Legal Definitions - NESDIS

NESDIS stands for the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service.

NESDIS is a vital component of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Its primary mission is to manage and provide access to the nation's environmental data from satellites and other sources. This includes operating a fleet of Earth-observing satellites, processing the vast amounts of environmental data they collect, and making this information available to a wide range of users, from weather forecasters and climate scientists to emergency managers and the general public. NESDIS plays a crucial role in monitoring Earth's weather, climate, oceans, and coasts, supporting critical decision-making and scientific research.

• Example 1: Hurricane Tracking and Public Safety

  Imagine a powerful hurricane forming in the Atlantic Ocean, threatening coastal communities. Meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center rely heavily on real-time satellite imagery and data to track the storm's path, intensity, and potential for landfall. NESDIS operates the geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites that capture these crucial images and atmospheric measurements. It processes this raw data and quickly disseminates it to forecasters, enabling them to issue accurate warnings and advisories, giving residents time to prepare or evacuate.

  This example illustrates NESDIS's role in providing immediate, actionable environmental data from satellites that is critical for public safety and disaster preparedness.

• Example 2: Monitoring Ocean Health and Fisheries

  Marine biologists are studying the long-term health of coral reefs and the distribution of fish populations in a particular ocean region. They need to understand changes in sea surface temperature, ocean color (which indicates plankton levels), and currents over many years. NESDIS maintains extensive archives of satellite data, including decades of observations on these very parameters. Researchers can access these comprehensive datasets through NESDIS to analyze trends, identify environmental stressors, and inform sustainable fisheries management or conservation efforts.

  This demonstrates NESDIS's function as a steward of long-term environmental data, providing essential information for scientific research and the management of natural resources like marine ecosystems.

• Example 3: Agricultural Drought Monitoring

  Farmers in a Midwestern state are experiencing a prolonged period of dry weather, raising concerns about crop yields. They need reliable information on soil moisture levels and vegetation health across their vast fields to make informed decisions about irrigation, planting, and potential crop insurance claims. NESDIS provides satellite-derived products, such as vegetation health indices and drought severity maps, which are generated from its satellite observations. Agricultural agencies and even individual farmers can access this data to monitor conditions, assess drought impact, and plan their operations more effectively.

  This highlights NESDIS's contribution to practical applications for resource management, showing how environmental data can support economic sectors like agriculture by providing critical insights for decision-making during challenging conditions.