NPOESS Contributions to Climate Observations

The Environmental Data Products (EDRs) generated from the science instrument suite on the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) contribute to 16 of the 26 essential climate variables (ECVs) that are observable from space. NPOESS has the capacity to accommodate additional sensors to increase support for observing climate variables. This poster provides an overview of the ECVs that NPOESS will support and potential sensors that NPOESS could accommodate to support additional ECVs.

Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (NGAS) is the system prime contractor for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). The United States is developing the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System through the Integrated Program Office (IPO), comprised of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of Defense (DoD), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).