Description: System responsivity refers to the infrared
(IR) spectrum to which the IR detectors will respond, and
the specification states that the IR system responsivity
should not vary by more than 6.2% over the 5-year life span
of the spacecraft.

3.

Impact: Worst case analysis, which takes into account the
degradations to optical and electronic components over the
5-year life span, shows that towards the end-of-life (EOL)
the responsivity may change 6.2% in the longwave (LW)
channels and 6.1% in the midwave (MW) channels.
The very
slight estimated 1.2% increased noise at EOL is well below
the accuracy of the method of estimation and will have a
negligible impact on products. Since none of the factors
affecting the degradation expected over the 5-year lifespan
will change, the spec was relaxed to 6.2% EOL.

NOISE EQUIVALENT CHANGE IN RADIANCE (NEdn)

Description: The NEdN parameter defines the sensitivity of each IR channel to changes in the scene temperature or radiance. A lower NEdN implies increased sensitivity, which provides better performance.

Specification GOES-I (2185) GOES-J (2223) GOES-K (2251)

4.

5.

Impact: Simulations of the GOES-I sounder temperature
and moisture retrievals and on-orbit GOES-8/9 data show
no significant effects on products. Only the (LW)
channels remain out-of-specification in the GOES-J/K
Sounder, and the tolerances are improved. The Sounder
LW NEdN performance remains detector limited.

CHANNEL-TO-CHANNEL CO-REGISTRATION

Description: Co-registration is the requirement for each of
the 19 channels to observe the same scene within ± 22 urads
(0.8 KM).

NOTE: The specification was changed (CCR#440, June 95) such that the channels within each band (LW, MW, and SW) are coregistered to the window channel in that band. The channel alignments of the GOES-K were performed under the old spec., however, spec. compliance was measured against the new spec. Impact: Simulation experiments of the measured GOES-I misregistration compared to the case conducted with no misregistration show virtually no impact on accuracy, yield, or cloud discrimination due to the co-registration errors. The GOES-J mis-registration errors are comparable to the GOES-I. The on-orbit performance of GOES 8/9 shows no significant impact on products due to mis-registration.

VISIBLE ENCIRCLED ENERGY

Description: The visible encircled energy response is a measure of the percentage of light focused within specified field-of-views of the instrument.

6.

Impact: The GOES-I was just within specification and
the GOES-J was slightly out-of-spec at 1.5 times the
instantaneous field-of-view (IGFOV). GOES-K is comparable
at 1.5 and marginally out-of-spec at 1.25. GOES-8/9 show no
significant degradation to products.

RELATIVE CALIBRATION

Description: The relative calibration or precision of the instrument has been calculated for Blackbody calibration to Blackbody calibration; line-to-line calibration; channel-tochannel calibration; and detector-to-detector calibration for each channel. Final calibration of the instrument is conducted on-orbit.

Specification GOES-I (2209) GOES-J (2209) GOES-K (2275)
± 0.1°K
SNDR 0.25°K SNDR 0.25°K SNDR 0.25°K

Impact: The GOES Calibration Taskforce has determined that the precision of the Sounder has been sufficiently

established during ground testing to allow adequate on-orbit calibration of the instrument. GOES-8/9 on-orbit performance shows no significant impact on products.

APPENDIX 3: Answers to Post-Hearing Questions Submitted by Members of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment

COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Hearing

on

Fiscal Year 1999 Budget Authorization Request:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

March 4, 1998

Post-Hearing Questions Submitted to

Dr. D. James Baker

Under Secretary Oceans and Atmosphere
U.S. Department of Commerce and

Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Status of Authorizations

Q1.

What is the status of authorization for all of NOAA's programs for FY 1999? Please provide the following:

Q1.1.

A list of all current authorizations in existing law for the National Ocean Service;
National Marine Fisheries Service; Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National
Weather Service; National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service;
Program Support; and Facilities.

The specific amounts authorized by each of these existing laws;

Q1.2.

Q1.3.

The FY 1999 request for activities carried out by each such existing law; and

The portion of the FY 1999 request not authorized by each such existing law.

Al.

Q1.4.

For most NOAA activities, appropriation authorizations for FY 1999 are provided by organic acts or specific statutes, and the remaining are currently authorized through the enactment of appropriations. For example, appropriations necessary to carry out the operations, research, systems acquisition and other programs and activities of the National Weather Service are authorized under the organic Weather Service Act of 1890, as amended (15 U.S.C. 312 et seq.). Appropriations necessary to carry out the surveys and investigations of the National Ocean Service and the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service are authorized under the Coast and Geodetic Survey Act of 1947, as amended (33 U.S.C. 883a et seq.). This latter Act authorizes appropriations for NOAA's navigational services, including hydrographic surveys, mapping, charting, geodesy and tide and current data acquisition, as well as satellite observing and data and information systems. The two organic acts also authorize appropriations for the research activities and programs of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, as well as for