Executive Summary
The Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division (SOCD) has
responsibilities to fulfill mandates put forth by Congress to the National
Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). United States Code Title
33, Chapter 17, Section 883j "Ocean Satellite Data" states "The
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ...
shall take such actions, including the sponsorship of applied research,
as may be necessary to assure the future availability and usefulness of
ocean satellite data to the maritime community." Within NOAA's
National Environmental Satellite Data Information Service (NESDIS) Center
for SaTellite Applications and Research (STAR), SOCD provides: satellite
ocean remote sensing calibration and validation; the development of ocean
remote sensing parameter retrievals, applications, and products; and the
transition of research to operations to support Congressional mandates
pursued by NOAA's five Strategic Mission Goals.
NOAA Strategic Mission Goals provide the focus for aligning NOAA activities.
The Goals outline NOAA's major roles in serving society's needs for environmental
data observations, data stewardship, and environmental information services. NOAA's
five mission goals are:
- 1. Protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources
through an Ecosystem approach to management
- 2. Understand Climate variability and change to
enhance society's ability to plan and respond.
- 3. Serve society's needs for Weather and Water
information
- 4. Support the Nation's Commerce with information for
safe, efficient, and environmentally sound
Transportation.
- 5. Provide Critical Support for NOAA's Mission.
SOCD provides significant direct support to each of NOAA's Mission Goals.
Additionally, SOCD directly contributes to NOAA's participation in and leadership
of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) by contributing to the satellite
component of the IOOS National Backbone. SOCD contributes to IOOS efforts to integrate
and provide operational ocean remote sensing and in-situ observational data, products,
and information. Globally, SOCD, through IOOS, directly contributes to the international
Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), which is the oceanic component of the Global Earth
Observing System of Systems (GEOSS)
Satellite Oceanography & Climatology Division Mission
To satisfy user requirements for high-quality, state-of-the-art, end-to-end,
integrated operational satellite ocean remote sensing data, applications,
products, and information through calibration, validation, research,
development, the development of satellite ocean remote sensing
climate data records and products, and the transition of products
and techniques to operations.
The Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division (SOCD) develops and applies
remotely-sensed data received from operational and research satellites, other
platforms, in conjunction with in-situ data, to infer various oceanic and
coastal phenomena and processes on a variety of temporal scales, from marine
weather to climatic. To overcome challenges identified in Strategic Priorities,
SOCD addresses technology barriers through linked, integrated, end-to-end
scientific processes organized by three Functional Areas and six collaborative
Science Teams. In pursuit of its strategic objectives, SOCD partners with
other components of NOAA and NESDIS, other U.S. Government agencies,
international groups, academia, and industry to develop satellites and
satellite applications of derived coastal and ocean properties relating to
the physical, dynamical, and biogeochemical characteristics of the coastal
and open oceans. SOCD sponsors and partners with the Cooperative Institute
for Oceanographic Satellite Studies (CIOSS) for research and outreach efforts
focused on satellite ocean sensors and techniques, ocean-atmosphere fields
and fluxes, models and data-assimilation, and ocean-atmosphere analyses.
CIOSS areas of interest and effort directly align and are integrated with
SOCD strategic objectives, priorities, and projects.
The SOCD 
Research to Operations effort is the NESDIS focus for definition, development,
and support of operational satellite ocean remote sensing functions in NOAA.
SOCD's NOAA CoastWatch and NOAA OceanWatch embody this effort as the main
implementation pathways for NOAA's program in operational satellite ocean
remote sensing. SOCD's NOAA CoastWatch and OceanWatch efforts include
partnerships with regional NOAA elements to integrate satellite ocean
remote sensing into NOAA mission activities. SOCD, via NOAA CoastWatch /
OceanWatch, provides effective and efficient delivery systems for satellite
data utilization through the transition of developmental efforts to
operational activities in conjunction with relevant NOAA components and
other Government and international agencies. These efforts directly
contribute to NOAA's participation in the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing
System (IOOS) and the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS).
