While satellite platforms enable critical operational, research, and discipline-bridging Earth observations, non-satellite platforms have also proven instrumental in each of these areas. In fact, many satellite-borne instruments begin development as ground- and aircraft-based analogs, and essential satellite calibration/validation work relies on observations collected by sensors on non-satellite platforms. We use the term non-satellite, or suborbital, platforms to include anything not in space that hosts instruments - this includes aircraft, ships/vessels, balloons, buoys, vehicles, and stationary sites. Data obtained from instruments on these platforms are typically used initially for a specific, relatively focused purpose, whether operational like weather forecasting and environmental monitoring, or for research in a variety of disciplines, including physical process studies, validation of satellite observations and algorithms, assessment of numerical model output, and more.
The heterogeneity of collections of non-satellite observations is as vast as the science applications they serve, and this complexity creates significant challenges for data stewardship. Agencies are addressing these challenges in different ways. Publicly funded agencies have a responsibility to ensure access to data for emerging science questions and applications perhaps not envisioned or even possible at the time of data collection. As scientific studies now look to document and analyze changes to and variability in Earth’s natural processes, the treasure trove of suborbital data serve as irreplaceable records of the state of our planet at specific points in time and space. This session welcomes contributions relating to all aspects of non-satellite data stewardship, including data discovery, access, metadata, archival, formats and transformations, care of historical data, cloud optimization, and supporting FAIR and Open Science. Additionally, data user perspectives on challenges with locating, accessing, and using suborbital data, as well as the critical role these data can and will continue to play in assessing and documenting climate variability and change are encouraged.
The goal of the session is to advance inner- and cross-agency discussions and practices to protect and enhance the scientific and economic returns on the investment made in collecting these unique and valuable observations.
Potential Invited Presentations:
- Overview of NASA’s Airborne and Field Resource Center
- Promote the second Airborne and Field Data Workshop - which will be held in 2024 - and solicit for community interest/involvement
- One or more current/recent field campaign data representative (a PI, data manager, Science Team member/SME data user, etc)
- Indicates paper has been withdrawn from meeting
- Indicates an Award Winner