## 5 Conclusions  
The NOAA Ocean Satellite Course was implemented to address the underutilization of satellite data in the operational activities of the NMFS. Based on feedback and survey results from participants in the course, the course has been effective at achieving this goal. Satellite usage by course alumni increased after taking the course, even for those who regularly used satellite data in their work prior to taking the course. Most notably, those who do not use satellite data in their work dropped by 66% after taking the course.  
The target participants for the course are the researchers and resource managers within NMFS, and the course is designed to make it easy for them to use satellite data and to attend the course. Course instructors are embedded within NMFS line offices, where they work with potential participants to understand their satellite product needs. Off-the-shelf datasets that are appropriate to address those needs are assembled in a single online location for classroom use. The datasets are distributed via ERDDAP servers, which provide the participant with a simple, consistent way to subset and download the satellite data. In addition, productivity tools are made available that interact with ERDDAP to help participants accomplish tasks commonly necessary for fisheries research. Participants are given a background in the fundamentals of satellite remote sensing sufficient to help them select and use data products that are useful without exposing them to advanced remote sensing concepts that are beyond the scope of a three-day course. Practical portions of the course are taught using the preferred software of the course participants, thereby eliminating the effort involved in learning new software. Finally, the courses are offered in various locations, nationally and internationally, thereby reducing the time and expense needed for participants' travel.  
Although teaching the course content and tools are important to the success of the course, a few instructional steps serve to reinforce and foster the continued use of satellite data by participants. The first is the hands-on portion of the course, where participants take the information and skills learned in the lecture portion of the course and apply it to a satellite-based application that is relevant to their operational activities at NMFS. The second is the post-course support available to participants to reinforce and foster their continued use of satellite data. Course materials and the ERDDAP data catalog are continually updated and made available on the WCN website ([[https://coastwatch.pfeg.noaa.gov/](https://coastwatch.pfeg.noaa.gov/)]([https://coastwatch.pfeg.noaa.gov/](https://coastwatch.pfeg.noaa.gov/))). WCN and PolarWatch, its sister node, also maintains code libraries in R and Python. Finally, CoastWatch support personnel are available to course participants to answer question and to help implement satellite data applications.  
Author Contributions:Conceptualization, C.W.; project administration, C.W.; visualization, C.W.; writing--original draft, C.W. and D.H.R.; writing--review and editing, C.W. and D.H.R.  
* [1]Some funding to cover the travel costs for participants to attend the NOAA Satellite Course was provided by NOAA's R2O program in 2006-2007 and NOAA's JPSS program in 2013-2019. NOAA's CoastWatch program has often provided funding to the authors' travel for the course. The International Ocean Colour Coordinating Group (IOCCG) paid [PERSON]'s travel to the PORSEC training course in 2014.  
The course was developed and co-taught with [PERSON] until his death in 2013. Thanks to [PERSON], [PERSON], and [PERSON] for their dedication in maintaining the ERD data services, including the WCN/ERD ERDDAP server. Suggestions by [PERSON] and two anonymous reviewers improved this manuscript.  
The authors declare no conflict of interest.