Welcome to the Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR)

The Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) is the science arm of the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS), which acquires and manages the nation's operational Earth-observing satellites. NESDIS provides data from these satellites, and conducts research to make that possible.

STAR's Mission

To transfer satellite observations of the land, atmosphere, ocean, and climate from scientific research and development into routine operations, and to offer state-of-the-art data, products and services to decision-makers.

The United States invests billions of dollars every year in satellites and data, in order to monitor the ever-changing environment of Earth. The Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) uses the data from satellites to offer sound information about the Earth. STAR is the science arm of the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS), which acquires and manages the nation's Earth-observing satellites. STAR supports NESDIS and NOAA in their mission to assess current conditions and predict future changes on the Earth, and to understand long-term changes in the environment.

STAR Scientists' Work Links Sea Surface Temperature and Atmospheric Dust

March 11, 2009 - Over the last few decades, sea surface temperatures (SST) in the Atlantic Ocean have increased significantly. Much recent research has demonstrated the link between increased Hurricane Intensity and increased SST. Work at the University of Wisconsin using NESDIS data sets has shown that since 1980, the amount dust flowing out over the Atlantic Ocean from the Saharan Desert has also decreased dramatically. A recent study published in Science led by Amato Evan and including Andrew Heidinger and James Kossin of NESDIS shows that dust accounts for much of the observed SST variability, as well as the positive SST trend in the region of the Atlantic Ocean where most Hurricanes form. Because the presence of dust acts to cool the ocean surface, a decrease in dust causes an increase in SST. This study highlights the importance of long-term satellite data sets in observing the complex and sometimes unexpected mechanisms that control the earth's climate. The data set used in this study was the NESDIS PATMOS-x (Pathfinder Atmospheres Extended) generated from the 30 years of Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data on the POES platform.

STAR News

STAR Announces Paul DiGiacomo as New Chief of the Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division

June 15, 2009 - STAR is pleased to announce that Dr. Paul M. DiGiacomo has accepted the position of Chief of the Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division (SOCD) in the NOAA/NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR). Paul first came to NOAA in 2006, having served the past three years as the Chief of the Marine Ecosystems and Climate Branch in STAR/SOCD, as well as the NOAA CoastWatch Program Manager. Prior to joining NOAA, Paul served as Supervisor of the Earth Missions Concepts Group at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA, as well as the Discipline Program Manager of the Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems Program Office at JPL. Read more!

Sixth Annual CoRP Symposium, August 18-19, 2009

June 11, 2009 - The NOAA Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology (CREST) Center is hosting the Sixth Annual CoRP Symposium at The City College of New York, August 18-19, 2009. The theme of the symposium is "Extracting the Maximum Information from Remote Sensing Observations". Please visit the symposium website for complete details.

Sid Boukabara Named New JCSDA Senior Scientist

April 17, 2009 - Recently honored with a Bronze Medal Award for his work on a team developing and assimilating Metop products, Sid-Ahmed Boukabara has worked at STAR since 2005, first as a contractor, and since 2007 as a federal employee. Until 2005 he was a scientist with Atmospheric Environmental Research (AER) Inc., working on various projects including MonoRTM, NPOESS CrIS, CMIS and QuikSCAT. Since joining STAR, he has lead efforts to develop variational algorithms applicable to all-weather conditions and over all surface backgrounds. In this new capacity, STAR expects Sid will bring lots of energy and new ideas to STAR and to the JCSDA. STAR congratulates him.

Over 20 STAR Scientists Honored with Dept. of Commerce 2008 Bronze Medal Honor Awards

April 7, 2009 - At the NOAA Honor Awards Ceremony in downtown Washington, D.C., over 20 STAR scientists received Bronze Medals honoring their work on three different projects.

Dr. Jane Lubchenco, NOAA's new administrator, addressed the assembly, and praised the work of the award winners. Click here to see the complete list of STAR Bronze Medal winners and more photos from the event.

Mark DeMaria Honored at the 2009 Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference

March 5, 2009 - Mark DeMaria received the "Richard H. Hagemeyer Award" at the March 2009 Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference recently held in St. Petersburg, FL. The award is given annually to honor people who have made sustained contributions to the US Hurricane Program. Mark was recognized for his long history of successful development and operational transition of tropical cyclone forecast products, including the Statistical / Hurricane / Intensity Prediction Scheme (SHIPS) and Logistic Growth Equation Model (LGEM) intensity models, the rapid intensity index (co-developed with the Hurricane Research Division), the National Hurricane Center wind speed probability program and the NESDIS Tropical Cyclone formation probability product.