The goal for the Administration's Earth Science program shall be to pursue a program of Earth observations, research, and applications activities to better understand the Earth, how it supports life, and how human activities affect its ability to do so in the future. In pursuit of this goal, the Administration's Earth Science program shall ensure that securing practical benefits for society will be an important measure of its success in addition to securing new knowledge about the Earth system and climate change. In further pursuit of this goal, the Administration shall, together with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other relevant agencies, provide United States leadership in developing and carrying out a cooperative international Earth observations-based research program.
(
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 60501 | 42 U.S.C. 17711. |
|
"(a)
"(1)
"(A) to provide a comprehensive view of vegetation conditions;
"(B) to assess and model agricultural carbon sequestration; and
"(C) to encourage the development of commercial products, as appropriate.
"(2)
"(3)
"(A) the mapping of carbon-sequestering land use and land cover;
"(B) the monitoring of changes in land cover and management;
"(C) new approaches for the remote sensing of soil carbon; and
"(D) region-scale carbon sequestration estimation.
"(b)
"(1) The Administrator [of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration] shall carry out an Earth Observing System program that addresses the highest priority international climate change research goals as defined by the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
"(2)(A) Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 4, 1992], the Administrator shall submit to Congress a plan which will ensure that the highest priority measurements are maintained on schedule to the greatest extent practicable while lower priority measurements are deferred, deleted, or obtained through other means.
"(B) Within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Core System of the Earth Observing System Data and Information System, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a Development Plan which-
"(i) identifies the highest risk elements of the development effort and the key advanced technologies required to significantly increase scientific productivity;
"(ii) provides a plan for the development of one or more prototype systems for use in reducing the development risk of critical system elements and obtaining feedback for scientific users;
"(iii) provides a plan for research into key advanced technologies;
"(iv) identifies sufficient resources for carrying out the Development Plan; and
"(v) identifies how the Earth Observing System Data Information System will connect to and utilize other federally-supported research networks, including the National Research and Education Network."