effects

on cloud

properties 

CLAIM-3D –

ESSP 

Passive imagers/ 

polarimetry

Determine the impact of 

aerosols on climate forcing. 

Aerosol optical 

properties, 

composition and 

size distribution 

Glory Passive imagers/

polarimetry

Predict Long-Term Climate 

Change due to greenhouse gases 

and other forcings. 

Cloud ice for 

validation of

climate models

SIRICE* –

ESSP 

High frequency μ 

wave radiometer 

Determine the impact of longrange transport on local air 

quality. 

Column ozone

and aerosols 

Janus - 

Roadmap

UV/Vis/NIR 

imaging @ L1

Understand/

Predict 

Atmospheric 

Composition 

Predict the recovery of the 

stratospheric polar ozone

depletion. 

Column ozone

and aerosols 

GEOTRACE - 

Roadmap

UV/Vis/NIR 

imaging 

Aerosol effects

on cloud 

properties 

CLAIM-3D - 

ESSP 

Passive imagers 

and polarimeters

Determine the interaction of 

aerosols, rainfall, clouds, and 

the large-scale circulation. 

Distinguishing

anthropogenic 

and natural 

aerosols and 

their effects on 

climate 

Advanced

aerosol

mission – 

Roadmap

Multi-angle 

spectropolarimetric 

imaging (LEO) and 

scanning aerosol 

profiling (LEO) 

Polar 

meteorology

MolniyaESSP Vis/IR Imager

Enable the 

improvement 

of weather 

prediction 

Develop technology, 

instruments, and space missions 

that will lead to improvements

in weather prediction. Tropospheric 

winds over land

and ocean 

Global 

tropospheric 

winds – 

Roadmap

Lidar 

measurements 

from either aerosol

or molecular 

backscatter (LEO) 

* Joint with JPL 

9
Table 4. Future ESED Satellite Science Missions (continued) 

Major 

Research 

Focus Area Science Objective 

Measurement 

Objective 

Measurement

- Mission 

Technology 

Investment 

Understand magnetic

reconnection as revealed in solar 

flares, coronal mass ejections, 

and geospace storms. 

Measure

reconnection in

situ and observe 

remotely 

STEREO 

Solar-B 

THEMIS 

SDO 

MMS 

High-resolution 

spectral imagers 

(gamma ray to 

visible);

constellations

Understand the plasma

processes that accelerate and 

transport particles. 

Measure

energetic 

particle spectra 

RBSP 

Heliostorm

GEC 

Constellations;

solar sails 

Understand the role of plasma

and neutral interactions in

nonlinear coupling of regions 

throughout the solar system. 

In situ and 

remote sensing 

STEREO 

IBEX 

RBSP 

GEC 

Advanced neutral

winds analyzer; 

miniaturized 

plasma

instrumentation 

Understand

the 

Fundamental

Processes 

Necessary to 

Support

Space 

Weather 

Prediction

- and - 

Safeguard

our Outward 

Journey 

Understand the creation and 

variability of magnetic dynamos 

and how they drive the 

dynamics of solar, planetary,

and stellar environments. 

Measure

magnetic fields

and their effects 

on particles 

Solar-B 

SDO 

GEC 

Helioseismographs and

magnetographs;

ultra-high

resolution imagers 

Understand the causes and 

evolution of solar activity that 

affects Earth’s space climate.

Observe flares, 

coronal mass 

ejections, and 

their effects 

STEREO 

Solar-B 

SDO 

Heliostorm

Janus 

Constellations;

High-bandwidth

communications 

Determine changes in the 

Earth’s magnetosphere, 

ionosphere, and upper 

atmosphere to enable 

specification, prediction, and

mitigation of their effects. 

Measure

magnetic and 

electric fields 

and particle 

distributions 

RBSP 

MMS 

GEC 

TWINS

Neutral atom

imaging 

refinements 

Understand

the Nature, 

Origins, and 

Terrestrial 

Impacts of 

Solar 

Variability 

Apply our understanding of

space plasma physics to the role 

of stellar activity and magnetic 

shielding in planetary system 

evolution and habitability. 

Measure

magnetic fields

and the solar 

wind

SDO 

RBSP 

GEC 

High-bandwidth

communications 

* Joint with JPL 

From the modeling viewpoint, ESED stands at the forefront of atmosphere, land surface, ocean, and space 

environment modeling as well as satellite data services. With proper leadership and collaborative partners, 

ESED could move forward toward the development of an Earth System Model.

10
Strengthening Strategic Areas and New Hires

The exciting and interdisciplinary nature of ESED work attracts scientists from all over the globe. With

our aging work force, we expect staff turnover to rise within the next few years. Table 5 shows a 

distillation from Section II of our hiring needs for the next few years. This table is an evolving document

whose implementation depends on many factors, including the rate of retirement and the rate of winning 

missions and research proposals. The ESED needs to develop an aggressive recruiting/retention plan for

new hires and for retaining critical personnel that should include some of the following elements: 

(1) Long-term hiring plan

The Division needs to think down stream and specify the kinds of hires it will need in the next five years 

and begin developing a strategy for filling those positions before (not after) vacancies occur. Table 5 

describes only the most critical and current staffing needs. Based on changing priorities and on the aging

staff demographics (Figure I.5.2), the longer-term view for the Division requires that we plan for a science 

priority-driven replacement of 30-50% of our science staff over the next five years. 

(2) Use of different hiring strategies 

NASA has special programs for hiring individuals that ESED does not use to full potential. They include: 

Exceptional Hires – four-year hire at salaries above the GS level. Intergovernmental Personnel Actions 

(IPAs) – temporary hires from University or Industry, and the Internship Program –usually includes student 

engineers, but could also include individuals who want a break from their academic career. 

(3) Recruitment/Retention Package 

This package would provide tangible benefits such as quality office space and start up funding for new 

recruits. For existing employees, sabbatical programs, proposal cost sharing, and fast track promotions 

would aid in retention. In the near term, we intend to develop an ESED brochure that highlights the science 

activities within ESED. 

Table 5. Hiring Needs within ESED 

Hiring needs, distilled from this strategic plan, are shown below. Critical hires are in bold.

Scientific Area Hiring Need 

Plan 

Section 

Aerosol, cloud and precipitation physics, remote sensing, and 

modeling expert – 1 hire 

Atmospheric 

hydrologic processes 

Assimilation of cloud and rain-impacted data – 1 hire 

II.1.1.1.3, 

II 1.1.1.4 

Atmospheric Physics 

Cloud modeler

Improve the current generations of cloud models – 1 hire II.1.2.4 

Develop improved capability to use remote sensing data to 

determine cloud properties – 1 hire 

Cloud/Aerosol

Microphysics and

Remote Sensing

Improve physics of global climate models using satellite 

observations and cloud resolving models – 1 hire 

II.1.2.4 

Cryospheric 

Processes 

Remote sensing based ice sheet modeling and sea ice/air-sea

exchange science – 2 hires 

II.1.2.2 

Earth system model 

and assimilation 

system 

Develop next generation modelers for Earth system science and 

develop expertise for assimilation within the complex interacting

Earth system – 3 hires, one each of atmosphere, ocean, and land 

II.1.4 

Geostationary

Satellite Expert Specialist in geostationary observations from space to work on the 

NOAA GOES R project – 2 hires 

II.2.3.2 

11
Table 5. Hiring Needs within ESED (continued) 

Scientific Area Hiring Need 

Plan 

Section 

Global vegetation 

dynamics mapping

Terrestrial Ecologist with strong quantitative remote sensing

background using satellite imagery – 1 hire 

II.1.3.3 

Helioseismology Needed for interpretation of SDO data – 1 hire II.1.5.5.3 

Ionospheric 

Dynamics 

Theorist required to complement experimental program and to

bridge space and atmospheric dynamics – 1 hire 

II.1.5.3 

Land surface 

hydrology

Evaluate global water cycle budget and two major components: 

storage of water in snow, and land surface water storage and 

discharge – 3 hires 

II.1.2.3 

Magnetic fields Vector magnetometry instrumentation specialist for both solar, space 

and planetary exploration missions – 1 hire 

II.1.5.1, 

II.1.5.2, 

II.1.5.3 

Magnetohydrodynamic 

Theory

Needed to regain critical mass for Sun-Solar System Connections 

Theory Program – 2 hires 

II.1.5.1-3 

Neutral Atom

Imaging 

Spectroscopy 

Growth area in which Goddard has led (IMAGE, TWINS, IBEX) 

and should continue to lead (GEMINI) – 1 hire 

II.1.5.2 

Synoptic meteorologist to lead development of the technique to 

quantify potential impact of new space-based observations – 1 hire 

Observing System 

Simulation 

Experiments Develop a robust infrastructure for OSSEs and linkages to 

emerging mission concepts – 1 hire 

II.1.4.1 

Ocean Biology UV/Vis imager remote sensing of ocean biology specialist – 1 hire II.1.3.1.2 

Physical

Oceanography

Physical oceanographers to provide expertise in modeling and

interpretation of Aquarius salinity, air/sea interaction and ocean

altimetry data – 3 hires 

II.1.2.1 

Precipitation Radar remote sensing of precipitation specialist – 1 hire II.1.2.4 

Solar Forcing of 

Climate 

Needed in the areas of solar spectral variability, influences on

climate, geology or geochemistry, shortwave radiative transfer and 

atmospheric interactions to form a group of critical mass – 3 hires 

II.1.4.5 

Tropospheric 

Chemistry 

Use and develop improved tropospheric chemistry models for 

assimilation of Aura data and for future tropospheric chemistry

missions and instruments – 2 hires 

II.1.1.1.2 

UV-Vis Instrument 

Specialist 

UV-Vis Image spectrometers using state-of-the-art sensors to

provide crosscutting instrument technology for both Earth and

Solar/Space Science – 2 hires

II.1.1.1.1 

Total Number of Hires = 36 

12
ESED Education and Public Outreach 

Education and Public Outreach (EPO) is a significant function within ESED and communication of our 

results to the public and decision makers is a core function. We must translate our science into clear, 

understandable concepts. Within ESED, this plan raises EPO activities to a high degree of visibility at the 

Division level. As with the NBO, described above, this EPO panel will coordinate education and public 

outreach plans and opportunities. Reviews of ongoing activities will take place quarterly. 

Implementation and Updates of Our Strategic Plan 

Strategic planning must take place continuously. Although this document is intended to provide an 

assessment and a five-year plan, NASA is an agency imbedded in a political organization. Within the next

five years, there will be a new head of the Executive Branch and NASA’s mission may be broadened, 

restricted, or shifted. New directions in Earth Science will emerge next year with the completion of the 

National Academy of Sciences decadal survey. We believe that a new version of this plan should be issued 

every two to three years. This will allow us to incorporate new opportunities and develop responses to new 

pressures on the organization. Immediate needed revisions of sections of this plan should be produced as

needed – in other words, the plan should be a living document. 

We also recommend that a few members of the strategic planning committee form the nucleus of an

implementation committee whose goal is to help implement specific recommendations in this plan, to track 

what works and does not work, to identify where adjustments need to be made, and to update sections of

the plan as needed. 

 

13
14
I. The Earth-Sun Exploration Division 

I.1 The NASA Vision and Mission 

NASA GSFC Earth, Solar, and Space Science are all part of the NASA Vision and Mission. 

The NASA Vision 

To improve life here, 

To extend life to there, 

To find life beyond. 

The NASA Mission 

To understand and protect our home planet 

To explore the universe and search for life 

To inspire the next generation of explorers 

...as only NASA can.

The phrase “as only NASA can” that appears in the NASA mission statement has resulted in a continuing

debate on which activities are appropriate for NASA. “Why NASA?” is a particularly significant question 

in Earth-Sun and Space science since other agencies have involvement in and responsibility for the 

operational monitoring and prediction of the Earth-Sun system. Understanding where NASA’s role begins

and ends is critical to developing a Strategic Plan. 

The ability and flexibility to respond to new and evolving science questions and to take global 

measurements that have not yet been identified as requirements by operational agencies is critical to 

understanding global environmental change and improving predictions. Thus, the reason scientists are

employed at NASA is to support additional crucial space-based measurements of our planet and of the 

space domains of interest to human and robotic exploration. For example, within the Earth science domain, 

two Presidential directives for NASA to participate in are the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP), 

and the international Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) underscore the legitimacy of

this perspective and the legitimacy of Earth Science activities at NASA. A similar mandate for NASA 

Space Science derives from the President’s Vision for Space Exploration, which requires a thorough 

understanding of the medium through which explorers might travel to their destinations. 

The ESED follows an end-to-end approach in studying the Earth-Sun system that goes beyond the 

formulation of new missions and the development of attendant cutting edge technologies to the delivery of

validated data to the scientific and operational communities. The end-to-end mission is not complete until 

the measurements gathered by NASA’s satellites are turned into information that is useful – either by

expanding human understanding, or by providing immediate value to society. Examples of the latter are 

measurements applied to weather or space weather forecasting. Measurements become useful only after 

validated physical parameters are extracted from the raw observations and their scientific implications are 

understood. The observations reveal new phenomena and they are used to define fundamental physical and

chemical processes. The ultimate test of the quality of the data is the ability to combine the observed 

information with models to describe and understand the current and past state of the environment and its

variability sufficiently well that it can confidently be applied to predict the future. The observations are, 

therefore, vetted by scientists whose collective expertise must encompass knowledge of both the instrument

qualities and the theories of Earth and space science. The scrutiny of the observations, in a hierarchy of 

validation steps and data analysis applications, gives NASA-funded scientists, both at NASA Centers and

across the entire research community, confidence in the utility and accuracy of the measurements. These 

scientists then become the first to communicate these results to the broader community, initiating the 

diffusion of information of NASA’s technological innovations into society as a whole. 

15
NASA data stand at the foundation of a set of science questions and predictive applications used by many

government agencies. As an enabling organization, in partnership with operational agencies that rely on

quality environmental data to execute their missions, NASA supports the technological transfer from

research to applications, thus facilitating the incorporation of new knowledge and tools into services these 

agencies provide to the Nation. This technology transfer results in new and more capable instruments, 

more resilient and reliable spacecraft, and cutting edge data processing and analysis techniques. The

research instruments deployed by NASA lead to the operational instruments of other agencies, which 

collect information on a routine basis. The direct use of NASA’s research observations by other agencies

allows the Nation to realize the advantages brought by NASA’s technologies while the operational systems 

are being developed. NASA’s role in this regard is unique across the Federal Government. 

The role of the NASA Center is to provide a core competency to conceive, design, and deploy satellite 

missions that can be used by NASA directly, or used by the broader research community as a resource to

enable satellite missions proposed and executed by a mixture of governmental and non-governmental 

individuals. NASA scientists, engineers and managers form teams whose activities range from defining

measurement needs, developing new instruments, and characterizing their in-flight performance, to 

integrating the data into operational products in support of environmental monitoring and prediction as

appropriate, and assessing the new data impact on scientific knowledge. The NASA Centers provide a

first-line validation and analyses of the observations, including the incorporation of the observations into 

models, either directly via assimilation or indirectly via the use of knowledge derived from analyzing the 

data to improve parameterizations, to testing model performance and predictive skill. The scientists and 

engineers at the Centers also collect and integrate the knowledge of NASA-funded researchers outside of 

the centers, and help focus this knowledge on future exploration. Completing the cycle, the scientists at the 

NASA centers serve as the liaison between the program offices at NASA HQ and the discipline based 

external/academic community. 

I.2 The Earth-Sun Exploration Division Mission and Goals 

There are seven fundamental Earth and Solar Science questions that drive the Earth-Sun Program at NASA HQ and 

at Goddard’s ESED. 

Earth-Sun Science: 

• How is the Earth-Sun system changing?

• What are the underlying physical causes of solar variability and dynamic coronal events?

• What are the primary forcings of the Earth climate system?

• How has the Earth system responded to natural and human-induced changes?

• What are the consequences of change in the Earth-Sun system for human life and society?

• How does the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere respond to solar variability?

• How well can we predict future changes in the Earth system?

• How can the effects of space weather on astronauts and space-based systems be forecast and 

mitigated?

Using our view from space, the Division conducts a broad theoretical and experimental research program to 

study all aspects of the Earth systems. 

16
The ESED mission and goals are:

The ESED Mission 

To improve life on Earth and to enable space exploration through the use of space-based 

observations. 

The ESED Goals 

Advance understanding of the Earth-Sun system through exploration from the vantage point 

of space. 

Improve predictions of the Earth-Sun system through measurements and models. 

Provide leadership in Earth-Sun system science and technology including the development of

new instruments, measurement missions and models. 

Establish partnerships to promote Earth science and Sun-Solar System science.

Enhance the nation’s scientific and technological literacy.

Our mission and goals provide the strategic foundation for ESED activities. The challenges for our

nation are to have an understanding of the Earth-Sun system and how it is changing and then to

predict changes or likelihood of changes. In order to address these two challenges, NASA has 

developed substantial national assets that include satellites, aircraft, instruments, and people. These 

assets are programmatically managed by the Earth-Sun Exploration Division at NASA HQ, but are 

conceived, designed, implemented, and operationally managed at the various NASA Centers, in

collaboration with the academic community and the private sector. 

The Goddard Space Flight Center has a broad mix of resources for conceiving and flying satellite 

missions. Goddard has well-recognized strengths in flight dynamics, engineering, scientific

management, data production, and data distribution. GSFC has developed and managed a wide range 

of missions from large multi-instrument platforms like EOS Terra, Aqua, and Aura to small singleinstrument satellites like the Earth Probe Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer. In support of the 

overall GSFC projects, the ESED provides the expertise behind developing science questions, 

instrument and mission definition, scientific oversight, and scientific management. A large number 

of ESED civil servants function as Principal Investigators and Project Scientists for major satellite 

efforts. Oversight and management of these satellite projects requires a centralized competency of 

civil servant scientists and engineers. A list of Project Scientists and Deputy Project Scientists is 

provided in Appendix III. 

In order for NASA scientists to function effectively in support of NASA missions, they must 

maintain their own scientific efforts and continue to publish. First-rate science missions require 

first-rate scientists and engineers for their conception, design, and implementation. First-rate

scientists must be recruited, nurtured, and developed over a number of years to maintain an overall

high quality in the work force. 

17
I.3 Inside the Earth-Sun Exploration Division 

I.3.1 What the Earth-Sun Exploration Division Does 

The purview of the Earth-Sun Exploration Division includes:

• the Sun, including its interior, atmosphere, and emissions (electromagnetic and particulate) 

• the heliosphere, from the Sun to the heliopause 

• the magnetospheres of the Earth and other planets 

• the Earth’s 

• ionosphere, thermosphere and mesosphere 

• troposphere and stratosphere 

• biosphere 

• cryosphere 

• hydrosphere 

Interactions between these components take place at different time scales from a few minutes in cloud 

evolution and auroral fluctuations to millions or billions of years in tectonic plate motions and solar 

evolution. ESED scientists do research in all the recognized components of the Earth-Sun system

except the solid-Earth which has its home in the Solar System Exploration Division. 

Earth-Sun system studies at Goddard follow an end-to-end approach, patterned after the SMD 

approach at NASA HQ. ESED’s scientists play an important role in every aspect of scientific mission

development from defining the scientific questions and needed measurements, to developing new 

technologies for those measurements, to planning space missions, to processing and distributing the 

data from those missions, to analyzing the data and carrying out related modeling to understand the 

scientific and practical implications of the data. 

Major science areas in ESED are based on core competencies that have their development rooted in the

past. Table 1, shown earlier, outlines the core science research focus areas that exist both within the 

Laboratories and as crosscutting activities. The SMD Focus Areas provide a broad, but not one-to-one

mapping onto the objectives shown in Table 1. 

We measure the success of our Division by the usual metrics applied to scientific organizations of this size 

and breadth. Our win rate for proposals, based on selections from the period of July 2004 to October 2005,

ranged from 0-55% with an average success rate of 27%. As another measure of our engagement with the 

community, we report in Appendix IV the number of field campaigns we have led or participated in and the

number of workshops we have sponsored from 2004-2005. Appendix V shows the number of professional 

awards and honors bestowed on our staff. 

I.3.2 Research and Operational Partnerships

Interaction with the national and international scientific community is essential and is an integral part of the 

Division activities. Scientists in the academic community and in government research laboratories at home

and abroad are involved in our research activities, ground-based observational programs, aircraft 

campaigns and satellite missions. Indeed these programs are often jointly funded by other agencies and cosponsored by the international community. Our data sets are created with major contributions from the 

community and serve as a resource for the community. 

18
I.3.2.1 Partnerships with the Academic Community 

In addition to individual interactions among scientists, the Division has established research institutes with

a number of universities around the country for the purpose of involving first-rate scientists in our research

activities. A substantial effort is underway to encourage graduate students at these institutes to interact 

with our scientists, use our data sets, and work with our models. 

I.3.2.2 Partnerships with Operational Agencies 

The ESED is fully supportive of the SMD’s goal of optimally exploiting satellite data for operational and

application purposes. We recognize the challenge of “Crossing the Valley of Death,” [From Research to

Operations in Weather Satellites and Numerical Weather Prediction, 2000] a term often used in industry to

describe the difficulties of transitioning from research to operations. To address this challenge, we have 

formed the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA) with NOAA and the Department of

Defense (DoD). We recognize the importance of actively cooperating with other operational agencies and 

transitioning our research techniques and software into decision support tools (see Section I.3.3). 

The ESED is also supporting the SMD’s Valley of Death challenge in another way. Can data from

operational satellites be used to create research quality data sets for answering climate change questions? 

ESED is home to several measurement teams that have created long-term data sets from combined research 

and operational satellites (see Table 3). These measurement teams in ESED are preparing to extend their 

EOS expertise into the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) and NPOESS era. 

I.3.3 Development of Applications for Decision Makers, Technology Transfer 

and Commercialization of NASA Technology 

The Applications Program focuses on providing NASA’s space-based observations and predictions to 

decision makers and service providers both in government and in the private sector. The purpose of 

NASA’s Commercialization and Technology Transfer Program is to successfully spin off NASA developed

technologies into the general commercial sector for eventual product development and profit. Indeed, such

value-added products may eventually be purchased by the same NASA organizations that initially 

developed the technology, thereby coming full circle in technology development, transfer and 

commercialization.

I.3.3.1 The Applications Program

Applications initiatives are coordinated by Goddard’s Office of Science Utilization [which is in the 

Sciences and Exploration Directorate (SED), but not in ESED – see Section I.4.1]. This office is

responsible for identifying potential applications of SED science discoveries, scientific observations, data 

analyses, and technology that could benefit other government agencies, industry, and the public. The 

Office works with Directorate scientists to identify scientific activities that may have potential use, and

with external organizations to explore needs, feasibility, and benefits. The primary thrust of the Office is to

implement NASA’s Applied Sciences Program in partnership with other NASA Centers. The Applied

Sciences Program has identified 12 applications of national priority as listed below. 

National Applications 

Air Quality Agricultural Efficiency Aviation

Carbon Management Coastal Management Disaster Management

Ecological Forecasting Renewable Energy Homeland Security 

Invasive Species Public Health Water Management

A major focus of each area is to partner with an operational agency to identify partner requirements in 

order to leverage NASA science products for societal benefit.

19
NASA’s Applied Sciences Program’s approach, to extend the benefits of NASA science observations and

predictions to decision-support tools, is based on fundamental systems engineering principles. The

program uses these principles in working with its partners to validate and document integrated system

solutions which partners can adopt in their operations and decision making. In collaborating with partners

to pursue integrated system solutions, the program employs the functional systems engineering steps of 

evaluation, verification and validation, and benchmarking.

The ESED has a substantial number of application activities that involve local and regional organizations

and some national organizations. Several examples of ESED’s applications include:

• Invasive Species 

• Public Health

• Air Quality (PM2.5) Indexing Benchmark

• Disaster Management

• Water Management 

• Carbon Management

In addition to the above programs, Goddard’s Office of Science Utilization recently initiated activities that aim at 

the utility of Space Weather-related research and development within ESED. This new thrust reflects the growing 

maturity of space science research, the increasing societal needs in space weather forecasting, and NASA’s Vision 

for Space Exploration. 

Details are given in Appendix I. 

I.3.4 Education and Public Outreach 

Our challenge in EPO is to establish the cognitive and technological “bridges” necessary to effectively 

share the new data and the new knowledge that we produce. To meet this challenge, ESED actively 

participates in NASA’s efforts to serve the formal and informal education communities at all levels, and to

provide data and information to all segments of the public. Sharing the new information that the Division

generates is a core part of our overall mission. Our public communications emphasize new Earth-Sun

system science results, remote sensing data from NASA’s space-based missions, and predictive modeling 

of the Earth’s climate system—all drawing upon assets that are unique to GSFC. Likewise, we recognize 

that our customers are unique in their needs, wants, and expectations for scientific information. Thus, the 

Division takes a “customer-oriented” approach to education and outreach by tailoring our communications 

efforts to meet their needs.

I.3.4.1 Education

To help develop the next generation of Earth and heliospheric scientists, the ESED supports a number of

student programs spanning the full range of the educational spectrum. These programs include: 

• Undergraduate and graduate summer programs where students and mentors interact. 

• Programs to historically minority universities. 

• Adjunct professorships at local colleges and universities. 

• Direct support of graduate student research topics that result in mutual advantage to the 

universities and to the ESED. 

• Membership in thesis committees. 

• Courses taught by ESED scientists. 

• Post-graduate programs.

• K-12 programs. 

• Informal education programs. 

Details are given in Appendix IIa. 

20
I.3.4.2 Public Outreach 

The Division’s scientists and engineers, working with the Public Affairs Office and NASA HQ, continue to

pass their knowledge and interest in Earth and space sciences to the general public by enabling and 

empowering our communication partners, e.g., museums, science centers, and media providers. Currently 

the Division makes use of Web-based and multimedia resources as its primary tools for public outreach. 

The existing activities are described in Appendix IIb.

I.4 How the Earth-Sun Exploration Division Operates 

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of our activities, the ESED generally deals with projects that require 

the collaborative efforts of many scientists with various backgrounds. These activities are appropriate for a 

government laboratory that focuses on complex interdisciplinary problems in collaboration with and

support of the community at large. The science process follows (more or less) an 11 step process described 

below. ESED scientists participate in each of these steps: 

(1) Defining new scientific questions; 

(2) Identifying critical new measurements; 

(3) Developing the instrument technology needed for new observations; 

(4) Conceiving, formulating, designing, implementing, and participating in day-to-day operations

and management of satellite missions; 

(5) Planning and managing experimental campaigns to validate satellite data and improve our 

knowledge of underlying processes;

(6) Developing algorithms to create data sets; 

(7) Developing and operating data processing, archives, and distribution systems that facilitate use of

NASA science data; 

(8) Developing models to create and interpret data sets; 

(9) Analyzing data and models to understand the underlying processes;

(10) Developing applications for decision makers; 

(11) Providing education and outreach materials to the public. 

Steps (1) and (2) take place as part of the scientific community in which ESED scientists are embedded. 

This usually involves extensive planning and roadmapping with university, other government agencies, and 

NASA scientists. 

Steps (3) and (4) Instrument development and mission design are core functions of the Center that engage 

its engineering workforce. NASA Goddard’s strengths are the technology base for space remote sensing 

and in-situ measurement capabilities, and the science base for technical development. Goddard scientists 

and engineers work together in developing new technology, and in developing concepts and designs for 

instrument systems for orbital and sub-orbital missions. Goddard Project Scientists provide scientific 

guidance to Project Managers while acting as the interface among the instrument Principal Investigators

(PIs), NASA HQ, and the scientific community at large. Developing instruments and designing missions is

one of ESED’s primary tasks. 

Step (5) Planning and managing validation campaigns are significant post-mission launch activities in

which ESED is engaged. Remote sensing observations, such as those from satellites, require careful

validation. (Validation is the process of proving to the science community that the advertised estimates of 

measurement precision and uncertainty are correct using correlative measurements.) Intense validation 

campaigns take place shortly after a satellite is commissioned, but validation activities continue over the

course of the mission to ensure that instrumental changes are understood. Validation activities usually 

involve measurements by ground-based facilities, aircraft, rockets, or balloons during satellite overflights. 

In coordination with NASA HQ and other NASA Centers, ESED scientists develop validation plans and

lead validation missions. 

21
Step (6) Measurement data sets are developed by teams of instrument algorithm specialists, and the 

creation of long-term highly calibrated data sets is necessary to study the Earth’s climate and the variability 

of the Sun. ESED scientists have proven most effective at the task of converting observed signals (e.g. 

photon counts at a detector) from space-based instruments into the desired physical quantities. Data 

reanalysis activities in the U.S. and Europe have shown that inconsistencies in data quality are a large 

source of uncertainty in the climate record. Some inconsistencies can be traced to changes in sensor 

calibration, to sensor degradation, and to algorithm changes. Developing long-term data records with high

enough quality to be used to detect Earth-Sun System changes is an important activity within ESED. 

Step (7) Data and information management systems are a critical component to ensure the availability, 

accessibility, and quality of mission and research science data products. Science leadership coupled with

technical expertise in information science, information technology, computing engineering, and in specific 

scientific disciplines is required to make system design and operation decisions that anticipate and address 

scientific insights and priorities. Having in-house expertise in these areas reduces data system start-up

cost/risk and enables data system evolution to address changing science requirements and priorities. 

Step (8) Numerical modeling and data assimilation provide the only tools that address the prediction and 

process definition questions of the SMD research agenda. Models summarize the theoretical underpinnings

of our understanding of the Earth-Sun system, integrating across the timescales and research themes. Data 

assimilation provides a rigorous method for bringing the observations and models together in a systematic 

way that balances the information from different sensors and platforms. It also provides information that 

has not or cannot be observed. Assimilation requires core competencies in all aspects of the Earth-system

science. ESED scientists are leaders in both global modeling and data assimilation. Among their many

activities, they evaluate new methodologies for assimilating data from specific observing systems, and they 

aid in the design of new observing systems by performing what are known as Observing System Simulation 

Experiments (OSSEs). 

Step (9) The utility of satellite data, assimilation products, and global prediction models is not fully 

realized until these can be combined to further our basic understanding of the Earth-Sun system. Satellite 

data, alone or in combination with assimilation products, must be analyzed to derive information about the 

modes of variability of the Earth system and the interactions between climate processes and environmental 

parameters that control the various feedback loops in the system. The knowledge gained is then 

implemented into the models via improved parameterizations to enhance prediction capabilities. Since 

many forced and unforced influences may operate simultaneously, innovative approaches to analyzing and

comparing large data sets and models must be pursued. As the home to both data production and model

development activities, ESED expertise must serve as an example to the broader community of how to 

integrate data and models. 

Steps (10) and (11) Applications and education/public outreach are described in the previous sections. 

I.4.1 Organizational and Administrative Structure 

Goddard’s SED consists of the ESED, the Exploration of the Universe Division, the Solar System

Exploration Division, and a number of support offices. The organizational structure is shown next. 

22
Sciences and Exploration Directorate 

Organization 

Sciences and Exploration Directorate 

Director – Dr. Laurie Leshin

Deputy Director – John Dalton

Code 600

Earth-Sun Exploration Division 

Director – Dr. Franco Einaudi

The Directorate head of SED reports to the Goddard Center Director. This structure roughly mirrors the 

organization of NASA Headquarters. 

Code 610

University Programs Office Exploration of the Universe Division 

Chief – Dr. Vigdor Teplitz Director – Dr. Nicholas White 

Code 602 Code 660

Administration and Resources 

Management Office 

Solar System Exploration Division 

Director – Dr. Richard Vondrak Chief – Shanta Arur Code 690 Code 603

Office of Science Utilization

Chief – Dr. Shahid Habib 

Code 604

Science Proposal Support Office 

Chief – Dr. James Green 

Code 605

Computational & Information

Sciences and Technology Office 

Chief – Vacant

Code 606

Global Change Data Center 

Chief – Dr. Stephen Wharton

Code 610.2

Global Modeling and Assimilation Office 

Head – Dr. Michele Rienecker 

Code 610.1

Earth-Sun Exploration Division 

Director – Dr. Franco Einaudi

Deputy Director – Dr. Dorothy Zukor

Chief Engineer – Robert Connerton

Chief Scientist – Dr. Mark Schoeberl 

Code 610

Laboratory for Atmospheres 

Chief –Dr. William Lau

Code 613

Goddard Institute for Space Studies 

Chief – Dr. James Hansen

Code 611

Laboratory for Solar and Space Physics 

Chief – Dr. James Slavin 

Code 612

Earth-Sun Exploration Division 

Organization

Software Integration and Visualization Office 

Head – Dr. Michael Seablom 

Code 610.3

Hydrospheric & Biospheric Sciences Laboratory 

Chief – Dr. Peter Hildebrand

 Code 614 

Associate Director for Science Engineering

Bernie Seery 

Code 601

23
The organizational structures of the Laboratories and Offices are shown in Appendix VII. The

administration of the ESED is organized according to disciplines—atm

, a

osphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, 

solar and space physics, data services lization, and the interdisciplinary 

modeling and assimilation. Experi e Division, with three 

Laboratories, the Goddard Institute al Modeling and Assimilation

Office (GMAO), which are all pred chnology development. In

addition to these areas, the Softwar SIVO) is responsible for 

advanced software integration, and scientific vis s a scient

Glo development of scienc , 

data man Division and the Enterprise. 

I.4.2

As m nized around science disciplines a chnical

e sion, however, requires linebased org ffective integration are evident on

technology, for ins ential to provide breakthrough observations in rth and space 

science disciplines, and lidar activities have grown in these di

taking observations that describe the interaction of parameters that are t arate

disciplines; finally, all aspects of Earth and space science require modeling to an ations and to

erform predictions. The interdependencies that must be addressed to perform state-of-the-art experiments 

atories. 

The responsibilities of these teams 

clude: devise research plans across the Division to answer the scientific questions; prioritize areas of 

with engineers to develop measuring requirements and

aximize the effectiveness of ESED investments; and help

• Space Weather Forecasting 

 few months, an

and software services/data visu

mental activities are distributed across th

for Space Studies (GISS), and the Glob

ominantly dedicated to research and te

e Integration and Visualization Office (

ualization a ific resource for the Division; and the

bal Change Data Center (GCDC) leads the e data systems for product generation

agement, and distribution for the 

Crosscutting Themes

entioned abo is formally orga

xpertise. A comprehensive program in the Divi

ve, the ESED nd foci of te

integration across these discip

anizations. The challenges of e several levels: Lidar 

tance, has the pot several Ea

sciplines; scientific discovery often resides in

raditionally studied in their sep

alyze observ

p

and to test scientific hypotheses require the consistent consideration of processes that are, again,

traditionally studied in their separate disciplines. 

A challenge that confronts the ESED is how to promote the integration across Branches and Labor

Strategies are required that advance the integration across disciplines, but that at the same time respect and 

maintain the rapid and productive progress that is made in discipline-based research. 

