In earlier work, NOAA’s Coastal Service Center in Charleston, S.C. reviewed current remote sensing and took a broader look at that technology applied to coastal resource management. They found 25 application areas and grouped them into 5 broader categories. In this paper we will explain some background and complexity of remote sensing when imaging in shallow water. This region is more complex than the deep ocean but there is synergy or opportunity to
combine remote sensing measurements. Then we will summarize the 25 coastal areas of application with regard to spatial, spectral and temporal remote sensing needs including use of potential hyper-spectral sensors. Finally, we use the example of coral reef observations to explain the difficulty in trying to set remote sensing operational rules.
Observations of coastal waters require high spectral and radiometric resolution, as compared to land, and high spatial resolution, as compared to the open ocean. An imaging instrument in geostationary orbit with a nominal aperture diameter of one meter in the spectral region from 400 - 1000 nm, ould meet these requirements on demand, over a large area of the Earth's surface. Observations made during daylight hours using filter wheel technology and large 2-D silicon focal plane arrays can achieve these objectives at reasonable coverage rates. Polarization-sensitive measurements would allow this instrument to optimize its observations of water-leaving radiance and to better compensate for atmospheric background. This instrument can be fabricated with existing technology.
We at NOAA have conducted several, early requirements studies over the past two years to better define the next generation of environmental satellites at geostationary orbit -- the GOES program. While much work remains to be done, we believe that we must use current and future technology in smarter ways to lower future satellite costs. At the same time, such technology should let us increase measurement performance and add new, required products. NASA has a program called the New Millennium Program (NMP) whose goal is to lower spacecraft and mission costs by testing technology in space. NOAA is a strong believer in this program, and we have participated from the start in its development. This paper describes the types of technology that NOAA may use in future GOES programs and that have been discussed and shared with NASA's New Millennium Program. In addition to technology needs, we mentions several benefits from the New Millennium Program on how to improve space program development.
Future weather satellites for NOAA at geosynchronous orbit may be smaller, less costly, and developed by a different process than is currently done. This path is sometimes called the 'smaller, cheaper and faster' process being pursued by NASA. We believe in the future there will be less money, a focus on using the right technology and the desire to get the most value for the resources invested in space missions. In this paper we give an update on our progress to define future GOES. It will include our efforts to trade on user requirement early, to use evolutionary technology, and to consider new cost reduction and program management techniques.
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