Campaign Promises

Departments -> Commerce -> NOAA

ItemCommerce
NOAAGrade
CO-2 The Promise: "...the Obama administration will lean forward to deploy a global climate change research and monitoring system..."
When/Where: Obama-Biden Plan: "A Robust and Balanced Program of Space Exploration and Scientific Discovery" dated 08/15/08.
Source: http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/382369main_48%20-%2020090803.2.Space_Fact_Sheet_FINAL.pdf
Status:Throughout his two terms in office, President Obama considered climate change as among his highest national and international priorities. An example of his commitment to this subject is reflected in his 06/13 "Climate Action Plan."

The USA has had climate monitoring systems deployed for decades. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which falls under the Department of Commerce, manages the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). NESDIS acquires and manages the nation's operational environmental satellites, operates the NOAA National Data Centers, provides data and information services including earth system monitoring, performs official assessments of the environment, and conducts related research.

New generations of satellites under the purview of NOAA's NESDIS are being developed to succeed current polar orbiting and geosynchronous satellites:


(1) To replace aging weather satellites and to join an international network of satellites that share data among 191 countries, the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite - R Series (GOES-R) is the next generation of geosynchronous environmental satellites. It will provide atmospheric and surface measurements of the earth's Western Hemisphere for weather forecasting, severe storm tracking, space weather monitoring and meteorological research. GOES-R was launched from Cape Canaveral on 11/19/16, was renamed GOES-16 upon reaching orbit, and became fully operational on 12/18/17.

(2) Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) satellites will carry a suite of sensors designed to collect meteorological, oceanographic, climatological, and solar-geophysical observations of the earth's land, oceans, atmosphere, and near-earth space. The launch of JPSS-1 took place on 11/18/17.

President Obama's efforts to "lean forward" have been reflected in his annual multi-agency climate change related budget requests.

This promise was fulfilled.		1.00
CO-3 The Promise: "Will strengthen baseline climate observations and climate data records to ensure that there are long-term and accurate climate records."
When/Where: Obama-Biden Plan: "A Robust and Balanced Program of Space Exploration and Scientific Discovery" dated 08/15/08
Source: http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/382369main_48%20-%2020090803.2.Space_Fact_Sheet_FINAL.pdf
Status:The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) received $230M from the Stimulus Package of 2009 to supplement its $5.2B budget. $170M of the $230M supplement was intended to be used to improve climate observations and research.

The enacted budget for the NOAA in FY2010 was $4.9B, of which $1.3B was for the development and acquisition of weather satellites and climate sensors (an increase of $284.1M over FY2009) and $600M was for the construction and maintenance of NOAA research facilities and satellites.

President Obama's FY2011 budget submission for the NOAA was $6.1B, of which $2B was intended for the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) polar orbiting and geo-stationary weather satellite systems, satellite-borne measurement of climate variables and other space-based observations. In reality, the total FY2011 budget appropriation for the NOAA was annualized under Continuing Resolution procedures at the $4.8B level. Joint Polar-Orbiting Satellite System (JPSS) and other satellite projects took a funding hit.

For FY2012, the President's budget proposed NOAA funding at the $5.6B level but Congress appropriated $4.9B. Nonetheless, the appropriated funds were sufficient to allocate $1.88B for NOAA's NESDIS program.

For FY2013, the President requested $5.06B, $2.04B of which would be for the NESDIS program, which includes $1.848B for climate monitoring systems acquisition.

This promise was fulfilled.		1.00