IRS3 - CIVIL REQUIREMENTS FOR POLAR ORBITING METSAT DATA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP92B00181R001801710003-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 10, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: February 16, 1979
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/02/08: CIA-RDP92B00181 R001801710003-0
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20330
16 February 1979
MEMORANDUM FOR DR. COOK
SUBJECT: IRS3 - Civil Requirements for Polar Orbiting Metsat Data
The civil metsat program is managed by the National Environmental Satellite
Service (NESS) of NOAA and consists of two satellite systems: geostationary
(2 s/c) and polar orbiting (2 s/c). In general, the overall public safety (tornado/hur-
ricane) and commercial (TV, etc.) civil U.S. responsibilities are satisfied by the
civil geostationary metsats (see TAB A). The polar orbiting satellites primarily
provide data for the global numerical forecast models. Both systems support
international data exchange programs. The following summarizes the current
civil plan and the primary civil requirements for polar orbiting metsats:
A. Civil Plan:
1. Spacecraft: Two Polar Orbiting TIROS-N S/C
I - 1500L Descending (launched Oct 78)
2 - 0730L Ascending (planned 1st Qtr CY 79)
2. Orbits: Nodal times selected to balance following requirements:
1 - Maximize worldwide total coverage
2 - Meet timelines to run forecast models at 0320/152OZ
with priority coverage in eastern Pacific to maximize
data for storms approaching the west coast.
3 - Meet power (solar panel exposure)/lifetime/orbit
stability requirements.
B. Civil Requirements:
Direct Users (TAB B summarizes type observations needed)
1 - National Meteorological Center (NMC) at NOAA
2 - U.S. and International receivers of real-time broadcast
of visual imagery.
1. National Meteorological Center (NMC): primary organization
2
~Z
supplying products derived from civil polar metsat data to
users. NMC bases most of its support on numerical forecast
Q
-4
U
M
models which require only temperature profile (T) and pressure
(P) height data to run. Necessary data usually. provided by
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 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/02/08: CIA-RDP92B00l81 R001801710003-0
balloon soundings of T and P taken worldwide at 0000 and
120OZ. Start time of model processing controlled solely by.
time of receipt of balloon data. Satellite IR "sounders" measure
radiance of CO2in atmosphere at 14-16 micron wavelength
to determine approximate temperature of atmosphere at
several heights. Satellite data are not as good as balloon
data; therefore, primary benefit of satellite soundings is over
data sparse areas; e.g., oceans, tropics, and southern hemisphere.
Wind, moisture and cloud forecasts are derived from these
models.
a.
Three Models
Model
Start
Time(Z)
Coverage Use of Metsat.
(1) Limited
0130
N.America Probably not
Fine Mesh
1330
(2) 7-Level
0320
N.Hemisphere Moderate
1520
(if timelines met)
(3) 9-Level
1000
Global Major
2000
(S. Hemisphere)
b.
Output
1.. Winds, temperature, pressure and moisture,
global analyses and forecasts to (1) local forecast
offices,(2) airlines, and (3) other users.
2. Recorded satellite imagery: cloud, snow and
ice cover for land and ocean shipping.
3. Satellite thermal imagery: land and sea surface
temperature.
c. NMC Summar : TAB C summarizes the NMC
evaluation of their total metsat requirements.
2. U.S. and International Users with appropriate inexpensive
equipment receive unencrypted real-time broadcasts of visual
imagery.
3. All Others:
a. Space environment monitoring - STS and communications
support.
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 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/02/08: CIA-RDP92B00l81 R001801710003-0
b. Ozone and Global Cloud Reflectance - Climate
forecast support.
c. Others as indicated in TAB B.
TAB D summarizes the polar metsat requirements as indicated in the POOMBSCOB
report. DOD could meet all of these civil metsat requirements by modifying some
existing DOD sensors and by carrying the NOAA-unique sensors.
PAUL D. TRY
Lt Colonel, USAF
Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/02/08: CIA-RDP92B00181 R001801710003-0
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SETTER
RESDLUTIOP
TIMELINESS
ACCURACY
PC RE
QJA (TITATIVE
TAILORED
SEVERE ST=71t
SURFACE TE?iP5
SOUNbINGS
WINDS
IMAGERY (QQJOS)
NEAT BUDGET
SPACE ENVIRONMENT
BATA CL`1LECTION
FLASH FLOODS_
OCEANIC OSS
SOIL MOISTURE,
PRECIPITATION
FIRE DANGER
MOISTURE (WINDS),
OZONE
RADIATION BUDGET
ATADSPHERIC CCNSTITU?NTS
CLIMATE PARAMETERS
SEARCH E RESCUE
SHIP LOCATION E?
WX REPORTS
CLOUD NEPHAYALISS
FIGURE 4. Today's Observational Needs with
a Preliminary List of Tororr'A's
Kost Urgent Needs
Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/02/08: CIA-RDP92B00181 R001801710003-0
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/02/08: CIA-RDP92B00181 R001801710003-0
t= x A~.~ tE s of C\\J L S &'Pe `~Ec~.~~,~FM S
=Geostationary Satellite System
Polar Orbiting Satellite System
EYA?, LGS:
Activities Directly Benefiting from Current Environmental C;.J;t
Satellite Programs
1.. Gulf Stream Navigation for Fuel Savings-P
Loca-