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Global Earth Observation System of SystemsClimate Societal Benefit Area

GCOS Steering CommitteeGeneva, SwitzerlandOctober 16, 2008

Michael Tanner Senior Program OfficerGEO SecretariatGeneva

© GEO Secretariat slide 2

• Some 30% of our economy is tied to the environment

• Scientific understanding and ongoing knowledge of the Earth system is fundamental for well informed economic decision making

• Sustained Earth observations are critical in understanding the Earth

• Systems interoperability and open data access is fundamental

A global approach to Earth observation is required

GEOSS Imperative

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GEOSSGlobal Earth Observation System of Systems

Distributed system of systems• Improve coordination of strategies

and observation systems• Link all platforms: in-situ, aircraft,

satellite, and buoy networks, etc.• Facilitate exchange of data and

information • Identify gaps in our global capacity• Improve decision-makers’ abilities to

address pressing policy issues • Enable solutions for Societal Benefit

Areas (SBA)

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75 Members51 Participation Organizations

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Societal Benefit Areas• Disasters: Reducing loss of life and property from natural and human-induced

disasters

• Health: Understanding environmental factors affecting human health and well-being

• Energy: Improving management of energy resources

• Climate: Understanding, assessing, predicting, mitigating, and adapting to climate variability and change

• Water: Improving water resource management through better understanding of the water cycle

• Weather: Improving weather information, forecasting and warning

• Ecosystems: Improving the management and protection of terrestrial, coastal and marine resources

• Agriculture: Supporting sustainable agriculture and combating desertification

• Biodiversity: Understanding, monitoring and conserving biodiversity

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GEOSS: A Global, Coordinated, Comprehensive and Sustained System of Systems

Environment and Climate Change

To respond to the growing demand for Earth observation data, we will accelerate efforts within the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), which builds on the work of UN specialized agencies and programs, in priority areas, inter alia, climate change and water resources management, by strengthening observation, prediction and data sharing. We also support capacity building for developing countries in earth observations and promote interoperability and linkage with other partners.

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Vision• Link together the world’s diverse Climate information

– Observing systems– Data processing centres– Models– Dissemination systems – Decision support capabilities

• Support integrated data sets and user information services

• Similar to integrating GEOSS Architecture, Data Management, CEOS, Communities of Practice activities

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Benefits• Strong climate arm is fundamental to a successful GEOSS

• Essential to and supports all SBAs– Vast range of user communities

• Support adaptation and mitigation under UNFCCC

• Support to IPCC assessments

• Climate information as a global public good – Data Sharing Principles with open access

• Support science and research community

– Including modellers

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2009-2011 Work Plan• To be Finalized and Approved at GEO-V

• Build the Climate Component of GEOSS – Specific Climate Tasks– Each with Leads and Contributors

• GEOSS Climate Tasks:– Sustained Reprocessing and Reanalysis

Efforts – Key Climate Data from Satellite Systems– Key Terrestrial Observations for Climate – GEOSS IPY Contribution – Global Ocean Observation System – Seamless Weather and Climate Prediction

System

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GEOSS Climate Tasks• Sustained Reprocessing and Reanalysis Efforts

– Ensure the development of international mechanisms to coordinate and maintain sustained climate data reprocessing and reanalysis efforts.

– Lead: GCOS, WCRP, CEOS– Contributor: Argentina, Australia, China, ECMWF, EEA, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy,

Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, USA

• Key Climate Data from Satellite Systems – Establish actions securing the provision of key data for climate studies and forecasting

from satellite systems.– Lead: CEOS, GCOS, USA, WMO – Contributor: Cyprus, France, Germany, GSDI, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway,

Portugal, Russia, Thailand, Tunisia

• Key Terrestrial Observations for Climate – Develop intergovernmental mechanisms for coordinating terrestrial observations needed

for climate studies and forecasting. Develop a framework for the preparation of guidance materials, standards, and reporting guidelines for terrestrial observing systems for climate and associated data, metadata, and products to expand the comprehensiveness of current networks and facilitate exchange of data.

