Consistent with the ambitious NEWS challenge and ESE objectives, the timetable for the implementation of NEWS extends over a 15 year period. During this period, NEWS participants are expected to collect, analyze and interpret observational data from archived records and on-going observing systems, contribute to the preparation of new space-flight missions, advance predictive models of the global energy and water cycle, and lay the foundation for future developments (including potential new observing techniques). NEWS participants are also expected to examine and test new application practices in partnership with relevant operational agencies and industry.
The Plan
Since initiation of the project by NASA and publication of the Science Implementation Plan in 2007, NEWS has focused on addressing the range of Phase 1 objectives. The first phase focuses on the first coordinated attempt to describe the complete global energy and water cycle using existing and forthcoming satellite and ground based observations, and laying the foundation for essential NEWS developments in model representations of atmospheric energy and water exchange processes. This comprehensive energy and water data analysis program must exploit crucial datasets, some still requiring complete re-processing, and new satellite measurements. These data products will then be evaluated for accuracy and consistency, in part by using them in the first diagnosis of the weather-scale (space and time) variations of the global energy and water cycle over the past one-two decades . The primary objective is to ensure that results of this analysis effort serve as a recognized data basis to compare with corresponding climate statistics produced by existing climate models, quantify systematic deficiencies, and identify needed improvements. The data records to be produced through these efforts are mandatory for developing and validating models that meet NEWS scientific requirements.
Here you can read the full verison of the Implimentation Plan or the Executive Summay of the Implimentation Plan.
The Roadmap
At the same time, this implementation plan calls for the development of radically new model representations of energy and water exchange processes that resolve significant process scales and spatial variability in ground boundary conditions. Such process-resolving models may be first constructed as independent stand-alone modules that can be tested against ad hoc field measurements and systematic observations at selected experimental sites. At a later stage, the codes may be simplified through statistical sampling of process-scale variables or otherwise reduced to generate integrated fluxes representative of each grid-element in a climate model. Finally, the implementation plan calls for broad exploration of potential new observing techniques concerning all aspects of the energy and water cycle, and initiating relevant technical feasibility and scientific benefit studies.
Click to see a full-size image, or download a PDF version of the NEWS Roadmap
Tasks and Gaps
NEWS Project Flexibility: As stated in the NRA, selected NEWS investigations are expected to interact proactively with other NEWS investigators to optimize progress toward integrating NASA Earth Science Enterprise System components to make decisive progress toward the NEWS challenge. This requires some modification of investigators' tasks to optimize integration (i.e. identify and eliminate areas of potential overlap) and fill NEWS team gaps as they become apparent. This will also require frequent communication via telephone conferences and by attending at least one (TBD) NEWS team meeting per year.
Download a copy of the NEWS Phase-1 Tasks and Gaps document.
Ten Year Progress Report
Download a copy of the Ten Year Progress Report.
