Earth Observations: Providing a Peek at Planet Earth   September 2005  Foreward: Exploring 'One Ocean'  1  Earth Observations-Providing a Peek at Planet Earth 4  Emerging Space-Based Radar Altimeter Technologies 6  Autonomous Mission Operations Systems 13  Mobile Unmanned Systems On, Over, and Under the Sea 17  Environmental Products from NOAA Satellites 22  Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation 27  Improved Observing for Surface Transportation 32  Systems Engineering for IOOS 38  Sigma Spotlight NOAA-Building a Solid Architecture Foundation 44

Introduction

Later this month, scientists, engineers, and other specialists will gather from around the world to consider the future of the earth's oceans at the OCEANS 2005 Conference. The experts gathering under the theme of "One Ocean" will again confirm that we have only begun to understand, appreciate, and explore the oceans as complex and dynamic ecosystems. The OCEANS 2005 Conference will provide a venue for these experts to consider not only the current state of the oceans, and the significant stress factors currently placed on these ecosystems, but also to contemplate possible immediate and future actions required to ensure the continued health of our oceans.

As these ocean experts convene, a major international initiative is currently seeking to significantly improve our ability to observe and understand conditions on Planet Earth-the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). Working together, 54 countries are developing this system incorporating a wide variety of sensor, processing, and networking technologies with the express purpose of significantly improving our abilities to observe current and predict future environmental and climatic conditions. The scope of GEOSS-based observations includes not only the oceans, but also the Earth's land masses and atmosphere.

The release of this edition of Sigma intentionally coincides with the beginning of the OCEANS 2005 Conference. Guest Editor Steve Holt and the Sigma authors address advancements in the field of earth observation, highlighting the oceanic environment. The articles address topics and experiences from Noblis' considerable work program related to meteorological, earth, and ocean sciences, as well as related technologies.

I hope the presented articles and the resultant discussions are informative and stimulating to our normal Sigma readers, but also to the experts gathered at OCEANS 2005. By working together, cooperatively developing observing systems and sharing knowledge, perhaps we can better understand our "One Ocean."

H. Gilbert Miller, Ph.D.
Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
hgmiller@noblis.org