NESDIS News Archive

2012

Reconstructing Western North American Temperatures Over the Past 500 Years

May 13, 2012 - IClimate proxies are naturally preserved records like tree rings or the characteristics of sediments in lakes and oceans that can indicate past climatic conditions through their biological, physical, or chemical connections to environmental conditions.
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NOAA Exploration Command Center Highlights Strong Partnerships

May 1, 2012 - In April, the White House blog invited Web viewers to explore deep-sea habitats in the Gulf of Mexico live from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Okeanos Explorer when it featured the ship's Gulf of Mexico 2012 expedition. National Ocean Policy Draft Implementation Plan.
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PEACESAT: A Communications Lifeline for the Pacific

April 12, 2012 - Affordable, reliable Internet access is hard to come by in many parts of the Pacific Islands, where residents have to pay both hourly and monthly fees just for a dial-up connection. The Pan-Pacific Education and Communication Experiments by Satellite (PEACESAT) program, however, is dedicated to bridging the region's telecommunications gap.
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Down to the Deep: NOAA's Serious Mapping Mission Makes for Fascinating Exploration

March 22, 2012 - Hollywood director James Cameron saw the deepest known spot on the ocean floor on March 25, 2012, when he made history y by becoming the first solo diver to reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench,
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NPP to JPSS Transition Complete

March 6, 2012 - NOAA’s Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) has taken over operations of the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) now that all five of the satellite’s instruments are activated and routinely collecting scientific data.
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VIIRS captures massive Dust Cloud over Texas

March 2, 2012 - Wind gusts upwards of 70 miles per hour pushed a 6,000 foot high dust cloud through Lubbock, Texas on February 20. From its orbit 500 miles above Earth's surface, the Suomi-National Polar Partnership (NPP) satellite's Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) captured this image
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Message from Assistant Administrator Mary Kicza on the President's 2013 Budget

February 21, 2012 - The President submitted his FY 2013 budget request to the Congress on February 13. I want to provide you with the details of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) portion of the budget as well as context for the decisions that were made as this budget was developed. Read more


NPP Resumes Mission Checkout

January 16, 2012 - Since its launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Oct. 28, 2011, the NPP spacecraft and its five instruments have been undergoing initial checkout before starting regular science observations. Activation and checkout of the full suite of instruments was delayed for several weeks after an anomaly was discovered in the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument. Read more


2011

SARSAT Rescuee Visits NOAA

December 5, 2011 - Eric Hopkins, who was rescued from a sinking boat on December 23, 2010, credits NOAA satellites for saving his life from the frigid waters off the Delaware Bay. Last week, he visited NOAA's Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF) Read more


GOES Transitions from 11 to 15

December 5, 2011 - New technology brings higher resolution imagery and more exacting science Read more


Why Change Satellites?

December 5, 2011 - An FAQ about the GOES -11 to Goes-15 transition Read more


NPP Satellite Acquires First VIIRS Image

November 21, 2011 - The Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard NASA's newest Earth-observing satellite, NPP, acquired its first measurements on Nov. 21, 2011. Read more


NPP Successfully Launched

October 28, 2011 - America's newest polar-orbiting satellite roared into orbit this morning, setting the stage for enhanced weather data NOAA scientists will use to develop life-saving severe weather forecasts days in advance. Read more


National Ice Center Gears Up for Winter Ice Rescues

September 22, 2011 - With fall and winter's colder temperatures approaching, the U.S. Coast Guard's Ninth District will soon be using satellite data from the National Ice Center (NIC) to aid in rescue missions involving anyone missing or in potentially life-threatening situations on the ice in the Great Lakes area. Read more


New NOAA center will improve quality of satellite data

September 8, 2011 - A team of experts at NOAA have formed a new center to fine-tune data from NOAA environmental satellites and others from around the world, which will improve the forecast skill of NOAA's weather, climate and ocean models. Read more


NPP Packed and Ready!

August 8, 2011 - On Monday, August 8, 2011, NOAA and NASA gathered in Boulder, CO and celebrated the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) mission as it gets ready to leave the Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation facility in Boulder to journey to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California where it is scheduled for launch on October 25. Read more


NOAA satellites proved critical in forecasts of tornado outbreak

May 4, 2011 - Five days before a powerful storm system unleashed a barrage of deadly tornadoes that tore through six states, NOAA's polar-orbiting satellites helped forecasters at the agency's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) know of the impending danger. Read more


Deepwater Horizon-One Year Later

Mar 17, 2011 - A retrospective report on NESDIS support for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Read more