To respond to these challenges, a series of teams were formed for each of the main areas of activities of the

Division, often referred to as crosscutting themes. These are interdisciplinary science teams that cut across 

the disciplinary organization of the Division, described in this chapter. 

in

activities and identify hiring priorities; work

formulate mission concepts; work with HQ to m

HQ to develop and focus their strategic plans and implementation tactics. 

Eight scientific themes have been identified:

• Aerosols 

• Atmospheric Chemistry 

• Carbon Cycle 

• Global Water and Energy Cycle 

• Long-term Climate Change 

• Solar Impacts on Climate 

• Weather and Short-term Climate Forecasting 

These teams have performed at different levels, with some good successes. In the next

analysis will be carried out to determine their effectiveness and their influence on the management of the 

Division. 

24
I.4.3 The Workforce Composition 

The composition of the ESED workforce has evolved substantially in the last several years, in part because 

orkforce, and in part in recognition of the scientific 

dvantages of increasing the work done through joint institutes with universities. 

The ED Division is summarized below. 

The human capital of the ESED includes: 

• Civil servants 

Civil servants are federal employees who are not part of the military. Civil servants are the core 

research staff in ESED. This category also includes annual term appointments, civil servant

positions that are renewable up to six years. The ESED currently has ~275 civil servants. 

NASA civil servant scientists are: 

• Research scientists with national and often international reputations. 

• Involved in research activities that match our major focus areas. 

• Largely integrated into NASA's engineering and technical infrastructure for the 

development, implementation, and operation of missions. 

 

• Scientists from Joint Centers, National Research Council (NRC), etc.

Most of the non-civil servant scientists come from the Joint Centers that the ESED has established

with the University of Maryland at Baltimore County (UMBC), the University of Maryland at 

College Park (UMCP), George Mason University in Virginia, and Columbia University in New 

York. Others are Fellows from the NRC or the ESED Visiting Fellows Program. Some of the 

scientists at the Joint Centers develop their own research activities through proposals written to

various agencies including NASA, and thus serve as principal investigators who work

cooperatively with the civil servants. See Appendix II. 

• Contractors 

A major component of the work force is with the private sector. The contractor workforce 

includes technicians, programmers, information technologists, engineers, and scientists with MS

and Ph.D. degrees. 

of the general reduction of the civil servant w

a

relative composition of the ES

Contractors: ~ 850 

~ 200 Civil Servants: ~ 275

Scientists from 

Joint Centers: 

Students: ~ 100

25
• Students 

to the 

d graduate students are 

carrying out their research in collaboration with the ESED scientists. About 20% of these students 

I.5 Challenges and Opportunities 

The Earth-Sun Exploration Division faces many challenge g, scientifically and

technically. Two significant management challenges have recently developed: difficulties with NASA’s 

switch to FCA, and demographics issues relating to the aging workforce. These are discussed below. 

I.5.1 The Funding Process and Full Cost Accounting 

More than 95% of our research activities are supported by NASA Headquarters via competitive proposals 

or from internal funds for the pre-formulation and formulation mission activities. With the advent of FCA 

in 2004, civil service (CS) salaries, General and Administrative expenses (G&A), and administrative 

overhead charges are now included in proposal costs. Prior to this change, CS charges were handled

through Center manpow HQ. Thus, in the old financial system the typical civil servant

appeared to be “free” in the sense that there was a minimal charge to the customer for actual work. Now, 

the CS salary funding comes through the NASA HQ Proposal or Program Manager. Although th change

nge—each of the HQ managers should have received an 

crease in their budget to account for each of the civil servants funded by their program—the situation, in

practice, ude of consequences, many with negative effects. 

(1)

(2) ved all of the funds needed to cover the CS costs. 

(3) Som ool (for CS costs)

as a d r. 

(4) The Cen salary and G&A. 

een unable to track 

resources to the individual proposal level, thus requiring agglomeration of the funding for many

(6)

 If,

sment activity is not able to respond to

the new information. This problem is especially irksome when proposals are not funded, yet the 

s assessments on non-existent manpower. 

Prior to er. 

With FC

carried o nd this drives up Center costs - making Center proposals less cost competitive. 

Keeping Center costs low and our proposals competitive is going to be one ESED’s major challenges. A 

number of Center initiatives are underway to correct these problems, but it will take time during which

ESED may experience shortfalls in funding.

A large number of students are mentored by and work with ESED personnel. In addition

students who participate in our summer programs, both undergraduate an

are at GISS. See Appendix II. 

s; most of them interestin

er requests to NASA

is

appears on the surface to be a zero-sum cha

in

has had a multit

Not all civil servants have active funding through HQ Program Managers. No mechanism was 

established to account for their salary except through overhead charges on the Center. 

Not all the HQ Program Managers recei

e HQ Program Managers have treated the increase in their program funds p

fun ing windfall and refused to increase the funding sent to the Cente

ter has had a hard time determining its own costs outside of

(5) The new accounting system, implemented to accommodate FCA, has b

projects into large funding pools. Further, the accounting system is unable to provide reliable 

monthly reports, thus leaving PIs in the dark as to the status of their research funds. 

The manpower planning cycle for the Center is out of synchronization with the funding cycle. 

The request for manpower projections occurs in the spring. At that point, the Center develops a 

data base for use in assessments to cover overhead charges, uncovered manpower, etc. 

however, the manpower projection is incorrect, the asses

Center demand

FCA, there wasn’t a strong incentive for the Center to cut costs and reduce unfunded manpow

A, the CS workforce is under much more pressure to be funded by HQ since unfunded workers are

n Center overhead a

26
I.5 tion of Skills and New Hires 

The ESE

hires for

NASA H

universi eas. The mean age of an ESED CS employee is 53.6 years and the 

number retirements in the next 10 years will significantly deplete the core ESED CS staff, particularly in

aders

.2 Reten

D faces significant problems relating to its aging CS workforce, coupled with the low number of

more than a decade, the reduction in CS workforce in the 1990s, and various freezes imposed by 

Q. Adding to this problem are the low CS salaries, which generally fall well below corresponding

ty salaries, especially in urban ar

of

the le hip ranks (see Figure I.5.2). 

Figu .

half

cientist

 m agement

ill l

ESE

opportun

the chall y. 

.5.3

The new 

planets i

eventual 

planet th

ientists sts have in planetary science, should be

re I 5.2. Demographics for the Division’s science/engineering workforce. It is clear that almost 

the work force is eligible for retirement within the next ten years, and that there are few young 

s s being hired to replace the senior scientists. 

It

sk

ay take 10 to 15 years for a newly minted Ph.D. to develop the scientific credentials and man

s to ead a major scientific mission. Thus it is crucial that we continue to replace core positions in 

D as retirements occur. Of course the projected loss of staff in the next few years will allow us the 

ity to hire young people in new disciplinary areas, and will likely provide an opportunity to meet

enges of the future. In the Executive Summary, we suggest key hires and a recruitment strateg

I The Opportunity to Apply Terrestrial Knowledge to Other Planets 

NASA Exploration Initiative places a renewed emphasis on understanding conditions on other 

n order to understand the conditions conducive to the emergence of life and to prepare for an

enhanced role of humans in space exploration. ESED promotes the perspective of Earth as a 

rough its satellite missions and global modeling activities. The extensive expertise of ESED 

sc in these areas, as well as the roots that many ESED scienti

leveraged to bring that knowledge to bear more fully in the study of other planets. Collaboration with

colleagues in the other two divisions in the Directorate and in university planetary science and astronomy 

departments should be encouraged to explore potential avenues of research. 

27
Within the solar system, ESED expertise in the development and implementation of active remote sensing 

research, which has thus far only scratched the

obal assimilation techniques refined to optimize 

odels to more realistically define the extent of possible habitable zones on such planets.

instruments has many potential applications in planetary

surface of the possibilities of radar and lidar observing. Gl

the impact of terrestrial satellite data might profitably be applied to development of global analyses of 

atmospheric conditions from future unmanned Mars orbiters. Global climate models used by ESED to

predict anthropogenic climate change might serve as the basis for state-of-the-art general circulation

models of other planetary atmospheres. Outside the solar system, ESED has a possible role to play in

future missions such as the Terrestrial Planet Finder, in the development of optimal remote sensing

techniques, the interpretation of electromagnetic spectra from extrasolar planets, and the use of global

m

28
II. Our Scientific Foci and Strategic Plan 

In this section of the document, we outline the actual activities within the research and technical groups in

the Division and identify the proposed activities for the next five years. This part of the document is 

organized by scientific research area, and links to the activities outlined in Table 1 of the Executive 

Summary. 

II.1 Science/Research Areas 

II.1.1 Atmospheric Composition 

Atmospheric composition research within the Division includes the chemical changes in the atmosphere

and research on aerosols. Both areas of research involve extensive measurements from space to assess the 

current composition and to validate the parameterized processes that are used in chemical and climate 

prediction models. The area of chemical research dates back to the first satellite ozone missions and the 

Division has had a strong satellite instrument, aircraft instrument, and modeling presence in the 

community. Both the EOS Aura satellite and the OMI instrument U.S. Science team come from this group. 

Atmospheric aerosols are a relative new area of research in which the Division is responsible for aerosol

retrievals from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on the Polar Orbiting

Environmental Satellite (POES), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on EOS 

Terra and Aqua, and Aerosol Polarimetric Sensor (APS) on Glory, as well as from modeling. 

II.1.1.1 Atmospheric Chemistry 

ESED Research Focus Areas: 

Predict the recovery of the stratospheric polar ozone depletion. 

Determine the impact of long-range transport on local air quality. 

The major goal of the atmospheric chemistry research at Goddard is to understand both the composition of 

the Earth’s atmosphere and its changes in response to human-produced compounds, especially in regard to

recovery of the ozone layer. A new strategic goal is to understand long-term changes in the chemistry of

the troposphere and the importance of long-range transport and the relationship of both to climate change. 

To attack these goals we use a combination of observations and modeling activities. 

II.1.1.1.1 Observations of Chemical Constituents 

Atmospheric chemistry encompasses radiative and dynamical processes associated with troposphericstratospheric exchange, ozone recovery and its relationship to climate change, transport of various chemical

species, and heterogeneous chemistry—including aerosols. The main efforts of ESED scientists in

atmospheric composition over the last 25 years have been on stratospheric ozone. First, we have produced 

daily observations of total column ozone that give near complete global coverage beginning in late 1978

with TOMS. A major achievement of TOMS was the first mapping of the Antarctic ozone hole. TOMS

data have a long-term precision that is better than 1% per decade, and it has become the principal data set

used for assessing global ozone trends. The total ozone data was initially derived with a simple algorithm

that has evolved to produce the present high quality data that are used in the international assessments of 

ozone change (Table 3). As a by-product of this algorithm research, new data products such as SO2, 

column aerosols, and UV-B levels have been developed. In addition to TOMS, a number of other 

instruments have been developed and flown to assess ozone profile information. These other instruments 

include SBUV, the Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SSBUV), and the combined Shuttle Ozone Limb

Scattering Experiment/Limb Ozone Retrieval Experiment (SOLSE/LORE). In the near future, we will be

involved with developing algorithms for the Ozone Mapper Profiler Suite (OMPS) which will be flown on

NPP and NPOESS. 

29
Obser nal analysis in atmospheric chemistry during the past two decades

he Up Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). The products from these m

vatio has been driven by data from

per issions provided a better 

ura

ncludes Division led validation missions, research and the archiving of data products.

res. The Division continues to work with other data 

nd Aerosol Measurement (POAM), Statospheric 

erosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III, Aerosol Characterization Experiments (ACE), and the Halogen 

from the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment

 

graphY

itoring will be done by Ozone Monitoring and Profiling Suite 

o ent NPOESS missions. SMD at NASA HQ is developing the 

tting the responsibility for scientific satellite data sets as close to the 

group, have pioneered the

ms, instrument calibration and

data sets, using satellite data from

ozone change in the 

f climate change and intercontinental transport of 

stributions, aerosol effects on atmospheric 

/Vis 

sol Lidar (AROTAL) is a DC-8 based lidar system that will be used in support of

e Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment (INTEX) and the Tropical Composition, Cloud, and 

Climate Coupling Experiment (TC-4) to provide validation data for the Aura satellite instruments. In the 

t

understanding of the trends and variability of stratospheric ozone and have helped guide government policy

for the regulation of ozone depleting substances. 

With the launch of EOS Aura, a significant portion of the research staff is analyzing and validating A

data. This i

Validation activities will decline as the mission matu

sets including occultation instruments [Polar Ozone a

A

Occultation Experiment (HALOE)] as well as data

(GOME) and the ENVIronment SATellite (ENVISAT). 

The strong atmospheric chemistry group at GSFC has been involved in a number of mission formulation 

activities. Our experience with ultraviolet (UV)/Vis technologies dates back to the original backscatter

ultraviolet (BUV) instruments flown in the 1970's and we continue to be at the cutting edge with funded 

Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) proposals. However, with the retirement of experimental scientists in

UV detection and calibration, new hires are needed to continue this activity and maintain our world

leadership. 

Development of future satellite observations depends on the lessons-learned from ongoing efforts with

currently flying satellite instrumentation: Aura’s OMI instrument, TOMS, SBUV-2, and the European 

instruments GOME and SCanning Imaging Absorption SpectroMeter for Atmospheric CHarto

(SCIAMACHY). Future Aura ozone mon

(OMPS) t be flown on NPP and subsequ

“Measurement Team” concept, pu

users of that data set as possible. ESED staff, in particular the ozone

“measurement team” concept, taking responsibility for retrieval algorith

working with data users toward the goal of creating the highest quality

NASA and European research instruments, as well as NOAA operational instruments. ESED staff will 

continue this model of scientific data set production creating a science quality ozone data set from Nimbus

7 TOMS (1978), through EOS OMI (2004), onto OMPS on NPP (2008) and onto the NPOESS era (2012)

as indicated in Table 3. 

ESED will continue to work with NASA HQ to develop systems to: (1) predict global 

stratosphere and troposphere, (2) determine the impact o

pollution on local air quality, and (3) establish aerosol di

constituents and clouds, and the combined effects on climate. ESED scientists are formulating two 

atmospheric chemistry satellite missions for ESSP type opportunities: a geosynchronous satellite for 

tropospheric chemistry observations [GEostationary Observatory for TRopospheric Air ChEmistry 

(GEOTRACE)], and a Lagrangian point mission for full disk observations.

Over the next five years, ESED ground and aircraft ozone observations will be focused on continued

support for satellite measurements including OMI and OMPS, the Network for Detection of Stratospheric 

Change (NDSC) ground network, and the Southern Hemisphere Additional Ozonesondes (SHADOZ) 

balloon network. In particular, the NDSC will be supported with the Stratospheric Ozone Lidar Trailer 

Experiment (STROZ-LITE) mobile lidar system measuring ozone, aerosols and temperature; the

tropospheric ozone lidar will provide observations for Aura OMI comparisons. The ground-based UV

measurements system, Sky Radiometers (SkyRAD) will be used to provide long-term calibration and 

performance monitoring of backscatter satellite instruments (SBUV, TOMS, GOME, SCIAMACHY, and

OMI). We will also collaborate with Brewer/Dobson networks. ESED scientists will continue to lead 

aircraft-based field experiments such as the Aura Validation Experiment (AVE) over the next five years by

providing project scientist direction and flight planning support. In addition, the Airborne Raman Ozone, 

Temperature, and Aero

th

30
near-term instrument development pipeline, we are working on a ground Carbon Dioxide (CO2) laser

system to make routine, high precision CO2 profiles for long-term monitoring and field mission support.

Mini-AROTAL with down-looking capability is under development for high altitude aircraft such as 

UAVs, the WB-57F, or the ER-2. 

 A 

(5) 

mpling strategies. 

ne

nt

but have a strong common element, the use of constituent observations to evaluate and

prove the model representation of processes and the reliability of predictions. 

eric

th 

M, 

d 

le. The

tions. Over the next five years, the chemical modeling group and the assimilation 

roup will be jointly developing chemical forecasting models as discussed in Section II.1.4.4, Prediction of 

s to

ct of

icular 

e to determine the sensitivity 

f results to various model components. GMI will be mainly used for producing hindcasts, forecasts, and 

nly 

r

are 

II.1.1.1.2 Chemical Modeling 

ESED chemical models are used in five areas: (1) forecasting on the decadal and century time scale to 

predict future atmospheric composition, (2) modeling of events after they have occurred to aid data

interpretation, (3) sensitivity studies to understand how certain processes affect the model and atmosphere,

(4) field campaign and satellite support to provide a complete atmospheric composition picture, and

support for development of new satellite instruments and sa

There are a number of modeling efforts in the atmospheric chemistry group: (1) the Global Modeling 

Initiative (GMI), (2) the Finite Volume General Circulation Model (FVGCM), (3) the Code 613.3

stratospheric chemistry and transport 3-D model [Chemical Transport Model (CTM)], (4) the Global Ozo

Chemistry Aerosol Radiation Transport Model [Goddard Chemistry Aerosol and Radiation Transport

(GOCART), described in the aerosol section], and (5) mesoscale modeling. These are used in differe

applications

im

A CTM requires meteorological fields for the transport of chemical species. One source is the Atmosph

General Circulation Model (AGCM), developed within the Division and also used for the Goddard Ear

Observing System (GEOS)-4 data assimilation project. The present AGCM relies on ozone climatology,

and there is no feedback between chemistry and the other components. In a nascent version of this ACG

constituents are transported online. Chemical changes to ozone and other constituents are calculated, an

computed fields of ozone and other radiatively active constituents are input to the radiation modu

GMAO has developed a new, computationally efficient model (GEOS5 AGCM) with updated physics.

This model also serves as the core of the new atmospheric data assimilation system and of the coupled

climate prediction system. Meteorological fields from this model are also used for transport by GMI, the

CTM, and the GOCART model. Hence, one of the foci for improvements to the GEOS5 model is to

provide better meteorological fields for GMI and GOCART in addition to the assimilation, weather, and 

climate prediction applica

g

Constituents. More details on the chemical models are given below. 

Global Modeling Initiative 

GMI is a broad community effort funded by NASA HQ that is managed by ESED. The goal of GMI i

develop and maintain a state-of-the-art modular 3-D CTM that can be used for assessment of the impa

various natural and anthropogenic perturbations on atmospheric composition and chemistry. A part

focus of GMI is to reduce the uncertainty in assessment by making it possibl

o

for sensitivity studies. GMI will be the comprehensive tool used by NASA for World Meteorological

Organization (WMO)/United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Intergovernmental Panel on

Climate Change (IPCC) assessments. 

Chemical Transport Model

The CTM is conceptually similar to the GMI Transport Model; this research tool is used for applications

that are outside the relatively narrow scope of assessment calculations. The CTM currently provides o

stratospheric trace gas concentrations, but will soon incorporate a tropospheric modeling capability in orde

to fully realize the benefits of the trace gas measurements in the lower stratosphere and troposphere that

being made by instruments on Aura. Such applications are a prerequisite to interpretation of simulations

using the fully coupled version of GEOS-5 (see below). In addition, there are a number of improvements 

to the CTM that are planned in conjunction with the GOCART model (see Section II.1.1.2). 

31
Mesoscale Chemical Modeling 

Global scale models are currently too computationally costly to reasonably resolve urban scale (<10 km) 

chemical composition. For the urban scale chemical composition, mesoscale models have been develo

that include large-scale boundary in

ped

puts from global scale models. The mesoscale modeling effort

urrently being developed to support satellite and field missions, sensitivity studies, and satellite mission

s, we will be developing a regional scale model is for aerosols and

hemistry which is (1) flexible in terms of spatial resolution (from sub-100 km to a few km) and

w does climate 

hange affect the recovery of the ozone hole as ozone depleting substances are removed from the 

will

ulation

EOS5

hemistry and 

tmosphere-ocean interaction. 

l

r 

on 

ata 

as: 

rosols, rainfall, clouds, and large-scale circulation. These hiring

in the Executive Summary. 

r

(PARASOL) and Aura] will be making near simultaneous observations because they are clustered together 

along the same orbit path. This enables us to develop joint retrieval algorithms using individual strengths 

c

development. In the next five year

c

geographic location and is ready to run in forecast, analysis, and testing modes, and (2) can be nested 

within the global model to study the regional-global interactions. 

 

Future Chemical Research 

In the near term, we are focusing on how atmospheric composition affects climate. First, ho

c

atmosphere over the next few decades? Second, how does ozone depletion affect the climate and how

it affect future climate? The current coupled-chemistry climate model will be used to produce a sim

running from 1950 to 2100. The model output will be used in the next WMO/UNEP ozone assessment and

the next IPCC assessment. In the next year the CTM, GEOS5, and the GMI chemistry module will be

combined to produce a more computationally efficient fully coupled chemistry-climate model. In the next 

few years, the combined tropospheric-stratospheric chemistry from GMI will be integrated into the G

AGCM. The GEOS5 AGCM will then couple the chemistry to efforts in aerosol c

a

The GEOS5 AGCM with the combined tropospheric-stratospheric chemistry will provide an important too

for determining the impact of climate change and ozone recovery on air quality. Longer term plans call fo

the inclusion of biogeochemical processes in this coupled model. This advanced model will be used for 

assessing the interaction of human produced greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances with

biological processes. 

The mesoscale chemical model will be used in the next few years for studies showing how high-resoluti

satellite measurements of tropospheric pollution will lead to a better understanding of pollutant transport 

from local sources to regional and global scales. It will also be used for satellite mission support and d

analysis for aircraft and other specific field experiments. 

II.1.1.2 Aerosols 

ESED Research Focus Are

Determine the impact of aerosols on climate forcing. 

Determine the interaction of aerosols on clouds and climate change. 

The goal of aerosol research at Goddard is to improve our prediction of the impact of aerosols on climate, 

and to enhance our understanding of the chemical, physical, radiative, and meteorological processes of

aerosols. Because aerosols, clouds, and climate are inherently linked within the hydrological cycle, much

aerosol research in the future will coincide with research of hydrospheric processes described in Section

II.1.2.4. Although there have been several new CS hires in this focus area, we are still missing some key

expertise to address the interaction of ae

needs were described earlier

Cloud, aerosol and radiation areas, research priorities have focused on the retrieval of optical and radiative 

properties of clouds and aerosols. These data sets are listed in Table 3. Data from the AVHRR, Terra 

[Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) and MODIS], Aqua (MODIS), TOMS, and Sea-viewing 

Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) were used in this research. With the launch of EOS Aura, the OMI 

instrument is also providing aerosol observations. The “A-Train” – a series of satellites [Aqua, CloudAerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO), CloudSat, Polarization and

Anisotropy of Reflectances for Atmospheric Sciences coupled with Observations from a Lida

32
from individual sensors, and to focus on cloud-aerosol-climate interaction. Key to remote sensing of

e

rements 

tion

era.

ontinue to be part of the satellite program. The GOCART aerosol 

5 

rosol

llite data from MODIS, CALIPSO, PARASOL and (later) Glory APS along 

ith the AERosol Robotic NETwork (AERONET) and new techniques that include 3-dimensional

rosol 

y. We will use the hybrid of observations and model simulations to determine 

urces and sinks of aerosol, and of processes not well understood. This global distribution of aerosol can 

red by our incomplete knowledge of aerosol

optical properties, especially absorption, and our current inability to determine the aerosol distribution near, 

 New sensors such as OMI for absorption and CALIPSO for separating aerosol

d clouds, along with the assimilation system will help alleviate our current difficulties. We will then be

irect radiative forcing of the aerosol in the presence of clouds and over 

ffect of Aerosols on Clouds, Precipitation, and Indirect Forcing 

ls 

f precipitation. In order to establish a definitive 

ause and effect relationship between the aerosol and the cloud / precipitation field, the models need to

and

aerosol processes will be the measurement of aerosol height by CALIPSO’s lidar and the polarization from

the POLarization and Directionality of the Earth’s Reflectance (POLDER) (on PARASOL). Over the next

five years, the aerosol group will be analyzing the aerosol data from the A-Train. Much more precis

aerosol retrievals will be obtained from polarization measurements from the Glory Aerosol Polarimetry

Sensor - a passive instrument with unparalleled capability to diagnose aerosol chemical composition as

well as retrieve detailed aerosol and cloud particle size distribution and shape information. Measu

of the key parameters will continue through NPP and NPOESS, and we look forward to the implementa

of a specific measurement team for clouds and aerosols in the NPP

 

A strong modeling component will c

transport model has proven to be very successful in providing information on sources and sinks and 

transport of various aerosol and chemical species. With the coupling of GOCART with the GEOS

AGCM, we are beginning to expand the studies of chemical transport modeling and assimilation, including

the feedbacks that impact not only climate but also weather prediction. 

Within the next five years, the aerosol research focus will be: 

Description of the Global Aerosol Distribution and Optical Properties 

We are moving toward a synthesis of sensors and techniques to improve remote sensing of the ae

properties. Using the new sate

w

radiative transfer, we intend to create a long-term climate data record and a new aerosol assimilation

system. The satellite data can be combined with comprehensive ground-based remote sensing and in-situ

measurements and used to constrain aerosol models. The models assimilate the data, generating cohesive

data sets, and also interpolate into cloudy regions and regions where the satellite cannot detect the ae

with sufficient accurac

so

then be used to assess the effects on climate, human health, and natural hazards.

Determining the Effect of Aerosols on the Direct Forcing of Climate 

Our current assessment of aerosol radiative forcing is hinde

under, and above clouds.

an

able to confidently compute the d

varying surface properties 

E

The direct radiative forcing by aerosol constitutes only part of the aerosol effect on climate. Aerosols also

have an effect on clouds and precipitation. These effects depend on the aerosol size- and compositiondependent hygroscopicity, on the dynamical properties of the cloud field, and on the perturbations to

atmospheric stability caused by vertical distributions of absorbing aerosol. Simultaneous precise 

measurements of aerosol properties and the cloud field from satellites, coupled with cloud resolving mode

such as the Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE), should provide the basic relationships between aerosols,

microphysical properties, reflectivity of clouds, and rate o

c

assess the likelihood of alternative causes for the apparent correlation between aerosol and clouds. To help

address these issues, we need to employ global models that represent the circulations of the atmosphere

plan to improve the model physics by incorporating aerosol microphysics within the convective 

parameterization scheme of GEOS. Then, carefully controlled model experiments and comparisons with

observations will be needed to sort out the complex relationships. 

33
Assessing Past Climate Forcing by Aerosols

We study today’s aerosol-laden atmosphere, and using reanalyzed historical data sets we can describe past

aerosol distribution and forcing using the 25 year record of AVHRR and TOMS (Table 3). Because these 

sensors are now flying simultaneously with the more modern suite of instruments, the data sets can be

compared with MODIS and AERONET to improve the measurements. In essence we can “calibrate” the

old data with the new, and then assess the past with a “calibrated” time series. This time series will itsel

become the testbed for predictive models that will use the lengthy observational record for evaluating the 

models’ ability to simulate interannual variability and interdecadal trends. The Global Aerosol 

Climatology Project will provide a satellite-based data set spanning these

f

multiple sensors (Table 3). The 

ned models then travel even further back in time to give us a glance at pre-satellite and pre-industrial 

ill continue beyond the Terra and

-train era, as NPP and NPOESS provide a continuing high quality data stream. 

ssessing the Effects of Aerosols on Air Quality and Human Health 

forecasting in the United States. 

ere, 

cesses. There is

gnificant overlap between the hydrospheric and atmospheric research activities within ESED. 

ity limits and controls for climate from subseasonal to decadal timescales. 

urface topography and wind 

, 

ed

s

e 

sion staff 

sses including coastal zone ocean 

irculations, ocean surface characterization measurements, and coastal topography. Using our airborne 

ser altimetry capabilities, Division staff has mapped the entire U.S. coastal topography for the U.S. 

eological Survey (USGS). These efforts increasingly support research and calibration/validation efforts 

eeded for NASA flight missions and a growing list of other-agency support needs. 

tu

aerosol distribution. At present, a coupled aerosol-GEOS-5 climate model (aerosol direct effect only) is

being developed and tested. In a few years, a fully interactive aerosol-GEOS-5, including direct and

indirect effects will be available. This model can be used to simulate past climate, and provides future 

climate projections under various greenhouse gases forcing scenarios, with realistic aerosol forcing and 

dynamical responses. The climate data record and model assimilation w

A

A

Satellite observations are currently expanding the capability of air quality

As remote sensing techniques improve to better characterize the 3-dimensional spatial distribution and

properties of the aerosol, we will continue to work with our partners in other federal agencies to improve 

air quality forecasting techniques. Satellite data coupled with global models will also bring a global

perspective and quantification of the long-range transport of air pollutants. 

II.1.2 Hydrospheric Processes 

Hydrospheric processes encompass all aspects of the Earth’s global water cycle, including the cryosph

land surface hydrology, physical oceanography, coastal zone processes, atmospheric precipitation and

moisture, plus the techniques for observing, modeling and prediction of these pro

si

II.1.2.1 Physical Oceanography 

ESED Research Focus Areas: 

Predict ocean circulation changes. 

Quantify the global water and energy cycles and changes associated with climate trends. 

Determine the predictabil

The Division’s physical oceanography research has its roots in ocean s

measurements that led to the Ocean TOPography EXperiment (TOPEX)/Poseidon and QuickScat missions

and the realization that measurements of sea surface topography, temperature, and winds were all requir

to describe the ocean surface variability associated with El Niño/Southern Oscillations (ENSO). The 

Division continues to support satellite altimeter and ocean vector wind measurements through

collaborations with the French on JASON, the TOPEX follow-on, and with the U.S. Navy on the GeoSat

Follow-On (GFO) Mission. An important off-shoot of this research has been the laser altimetry capabilitie

resulting in the Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) and the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter 

(MOLA). The Division’s ocean altimetry-circulation-climate research efforts of the past have included th

NASA Seasonal to Interannual Prediction Project (NSIPP), that studied relationships between global ocean 

dynamics and seasonal to inter-annual climate variability. (This research is described in greater detail in

Section II.1.4.1.) A variety of important air-sea interaction research studies are conducted by Divi

at Wallops, ranging from air-sea exchange processes as measured in the unique Wallops wave tank, a rainsea-surface simulation laboratory, and studies of coastal zone proce

c

la

G

n

34
The new challenge of sea surface salinity adds the remaining state parameters to our oceanographic 

observations. Goddard leadership of the Aquarius sea surface salinity ESSP-3 mission includes the project

Co-PI, the mission-critical radiometer (instrumentation and algorithm development), the ground data

system, and post-launch project operations. These broad commitments to monitoring changes in the ocean 

surface in response to climate variability are a Divisional major five-year research goal. In support of this

effort, the physical oceanography science staff is being rejuvenated to address the ocean salinity algorithm

and to support and lead the post-launch Aquarius project. New staff will therefore be added to th

Aquarius/physical oceanography effort. These new recruits will address satellite retrievals of ocean 

salinity, roughness, and other parameters including air-sea interaction. They will coordinate with existin

staff in ongoing research including data analysis and modeling of the general ocean circulation; the 

linkages between altimetry, salinity, sea surface temperature (SST), vertical mixing, and ocean circula

and improved understanding of the linkages between sea ice and ocean circulation. With the added new

staff, we will have the capability to investigate how incorporating data from other missions such as 

MODIS, the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR)-E, and ICESat, (and follow-on

capabilities) can improve understanding of the density driven ocean circulations,

,

e 

g

tion;

particularly the longer 

me scale thermohaline circulations, and the vertical mixing processes that are critical to understanding 

ssess changes in sea ice and their associated impact on climate. 

ater Storage in Ice Sheets, Ice Caps and Glaciers 

and 

rborne 

survey capabilities to enable measurements of ice sheet topography and elevation changes over small ice 

d some actively changing areas in Antarctica. These airborne 

easurements were the precursor to ICESat and have also enabled verification of the satellite’s data. By

odeling and in-situ observations, we develop critical insights into the 

lacier behavior. Our glaciologists have uncovered the dynamics of

w

to address 

ti

exchanges of properties between the ocean and atmosphere. 

II.1.2.2 Cryospheric Research 

ESED Research Focus Areas: 

Quantify changes in sea ice, ice sheets, and glaciers. 

A

W

Our studies of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheet mass balance, ice sheet dynamics, ice sheet history, and 

other glacier and ice sheet processes require extensive use of satellite data from radar altimetry, visible

microwave imagery and, most recently, ICESat laser altimetry – NASA’s first satellite mission designed

specifically to measure polar ice cover. In addition, we have led the way in developing precise ai

caps, significant portions of Greenland, an

m

combining these activities with m

mechanisms that drive ice sheet and g

dramatically changing ice streams in the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, revealing ne

information about their behavior that has only recently been made possible by our remote sensing 

perspective. As a result, our scientists participate in and often lead major international polar science 

programs including the upcoming International Polar Year (IPY). 

Our land-ice five-year primary focus will continue to be on determining how Greenland and Antarctic ice 

sheets contribute to sea level in a changing climate. However, we will also work to assess the mass balance 

of the smaller ice caps and glaciers as a complement to these ice sheet studies and will add staff

ice sheet modeling needs. We will further strengthen our modeling capabilities to enable a comprehensive 

understanding of the changes in ice on Earth, applying this expertise as applicable to the ice cover on Mars 

or elsewhere in the Solar system in order to support NASA’s initiatives. A major goal during the five-year

period is development of the ICESat follow-on instrument and mission, which will extend ICESat’s 

measurements another seven to ten years to complete the work originally planned for the project. In

addition, we will extend our leadership in the analysis of radar altimetry data on ice sheets to include 

advanced processing of data from the European Space Agency (ESA) CryoSat mission to enable new 

insights into processes that are important for understanding ice sheet changes. Partnering with colleagues at

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, we will be developing our experience with Interferometry Synthetic 

Aperture Radar (InSAR) and applying these capabilities to the studies of ice sheets morphology and

dynamics. 

35
In the past few years, we have transitioned our airborne topographic measurement capabilities from the 

ment

sas 

ce

ments. 

Our numerical models of sea-air-ice interactions address the dynamic and thermodynamic processes 

efforts focus on the sensitivity of surface air temperatures to polar

a ice conditions, the relationships between low frequency atmospheric variability and sea ice transport,

ual to decadal oscillations and hemispheric sea ice and SSTs, the 

the Arctic, the relationships between sea ice 

studies with Synthetic Aperture Radar

AR), and the role of Arctic and Antarctic coastal polynyas in deep ocean water production. 

d 

A

y

des

ng are:

long-range and large P3 aircraft to the more economical and agile Twin-Otter aircraft. This improve

in efficiency and agility has resulted in our expertise being sought by the National Science Foundation

(NSF) to map the Antarctic Dry Valleys, and by NOAA to precisely map coastal beaches and erosion

processes. In the upcoming five years, we will complement our topographic mapping capability with an 

Ice Penetrating Radar developed by the University of Kansas, to provide critical thickness measurements 

throughout the ice sheet. We will also transition these capabilities to a UAV for an improved sampling

capability. Our partnership with NSF-funded Science and Technology Center at the University of Kan

will continue as we jointly incorporate new capabilities into our ice mapping system. 

