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Executive Summary
Pages 1-8

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From page 1...
... To generate the best possible plan for creating satellite CDRs, NOAA asked the National Academies to conduct a two-phase study to provide advice on creating CDRs. In phase 1, the committee is providing an interim report with advice on the key elements of a satellite-based CDR program, including lessons learned from previous attempts, important considerations for identifying an appropriate organizational framework for long-term success and sustainability, suggested steps for generating and archiving CDRs, and the importance of partnerships.
From page 2...
... Many agencies and groups are interested and involved in creating, analyzing, and storing CDRs. By partnering with other government agencies, academia, and the private sector in develop ment, analysis, and reprocessing of CDRs, NOAA can create and sustain a successful CDR effort; a high degree of interagency coordination on the requirements, definition, and implementation of CDRs is essential for satisfy ing the broad user communities of today and providing climate data steward ship for future generations.
From page 3...
... 2. An advisory council is needed to provide input to the process on behalf of the climate research community and other stakeholders.
From page 4...
... Supporting Recommendation 1: NOAA should utilize an organiza tional structure where a high-level leadership council within NOAA receives advice from an advisory council that provides input to the process on behalf of the climate research community and other stake holders. The advisory council should be supported by instrument and science teams responsible for overseeing the generation of climate data records.
From page 5...
... Supporting Recommendation 2: NOAA should base its satellite-based climate data record generation program on lessons learned from pre vious attempts, which point out several unique characteristics of satel lite climate data records, including the need for continuing calibra tion, validation, and algorithm refinements, all leading to periodic reprocessing and reanalysis to improve error quantification and reduce uncertainties. Because most of NOAA's operational satellites were created as weather rather than climate platforms, the committee stresses that NOAA should include nominal calibration, vicarious calibration monitoring, and satelliteto-satellite cross-calibration as part of the operational satellite system; this is important because orbital drift, sensor degradation, and instrument biases will affect the creation of consistent CDRs.
From page 6...
... A clear data policy can ensure conti nuity in the data record, including the ancillary data used to reprocess CDRs, project and dataset documentation, and the science production soft ware. NOAA also should ensure that the data management infrastructure can accommodate user requests and provide different data formats, given the large satellite data volumes that a CDR program will create.
From page 7...
... Supporting Recommendation 6: NOAA should pursue appropriate financial and human resources to sustain a multidecadal program focused on satellite climate data records. Developing a CDR program is fundamentally important to the nation, and it is imperative that the effort not be inhibited by a lack of human or financial resources.


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