The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is proud to participate in the ADEOS program. ADEOS, the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite, will be launched by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) in 1996. The satellite will observe and monitor the global environment. NOAA, which has enhanced its processing and communications systems to support the data, will use and share data products from several of the instruments. Two science sensors developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will fly aboard ADEOS: the NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT) and Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS).

The National Space Development Agency of Japan built and will launch and operate the satellite. U.S. government agencies, including NOAA, NASA, and others, will have access to ADEOS data.

NOAA is a partner in the implementation and operation of the ADEOS program. The National Space Development Agency of Japan and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) signed an agreement on ADEOS in October 1994. The agreement defines mission objectives and the responsibilities of each partner.

The NASA Scatterometer will monitor ocean surface wind speed and direction. NOAA will process the data for operational use in near-real-time and distribute it to NOAA's National Weather Service, the Japanese Meteorological Agency, and others for use in weather forecasting. These data are important in short-term weather warnings and forecasts and will play a key role in NOAA's ability to understand and predict complex global weather patterns and climate systems. Access to these data will provide U.S. users with enhanced operational monitoring capabilities through NOAA's ocean remote sensing program. NOAA started developing this multi- disciplinary, multi-platform program in 1995. In addition to ADEOS, the program makes use of data from U.S. and other international environmental remote sensing satellites. Data from these satellites will be used to provide operational monitoring of the U.S. coasts and global oceans.

The Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer will measure ozone concentration in the atmosphere. NOAA is evaluating TOMS data for possible use in operational volcanic ash tracking in support of aviation safety. NOAA is working with other U.S. agencies and the aviation community to develop new tracking, analysis, and warning services.

Among other instruments, ADEOS will also fly NASDA's Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (OCTS). NOAA will acquire coastal ocean color data in near-real-time from OCTS. These data will play a vital role in protecting coastal ecosystems health and building sustainable fisheries. For example, the data are useful in monitoring pollution and river discharge, detecting and monitoring noxious algal blooms, and locating optimum fishing grounds.

The United States will capture, on behalf of NASDA, data from the ADEOS sensors at U.S.-provided ground systems in Fairbanks, Alaska, and Wallops Island, Virginia. In return for support that the United States is providing for data capture, NASDA will provide the capability for NASA and NOAA to access all data from NSCAT, TOMS, and selected OCTS passes. NOAA will have access to ADEOS data as a user for non-commercial operational use for public benefit. ADEOS data will be used to provide a regular service for the public benefit, not to confer an economic advantage on a particular user or group of users. NOAA will use the data to carry out its mandate of environmental observation and prediction.

This international program is vital to the future research and operational Earth observation programs of the United States. The ADEOS program and follow-on U.S.-Japan satellite missions will be critical components of an Integrated Global Observing Strategy being pursued by the United States, Japan, and their international partners. May 1996