The Role of Sea Ice in Air-Sea Interaction 

Sea ice—a key component of the ocean-ice-air system and a strong indicator of polar thermal variability 

through its influence on albedo—is a major research topic within the Division. Our development and 

analysis of long-term sea ice records from passive microwave satellite observations has defined sea i

variability, including hemispheric, seasonal, and regional trends. See Table 3 for the specific instru

Our scientists serve on the Aqua AMSR-E science team with responsibility for the sea ice algorithms and 

leading sea ice algorithm validation field campaigns, and one is the Aqua Project Scientist. 

associated with sea ice variability. Other

se

the relationships between interann

response of sea ice and ecosystems to warming trends in

motion and sea surface winds, the measurement of marginal ice zone

(S

Our five-year goals will add indirect measurement of sea ice thickness to our measurement capabilities, an

will investigate approaches for measurement of snow on sea ice. These technologies include ICESat, the 

ICESat follow-on and Cryosat combined with radiometry from AMSR-E and other sensors, SAR and

scatterometry. Adding staff to offset anticipated retirements, we will take advantage of our strength in 

passive microwave remote sensing to seek opportunities on missions led by organizations other than NAS

such as NPP/NPOESS, and we will pursue utilization of active sensors, such as SAR and scatterometry. 

We plan to position ourselves to take advantage of the opportunities the Aquarius mission will offer to

study processes of sea ice formation, brine rejection, and the implications on ocean circulation. We will

further develop the linkages between these new measurement capabilities, and numerical modeling to 

understand the detailed interactions between sea ice and climate, as satellite and model resolution and

physics continue to evolve. 

II.1.2.3 Global Water Budget and Terrestrial Hydrolog

ESED Research Focus Areas: 

Determine the extent, storage of water, and variability of global snow cover.

Determine the predictability limits and controls for climate from sub-seasonal to decadal timescales. 

Quantify the global water and energy cycle and changes associated with climate trends. 

Quantify surface water storage and discharge.

Quantify ground water storage and exchanges. 

Quantify global soil moisture. 

Our terrestrial hydrology research strives to understand and predict all components of the terrestrial

hydrological cycle, over their broad range of spatial and temporal scales. This research therefore inclu

efforts to translate the remotely sensed measurements into geophysical properties such as soil moisture 

content, snow mass, precipitation, ground water, evapotranspiration, vegetation density, etc. and feed that

information into land surface hydrological models. Key parameters in which we are involved in

understandi

36
Soil Moisture 

Soil moisture has shown to be a predictive factor of summer rainfall over continents in model experiments.

Soil moisture also plays a crucial role in vegetative processes, and links the physical climate system (wa

and energy cycle) to biogeochemical cycles. Through numerous field and/or airborne campaigns, Divi

staff has convincingly demonstrated soil moisture remote sensing capabilities in terrain covered by thin o

moderately dense vegetation (e.g. typical crops), using passive microwave emission radiometry at low 

microwave frequencies (1.4 to 3 GHz). This work has resulted in the development of the ESSP-3 Hydro

mission, the implementation of which is a major five-year goal for the Division. Hydros will provide the 

first systematic measurements of Earth's changing soil moisture and of the freeze/thaw

ter

sion 

r

s

status of land 

rface. Together, these measurements link the water, energy, and carbon cycles over land and will open 

ese global cycles interact in the Earth system and improve the 

r equivalent

ver continents. The current Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission has 

-

arge

now Cover and Water Storage 

,

r 

entists and others working in the Cold Land Processes Working Group, who

are defining a comprehensive effort that includes the Cold Land Processes Field Experiment (CLPX), the 

c tellite data from MODIS, AMSR-E 

d other sensors with field airborne and ground-based microwave observations, plus in-situ field 

he Rocky Mountains. This effort is helping to quantify errors in SWE 

thm. A new staff

itor inland waters is an essential future development of Earth-system

odels that monitor the biosphere and land-to-ocean linkages. Accordingly, a five-year goal is strong

lobal 

imager 

er map of volumetric gain or loss after each overpass. It will enable hydrologists to

ove beyond the point-based gauging methods of the past century to measurements of the spatial

ariability inherent in surface water hydrology. Global coverage will ensure that, despite local economic 

su

new frontiers in our understanding of how th

accuracy of numerical weather prediction models by incorporating real observations. 

Ground-water Mass 

Division research uses space-based gravity gradiometer systems to measure changes in ground-water mass. 

These gravity field measurements are sensitive enough to detect the minute gravitational signature of the 

discharge/recharge of underground aquifers, as well as changes in soil moisture or snow wate

o

demonstrated the ability to detect changes in mass distribution equivalent to ±1cm variation in water 

storage over a 500x500 km2 area, from which we have validated ground water wells and numerical ground

water models. The five-year goal for this research includes implementation of the planned GRACE follow

on mission, which will provide the higher spatial resolution gravity measurement needed to resolve l

basin aquifers around the globe. These measurements will provide important closure to basin-scale 

terrestrial hydrologic models.

S

The snow research activity seeks to quantify the extent, storage of water, variability and albedo of global 

snow cover. Our research on instruments and algorithms for passive-microwave sensors, Visible Infrared

(VIS IR) (AVHRR and MODIS), has a five-year goal of providing all-weather global snow cover and 

Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) observation capabilities (see Table 3). Understanding the extent, timing

and nature of snow cover throughout the world is essential to determining its role in the climate system. 

The need for operational global SWE data on continental, regional, to local scales is based on the 

importance of runoff from snow melt in the water budget and hydrologic dynamics in many locations. Ou

strategy for improving our ability to measure and predict SWE and impact of snow on regional-scale 

hydrology concentrates on an advanced Cold Land Processes Pathfinder (CLPP) mission that combines

active and passive microwave instruments to measure the snow pack. The CLPP concept is being 

developed by Laboratory sci

CLPP con ept, and other community efforts. The CLPX combines sa

an

measurements of snow cover in t

estimates, and supporting development of a new global snow-mapping/SWE algori

member, replacing a recent departure, will be added in support of this task. ICESat data is also being

investigated for its application to snow thickness estimation.

Surface Water Storage and Discharge 

The capability to coherently mon

m

participation in the national effort to develop the Surface Water Mission (WatER) that will provide g

surface runoff and storage information. This mission must provide high spatial resolution that can resolve 

the channels, floodplains, and lakes that contribute most of a basin's discharge, short temporal resolution 

that can capture short flood events, and precise vertical resolution that will measure the subtle height

changes that can be responsible for significant discharge. WatER will, in effect, be a topographic

that will yield a wat

m

v

37
and logistic problems, all countries could access measurements critical for forecasting floods and droughts, 

ging 

eteorology—in a 

omputer forecast venue, and support fresh water budget studies as well as a wide variety of applied uses. 

 continue improving our LDAS models, and to continue our close linkage with the 

h

.

portance of measurement improvements to error reduction of the water

ycle as a whole. Our five-year goal is to continue this research to the point that we can define the needed 

ater cycle observational system. Development of such a system would

e

, 

e

ses

cloud and rainfall measurements to improve 

presentation of atmospheric moist processes in climate models, so as to provide better weather and 

ing

radar 

both of which have dramatic economic and human impacts. An additional staff member will be required to 

support this task. 

Land Data Assimilation Systems 

The full terrestrial and global water budgets are exceedingly complex and not all components can be 

adequately measured. As a consequence, Land Data Assimilation Systems (LDAS) are used to combine 

the measurements with the physical constraints of the terrestrial water budget, and other physical 

constraints. A spectrum of land data assimilation models are used depending on the analysis need, ran

from the newly developed large-scale LDAS, down to the 1 km scale Land Information System. These 

models provide new approaches to the analysis of diverse water cycle data sources—satellite-based

precipitation, radiation, and surface parameters, in addition to model-derived surface m

c

Our five-year goal is to

research, observational, and numerical weather prediction communities. These models are maintained in

such a manner as to enable parallel research activities with the other major land surface hydrology researc

laboratories around the nation. This will require continued improvements in our access to the high-end 

highly parallel processing support needed for the high resolution numerical LDAS models. 

Global Water Budgets and Variability with Climate Change 

The combination of the many observations of water cycle components, together with our advanced LDAS 

systems allows us to evaluate the contribution of each component of the water cycle to the full water cycle

As a result we are greatly improving our understanding of how to measure individual water cycle 

components and the relative im

c

capabilities for a complete global w

enable us to observe and understand the global water cycle well enough to be able to predict variability du

to changes in weather and climate. If we can do this, then we should be able to predict changes in the 

availability of clean water due to future global ecosystem changes, weather and climate variability, and

human impacts including population growth. These water cycle questions address the fundamental ability

of Earth to support life. Within this broad area of inquiry are fascinating and important science questions

the answers to which will help understand our future prospects. An additional staff member will b

required to support this task. 

II.1.2.4 Atmospheric Component of the Hydrological Cycle 

ESED Research Focus Areas: 

Quantify variability and changes in precipitation, clouds and water vapor.

Quantify the global water and energy cycle and changes associated with climate trends. 

There are three key science questions that dictate the research priorities in atmospheric water and energy

cycles: (1) How do condensation and radiative heating associated with cloud and precipitation proces

affect global weather and climate? (2) How do clouds and precipitation processes respond to aerosol

forcings, and to climate change? (3) How can we use satellite

re

climate predictions?

Central to the global water cycle are the space-based Precipitation Measuring Missions (PMM), beginn

with the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), extended by the CloudSat mission, and now 

continued on with the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission. PMM provides not only state-ofthe-art estimates of different types of rainfall, but also various products such as water vapor, cloud liquid 

water, cloud ice (from GPM), and vertical profiles of raindrop size distribution from the precipitation 

and the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI), as well as the CloudSat radar. Combined with long-term

records from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP, Table 3), the Earth Radiation

Budget Experiment (ERBE), the High Resolution Infrared Sounder (HIRS), the Global Aerosol 

38
Climatology Project (GACP), and NOAA's TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS), these 

measurements are critical in advancing understanding of fundamental aspects of the atmospheric water and

energy cycle. 

The conception and formulation of the TRMM mission in the late 1980s helped to focus the Division’s 

e 

s 

, in

al 

ns and longrm trends in the overall water and energy cycles. The main thrusts of our research effort on atmospheric 

om

te

isted

e 

uing to fly for the next couple of years, narrowing or even filling the gap

between TRMM and GPM (scheduled launch in 2010), has offered an exciting opportunity for a unique

l, and seasonal climatology of

infall, and for determination of variability and trend in rainfall and water vapor, as they relate to climate 

of overlapping observations by the TRMM and CloudSat radars will 

s. In addition to trend 

orm rain, cold

ersus warm rain processes, continental versus oceanic rainfall, mesoscale convective complexes, and their 

d

s, and thus, physical processes and feedbacks. The combination of TRMM latent

eating profiles with ISCCP radiative heating profiles will create the first long-term record of total diabatic 

es.

hes range 

from variational rainfall assimilation using the model as a constraint, to super-ensemble forecasting 

precipitation research efforts and, as a result, Goddard has emerged as the preeminent leader in 

precipitation research. This leadership role will continue as new missions such as the GPM and NPP are 

planned to provide continuous multiyear observations of precipitation to the end of the decade. Th

upcoming CALIPSO and CloudSat missions should provide opportunities for in-house technology

developments for lidar to define the vertical distribution of clouds and water vapor. The ESED will focu

on the development of an airborne wind lidar system and related technologies for water vapor transport

anticipation of future mission opportunities. An ESED priority should be close interactions with the Glob

Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Cloud System Study (GCSS) as a means of translating 

cloud resolving model information into improved global climate model parameterizations. 

In the next five years, the overall objective of atmospheric water cycle research will be to determine the 

correlated time and space varying characteristics of rainfall, water vapor, clouds and aerosols, and 

associated atmospheric diabatic heating, and how these characteristics are related to variatio

te

water cycle are:

Precipitation, Cloud, and Water Vapor Climatology, Variability, and Trends

We will continue to improve and employ novel approaches to combine satellite rain information fr

multi-satellites in preparation for the eventual GPM rainfall product, which will consist of a core satelli

with a dual-frequency precipitation radar, and a microwave imager, together with a constellation of

microwave radiometers. The multi-satellite rain products will be used to validate model simulations of 

severe storms, spiral rainband structure in developing hurricanes, and to develop definitive climatology of

mesoscale convective systems in different regions around the world. The global precipitation data set l

in Table 3 represents the global monthly average precipitation estimates for the period January 1979 to th

present. This data set is a major component of the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP), 

established to develop global precipitation data sets using satellite and conventional observations. 

The possibility of TRMM contin

long-term global precipitation data set to better define the detailed diurna

ra

change. Moreover, the possibility

give a more complete picture of global precipitation in both liquid and ice phase

analysis of total rain, we will also focus on the long-term statistics of convective versus stratif

v

relationships with other components of the atmospheric water cycle, i.e., water vapor and sea surface

temperature. 

Cloud variability and trends will be documented in the ISCCP and MODIS data sets. Analysis of ISCCPderived radiative fluxes will enable observed variations in the planetary energy balance to be associate

with specific cloud type

h

heating variations that force observed circulation anomalies on interannual and decadal time scales. 

Data Assimilation and Improved Climate Model Physics 

Satellite rainfall, cloud, and water vapor products will be used for assimilation into the NASA GEOS-5

GCM for improving weather prediction and climate simulations. Unlike observations in clear-sky regions,

rainfall data are difficult to assimilate because rain estimates from forecast models can have large bias

The PMM Science Team will provide leadership to the data assimilation community to explore innovative

approaches to use rainfall data to improve atmospheric analysis and forecast. These new approac

39
techniques. In addition, new information on drop size distribution and cloud liquid water from

TRMM/GPM, will provide more information on the rain microphysics and latent heating profile with

regard to fundamental processes in the atmosphere such as diurnal cycle, seasonal and intraseasonal 

ariability, which need to be properly represented in order to increase reliability in long-term climate model 

mn

e

r cycle, clouds 

nd aerosols research are inseparable, because of aerosols’ ability to modify cloud and rainfall formation

to

osols are 

DIS, TOMS, TRMM, and field campaigns such as ACE-Asia have yielded some very

romising results. Other areas of research will be the effects of Saharan dust on the West African

ical Atlantic and their 

tion

ability 

with the 

epartment of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) programs. 

ee

y

to

mental phenomena such as the diurnal water cycle. As high performance computing 

sources continue to increase, multi-model approaches such as embedding cloud resolving models into

y

rce 

llite

v

projections. The resulting global analysis products will provide the most accurate possible estimates of

long-term atmospheric circulation anomalies. These will be used to drive simulations of the colu

physics in climate models, which can then be directly compared to the satellite rainfall, cloud and water 

vapor fields to evaluate the fidelity of parameterized model physics and to provide clues for model 

improvements. 

Clouds and Aerosols Interactions 

Clouds and aerosols have been identified by the IPCC (2001) as two of the most crucial factors responsible 

for the uncertainties in model projections of climate change. The ESED has a long tradition of excellenc

in research of radiative transfers in clouds and aerosols. In the context of atmospheric wate

a

(see discussion of aerosol/chemistry research in Section II.1.1.2). In the near term, a major focus will be

conduct integrated satellite observation and modeling work over key regions, where clouds and aer

expected to have large impacts on the water cycle. One of these is the Asian monsoon region, where

aerosols from natural dusts and industrial pollution are increasing at an alarming rate, and where satellite 

analysis from MO

p

monsoon, and suppression of rainfall and tropical cyclone geneses over the trop

impacts downstream in the Caribbean and the Southeast U.S. These studies should focus on the interac

between aerosols-cloud-precipitation, radiation and dynamics as prime drivers of the regional and global

water cycle. The results will in turn provide a context for understanding observed multi-decadal vari

in the interactions between GACP aerosol products, ISCCP cloud and radiative fluxes, and GPCP 

precipitation. We will continue to develop innovative measurement technology of lasers and lidars, radars 

for clouds, aerosol and rainfall measurements to augment and calibrate data from pending satellite missions

such as CALIPSO/CloudSat, Glory and possible ESSP mission for ice clouds [Submillimeter and Infrared 

Ice Cloud Experiment (SIRICE)], and a 3D Cloud-Aerosol Interaction Mission (CLAIM-3D) for lateral 

viewing of cloud-aerosol microphysics (see Table 4), and also to maintain the strong collaboration

D

Integrated Modeling – Toward the Earth System Model

In addition to the aforementioned GEOS-5 global modeling effort on precipitation, clouds and aerosol (s

also Section II.1.1.2), modeling activities for atmospheric water cycle will focus on the improvement of

cloud microphysics using cloud-resolving models such as cumulus ensemble models and large-scale edd

simulation models, to take advantage of the high vertical resolution data expected from CALIPSO and 

CloudSat, and other planned satellite missions. Modeling activities will be focused on improving the 

representation of atmospheric hydrologic processes including clouds, radiation, and aerosols, in climate 

models. Experiments and observation validations will be carried out to evaluate the ability of models

simulate funda

re

climate models, in the so-called “super-parameterization,” will be a priority in the next five years. These 

models will eventually lead to the development of non-hydrostatic cloud resolving, and coupled chemistr

next-generation climate models to study scale interactions in global water cycle processes. On a longer 

time scale, the Division is working toward the development of the Earth System Model which links 

climate, ocean, chemistry, and land models. 

Transition to Applications 

We will enhance our effort in areas with potential applications to tools affecting rainfall and water resou

distributions. We will provide real-time data from NASA satellites, such as TRMM, the Atmospheric 

Infrared Sounder (AIRS), and QuickScat, and collaborate with scientists from other agencies to improve 

skills of numerical weather forecasts. Near real-time TRMM-based estimates of tropical cyclones and 

flood warnings will be provided to various disaster relief agencies in the U.S., and overseas where 

conventional information is lacking. We will collaborate with NOAA’s National Environmental Sate

40
Data and Information Service (NESDIS) to provide rainfall data as part of its Tropical Rainfall P

Program to estimate flood potential in hurricanes. NASA’s Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis will be 

made available to numerous groups and countries globally, to help in detecting floods and monitor ra

agricultural uses. Similar activities to transition Goddard’s developments in the remote sensing of clouds, 

water vapor, and radiation will be conducted as well. 

II.1.3 Biospheric Processes 

The goals of ESED 

otential 

in for

biospheric research are to quantify changes in terrestrial and ocean biospheric

ving the changes, and study and predict the consequences of these

nables Earth observation technologies for monitoring and modeling the

al

d 

l

arbonterrestrial and marine carbon sources and sinks change

?

processes, understand the forces dri

changes. The Division fosters and e

dynamics of biological activity in the oceans and on land and seeks to improve our understanding of the

Earth as a system through multiscale modeling and global satellite observations. 

II.1.3.1 The Carbon Cycle 

The largest and best understood of the factors that contribute to global warming is the rapid and continuing

increase in atmospheric concentrations of “greenhouse” gases; trace gases that are transparent to the Sun's 

shortwave radiation, but absorb longwave radiation emanating from the Earth's surface warming the

atmosphere. CO2 released by fossil fuel combustion and deforestation is the most rapidly increasing

atmospheric greenhouse gas, and the one that is widely accepted as the largest contributor toward glob

warming. On average, about half the CO2 released into the atmosphere through human activities each year

remains there, steadily increasing atmospheric CO2 levels, now over 360 ppm, 30% above the maximum

levels of the past 400,000 years. The other half is being absorbed by the Earth’s surface, oceans and land.

There is much uncertainty as to the locations and mechanisms that take CO2 out of the atmosphere and 

provide the service of ameliorating the increase in atmospheric CO2. Will these sinks for CO2 continue to

operate in the future or will they reverse and aggravate the greenhouse warming trends? Answering this 

question is a scientific imperative of this century. Until we can locate these sinks and sources for CO2, 

quantify their strengths, and understand their biological and physical mechanisms, predictions of future 

atmospheric CO2 concentrations, hence climate change, will be unreliable. The U.S. Climate Change 

Science program has identified a number of specific science questions focused on addressing the carbon 

sink issues: 

(1) What are the magnitudes and distributions of North American carbon sources and sinks on 

seasonal to centennial time scales, and what are the processes controlling their dynamics?

(2) What are the magnitudes and distributions of ocean carbon sources and sinks on seasonal to 

centennial time scales, and what are the processes controlling their dynamics?

(3) What are the effects on carbon sources and sinks of past, present, and future land-use change an

resource management practices at local, regional, and global scales?

(4) How do global terrestrial, oceanic, and atmospheric carbon sources and sinks change on seasonal

to centennial time scales, and how can this knowledge be integrated to quantify and explain annua

global carbon budgets?

(5) What will be the future atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and other c

containing greenhouse gases, and how will 

in the future?

(6) How will the Earth system, and its different components, respond to various options for managing 

carbon in the environment, and what scientific information is needed for evaluating these options

41
Currently, the biggest uncertainties involve the land contributions to the carbon budget. Interdisciplinary

collaborations are needed to address these questions because of the importance of the interactions between 

the land and the oceans, and because the atmosphere carries the signature of the land and ocean carbon 

fluxes. ESED capabilities in atmosphere, oceans, and land studies span the breadth of the interdisciplinary

requirements needed to address the questions listed above. Goddard scientists actively collaborate with 

ach other and with the outside community through proposals and interactions within the ESED supported 

n stocks and fluxes of carbon are larger for the land than for the

re a echanisms have been proposed to explain the inferred land sinks, 

 carbon cycle. Particularly important is the role of soil carbon, which represents 2/3 of the 

re lude a

coup n

SED ar hat can

fl need

for th rial 

cosyste

In th

search system to quantify air-land

nd

depe

spatial re

iomass using raft and space platforms; development of new ways of analyzing 

OS

Observ

of new p

oncepts ns that use lidar, imaging spectrometry, and thermal sensors. 

e

Carbon Cycle Science Theme Team. 

II.1.3.1.1 Terrestrial Carbon Cycle 

ESED Research Focus Areas: 

Quantify the carbon budget.

Predict the impact of climate change on the biosphere. 

The uncertainties in the land carbo

atmosphe nd oceans. A number of m

including biomass accumulation due to land use activities and the responses of ecosystems to climate 

change. Satellite remote sensing has contributed critical information leading to new insights and represents

the most promising approach for further improvements in understanding and monitoring the terrestrial

carbon cycle. 

ESED has an active group of terrestrial carbon cycle scientists with strong connections to the rest of carbon

cycle science community. Division activities investigating the terrestrial carbon cycle span scales from

short-term local to long-term global processes. Using existing satellite resources (e.g. AVHRR, MODIS, 

Landsat) and extensive field studies, Division members have developed indicators of vegetation activity, 

land surface carbon stocks, disturbance and fire activity. Division members are using computer models

driven by remote sensing data to understand the process controlling ecosystem productivity and carbon 

fluxes over the past two decades. The advances gained from understanding recent phenomena are being 

used to improve model forecasts of the future. Collaborations within the ESED include the modeling of

atmospheric carbon and the development of a unified land surface model (coupled water, energy, and 

carbon cycles) to incorporate requirements to address terrestrial carbon cycle studies. Paleovegetation 

studies have a key role to play in understanding the interplay between vegetation dynamics mediated by

climate and the

ter strial carbon budget, and is visible in the paleovegetation records. Future development plans inc

led modeling and assimilation system to quantify air-land and air-sea carbon fluxes. Scientists i

E e working closely with scientists and engineers in Code 690 to develop laser technologies t

be own in space and can be used to measure carbon stocks in vegetation and in the atmosphere. The

ese capabilities is explicitly addressed in NASA HQ Roadmap for The Carbon Cycle and Terrest

E ms Program.

e next five years, we plan to ensure continued advances in understanding the area of carbon cycle 

re which include: the development of a coupled model and assimilation

a air-ocean carbon fluxes; the study of the variability of trace gases in the atmosphere, and their 

ndence on biomass burning and land cover change; development of global disturbance maps at fine

solutions (50m-1km); development of laser techniques and algorithms to measure vegetation

b lidar instruments on airc

E data for the purposes of extracting carbon cycle related information; analysis of the Orbiting Carbon

atory (OCO) data to measure the location and concentrations of atmospheric CO2; the development 

roposals for carbon related missions under the next ESSP (see Table 4); and the development of

c for larger missio

42
II.1.3.1.2 Biological Oceanography 

ESED Research Focus Area: 

Quantify the carbon budget.

Predict the impact of climate change on the biosphere. 

NASA Biological oceanography research spans the fields of ocean color and its relationship to oceanic

rimary productivity and the carbon cycle. The research and development activities extend from space 

biology laboratories that investigate phytoplankton growth 

nd optical properties, to in-situ and remote measurement research. Scientific studies and an extensive 

es focus on the relationship between phytoplankton development and light

n productivity, on dissolved organic carbon and the ocean carbon cycle, and 

ed by shipboard field observations, and by

evelopment of optical systems for observing the characteristics of phytoplankton both in the laboratory

ct to 

de 

ean color data product validation, sensor calibration, data merger algorithm evaluation, and 

tellite data processing. Our carefully focused ocean biology laboratories provide new insights into ocean 

e 

rent

a

ns across all components of our complex environment.

.g. deforestation, 

rbanization, increases in irrigated agriculture, etc). Land cover and land cover change occur over a large 

range of temporal and spatial scales. For example, while boreal fires mark the landscape at scales of >100 

km2

, human driven disturbance in third world countries often occurs at sub-hectare spatial scales, but when 

these disturbances are aggregated to regional scales they represent large impacts on the carbon cycling, 

hydrology and resources. The rate at which these changes occur fluctuates with climate and 

politico/socio/economic conditions, but it is the long-term trends that affect climate and the sustainability of

p

missions and mission data delivery, to ocean

a

array of ocean biology laboratori

levels in the sea, on global ocea

tropical ocean biogeochemistry. These studies are buttress

d

and at sea. 

The Division has provided quantitative global ocean bio-optical data products from the SeaWiFS Proje

the Earth science community over the past eight years. We now support MODIS/Aqua ocean color 

processing and the ocean color activities associated with the NPOESS program. Additionally, we provi

community oc

sa

color/phytoplankton physiology algorithms, and with mission proposals such as Ocean Carbon Ecosystems

and Near-Shore (OCEaNS) (see Table 4), we are leading to the next generation of ocean color research

satellites. Our five-year goals include continuing our responsibility for future ocean color algorithms for th

Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on NPP/NPOESS and subsequent ocean color sensors,

and we will provide mission data processing for the upcoming Aquarius ocean salinity mission. 

Another major five-year Divisional goal is our ongoing climate data record effort that develops and 

maintains a consistent multi-decadal time series of ocean color data, extending across a multitude of 

sensors, from the early Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) data (ca. 1978-1986), through the Ocean 

Colour and Thermal Scanner (OCTS) (a Japanese sensor, 1996-1997), SeaWiFS (1997-present), top cur

data stream from MODIS (2000-present), and then on to VIIRS in the future (see Table 3). This effort is

critical aspect of assessing climate change – primary productivity issues, and relates closely to our coupled

physical-biological modeling and ocean color data assimilation, that addresses the large-scale variations in 

ocean color data observed from satellite. Since ocean satellites observe only the near-surface of the ocean, 

sophisticated assimilation systems are essential to tie the surface observations to variations beneath the 

surface. This is an essential step, together with other biogeochemical modeling and assimilation, toward 

the development of a comprehensive Earth system assimilation system that will provide a consistent

synthesis of observatio

II.1.3.2 Terrestrial Ecosystems and Land Cover 

ESED Research Focus Area: 

Quantify land cover and ecosystem change. 

Predict the impact of climate change on the biosphere. 

Land Cover describes the distribution of vegetation and land types around the globe. It provides the lower

boundary condition for atmospheric transport, and mediates biochemical exchange between the atmosphere

and hydrosphere. In addition, since human populations live on the land, human appropriation of Earth’s 

environment for food and fiber can be directly observed through changes in land cover (e

u

43
resources needed to support human populations and natural ecosystems. It is for these reasons that the 

udy of land cover and its changes often requires fine spatial resolution measurements over decades. 

e only plausible method of monitoring land cover change processes at

consistent way over annual to decadal time periods. 

he Division has a long and productive history of developing satellite concepts and validating satellite 

s

s

le in Landsat and EO-1, in fact, we are hosting the Land Cover Satellite Project Science Office 

PSO), responsible for ensuring the science integrity, including sensor calibration. Using high-resolution 

riately

alibrated and validated to ensure science goals are attained. For coarse resolution data, efforts will 

ta

ge. 

is to the monitoring of 

ecosystem functioning such as productivity, stress and structure. New technology is required to accomplish 

surements required. In low Earth orbit, such a 

ission can be used to map and quantify ecosystem type processes. To meet these needs, we are working 

Table 4). 

,

st

Space-based observations are th

continental to global scales in a

T

algorithms to map land cover change over the entire period of record of land satellites. These capabilitie

have permitted us to map changes in ecosystems from regional to global scales. The Division is also

engaged in modeling ecosystem processes and patterns in response to natural and anthropogenic effects.

The research uses coupled ecosystem models and remote sensing observations to monitor and predict

ecosystem change in a variety of vegetated systems: boreal, tropical, temperate, and semi-arid. Monitoring

land cover change using satellite imagery reveals the extent and rates of natural and anthropogenic impacts 

on vegetation. The data for these studies come from Landsat, Earth Observing-1 (EO-1), Defense

Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), and the polar orbiting operational satellites. The Division play

a leading ro

(L

imagery, forest disturbance is being mapped across North America using decadal Landsat imagery as part 

of the Landsat Ecosystem Disturbance Adaptive Processing System. A new project is focusing on

correlating long-term trends in North American vegetation indices with changes in land cover, to separate

climate-driven trends from human activities. Forest-cover change and disturbance are also being mapped

in Siberia and Northern China. 

Our near-term goal begins with ensuring data continuity for coarse resolution (1 km) and higher (30 m)

resolution sensors. These long-term, systematic measurements include data continuity from AVHRR to

MODIS to VIIRS on NPP and later on NPOESS. Higher resolution data continuity resides in the Landsat 

series. Division efforts are required to ensure this long-term record continues and that it is approp

c

continue with MODIS on Terra (proposal pending), work on the NPP Project Science and NPP Science

teams. For Landsat, a data gap looms with the failing health of Landsat 5 and Landsat 7, so the Landsat

Data Continuity Mission must be carried forward in the near term and Division’s scientists have the 

responsibility for its scientific integrity. 

Over the next five years, questions of terrestrial ecosystem and land cover change will be addressed by

combining data from more than one sensor, either for current or long-term analysis. Opportunities for 

exploiting this data fusion concept will be sought out through the Research Opportunities in Space and

Earth Sciences (ROSES). In addition, analyzing large numbers of Landsat or other higher resolution da

sets simultaneously will facilitate analyses of regional to global ecosystem processes. We must look to

have global coverage capability by 2010 to continue the assessment of decadal global land cover chan

Over the next decade, there will be an evolution from land cover change analys

this. Imaging spectroscopy can provide the fundamental mea

m

on the Flora ESSP missions (see

II.1.4 Climate and Weather Prediction 

The linkage across the disparate fields of atmospheric, hydrological, and biospheric sciences comes through

the interface between these disciplines: the atmospheric prediction models need oceanic and land surface 

boundary conditions, the ocean models need atmospheric wind stress, the biospheric models need rainfall, 

etc. These interface requirements are needed in the development of climate and weather prediction models

and this area is the true focus of interdisciplinary science. Ultimately, the interfaces must be represented

within a completely integrated model – coupled ocean, atmosphere, land, sea-ice, chemistry, biosphere – 

with the system components fully interactive for a consistent representation of the Earth as an integrated 

44
system. Within the ESED, the weather and climate forecast groups link the other disciplinary activities

are the avenue for the development of this integrative Earth system model and an accompanying 

assimilation system, one of the major five-year goals of the Division. 

and 

hy should weather and climate modeling be done at NASA? NOAA and NASA have different missions. 

e

nd 

ED

erational 

e

ited 

This global agreement raises fundamental scientific and practical issues 

at must be addressed if decision makers are to have the quantitative information needed to most 

I)

as 

ble 

and 

NASA instrument teams and for research analyses. To achieve 

s goals, strong collaboration exists between the Division’s scientists and NOAA/National Centers for 

o 

nterdisciplinary modeling for the development of a 

en stem. Expertise in global atmospheric and ocean 

ientist to lead the development of infrastructure for OSSEs and the linkages and support for emerging

ission concepts. Our priority, commensurate with the scientific focus on clouds and precipitation, is for a 

W

NOAA has operational climate, ocean, river, and weather observation and forecast responsibilities for th

nation. NASA's SMD emphasizes remote sensing from space and attendant technologies to provide 

continuous observations needed to understand the Earth system as a whole and the effects of natural a

human-induced changes on the global environment. Though the agencies have distinct missions, they are

united in their common reliance on access and use of global satellite data to accomplish their goals. ES

has led the development of the JCSDA. The mission of the JCSDA is to accelerate the quantitative use of 

satellite data in weather and climate prediction models for operational and research purposes. This 

collaborative approach represents a commitment of NASA and NOAA to focus on research and op

issues related to improving the forecast of high impact weather events and extending accurate weather 

forecasts to day seven and beyond. 

NASA also has a distinct and formal role in weather and climate processes. NASA’s role in climate chang

can be traced back to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which the Un

States was the first industrial country to ratify, states that its goal is to stabilize atmospheric composition to

“prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system” and to achieve that in ways that do

not disrupt the global economy.

th

effectively carry out the treaty. The President’s multi-agency Climate Change Research Initiative (CCR

and CCSP to address these issues includes NASA as one of its core agencies. In addition, the President h

asked NASA to participate in both the GEOSS and the Collaborative Oceans Research Program. 

NASA climate modeling focuses on the satellite era because the most detailed observations are availa

for that period. Assimilation tools are developed to optimize the use of the high-resolution information

from satellite observations and diagnose their impact on predictions. Research-quality assimilated data 

sets, including clouds and precipitation, trace gas, aerosol, and climate products, and also ocean and l

surface products, are generated for use by

it

Environmental Prediction (NCEP) through the JCSDA, and with the other major modeling centers 

[National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCAR) and NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics 

Laboratory (GFDL)]. 

To address the cross disciplinary nature of long-term weather and climate modeling, the Division has tw

very active groups, one at GISS which focuses on long range climate modeling and one at GMAO which 

focuses on data assimilation, long-term weather and short-range climate prediction. These groups have

active collaborations with other scientists in the Division to address discipline science questions. Our goal 

over the next five years is to strengthen and further these collaborations to benefit from the integrative 

power of models and assimilation system on the one hand, and the observational expertise needed for input

to these tools on the other. 