One Year Later, NOAA Scientist Remembers Deep Water Horizon

Apr 17, 2011 - Rost Parsons, Ph.D. is the chief scientist at NOAA's National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), a division of the National Oceanographic Data Center. Dr. Parsons is also a key member of the interagency Joint Analysis Group (JAG) for Surface and Sub-Surface Oceanography, Oil and Dispersant Data. Dr. Parsons recently spoke about his experience with Deepwater Horizon.
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Satellites Aided Response to Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

Apr 17, 2011 - Last year, the Deep Water Horizon drilling platform explosion which gripped the world"s attention as it quickly became an environmental catastrophe of global proportions Read more


National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) provides Coastal Digital Elevation Models and Geophysical Data Archive to Support Deep Water Horizon (DWH) Response and Recovery.

Apr 17, 2011 - NOAA's NGDC built 10-meter resolution, digital elevation models (DEMs) for New Orleans, LA; Biloxi, MS; Mobile, AL; Panama City, FL; and for the northern Gulf of Mexico. Read more


Gary Davis welcomes 5 new leaders to the JPSS team

Mar 17, 2011 - Gary Davis, Acting Director, Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), recently annouced the addition of five new leaders to the JPSS team. Read more


NOAA Satellites Observe Warming Oceans
Profile: Q&A with Sydney Levitus

Mar 7, 2011 - Sydney Levitus, an award-winning oceanographer and researcher at NOAA, Recently, offered insight on the impact of climate change on the oceans and the crucial role satellites have in ocean research. Read more


WALLOPS CDA Station's Environmental Management System Finds Large Savings in Green Operations

Feb 24, 2011 - "With funding from a 2010 NOAA Green Mini-Grant of $12,200 staff at the Wallops Command and Data Acquisition Station (WCDAS), implemented energy-saving procedures and equipment that will reduce the facility's annual electric consumption by 14% from 2009 to 2010 Read more


Vegetation Health Products from Polar Orbiting Satellites

Feb 5, 2011 - "Vegetation Health (VH) Products provide global and regional estimations of drought, fire risk, soil saturation, malaria and other complex phenomena. For example, drought products include parameters for the early detection Read more


Great Lakes Seasonal Outlook Winter 2010-2011

January 1, 2011 - "La Nina conditions are now occurring in the Pacific Ocean. Typically, La Nina brings colder temperatures over the Great Lakes and more than normal ice conditions. Read more


2010

Northwest Passage
and Northern Sea Route Closed

December 1, 2010 - The National Ice Center has declared the closing of the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route on October 14, 2010. Read more


NESDIS Recognized with Two Gold & One Silver Medal

November 3, 2010 - Group Gold for Leadership; Group Gold for Customer Service; Group Silver for Scientific/Engineering Achievement and more indivudual Gold and Silvers. Read more


2010 Notable Awardees

October 1, 2010 - The combined global land and ocean surface temperature made this July the second warmest on record, behind 1998, and the warmest averaged January-July on record. Read more


Three Hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean As Seen From GOES-13

September 16, 2010 - On Thursday, September 16, 2010, Hurricanes Igor, Karl, and Julia, could be seen from the GOES-13 satellite in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. This rare but not unique parade of storms displays... Read more


NODC Mines Its Historical Archive
for Gulf of Mexico Data

September 15, 2010 - Following the Deepwater Horizon Incident on April 20, and realizing the magnitude of the event, staff at NOAA's National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC)promptly extracted historical Gulf of Mexico data from its online archive and compiled it into a portal format for public access and availability. Read more


NBC4 Visits NSOF Building

September 15, 2010 - On Wednesday, September 15, NBC Channel 4 broadcast a recent visit by NBC meteorologist Veronica Johnson. Read more


NOAA: Second Warmest July and Warmest Year-to-Date Global Temperature on Record

August 13, 2010 - The combined global land and ocean surface temperature made this July the second warmest on record, behind 1998, and the warmest averaged January-July on record. Read more


NESDIS Plays Key Role in NOAA Response to Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

August 1, 2010 - As the world watches a huge mass of oil the size of Jamaica creep toward the Gulf Coast shoreline, NOAA's Satellite and Information Service is playing a key role in the agency's response to this unfolding disaster. Read more

 

Dr. Lubchenco's meeting with First Responders(image gallery)

August 1, 2010 - NOAA's Dr. Lane Lubchenco, along with local and national first responders, speak to the public on efforts being taken to avert a major environmental crisis. Dr. Lubchenco visited Louisiana Gulf Coast Communities within days of the BP Oil Spill to get a first-hand look at the affected areas.
Read More...

