NASA and NOAA to Collaborate on Advancing Environmental Science

NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are teaming up to advance environmental science through the use of commercial satellite data. The two agencies will be hosting a joint session at the 23rd Symposium on Operational Environmental Satellite Systems, which will take place at the 2027 American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado.

Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition

NASA’s Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) program and NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) Commercial Data Program (CDP) are collaborating to expand federal access to commercial satellite data. This partnership aims to accelerate the use of commercial satellite data in both research and operational applications.

The CSDA program supports the scientific community by evaluating and acquiring diverse commercial datasets, including optical, Synthetic Aperture Radar, and Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation and Reflectometry. These datasets can be used for a variety of applications, such as modeling, hazard monitoring, climate studies, and applied research.

Advancing Weather Research and Forecasting

The joint session will examine the growing capabilities of commercial Earth observation providers and their potential to advance weather research, operational forecasting, and environmental science applications. The CDP operationalizes commercial space-based environmental data, with demonstrated impacts from assimilated observations in weather forecasting and space weather applications.

By leveraging commercial satellite data, researchers and forecasters can gain access to more accurate and detailed information, enabling them to make better predictions and decisions. This can have significant benefits for a range of applications, from weather forecasting to climate modeling and environmental monitoring.

Strengthening the Nation’s Weather Enterprise

The collaboration between NASA’s CSDA program and NOAA’s CDP aims to strengthen the nation’s weather enterprise by enabling innovative research, closing observational gaps, and integrating commercial data into real-world forecasting and decision support applications.

Some of the key areas of focus for the joint session include:

• Evaluating and acquiring commercial satellite data for research and operational applications
• Operationalizing commercial space-based environmental data for weather forecasting and space weather applications
• Integrating commercial data into real-world forecasting and decision support applications
• Advancing weather research and forecasting through the use of commercial satellite data

Call for Abstracts

Researchers and scientists are invited to submit abstracts for the joint session, which will be held at the 2027 AMS Annual Meeting. The abstract submission process is now open, and more information can be found on the symposium’s website.

This collaboration between NASA and NOAA has the potential to drive significant advancements in environmental science and weather research, and the joint session at the 23rd Symposium on Operational Environmental Satellite Systems is an important step forward in this effort.

Source: science.nasa.gov.