Strategic hires within ESED will be needed to address i

compreh sive Earth System model and assimilation sy

model development is needed to replace scientists who have left the Division in recent years or who can be 

expected to retire in the coming decade. Although in recent years model development has shifted from the 

paradigm of an entirely internal development cycle to that of an integrative development, a paradigm that is

facilitated by the integration of GEOS-5 under the Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF), expertise 

is still required for the scientific integration of components and for developments that are not undertaken

elsewhere to meet NASA’s requirements. Because of our focus on the interplay of models and 

observations, hires are also required to address the observing system elements of our plans – better use of

satellite observations as well as input to mission design. In particular, a critical hire is an experienced

sc

m

45
civil service hire to lead the development in assimilation of data in cloudy and rainy regions and of high

resolution imagery data. As we prepare to tackle the challenge of assimilation into a comprehensiv

System model for carbon and water cycle research, hires are also needed

e Earth

 in ocean and land data

ssimilation to ensure that we have the expertise dedicated for the long term to these topics. 

on

well as to improve estimates of ocean climate. Satellite altimetry 

akes global state estimation both feasible and meaningful. Land data assimilation is also emerging, 

air 

forts in

e Division are especially focused on the use of new data types to enhance weather and climate prediction. 

ion 

I)

EOS-5

 AIRS and to use multiple instruments, such as AIRS and MODIS, together

ffectively. The large number of channels and the large data volume of these new instruments bring 

)

,

in

evelopments underway include observing system sensitivity tools based on adjoint methods to evaluate

ts 

a

II.1.4.1 Assimilation 

ESED Research Focus Area: 

Develop analysis methodologies suitable for assimilation of satellite data into predictive models.

In assimilation, models are used to synthesize diverse in-situ and satellite data streams into a single product 

that combines the strengths of each data set and of the model itself. The need to generate initializati

fields for numerical weather prediction has driven the direction of atmospheric assimilation development.

Ocean assimilation products are now emerging to initialize ocean weather forecasts and seasonal 

predictions with coupled models, as

m

stimulated by the availability of satellite-derived soil moisture and surface temperature measurements. 

Assimilation efforts in the Division focus on: (1) improvements in NASA satellite data usage for scientific 

analyses and initialization of models used for prediction; (2) guidance on observing system development; 

and (3) production of research-quality assimilated data sets. These efforts include the developments for 

meteorological, oceanographic, and land surface analyses, atmospheric constituent assimilation for

quality/pollution forecasts, and assimilation of ocean color measurements. 

In addition to the synthesis of existing (historical) data into a consistent time series, assimilation ef

th

In the next five years, the focus will be on new NASA missions such as the upcoming NPP and NPOESS 

missions, but also on currently available data types that are more difficult to process such as high-resolut

imagery, cloud properties, and data in cloudy and rainy regions. 

The atmospheric data assimilation system (DAS) currently being implemented for a new set of

meteorological analyses is a radiance-based analysis system, the Grid-point Statistical Interpolation (GS

analysis, adopted from a collaboration with NCEP coupled to the updated atmospheric model, the G

AGCM. This system is being used, in collaborations through the JCSDA, to advance the use of 

hyperspectral data from

e

challenges, such as optimal data selection, to the assimilation problem. In addition to advancing the use of

these new data streams, the developments for AIRS and the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU

help prepare for the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) which uses similar technology

and for the Crosstrack Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder

(ATMS) on NPP. Like AIRS, CrIS will provide information on ozone and the major greenhouse gases

addition to temperature and moisture soundings needed for weather prediction. 

D

the impact of different data types and distributions on weather forecast skill. Observing System

Experiments (OSEs) are also used to evaluate the current observing system. We are developing an OSSE 

framework to investigate the potential of new missions and to advance our error covariance models. Over

the next five years, the next phase of development will be to advance the system so as to bring in the time 

dimension – a 4 dimensional variational approach – considered to be essential for precipitation assimilation

and to make best use of imagery data. As mentioned in Section II.1.2.4, we will continue to explore 

innovative approaches to use rainfall data to improve atmospheric analyses and forecasts. 

The execution of a successful OSSE requires a specialized skill set, and this area is a core competency of 

the Division. For many missions or new instruments under consideration, OSSEs help determine 

quantitatively the potential impact of the data, and trade-offs in requirements or design. Such experimen

can also prepare for the assimilation of new data so that it achieves its potential impact quickly. OSSEs can

46
Figure II.1.4.1. OSSE experiment in which 

the impact of a wind lidar instrument was 

assessed. The experiment demonstrates the 

potential effect of adding wind lidar data 

We also plan to develop observing system simulation 

expertise to contribute to future mission design. The

EnKF has also been developed to help in dealing with

the highly inhomogeneous nature of the errors in land

surface model

during assimilation on predictive skill of

or

 and a 

ost. The 

Division’s OSSE capability represents the state-of-theart in the field. In Figure II.1.4.1, an OSSE was 

conducted to help determine the potential impact of a

lidar instrument on a hurricane track prediction. In this 

new 

data type reduced the landfall prediction error by

ance 

d

to take advantage of surface altimetry. The techniques 

we

provide information on air-sea 

fluxes needed for carbon cycle and water cycle studies. 

s, as well as the multivariate assimilation 

needed to take advantage of surface soil moisture and 

e activities 

he primary responsibility for obtaining routine meteorological observations and for providing model and

s.

y to

es a

onstellation of operational meteorological satellites, data from many of NASA’s research satellites are 

pacts 

also aid in the design of optimum observing systems f

Earth, Mars, and other planets when the full capability 

is achieved. If discontinued, unique expertise

critical aid to mission planning would be l

case, the OSSE concluded that the inclusion of the

roughly 66%. 

The ocean and land surface data assimilation 

capabilities focus on using satellite data to enh

seasonal prediction. The Division has pioneered

advanced techniques such as the Ensemble Kalman

Filter (EnKF) for the multivariate assimilation neede

developed for altimetry should also prove effective for 

ocean color data and the surface salinity data 

anticipated from Aquarius. Over the next five years,

will focus on making progress with these new data 

types, especially as they

the subsequent forecast of Hurricane Floyd 

in 1999. 

snow observations. The combination of thes

within the Division places us in the unique position for

contributing to coupled assimilation for Earth system

science. 

II.1.4.2 Weather Prediction 

ESED Research Focus Area: 

Determine which observations are likely to have the highest impact on prediction skill. 

Develop technology, instruments, and space missions that will lead to improvements in weather

prediction. 

T

data assimilation output for operational weather prediction in the U.S. rests with NOAA. However, for a 

number of reasons NASA plays an important role in assisting NOAA to reach its operational goal

One reason is that future improvements in weather forecast skill are most likely to be achieved by 

producing better observations and by using them better in a data assimilation context. Weather forecasting

is largely an initial value problem, and beyond the three-day range, observations covering the full global 

domain are required in order to establish sufficiently accurate initial conditions. The only realistic wa

obtain this global coverage is by using satellite data. Even though NOAA owns and operat

c

routinely used by NOAA and other operational agencies along with data from many other sources. 

Scientists from the Division are therefore working closely with their NOAA colleagues on testing im

of new NASA data and on developing data processing and assimilation methodologies that are appropriate

for specific kinds of satellite data. 

47
48

As assimilation and modeling methodology continu

continues to progress, certain satellites and sensors 

observing systems will have to take their place. GS and 

observatories for NOAA, thereby ensuring a contin

systems. These efforts are generally managed out o er, the 

ultimate success of these developments is determin

understanding and the modeling and data assimilati

ensure that the requirements to which new systems

economically feasible, but also that they accurately ding

and future user needs. 

Another reason that NASA is involved in weather f weather

and climate on the modeling side. Historically, the n 

models used for climate simulations have evolved f rsely, 

among the most valuable data for process studies a

data sets generated by letting a fixed version of a n

“sweep” through several decades of observational d

these systems and the only objective method for ve

forecast applications. Access to and expertise in st al to the 

climate research activities of the Division and there

program in data assimilation that is closely coordin

Currently, the Division is focused on improvin he

MSR, for weather prediction. One of the cha n

ov

n

atio

em.

solutio

ad

tation, we plan to keep advancing the us

solution data from geostationary satellites which l.

EOS data will also be used to prepare the assimilati r data from NPP and NPOESS, and we will 

creasingly bring the models and assimilation system to bear on design of the observing system to support

ecadal Climate Variability and Prediction 

D e predictability limits and controls for climate from subseasonal to decadal timescales. 

redict regional climate variability. 

asonal prediction skill by using the information in satellite altimetry. We have also shown that soil 

ental 

iction

in all existing coupled models. These biases, such as deficiencies in the 

es to develop and observing system technology

become obsolete and new generations of satellite 

FC also manages the development of future sensors

ued transition of new technology to the operational 

f Code 400 with support from Code 500. Howev

ed to a large extent by having access to the scientific 

on expertise represented in the Division. This will 

are developed become not only technically and 

represent the state of the art of scientific understan

orecasting is the intimate connection between

vast majority of three-dimensional general circulatio

rom numerical weather prediction models. Conve

nd climate trend analysis are the so-called reanalysis 

umerical weather prediction/data assimilation system

ata. The primary thrust behind the development of

rifying their performance both come from weather 

ate-of-the-art data assimilation systems is critic

fore we maintain an active research and development 

ated with similar activities undertaken by NOAA. 

 use of EOS data, particularly AIRS, MODIS and 

ges is how to make best use of the huge volumes of data

e to higher resolution models, we are able to reduce the 

e of the key elements being addressed is improvement

n to help reduce the precipitation shock noticed in

A major thrust over the next five years will be the use 

n data from CALIPSO and CloudSat to help improve 

dition to focusing on assimilation of cloud properties 

e of hyperspectral imagery, such as AIRS, and of high 

hold much promise for improving weather forecast skil

on system fo

g t

A lle

in a computationally efficient manner. As we m

model biases and more effectively use the data. O

of the GEOS-5 model’s convective parameteriz

GEOS-4 when data are introduced into the syst

of a Cloud Resolving Model with the high re

the convective processes in the global model. In

and precipi

re

in

weather prediction applications. 

II.1.4.3 Subseasonal-to-D

ESED Research Focus Areas: 

etermine th

P

One of the key questions that the SMD seeks to answer is how well transient climate variations can be

understood and predicted. The Division has developed advanced assimilation techniques to improve

se

moisture data can significantly influence predictions of summertime precipitation over some contin

regions. Seasonal predictions are contributed regularly to the consensus forecasts at NCEP and at the 

International Research Institute for Climate Prediction (IRI). 

Over the next five years, our modeling efforts will continue to explore the impact of coupled pred

strategies and observations on prediction skill at seasonal to interannual timescales, with a focus on

identifying the role that specific observations play in extending prediction skill. We will continue to

undertake research to identify what controls predictability and identify the limits to predictability of El 

Niño and other major modes of climate variability. One of the current detriments to prediction skill may lie

in the tropical biases that are found
representation of the cold tongue in the eastern Equatorial Pacific, or the too narrow atmospheric response 

e.

ry

be

es 

its 

e coupled climate modeling and prediction effort has been on tropical climate 

ariations and their mid-latitude teleconnections. Over the next five years, we plan to extend the scope of

ss

Spectrometer (TES), and these developments will prepare for use of

OMPS and CrIS data from NPP. Both meteorological forecasts and ozone forecasts have been generated in 

eterized or 

omplete chemical mechanisms in the middle atmosphere and linearized schemes in the troposphere. 

rate increasingly comprehensive chemistry modules throughout the 

mistry-climate mode, to address questions related to past variations

f ozone and their impact on the climate, as well as future prediction. 

monstrating the realism of many aspects of 

ter-continental transport predictions in the analyses and forecasts. We are expanding the assimilation 

t

m a 

t

to equatorial SST, will be the focus of a collaborative national project in which we plan to participat

Reducing these biases will require, among other things, model developments that improve the bounda

layer processes at the air-sea interface. Research will also extend to the shorter (subseasonal) timescales, 

beyond deterministic weather, including phenomena such as the Madden-Julian Oscillation which may

important to the evolution of El Niño, or the monsoons which have a major societal impact in their own 

right. Model developments will be undertaken to improve the representation of all the major climate mod

of variability. On decadal timescales, we will focus on understanding the sources and predictability lim

of long-term droughts. Collaborations with NOAA through its Climate Test Bed are anticipated. 

To date, the focus of th

v

the coupled climate modeling effort to include processes at the higher latitudes so that we can have a 

system to address global water budgets and variations. To enhance realism of climate simulations and 

forecasts, one of the thrusts of the climate modeling group will be to take advantage of the large 

computational resources available through Project Columbia at the NASA Advanced Supercomputing 

(NAS) Facility to run models at high resolution and in large ensembles. Such improvements are essential

as we aim to address the questions of societal relevance – the likelihood of changes in the statistics of

weather extremes embedded in climate variations or the likelihood of extended drought conditions acro

different regions of the nation. The use of high resolution models will also allow us to undertake regional 

climate prediction, now usually undertaken with limited regional climate models or with statistical 

downscaling techniques. 

II.1.4.4 Prediction of Constituents – Chemical Weather Prediction 

ESED Research Focus Area: 

Determine the impact of long-range transport on local air quality. 

The assimilation and prediction of atmospheric constituents leverage from and augment the meteorological

data assimilation system. In GEOS-4, ozone is currently assimilated in a univariate framework, using

assimilated meteorology. Ozone column data from TOMS, SBUV, and OMI along with profile data from

EOS-Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS), and

several occultation sensors are assimilated. This effort is currently transitioning to the new GSI analysis 

system being used for GEOS-5, in which ozone is included in the multivariate meteorological assimilation. 

In GEOS-5, the ozone assimilation will be enhanced with the use of measurements from the EOS sensors 

AIRS and the Tropical Emission

real-time to support Aura validation field campaigns. Ozone forecasts have used either param

c

Future development will incorpo

atmosphere, treating a large number of gases and their interactions with the atmospheric radiation balance.

The same models are being used in che

o

Tropospheric constituent modeling, including aerosols, is motivated by the radiative impacts on the 

circulation and by the important impacts of pollution on human life and ecosystems. Currently, carbon 

monoxide and several types of aerosols, tagged according to their sources, are used to support field 

campaigns. Support of the INTEX-NA mission in 2004 and the AVE/Houston campaign in 2005 gave

considerable exposure to Division products and capabilities, de

in

capability of the GSI system to include tropospheric constituents, in order to monitor and predict pollutan

distributions that are related to air quality. GEOS-5 will be augmented to assimilate aerosol data fro

number of EOS A-Train instruments, such as MODIS, OMI and CALIPSO, as well as from historical

observations (TOMS and AVHRR). Scientific analysis of the aerosols will include studies of their effec

on the atmospheric hydrological cycle. Consistent with the nature of most EOS observations of CO, NO2

and other species, which contain geophysical information in the middle troposphere and higher, we will 

49
focus our study of tropospheric pollutants on long-range transport. Research will also focus on inclusion of

the carbon cycle, with the intention of assimilating a range of observations of CO

limate simulations need to cover the industrial era, because of the long response time of the ocean and the 

cause 

onal 

nic 

ate 

ses of ice sheets to growing anthropogenic climate forcing. Our modeling 

emphasizes the role of climate forcings, defined with the help of outside experts, and climate feedback

. 

s not practical for a single 

models are becoming more complex 

orld community. Recognizing that

imate 

g 

2 and other relevant

parameters, and of developing inversion techniques to infer surface sources and sinks. 

II.1.4.5 Long-Range Climate Prediction 

ESED Research Focus Area: 

Predict Long-Term Climate Change due to greenhouse gases and other forcings.

C

need for policy makers to consider anthropogenic effects. Paleoclimate history must be considered be

of the insights and model tests that it provides. The climate simulations need to include high spatial 

resolutions, so that they can contribute to climate impact studies and to climate process studies on regi

scales. Climate time scales require that the vertical extent of the model include the full ocean and the 

middle atmosphere, as well as the troposphere. NASA has given attention to natural and anthropoge

climate forcings. Quantitative understanding of forcings is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of clim

mitigation strategies. To make progress on the climate sensitivity issue will require evaluating feedbacks, 

especially those due to clouds, water vapor, and sea ice. Key climate diagnostics derived from satellite

observations, analyzed with the help of appropriate modeling, can yield advances in understanding of

climate change. Precise measurements of ice sheet topography are but one example of these important 

activities. In combination with modeling and field studies, these measurements may allow investigation of 

possible non-linear respon

processes

In the future, a new approach is needed for climate model development. It i

group to have expertise in all the components of a global model, as the

and include more physical and biological processes. Models for long-term climate must extend from the 

deep ocean to the upper atmosphere, and beyond to the variable output of the Sun. Components of the 

global system that were once treated as specified boundary conditions or neglected altogether must now be

simulated and allowed to interact with other parts of the model. Processes that need to be simulated include 

the carbon cycle in the ocean and on land, atmospheric gaseous composition, aerosol properties, and even 

heterogeneous chemistry. One implication of all of this is the need for an open standard for building Earth 

system models; this is the objective of the ESMF project. The strategy for further model development is to

take advantage of the improved modularity of the model to test and compare alternatives for key parts of

the model. It still can be a major task to replace one module with another, because the climate model 

inevitably has been ‘tuned’ to be compatible with existing components. This implies that significant effort

is required to test new methods, and it may not be easy to judge the ultimate potential of a new method

from the first climate simulations. 

Several recent studies—e.g., New Opportunities in Sun-Climate Research (NASA, 2003) and Strategic 

Plan for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP, 2003)—have identified high-priority scientific

issues in Sun-Climate research relevant to NASA, the nation, and the w

ESED has broad expertise in both solar and climate physics, the Division charged a Goddard Sun-Cl

Task Force with developing a crosscutting research framework incorporating analysis, theory, modelin

and measurement. The Task Force has recommended that NASA establish a Sun-Climate Center of

Excellence, coordinated through Goddard, with the mission to promote an integrated program of 

observational systems and research to improve the understanding and prediction of the response of Earth’s

climate to solar forcing from monthly to multi-centennial time scales. The Center should enhance the 

conduct of core research in support of NASA Earth-Sun Exploration, accelerate the use of existing NASA

data, (such as the multi-satellite record of total solar irradiance since 1978, Table 3), develop new mission

concepts, and coordinate the application of solar and planetary science to protect the Earth and solar system

explorers. Several new hires will be required over the next five years to implement and support a SunClimate Center. 

50
II.1.5 Solar and Space Physics

Researchers in solar, heliospheric, and geospace physics lead the definition and development of missions in 

: solar structure and magnetic activity, generation of

produced by solar disturbances, magnetospherenosphere coupling in response to the solar wind, upper atmospheric effects, and possible effects on the

upled models of the solar-terrestrial system and design, propose, and fly

ic and magnetic

elds, and plasma and energetic particles. We also develop unique data sets and data systems that manage 

e

hat

l for future research and exploration within its Sun-Solar System Connection program is to

bserve and understand the complex phenomena associated with space weather by studying the Sun, the

al 

r the 

s, and Terrestrial Impacts of Solar Variability 

e are expanding our understanding of our place in the solar system by investigating the causes and effects 

ct

nderstanding. The universal themes of energy conversion and transfer, cross-scale 

oupling, turbulence and nonlinear physics have been chosen as near-term priority targets. The five 

fundamental processes that have been identified as the critical immediate steps are: magnetic reconnection,

support of these goals and perform research including

the solar wind, heliospheric structure and dynamics

io

Earth’s climate. We develop co

state-of-the-art instrumentation in the areas of photon and neutral atom imaging, electr

fi

a wide range of solar-terrestrial data to enable rapid access and sophisticated analysis across mission and 

discipline boundaries for the international space science community. The scientists interpret and evaluate 

data gathered from instruments and archival data, draw comparisons with computer simulations and 

theoretical models, and publish the results. 

ESED scientists in the space physics groups maintain two major data sets used extensively by the scienc

community. A comprehensive data set that is used to study the coupling of the solar wind with the 

magnetosphere called OMNI data (see Table 3) spans over 40 years (more than 3.5 solar cycles). This data

set is requested more than any other in the field of space physics. Heliospheric plasma and cosmic ray 

processes are studied with the Coordinated Heliospheric Observations (COHO) data set (see Table 3) t

also spans more over 40 years. Both OMNI and COHO data are derived from instruments on 17 and 11

spacecraft, respectively, and must be intercalibrated to provide a consistently high quality set of merged 

parameters. 

NASA’s goa

o

heliosphere and planetary environments as a single, interconnected system. Such an understanding will 

represent not just a grand intellectual accomplishment for our times - it will also provide knowledge and 

predictive capabilities essential to future human and robotic exploration of space and will serve key societ

objectives in important ways. 

The same explosive event on the Sun that produces power outages on Earth can also degrade solar panels 

on interplanetary spacecraft, produce mission-ending damage to instrumentation at Mars, produce radio 

waves and aurora at the outer planets, and even change the fundamental interaction of our heliosphere with

the interstellar medium. We will develop not only a predictive capability to address hazards to space 

travelers and important technological assets closer to home, but we will also learn how the fundamental 

space processes interplay to affect the habitability of other distant environments. Our strategic plan fo

future consists of three broad scientific objectives: 

Understanding the Nature, Origin

W

of solar variability. By studying the interaction of solar variability with the Earth, we will assess the effe

of this interaction on humankind. Building on our new knowledge of fundamental processes, we can 

characterize and develop a predictive knowledge of Earth’s space environment and its long-term impact on 

society, technology, and our planet. This will be accomplished both by direct investigation of the local 

environment and by what can be learned about life on Earth through studying other environments. 

Understand the Fundamental Processes Necessary to Support Space Weather Prediction 

High-fidelity space weather predictions are impossible without understanding the fundamental physical 

processes that govern the chain from the Sun to the Earth or throughout the solar system. As the 

foundation for our long-term research program, we therefore have to develop a complete understanding of

the fundamental physical processes of our space environment–from the Sun to the Earth, to other planets, 

and beyond to the interstellar medium. We will systematically examine similar processes in widely 

different regimes with a range of diagnostic techniques to both test our developing knowledge and to

enhance overall u

c

51
particle acceleration and transport, the generation and variability of magnetic fields, cross-scale coupling 

cross boundaries and large structures, and nonlinear energy and momentum transport and coupling in

s is

nd operations scenarios, ultimately contributing to mission success. 

l balance. 

ic

of

ic

the solar surface magnetic field (Table 3). The Laboratory for Solar and 

,

an

atory (SOHO, 

ts

a

atmospheres. Both in-situ and remote sensing observations will be required, providing a three-dimensional 

large-scale perspective as well as a detailed small-scale microphysics point of view. With our increasingly

sophisticated understanding of such basic processes, we will open the frontier of predictive modeling of

space weather across the solar system. 

Safeguard Our Outward Journey 

The great variety of space environment conditions will have a significant impact on our future space 

explorers, both robotic and human. We will vigorously pursue the research necessary to assure the safety

and the maximum productivity of our explorers. We strive to develop the capability to predict space 

environment conditions from low Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars. Addressing space weather issue

necessary for optimizing the design of habitats, spacecraft and instrumentation, and for planning mission 

a

II.1.5.1 Solar Physics 

II.1.5.1.1 Solar Magnetic Variability 

ESED Research Focus Area: 

Understand the long-term variations of solar activity and irradiance that affect Earth’s space climate 

 and therma

Helioseismology has transformed our understanding of the interior of the Sun, revealing its thermodynam

structure with fidelity unimagined 20 years ago, while invalidating long-held notions about the operation

the solar magnetic dynamo, and opening new areas of theoretical investigation. The record of helioseism

mode frequencies and widths, which now spans a full solar cycle (Table 3) and will be continued by the 

SDO, is a key data set that becomes even more powerful when combined with long-term satellite and

ground-based measurements of

Space Physics (LSSP) has a strong presence in helioseismology due to the contributions of a single 

researcher who made pioneering observations and invented the technique of time-distance helioseismology

which will play a major role in the scientific program of the SDO. During the next five years, LSSP plans 

to augment its capabilities in helioseismology for the SDO era with a hire to replace a retired magnetograph

scientist. 

II.1.5.1.2 Exploration of Solar Coronal Dynamics 

ESED Research Focus Areas:

Understand magnetic reconnection as revealed in solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and geospace

 storms. 

Develop models and forecast tools for solar disturbances, their heliospheric evolution, and the 

 response of planetary atmospheres to typical and extreme solar events. 

The pervasive dynamism of the outer solar atmosphere, on all observed spatial scales, has been the most

striking lesson of the most recent generation of solar remote-sensing satellites: Yohkoh [a joint Jap

Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/NASA mission], the Solar and Heliospheric Observ

a joint ESA/NASA mission), the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE), and the Ramaty High

Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI). The Division maintains key project science and coinvestigator roles in SOHO and RHESSI while developing the next generation of missions, including the 

Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), Solar-B (JAXA/NASA), and the SDO. We recently 

delivered two coronagraphs (COR1) for STEREO and are continuing technology development of X-ray and

gamma-ray spectroscopic imaging for the post-RHESSI era. We also maintain and expand key data se

(Table 3) of X-ray and gamma-ray emission from solar flares extending back to 1980.

52
The Division pursues a highly successful sounding rocket program to observe the corona at extreme 

ultraviolet wavelengths and to develop cutting-edge technology applicable to orbital missions. The Solar 

Extreme ultraviolet Research Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS) had ten successful flights, returning a 

wealth of high-resolution spectra and pioneering technology such as intensified charge-coupled devices

(CCD) detection (incorporated in SOHO), multi-layer coated gratings, and precision lithographic slits (bo

incorporated in Solar-B). Currently, the Ex

th

treme Ultraviolet Normal Incidence Spectrograph (EUNIS), a 

ccessor to SERTS with over 100 times greater sensitivity, is in integration and test for launch in the fall 

am has given dozens of young scientists, from high school students to

l

I.1.5.1.3 Coronal Mass Ejections, Flares, and Space Weather 

SED Research Focus Areas:

solar activity and irradiance that affect Earth’s space climate 

and thermal balance. 

ict the propagation and evolution of solar disturbances.

ss ejections (CMEs) and particles and photons from solar flares are the major 

eterminants of space weather, which has effects ranging from disruption of terrestrial communications to 

su

of 2005. The EUNIS/SERTS progr

postdoctoral fellows, hands-on experience with flight hardware and new data. 

During the next five years, the Division plans to strengthen the instrument development capabilities 

exemplified by RHESSI, COR1, and EUNIS by hiring 1-2 scientists with expertise in detectors and optica

systems (these positions may be a shared among several ESED laboratories). 

I

E

Understand the long-term variations of

Develop the capability to pred

Particles from coronal ma

d

hazards to space travelers. The Division has been in the forefront of identifying observational precursors to 

geo-effective CMEs and studying the interaction of CMEs with the interplanetary medium. Catalogs

maintained by the Division (Table 3) of the times, locations, and velocities of CMEs are an essential tool

for understanding the systematic properties of CMEs. Recently, RHESSI data have shown that direct

radiation from large flares can rival or surpass the energy in the CME. 

As part of a thrust to integrate the study of heliospheric disturbances and broaden the concept of

“geophysical” on the 50th anniversary of the first International Geophysical Year, we conceived the 

International Heliospheric Year 2007 (http://ihy.gsfc.nasa.gov) and continue to play a leading role in the 

multi-nation consortium of researchers. 

The Division plans to expand its capabilities in the area of integrative modeling of the Sun, heliosphere, 

high-energy solar physicist in the post-RHESSI 

h

.

to

t

geospace, and planetary environments and needs to hire a

area after t e retirement of the Mission Scientist. 

II.1.5.1.4 Fundamental Atomic Physics of Space Plasmas 

ESED Research Focus Area: 

Understand the plasma processes that accelerate and transport particles

The quantitative understanding of physical processes in the solar atmosphere rests squarely on the ability

analyze high-resolution spectra. In turn, this ability is anchored in the bedrock of atomic and molecular

physics. Often taken for granted, our knowledge of energy levels, transition rates, and cross sections is still

deficient for many ions of known astrophysical importance. LSSP conducts basic theoretical research on 

the calculation of atomic and molecular parameters. Although this program has introduced importan

techniques and produced literally hundreds of refereed papers over the years, LSSP expects that the 

program will diminish due to retirements and the lack of NASA proposal opportunities. 

53
II.1.5.2 Heliospheric Physics 

ESED Research Focus Areas:

Understand the plasma processes that accelerate and transport particles.

Understand the role of plasma and neutral interactions in nonlinear coupling of regions

 throughout the solar system.

Develop the capability to predict the propagation and evolution of solar disturbances.

The plasmas, energetic particles and associated electromagnetic fields generated and emitted by the Su

constitute the heliospheric interplanetary environment. Its properties set the parameters controlling the 

mechanical and electromagnetic interactions between the heliosphere and the planets, their moons, other

solar system bodies such as comets and asteroids, and, at the outer boundary o

n,

f the solar system, the 

nerated most dramatically by

ejections or flares, leading to the 

isruptive phenomena of space weather. Longer term solar variations, such as the Maunder minimum and 

sequence, control what might be termed “space climate.” Heliospheric 

he relevant direct in-situ observations of plasmas include density, temperature, and winds by species 

and 

Goddard space plasma instrument 

roup has developed such instruments for the International Sun-Earth Explorer (ISEE 1, 2, 3) mission, the 

ment for 

y

tion (IMAGE) mission, and is currently participating in the

evelopment of the Small Explorer Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX)-Lo sensor for the IBEX mission. 

f

eliospheric and Planetary Electromagnetism 

d plasma as it expands throughout the 

lar system and links the entire heliosphere into a coupled plasma cell. The properties of interplanetary 

planets and other bodies vary with the solar magnetic activity cycle and 

utward through the 

pectrum from DC to radio 

interstellar medium. Disturbances of the interplanetary medium are ge

eruptive dynamic events in the solar atmosphere, such as coronal mass

d

solar development along the main

physics deals with all these processes over all time scales. 

Heliospheric and Planetary Space Plasmas 

T

including electrons, ions by mass and in general by charge state. Since space plasmas are routinely far 

from thermodynamic equilibrium, the full velocity distribution is usually measured in three dimensions for

the thermal core, and in two dimensions for the energetic hot tail distributions (parallel and perpendicular to 

the local magnetic field). Close coordination with field measurements is always required. Plasma

measurements are in general based upon energy resolving charged particle optics, combined with time-offlight velocity measurements to obtain mass, with microchannel plate electron multiplication detectors

energy resolving solid state detection when charge state is required. The 

g

Wind and Polar missions, the Triana PlasMag instrument, and will develop the Fast Plasma Instru

the Magnetospheric MultiScale (MMS) mission, which was selected for Phase B development in Ma

2005. It also developed the Low Energy Neutral Atom (LENA) instrument for the Imager for 

Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Explora

d

The Division maintains an extensive set of common-format data on the plasma and magnetic properties o

the heliosphere extending back to the early 1960’s (Table 3). 

H

Electromagnetic fields are generated by the conducting solar win

so

space and their interactions with

with the development of eruptive events on the solar surface, as they propagate o

heliosphere. The effects of electromagnetic fields extend across the frequency s

frequencies. LSSP has a long and distinguished record of pioneering observations of such fields, 

extending, with the recent crossing of the solar wind termination shock by Voyager 1, to the limits of the

solar system. LSSP has also been closely involved in heliospheric and planetary studies based on the ACE 

and Wind missions from Earth to the L1 upstream libration point, and for the Ulysses mission out of the 

ecliptic to the polar regions of the heliosphere. LSSP co-investigators will participate in the STEREO 

mission, which will add substantially to our understanding of the three-dimensional structure of solar

eruptive events, and in the MESSENGER mission to study the solar wind interaction with Mercury’s 

exosphere and magnetosphere. 

54
Magneto-plasma-dynamic Theory and Modeling

ospheric medium and its interactions with solar system bodies is based

rgely on magnetohydrodynamic descriptions, complemented by kinetic studies of particle motions and 

rbulence and wave-particle interactions. The Division scientists have

ing turbulence and related 

ace 

he solar wind interaction with the geomagnetic field surrounds the Earth in a magnetosphere whose 3

). The electrodynamics of this interaction transfers energy

0

e great 

ere

a flows 

ase 

c field double probes and plasma analyzers 

sed to observe reconnection as well as theoretical modeling utilizing magnetohydrodynamic and kinetic 

g roles on such reconnection oriented missions as Geotail,

 This 

on

Dynamics Explorer, Fast Auroral SnapshoT (FAST), POLAR, and the

on to be launched Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) and ST-5. In 

addition, we are leaders in the conception and execution of sounding rocket campaigns to measure 

Ionosphere Thermosphere Mesosphere (ITM) processes. 

Theoretical understanding of the heli

la

augmented by hybrid studies of tu

pioneered the full three-dimensional description of heliospheric dynamics includ

stochastic phenomena, across the full range of space and time scales of the solar system. 

II.1.5.3 Geospace Physics 

ESED Research Focus Areas:

Understand magnetic reconnection as revealed in solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and geosp

 storms. 

Understand the plasma processes that accelerate and transport particles.

Understand the role of plasma and neutral interactions in nonlinear coupling of regions

 throughout the solar system.

Develop models and forecast tools for solar disturbances, their heliospheric evolution, and the 

 response of planetary atmospheres to typical and extreme solar events. 

T

volume exceeds 105

 cubic Earths (or ~ 1017 km

from the solar wind to the magnetosphere at typical rates of 1010 to 1011 W. This energy powers the 

electric currents that support the magnetic structure of the magnetosphere, maintains the typical 50 to 10

kV electric potential drop across the system, heats its internal reservoirs of plasma to coronal temperatures 

(106

 K), accelerates some charge particles to cosmic ray energies (101 to 103 keV) to populate the radiation

belts, and transfers up to 1012 W into the high latitude ionosphere during storms and substorms. Th

changes that take place in the Geospace environment during storms and substorms constitute “space 

weather” which can seriously affect commercial and government spacecraft and space infrastructure 

supporting the manned space program.

Magnetic Reconnection 

The flares and coronal mass ejections on the Sun and magnetic storms and substorms in the magnetosph

are driven by the spontaneous, rapid conversion of energy stored in magnetic fields into fast plasm

with speeds sometimes exceeding 2000 km/s. The physical process responsible for this explosive rele

of energy is magnetic reconnection. The Division scientists are among the world leaders in the

measurement and theoretical modeling of reconnection. We possess extensive capabilities in the 

development, operation and analysis of magnetometers, electri

u

numerical simulations. Our scientists have leadin

Cluster, and, most recently, Magnetospheric Multi-Scale. 

