Data and images displayed on STAR's site
are provided for experimental use only and are
not official operational NOAA products.
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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.
Workshop on Achieving Satellite Instrument Calibration for
Climate Change (ASIC3)
The Workshop on Achieving Satellite Instrument Calibration for
Climate Change (ASIC3), sponsored by NIST, NASA, NOAA, NPOESS-
IPO, and Space Dynamics Laboratory of Utah State University, was
organized to develop recommendations to improve the accuracy and
predictive usefulness of satellite observations for
studying climate change. The Workshop brought together experts in
satellite instrument calibration, metrology scientists from the
U.S. and U.K. national standards institutes, remote sensing
specialists, and climate data analysts. STAR has been responsible
for editing and preparing the Workshop Report, which has
contributions from 29 scientists, and will publish the printed
hard copy version.
STAR Scientists Organize Workshop on AVHRR plus HIRS Climate Data Records
On November 17-19 2008, NOAA is hosting a Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) and
Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) sponsored
workshop focused on the generation of Climate Data Records (CDRs) from
HIRS and AVHRR observations. The workshop is being organized by STAR
scientists Andy Heidinger, Fred Wu, Paul Menzel, Mitch Goldberg and Changyong Cao.
Complete information on attending the workshop and how it will be
structured.
STAR Hosts NOAA-NIST Meeting on Calibration and Climate Data Records
A one day NOAA-National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) Meeting on Calibration and Climate Data Records was held at
the NOAA Science Center on January 14, 2008. The primary meeting
purpose was to share information about calibration issues related to
developing long-term climate data records from several long-time
NOAA, DMSP and Taiwan satellite instruments. Download presentations.
STAR Personnel Win Gold and Silver Medal Recognition at Department
of Commerce Honor Awards Ceremony
At the 59th Annual Department of
Commerce Honor Awards Program on November 15, 2007, 7 STAR
scientists were honored with Gold or Silver Medals. Paul S.
Chang, Christopher W. Brown, and
Kent H. Hughes received Gold Medals for their
efforts, while W. Paul Menzel, Kent H.
Hughes, Eileen Maturi, Xiangqian
"Fred" Wu, and Cheng-Zhi Zou were honored
with Silver Medal recognition. See details
of the awards and the work recognized.
Clouds from AVHRR Extended Project (CLAVR-x) Launches
New Google Earth Site Serving STAR-Generated AVHRR Imagery
Google Earth users can now access the most
recent high-quality satellite images generated at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison's Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC). The
Clouds from AVHRR Extended Project (CLAVR-x) is now using
Google Earth to display false-color imagery. Currently, the
site shows a pseudo true-color image which uses the AVHRR's 0.63,
0.86 and 10.8 micron channels to simulate what the eye would see
from space. In the future, this site will show other false-color
images to highlight cloud and surface properties as well imaging
derived products. The global coverage of the images will increase
when a new data server comes on line next year. The generation of the Google Earth images
was done by Amato Evan at UW/CIMSS and Andy Heidinger at STAR/CoRP/ASPB
with funding support from NOAA/NESDIS/STAR.
At the 59th Annual Department of
Commerce Honor Awards Program on November 15, 2007, 7 STAR
scientists were honored with Gold or Silver Medals. Paul S.
Chang, Christopher W. Brown, and
Kent H. Hughes received Gold Medals for their
efforts, while W. Paul Menzel, Kent H.
Hughes, Eileen Maturi, Xiangqian
"Fred" Wu, and Cheng-Zhi Zou were honored
with Silver Medal recognition. 
