Introduction to STAR: the Center for Satellite Applications and Research
STAR Data Product Example:
Aerosol Monitoring
for Air Quality & Forecasting
STAR provides the near-real-time aerosol optical depth product
for air-quality monitoring and the weather-forecasting community. The
EPA, the National Weather Service (NWS), and others use this product
to monitor particulate pollution.
The Center for
Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) is the science arm of the
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS),
which acquires and manages the nation's environmental satellites for the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
STAR research activities, integral to the implementation of NOAA's research
priorities, are aligned with and carried out
in direct support of NOAA and NESDIS programs, strategic goals, and
performance objectives.
STAR's Mission
To
accelerate the transfer of satellite observations of the land, atmosphere,
ocean, and climate from scientific research and development into routine
operations, and offer state-of-the-art data, products, and services to
decision-makers.
STAR's Vision:
To
advance remote sensing science and technology to better inform the
American public and safeguard the environment .
The United States invests billions of dollars in environmental
satellites annually in order to monitor the Earth's environment, including:
- Assessing current conditions;
- Predicting future changes on the earth; and
- Understanding long-term changes in the environment.
STAR supports these activities by advancing satellite technology,
producing data products, and performing research / outreach.
Satellite, Data, and Research Efforts at STAR: Interrelated Work
STAR supports four phases of the life cycle of satellite hardware,
data, and products:
- The life cycle begins with the Creating stage of products and
systems. STAR helps identify new requirements for satellite data and
environmental information; the Center addresses the important science
questions that need to be answered in order to meet those requirements.
STAR scientists then conduct the research in support of new sensor
technology, products, and applications to meet these requirements.
- During the Producing phase, STAR develops and tests products
that meet the customer's requirements. After an extensive
evaluation, the products that satisfy the requirements are
transferred to operations for customer use.
Once a product is operational, customer feedback guides the
selection of products for improving or enhancing existing
capabilities.
- The next phase - Enhancing
- consists primarily of two techniques to improve current products:
- Refining the formulas used to produce operational products
- Combining data from other sensors to improve the products
- In the Mastering
phase, quality and excellence are instilled into the routine methods used to
process data.
Life Cycle of Satellite Hardware, Data, and Products
Creating |
Producing |
Enhancing |
Mastering |
Sensor Research |
Product Research |
Technology Transfer |
Product Development |
Algorithm Refinement |
Technology Infusion |
Calibration |
Validation |
Research new sensor applications; analyze potential impact |
Research new products to meet ever-changing needs of users |
Transfer software to operations and science community |
Develop solutions to users' requirements |
Advance state of the science; improve product quality |
Use new satellites, sensors and computing capabilities |
Inter-compare satellites / reference sites |
Monitor product quality; verify satellite sensors |
Throughout all four phases, STAR shares its findings with partners
and stakeholders to promote creative thinking about methods that
would use satellite data to obtain better information about the
Earth and its environment.
STAR scientists lead efforts to develop, test, validate, and refine the
science algorithms needed to drive user-defined products. STAR also
investigates both enhanced and new sensor technology for future NOAA
satellite missions. STAR research examines which products users will need-
including ocean, ecosystem, climate, and weather products-to carry out
NOAA's mission goals. STAR supports the calibration and validation of all
data in NOAA's satellite operations. In addition to maintaining existing
calibration sites, STAR develops new methods for intercalibrating data from
NOAA polar and geostationary satellites with other satellites in the
evolving international system. In addition, STAR collaboratively develops
efficient methods and technology to transfer new products from research to
operations.