CDP Releases Ocean Surface Winds Pilot Summary, Supports Commercial Weather Data

In October 2025, NOAA’s Commercial Data Program (CDP) released the Executive Summary of its GNSS-R Ocean Surface Winds Pilot.

The pilot confirmed the commercial sector’s capability to reliably deliver GNSS-R observations across the NOAA enterprise. Specifically, it found that:

• Available commercial GNSS-R observations are a viable means of ocean wind monitoring, soil moisture characterization, land surface flooding/inundation, freeze/thaw events, and sea ice characterization;

• Commercial GNSS-R data is suitable for multiple land, water, and ice applications relevant to NOAA; and

• Pilot participants strongly recommended that a follow-on study is warranted to fully ascertain the value and capability of GNSS-R for NOAA’s observing system portfolio and to develop a path for future operational data purchasing.

Background:

A key NOAA mission need is for accurate and comprehensive measurements of global ocean surface wind (OSW) speed and direction. Wind speed measurements are important to meteorologists and oceanographers in the preparation of marine weather forecasts for hurricanes, winter storms, and high seas.

Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) is a remote sensing technique that utilizes signals from positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service satellites to measure and study various properties of the Earth’s surface. Retrieving OSW speeds is a highly promising application of GNSS-R. OSW speed can be determined by analyzing how wind-induced ocean surface roughness changes the characteristics of the reflected GNSS signals

CDP conducts commercial data studies to help NOAA meet its terrestrial weather mission objectives. Starting in 2024, NOAA conducted a GNSS-R Pilot Study (GNSS-R OSW Pilot) to assess the quality and impact of available commercial GNSS-R observations as a viable, cost-effective means of ocean wind monitoring. As an ancillary part of the Pilot Study, NOAA assessed the quality and impact of commercial GNSS-R observations for soil moisture characterization, land surface flooding/inundation, freeze/thaw events, and sea ice characterization.

Access the Executive Summary on the NOAA Institutional Repository website.

About the Commercial Data Program:

The NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Services (NESDIS) Commercial Data Program (CDP) assesses and acquires space-based observational weather data from the private sector to improve NOAA’s weather forecasts and explore ways to meet mission requirements more efficiently. The program consists of two lines of effort: 

• Commercial Data Pilots demonstrate the quality and impact of commercial data on NOAA forecast models; and

• Commercial Data Purchases support operational weather forecasting. 

In September 2026, NOAA announced that it is expanding its procurement and use of new commercial environmental satellite data streams that will enhance weather forecasting and space weather monitoring. The Space-Based Environmental Monitoring Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract is a key part in the agency’s ongoing effort to boost U.S. weather forecasting capabilities. 

NESDIS’s authority to manage CDP is pursuant to the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, as amended authorizes NOAA/NESDIS to purchase weather data from commercial providers.