1. EPA’s Role in the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)
Jacques Kapuscinski
Office of Research and Development
U.S. EPA

2. GEOSS Global Earth Observation System of Systems
Taking the pulse of the planet by linking observations, models, and analysis to information for decisions and living.
88 State Environmental Agencies, Departments, Commissions, & Boards
One to five per state
See
570 Tribal Goverments & Organizations
See
EPA is, for the most part, the pipeline for GEOSS data & information to them.
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3. GEOSS -Linking data from satellite sensors, aerial sources and ground-based monitors on land, ocean and air to help us think globally and act locally to protect human health and the environment.
GEOSS will provide a system of systems for acquiring, archiving, distributing, and analyzing earth systems using an integrated international network of space, airborne, and surface sensors

4. Why GEOSS? The more we understand the Earth, the
better stewards we become.
Water Resources
Disasters
Climate Change
EPA science involves all aspects of the earth environment
Ecological Forecasts
Energy Resources
Health
Sustainable Agriculture
Ocean Resources
Weather

5. Contributing Factors to First Earth Observation Summit in Washington, DC, July, 2003
Increasing “Global Awareness,” Premature Forerunners of the GEOSS Concept, and Major Advances in Computing and Information (Enabling) Technologies
United Nations Millennium Declaration Challenges and the Millennium Development Goals, September 2000
World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa, August 2002
Group of 8 Countries (G8) Heads of State Meeting in Evian, France; Science and Technology for Sustainable Development – a G8 Action Plan, June 3, 2003

7. EPA’s Theoretical “Niche”
Both User and Provider of data/models
Information Linkages from Observations to all Nine Societal Benefit Areas
EPA’s Connections with State/Local/Tribal Environmental Agencies
Environmental Health Decision-Making
Assessment, Regulatory Action, Guidance, Uncertainty, Accountability, etc.
Report on the Environment and Indicators
Sustainable Development

8. The GEOSS Architecture
Users and Scientific Communities Served By:
GEOSS Common Approaches Systems within their Mandates
Personal
Decisions

9. GEOSS and Environmental Health Decision-Making
This new “system of systems” will improve the current framework for environmental monitoring and accountability, which exists largely in support of regulatory imperatives, but does not yet comprehensively communicate the information and models needed for decision-makers and the public to understand today's complex environmental questions and track the observable progress being made by EPA.

10. Partnerships and Collaboration; An Example Characterizing Air Quality
Modeling
Satellite
Monitoring

11. A series of fires break out in Alaska June 30, 2004
A series of fires break out in Alaska June 30, This regional event impacted air quality as far away as England.
A 2004 Alaskan Fire Event Demonstrates the Power of Integrating Many Types and Sources of Air Quality Data

12. Computer models are used to fill in the gaps where EPA does not monitor and helps us understand why measurements might be as they are.
NOAA/EPA Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) Model Estimates Fine Particle Values for the Eastern U.S.

13. Satellite and meteorological data combined helps us understand where and if the particles will impact air quality at the ground.
Adding NOAA’s Meteorological Data Helps us Understand the Plume Movement

14. All of the data combined indicate that the increased levels of fine particles measured on July 21, 2004 in North Carolina were due to the Alaskan fire event.
We Take Advantage of the Strengths of Each Data Type by Analyzing the Data Together.

15. TAKING THE PULSE OF THE PLANET: Developing Data into Knowledge
The challenge: To combine existing and future data at various temporal and spatial scales in a meaningful way, transform the data into new knowledge, and connect the knowledge with agency decision support systems thereby improving the science foundation of environmental decisions.
This is the true value of GEOSS.
For EPA, it means being better able to:
Survey and assess the health of humans and the environment
Identify and mitigate stresses threatening that health, and
Evaluate our effectiveness at regulating pollution by creating new accountability metrics.
EPA is getting good at identifying collaborative opportunities that help improve environmental and health decisions. Moving beyond air and water media decisions, to land decisions, and multimedia and global decisions are the next challenges. The development of Earth observation systems needs to keep in mind the continuum from data collection to decision-makers. Engage EPA early in the development phase as a collaborative partner to improve the chances that the system developed and its products will be used in decision-making.

16. ** Everyday is Earth Day **
We’re always thinking globally and acting locally.