The Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division (SOCD) engages and participates
in a wide variety of NOAA, interagency, and international programs in earth and
ocean science, representing NOAA on science working teams of major satellite
missions and working to ensure that operational processing of satellite data
meets requirements for measuring and monitoring conditions of interest to the
global community. SOCD identifies four Strategic Priorities that integrate across
three Functional Areas and six Science Teams, forming an end-to-end cube matrix.
The Strategic Priorities integrate the functional areas and focus the major tasks
of the Science Teams. The Strategic Priorities are the 1) transition of research
to operations, 2) calibration and validation, 3) data assimilation, and 4) the
development of satellite ocean remote sensing for climate applications. These
priorities will be updated as needed. The three functional areas are satellite
ocean sensors, ocean dynamics, and marine ecosystems. Six science teams work
to support these efforts: 1) sea surface temperature, 2) sea surface height
(altimetry), 3) sea surface roughness (synthetic aperture radar), 4) ocean
surface winds, 5) ocean color (sea surface reflectance), and 6) sea ice. It
is envisioned that additional science teams will be established when new
technologies permit the retrieval of new parameters, e.g. sea surface salinity.
Each component is crucial to completing end-to-end satellite ocean remote
sensing science research and its transition to operations. For example, the
Research to Operations strategic priority focuses on completing the
operational implementation of research efforts by integrating the continuum
of: sensor development; observation retrievals; applications research for
the parameter Science Teams, ocean dynamics, and marine ecosystems; product
development for those efforts; and the transition of experimental products
and processes to new operational products and processes. Each Science Team provides an end-to-end
capability for a specific satellite ocean remote sensing parameter, encompassing
research on retrieval algorithms, sensor calibration, data validation,
applications development, product and process development, and science
support for operational products, with the applications, processes, and
products supporting the functional areas and strategic priorities. SOCD's
Administrative Branches align with the three Functional Areas and are titled,
Satellite Ocean Sensors, Ocean Dynamics and Data Assimilation, and Marine
Ecosystems and Climate.
Dept. of Commerce • NOAA • NESDIS • STAR • Last revised: June 15, 2010
1. Introduction
science research and its transition to operations. For example, the
Research to Operations strategic priority focuses on completing the
operational implementation of research efforts by integrating the continuum
of: sensor development; observation retrievals; applications research for
the parameter Science Teams, ocean dynamics, and marine ecosystems; product
development for those efforts; and the transition of experimental products
and processes to new operational products and processes. Each Science Team provides an end-to-end
capability for a specific satellite ocean remote sensing parameter, encompassing
research on retrieval algorithms, sensor calibration, data validation,
applications development, product and process development, and science
support for operational products, with the applications, processes, and
products supporting the functional areas and strategic priorities. SOCD's
Administrative Branches align with the three Functional Areas and are titled,
Satellite Ocean Sensors, Ocean Dynamics and Data Assimilation, and Marine
Ecosystems and Climate.