NOAA LRD/HRD Questionnaire Preliminary Results

1. NOAA LRD/HRD Questionnaire Preliminary Results CGMS 40 WG-I

2. Current and Planned Use of the L-band and X-band Direct Readout Services for JPSS • Missions supported by the HRPT sites • The HRPT stations support a variety of critical missions vital to preventing loss of life reducing property damage, promoting the US economy and sustaining wildlife. • For the NOAA Coastwatch program, these sites support ocean dynamics monitoring and forecasting, fisheries, ocean productivity, cruise support, public health (vibrio and HABs), ocean pollution and sediment transport, and through the operational distribution of in-situ Argos data, all missions (ocean, weather, climate, marine safety, etc.) supported by the Argos system.  • NWS operations for the greater Pacific Ocean, all programs and operations including tropical analysis and forecasting via the Central Pacific Hurricane Center are support by real-time satellite data from polar-orbiting satellites.  • In addition, real-time polar-orbiting satellite data is critical for analyzing and monitoring wild-fires.

3. Current and Planned Use of the L-band and X-band Direct Readout Services for JPSS • HRPT stations that responded to the survey: • NWS Alaska Region (Anchorage , Fairbanks, and Point Barrow HRPT stations) did not respond to the survey questions, but did note they plan to uses HRD data via the NESDIS Fairbanks CDA station rather then update their L-Band sites to X-band.

4. Questionnaire and responses • Is the data for the LRD service needed in near real-time? • 4 sites responded positive that satellite data was required in real time from polar satellites • Obtained data via alternative dissemination method(s) • 1 site - no alternative dissemination method available • 1 site – Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN) • 1 site – CLASS • 1 site - no response • The Importance of an L-band service to your operations • 4 sites responded an L-band service is extremely critical to meet the timeliness, reliability and efficiency to support their mission.

5. Current and Planned Use of the L-band and X-band Direct Readout Services for JPSS • Current HRPT users consider upgrading to HRD (implies L-band services is still available) • 2 sites are considering upgrading to HRD • 2 sites are not sure • Plan to transition to the HRD service if an L-band service is not available on JPSS • 2 sites – yes, if there is financial support • 2 sites – no response

6. Current and Planned Use of the L-band and X-band Direct Readout Services for JPSS • Timeliness of the JPSS EDRs • 4 sites – near real-time • 1 of the 4 sites indicated it could accept data with a 3 hour delay. • Data transmitted in X-band, is there a need for L-band • 2 sites- not needed • 2 sites - needed for other reason • Alternative ways would meet your operational needs • 1-site – no alternative available • 1 site – CLASS • 0 sites – Internet • 0 sites – Land-lines • 1 site – other (SBN data feed)

7. Current and Planned Use of the L-band and X-band Direct Readout Services for JPSS • Conclusions: • The current L-band service is widely used to support NOAA services and missions. • The satellite data is required in real-time • Supports fire weather, NWS watches and warnings etc. • Respondents were concerned with the costs to upgrade to X-band service • While the cost is an issue respondents felt the x-band broadcast could meet their data needs • Internet was not considered an alternative • Especially in the pacific region internet reliability is not sufficient to support operations • 2 sites indicated the need for both L-band and HRD. Further discussions are needed to capture the rationale for requiring both broadcasts. • NWS Alaska Region Is using land lines to receive data from an existing HRD station, other L-band sites may consider this approach. • It was suggested this questionnaire should be sent to the global HRPT community for their input. This would allow a more open and unobstructed view of the requirements for L-band and X-band services.