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. 

See More CSS Insights

Examining Cetaceans for Contamination and Pathogens

CSS has employee owners who are experts in monitoring cetacean health. Several CSS scientists supporting NOAA’s Centers for Coastal Ocean Science have recently conducted research and tests on marine mammals to explore uncommon behaviors and causes for strandings. View some examples of this research below. Microplastics are becoming increasingly abundant in coastal and marine environments.…

A humpback whale swims along the water surface with blow spray hovering just above

Training Marine Mammal Programs to Use Drones to Collect Dolphin and Whale Respiratory Health Data

CSS employee owner and Marine Mammal Drone Specialist supports NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Marine Mammal Health Assessment team with collecting respiratory health data from marine mammals in local waterways. Using specialized drones equipped with petri dishes provides a non-invasive method to collect exhaled breath (i.e. blow) samples from dolphins and whales.…

Quality Assurance Audit Reports 

Since 1985 we’ve supported the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and have provided more than 1,600 quality assurance audit reports that the client has used to assess the quality of toxicology studies they sponsor.    Over the last year our employee owners reviewed several studies involving per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) compounds, or “forever chemicals”,…