Magnetosphere - Ionosphere Coupling

The primary coupling between the high altitude magnetosphere and lower altitude ionosphere is 

electrodynamic. Magnetospheric convection generates large flows of electric current along the magnetic 

flux tubes connecting these two regions and results in energy transfer rates ranging up to 1012 W. 

energy heats the ionosphere and, via ion - neutral collisions, drives high altitude neutral winds in the 

thermosphere. The lesser amounts of kinetic energy deposited by the charge carriers for these electric 

currents, mostly electrons with kilovolt energies, power the optical emissions emanating from the 

transitions in neutral oxygen and nitrogen atoms that they excite. Division scientists carry out a broad 

range of experimental investigations of these coupling processes using particles and fields instruments

low-latitude satellites and sounding rockets. Our scientists have major roles on such magnetosphere -

ionosphere coupling missions as

so

55
Space Weather 

The great changes that take place in the high altitude magnetosphere, the radiation belts, and the ionosphere 

- thermosphere - mesosphere regions of Geospace during storms and substorms are termed space weather

Storms are long intervals with durations of many hours to 5 - 10 days of continuous, rapid magnetospher

convection usually driven by coronal mass ejections. During storms there is continuous magnetic 

reconnection that results in a steady "injection" of energetic ions into the radiation belts of

. 

ic 

 the inner 

magnetosphere where differential drifts between the electrons and ions produce the famous “ring currents” 

then slowly decay. The Division maintains an extensive, long-term set 

f intercalibrated solar wind and geomagnetic data (Table 3) that enables many studies of the physical 

the magnetosphere. 

r more frequent substorms 

rough

s of solar 

g of

ion Belt and Ionosphere - 

t

te and

by the 

es cutting-edge research in the form, nature, and structure of large 

ata systems, as evidenced by the various data systems listed below, each of which represents a unique 

s invented within ESED. Thus, rather than the “one size fits all” model of the 

the 

m and long-term benefits to NASA data and 

advanced computer data acquisition systems to meet the 

ps 

s 

ive Center (DAAC) data system. The DAAC 

rchives, provides search and order access, and distributes science data from Earth-Sun Science missions, 

interdisciplinary studies, models, and field experiments. Data support preparations include definition of

that quickly surround the planet and

o

connections between the Sun and

Substorms, in contrast to storms, are intervals of short-lived, ~ 1- 3 hrs, but extremely fast magnetospheric 

convection, that often occur several times per day. In contrast with storms, the fa

appear to be caused by the spontaneous release of stored energy in the nightside magnetosphere th

reconnection. In contrast with the storms, substorms are not generally related to any specific form

activity. Division scientists are leaders in the experimental and theoretical investigation and modelin

many areas of space weather. In particular, our scientists will be proposing electric fields, magnetic fields, 

plasma and ultra-violet imaging investigations for the Living with a Star Radiat

Thermosphere Storm Probe missions. Furthermore, Division theorists and modelers are active in mos

aspects of space weather and support the inter-agency Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC)

conceived and operated by GSFC scientists to support the development and transition to operations of

space weather forecast models. 

II.1.6 Managing and Analyzing Data 

The Division plays a leading role in the development and evolution of science data systems to genera

manage Earth-Sun System Science data and information; some of the long-term data sets maintained

Division are listed in Table 3. ESED do

d

research effort more or les

original EOS data information system, ESED has presented to the research community many models of 

what a data system can be, and this has immeasurably enriched the knowledge of data systems. Our data 

system capabilities include science algorithm development and integration, operational product generation

and reprocessing, archive management, data search and access services, and data distribution. Our GCDC

and CCMC are active in the development and application of advanced capabilities that maximize

availability and usefulness of science products. There is an extensive outreach effort to build awareness 

and encourage use of the available products and services from Earth-Sun Science missions, models, and

field campaigns. In addition to managing, processing and distributing data sets, ESED performs original

applied research in computer science areas such as artificial intelligence, data compression, computer 

graphics, and image processing that provide both short-ter

information systems. The ESED develops

research needs of oceans, weather, land, climate, hydrology, solar, and space sciences and develo

advanced data storage, data compression, and analysis techniques and distributed system architecture 

technologies. 

II.1.6.1 Data Services and Modeling for Earth Science 

The GCDC develops operational mission-focused data processing systems that ingest sensor data record

and generate calibrated geophysical parameters on an operational basis. The architecture of GCDC science

data processing systems is being upgraded to address multiple missions, to provide greater flexibility to

modify and interchange processing algorithms, to port to different hardware platforms and operating 

systems, and to minimize human interaction. 

The GCDC manages the Goddard Distributed Active Arch

a

56
data format and metadata, development of data acquisition and ingest tools, definition and development of 

nces and 

n

 set

rds and represents NASA on the U.S. Global Change Research Program

G p providing interagency support for locating global

s

 

tional

nt

• GES DAAC: Version 0 (V0) was developed to ingest, archive, and distribute data from Earth-Sun

c AVHRR, CZCS, the former Data

Assimilation Office (DAO), SeaWiFS, TOMS, TOVS, and UARS. Version 1 was developed to

tools for data search and access, and development of data set documentation. The DAAC develops 

customized, value-added products including subsets, data mining services, ancillary data, Geographic 

Information System (GIS) products, and visualization and analysis tools. The DAAC also provides user

support services including Help Desk, usage statistics and surveys, and outreach to science confere

workshops to publicize and build user awareness of the data product availability and utility. 

Some of the data systems listed below were developed in response to a specific mission or project. Others

were developed by the Goddard Earth Sciences (GES) DAAC (GES DAAC) as an element of the EOS 

Data and Information System (EOSDIS). 

Data and information systems developed and operated within the ESED include the following:

• Data Assimilation System (DAS): The DAS is responsible for the production of assimilated global

data sets and for their distribution to the community at large. The GMAO developed both the model 

and the assimilation system used to process the data. 

• Global Change Master Directory (GCMD): The GCMD provides summary descriptions of more tha

10,400 Earth-Sun Science data sets and more than 220 Earth-Sun Science-related services. More than

1300 data centers, government agencies, universities, research institutions, and private researchers 

have contributed descriptions to GCMD. It maintains one of the world's most popular hierarchical

of Earth-Sun Science keywo

(US CRP) Data and Information Working Grou

change data. 

• Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Data Processing System (MODAPS):

MODAPS produces MODIS Level 2 and higher data products from the Level 1 data produced by and

received from the GES DAAC. For archiving and distribution, the atmospheres and oceans data 

produced at MODAPS are sent to the GES DAAC for archiving and distribution. Likewise, the land

products are sent to the Eros Data Center (EDC), and the snow and ice products are sent to the

National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). 

• Sea-viewing Wide Field of view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Data Processing System (SDPS): SDPS is

responsible for acquiring SeaWiFS data, as well as ancillary data. SDPS also processes (and

reprocesses) the data to higher level products, stages the data for further data manipulation, and send

the data to the GES DAAC for public archive and distribution. 

• Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Science Data and Information System (TSDIS):

TSDIS is responsible for processing and post-processing of the TRMM science data. Working with

the TRMM principal investigators and science algorithm developers, TSDIS maintains the opera

science data processing system and ensures the timely processing of all TRMM science instrume

data. 

Scien e missions originating prior to 1998. Missions include:

support TSDIS, and Version 2 (the EOSDIS Core System) was developed by the Earth Science Data

and Information System (ESDIS) project and operated by the GES DAAC to ingest, archive, and

distribute data from Terra, Aqua, and the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE). This

system also produces MODIS Level 1 and all AIRS data products. 

57
II.1.6.2 Data Services and Models for Solar and Space Physics 

• Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC): In response to national needs for the 

development of space weather specification and forecast models, the CCMC was created here in the 

Division through a multi-agency memorandum of understanding. With funding and in-kind support 

from NASA, NSF, NOAA and various DoD agencies, the CCMC forms a value-added bridge between 

the numerical models developed in the research community and the needs of the operational 

element, CCMC adds to NASA’s “open data policy” a new 

“open model policy.” The CCMC's goals, operations, and achievements are reviewed on a regular

encies. 

SE) instrument, to the worldwide scientific 

• d 

ts, educational programs and crosscutting data, modeling, and visualization research to

•

, have

ata 

from online solar physics data archives distributed around the nation and around the world. The VSO 

terfaces, the VSO provides an 

ta system: The L1 data system is a distributed data environment for near L1 solar wind

observations. This project brings together six universities and government research labs to improve 

s of

at 

• nd 

er data services and sites, and with

the Permanent Archive at the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) to best ensure that 

important S3C data are preserved and made accessible; and to evolve capabilities that will support the 

future S3C Virtual Observatory. Major data services include the multi-mission CDAWeb, supporting 

current data from almost all instruments on almost all current and planned space physics missions; 

community for robust, well-documented, measurement-validated space weather forecast models. In 

addition, the CCMC provides the research community with access to modern space science 

simulations. By means of this activity

basis by a steering committee composed of representatives of all of the major stakeholder ag

• Solar Data Analysis Center (SDAC): The SDAC is responsible for serving scientifically useful data

from Principal Investigator instruments on active and recently completed solar physics missions, 

including SMM, Yohkoh, SOHO, TRACE, and solar flare data from the Compton Gamma Ray

Observatory Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BAT

community over the Internet (see Table 3). The SDAC will serve as the "active archive" (STEREO 

Science Center) serving data from the upcoming STEREO mission and as the U.S. scientific archive

mirror for the upcoming JAXA Solar-B mission. SDAC staff also test and deploy new, low-cost

technologies for archiving, retrieving, and analyzing solar data. 

Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF): The Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF) leads in the design an

implementation of unique multi-mission and multi-disciplinary data services, innovative ground data 

system concep

strategically advance NASA’s solar-terrestrial program and our understanding of the Sun-Earth 

system. SPDF maintains the OMNI and COHO data sets (see Table 3). 

Virtual Solar Observatory (VSO): Staff at the SDAC, in cooperation with scientific and IT team

members at Stanford University, Montana State University, and the National Solar Observatory

developed and deployed a first-generation VSO for the identification and manipulation of metad

enables scientific users to select observations matching their metadata requirements (based on

instrument type, physical observable, data provider, and/or time), and download the selected date

objects directly from the data providers. The VSO is currently enlarging its network of data providers 

and offering the basis for the date retrieval capabilities planned for the STEREO Science Center (SSC) 

and the upcoming SDO mission. In addition to human-usable in

applications programming interface (API) and Web Services (WSDL) interface for machine-tomachine queries. These machine communication methods allow VSO services to be utilized by the 

broader Sun-Solar System Connections community through the Virtual Space Physics Observatory 

(VSPO) and Collaborative Sun-Earth Connector (CoSEC).

• L1 da

both the quality and speed of science data distribution from the PI sites to the end users. The result

this project form the basis of a more comprehensive Virtual Heliospheric Observatory proposal th

will include several more university teams and data products. 

Sun-Solar System Connection Active Archive (S3CAA): S3CAA's work is to develop, operate, a

evolve unique multi-mission and international cross-disciplinary data, models, and correlative services 

enabling S3C strategic areas; to work with the community, with oth

58
SSCWeb, an orbit service for science and conjunction planning and data analysis; the Common Data 

Format (CDF), a self-describing, self-documenting common format in use by a wide range of present

d

II.1

Hig

envi g 

plat

oddard and Ames, SIVO’s Advanced Software Technologies Group (ASTG) provides a number of 

tw n

II.1.

inte ting.

Serv

para

cont

Ove nner predicated by the so-called

oore’s “Law,” which states that effective computing capabilities double every eighteen months. Based 

inve

supe

a pe

capa interesting but less clear 

ill be the impact of high performance computing networks, which currently deliver in excess of 10

rs. 

By 2

avai

enha

univ

distr

enab

satis

requ

It w

com

also unity in order to fully comprehend their 

eeds. o bear on Earth and Space science 

d ulliden

resp

info

ad model resolution, better 

and future space physics missions; the OMNIWeb (manages the OMNI data of Table 3), 1-AU

standardized reference for interplanetary fields, plasma and particle data; and several other specialize

systems. The effort includes software and data flow supporting partner international mirror sites in 

the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. 

.6.3 High Performance Computing 

h performance computing is the life-blood of numerical modeling for climate, weather, the space 

ronment, and solid Earth science. Currently, the Agency provides clusters of leading-edge computin

forms through two primary sources. To assist scientists in using the supercomputing facilities at 

G

sof are and hardware support services to the community. The functions of SIVO are described in Sectio

6.4. ASTG staff members are also matrixed to the applications support group at Ames such that an

grated support environment is enabled, no matter which facility scientists choose for their compu

ices include Level 2 help desk support to user training, code migration, performance tuning, 

llelization, algorithmic development, software engineering, and code modernization. We plan to

inue this activity as new and faster supercomputers come on-line. 

r the next five years, supercomputers are likely to evolve in a ma

M

upon computing resources currently provided by NASA, and assuming that the Agency will continue to 

st in leading-edge systems at present-day funding levels, it is not difficult to extrapolate to the ESED 

rcomputer of 2010. Such a supercomputer will likely be comprised of 20-30 thousand processors, half

tabyte of random-access memory, 20 petabytes of on-line disk storage, and will likely have the 

bility of delivering a performance of nearly 1 peta-FLOP/s. Perhaps more

w

gigabits per second (Gb/s). This technology is perhaps on the fastest growth path over the next five yea

006, the first 100Gb/s networks will be introduced, with 1Tb/s and 10Tb/s networks expected to be

lable in 2008 and 2010, respectively. At the very least, such networks are anticipated to greatly 

nce the ability for ESED scientists to share information with peers at other government facilities, 

ersities, etc. In the most fervent instance, the advanced grid technology would enable highly 

ibuted, heterogeneous computing and data services across geographically dispersed resources, thus

ling the Agency to “purchase” computing cycles from vendors over high-speed networks. This could 

fy some of the Agency’s “capacity computing” requirements, however “capability computing” 

irements are likely to remain attainable only through the use of large, in-house systems. 

ill be imperative for SIVO to establish a good working relationship with the high-performance 

puting facilities at Ames and Goddard such that technology trends are closely monitored. SIVO must 

 maintain a close working relationship with the science comm

n NASA must retain leadership to bring new technologies t

mo eling activities. Under this strategic implementation plan, SIVO will provide at a minimum 1 F

Time Equivalent (FTE) dedicated to studying technology trends in high performance computing and 

tifying those areas that are relevant to the ESED’s research efforts. This individual would be

onsible for providing the necessary two-way linkage between the research scientists and the ongoing

rmation technology research at Goddard and at Ames, and would assist in developing technology

ro maps that would link specific research requirements (e.g., increased

parameterizations, etc.) with enabling technologies (e.g., National Lambda Rail, Earth System Grid, new 

paradigms to address memory bandwidth latencies, etc.). 

59
II.1

The

App

scie n modeling weather, climate, and the solid Earth require 

the integration of model components developed by a large number of research groups. These models were 

hey were generally not designed to be integrated as

omponents of a larger model. Recognizing this issue, NASA initiated the development of the ESMF as a 

n

to the

oped in

ents 

ent 

of a

0. 

a

plexity of the 

odels and thus simplify future development and reduce the overall cost and risk. 

ment

d

th-Sun system; develop observational 

requirements and attending technologies; and devise the overall mission plan. Notional mission plans are 

cast in the form of roadmaps. Appendix VI shows the roadmapped missions for Earth and solar/space

science distilled from NASA HQ roadmaps. Both notional and selected missions are shown in this 

appendix. 

.6.4 Advanced Software Development 

Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF)

lications software is at the core of computational modeling and serves as the interface between the 

ntist and computer. The challenges inherent i

developed to solve a specific scientific problem and t

c

software framework to provide an interface between model components. Leading university and 

government researchers have joined together to develop software frameworks that will enable more 

realistic simulations of natural phenomena and interpretation of vast quantities of observational data o

high-end computers. The ESMF, Version 1.0, has just been released and is a key NASA contribution

U.S. Climate Change Science Program. The ESMF software will allow weather and climate models from

different researchers to operate together on parallel supercomputers, enabling comparison of alternative 

scientific approaches and ultimately improving predictive capabilities. In the next phase of development, 

ESMF will be extended to encompass space weather applications, including the capabilities devel

the NASA-funded Space Weather Modeling Framework. As ESMF continues to evolve, SIVO will be

participating in the development of this standard. 

Software Integration and Visualization Office (SIVO) 

It is SIVO’s responsibility to provide leadership to the Division and to the Directorate in addressing the 

issues of cost, risk, complexity, and performance of large numerical modeling codes. Between now and

2010, the biggest challenge will be adapting legacy codes to take advantage of new, complex architectures

and customized architectural features. Petaflop computing, expected to arrive on the scene by 2010, will 

likely be delivered through the use of tens of thousands of processors in a clustered computing 

environment. Scaling numerical models to make use of all available processors will become increasingly

difficult. Load imbalances and communication overhead will be exacerbated as parallelism requirem

and the number of processors increase. By 2010, the computing software and hardware must be able to 

support a factor of four improvement in horizontal resolution. 

In addition to addressing the issues related to performance, SIVO will continue to promote and implem

ESMF for elements of numerical models. If successful, ESMF will enable multiple configurations

coupled ocean-atmosphere-chemistry-land model with multi-model data assimilation capabilities by 201

The promotion of ESMF will be very important to achieve the goal of interoperable model components for 

climate, weather, and data assimilation applications. A component-based architecture that provides

standard set of data types and reusable methods will be the only way to reduce the overall com

m

II.2 Instruments, Technology, and New Missions 

Space missions are the main mechanism through which NASA gathers new observations to attack the 

science questions. Missions are also a major source of funding for ESED personnel and the GSFC. 

Winning future mission work is critical for the ESED. The Division has a long history in the develop

of UV/visible-, lidar-, and microwave-instruments and remote sensing technology on the Earth science 

side, and magnetometry, electric field, plasma, and extreme UV imaging instrumentation on the solar and

space science side. Most of these activities date back to the 1960s. 

Working closely with the outside community, ESED’s scientists formulate the scientific questions that nee

to be answered to understand the physical processes of the Ear

60
In order to win missions, the ESED’s scientists work together with engineers to develop new concepts and

w , but also for ground-, balloon-, and aircraft-based

bservations. The latter serve as steppingstones in the development of the spaceborne instruments, their 

ed systems provide surface or near-surface 

e 

igh speed downlink, redeployment). 

ents necessitate substantial improvements to our 

f

ive 

ral by charge state. Since space plasmas 

re routinely far from thermodynamic equilibrium, the full-velocity distribution is usually measured in

l

ly competed programs, 

irectly from existing instrument programs, or from programs funded internally by Goddard, such as the 

r’s IR&D) funds. As

logy y compete for potential 

e Missions. Missing from the list of

design ne instruments not only for space missions

o

calibration and validation. Furthermore, ground-bas

measurements while balloon and airborne platforms facilitate viewing processes such as precipitation,

cloud systems, surface vegetation, water or ice from a high-altitude vantage point and with high spatial 

and/or spectral resolution. Major field campaigns supported by the Division frequently need observations 

at multiple levels and thus require simultaneous ground, air, and space observations. 

 

II.2.1 Instruments 

Instrument technologies are constantly being pushed to meet more stringent demands required by new

measurements. These new measurements often require enhanced spatial, spectral, and temporal 

characteristics, or require the instrument to operate in a new environment or vantage point. 

Technology development occurs in the instrument area (new detectors, lasers, radar components, etc.), in

the spacecraft (large apertures, deployable structures, low power rad-hard electronics, small deployable 

sensorcraft, station keeping/pointing/formation flying activities...) and/or others which may still be in th

information technology arena (data compression, h

The requirements for better spectral and spatial measurem

detectors, detector sizes, and optical components. The need for improvements in temporal coverage has 

driven many of the advanced observing scenarios to take advantage of new vantage points such as

Geosynchronus/Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and L1/L2 orbits. Unfortunately, these new vantage

points will require additional improvements in the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of our detectors, the size o

our apertures, greater on-board processing capability, and more efficient and more powerful act

measurement components (such as lasers) than traditional vantage point locations. 

On the space plasma side, the relevant direct in-situ observations of plasmas include density, temperature, 

and winds by species including electrons, ions by mass and in gene

a

three dimensions for the thermal core, and in two dimensions for the energetic hot tail distributions (paralle

and perpendicular to the local magnetic field). Close coordination with field measurements is always 

required. Space plasma measurements are in general based upon energy-resolving charged-particle optics, 

combined with time-of-flight velocity measurements to obtain mass. 

Funding for technology development activities are usually obtained through a competitive process. For low 

Technology Readiness Level (TRL) activities, funding may come from either broad

d

Directo Discretionary Fund (DDF) and Internal Research and Development (

techno progresses beyond the low TRL levels, scientists and engineers ma

funding from one of the Mid-TRL technology programs available via the ROSES NRA solicitation or

through GSFC’s IR&D. If a technology is mature enough that it might make a substantial difference 

toward a winning proposal, it might also be eligible to B&P funding.

Table 4 shows the current group of ESED missions being developed. This table also shows the kinds of

instrument technology developments needed for both kinds of missions. We note the dominance in lidar, 

passive microwave and UV/Vis imaging technology for Earth Scienc

Earth Science technologies are active microwave (and radar) along with thermal infrared imaging. The 

former is dominated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the later is dominated by the Langley 

Research Center (LaRC). We believe that, given the broad scientific capability of ESED, we should begin

to strategically invest in active microwave and thermal infrared instruments. 

61
Below we summarize instrument activities: 

Lidars 

The MOLA and the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) laser instruments are two exam

have clearly demonstrated the tremendous advancement that can be provided with laser- and lidar-based

space measurements. The ESED is currently working on the design and development of lidars for 

topographic information, cloud and aerosol height, and wind measurements. Trace gas lidars are able to

resolve vertical gradients in trace gases by targeting different parts of the pressure-bro

ples that 

adened absorption 

e. These systems provide a new means of measuring ozone, water vapor, and CO2 profiles. Wind lidars

ttered Rayleigh or aerosol scattering to estimate the velocity of the air 

with space-based laser instruments like the Vegetation Canopy Lidar 

ese types of

erm goals

he 

he Earth system, 

cluding ocean salinity, precipitation, soil moisture, cold land processes, sea ice, and ocean wind 

xtend the capabilities of these systems. Additionally, there will be a continued move to smaller and more 

DoD 

, such as for the SBUV and TOMS

struments and SOHO/Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS). However, new measurements from Low

e - ionosphere coupling, 

M processes and space weather. The Division has recently recruited and hired a scientist with extensive 

xperience in all aspects of UV flight instrumentation design, development, and operations; and initiated a 

lin

use the Doppler shift in backsca

mass. The problems associated 

(VCL), CALIPSO, and GLAS also demonstrate the difficulties associated with making these types of

measurements from space. As a major five-year Divisional goal, we are addressing the technology

challenges associated with the limited laser power, ground footprint, and diode lifetime of th

instruments, with the goal of solving these problems within the next five years. Other long-t

build upon our transportable ocean biology lidars and our altimetric lidar systems that provide topographic

measurements of ice caps, sea ice, coastal topography and land surface water and runoff. The next five 

years will see improved capabilities in resolution and vastly improved transportability, including

application to UAV platforms. A new staff member will replace anticipated departures in this area. 

Microwave Remote Sensing 

The capabilities of microwave instruments such as TMI, The ER-2 Doppler radar (EDOP), the NASA 

Polarization radar (N-POL), and radiometers such as the Airborne Earth Sciences Microwave Imaging

Radiometer (AESMIR), the Conically Scanning Millimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer (CoSMIR), and t

Conical Scanning Submillimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer (CoSSIR) have had profound effects on Earth 

Science measurements. Through the development and application of these instruments we have

fundamentally changed our ability to observe and understand important aspects of t

in

measurements. Present and proposed future missions are based on these developments. Our ongoing 

support of space missions, including GPM, requires planning for anticipated retirements in the area of 

precipitation radars operating in space, and on aircraft and the ground. Our present observational 

capabilities include innovative scanning aircraft microwave radiometers operating through the 1 – 1000 

GHz spectrum, and transportable radars (EDOP, N-POL), scatterometers and radiometers. The next five

years will see significant advances in these instruments, including digital beam forming, synthetic aperture 

radiometry, multiple frequency/polarization radars, SAR and interferometric radars, etc.—that greatly 

e

flexible airborne platforms, including UAVs. Our remote sensing measurements will continue to be

buttressed by our focused in-situ sensing program, with its innovative UAV program and autonomous

ocean-sensing systems. The Division’s instruments are available on a cost-reimbursed facility basis in 

support of NASA scientific research, and have been used by our sister agencies, including NOAA,

and USGS, as well as by academia. 

Visible/UV and Near IR

Historically, the ESED has developed sensors in the UV-visible range

in

Earth Orbit (LEO), GEO, and the Libration point require better spatial and spectral observation and drive

the need for better and larger detector systems. New technology developments include UV-visible

polarimeters, and micro-bolometer infrared sensors. Large-format, fast readout detectors from the visible 

to the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) are central to remote imaging and spectroscopy of the solar atmosphere. 

The Division has extensive experience with EUV spectrographs and detectors and will propose 

spectrograph concepts for Solar Orbiter and an L-1 Earth-Sun mission. Imaging of ultraviolet emissions

from the thermosphere is an essential Geospace measurement for magnetospher

IT

e

62
new flight hardware development program. In collaboration with Code 500, a proposal was submitted for a 

ulti-spectral UV/Far UV (FUV) space weather imaging investigation in response to the Living with a Star 

n Belt Storm Probes Announcement of Opportunity.

uire a 

les 

ure

uny

lass

lectric Field Double Probes

ents are essential to the understanding and modeling of important physical 

e 

ster 

he 

nce 

d

ty

s,

NSF (for

t

instrumentation techniques. 

m

Radiatio

 

Space Plasma Velocity Analyzers

In situ space plasma measurements are dependent upon electron and ion velocity analyzers that acq

full view of the sky from diverse spacecraft, including non-spinning or slowly spinning spacecraft. The

challenges are: to image the sky using charged particle optics techniques; to reject solar UV, penetrating

energetic particles; to analyze the selected electrons for energy, and the selected ions for energy, mass and

charge state; and to do so with an aperture sufficient to obtain statistically meaningful distribution samp

in very short exposures in the millisecond range. The last requirement arises from the filamentary nat

and rapid motion of the plasma structures thought to exist in regions of strong plasma interactions, for

example, the diffusion region of the magnetic reconnection process. To satisfy the needs of future S

Solar System Connection (SSSC) missions, these challenges must be met to the greatest degree possible b

instruments with very low resource profiles that can be copied inexpensively to populate constellation c

missions with 10-50 small spacecraft. In the next five years, we must meet these technology challenges as 

we simultaneously build and deploy plasma velocity analyzers for the MMS mission, and propose for the

Radiation Belt Storm Probe mission, with four and two spacecraft, respectively. 

E

Vector electric field measurem

processes in all regions of Geospace. These measurements are made through the measurement of 

comparison of electric potential drops between conducting spheres located beyond the Debye sphere of th

spacecraft by placing them at the ends of long deployable booms. Division scientists are expert in all 

aspects of the design, fabrication, operation, and data analysis for electric field double probe

instrumentation. Currently, we are supporting electric field investigations on FAST, POLAR and Clu

and leading the investigation to be launched on the NASA/DoD C/NOFS mission that will launch in t

second quarter of Fiscal Year 2006. 

 

Magnetometry

Vector magnetic field measurements are also necessary for essentially all measurement-based 

investigations of Geospace because of the decisive role of the magnetic flux tubes in determining particle

motion, energy transfer, and Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stress balance. These measurements are 

usually made using the fluxgate technique, but a second technique based on optical pumping of helium-4 is

also used for some applications. Division scientists are not usually responsible for the design and 

fabrication of magnetometer flight units, but they support all other aspects of these investigations including

spacecraft magnetic cleanliness, pre- and post-launch calibration, operations, data processing and scie

analysis. We currently have important roles in the magnetometer investigations on Voyager, Solar Win

Mission (WIND), POLAR, Cluster, the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and 

Ranging (MESSENGER), Bepi Colombo, MMS, and the soon-to-be launched C/NOFS and Space 

Technology 5. 

Fast Atomic Beam Facili

Neutral atom remote sensing and imaging has been proven by the IMAGE mission to be extremely

effective for obtaining a global understanding of space plasma systems. Currently, it is being applied to the 

problem of heliospheric structure through development of the IBEX mission. During 2004, the atomic

beam facility of the University of Denver (DU) ceased to function or be available for future mission

owing to the untimely death of its principal investigator, Professor Thomas Stephen. NASA GSFC

invested heavily in this facility in support of the calibration of the LENA imager on IMAGE, but it was 

also supported in the past by the U.S. Air Force (for atomic oxygen erosion studies), and by the 

fundamental surface physics and chemistry studies). The only facility worldwide that is remotely 

competitive with the DU facility is at the University of Bern, Switzerland. However, that facility does no

produce a ground state atomic beam, nor can it measure beam flux with the accuracy of the DU facility. It 

is not therefore as capable as the DU facility has been for the study and calibration of space flight

63
In the next five years, we must establish a fast atomic beam facility in the U.S., preferably in the GSFC 

uch a facility would represent an investment in future SSSC missions

ission concepts. There is

portunity for new missions in Earth Science – the Earth System Science 

t 

be 

ore an ESSP announcement, ESED begins to collect mission ideas for review. ESED also 

en

 footprint lidar system designed to sample three-dimensional vegetation structure to

measurements of above-ground carbon, especially in heavily forested regions. 

en

IR

lution changes in atmospheric composition. 

area, or on the Goddard campus. S

that use the energetic neutral atom imaging techniques for remotely sensing plasma environments

throughout the solar system, including future missions planned to study Mars (ADAM), Venus (Vesper, 

VAP), Mercury (Bepi Colombo), and the outer planets (JUNO), as well as future missions to globally 

monitor the solar wind interaction with Earth (GEMINI). It would also be in demand as a facility for 

fundamental surface physics studies, which may themselves lead to advances in our application of this 

technology to space observations. Such studies would help to assure continuous work for this facility 

during any intervals between space flight development projects. 

II.2.2 Mission Development 

II.2.2.1 Earth Science Missions 

Often the development of instruments and technology leads to proposals of new m

currently one regular proposal op

Pathfinder (ESSP) Program. Directed and expedition-class mission opportunities occur through a differen

pathway, one that has not been clearly established.

ESSP is an opportunity that occurs roughly every two years or longer. ESSP is cost-capped at an amount 

of about $200 M including launch costs. This program size cap severely constrains the options that can 

considered for ESSP missions, e.g., instrument size and observation vantage point. For example, since the 

launch cost for a geostationary mission is above this cost cap, proposers would need to find a partner who

could fund the added geostationary mission costs. 

About a year bef

works with partner centers (e.g. JPL) and universities to formulate the mission concepts. ESED th

recommends the expenditure of B&P funds to develop the mission concept or to bring an instrument to a 

higher TRL level appropriate to a flight mission. The ESSP missions being developed are drawing 

resources from the Center, but the ESSP 4 announcement from HQ has been delayed by more than a year. 

This has created a challenge for the Center – should the development activities continue or be put on hold

until the NASA HQ decision making process is clarified?

Outside the ESSP line, NASA is moving back toward directed missions. With a new Administrator, and a

pending National Academy review, there is a new opportunity for the development of mission concepts in

the post EOS area. Below, we list and define acronyms for the mission candidates listed in Table 4.

BIOMM is a large

provide, among other things, 

CLAIM-3D uses a side-scanning spectrometer and a polarimeter to determine the impact of aerosols on

cloud and precipitation processes. 

CLPP is a combined passive and active microwave imager to estimate snow depth and cover, and froz

soils. 

Flora is a hyperspectral imager and is designed to provide global measurements of the structure and 

function of terrestrial vegetation, for example, fractional vegetation cover and vegetation community

composition. 

GEOTRACE is a geostationary atmospheric composition satellite with both UV- visible and near

sensors for looking at high time reso

64
Janus is a UV/VIS imager and Earth radiation budget experiment viewing from L1. Janus also has a 

ayload of solar instruments. The L1 observation point will provide the first comprehensive and continuous

the

esolution imager designed to assess ocean carbon and 

better quantification of ocean carbon flux. 

ager mission to determine the amount of cloud ice to constrain 

s and the Living With A Star line. Both groups are 

ates listed in Table 4. 

t, it will research the solar wind structure and 

d. 

iving With a Star Sentinels 

na and the resulting interplanetary and geospace disturbances. Sentinels 

starting with a 4-spacecraft inner heliospheric mission to 0.25 AU. 

p

observation of the Earth’s whole dayside atmosphere, together with measurements of the contributions to

the critical solar spectral irradiance that drive the upper atmosphere. The solar payload will be similar to

the instruments on SOHO. 

Molniya Orbit Imager is a pathfinder mission aimed at demonstrating the capability of this highly 

eccentric orbit for high temporal and high spatial resolution imaging of regions that cannot be seen by

geostationary observatories. The data obtained by the imager will be used for a wide-range of Earth 

science applications and are expected to have a significant positive impact on global medium-range

weather forecast skill. 

OCEaNS is a passive UV/VIS high spatial r

phytoplankton amounts. The goal is to develop a 

SIRICE is an infrared and microwave im

precipitation parameterization schemes used in climate models. 

II.2.2.2 Solar and Space Science Missions 

These missions are executed as Solar-Terrestrial Probe

dedicated to research on understanding and mitigating the effects of space weather. The Explorer line of 

missions is smaller than the others and presents opportunities for open competition to address scientific 

investigations that are relevant and timely. Some solar and space science missions receive external 

funding, either from other parts of NASA, other agencies, or other national entities. Below, we list and 

define acronyms for near-term SSSC mission candid

Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) 

The primary goal of the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) mission is to resolve why Polar 

Mesospheric Clouds (PMCs) form and why they vary. 

Bepi-Colombo

Bepi-Colombo is an ESA mission to Mercury. In Mercury orbit, it will study the interaction of solar 

disturbances with a planetary magnetosphere, and in transi

dynamics. 

Geospace Electrodynamic Connections (GEC)

GEC will determine the fundamental processes of how the ionosphere and magnetosphere are couple

The upper atmosphere is the final destination of the chains of fields, particles, and energy that start at the

Sun, transit the heliosphere, and are modified by the magnetosphere and upper atmosphere. 

L

The primary objective of the LWS Sentinels is to discover, understand, and model the heliospheric 

connection between solar phenome

is envisioned as a multiphased mission 

The next Sentinels phase will be composed of two Imaging Sentinels, one providing solar far side remote 

observations and another whole disk coronal spectroscopy from near Earth. 

Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX)

IBEX will remotely sense the edge of the solar system and beyond in order to discover the global 

interaction between the solar wind and the interstellar medium.

Janus 

See above. 

65
Magnetospheric Multi-Scale (MMS) 

MMS will determine the fundamental physical properties of magnetic reconnection. It is a four-spacecraft 

mission designed to study magnetic reconnection, charged particle acceleration, and turbulence (cross-scal

coupling) in key boundary regions of the Earth’s magnetosphere. 

e

adiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP)

and 

Probes (ITSP) 

he ITSP missions will enable the development of models that predict optimal frequencies for radio

elect

acecraft orbits with the least drag and greatest lifetimes. 

Solar-B will reveal the mechanisms of solar variability and study the origins of space weather and global 

ission to investigate the detailed interactions between

e Sun's magnetic field and the corona. 

and 

olar Orbiter

ipation that will fly as close as 45 solar radii to the Sun in

olar Probe 

e first flight into the Sun’s corona, only three solar radii above the solar surface. Solar 

TEREO

EO), to be launched in 2006, will describe the 3-D 

ime History of Events and Macroscale Interactions During Substorms (THEMIS)

mission that addresses the spatial and temporal development of

l instruments on two widely

aced high-altitude, high-inclination spacecraft. 

ith implementation of FCA and fall-off of support from the EOS missions, the ESED is under pressure to

 and win more instrument and mission proposals. The current process starts with an open call for 

concepts. These concepts are reviewed by the New Business Review Panel (NBRP) which is

haired by the Chief Scientist. Positively reviewed concepts are funded using B&P allocated resources to 

R

The RBSP mission focus is to understand the variability and extremes of energetic radiation belt ions

electrons by identifying and evaluating their acceleration processes and transport mechanisms plus 

identifying and characterizing their sources and losses. 

