White House plan to share earth data

September 12, 2004
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House on Wednesday told 15 federal agencies to better share scientific data about the Earth among themselves and with other nations.

The administration's draft plan for the next 10 years requires the agencies to identify ways they can help create a global system for observing the planet. The effort so far involves 48 other countries, the European Commission and 29 international groups.

Environmental changes are to be tracked in every part of the globe, said John H. Marburger III, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The plan is expected to be made final by year's end and is part of an international system under development.

U.S. officials cite benefits such as improved weather forecasting and climate modeling, better estimates of crop yields and energy resources, and more knowledge about air and water quality and ways to enhance airline safety.

"We must connect the scientific dots," said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, a Commerce Department undersecretary who heads the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Until we do, and all of the individual technology is connected as one integrated system, there will always be blind spots and scientific uncertainty."