CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The National Space Club has selected Peter Etnoyer, a doctoral fellow with the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, for the prestigious 2008 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) - David Johnson Award for outstanding and innovative use of satellite data.

The award, first given in 1999, is presented by the National Space Club, in honor of the first administrator of what was to become NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NOAA Satellite and Data Service). Etnoyer will receive the award in a black-tie ceremony Friday, March 7, at the Goddard Memorial Dinner at the Goddard Space Center in Washington, D.C.

The David Johnson Award is given to a young professional who has developed an innovative use of Earth observation satellite data (or in combination with non-satellite data) to assess or predict atmospheric, oceanic or terrestrial conditions. It recognizes a young scientist and future leader who encourages new thinking, problem solving or applications of satellite data.

Etnoyer was recognized for his efforts in identifying pelagic habitat for blue whales and sea turtles in the Northeast Pacific using satellite telemetry data with sea surface temperature data. He used this information to model pelagic habitat for the Northeast Pacific using a Geographic Information System (GIS).

The studies found blue whales and sea turtles spending periods of weeks to months moving along persistent, but subtle temperature gradients. Blue whales and sea turtle lingered in offshore regions with a high frequency of temperature fronts, presumably in search of prey. The results were published in Oceanography and Science in 2004, and further developed in Deep-Sea Research in 2006. The techniques should help researchers incorporate pelagic habitat into marine protected area network designs, and aid biologists in performing better stock assessments of pelagic animals.

NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service is the nation's primary source of space-based meteorological and climate data. In addition to search and rescue, NOAA's environmental satellites are used for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and other environmental applications such as volcanic eruptions, ozone monitoring, and sea surface temperature measurements and wild fire detection.