 

Products and operations involved in response to Deepwater Horizon incident

May 2010 - A compiled list of NESDIS departments and data centers participating in the response, study and cleanup of the Gulf of Mexico. Read more


Feedback sought from non-federal users of the 1675-1710 MH band spectrum

June 18, 2010 -The FCC issued a Public Notice on June 4, 2010, seeking comments by June 28, 2010 from non-federal users of the 1675-1710 MHz band spectrum. This spectrum is currently used by NOAA satellites and the federal government is considering auctioning it to the commercial sector for mobile broadband use. Read more


2010 Marks 50 Years of NOAA Satellites Keeping Track of Weather and Climate

April 1, 2010 - Fifty years ago on April 1, 1960, the world's first weather satellite lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., and opened a new and exciting dimension in weather forecasting. Top leaders from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) hailed the milestone as an example of their agencies' strong partnership and commitment to flying the best satellites today and beyond Read more


NESDIS satellite operations and product processing remain fully operational throughout blizzard

Febraury 17, 2010 - In spite of massive mounds of snow and the Federal Government being closed because of a one-two punch from Mother Nature, NESDIS satellite operations and product processing personnel delivered top notch service around the clock! Read more


2009

2009 NOAA David Johnson Award

September 21, 2009 - The National Space Club is now accepting nominations for the 2009 NOAA David Johnson Award through December 1, 2009... Read more


GOES 14 Shows First Image

July 27, 2009 - From 22,336 miles in space, NOAA's newest Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – GOES-14 – took its first full-disc visible image... Read more


Coral Bleaching Likely in Caribbean

July 22, 2009 - Scientists from NOAA's Coral Reef Watch Program say conditions are favorable for significant coral bleaching and infectious coral disease outbreaks in the Caribbean... Read more


Global Ocean Surface Temperature Warmest on Record for June

July 17, 2009 - The world's ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record for June, breaking the previous high mark set in 2005, , according to a preliminary analysis by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center... Read more


U.S. Temperature and Precipitation Near-Average for June

July 10, 2009 - The June 2009 temperature and precipitation for the contiguous United States were near the long-term average, based on records going back to 1895... Read more


New NOAA Satellite Reaches Orbit

June 27, 2009 - NOAA and NASA officials announced a new Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), launched tonight, successfully reached orbit... Read more


Fourth Warmest May for Globe

June 17, 2009 - The combined average global land and ocean surface temperatures for May 2009 ranked fourth warmest since worldwide records began in 1880, according to an analysis by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center... Read more


Fifth Warmest April for Globe

May 18, 2009 - The combined average global land and ocean surface temperatures for April 2009 ranked fifth warmest since worldwide records began in 1880, according to an analysis... Read more


Students Selected for 2009 NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholarships

May 18, 2009 - NOAA today selected 122 college students to receive scholarships as part of the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program... Read more


March 2009 Tenth Warmest on Record for Global Temperatures

April 16, 2009 - The combined global land and ocean surface average temperature for March 2009 was the 10th warmest since records began in 1880, according to an analysis... Read more


Ninth Warmest February for Globe

March 13, 2009 - The combined global land and ocean surface average temperature for February 2009 was the ninth warmest since records began in 1880, according to an analysis... Read more


U.S. December-February Temperature Near Average, Above Average for Feb

March 10, 2009 - Temperatures for winter, December 2008 – February 2009, across the contiguous United States were near average, based on records dating back to 1895... Read more


Seventh Warmest January for Global Temperatures

February 18, 2009 - The combined global land and ocean surface average temperature for January 2009 was the seventh warmest since records began in 1880, according to... Read more


January Temperature Slightly Above Average for US.

February 9, 2009 - Temperatures for the contiguous United States last month were slightly above the long-term average, based on records going back to 1895, according to... Read more


NOAA's New Polar-Orbiting Satellite is Launched

February 6, 2009 - A new NOAA polar-orbiting environmental satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California today and is now circling the globe every 102 minutes taking... Read more


NOAA Satellites Helped Rescue 283 People in 2008

January 28, 2009 - NOAA satellites were key factors in the rescues of 283 people throughout the United States and its surrounding waters in 2008. In each incident, NOAA satellites detected and located... Read more


NOAA Prepares to Launch New Polar-Orbiting Satellite for Climate & Weather

January 22, 2009 - A new NOAA polar-orbiting environmental satellite, set to launch next month, will support NOAA's weather and ocean forecasts, including long-range climate predictions for El Niño and La Niña and support... Read more


2008 Global Temperature Ties as Eighth Warmest on Record

January 14, 2009 - The year 2008 tied with 2001 as the eighth warmest year on record for the Earth, based on the combined average of worldwide land and ocean surface temperatures through December... Read more.