Center for Satellite Applications
and Research (STAR) Highlights:
Best Science Research & Applications in 2006

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Ecosystems

• Ocean biology products
• Comparing on-site measurements of water color and quality with satellite views
• Gold Medal awarded for support of NOAA's Harmful Algal Bloom Forecasts
• Early alert of bleaching conditions in the Caribbean Sea from Coral Reef Watch
• Coral bleaching products available through Google Earth
• Coral Reef Watch curriculum now available online

Climate

• A more detailed Global Vegetation Index
• Microwave Sounder observes the temperature trend of the atmosphere

Weather and Water

• Forecasting requirements for surface wind vectors over the ocean
• Verifying forecasts of smoke and air quality with satellite products
• Scientists discover that African dust may be hampering hurricane activity
• New tropical cyclone formation product is operational for 2006 hurricane season

Commerce and Transportation

• NOAA CoastWatch Launches the East Coast Node

Satellite Services

• Satellite "radiance" data from cloudy regions in forecast models improved hurricane monitoring
• More detailed GOES sounder products for forecasters
• Cooperative Institute for Oceanography renewed for 5 years
• Signals from GPS satellites probe the atmosphere and assist weather forecasting
• Better data selection for forecast models