30 



7 

 capability we simply could not afford to match with more 

 traditional ship and aircraft patrols. 



The Department of Defense also cooperates with NOAA in 

 providing access to, and use of, the Defense Meteorological 

 Satellite Program (DMSP) data. For example, the Special Sensor 

 Microwave/ Imager data is used by NOAA researchers to study the 

 soil wetness, precipitation, and similar subject's index. NOAA 

 recently provided this data to the Vice President for his Midwest 

 "Flood" briefing. NOAA participates in the shared processing 

 data network for the exchange of meteorological satellite data 

 and products. Also, NOAA provides the archive service for 

 selected DMSP data sets. 



Conclusions 



NOAA strongly supports the concept of dual use for 

 environmental purposes. A period of testing is needed to prove 

 the value of each application, but the process should go forward. 



Dual use implies civil access to environmental data. We 

 feel NOAA can contribute significantly to the conversion for 

 civilian use of defense and intelligence assets and their 

 historic data. 



