NOAA relies on orbiting satellites to collect data for Climate Data Records (CDR). However, these satellites degrade over time and can be at risk of failing. Degradation or failure of critical space instruments can cause interruptions in Earth’s climate system data, disrupting the ongoing record collection.  

In support of NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, CSS program manager for CDR proactively managed product transitions that were impacted from major instrument upgrades. This included the retirement of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) satellite sensor, AMSR2, that is used to track sea ice as well as the decommissioning of the NOAA POES sensor in 2025, which was used in many CDRs. CSS coordinated with data centers and external partners to align these aging satellite feeds with the new satellite feeds, providing upgraded CDRs to advance the monitoring of the Earth’s systems. This proactive risk management ensures downstream users can depend on CDRs for their decision-making needs. 

Learn more about NOAA’s Climate Data Records.

rendered image of satellite
Rendered image of the NOAA Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite (POES), which was retired in 2025. 

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1000 Samples of Lake Water Collected and Processed 

Congrats to our team supporting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development for completing the processing and initial chemical analyses of 1000 lake water samples!  They received lake water samples from across the continental U.S. this past summer and have completed the initial chemical analyses as part of the U.S. EPA 2022 National…

Map with 1 meter resolution on left and 30 meter on right.

High Resolution Land Cover Maps Now Available 

NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management has released higher resolution land cover maps for Alabama, Mississippi, Northeast Ohio, Rhode Island, and the Puget Sound in Washington.   These 1 meter data—previously only available in 30 meter—provide more detail communities need to map and understand their landscapes and features, including tree canopy, wetlands, impervious surface and several other categories. This additional detail will help inform decisions regarding stormwater management, flood mitigation, wetland restoration, and more.  CSS employee owners—subcontracted through Lynker Technologies—contributed to the release of this…

Wet road with sign that reads Flooded

Strengthening Risk Communications Training Support to Clients

A CSS employee owner supporting NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management (sub-contracted through Lynker Technologies) has been working closely with colleagues to develop, improve, and deliver trainings related to risk communication.    The CSS trainer delivered their first training of Building Risk Communications Skills in Rhode Island to an audience of over 30 coastal managers, planners, practitioners, and a U.S. Representative. The training was well received and will help participants develop new…