Ionosphere-Thermosphere Storm 

T

communications, communication disruptions, and intervals of enhanced geomagnetic activity. An

improved knowledge of neutral densities within the thermosphere will help mission planners s

sp

Solar-B 

change. NASA is a 1/3 partner with JAXA on this m

th

Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) 

SDO will help us to understand the mechanisms of solar variability by observing how the Sun's magnetic

field is generated and structured and how this stored magnetic energy is released into the heliosphere

geospace. 

S

Solar orbiter is an ESA mission with U.S. partic

order to study the solar atmosphere with unprecedented spatial resolution (~100 km pixel size). 

S

Solar Probe is th

Probe’s instruments measure plasma, magnetic fields and waves, energetic particles, and dust that it

encounters. 

S

The Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STER

structure and evolution of CMEs from their eruption on the Sun through the inner heliosphere to Earth's 

orbit. 

T

THEMIS is a MIDEX Explorer

magnetospheric substorms. 

The Two Wide-angle Imaging Neutral-atom Spectrometers (TWINS) 

TWINS provides stereoscopic viewing of the magnetosphere by imaging charge-exchanged energetic

neutral atoms (ENAs) over a broad energy range (~1-100 keV) using identica

sp

II.2.3 Improving the Instrument and Mission Development Process 

W

develop

new mission

c

66
strengthen the concept through Integrated Mission Design runs, for example. Progress is periodically reoncept may be deselected if cost is too high (concept is too 

ss at Goddard, with the goal of 

ecoming more competitive. ESED will also move strongly to better support proposals at every step of

for instrument mission concepts. ESED will establish a 

s on

and help proposers obtain resources. An

pportunities review group that would include Laboratory Heads would meet regularly (biweekly) to

y and observations. This section discusses the 

otential opportunities of using new airborne platforms and new space vantage points to make 

ns. 

vide a new observational capability that is complementary to

t resolution necessary to discern important fine scale features. A high-altitude and longfills this critical observation gap and expands the observational domain with hight

ty,

zone, ozone depleting substances, greenhouse gases, ice sheets, forest fires, droughts, and

gram would become a new and vital component of the emerging GEOSS 10-year 

V

reatly improve the quality of life on our planet. GSFC ESED scientists have a number of aircraft 

h instruments that 

a Project intends to prototype the use of UAVs in validation. We are

EX-B mission using the Altair. 

AV

d High-Altitude Sounding Rockets 

-cost access 

reviewed by the NBRP, and a mission c

expensive for the cap) or progress is insufficient. 

Recently, our Center Director has re-invigorated the proposal proce

b

their development and improve the win rate 

permanent NBO at the Division level. The responsibility of this office would be to proactively connect 

research activities with proposal opportunities both within and external to Goddard, to track progres

major proposal activity, to provide advice for proposers,

o

provide information and oversight for the NBO. 

II.2.4 New Platforms and Vantage Points 

NASA is always seeking to push the envelope of technolog

p

observatio

II.2.4.1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles 

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) pro

current and future satellite missions. Currently, there is a significant observation gap between the high

resolution capabilities of aircraft measurements, which are limited in spatial and temporal coverage, and 

satellite observations, which provide a global view, but often without adequate vertical and horizontal 

measuremen

endurance UAV

resolution data combined with near-global coverage. UAVs developed for military reconnaissance have 

large payload capacity, long duration, and high altitude capabilities. Operational UAV flights could impac

a broad range of scientific applications, including synoptic weather systems, hurricanes, air quali

stratospheric o

storm damage, as well as satellite validation. Additional flights could be allocated for research tasks, 

including targeted flights with payloads for specific science questions, satellite instrument development,

and support of U.S. Government science and applications missions. 

A UAV pro

implementation plan, which is now supported by over 60 countries around the world. In addition, a UA

program would be similar in cost to a large five-year satellite mission, but the UAV effort would be

ongoing and would address a broader range of high-priority science missions, whose societal benefits

would g

instruments developed for the NASA ER-2 that could be integrated onto UAVs, along wit

are being specifically developed for UAVs. 

In the next five years, the Aur

currently designing an experimental campaign that will leverage off the INT

Based on our experience with that mission, we will be in a strategic position to propose to lead other U

missions. 

II.2.4.2 Ultra-Long-Duration Balloons an

Balloon and sounding rocket programs – sometimes considered together under the rubric “low

to space” – have a distinguished record of scientific discovery, technology development, hand-on training 

of students, and the incubation of future principal investigators on orbital missions. New capabilities are 

being developed that have the potential, if adequately funded, to provide a much-needed bridge between 

brief suborbital experiments of limited scope and powerful but expensive and infrequent orbital missions. 

67
Super-pressure balloons are being developed with the ability to loft a 1-ton payload to altitudes in ex

35 km for a duration of up to 100 days. This holds 

cess of 

exciting scientific promise for solar spectrophotometric 

aging above the influence of atmospheric turbulence and for the study of solar X-ray and gamma-ray

ing

t-term

sphere. Finally, rapid developments in the world of lowost commercial space vehicles have an unknown but tantalizing potential for scientific use. 

SED currently carries out a vigorous sounding rocket program with both solar and geospace components; 

abilities and

propose for new opportunities as soon as they become available. 

 

EOS 

, 

nging

arth

is 

n of geostationary satellites 

OES-R) and there are plans to provide space for experimental instruments on the GOES-R. The 

GOES-R 

ing

ostationary orbit also offers clear advantages to space science 

search. For example, the proximity to Earth of GEO permits transmitting the high data rates provided by

ture, 

ver the next five years, we expect that more opportunities will appear for GEO instruments and science. 

I.2.4.4 Molniya Orbit 

im

flares. 

Commercially available suborbital rockets can now carry larger-diameter payloads (important for imag

instruments) than any vehicles in the current NASA fleet. GSFC’s Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) has 

developed a concept for a High-Altitude Sounding Rocket that would offer mission durations almost an

order of magnitude longer than those available today, opening to investigation new regimes of shor

solar variability at UV and FUV wavelengths. Agile vehicles are being developed that can execute 

complex trajectories in the mesosphere and thermo

c

E

the NASA Project Scientist for Sounding Rockets is based in ESED. We also have extensive past

experience with balloon programs. We are following closely the development of suborbital cap

will be ready to

II.2.4.3 Geostationary Orbit 

Geostationary orbit has long been exploited for weather monitoring, but underused with regard to the

class multispectral sensors developed for Low Earth Orbit (LEO). There are some distinct advantages to

the geostationary orbit. First, sensors in geostationary orbit can make high time resolution measurements

e.g. every 15 minutes over the same spot (Sun synchronous low Earth orbit satellites can make two 

measurements per day). The Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) allows good monitoring of rapidly cha

conditions such as occur during severe weather outbreaks. Since GEO is 60 times further from the E

than a typical LEO, larger apertures for sensors are needed to achieve the same ground resolution as from

LEO. On the other hand, GEO satellites can stare at the same spot for a longer period and thus achieve 

equivalent or better signal-to-noise that a low Earth orbit sensor can achieve. Finally, because GEO 

farther, GEO satellites need to be smaller and thus the instruments more compact, power conserving and

light-weight. 

NOAA is developing requirements for the procurement of the next generatio

(G

Division already provides NOAA with a geostationary satellite Project Scientist and the NOAA

activity will be hosted at Goddard. We expect that ESED will be asked to provide an additional Project 

Scientist for the GOES-R effort. In addition to the GOES-R activity, the Division is already develop

proposals to either provide instruments for the GOES-R or develop complete geostationary science 

packages looking, for example, at tropospheric air-quality. 

In addition to Earth science objectives, the ge

re

the measurements of the Solar Dynamics Observatory with substantial ESED involvement. In the fu

GEO may also become a vantage point from which to observe the generation of high-energy particles 

within the Earth’s magnetosphere. 

O

I

Three decades of experience with imagery from geostationary orbit have demonstrated the wide range of

applications in both research and operations of these observations. However, an important limitation of

these data is that regions beyond 55 to 60 degrees of latitude are not covered from this orbit. Both the 

successes and the limitations of MODIS have made it clear that there is a growing need for temporally and

68
spatially coherent imagery also for these high-latitude regions. One of the most surprising fallouts from

t.

he Molniya orbit – a highly eccentric high inclination orbit used by Russia for communications satellites 

ime

d

e

f

oddard is currently developing a proposal for an atmospheric imager flying in a Molniya orbit as a

 to the 

pace weather/aurora

 and L2 

e

R

 We are currently developing a mission concept called Janus which would exploit the L1

antage point (see Table 4). This mission would be an advance over the innovative-but-never-launched 

here are at least four Earth-observation projects for which ESED is uniquely qualified:

(1) Full-magnetosphere observation system: including instruments which take advantage of the 

h the Earth's magnetotail; the Moon is nearly ideal for such observations –

better than LEO and GEO which are well inside the magnetosphere, and better than L1 or L2 

MODIS is the highly successful application of feature-tracking winds over the polar regions in global 

assimilation and forecast systems. The positive impact of these winds generally extends well into the lower

latitudes (outside the observed region), and the impact tends to be largest when the forecast skill is lowes

T

for more than 30 years – provides a quasi-stationary vantage point suitable for high-latitude imaging for a 

period of 8 hours out of a total orbit duration of 12 hours. The satellite spends about two-thirds of the t

near its apogee (nominal altitude 39750 km) where it provides a quasi-geostationary vantage point locate

in the high latitudes of one hemisphere. During most of the imaging period, a Molniya satellite will thus b

within 10% of the geostationary orbit height, and most of the available geostationary technology in terms o

spacecraft, instrumentation, communications, etc. can therefore be reused with only minor modifications. 

G

pathfinder for a high-latitude extension of the GOES-type imagery and as a natural MODIS follow-on

mission from a satellite winds perspective. This will extend the rapid-repeat rate imagery coverage

pole and will enable the near-real time (30 minutes or better) production of high-latitude feature tracking 

winds, also based on clear-sky water vapor imagery. The possibility of co-flying s

imaging instruments is also being investigated. 

II.2.4.5 The Lagrange Points, L1

The five Sun-Earth Lagrange points are locations where a spacecraft can “park” to make observations. Th

unstable Lagrange points L1 and L2 are of particular interest. L1 lies between the Earth and the Sun while

L2 lies behind the Earth. Both are about 1.5 million km from the Earth. 

The advantage of L1 is that it can provide excellent solar observations, in-situ plasma observations (and

thus provide a warning of particle events) and also constantly observe the sunlit side of the Earth. The 

disadvantage of L1, for Earth observations, is that it is much farther than the moon and thus requires a

sizeable telescope (e.g. 1 meter) for observations at high spatial resolution. For backscattered UV-Vis-I

observations, L1 is ideal since measurements may be made continuously as the planet turns beneath the 

sub-solar point.

v

Triana mission. 

L2 has the unusual property that the Sun peaks around the limb of the Earth at L2, and thus L2 could be

exploited for continuous solar occultation observations. The Division is already developing mission 

concepts for L1 and L2 that exploit their unique vantage point characteristics. 

II.2.4.6 The Lunar Vantage Point 

The Vision for Space Exploration calls for NASA to return humans to the Moon. It is likely that a base

crew up to 20 astronauts will be built on the Moon's near side. Although the Moon is a harsh and dusty 

environment, its near side continually observes almost half the Earth. With astronauts available for 

maintenance, instruments could be repaired and refurbished. 

T

Moon's passage throug

which are too far outside it.

69
(2) A simulation of Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF): observes the Earth in all its phases just as TPF 

would see most extra-solar planets. None of the other vantage points -- LEO, GEO, L1, or L2

can provide an observing geometry that mimics TPF. 

 –

(3) Low frequency microwave and radar observations: important aspects of clouds, precipitation, sea 

would provide greater coverage than LEO because the Earth limb can be scanned continuously 

ng

reholes, as is now done on Earth, and using it to

reconstruct the solar "constant" over at least the past 500 years; the past solar constant remains one of the 

itivity questions now unanswerable could be answered

ith such data, especially because it pre-dates the era of anthropogenic influence; (2) analyzing the

n

nd resources in those areas which we can effectively support and excel in. There are many 

kinds

us improve our air quality,

ment and other application areas by providing additional data 

c recognize that we may have to adapt our strategy based on the 

ailability of future data and products. 

lio to

rrent Air Quality effort will grow beyond its 

urrent focus of determining air quality indices using MODIS data to becoming a full forecasting activity 

ality 

pplications area with support for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) forecast models. This will 

incl

energy f

Plan but

ice, soil moisture, and other variables can be best observed by microwave and radar; this

technology is currently constrained to LEO by the need for large apertures antennas. Much like 

the large radio telescopes, Earth-viewing radar and microwave antennas on the Moon could be 

many square kilometers in area and maintained by astronauts. From the Moon, we could also 

observe half the Earth, compared to 1/5 from GEO. 

(4) Microwave limb sounding of the entire Earth limb for constituent measurements: in a single day,

and simultaneously (the whole limb at once) using ideas developed in ESED for limb-scanni

from L-2. Large light-weight phased-array antennas can be used to achieve 1-km vertical

resolution from 3 km altitude to the top of the atmosphere - μ-wave range 65-640 GHz. 

In addition, there is important Earth science to be gleaned from the planned Lunar drilling program: 

(1) measuring the temperature profile down the bo

wild cards in global change and many climate sens

w

radionuclides and isotopes in the lunar soil for evidence of past solar activity; (3) searching for material 

ejected from Earth by past bolide impacts; for this purpose, the Moon is sometimes called “Earth's Attic” 

and we hope to learn much about the role of bolides in past sudden climate change from this data. 

We intend to develop an ESED working group to focus on Lunar mission opportunities to be linked to the 

Moon-Mars Initiative. 

II.3 Applications 

Applications research is and will continue to be a very important activity for the ESED. However, the mai

focus will still be dominated by the Earth Science research products. Our present strategy has been to 

invest our time a

areas such as air quality, disaster management, which require multiyear commitment to produce tangible

results. There is also the risk that some of the measurements may not be available in the future because of 

aging satellites and operational funding issues. At the same time, there will be opportunities for new 

of measurements from Hydros, OCO, CALIPSO, and CloudSat which can help

agricultural efficiency, and energy manage

and produ ts. Therefore, it is important to

av

We plan to continue our investments in the areas of Public Health, Water, Carbon, and Disaster 

Management. There will be significant attention given to expanding the Disaster Management portfo

include earthquakes, drought, landslides and wildfires. The cu

c

encompassing both models and data for validation. We will continue to work in the Air Qu

a

ude drought monitoring and assessing and forecasting wildfire damage by calculating fire radiative 

rom the remotely sensed data. More detail is given in the Office of Science Utilization Strategic 

 two important initiatives are discussed below. 

70
Homela

We are w wrence Livermore Labs, DOE, and Stennis 

pace Center to define our involvement in this area. There is a potential for several joint activities that will 

bene

trajector a, as well

as, a data

surface U

biologica

ternational Coordination Commitment 

Eart

througho

Educatio f

human li also be

coordina eas

.g., water, air quality, public health, disasters, agriculture, energy, and ecology) directly link with our 

iven the 

hallenges of FCA and limited resources, the management of outreach programs and activities must be well 

n a challenge as many of them began as ad hoc initiatives with little or no attempt 

 integrate into a “big picture” strategy for the Division, and no long-term plan for sustaining them. Many

of new flight missions, which are by their nature, transitory (~3-6 year 

to the Head of the ESED and that determines the priority for the 

will also

g

nd Security

orking with the Department of Homeland Security, La

S

fit the nation. For example, we are investigating how NASA data can be used in predicting the plume 

y from a nuclear or chemical explosion. This would make use of MODIS and Landsat dat

 assimilation model. We are also investigating the use of TOMS and OMI instruments to derive

V radiation, which is crucial in predicting the destruction of pathogens and other harmful 

l agents as a function of time and distance from their source. 

In

h science is truly an international activity and involves many countries and international organizations

ut the world. This is especially true because of our involvement with the United Nations 

nal, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to share our data for minimizing the loss o

ves in case of any major disasters such as floods, earthquakes, drought and more. We will

ting our efforts with the GEOSS activities because seven out of nine GEOSS application ar

(e

application disciplines. 

II.4 Education and Public Outreach 

With the Earth Observing System and other large Earth science programs facing declining budgets, it is

important that we demonstrate the significance of the work performed by the Division. The Center 

Director has also requested that ESED develop a more coherent plan for “selling Earth science.” G

c

integrated, strategic, and sustainable. Organizing all the ideas and approaches to education and public

outreach has always bee

to

of our EPO initiatives were born out

activities). 

Historically, the Division’s EPO community has not focused on formally assessing the effectiveness of its 

programs and products, nor on the sharing of lessons learned and other information horizontally across the 

Agency in a timely manner. In short, we are at risk of our EPO community degenerating into an unhealthy

working model in which our personnel are competing for dwindling EPO funds. The ideal situation would

involve increased coordination, the growth and sustenance of effective projects while at the same time, 

encouragement of creative approaches for translating our scientific results to public outreach forums. 

Over the next five years, the Division seeks to refocus and reinvigorate its outreach to the public, public

media, the research community, policy makers, and formal and informal educators. Specifically, we will

form a new EPO Committee that reports

new science stories and data products to highlight for our target audiences. This EPO Committee

identify or make available resources as needed for special EPO projects. This Committee will ensure there 

is good coordination in the development and evaluation of our programs and products. Over time, the 

Committee will seek ways to stabilize the funding base that enables concurrent development of 

communications packages aimed at four main target audiences. The first objective of the Committee is to 

clearly identify the marketing target and to quantify their current perceptions of NASA’s Earth science 

programs. In parallel, the ESED is exploring with NASA HQ the proper communications channels in

reaching out to this segment of the public. We recognize the need to be highly sensitive to alreadyestablished channels for communicating with science and energy policy leaders and the protocols for doin

so.

71
EPO Committee working groups will be formed to ensure that our programs and products are inclusive, 

t. In the pre-launch phase, the EPO efforts need to focus on the new mission 

PO

telligently and distributing the 

urden of work and cost while bypassing decision-making bottlenecks that are inherent in more traditional 

e

s 

ces. Figure II.4 illustrates how the EPO Committee will work through these four

unicate with the Division’s target audiences. 

effective, and efficien

measurements and the potential for new science. In the post-launch phase, the EPO strategy must combine 

publicizing new results along with integrating the new results into the mission of the Division. In the postlaunch phase, the working groups must operate less in terms of promoting individual flight missions and/or

laboratories, and more in terms of the interests and cognitive and technological capacities of their target 

audiences. The working groups will operate in something like a federation in that they retain their own

autonomy, identity, and funding, and yet they work cooperatively together when required to by the E

Committee. Such a decentralized model can work well by delegating in

b

top-down management hierarchies. 

We will emphasize the Web as our primary medium of choice for distributing information because research 

shows it has become the medium of choice by all of our target audiences when seeking scientific 

information for their jobs, for school work, or for just keeping up with what’s new. Moreover, the Web is a

robust medium in that it allows easy translation to other media, including print, television, radio, and liv

presentations. In short, the Web gives us a focal point for better internal cooperation as well as the mean

to better serve our audien

working groups to comm

Figure II.4. Notional Committee Workflow for Special Projects 

The first objective is to establish the four working groups and to establish the proper channels for internal 

communications, with particular sensitivity to protocols and procedures for policy-relevant

communications. In general, our EPO programs and products will emphasize information assets that ar

unique to the ESED: (1) our new science results, (2) our measurement capabilities and data products, and 

(3) our data integration and analysis tools, and predictive models. 

For formal education, our strategy will be to target our communications toward curriculum decision ma

at the national and state levels. Our goal is to insert NASA Earth-Sun imagery and information into the 

science curriculum at all grade levels (kindergarten through graduate). We will increasingly promote the 

com

e

kers 

plementary use of real NASA remote sensing data along with models in inquiry-based lessons designed

to instruct about the electromagnetic spectrum and cause-and-effect relationships at work in Earth’s climate 

72
system. We will develop and refine easy-to-use software tools for visualizing and analyzing our remote 

sensing data, while storing data subsets in file formats and file sizes that readily lend themselves to inclassroom use. 

For informal education, our strategy will be to continue with the professional development workshops and 

to establish and evolve networks through which to broaden and amplify exposure to NASA’s Earth-Sun 

science missions. By building cooperative relationships with other informal education institutions and 

professional communications and science advocacy organizations, we take a more “massively parallel” 

approach to promoting Earth-Sun science literacy among the public. Ultimately, our aim is to establish

Earth observation as a hobby analogous to amateur astronomy. Again, we must provide easy access to our 

remote sensing data, and easy-to-use tools for analysis, but most of these elements are already in place. 

ur next steps are to synthesize these elements into a cohesive, complementary framework, and then 

de for each. 

or influencers of space and science policy, we will develop a new suite of communications products 

designed for live presentations and accessible via the Internet. The idea will be to frame our stories around 

key questions or “mysteries” about how the climate system works that our scientists are working to resolve. 

Our communications to this audience should visually demonstrate what our current and future Earth and 

Sun observing technologies look like. In addition to presentations about our new science results and new 

measurement capabilities, we will also emphasize applications and benefits to society. We should try to

quantify economic return on investments in our Earth-Sun missions wherever possible.

O

support programs that help amateurs learn what to look for and “cookbook” procedures for how to perform

basic analyses. 

For the public media, our strategy will be to focus more on quality and less on quantity, meaning fewer 

overall press releases done better. Emphasis will be placed on our greatest asset—our visuals. Moreover, 

we should time our press releases so that we issue the same “stories” to all four of our target audiences 

simultaneously, keeping in mind of course that adaptations must be ma

F

73
74
Appendix I. Application Activities 

The examples of ESED’s Applications mentioned in the main text of this report are detailed below.

Invasive Species Management 

We are collaborating with the USGS to develop a National Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) for 

the management and control of invasive species on Department of Interior and adjacent lands. There are

many types of invasive species which collectively do over a hundred billion dollars of damage annually in

the United States alone. In this activity, we have targeted a specific botanical specie commonly known as 

“cheat grass.” It establishes itself in the forests and open fields and deprives other plants from soil moisture

which, at the same time increases fuel loading for the wildfires. The project is using early detection and

monitoring protocols, and predictive models developed at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center to process 

NASA Earth science and commercial data obtained from Landsat/Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM),

MODIS, EO-1, and Système Pour l'Observation de la Terre (SPOT). 

Public Health 

The overall goal of the Environment and Health activity is the application of NASA Earth Science spacebased remote sensing data to better understand the links between human health and the environment,

weather, and climate, and to develop new tools for health-related surveillance, decision support, and early

warning systems. Data from satellite sensors such as Landsat/ETM, AVHRR, MODIS, TOMS, TRMM, 

and SeaWiFS are utilized in this effort. The initial applications research is focused on demonstrating two 

vector-borne diseases detection and prediction: Mekong Malaria and Filariasis for the Malaria prone area 

of Thailand; and the bubonic plague in the southwestern region of the U.S.

Air Quality Indexing Benchmark

Data from MODIS have been used to derive the first aerosol product over land and have allowed us to get a 

better understanding of source regions for aerosols. The analysis of MODIS-derived columnar aerosol

loading has shown good correlation (correlation coefficient ~0.8-0.9) with PM2.5 (particulate matter with 

particle size less than 2.5 μm) data collected by the EPA at the surface in metropolitan areas (e.g., New 

York City, Chicago, Houston) and also over broad regions including 11 states and Washington, D.C. At

present, the EPA, Regional Planning Organizations, and state and local governments use a multitude of 

decision support tools to assess, control, and report the nature of air pollution related to PM. 

Disaster Management 

There are a number of activities which are underway and at various stages of maturity. They include 

improvement of hurricane track prediction, wildfires detection and emission inventories, and landslide 

forecasting. In addition to these tasks, drought is also being added to the disaster portfolio. 

Water Management

Through the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS), NASA can now provide a synoptic data set

of water storages and fluxes improving the performance of other federal agency Decision Support Systems 

(DSSs). This includes Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and EPA for

input of NASA data to their DSSs. Currently, some of the most critical NASA input parameters for DSSs 

used in water management applications are soil moisture, surface runoff, snow properties (depth and 

cover), evapotranspiration, and atmospheric forcing data (precipitation and solar radiation). These

parameters help these agencies in snow pack and river flow estimates, which are extremely valuable in

hydro production and agriculture commodity forecasts. 

Carbon Management

 Researchers at NASA GSFC are working with the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis

(FIA) program to better integrate remote sensing observations into FIA operations and assessments of 

forest carbon. Specifically, the current implementation of the FIA database has limited capabilities for 

mapping forest change and disturbance. By using automated techniques developed for processing Landsat 

75
and MODIS imagery, the FIA can better track changes in forest area, biomass, and carbon stocks. The

focal" scenes of particular interest to regional

his activity has a great deal of potential in terms of socio-economic benefits. We plan to develop this 

of three sources of NASA data: (1) solar data products which can be 

g

rch

propagation, and impact of solar 

isturbances. We will also expand our program to develop predictive space weather models based on our 

cal understanding. 

project is currently applying this approach to a collection of "

FIA managers.

Energy Management

T

applications area by making use

crucial in further understanding the high voltage transmission grid corona discharge and vulnerability to

solar storms; (2) atmospheric temperature, sea surface winds, and moisture data that will help in improvin

the electric utilities load forecast; and (3) soil moisture and snow water equivalent data products which will

help in improving the river flow models for the hydropower production. 

Forecasting Space Weather

Space weather effects can cause a wide range of problems, from radiation effects on astronauts and 

electronics to induced currents that may lead to power outages. ESED scientists are leading in the resea

of the fundamental physical processes which determine the generation,

d

growth of physi

Long-term Space Travel 

High energy particles and radiation emanating from the Sun have the potential for serious effects on longterm space travelers. We plan to further our understanding of such radiation on the astronaut’s long-term

health issues to aid in decision making on optimal shielding to protect against this. This will require us to

coordinate with the Exploration Directorate at NASA HQ to secure their initial support. 

76
Appendix II. Education and Public Outreach Activities 

Below are the education and public outreach activity details mentioned in the main text of this report. 

d –

scover Summer Internship Program with the University of New Hampshire 

• The NASA Academy: Designed to develop space leaders at a number of NASA Centers, this 

educational program has targeted late undergraduates/early graduate students. This program is 

managed by the University Programs Office.

• Minority University-SPace Interdisciplinary Network (MU-SPIN): To help train the next

generation of minority scientists and engineers, NASA created the Minority University-SPace 

Interdisciplinary Network (MU-SPIN) in 1990. This program helps provide minority colleges and 

universities with network infrastructure for accessing data and other information resources via the 

Internet and provides financial support for the coordination of activities to facilitate collaboration

among minority universities to conduct research and educational outreach.

Joint Centers Collaborative Support of Graduate Students 

 

The Joint Centers have fostered partnerships with academic institutions wherein the two entities can

employ their complementary talents and facilities to enhance Earth and space science research and the 

education of present and future generations of scientists. A list of the active Joint Centers are shown in

the table below: 

Partnerships between ESED and the Academic Community

Center for Earth-Atmospheric Studies (CEAS), with Colorado State Univ. 

a) Education 

 Summer Programs 

The following have been supported by the Division in the past and represent the types of programs the 

ESED expects to maintain in the future: 

• Undergraduate Students Summer Program: Organized through the University of Marylan

College Park, the program has been funded through the Division via assessments. 

• Graduate Student Summer Program: Consisting of roughly 10 students, this program is

organized by the GEST Center of the University of Maryland – Baltimore County. 

• Research and Di

(UNH): The objectives of this program are to recruit outstanding young scientists into research 

careers in Earth sciences and Earth remote sensing, and to support Earth science graduate students 

enrolled at UNH through a program of collaborative partnerships with NASA Goddard scientists

and UNH faculty.

Center for the Study of Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Atmospheres (CSTEA), with Howard Univ. 

Cooperative Center for Atmospheric Science and Technology (CCAST), with Univ. of Arizona 

Cooperative Institute for Atmospheric Research (CIFAR) Graduate Student Support, with UCLA 

Cooperative Institute of Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) with Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison

Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC), with Univ. of Maryland, College Park

Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center (GEST Center), with Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore 

County 

Joint Center for Earth Science (JCES), with Univ. of New Hampshire 

Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology (JCET), with Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore County 

Joint Interdisciplinary Earth Science Information Center (JIESIC), with George Mason Univ. 

77
These partnerships are meant to result in joint research proposals and joint efforts to provid

instruction and training. To foster such interactions, coordinated efforts have taken place a

e 

t the Joint

ir

s for the student support for the first year and the University professor and the ESED

e responsibility for supporting the student to the completion of his/her degree. 

Typically, the ESED scientist becomes a member of the student’s thesis committee. The students are 

at Goddard. See the table below for the list of graduate students supported. 

Centers to identify students (as they enter the graduate programs or as they are about to choose the

thesis topic) whose interests are shared by a University professor and an ESED scientist. In such 

cases, ESED pay

scientist share th

encouraged to spend time

Graduate Students Selected at the Joint Centers

Student Name University Field Advisor/Sponsor 

Toshihisa Matsui * Colorado State University ol effects on the Roger Pielke Sr. (CSU) 

(CSU) 

Aeros

microphysics of clouds W.-K. Tao (GSFC) 

Derek osselt** Colorado State University Assimilation of satellite- Graeme Stephens (CSU) 

)

P

(CSU) observed cloud properties 

into GCMs 

Arthur Hou (GSFC

Kevin Mallen*** Colorado State University Radar analyses and studies Michael Montgomery (CSU) 

(CSU) of precipitation systems Scott Braun (GSFC) 

Maike 

Ahlgrimm**** 

Colorado State University 

(CSU) 

GLAS-derived cloud 

climatologies 

Dave Randall (CSU) 

Jim Spinhirne/Steve Palm

(GSFC) 

Shaima L. ty of Wisconsin Satellite-MODIS observed

cloud properties 

Steve Ackerman (UW) 

Michael King/Steve Platnick

Nasiri * Universi

(GSFC) 

Robert Ho

pact of clouds on 

climate 

Matthew McGill (GSFC) 

lz** University of Wisconsin Spectral properties of clouds

and im

Steve Ackerman (UW) 

Chris Danforth * UMCP Chaos processes in general nia 

circulation models/GCMs 

David Levermore/Euge

Kalnay (UMCP) 

Robert Cahalan (GSFC)

Elana Klein

Gelaro (GSFC)

** UMCP GCM data assimilation Eugenia Kalnay (UMCP)

Ricardo Todling (GSC)/ 

Ron

Wilfre

Schroe

UMCP Fire characterization over 

atellite

data

Ruth DeFries (UMCP) 

Jeff Morisette (GSFC) 

d

der*** large scales using s

Christo

Blakel

pher

y***

UMCP Spectral approximations of 

discrete data defined on a 

sphere 

Ferd Baer (UMCP)

Ricky Rood (GSFC) 

Hezek

Carty* **

CP Interactions between the 

oceans and the atmosphere 

Sumant Nigam (UMCP)

Eric A. Smith (GSFC) 

iah UM

*

as related to TRMM 

observations

Steph

Penny

SFC) 

en UMCP Innovative numerical Charles D. Levermore 

**** methods in geophysical (UMCP)

problems Warren Wiscombe (G

Felici

SFC)

ta Russo * UMBC Micropulse lidar extinction Ray Hoff (UMBC) 

measurements using Raman David Whiteman (G

Lidar 

Anton

Gamb

UMBC Raman Lidar studies of Ray Hoff (UMBC) 

David Whiteman (GSFC)

ia 

acorta** water vapor, cirrus cloud

optical depth, particle size, 

and ice water content 

* Started in 2002 ** Started in 2003 *** Started in 2004 **** Started in 2005

78
Additional Interactions 

Interactions with graduate and undergraduate students also take place outside the formal programs jus

outlined and are encouraged by all levels of management in the Division. About 50 students spent 

time in the Earth Sciences Directorate during the 2004 year. In addition, many members of the ESED

staff are part of MS and Ph.D. thesis committees, supporting students at universities from across

country. In the past, much of this collaboration has been through the Joint Centers. See the table 

below for a list of ESED scientists that were thesis advisors. 

t

the 

ESED Scientists that were Thesis Advisors in Academic Year 2004-2005 

Scientist

Robert Adler * Jay Herman * # Steven Platnick * # 

Thomas Bell * # Gerald Heymsfield * Jeffrey L. Privette * # 

Francis L. Bliven * # Gordon Holman * Lorraine Remer * # 

Michael Bosilovich * Arthur Hou * Michele Rienecker * 

Lahouari Bounoua # (Co- J

Advisor) 

oanna Joiner * Gavin Schmidt (2) * 

Robert Cahalan* Alex Klimas * Christopher Shuman * 

Donald Cavalieri * Prasun Kundu * # James A. Slavin * 

Allen Chu * # William Lau (2) * James Smith * 

Peter Colarco * David Le Vine * David Starr * 

Joey Comiso * Elizabeth M. Middleton # Ellsworth Welton *

Anthony Del Genio (5) * (2) # Ronald Miller * # David Whiteman *

Belay Demoz * # Michael Mishchenko * Hongbin Yu * # 

Thomas Duvall * Dorothy Peteet * # 

Adolfo Figureroa-Viñas * Christa Peters-Lidard (5) * 

* PhD committ

 The table below lists courses taught by ESED scientists. 

Courses Taught by ESED S ar

ees # Masters committees 

cientists in Academic Ye 2004-2005

Location Title of Course Instructor 

American

(AMS) An

Meteoro ociety

nual Mtg., San Diego, CA

logical S Atmospheric Lidar Principles & Applications * Belay Demoz 

AMS Annual Mtg., San Diego, CA Lidar Principles & Applications * Geary Schwemmer 

AMS Annual Mtg., Seattle, WA Lidar for Meteorologists 101 * Geary Schwemmer

George Mason University Thermodynamics or Physical Climate Yogesh Sud 

George Mason University Land-Atmosphere Interaction Randal Koster 

Howard University Atmospheric Chemistry II Richard Stewart 

Johns Hopkins University Soils in Natural and Anthropogenic Ecosystems Elissa Levine

Johns Hopkins University Statistical Mechanics & Thermodynamics Prasun Kundu

UMCP Combin e Data and Models t

Study E

ing Satellit o Lahouari Bounoua 

arth System Climate 

UMCP ESSIC 234, Cycles in the Earth System Warren Wiscombe 

UMBC Physics 602, Statistical Mechanics Prasun Kundu 

UMBC Physics 622, Atmospheric Physics II Steven Platnick

UMCP/Earth System Science 

Interdisciplinary Center 

METO l Pro ombe 

& Zhanqing Li

401, Global Environmenta blems Warren Wisc

* Short course held in conjunction with Society meeting. 

79
Post-Graduate Programs 

t

ASA and other federal research agencies. 

