I. Introduction
The U.S. Global Change Research program (USGCRP), is a key component of the nation's overall approach to global stewardship and is one of the nation's highest priority science programs.
This program's goal is to provide a sound scientific basis for developing national and international policy relating to natural and humaninduced changes in the Earth system. The ultimate success of the USGCRP depends upon an integrated set of ground-and spacebased observation and research programs. The United States is planning and implementing a series of satellite missions that include NASA's Mission to Planet Earth, related environmental satellites, and activities of other agencies to provide these global observations for the next several decades. For the purposes of this document, these systems are collectively referred to as the Spacebased Global Change Observation System (SGCOS).
II. Objectives
a. General
The Spacebased Global Change Observation System will provide spacebased global observations which together with other observations and studies, coordinated through the U.S. Global Change Research Program, will provide the scientific information to help understand the Earth system.
b. Specific
In support of the USGCRP the SGCOS shall: Improve our ability to detect and document changes in the global climate system to determine, as soon as possible, whether there is global warming or other potentially adverse global environmental changes; and, if changes are detected, determine the magnitude of these changes and identify their causes. Provide data to help identify and understand the complex interactions that characterize the Earth system in order to anticipate changes and differentiate between humaninduced and natural processes. Provide for a data system to manage the information collected by SGCOS as an integral part of the Global Change Data and Information System, consistent with the USGCRP data policy. Provide for the development and demonstration of new spacebased remote sensing technologies for global change observation and identify candidate technologies for future operational use.
III. Implementing Actions
This directive provides guidance to agencies developing, deploying, operating or supporting SGCOS elements to acquire and manage relevant observations and data sets for the USGCRP.
a. International Cooperation
It is recognized that the goals and objectives of the U.S. Global Change Research Program can best be achieved through the mutuallyreinforcing research of all nations and many organizations and programs which require a large measure of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Accordingly, participating agencies may explore, in accordance with this directive and established procedures, international cooperation in spacebased global change observation.
b. Interagency Coordination
Spacebased Global Change Observation System activities are conducted in the context of the USGCRP. The Federal Coordinating Council on Science, Engineering, and Technology (FCCSET), through its Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences (CEES), is responsible for developing and coordinating the USGCRP, and for the activities and requirements of the USGCRP and, therefore, for the Spacebased Global Change Observation System. All SGCOS agencies shall participate with other USGCRP agencies and the CEES in the development and coordination of the Spacebased Global Change Observation System Program Plan. The provision, management, and exchange of data will be a key element of the USGCRP.
The CEES will coordinate the interagency development of the Global Change Data and Information System (GCDIS) which integrates appropriate observations, regardless of platform basing mode or orientation of data (land, oceanographic, atmospheric, or space). All agencies involved with SGCOS will participate with other USGCRP agencies in planning for the GCDIS, with a goal of maximizing the system's interoperability. Data sets intended for the GCDIS shall be responsive to the requirements of, and be accessible to, global change scientists and U.S. Government authorized research and operational users.
c. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)