COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The United States has begun an effort to coordinate its weather satellite programs with those of other countries to create a global meteorological information network, according to a senior U.S. government official.

The coordination effort will be led by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said retired U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Conrad Lautenbacher, NOAA administrator.

NOAA recently established an office to lead the activity, Lautenbacher told reporters at a press conference at the National Space Symposium here April 10. Deputies to U.S. cabinet officials will meet during the week of April 14 to discuss the effort, he said.

International partnerships are key to broadening the types of data that are available relating to conditions on land, in the ocean, and in the atmosphere, Lautenbacher said.

While the U.S. government has not identified its partners on the program, Lautenbacher cited China and India as two countries with robust space efforts that could contribute. The United States and Europe already work closely together in the area of meteorological satellites.

NOAA also is establishing a commercial remote sensing panel that will advise the administrator, Lautenbacher said. The panel will include representatives from government and academia, he said. It has not been determined whether the Pentagon will have a seat on the panel, he said.