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Satellite Meteorology and Climatology Division

Mission Statement

SMCD conducts research and develops new satellite products to improve and expand the use of satellite data for monitoring global meteorological, environmental and climatological conditions. The Division conducts an endto- end program ranging from planning new satellite instruments to developing new satellite products and applications and transitioning these developments to operations in NOAA's weather, climate, and environmental monitoring and prediction systems. Most of the Division's research and development falls in the following discipline areas:

  • Atmospheric variables - temperature, humidity, winds
  • Land surface variables - vegetation, snow and ice cover
  • Hydrological Cycle variables - precipitation, clouds, water vapor
  • Environmental hazards - aviation hazards, air quality, fires, heavy rainfall and flash floods, drought
  • Climate variables - ozone, Earth radiation budget, aerosols, greenhouse gases

In addition to developing new and improved products, we conduct the following crosscutting activities:

  • Calibrating satellite instruments
  • Transitioning research products to operational production
  • Developing radiative transfer models for the National Weather Service (NWS) Numerical Weather
  • Prediction (NWP) satellite data assimilation systems
  • Developing and analyzing long-term satellite data sets for studying and assessing climate change
  • Planning and preparing for new satellite instruments

To execute its activities, SMCD has an active visiting scientist program, an extensive task order contract support system, and access to Cooperative Institutes via grants, which provides scientists and software specialists to support the SMCD investigators. Its scientists also collaborate with colleagues both nationally and internationally.

SMCD organization chart

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Satellite Meteorology and
Climatology Division (SMCD)
2007 Annual Report

Download SMCD's FY2007 Annual Report (PDF, 5MB)

As an organization focused on the research and development of new satellite products, SMCD is actively engaged and committed to improve and expand the use of satellite data for monitoring global meteorological, environmental and climatological conditions.

I am very proud to share this report on our accomplishments, which include the Division's completed tasks, highlights from workshops and meetings attended, published papers, and training provided during the 2007 Fiscal Year.

We contributed to the Center for Satellite Applications and Research's (STAR) mission through the following outcomes:

  • High quality calibrated observations and products from NOAA, METOP, The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) and the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) satellite observations;
  • Improved utilization of satellite observations and demonstration of new products from NOAA and non-NOAA satellites to support NOAA mission goals;
  • Development and enhancement of product processing systems for transition to Operations;
  • Leadership and development of new algorithms and applications for future satellite observing systems (NPOESS and GOES-R);
  • National and International Collaborations;
  • Education, Outreach and Training.

I hope you enjoy reading about our accomplishments as they demonstrate the dedication of the hard-working staff in SMCD. I am confident that our highly talented staff and our commitment to investment in research and development will continue to support further progress in the year ahead. I look forward to working with our team and partners as we continue to improve in FY08.