Space symposium tackles CO2

by Thea Skinner

Colorado Springs, Colo. - An all for one and one for all approach to climate change echoed during the 25th Annual Space Symposium at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. April 1. Our World in the Next Space Age – Addressing Climate Change Through Space session concerned partnering across platforms while using the role of space systems in carbon emission analysis and mitigation.

“The critical element is to build consensus through analysis,” said Damon Wells, senior policy analyst in the Executive Office of the President.

Monitoring through land, water and air sensors or satellites provides understanding of drought patterns along with people and specie patterns.

“We all know CO2 recognizes no boundaries and climate change respects no nation’s sovranty, so treaties and intergovernmental cooperation is critical. The proposed United States lead GEOSS, Global Earth Observing System of Systems has enormous potential. I do not see enough drive and there is lack of coordination between countries.” said Dr. Alexis C. Livanos, Northrop Grumman Corporation vice president and chief technology officer.

Ecosystem monitoring through such systems as GEOSS, will drive establishment of laws concerning a carbon emissions, CO2, thresholds.

“Two billion people and one half of our species of the planet depend on the tropical forests to survive. These tropical forests zones are carbon sinks,” he said. At present, “Data from the tropics is collected from a biologist that hand counts species and from a space-based global view leaving a gap in the ecosystem monitoring essential to future mitigation efforts.”

As part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Strategic Satellite Plan, transition teams are being formed to address climate change through avenues such as solar, wind and ocean color vision.

“Ultimately we (NOAA) are looking for our most robust and flexible measurements to make climate data records available, said Abby Harper, United States Department of Commerce NOAA deputy assistant administrator for Systems Satellite and Information Service. “NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is meeting the needs of carbon scientists.”

We have the opportunity to serve new and interconnected sectors, she said.

Through the administration’s Operational Earth Observing System, eight study contracts have gone to companies and grant partnerships are available in several industries and sectors, Harper said.