By carrying out research at NASA Centers, the awardees contribute directly to the NASA mission

wh he 

program is funded by the Agency. 

• Summ ship Progr ed by esearch

Fellow arded to q d scien some

non specific p esearch in

coo ntly the prog ted 5-10 fa he

D

• GSFC Program in th s: This pr ed by the 

Godd nd Technol and has 

profe eave and res of senior on. 

Selecte petitive proce typically pu ent research 

of thei full access to facilities and ither the

Greenb ork camp list of

Visiting he Ear

The Division expects to maintain its support of post-graduate programs, which help foster new, 

innovative ideas for research. These programs include: 

• National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellowships: The NRC conducts the Residen

Research Associateship Program (RRAP) on behalf of N

ile advancing their professional development. Supporting approximately 15 fellows, t

er Faculty Fellow

ships have been aw

am: A program provid

ualified engineering an

NASA Headquarters, R

ce faculty members and

-science disciplines for rojects, as summer r a NASA-University 

perative program. Rece ram has suppor culty members within t

ivision.

Visiting Fellows e Earth Science ogram has been organiz

ard Earth Sciences a be t

ssors on sabbatical l

ogy (GEST) Center

earchers at all levels 

en designed to attrac

ity within the Divisi

d through a com ss, those chosen are rsuing independ

r choice and have NASA computing other resources at e

elt or the New Y us. See the table below for Fellows.

GSFC Fellows Program in t th Sciences

Name Institution Research Plan

Relevant

ESD Lab 

FY 2005

Zev Levin * Tel Aviv University Cloud-dust interactions 613 

David Salstein Atmos. & Environ. Interactions of Earth rotation 

ters with atmospheric 

ics 

690 

Research Inc. parame

dynam

T iihiko T

Kyushu Uni

osh akemura Research Institute for 613.3/613.2

Applied Mechanics 

Simulation of spectral radiation

transport model results 

versity

FY 2004

Warren Cohen * Dept. of Agri

rvi

culture on 

ce

Forest inventory/ carb

Forest Se

690 

Carlos Garcia * Univ. of Rio

Brazil 

Grande, Ocean color/primary production 614 

Virginia Garcia * Univ. of Rio

Brazil 

Grande, Ocean color/primary production 614 

Marvin Geller * State Unive

York, Stony limate

rsity of New Atmosphere dynamics;

Brook stratosphere/ mesosphere; c

611 

Maeng-Ki Kim * Kongju Nat

South Korea

ional Univ., Global circulation modeling 613 

Roger Lang * George Was

Univ., Wash

hington Soil moisture measurements 

ington, DC

614

Robert Numrich * Univ. of Mi

nneapolis

nnesota, Climate model computing 

Mi , MN

606 

Friedman Freund * San Jose State Univ., Crustal Dynamics 

San Jose, CA 

690 

80
GSFC Visiting Fellows Program in the Earth Sciences (continued)

Name Institution Research Plan 

Relevant

ESD Lab 

Susanne Bauer Lab. Science, Climate & 1 

Environ., Paris, France 

Climate modeling/chemistry 61

Hyung Rae Kim Ohio State Univ., Terrestrial physics 690 

Columbus, OH

FY 2003

Nadine Bell Earth & Planetary

Science, Harvard Univ. 

Chemical and dynamical processes 

in the atmosphere 

611 

William Chameides * Earth & Atmos. Sci., Coupling between atmospheric 611 

Georgia Inst. of

Technology, Atlanta, GA

aerosols, climate, and carbon 

uptake by terrestrial ecosystems 

(National Academy of Sciences) 

James

Corvallis, OR cloud interaction cases 

A. Coakley * Oceanic & Atmos. Sci., 2 

Oregon State Univ., 

Cloud and aerosol retrievals to

include an ensemble of aerosol613.

Harshvardhan * Earth & Atmos. Sci., 

Purdue Univ., West 

Lafayette, IN 

Indirect cloud forcing by

anthropengenic sulfate (Dept. 

Chair) 

613.2/613.3

Dan L

CA 

ubin * Scripps Inst. of

Oceanography, Univ. 

Cal, San Diego, La Jolla, 

UV radiation at the surface and its 

effects on near surface biology 

613.3 

Michael E. Mann * 

harlottesville, VA emisphere ocean temperatures 

 years 

Environmental Sciences, 611 

Univ. of Virginia, 

Oceanic dynamical responses to 

atmospheric forcing of northern

C h

over the past 1000

Jacques Hinderer * Univ. of Strasburg, Gravity measurements to 

E, use 

697 

Strasburg, France validate/calibrate GRAC

GRACE data for hydrological

studies 

Katherine Whaler * Univ. of Edinburgh, lite magnetic data 698 

Edinburgh, England

Modeling satel

for the Earth and Mars 

Wookap Choi * 

ional 

Univ., Seoul, Korea 

distributions, stratospheretroposphere exchange, 

 CO2

Earth & Environ. 613.3 

Sciences, Seoul Nat

Stratospheric trace gas

stratospheric cooling from

Ken Minschwaner * rch 

of Mining and 

Processes near the tropical 

of mass and humidity from the 

studies of tropical cirrus cloud 

Geophys. Resea 613.3/613.2

Center, New Mexico 

Institute

tropopause responsible for transfer

Technology, Socorro, troposphere to the stratosphere; 

NM

systems 

Peter Colarco 

measurements 

Univ. of Colorado, 613 

Boulder, CO

Aerosol radiative properties using 

models, field and satellite 

David J. Lary Chemical Informatics

Univ. of Cambridge, 

,

produce a multi-annual analysis of

here

from UARS (Royal Society 

6

Cambridge, UK

Chemical Data Assimilation, 10.1

chemical state of the atmosp

Fellow) 

 * On sabbatical leave 

81
ergarten to Grad Programs 

• Support of early ed s a priority to the Division. The ESED has produced

materi for grad tributing to the pipeli

will produce tomo ntists. The Division’s scientists routinely present lectures and

onstrations to K-12 schools and youth groups to help develop an early interest in science. 

lso mentor s s judges ts als tor

ber of high s div

A Be h and Scien is an 

award-winning edu n District of 

Columbia Public Scho scientific 

UN s a starting id

ip che rs in dev

standards-based, h The p hese teachers to

r a wee ience llows up wi

cludin schoo they ha

and done with thei ts, an th year, 

SUNBEAMS is led coordinator a hed over 50 schools, 60 teachers, and 

udents.

b) Public Outreach

 

ator

The Earth Observa rvatory

Kind e 12 (K-12)

ucation programs remain

educational als and lesson plans 

rrow’s Earth scie

es K-12, thereby con ne that 

dem

They a

a num

tudents, and serve a

chool students through in

at local science fairs. ESED scientis

idual initiatives and projects. 

o men

• SUNBEAMS (Students United with NAS

cation program focused on

ols that serve a populatio

coming Enthusiastic About Mat

sixth grade teachers and students i

n historically under-represented in

ce) 

professions. S

summer internsh

BEAMS involves teacher

s at Goddard that pair tea

ands-on lesson plans.

s an integral part of the program,

rs with active scientists as mento

rogram then brings the students of t

with pa

eloping

Goddard fo

activities, in

k-long immersion in sc

g a family night at the

r families, other studen

by a full-time

and math activities and fo

l where the students share what

d their community. Now in its eigh

nd has reac

th subsequent

ve learned

1500 st

• Earth Observ y 

tory (http://earthobse .nasa.gov) is a Web-based Earth

ntific information about c

science magazine

that publishes NASA satellite imagery and scie limate and environmental 

the use science research 

and applications. T 41,000 about 27,000

unique visits per day. The primary target audie neral public. 

Additional content targets other audiences, inc achers, students, scientists, and public 

e w consec Educati

categories), as wel cienti cience, TERC, and the 

cience T n (NSTA the EOS Project 

Office. 

• Visible Earth

Visible Earth (http

change (including natural hazards) and of space-based sensors for Earth 

subscribers, and the site receives

nce is the “science attentive” ge

luding te

here are more than

media. The sit on Webby Awards in

l as endorsements by S

utive years (in the “Science” and “

fic American, Popular S

on”

National S eachers Associatio ). The site is funded by Science

://visibleearth.nasa.gov) is a related 

images, animation . T ne-stop shopping

gateway to all NA imag about 7,000 

records and all assets are stored at multiple res assets are

extensibly indexed, the site lends itself particul to content syndication for NASA’s 

ications p s, form ass m

etc.). The VisEart verage of 6,50 serves 120 GB in daily 

image requests. The EOS Project Science Offic .

• Climate Change I , New NY)

The CCIR-NY is an information resource for e e general public on

the impacts of climate change and variability in ate New York metropolitan area. This 

ides scientific answers to basic questions about climate change, and how changes 

might impact New York City. While the site is specifically focused on the Big Apple, some

Web-based repository of Earth sciencehe site is designed to serve as a o

e assets. The site currently holds

olutions. Since all of VisEarth’s

arly well

s, and data visualizations

SA’s publicly available

commun artners (i.e., museum

h receives an a

al education lesson developers, the m

0 unique visits per day and

e funds this site

edia,

nformation Resource York Metropolitan Region (CCIRducators, policymakers, and th

 the tri-st

Web site prov

82
lessons learned here apply to other urban areas. NASA provided the science used to answer basic 

and specific questions regarding climate change in the New York Metropolitan region. The site 

ate change and then answers them in a way accessible 

to a wide-ranging audience. It was developed under a grant from NOAA to the Center for 

includes a series of questions relating to clim

International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University, with the 

collaboration of NASA GISS and Hunter College. (http://ccir.ciesin.columbia.edu/nyc/) 

Print Publications 

The EOS Project Science Office produces and prints a range of publications ab

•

out the ESED’s 

many research programs and satellite missions. Specifically, they maintain a small library of CDs, 

•

st

d many of their stories play in major television and print media outlets. Our

secondary emphasis has been to enable “direct to information consumer” communications via our 

SA Portal. 

 

•

a kiosk style display. There are six data sets currently on display. Display systems 

e GSFC Visitor Center, the Baltimore Museum of Science, and at the Smithsonian

. New data sets are being added and the exhibit has developed a new 

th

•

es

he public, foster science 

ng at 

brochures, lithographs, posters, fact sheets, and lesson plans about Earth science topics and EOS 

satellites. The EOS Project Science Office funds most of these publications. 

Public Media 

The ESED has adopted a two-pronged approach to communications with the public media. Our 

primary emphasis is on providing press releases and imagery to the NASA Public Affairs Office 

(PAO) through the efforts of the Earth-Sun Science News and Information Team. In an effort to

proactively mine new story ideas, for the past five years, this team has been identifying and

developing press releases for PAO. The team reached an all-time high in productivity over the la

year and has ha

Web sites and the NA

 

• Data Visualizations

There are three outstanding data visualizations teams supported within the ESED – the Scientific 

Visualizations Studio (SVS), the Visualizations Analysis Laboratory (VAL), and the Visual and

Technical Arts Lab (VITAL). All of these teams produce superior quality images, animations, and

data visualizations in support of a wide range of the ESED's communications and science 

activities, including NASA Public Affairs press releases, live presentations, various print 

publications, television, and video documentaries, etc. 

Earth Today 

Earth Today is a unique stand-alone presentation system for showing satellite and other Earth 

science data in 

are running at th

Air and Space Museum

interactive capability. The project is funded by various Goddard and EOS Project sources. Ear

Today will be co-developing applications with Science on a Sphere (below). 

Science on a Sphere

Science on a Sphere, originally developed by NOAA to enhance outreach, is a system which us

high-speed computers, video projectors, and advanced imaging techniques to project images onto

a sphere to create the illusion of a planet, the Sun, a moon, or any other celestial body in space. 

Science on a Sphere is intended to help communicate science to t

education, and aid scientific visualization by providing a unique and engaging way of looki

the Earth in its "native format" rather than as a distorted flat representation. An agreement was 

recently reached with NOAA to place Science on a Sphere capability in Goddard's Visitor Center. 

The latest in space-based Earth observations from imagery and/or data acquired by NASA's many

Earth observing satellites will be processed and formatted for display on the Sphere. 

83
•

nds of 

pported annual 

vents. Sun-Earth day activities have a broad reach. For example, the 2004 Sun-Earth Day Web 

million hits in 40 hours. There were 1000 news reports on various television 

channels, including 40 interviews with NASA scientists. More than 12,000 packets of educational

The Electronic Theatre

The Electronic Theatre produces interactive, high-definition live presentations about Earth system

science and NASA’s remote sensing missions as an adjunct activity that leverages off the 

resources produced by the ESED’s visualizations teams. This activity reaches tens of thousa

live audience members around the world per year. 

• Sun-Earth Day

Sun-Earth Day is an annual national event (usually in March) supported by the Sun-Earth

Connection Education Forum, Sun-Solar-System-Connection scientists and spacecraft missions. 

The goal is to share the science of the Sun with educators, students, and the general public via 

informal learning centers, the Web, television, etc. through high-profile, well-su

e

site received 40

materials were distributed to teachers, museums, and amateur astronomers in support of the 2004

Sun-Earth day programming. In 2004-2005, the Ancient Observatories: Timeless Knowledge

Web site (http://sunearthday.nasa.gov) and the Traditions of the Sun Web site 

(http://www.traditionsofthesun.org) were launched to allow users to explore Chaco Canyon a

other areas. 

Educational GCM (EdGCM) 

nd 

•

mputer-driven Global Climate Models (GCMs) are one of the primary tools used today in

ortu ely, few educators have access to GCMs, which have generally 

required supercomputing facilities and skilled programmers. In collaboration with NSF, NASA 

e

lanet?), 

entists. 

ple for global warming and ice ages – but 

teachers can also construct their own scenarios to satisfy curricular requirements. EdGCM allows 

u their own instructional materials (text, charts, images) and easily scales for use 

at levels from middle school to graduate school. 

•

rtnership shares the 

xciting discoveries and knowledge from NASA missions and research programs with educators,

p lic. SECEF brings together the rich expertise of scientists, educators,

and museums to develop innovative products and programs with the goal to increase science 

ASA

Co

climate research. Unf nat

GISS has created EdGCM, software that allows teachers and students to run a state-of-the-art

climate model on desktop computers. With EdGCM, one can explore the fundamentals of climat

science using tools which are identical to those used in major climate research programs. Many 

simple climate experiments are possible (e.g. How does a changing Sun warm or cool the p

but, it is also possible to investigate current events as they are being studied by climate sci

EdGCM comes with some prepared scenarios – for exam

teachers to prod ce

Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum

The Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum (SECEF) is a partnership between GSFC and 

University of California Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory. SECEF's mission is to increase 

science literacy and steward Sun-Earth Connection science resources. This pa

e

students, and the general ub

literacy and focus attention on the active Sun and its effects on Earth. The program includes 

organized events such as Solar Week and Sun-Earth Day, the development and testing of “readyto-go” classroom activities and products, links to the Web sites of all NASA missions that study

the Sun and Earth's space environment, an active “Ask a Scientist” site from participating N

missions, as well as collections of images, movies, and artwork to enhance and update the 

classroom learning environment. 

84
• Student Observation Network

t solar 

ow can humans live in space?”; “Are there

laces in our Solar System, other than Earth, that may harbor life?” Each essential question is 

everal sub-questions to guide inquiry. Students develop their own questions as

they proceed with the investigation. Using the JigSaw approach, small groups of students become

ether to

d

•

ield. The goal of 

tic field, its radiation belts, and why we have aurora. It includes a variety of

ducation resources, multimedia materials and an “Ask the Space Scientist” feature. 

• OHO Explore 

ur

Student Observation Network (SON) develops educational modules, each organized around a 

question to be answered or problem to be solved. Examples include: “How can we predic

storms to protect satellites and astronauts?”; “How can falling snow, snowpacks, and ice cores 

help us understand climate and climate change?”; “H

p

sub-divided into s

“experts” on one part of the larger question (or puzzle). The small, expert groups come tog

share their expertise and to solve the problem. Each SON module provides tutorials to help

students understand the scientific data and step-by-step guides to using the data, plus backgroun

information and connections to NASA scientists. 

Public Outreach, Education, Teaching and Reaching Youth 

Public Outreach, Education, Teaching, and Reaching Youth (POETRY) is the IMAGE mission's 

education and public outreach Web site, providing teachers, students and the interested public with

the latest information about auroral science, and the study of Earth's magnetic f

POETRY is to explain how solar storms affect the Earth, and to correct misconceptions about 

Earth's magne

e

S

SOHO Explore is the SOHO education and outreach Web site, including an introduction to “O

Star the Sun” with images and videos, activities and lesson plans using SOHO data, educational 

materials, and an “Ask Dr. SOHO” feature. 

85
 

86
Appendix III. Project Scientists and Deputy Project Scientists 

Project Scientists/Deputy Project Scientists 

Project Project Scientist 

Missions in Operation 

Aqua Claire Parkinson 

Steve Platnick (Deputy) 

Aura Mark Schoeberl 

Anne Douglass (Deputy for Science & Validation)

Joanna Joiner (Deputy for Instruments, Tech., Outreach) 

CLUSTER Melvyn Goldstein 

EOS Michael King 

David Starr (Validation Scientist) 

James Butler (Calibration Scientist) 

EOSDIS Skip Reber 

EP TOMS Pawan Bhartia 

FAST Robert Pfaff

GEOTAIL Douglas Fairfield 

ICESat Jay Zwally 

Chris Shuman (Deputy)

IMAGE Thomas E. Moore 

Landsat 7 Darrel Williams 

James Irons (Deputy) 

New Millennium EO-1 Stephen Ungar 

Tom Brakke (Deputy)

POLAR John Sigwarth

Mark Adrian (Deputy)

RHESSI Brian Dennis 

SeaWiFS Chuck McClain 

Stan Hooker (Deputy) 

SOHO Joseph Gurman

Therese Kucera (Deputy) 

SORCE Robert Cahalan 

Douglas Rabin (Deputy)

Space Science Missions Operations Joseph Fainberg 

Terra Jon Ranson

Si-Chee Tsay (Deputy) 

TIMED Richard Goldberg

TRACE Joseph Gurman

TRMM Robert Adler 

Scott Braun (Deputy)

Erich Stocker (Deputy for Data Systems) 

UARS Charles Jackman 

Anne Douglas (Deputy)

WIND Keith Ogilvie 

Michael Desch (Deputy) 

87
Project Scientists/Deputy Project Scientists (continued) 

Project Project Scientist 

Missions in Development 

Aquarius David Le Vine (Deputy mission PI) 

CINDI Robert Pfaff 

EUNIS Douglas Rabin

Geospace/RBSP

ty) 

David Sibeck

Joseph Grebowsky (Depu

Glory Michael Mishchenko

GOES (Geostationary Operational

Environmental Satellite) 

Dennis Chesters 

GPM Arthur Hou

Marshall Shepherd (Deputy)

Erich Stocker (Deputy for Data Systems) 

Hydros * Peggy O’Neill (mission co-PI) 

Landsat Data Continuity Mission *

eputy)

James Irons 

Jeffrey Masek (D

Magnetospheric MultiScale Steven Curtis

New Millenium Space Technology-5 James Slavin 

NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) 

struments and Calibration) 

James Gleason

Jeffrey Privette (Deputy)

James Butler (Deputy for In

POES (Pol

Satellite) 

ar Operational Environmental Joel Susskind 

SDO Dean Pesnell

Barbara Thompson (Deputy)

Sounding Rockets Robert Pfaff 

STEREO

)

Michael Kaiser

Therese Kucera (Deputy

THEMIS David Sibeck

TWINS Mei-Ching Fok

Missions in Pre-Formulation

Geospace Electrodynamic Connections Joseph Grebowsky

Ionosphere-Thermosphere Storm Probes Joseph Grebowsky

Mag Con 

s (Deputy)

Thomas E. Moore 

Alexander Klima

Solar Probe Edward Sittler

Solar Sentinels Adam Szabo 

Senior Project Scientists

Living With a Star Orville St. Cyr

Solar Terrestrial Probes James Slavin

* situation under discussion 

88
Appendix IV. Field Campaigns and Workshops 

ield campaigns where scientists ion were Principal Investigators 

in FY 05

F in the Divis

2004 and FY20

Field Campaign Principal Investigator

All Micro-Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET) Sites (2004/2005) Ellsworth Welton 

Arctic Ice Mapping deployment to Arctic Canada and Greenland, May 2005 William Krabill 

Arctic Ice Mapping deployment to Alaska, August/September 2005 William Krabill 

C ecial Sensor M ger/Sounder on board

th nse Meteorological Satellite Project F- l

Scanning Millimeter-wave Imaging Radiomete

2

alibrat James R. Wang 

e Defe

ion/validation of the Sp icrowave/Ima

16 satellite with GSFC Conica

r (CoSMIR), March 2004-March 

005

EQUatorial Ionospheric Study ) II Cam Robert F. Pfaff (EQUIS paign, Kwajalein Atoll 

Interplanetary Monitoring Platforms (IMP)-8 G GME)

E

odda Robert McGuire rd Medium Energy ( xperiment

MMS – Plasma Thomas E. Moore 

NDSC Ozone Intercomparison – Table Mountain Observatory (2004) Thomas McGee 

NDSC Water Vapor Intercomparison – Table Mountain Observatory (2005) Thomas McGee 

NOAA Hurricane Field Program/2005 Edward Walsh

NASA Po ai Francis Bliven larimetric radar (N-POL) Oyster R n Measurements 

O val Research Coupled Boundary Lay nsfer

(CBLAST)/2004

ffice of Na ers Air/Sea Tra Edward Walsh 

Polar Aura Validation Experiment, Jan.-Feb. 2005 Mark Schoeberl

Siberian Disturbance Field Expeditions Jon Ranson

Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes (TCSP) (2005) Gerald Heymsfield

USDA/NASA: RS of N induced physiological changes in crops, Beltsville, MD Elizabeth Middleton 

USDA/NASA: RS of N induced physiological changes in trees, Beltsville, MD Elizabeth Middleton 

Vector Electric Field Instrument experiment on C/NOFS satellite Robert F. Pfaff 

WIND Magnetic Field Investigation Ronald. P. Lepping 

89
Field campaigns where scientists in the Division were Co-Principal

in FY2004 and FY2005 

Investigators

Field Campaign Co-Principal Investigator 

Antarctic AMSR-E Sea Ice Validation Josefino Comiso

Atmospheric Brown Cloud Gosan Campaign: East Asian Regional Exp. (2005) Ellsworth Welton

Biological-Physical Interactions in Ocean Margin Ecosystems 1 Antonio Mannino & Tiffany 

Moisan

C/NOFS Vector Electric Field Instrument Guan Le (VEFI) experiment

Chesapeake Bay Plume-1 Dynamics of Coastal Organic Matter Antonio Mannino 

Cluster Plasma Electron And Current Experiment (PEACE) Ramona Kessel

Cluster Electric Fields Investigation Michael Hesse & Robert F. 

Pfaff 

Cluster Magnetic Field Investigation James A. Slavin

Cluster spacecraft magnetic field experiment Donald Fairfield 

Duke University Drop Collision Francis Bliven 

Extreme-Ultraviolet Normal-Incidence Spectrometer (EUNIS) Roger Thomas 

FAST Electric Fields Investigation Robert F. Pfaff

Flux Exchange Dynamics Study 2004 (FEDS.4)/ Steven Long

Geotail magnetic field experiment Donald Fairfield

GLOBE One Elissa Levine 

High Winds, studying the effects of spray droplets on radar measurements Steven Long

IMAGE Shing Fung

Intex-NA field mission: meteorological support, July-August 2004 Steven Pawson

Lake Placid Snow Study Francis Bliven 

MESSENGER Magnetic Field Investigation James A. Slavin

Micro-macro Coupling, Space Physics Theory Program Michael Hesse

Multi-Order Solar EUV Spectrograph (MOSES) Roger Thomas 

North Dakota University Snowflake Measurements Francis Bliven

North Dakota University Visibility Study Francis Bliven 

Polar Plasma Laboratory (POLAR) VIS experiment John Sigwarth

POLAR Electric Fields Investigation Michael Hesse & Robert F. 

Pfaff 

POLAR Hydra plasma experiment Donald Fairfield 

Rapid Acquisition Imaging Spectrograph Experiment (RAISE) Roger Thomas 

RHESSI Gordon Holman 

RHESSI Brian Dennis 

Soil Moisture Experiments (SMEX) 04 Peggy O’Neill 

SMEX 05 Peggy O’Neill 

SOHO, Solar UV Measurements of Emitted Radiation (SUMER) Roger Thomas 

SOHO, Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) Roger Thomas 

Solar Ultraviolet Magnetograph Investigation (SUMI) Roger Thomas 

Solar-B, Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) Roger Thomas 

STEREO COR1 Instrument Chris St. Cyr 

STEREO/WAVES (SWAVES) Instrument Chris St. Cyr 

THEMIS David G. Sibeck

Tidal Modulation of Antarctic Ice Streams (2004 and 2005) Robert Bindschadler

United Arab Emirates Unified Aerosol Experiment (UAE2), United Arab Emirates 

(2004)

Ellsworth Welton & Si-Chee 

Tsay 

University of Delaware Gas Flux Francis Bliven

USDA/NASA: RS of N induced physiological changes in crops, Beltsville, MD Petya Entcheva Campbell 

USDA/NASA: RS of N induced physiological changes in trees, Beltsville, MD Petya Entcheva Campbell 

Voyager magnetometer investigations Ronald Lepping

WIND Magnetic Field Investigation James A. Slavin

90
Workshops Convened by ESED Scientists in FY2004 and FY2005

Workshop Organizer 

ACE/RHESSI/WIND joint workshop, Taos, New Mexico, Oct. 2003 Brian Dennis 

AERONET Workshop (2004) Alexander Marshak

Aerosol Cloud Update (2005) Yoram Kaufman

Aerosol Workshop (2005) Yo an & Mian 

Ch

ram Kaufm

in

American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting: Land Measurements from J. P y &

NPOESS, Dec. 2005 J. F

rivette, D. Tarple

euquay

AGU Fall Meeting: Aerosol Special Session, Dec. 2004 Yoram Kaufman 

AGU Fall Meeting: Constraining Substorm Models, Dec. 2005 David Sibeck 

AGU Fall Meeting: Session A11C-Measurement-Based Assessment of the 

I: Measurement Posters, Dec. 2004 

Ell

Global Aerosol Effect on Climate

sworth Welton

AGU Fall Meeting: Using Radial Alignments to Address Magnetospheric Da

Problems, Dec. 2004

vid Sibeck 

AGU Joint Assembly – Remote Sensing of Precipitation (2004) Thomas Bell 

AGU Special Session: User Requirements for Future Data Systems 

esign in Support of the Ionosphere, Thermosphere, and 

Ro ieter

Architecture D Bil

Mesosphere Research Community, Dec. 2004

bert McGuire & D

itza

AGU Special Session: Mars, Space Physics, and Life, Dec. 2004 John F Cooper

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Space 2004 – Session on

ions (2004) 

Ro

Climate Change Observat

bert Cahalan 

Aqua Science Working Group Meeting, GSFC, Greenbelt, Maryland Cla ve 

Pla tafa 

Ch

ire Parkinson, Ste

tnick, and Mous

ahine 

Calibration/cross Calibration Workshop for the AM Constellation Instruments, Jim

College Park, MD 

 Butler 

CEOS Cal/Val Subgroup on Atmospheric Chemistry (2004/2005) Ernest Hilsenrath

Committee on Space Research (COSP

Specifying Plasma Temperatures and 

AR): Session C4.2, Advances in

Ion Composition in the Ionosphere, Paris, 

Die

France 

ter Bilitza

Data System Working Group Workshop (2004) Kathy Fontaine 

Early Results From NASA's EOS Aqua Spacecraft Mission" (five sessions at 

all Meeting), San Francisco, California 

Cla teve

the AGU F Gra

ire Parkinson & S

ham

Eleventh Annual West Antarctic Workshop, Sterling, VA, September 2004 Robert Bindschadler

Energetic Particles in the Inner Magnetosphere, Asia Oceania Geosciences Me

Society (AOGS) 2nd Annual meeting 

i-Ching Fok

Fifth General RHESSI Workshop, Locarno/Ascona, Switzerland, June 2005 Brian Dennis

Fourth General RHESSI Workshop, Centre International d'Ateliers Scientifiques Bri

du Chateau de Meudon, Paris, France, July, 2004

an Dennis 

Fourth WMO Symposium on Assimilation of Observations in Meteorology and Ste

Oceanography, Prague, Czech Republic 

phen Cohn

GCM Reality Intercomparison Project for Stratospheric Processes and their Role Ste Elisa 

in Climate (SPARC) (GRIPS), Bologna, Italy, March 2004 Ma

ven Pawson (with

nzini) 

GRIPS, Toronto, Canada, March 2005 St

D

e

a

ven Pawson (with

vid Sankey)

GEWEX Radiation Panel Working Group, Darmstadt, Germany (2005) William Rossow 

GEWEX Radiation Panel Working Group, Kyoto, Japan (2004) William Rossow 

Global Interactions Campaign of the Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) 

program

David Sibeck 

91
Workshops Convened by ESED Scientists in FY2004 and FY2005 (continued)

Workshop Organizer 

International A

s, and transport 

ssociation of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA)/Plasma Thomas E. Moore

sources, sink

IPCC Workshop on Observed Impacts Cynthia Rosenzweig 

Landsat Calibration Workshops, Brookings, SD (June 2003), South Lake Tahoe, 

CA (December 2003), GSFC (June 2004), Tucson, AZ (December 2004), 

Rochester, NY (May 2005)

Brian Markham

New satellite and ground data for IRI, and comparison with regional models, 

Tortosa, Spain

Dieter Bilitza

Observational and Modeling Requirements for Predicting Drought on Seasonal

to Decadal Time Scales, College Park, MD, May 2005

Siegfried Schubert & 

Randy Koster (wi

ard

th Marty

Seager, 

r, Arun

utzler) 

Hoerling, Rich

Dennis Lettenmaie

Kumar, & David G

RHESSI Data Analysis Workshop, Berkeley, California, October 2004 Brian Dennis 

RHESSI/SOHO/TRACE joint workshop, Sonoma, California, December 2004 Brian Dennis 

SeaFlux Workshop, Long Beach, CA William Rossow

Second Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Land Pro

Validation (LPV) International Workshop on Surface Albedo Product 

Validation, April 2005

duct Baret, F., J. Morisette, C.

Schaaf, & J. Privette 

Second Symposium on Lidar Atmospheric Applications (2005) Belay Demoz 

The Development of Improved Observational Data Sets for Reanalysis: 

Lessons Learned and Future Directions, Greenbelt, MD

Siegfried Schub

Dick Dee, John Bates, 

ert (with

y)

Sakari Uppala, Jack

Woolen & Steven Worle

Third CEOS LPV International Workshop on Leaf Area Index (LAI) Product 

Validation, August 2004

Jeff Morisette & Jeff 

Privette 

Total Solar Irradiance Workshop, National Institute of Standards and

Technology, Gaithersburg, MD

Jim Butler 

Twelfth Annual West Antarctic Workshop, Sterling, VA, September 2005 Robert Bindschadler

U.S. GEO Meeting, Data Management Session, Washington, DC (2005) Kathy Fontaine

Wallops Coastal Ocean Observing Laboratory (Wa-COOL) John Moisan & Tiffany 

Moisan

When the Sun Went Wild, Solar Physics Division Special Session, Denver, 

Colorado, June 2004

Brian Dennis 

92
Appendix V. Professional Activities, Honors, and Awards

Members of Academies 

Academy Name 

National Academy of Engineering Norden Huang

National Academy of Engineering Michael King

National Academy of Sciences James Hansen

Fellows of Professional Societies 

Society Name 

American Association for the Advancement of Science Mark Schoeberl 

American Association for the Advancement of Science James A. Smith 

American Astronomical Society Roger Thomas

American Geophysical Union Robert Bindschadler

American Geophysical Union James Hansen

American Geophysical Union Michael Mishchenko 

American Geophysical Union William Rossow 

American Geophysical Union Mark Schoeberl 

American Geophysical Union Richard Stolarski 

American Geophysical Union Warren Wiscombe 

American Geophysical Union Leonard F. Burlaga 

American Geophysical Union David G. Sibeck

American Geophysical Union Donald H. Fairfield 

American Meteorological Society Robert Adler

American Meteorological Society Robert Atlas

American Meteorological Society Anne Douglass

American Meteorological Society Franco Einaudi

American Meteorological Society Yoram Kaufman 

American Meteorological Society Michael King

American Meteorological Society William Lau

American Meteorological Society Claire Parkinson

American Meteorological Society William Rossow 

American Meteorological Society Mark Schoeberl 

American Meteorological Society Eric A. Smith 

American Meteorological Society Wei-Kuo Tao 

American Meteorological Society Warren Wiscombe 

American Physical Society Brian R. Dennis 

American Society of Agronomy Cynthia Rosenzweig

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers David Le Vine

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers James A. Smith

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers James R. Wang

International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy Charles Jackman

International Astronomical Union Roger Thomas

International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) James A. Smith 

Optical Society of America Michael Mishchenko 

Paul Brandwein Institute For Science Education Elissa Levine

Royal Meteorological Society Franco Einaudi

93
ESED Scientists that are Goddard Senior Fellows

Robert Bindschadler

James Hansen

Norden Huang

Yoram Kaufman

Michael King

Mark Schoeberl *

James A. Smith 

Compton Tucker 

* Current Chair

G nior Fellows form a very small group of individuals selected fo ntributions to science, 

en

ittees of Professional Societies in FY

oddard Se r their co

gineering, and technology.

