NOAA/NESDIS Product Investment Approach

The use of satellite data and products is an integral factor in supporting NOAAs mission objectives. The NESDIS Office of Common Services (OCS) has formed a close partnership between the other NESDIS Offices to ensure Level-2+ product investments align with the NOAA mission and NOAA Line Office (National Weather Service, National Ocean Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Office of Atmospheric Research) Strategic Plans, limit redundancy between funding partners, and maximize impact opportunity. The OCS has implemented a product investment approach that responds to NOAA Line Office mission objectives, ensures robust operations, and incorporates the results of scientific innovation. In order to effectively achieve these objectives, OCS works closely with other offices within NESDIS to gather, review, categorize, and fund projects that address Line Office needs, support product operations, and integrate research and innovative techniques. In addition to funding non-discretionary projects, this process includes steps to release a NESDIS call for proposals for new product development, product enhancements, and algorithm transition to operations concepts that amplify the NESDIS Level-2 product portfolios. Proposals will be reviewed and selected collectively by the funding partners. This approach seeks to strengthen cross-NOAA coordination for NESDIS product investments, benefit the scientific strength of NOAA, and enable clearer pathways into operations for geophysical products. This paper will describe the NESDIS Level-2+ product investment approach and provide examples of Line Office needs and NESDIS’ response to those needs.