POLAR SATELLITES: NOAA Faces Challenges and Uncertainties that Could Affect the Availability of Critical Weather Data

Abstract

Polar-orbiting satellites provide data that are essential to support weather observations and forecasts. NOAA is preparing to launch the second satellite in the JPSS program in March 2017, but a near-term gap in polar satellite coverage remains likely. Given the criticality of satellite data to weather forecasts and the potential impact of a satellite data gap, GAO added this area to its High-Risk List in 2013.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 07, 2016
Accession Number
AD1176892

Entities

People

  • David A. Powner

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Communication Satellites
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Governments
  • Ground Control Stations
  • Information Security
  • Information Systems
  • Meteorological Satellites
  • Risk
  • Risk Management
  • Spacecraft
  • Standards
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Vulnerability
  • Weather Forecasting

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites