Climate Observation and Monitoring

Program Highlights for FY 2009

The Climate Observation and Monitoring Program develops and sustains integrated atmospheric, oceanic, and Arctic observation networks, primarily in situ, and maintains consistent and long-term archive and access to historical climate data. Examples of NOAA observation networks include the U.S. Climate Reference Network and the carbon dioxide (CO₂) baseline observatories, including Mauna Loa and South Pole stations. NOAA routinely provides climatological information, such as basic statistics and extremes, based upon extended records usually greater than 30 years in length. The program has two basic capabilities: observations (atmosphere, oceans, and forcing), and data management and information. These capabilities taken together increase the value and utility of both in situ and satellite observations, improve the performance of models, and reduce the uncertainty of predictions. The program contributes to the national and global objectives outlined in the Strategic Plan for the Climate Change Science Program, as well as NOAA's Strategic Plan, the Strategic Plan for the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System (IEOS), and the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) 10-Year Implementation Plan.

Activities in FY 2009 will:

• Create a scientific data stewardship plan to generate, analyze, and archive data from climate satellite sensors in long-term climate data records
  
• Maintain the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)
  -Sustain progress toward completing the U.S. contribution to the international GOOS
  -Continue technology refresh to replace obsolete components of the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean Array, a critical El Niño-Southern Oscillation climate observing system
  
• Maintain the U.S. Climate Reference Network and continue the installation of soil moisture sensors at 114 stations in support of the National Integrated Drought Information System
  
• Continue to re-measure key ocean properties along cross-sections in the South Atlantic and North Pacific that were last measured in 1989 and 1991, respectively, via the Repeat Hydrography Program
  
• Continue to maintain and update Carbon Tracker, the combined measurement and modeling system that keeps track of the emissions ("sources") and removal ("sinks") of atmospheric CO₂ globally
  
• Integrate the North American Carbon Program and relevant aspects of the Ocean Carbon and Climate Change Program to better quantify and understand the carbon budget of North America and adjacent ocean basins, including terrestrial, freshwater, oceanic, and atmospheric sources and sinks that influence atmospheric CO₂ and methane (CH₄).

www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/Library/ocp2009/ocp2009-doc.htm