Members of Comm 2004 and FY2005 

Society Committee Name Member

Ame Division for Planetary Science, E/PO

Chair 

rican Astronomical Society Vice L. Mayo

American Astronomical Society Solar Physics Division Committee, 2005 Gordon Holman

Ame Solar Physics Division Nominating 

Committee (chair), 2005

rican Astronomical Society Brian Dennis 

Ame Solar Physics Division Nominating 

Committee, 2004 

rican Astronomical Society Brian Dennis 

Ame Solar Physics Division Nominations 

Committee Member 

rican Astronomical Society Therese A Kucera 

American Astronomical Society Solar Physics Division Website committee Joseph B Gurman

American Geophysical Union Committee on Remote Sensing Christa Peters-Lidard

American Geophysical Union Cryospheric Focus Group Christopher Shuman

American Geophysical Union Precipitation Committee Thomas Bell

Ame

Phys

Education and Public Outreach Com

Member

rican Geophysical Union, Space A Kucera 

ics and Aeronomy Section

mittee Therese

Ame CLAS/Committee for Laser Applicati

Studies 

rican Meteorological Society on Belay Demoz 

American Meteorological Society Committee on Hydrology Christa Peters-Lidard 

American Meteorological Society Committee on Laser Atmospheric Studies Geary Schwemmer

American Meteorological Society Committee on Development Claire Parkinson 

American Meteorological Society President Elect Franco Einaudi

CLI

Prog

Prog

Pred

VAR (World Climate Research Pan American Implementation Panel Peters-Lidard

ramme International Research 

ram on Climate Variability and

ictability)

Christa

Committee on Space Research International Reference Ionosphere, Bilitza

Steering Committee

Dieter

Committee on Space Research Panel on Standard Radiation Belt Shing Fung 

94
Members of Committees of Professional Societies in FY2004 and FY2005 (continued)

Society Committee Name Member 

IEEE Acc for Engineering and

Tec Program Evaluator for 

Eng tion Commission 

(EA

reditation Board James Smith 

hnology (ABET)

ineering Accredita

C)

IEEE Acc ngineering and

Tec gram Evaluator for 

Com ation Commission 

reditation Board for E James Smith 

hnology (ABET) Pro

putation Accredit

(CAC)

IE Engineering and

Technology (ABET) International Program

EE Accreditation Board for James Smith 

Evaluator 

IE Committee on Engineering Accreditation

Activities 

EE James Smith 

IEEE Geoscience and Remote 

Sensing Society (IGARRS) 

Chair, Northern Virginia/Washington

Chapter 

Guoqing Sun 

IEEE Geoscience and Remote 

Sensing Soci

GRS Society Representative to IEEE 

, Frequency 

Edward Kim

ety (IGARRS) Sensors Council, IGARSS Technical

Program Committee

Allocations in Remote Sensing Committee 

International Association of 

Meteorology and Atmospheric 

Sciences

International Commission of Clouds &

Precipitation

David Starr 

International Glaciological Society Immediate Past President Robert Bindschadler

International Glaciological Society Symposium on Sea Ice/Science Steering 

and Editorial Committee 

Joey Comiso 

International Society for Optical 

Engineering (SPIE) 

Conference of Remote Sensing in

Atmospheric Pollution Monitoring & 

Control

D. Allen Chu 

International Union of Radio Science ICSU Panel on World Data Centres Dieter Bilitza

National Academy of Sciences Panel on Climate Variability and Change Claire Parkinson

National Science Foundation Advisory Committee on Environmental

Research and Education (ERE) 

J. Marshall Shepherd

Soil Science Society of America 

Smithsonian Soil Museum

Committee 

Working Member Elissa Levine 

World Meteorological Organization/ effects of natural and 

recipitation 

J. Marshall Shepherd

International Aerosol-Precipitation

Science Assessment Group 

Panel to assess 

anthropogenic particles on p

Editorships of Professional Journals in FY2004 and FY2005 

Journal Editor

Annals Of Glaciology- Volume 39 Weili Wang

Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - Editorial Board Member Norden Huang 

Journal of Climate Anthony Del Genio

Journal of Glaciology Robert Bindschadler

Journal of Glaciology Weili Wang

Journal of Hydrometeorology Christa Peters-Lidard

Monthly Weather Review Stephen Cohn

Solar Physics - Editorial Board Member Joseph B Gurman

95
Associate Editorships of Professional Journals in FY2004 and FY2005 

Journal Associate Editor

Climate Change Cynthia Rosenzweig

Earth, Space and Planets James A. Slavin

EOS, Space Physics and Aeronomy section, Corresponding Editor David G. Sibeck

EOS, Transactions AGU David G. Sibeck

Geophysical Research Letters David G. Sibeck

IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing Ernest Hilsenrath 

IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing James Smith 

IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters Edward Kim

Journal of Atmospheric Sciences Michael Mishchenko 

Journal of Climate William Rossow 

Journal of Climate Gavin Schmidt 

Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres Alexander Smirnov

Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres (until December 2004) Steven Pawson

Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres (2005) Belay Demoz 

Journal of Hydrometeorology Michael Bosilovich

Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer Michael Mishchenko

Editors of Special Issues in FY2004 and FY2005 

Name of Special Issue Editor

Advances in Space Research: Pa

Specification and

th To

Forecast Models 

wards Improved Ionosphere Dieter Bilitza

Astrobiology - Mars, Space Physics, and Life John F. Cooper

Icarus - Jovian Magnetospheric Environment Science John F. Cooper

IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing Anne Douglass

IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing Ernest Hilsenrath 

IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing Mark Schoeberl 

IEEE Transactions on Geoscien

Ice - Special Section 

ce and MSR-E Arctic Sea Dona d

Thorsten Markus 

Remote Sensing A ld Cavalieri an

IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing Landsat Special James Irons, Brian Markham

Issue and James Storey 

International Journal of Remote S

Initiative (SAFARI) 2000

ensi

Special Issue 

ng Southern African Regional Science Jeff Privette 

International Association of Urban Climatology J. Marshall Shepherd

Space Weather David G. Sibeck

Q

d

uarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. Special Issue

evoted to the Fou

Meteorology and O

Stephen Cohn

rth WMO Symposium on Assimilation of Observations in

ceanography

96
List of GSFC Awards Received in FY2004 and FY2005 

GSFC Award Recipient 

FY2004

Excellence in Outreach Richard Stewart 

Excellence in Outreach Sun-Earth Connection Venus 

Transit Team

Education Forum

Exceptional Achievement Winston Chao

Exceptional Achievement George Hayne

Exceptional Achievement Stephen Palm

Group Achievement ICESat Science Data Processing Team

Group Achievement Space Science Data a

(SSDOO) Team 

nd Operations Office

Lindsay Award Brian Dennis

Outstanding Leadership Wayne Esaias 

Outstanding Leadership Michael Seablom

Secretarial and Clerical Excellence Natalie Simms

Special Act Award Robert Benson

FY2005

Award of Excellence Earth Observatory Team

Award of Excellence MODIS Aerosol Algorithm Team

Award of Merit H. Jay Zwally 

Excellence in Outreach Carol Krueger 

Excellence in Outreach Earth Connection Education Forum

Exceptional Achievement Mian Chin 

Exceptional Achievement Elissa Levine 

Group Achievement AERONET Team

Group Achievement Aura Missions Operations a Systems 

Test Team

nd Science 

Group Achievement Aura Team

Group Achievement ICESat Science Data Processing Team

Group Achievement Land Information Systems 

Secretarial and Clerical Excellence Nancy Gessner 

Secretarial and Clerical Excellence Kristine Glass

William Nordberg Memorial Award for Earth Robert Bindschadle

Sciences 

r

97
List of NASA Awards Received in FY2004 and FY2005 

NASA Award Recipient

FY2004

Exceptional Achievement Medal James A Slavin

Group Achievement RHESSI Data Analysis Team

Group Achievement Cluster Science Team

Group Achievement Community Coordinated Modeling Center 

Group Achievement ICESat Mission Development Team

Group Achievement NASA Earth Science Vision Movie Team

Group Achievement RHESSI Data Analysis Team

Group Achievement SHADOZ Team

Group Achievement STS 107 SOLSE-2 Team

Group Achievement Sun-Earth Day Team

NASA Acquisition Improvement Robert Benson

Outstanding Leadership Medal Pawan Bhartia 

Outstanding Leadership Medal Brian Dennis 

FY2005

Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal Mian Chin

Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal Yogesh Sud

Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal Norden Huang 

Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal James Spinhirne 

Group Achievement Aura Project Science Team

Group Achievement SIMBIOS Project 

Group Achievement SOLVE 2 Science Team

Group Achievement Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter Science Definition Team

Group Achievement Sun-Ea cation Forum Venus Transit

Team

rth Connection Edu

Public Service Medal Oleg Dubovik 

Software of the Year Land I ystem Software, led by Christa 

Petersnformation SLidard 

List of National and International Honors and Awards Received in FY2004 and FY2005 

National and/or International Awards Recipient 

40 Under Forty Honoree (Network Journal Magazine) J. Marshall Shepherd

American Astronomical Society Award for Popular Writing on Solar Physics Kenneth Phillips

American Meteorological Society Sigma Xi Lecturer Mark Schoeberl 

Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Commission A Zeldovich Medal Christa Peters-Lidard 

Elected to be an Academician for the Academia Sinica (Republic of China, 

Taiwan) 

Norden Huang

Galathea-Medal of the Royal Danish Geographical Society Compton Tucker 

Joint USGS/NASA William T. Pecora Award William Krabill 

National Capital/Chesapeake Bay Chapter: Regional Emmy Award in 

Informational Programs (2005) 

NASA Connect - The 

Venus Transit Team

Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) 2004 Michael Bosilovich

Richard P. Goldthwait Polar Medal (Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State 

University) 

Claire Parkinson 

Scientific American Top 50 Research Leader citation Gavin Schmidt and Drew

Shindell 

Verner E. Suomi Award William Rossow 

98
Appendix VI ns 

in NASA Strategic aps

. Actual, Proposed, or Notional Missio

Contained Roadm

Name or Notional Mission Acronym Roadmap(s) Launch 

Multi-angle spectropo

O

larimetric imaging; 3-D 

)

05-2015 

aerosol profiling (LE

 Earth Science 20

UV/Vis/NIR Imaging (Sentinel Orbit, L1, or 05-2015 

GEO) 

 Earth Science 20

Cal/Val free-flyer (LEO) Earth Science 2005-2015 

High-resolution ice altimetry (LEO) Earth Science 2005-2015 

3-D ocean altimetry (LEO) Earth Science 2005-2015

Hyperspectral imaging instrument for solar UV, Earth Science 2005-2015 

EUV, and X-rays (L1) 

Synthetic Aperture Radar and/or passive 

microwave 

Earth Science 2005-2015 

Combined 3-D struct

imaging (LEO)

ure and multispectral Earth Science 2005-2015 

3-D laser profiling (LEO) Earth Science 2005-2015 

Precision geodetic imaging (LEO) Earth Science 2005-2015 

Wide-swatch microwave 30D sounding (MEO) Earth Science 2015-2025 

Continuous, spectrally resolved Solar occultation

(L2)

 Earth Science 2015-2025 

High-resolution ice altimetry (LEO) Earth Science 2015-2025 

Ice penetrating radar (LEO) Earth Science 2015-2025 

Combined ocean surface/lower atmosphere winds Earth Science 015-2025 

(LEO) 

2

3-D Clouds – CloudSat-Calipso follow-on (LEO) Earth Science 2015-2025 

Cal/Val instruments for NPOESS follow-on Earth Sc

(LEO) 

ience 2015-2025

Wide-swath 3-D cloud and aerosol profiling

(LEO) 

Earth Science 2015-2025 

Precision/ interferometric altimetry (LEO) Earth Science 2015-2025 

Microwave radar/ radiometry - Aquarius/ Earth Scie

Hydros follow-on (LEO) 

nce 2015-2025

Time-variable gravity – GRACE follow-on Earth Science 2015-2025 

(LEO) 

3-D profiling -- CloudSat-

(LEO) 

Calipso follow-on Earth Science 2015-2025 

99
Actual, Proposed or Notional Missions Contained in NASA Strategic Roadmaps (continued) 

Name or Notional Mission Acronym Roadmap(s) Launch 

3-D rain profiling (LEO) Earth Science 2015-2025

Hyperpectral imaging (LEO) Earth Science 2015-2025 

Ground penetrating active microwave (LEO) Earth Science 2015-2025 

High performance ocean color imaging 

(UV/Vis/NIR) (LEO or GEO), supporting 

ements. 

sea surface temperature and salinity 

measur

Earth Science 2015-2025

Upper ocean profiling (e.g., via blue/green lidar) 

(LEO) 

Earth Science 2015-2025

Hyperspectral imager (GEO or L1) Earth Science 2015-2025 

High performance Hyperspectral UV/Vis/NIR 

imaging (LEO or GEO)

 Earth Science 2015-2025 

Combined 3-D structure and multispectral 

l Visible 

EO) 

 Earth Science 2015-2025 

imaging (e.g., radar, lidar, & multispectra

imaging) (L

Frequent, precision geodetic imaging 

(MEO constellation)

Earth Science 2015-2025

Distributed magnetometry (e.g., 12-sat 

constellation, LEO, 300-800 km, low inclination

& polar orbits) 

Earth Science 2015-2025

Passive/ active microwave (MEO) Earth Science 2025-2035 

Active/ passive microwave (3 GEO) Earth Science 2025-2035 

Cal/Val instruments for NPOESS follow-on Earth Science 2025-2035 

High performance ocean col

(UV/Vis/NIR) (GEO); suppo

or imager 

rting sea surface

temperature and salinity measurements. 

 Earth Science 2025-2035 

Hyperspectral UVVis/NIR imaging (LEO) Earth Science 2025-2035 

Combined 3-D structure and multispectral 

imaging (e.g., lidar and multispectral Vis 

imaging) (LEO) 

Earth Science 2025-2035

High temporal resolution geodetic imaging

(GEO) 

Earth Science 2025-2035

Multispectral imaging in thermal IR (LEO) Earth Science 2025-2035

3-D land structure (e.g., Lidar and/or InSAR)

(LEO) 

Earth Science 2025-2035

Aerosol Properties Glory Earth Science 2005-2010

CO2 mapping with high resolution spectrometer OCO Earth Science 2007

Ocean Surface Topography OSTM Earth Science 2005-2010

100
Actual, Proposed or Notional Missions Contained in NASA Strategic Roadmaps (continued) 

Name or Notional Mission Acronym Roadmap(s) Launch 

Pre-Cursor to the NPOESS suite NPP Earth Science 2006

Cloud properties by radar CloudSat Earth Science 2005

Cloud-Aerosol Lidar CALIPSO Earth Science 2005

Global Precipitation Measurement GPM Earth Science 2010 

Soil moisture Hydros Earth Science 2010

Ocean salinity variations Aquarius Earth Science 2008

Landsat Data Continuity Mission LDCM Earth Science 2009

Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere AIM Sun-Solar System 2005-2015 

Geospace Electrodynamic Connections GEC Sun-Solar System 2017

Farside Sentinel FS Sun-Solar System 2025-2035 

Heliostorm Sun-Solar System 2016-2020 

Inner Heliospheric Sentinels HIS Sun-Solar System ~2013 

Ionosphere-Thermosphere Storm Probes ITSP Sun-Solar System 2015

L1 Earth-Sun Sun-Solar System 2015-2020 

Magnetospheric Multi-Scale MMS Sun-Solar System 2011

Radiation Belt Storm Probes RBSP Sun-Solar System 2011 

Solar-B Sun-Solar System 2006 

Solar Dynamics Observatory SDO Sun-Solar System 2008 

Solar Sail Demo Sun-Solar System 2010-2014 

Solar Orbiter Sun-Solar System 2015-2025 

Solar Probe Sun-Solar System 2005-2015 

Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory STEREO Sun-Solar System 2006

Time History of Events and Macroscale 

Interactions During Substorms 

THEMIS Sun-Solar System 2006

Aeronomy and Dynamics at Mars ADAM Sun-Solar System 2015-2020 

Auroral Acceleration Multiprobe AAMP Sun-Solar System 2015-2025

Dayside Boundary Constellation DBC Sun-Solar System 2025-2035

Doppler Sun-Solar System 2015-2020

Geospace Magnetospheric and Ionospheric 

Neutral Imager

GEMINI Sun-Solar System 2015-2025

Inner Magnetospheric Constellation IMC Sun-Solar System 2025-2035 

Ionosphere Thermosphere Mesosphere Waves ITM-Waves Sun-Solar System 2020-2025 

Interstellar Probe IP Sun-Solar System 2025-2035

101
Actual, Proposed or Notional Missions Contained in NASA Strategic Roadmaps (continued) 

Name or Notional Mission Acronym Roadmap(s) Launch 

Io Electrodynamics IE Sun-Solar System 2015-2035 

Magnetospheric Constellation (MagCon) MC Sun-Solar System 2015-2025 

Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Observatory MIO Sun-Solar System >2035

Magnetic Transition Region Probe MTRAP Sun-Solar System 2025-2035 

Reconnection and Microscale RAM Sun-Solar System 2020-2035 

Solar Heliospheric and Interplanetary 

Environment Lookout in Deep Space 

SHIELDS Sun-Solar System 2025-2035 

Solar Connection Observatory for Planetary em

Environments

SCOPE Sun-Solar Syst >2035 

Solar Energetic Particle Mission SEPM Sun-Solar System 2015-2035

Solar Polar Imager SPI Sun-Solar System 2020-2035

Solar Weather Buoys SWBs Sun-Solar System 2022 

Sun Earth Coupling by Energetic Particles SECP Sun-Solar System 2020-2025

Stellar Imager SI Sun-Solar System 2025-2030 

Tropical ITM Coupler T-ITMC Sun-Solar System 2020-2035 

Venus Aeronomy Probe VAP Sun-Solar System 2025-2035

102
Appendix VII. The Organizati ruc he D ’s

s and Offices

re since it h ch stru

odeling and Ass on Offi

onal St ture of t ivision

Laboratorie

Note: Code 611 will not be addressed he as no bran cture. 

Global M imilati ce, Code 610.1

Michele Rienecker, Head

Code 610.1

Sub-S

D

Siegfri

easonal to

ecadal

ed Schubert

As

Ro

Modeling similation

Max Suarez n Gelaro

Comp

Syst

uting

ems

Group

Gi-Kong Kim

Constituents

Steven Pawson

Global Change Data Center, Code 610.2 

Goddard Distributed

Active Archive Center

Steve Kempler

Stephen Wharton, Chief

Code 610.2

SeaWiFS

Data System (614.2)

Gene Feldman

Global Change

Master Directory

Lola Olsen

TRMM Science Data and

Information System

Erich Stocker

SEEDS Working Groups

Stephen Wharton

GMAO Computing

Systems Group (610.1)

Gi-Kong Kim

103
Software Integration and Visualization Office, Code 610.3 

Advanced Software

Technology Group

Tom Clune, Lead

Michael Seablom, Head

Code 610.3

Scientific Visualization

Studio

Horace Mitchell, Lead

Education and Outreach

David Herring, Lead

Laboratory for Solar and Space Physics, Code 612 

Solar Physics Branch

Douglas Rabin

Head, Code 612.1

Senior Staff James Slavin, Chief Michael Horn, Assistant Chief

Code 612

Geospace Physics

Branch

Vacant

Head, Code 612.3

Space Physics Data

Facility

Robert McGuire

Head, Code 612.4

Heliospheric Physics

Branch

Thomas E. Moore

Head, Code 612.2

104
Laboratory for Atmospheres, Code 613 

Mesoscale Atmospheric 

Processes Branch

David O’C. Starr

Head, Code 613.1

Senior Staff William K.-M. Lau, Chief Charles E. Cote, Associate Chief Richard W. Stewart, Assistant Chief

Code 613

Senior Scientists

Robert F. Adler

Richard E. Hartle

Joel Susskind

Climate and Radiation

Branch

Robert Cahalan

Head, Code 613.2

Atmospheric Chemistry

and Dynamics Branch

Pawan K. Bhartia

Head, Code 613.3

Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, Code 614 

Senior Staff

Peter Hildebrand, Chief

Darrel Williams, Assoc. Chief

Robert Bindschadler, Chief Scientist

James A. Smith, Chief Scientist

James Ormsby, Asst. Chief

Rosa Kao, Asst. Chief, Sci. Computing

Code 614

Oceans and Ice

Branch

Waleed Abdalati

Head, Code 971

Cryospheric

Sciences

Waleed Abdalati

Head, Code 614.1

Oceans

Sciences

David Adamec

Head, Code 614.2

Hydrological

Sciences

Christa PetersLidard

Head, Code 614.3

Biospheric

Sciences

Jon Ranson

Head, Code 614.4

Terrestrial

Information

Systems

Edward Masuoka

Head, Code 614.5

Instrumentation

Sciences

John Gerlach

Head, Code 614.6

105
106
Appendix VIII. Acronyms 

AAMP Auroral Acceleration Multiprobe 

ABET Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

ACE Aerosol Characterization Experiments 

ADAM Aeronomy and Dynamics at Mars 

AERONET AERosol RObotic NETwork

AESMIR Airborne Earth Sciences Microwave Imaging Radiometer 

AGCM Atmospheric General Circulation Model

AGU American Geophysical Union

AIM Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere 

AIRS Atmospheric Infrared Sounder 

AIS Agricultural Information System

AMS American Meteorological Society 

AMSR Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer

AMSU Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit

AOGS Asia Oceania Geosciences Society 

API applications programming interface 

APS Aerosol Polarimeter Sensor

ARM Atmospheric Radiation Measurement

AROTAL Airborne Raman Ozone, Temperature, and Aerosol Lidar 

ASPRS American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing

ASTG Advanced Software Technology Group

ATMS Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder 

A-Train Afternoon Satellite Constellation 

AVE Aura Validation Experiment 

AVHRR Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer 

B&P Bid and Proposal

BATSE Burst and Transient Source Experiment 

BIOMM Biomass Monitoring Mission 

BUV backscatter ultraviolet 

C/NOFS Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System

CALIPSO Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations

CBLAST Coupled Boundary Layers Air/Sea Transfer 

CCAST Cooperative Center for Atmospheric Science and Technology

CCD Charge-Coupled Devices 

CCMC Community Coordinated Modeling Center

CCRI U.S. Climate Change Research Initiative 

CCRI-NY Climate Change Information Resource, New York

CCSP Climate Change Science Plan 

CDF Common Data Format 

CDS Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer 

CEAS Center for Earth-Atmospheric Studies 

CEOS Committee on Earth Observation Satellites 

CGRO Compton Gamma Ray Observatory 

CIFAR Cooperative Institute for Atmospheric Research

CIMSS Cooperative Institute of Meteorological Satellite Studies 

CLIVAR World Climate Research Programme International Research Program on Climate 

Variability and Predictability

CLPP Cold Land Processes Pathfinder

CLPX Cold Land Processes Experiment 

CMEs Coronal Mass Ejections

CO2 Carbon Dioxide

COHO Coordinated Heliospheric Observations 

COR1 Coronograph 1 (on the two STEREO satellites) 

107
CoSEC Collaborative Sun-Ea

oSMIR Conically Scanning M

rth Connector 

illimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer 

OSPAR Committee on Space Research

ometer

xtraterrestrial Atmospheres 

rogram

T

IS ystem (EOS) Data and Information System 

rometer 

ncy

amework 

ter

Sat Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites 

Spectrograph 

ns Regional 

odel

ve

C

C

CoSSIR Conical Scanning Submillimeter-wave Imaging Radi

CrIS Crosstrack Infrared Sounder

CSTEA

CSU 

Center for the Study of Terrestrial and E

Colorado State University 

CTM Chemical Transport Model 

CZCS Coastal Zone Color Scanner 

DAAC Distributed Active Archive Center 

DAO Data Assimilation Office

DAS Data Assimilation System

DBC Dayside Boundary Constellation

DDF

DMSP

Director’s Discretionary Fund

Defense Meteorological Satellite P

DOE Department of Energy

DSSs Decision Support Systems

DU University of Denver

EDC Eros Data Center 

EdGCM

EDOP

Educational Global Climate Models 

ER-2 Doppler radar 

EIS Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer

ENAs Energetic neutral atoms 

EnKF Ensemble Kalman Filter 

ENSO El Niño/Southern Oscillations 

ENVISA ENVIronment SATellite

EO-1 Earth Observing-1

EOS Earth Observing System

EOSD Earth Observing S

EP TOMS

EPA 

Earth Probe Total Ozone Mapping Spect

Environmental Protection Age

EQUIS EQUatorial Ionospheric Study 

ERBE Earth Radiation Budget Experiment

ESA European Space Agency

ESDIS Earth Science Data and Information System

ESED Earth-Sun Exploration Division

ESMF Earth System Modeling Fr

ESSIC Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Cen

ESSP Earth System Science Pathfinder

ETM Enhanced Thematic Mapper 

EUMet European Organization for the

EUNIS Extreme Ultraviolet Normal Incidence

EUV extreme ultraviolet

FAST Fast Auroral SnapshoT 

FAVOR Facility for AURA Validation and Observatio

FCA Full Cost Accounting

FIA Forest Inventory and Analysis

FPICC Fabry-Perot interferometer for column CO2

Farside Sentinel 

Full Time Equivalent

FS

FTE 

FUV Far ultraviolet

FVGCM Finite volume general circulation m

G&A General and Administrati

GACP

GCDC 

Global Aerosol Climatology Project

Global Change Data Center 

GCE Goddard Cumulus Ensemble

108
GCMD Global Change Master Directory 

GCMs General Circulation Models

GCSS Global Energy and Water Experiment’s Cloud System Study

ling 

ry Earth Orbit 

stem

tem of Systems 

ACE ospheric Air ChEmistry

Technology Center 

X xperiment 

aboratory

ourier Transform Spectrometer 

stem

pace Sciences

Altimeter System

m

Assimilation Office 

e 

RT l and Radiation Transport 

ronmental Satellite 

 Fellowship in Atmospheric Sciences 

toring Experiment. 

atology Project

ity Intercomparison Project for Stratospheric 

ate (SPARC) 

ter 

S nder 

allenges 

c Sounding Interferometer 

plorer 

onics Engineers, Inc 

eers, Inc (IEEE) Geoscience and 

ociety 

rogram

E opause-to-Aurora Global Exploration 

atform

dar 

ansport Experiment

GEC Geospace Electrodynamic Connections 

GEM Geospace Environment Mode

GEMINI Geospace Magnetospheric and Ionospheric Neutral Imager

GEO Geosynchronus/Geostationa

GEOS Goddard Earth Observing Sy

GEOSS Global Earth Observation Sys

GEOTR GEostationary Observatory for TRop

GES Goddard Earth Sciences 

GEST Goddard Earth Sciences and 

GEWE Global Energy and Water Cycle E

GFDL Geophysical Fluid Dynamics L

GFO GeoSat Follow-On

GIFTS Geosynchronous Imaging F

GIS Geographic Information Sy

GISS Goddard Institute for S

GLAS Geoscience Laser 

GLDAS Global Land Data Assimilation Syste

GMAO Global Modeling and

GME Goddard Medium Energy

GMI Global Modeling Initiativ

GOCA Goddard Chemistry Aeroso

GOES Geostationary Operational Envi

GoHFAS Goddard Howard University

GOME Global Ozone Moni

GPCP Global Precipitation Clim

GPM Global Precipitation Measurement 

GRACE Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment 

GRIPS Global Climate Model (GCM) Real

Processes and their Role in Clim

GSC General Sciences Corporation

GSFC Goddard Space Flight Cen

GSI Grid-point Statistical Interpolation 

HALOE Halogen Occultation Experiment

HIRDL High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sou

HIRS High Resolution Infrared Sounder 

HIS Inner Heliospheric Sentinels 

HPCC High Performance Computing Ch

HQ Headquarters 

HU Howard University

IASI Infrared Atmospheri

IBEX Interstellar Boundary Ex

ICESat Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite 

IE Io Electrodynamics

IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electr

IGARSS Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engin

Remote Sensing S

IIP Instrument Incubator P

IMAG Imager for Magnet

IMC Inner Magnetospheric Constellation

IMP Interplanetary Monitoring Pl

InSAR Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Ra

INTEX Intercontinental Chemical Tr

IP Interstellar Probe

109
IPA Intergovernmental Personnel Action 

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

t

roject 

s Mesosphere Waves 

h Systems Technology 

C nformation Center 

)

NGER eochemistry, and Ranging 

MLS

PS ro-radiometer (MODIS) Data Processing

ctroradiometer 

ph

AP obe 

IN

ed Supercomputing 

c Research

iction

SC ratospheric Change 

IS n Service 

NOAA ospheric Administration 

ESS nal Environmental Satellite System

PP Interannual Prediction Project 

IPY International Polar Year 

IR Infrared 

IR&D Internal Research and Developmen

IRI International Research Institute for Climate Prediction

ISCCP International Satellite Cloud Climatology P

ISEE International Sun-Earth Explorer 

ISFS Invasive Species Forecasting System

ITM Ionosphere Thermosphere Mesosphere 

ITM-Wave Ionosphere Thermosphere

ITSP Ionosphere Thermosphere Storm Probes 

JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

JCES Joint Center for Earth Science

JCET Joint Center for Eart

JCSDA Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation

JIESI Joint Interdisciplinary Earth Science I

JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory

LAI Leaf Area Index

LaRC Langley Research Center 

LDAS Land Data Assimilation System 

LENA Low Energy Neutral Atom

LEO Low Earth Orbit

LPSO Land Cover Satellite Project Science Office 

LPV Land Product Validation

LSSP Laboratory for Solar and Space Physics 

MC Magnetospheric Constellation (MagCon

MESSE MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GE

MHD Magnetohydrodynamic

MIO Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Observatory

MISR Multi-angle Imaging Spectro-Radiometer 

Microwave Limb Sounder 

MMS Magnetospheric MultiScale

MODA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spect

System

MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spe

MOLA Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter

MOSES Multi-Order Solar EUV Spectrogra

MTR Magnetic Transition Region Pr

MU-SP Minority University-SPace Interdisciplinary Network 

NAS NASA Advanc

NBO New Business Office

NBRP New Business Review Panel 

NCAR National Center for Atmospheri

NCEP National Centers for Environmental Pred

ND Network for Detection of St

NESD National Environmental Satellite Data and Informatio

NMP New Millennium Program

National Oceanic and Atm

NPO National Polar-orbiting Operatio

N-POL NASA Polarization radar 

NPP NPOESS Preparatory Project

NRC National Research Council 

NSF National Science Foundation

NSIDC National Snow and Ice Data Center 

NSI NASA Seasonal to

110
NSSDC

aNS rbon Ecosystems and Near-Shore 

s 

L for Atmospheric Sciences coupled 

SE ward for Scientists and Engineers 

ator

easurement 

vironmental Satellite 

Y eaching Youth 

R 

arth’s Reflectance 

E xperiment

I lar Spectroscopic Imager 

S h Sciences 

on Active Archive 

I cience Initiative 

SAMPEX omalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer

CHY Meter for Atmospheric 

ents 

vatory 

nsor (SeaWiFS) Data Processing System

S

Science Enterprise Data Systems 

Z itional Ozonesondes 

LDS netary Environment Lookout in Deep Space

E loud Experiment

National Space Science Data Center 

NSTA National Science Teachers Association 

NWP Numerical Weather Prediction 

OCE Ocean Ca

OCO Orbiting Carbon Observatory

OCS Ocean Color Scanner 

OCTS Ocean Colour and Thermal Scanner 

OGO Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 

OMI Ozone Monitoring Instrument

OMPS Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite 

OSEs Observing System Experiments 

OSSEs Observing System Simulation Experiment

OSTM Ocean Surface Topography Mission 

PAO Public Affairs Office

PARASO Polarization and Anisotropy of Reflectances

with Observations from a Lidar 

PEACE Plasma Electron And Current Experiment

PECA Presidential Early Career A

PI Principal Investig

PMCs Polar Mesospheric Clouds

PMM Precipitation Measuring Missions

POAM Polar Ozone and Aerosol M

POES Polar Orbiting En

POETR Public Outreach, Education, Teaching, and R

POLA Polar Plasma Laboratory 

POLDER POLarization and Directionality of the E

RAIS Rapid Acquisition Imaging Spectrograph E

RAM Reconnection and Microscale 

RHESS Ramaty High Energy So

ROSE Research Opportunities in Space and Eart

RRAP Resident Research Associateship Program

S3CAA Sun-Solar System Connecti

SAFAR Southern African Regional S

SAGE Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment 

Solar An

SAR Synthetic Aperture Radar 

SBUV Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet 

SCIAMA SCanning Imaging Absorption Spectro

CHartographY 

SCOPE Solar Connection Observatory for Planetary Environm

SDAC Solar Data Analysis Center 

SDO Solar Dynamics Obser

SDPS Sea-viewing Wide Field of view Se

SeaWiF Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor

SECEF Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum

SECP Sun Earth Coupling by Energetic Particles 

SED Sciences and Exploration Directorate 

SEEDS Strategic Evolution of Earth

SEPM Solar Energetic Particle Mission

SERTS Solar Extreme ultraviolet Research Telescope and Spectrograph 

SHADO Southern Hemisphere Add

SHIE Solar Heliospheric and Interpla

SI Stellar Imager

SIRIC Submillimeter and Infrared Ice C

SkyRAD Sky Radiometers 

SMD Science Mission Directorate 

111
SMEX Soil Moisture Experiments

SMM Solar Maximum Mission

SNR Signal to Noise Ratio

SO2 Sulfur Oxides 

SOHO atory

E/LORE attering Experiment/ Limb Ozone Retrieval Experiment

E ment

C ir Role in Climate

Engineering

Spectrometer

ter

SST 

ITE

ER ts of Emitted Radiation

raph Investigation 

MS ing Enthusiastic About Math and Science 

ud and Climate Coupling Experiment

IS Substorms 

nd Dynamics 

ler 

r 

E onal Explorer

TSDIS l Measuring Mission (TRMM) Science Data and Information

eutral-atom Spectrometers 

nty

e

ion

Laboratory 

Solar and Heliospheric Observ

SOLS Shuttle Ozone Limb Sc

SON Student Observation Network

SORC Solar Radiation and Climate Experi

SPAR Stratospheric Processes and the

SPI Solar Polar Imager

SPIE International Society for Optical

SPOT Système Pour l'Observation de la Terre 

SSBUV Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet

SSC STEREO Science Cen

SSSC Sun-Solar System Connection 

Sea Surface Temperature 

STEREO Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory 

STROZ-L Stratospheric Ozone Lidar Trailer Experiment

SUM Solar UV Measuremen

SUMI Solar Ultraviolet Magnetog

SUNBEA Students United with NASA Becom

SVS Scientific Visualizations Studio

SWBs Solar Weather Buoys 

SWE Snow Water Equivalent

TC4 Tropical Composition, Clo

TCSP Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes 

TES Troposphere Emission Spectrometer 

THEM Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions During 

TIMED Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetic a

T-ITMC Tropical Ionosphere Thermosphere Mesosphere Coup

TMI TRMM Microwave Imager 

TOMS Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer 

TOPEX Ocean TOPography EXperiment

TOVS NOAA’s Tiros Operational Vertical Sounde

TPF Terrestrial Planet Finder

TRAC Transition Region and Cor

TRL Technology Readiness Level

TRMM Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission

Tropical Rainfal

System

TWINS Two Wide-angle Imaging N

UAE2 Unified Aerosol Experiment 2

UARS Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite 

UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle 

UMBC University of Maryland at Baltimore Cou

UMCP University of Maryland at College Park

UNEP United Nations Environment Programm

UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizat

UNH University of New Hampshire 

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture 

USGCRP U.S. Global Change Research Program

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

UV Ultraviolet

UW University of Wisconsin 

VAL Visualizations Analysis 

VAP Venus Aeronomy Probe 

112
VCL Vegetation Canopy Lidar 

VEFI Vector Electric Field Instrument 

r Radiometer Suite 

L

R on

L

VIIRS Visible Infrared Image

VIS IR Visible Infrared 

VITAL Visual and Technical Arts Lab 

VSEP Visiting Students Enrichment Program

VSO Virtual Solar Observatory

VSPO Virtual Space Physics Observatory

Wa-COO Wallops Coastal Ocean Observing Laboratory 

WatE Surface Water Missi

WFF Wallops Flight Facility 

WIND Solar Wind Mission 

WMO World Meteorological Organization 

WSD Web Services

113