The National Academies Press

Currently Skimming:

1 The Decadal Survey Vision
Pages 15-21

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.

From page 15... ... The first four of these top-level questions inform the activities of SMD's Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics divisions, respectively, while the fifth refers to a cross-division program in astrobiology. Another variant of the top-level objectives of the Earth science program -- one that emphasizes the centrality of "Earth system science"1 -- appears on the SMD website, where it is stated, "The purpose of NASA's Earth science program is to develop a scientific understanding of Earth's system and its response to natural or human-induced changes, and to improve prediction of climate, weather, and natural hazards."2 In developing its overall strategy and implementation plan, ESD draws extensively from the guidance provided in the National Research Council's (NRC's) Read the entire page →
From page 16... ... (Apply) The alignment of NASA's objectives for its Earth science program and that articulated by the survey is also recognized in the present study's statement of task, where it is stated that "the National Research Council shall convene an ad hoc committee to review the alignment of NASA's Earth Science Division's program with previous NRC advice, primarily the 2007 NRC decadal survey report Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond" (see Appendix A) Read the entire page →
From page 17... ... ,12 and have the potential to deliver profound societal and economic benefits to the nation. National Research Council, Earth Science and Applications from Space: Urgent Needs and Opportunities to Serve the Nation, 8 The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2005. Read the entire page →
From page 18... ... A key strength of the decadal survey process is that it is informed by the collective wisdom of the broad community. Survey organizers conducted an extensive outreach effort to the larger community, which resulted in numerous town hall and public meetings as well as the submission of more than 100 detailed white papers and conceptual proposals. Read the entire page →
From page 19... ... , and preliminary estimates by the United Nations Environment Programme placed the damage total at some $309 billion.2 In the United States, western portions of Washington and Oregon are considered in particular danger of a similar quake and tsunami event. The human and economic costs of these disasters would have been even greater without satellite observations provided by NASA, NOAA, and international partners that contributed vital input data to weather forecast models (Figure 1.1.1) Read the entire page →
From page 20... ... SOURCE: Courtesy of European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts. The end result of these efforts was a proposed set of activities that included space missions to be undertaken by NASA and NOAA, as well as supporting and complementary in situ and suborbital programs, programs for sensor and technology development, a robust research and analysis program, and a data analysis, archive, and dissemination program to exploit the enormous quantities of raw data that would result from these activities. Read the entire page →
From page 21... ... . As NASA responds to these and other challenges that may be encountered in implementing the survey, the committee urges NASA to continually refer back to the fundamental goal of nurturing Earth system science, to engage the broad Earth system science community, and to consider the implications of its decisions for the entire portfolio of interconnected activities and -- as important -- for the next generation of scientists and technologists. Read the entire page →

From page 15...

... The first four of these top-level questions inform the activities of SMD's Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics divisions, respectively, while the fifth refers to a cross-division program in astrobiology. Another variant of the top-level objectives of the Earth science program -- one that emphasizes the centrality of "Earth system science"1 -- appears on the SMD website, where it is stated, "The purpose of NASA's Earth science program is to develop a scientific understanding of Earth's system and its response to natural or human-induced changes, and to improve prediction of climate, weather, and natural hazards."2 In developing its overall strategy and implementation plan, ESD draws extensively from the guidance provided in the National Research Council's (NRC's)

Read the entire page →

From page 16...

... (Apply) The alignment of NASA's objectives for its Earth science program and that articulated by the survey is also recognized in the present study's statement of task, where it is stated that "the National Research Council shall convene an ad hoc committee to review the alignment of NASA's Earth Science Division's program with previous NRC advice, primarily the 2007 NRC decadal survey report Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond" (see Appendix A)

Read the entire page →

From page 17...

... ,12 and have the potential to deliver profound societal and economic benefits to the nation. National Research Council, Earth Science and Applications from Space: Urgent Needs and Opportunities to Serve the Nation, 8 The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2005.

Read the entire page →

From page 18...

... A key strength of the decadal survey process is that it is informed by the collective wisdom of the broad community. Survey organizers conducted an extensive outreach effort to the larger community, which resulted in numerous town hall and public meetings as well as the submission of more than 100 detailed white papers and conceptual proposals.

Read the entire page →

From page 19...

... , and preliminary estimates by the United Nations Environment Programme placed the damage total at some $309 billion.2 In the United States, western portions of Washington and Oregon are considered in particular danger of a similar quake and tsunami event. The human and economic costs of these disasters would have been even greater without satellite observations provided by NASA, NOAA, and international partners that contributed vital input data to weather forecast models (Figure 1.1.1)

Read the entire page →

From page 20...

... SOURCE: Courtesy of European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts. The end result of these efforts was a proposed set of activities that included space missions to be undertaken by NASA and NOAA, as well as supporting and complementary in situ and suborbital programs, programs for sensor and technology development, a robust research and analysis program, and a data analysis, archive, and dissemination program to exploit the enormous quantities of raw data that would result from these activities.

Read the entire page →

From page 21...

... . As NASA responds to these and other challenges that may be encountered in implementing the survey, the committee urges NASA to continually refer back to the fundamental goal of nurturing Earth system science, to engage the broad Earth system science community, and to consider the implications of its decisions for the entire portfolio of interconnected activities and -- as important -- for the next generation of scientists and technologists.

Read the entire page →

← Previous Chapter Skim

Next Chapter Skim →

This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.

1 The Decadal Survey Vision Pages 15-21

1 The Decadal Survey Vision
Pages 15-21