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27 June 2003

U.S., Europe Share Environmental Data from Polar Satellites

(Press release on NOAA-EUMETSAT partnership) (360)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the
European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological
Satellites (EUMETSAT) have signed a long-term agreement on sharing
environmental data collected by satellites orbiting the north and
south poles.
The signing ceremony was held at EUMETSAT headquarters in Darmstadt,
Germany.
"We look forward to working with EUMETSAT and its European members in
achieving our common vision for a comprehensive Earth observing system
that will enhance our ability to understand and manage our shared
global environmental systems and resources," said Conrad C.
Lautenbacher, Jr., administrator of NOAA, which is a branch of the
U.S. Commerce Department.
Following is a press release:
(begin text)
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C.
www.commerce.gov
NOAA AND EUMETSAT SIGN EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM AGREEMENT
NOAA and EUMETSAT, Europe's Meteorological Satellite Organization,
earlier this week signed the Joint Transition Activities Regarding
Polar-Orbiting Operational Environment Satellite Systems Agreement
during a ceremony held at EUMETSAT Headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany.
Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.)
undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA
administrator, and Dr. Tillmann Mohr, EUMETSAT's director-general,
signed the Agreement that will ensure the ongoing delivery of vital
environmental data well into the second decade of the twenty-first
century.
"The NOAA-EUMETSAT partnership is a model for international
cooperation and coordination in building an integrated and sustained
global Earth observing system," Lautenbacher said. "We look forward to
working with EUMETSAT and its European members in achieving our common
vision for a comprehensive Earth observing system that will enhance
our ability to understand and manage our shared global environmental
systems and resources."
Dr. Mohr stated, "By putting in place this long-term Agreement we can
ensure that citizens of every country of our remarkable planet will
continue to benefit from the most accurate, safe and reliable
operational Earth observations for weather and environmental
forecasting."
This agreement will also continue NOAA and EUMETSAT's contributions to
the Space-based component of the Global Observing System operated
under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)