Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
january 2015

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federal agencies & administration

New director for USGS Earthquake Science Center

January 12, 2015

On January 12, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) named Dr. Steve Hickman as the new director of the Earthquake Science Center, located in Menlo Park, California, succeeding Dr. Thomas Brocher, who has led the center for the past six years. Dr. Hickman has decades of experience as a research geophysicist for USGS; some of his major projects include co-heading the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth and advising the Department of Energy on its response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from Earlham College and PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, focusing on solid-earth geophysics. Dr. Hickman stated that his priorities as director will include analyzing natural and human-induced earthquakes from both research and hazard mitigation perspectives.

Sources: E&E News, U.S. Geological Survey

Updated 2/11/15

GAO report: NOAA likely to experience gap in satellite weather data in 2016

December 16, 2014

On December 16, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the status of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), which will replace the current polar orbiting satellite, Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP). These satellites provide vital data on weather, climate, oceans, and the environment that are used by scientists and the U.S. military.

In an earlier report in 2013, GAO had added the JPSS Program to its High Risk List due to the likelihood of a gap in satellite coverage between when the S-NPP goes offline and the JPSS begins transmitting data. The JPSS has been delayed due to technical difficulties and growth of costs for key components.

Previous assessments of the gap placed it between 14 to 18 months, starting in 2016. A gap in coverage could entail less accurate and timely forecasts, resulting in a lack of warnings for extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the agency responsible for S-NPP and JPSS, revised its gap estimate to 3 months based on the current performance of the S-NPP, but the GAO report concludes that NOAA did not consider possible early failure of the satellite due to space debris. The GAO report suggests a potential gap of 11 months to over 5 years and urges NOAA to address shortcomings in its contingency plan and to further prioritize mitigation strategies.

Sources: E&E News, Government Office of Accountability, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Updated 2/11/15

NOAA chooses Craig McLean as Assistant Administrator

January 27, 2015

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) picked Craig McLean to be the next Assistant Administrator for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). OAR oversees NOAA research laboratories, the Sea Grant college program, the Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, NOAA’s Climate Program Office, and other research ventures.  McLean has worked for NOAA for more than 30 years; he previously served as Acting Administrator of OAR, Deputy of OAR’s programs and administration, Captain of the Commissioned Corps, Executive Officer of the National Ocean Service, and as the founding Director of NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration.

Source: E & E News, NOAA

Updated 2/11/15