Welcome to the
Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA)

Benefits of JCSDA

Effective environmental prediction requires several elements. One of these is accurate, well-distributed observations of the Earth's environment, for which satellite sensors are the largest source. Numerical models that embody the physical and chemical laws governing the behavior of the Earth's land surface, oceans, and atmosphere are another element, as are powerful computing systems to run these models rapidly to provide timely forecasts.

The science of data assimilation is the mortar that binds these elements into successful prediction systems for weather, oceans, climatology, and ecosystems. The Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA) is dedicated to developing and improving the ability to exploit satellite data more effectively in the United States. The JCSDA is a distributed collaborative effort that allows the work required to use the billions of satellite observations available daily to be shared several operational agencies in the United States.

This activity is best accomplished with a coordinated multi-agency basis as the common development work necessary to assimilate these many thousands of millions of satellite observations each day would otherwise be duplicated across the agencies.

JCSDA Vision:

A weather, climate and environmental analysis and prediction community empowered to effectively assimilate increasing amounts of advanced satellite observations from the evolving Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS).

JCSDA Mission:

To accelerate and improve the quantitative use of research and operational satellite data in weather, ocean, climate and environmental analysis and prediction systems. This is a substantial undertaking given the hundred-thousand fold increase in satellite data this decade from nearly fifty new instruments.

JCSDA Goals:

• Reduce from two years to one year the average time for operational implementation of new satellite technology
• Increase uses of current satellite data in NWP models
• Advance the common NWP models and data assimilation infrastructure
• Assess the impacts of data from advanced satellite sensors on weather and climate predictions

JCSDA Director Co-Chairs NWP Session at 2009 EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference

The 2009 EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference will be held in Bath UK, from September 21 to 25. One of the sessions, on numerical weather prediction applications, co-chaired by John Eyre from the Met Office and Lars Peter Riishojgaard, director of the JCSDA. Details can be found at: http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/Main/Media/Announcements/031605.

Announcement: JCSDA's Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Funding Opportunity

August 11, 2009 - On July 17, 2009, the Department of Commerce announced details of the JCSDA 2010 Federal Funding Opportunity. The Joint Center's goal is to accelerate the abilities of NOAA, DOD, and NASA to ingest and effectively use the large volumes of data from current satellite-based instruments and planned satellite missions over the next 10 years.

• Detailed description;
• Synopsis & complete announcement

The deadline for full proposals to this FFO is October 13, 2009. In addition, Letters of Intent (LOIs) are encouraged: they are due no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time on August 24, 2009. Please contact Sid-Ahmed Boukabara with any questions.

7^th Workshop on Satellite Data Assimilation

June 15, 2009 - Some 100 scientists, representatives of JCSDA partner agencies, program managers, and JCSDA management/staff participated in the 7th Annual JCSDA Workshop on Satellite Data Assimilation, held at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, May 12 – 13, 2009. The format of the Workshop was changed with respect to previous years to create adequate visibility to both management – level presentations from the JCSDA partners and to contributed material. More time was devoted to plenary and poster sessions, and the break-out sessions were limited to relatively short group discussions of the plans and progress for JCSDA's six science priority areas.

See all the presentations and workshop materials.

Sid-Ahmed Boukabara Appointed New Deputy Director of the JCSDA

April 29, 2009 - Col. Mark Zettlemoyer, Chairman, Management Oversight Board, Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA), recently announced the appointment of Sid Boukabara as the new Deputy Director of the JCSDA. Sid will continue to serve as the senior data assimilation scientist for the NOAA/NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research, a position to which he was recently appointed.

Col. Zettlemoyer's Announcement:

On behalf of the Management Oversight Board and Executive Team, I am pleased to announce the selection of Dr Sid-Ahmed Boukabara to be the new Deputy Director of the JCSDA. Currently a part of NESDIS STAR, Dr. Boukabara brings an extensive background in remote sensing, especially microwave retrieval, to JCSDA, including experience with MonoRTM, NPOESS CrIS and CMIS, QuikSCAT, and DMSP SSMI/S. With STAR, Sid was responsible for the development of MIRS (Microwave Integrated Retrieval System) and was already participating in the JCSDA as a co-chair of our Microwave working group and as representative to the Joint Action Group for Operational Data Acquisition for Assimilation (JAG-ODAA) under COPC.

I'd also like to thank Dr. Fuzhong Weng and Dr. Steve Goodman, who both rendered valuable assistance to Dr. Riishojgaard in part- time/acting roles as Deputy Director during the period the position was vacant, after the departure of Jim Yoe.

Sid, welcome to the team!

JCSDA Plans 2009 Summer Colloquium on Data Assimilation

The NASA/NOAA/DoD Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA) is pleased to announce a Summer Colloquium on Data Assimilation in 2009 engaging graduate students and individuals with early postdoctoral appointments in the science of data assimilation for the atmosphere, land, and oceans. Read about the 2009 colloquium here.