– Lead: GTOS – Contributor: Australia, CEOS, Cyprus, ECMWF, EUMETNET, FAO, GCOS, Germany,

Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Spain, Thailand, USA

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GEOSS Climate Tasks (cont)

• GEOSS IPY Contribution – Coordinate with the International Polar Year (IPY) to enhance the utilization of Earth

observations in all appropriate realms– Lead: WCRP, Portugal – Contributor: Argentina, Australia, Canada, CEOS, France, GCOS, Germany, GTOS,

IAG, IGOS-P, IOC, Italy, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain, USA, WCRP, WMO

• Global Ocean Observation System – Enhance and improve coordination of coastal and marine climate observations in

support of a global ocean observation system. – Lead: GOOS, POGO– Contributor: Argentina, CEOS, France, GCOS, Germany, GOOS, Greece, GTOS, IAG,

IGOS-P, IOC, Italy, Japan, Norway, POGO, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, USA, WMO

• Seamless Weather and Climate Prediction System – Support the development of a THORPEX/WCRP initiative on "International Weather,

Climate and Earth-system Science", to better address uncertainties associated with climate variability and change, and related societal impacts.

– Lead: WMO, WCRP– Contributor: China, Thailand

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Sustained Reprocessing and Reanalysis Efforts

• Ensure the development of international mechanisms to coordinate and maintain sustained climate data reprocessing and reanalysis efforts.

• Lead: GCOS, WCRP, CEOS• Contributor: Argentina, Australia, China, ECMWF, EEA, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan,

Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, USA

• The Third WCRP International Conference on Reanalyses (Tokyo Japan, 28 Jan-1 Feb 2008)

– highlighted key outstanding issues in reanalysis:

– frequent changes in underlying data base (continuity issue);

– lack of global data (need for enhanced data access and digitization);

– need for improved modeling and data-assimilation systems (truly coupled high-resolution models, assimilation of aerosols, trace gases);

– need for enhanced international coordination/cooperation through WCRP Observation and Assimilation Panel (WOAP).

•  Recommendations for the GEO Community include:

– improve and develop input data for reanalysis (facilitate access and digitization of historical data set, support activities of the WCRP Observation and Assimilation Panel (WOAP) and the working group on “Improved Observational Data Sets For Reanalysis”);

– sustain reanalysis efforts for all climate system components (atmosphere, ocean, land) and raise the profile of reanalysis worldwide – the European capability in particular is in urgent need of financial support.

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Key Climate Data from Satellite Systems • Establish actions securing the provision of key data for climate studies and

forecasting from satellite systems.

• Lead: CEOS, GCOS, USA, WMO • Contributor: Cyprus, France, Germany, GSDI, Italy, Japan, Netherlands,

Norway, Portugal, Russia, Thailand, Tunisia

• Aerosols and Clouds– A-Train data for aerosol and cloud measurements

• Global Precipitation Constellation– Ensure continued improvements to precipitation determinations demonstrated by TRMM and

planned by GPM in 2010

• Sea Ice– A system for re-analysis of Ocean Sea Ice (OSI) Satellite Application Facility (SAF) Sea Ice

– Reanalysed global sea ice data, 1987/1995 – 2005

• Ocean Surface Topography Constellation– Develop a strategy for implementation – over the next 15 years

• NPOESS Climate Sensors• Land Remote Sensing

– LSI Constellation Study Team – Work to secure signature of agreements– Develop and implement acquisition plans that address data gap issues, by as many of the

applicable space agencies as possible

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Key Terrestrial Observations for Climate

• Develop intergovernmental mechanisms for coordinating terrestrial observations needed for climate studies and forecasting. Develop a framework for the preparation of guidance materials, standards, and reporting guidelines for terrestrial observing systems for climate and associated data, metadata, and products to expand the comprehensiveness of current networks and facilitate exchange of data.

• Lead: GTOS • Contributor: Australia, CEOS, Cyprus, ECMWF, EUMETNET, FAO,

GCOS, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Spain, Thailand, USA

• Technical groups have formed to review and finalize each ECV standard assessment report.

– Negotiations are underway with FAO, WMO and ISO to develop a final mechanism to submit to the UNFCCC.

• Progress reports submitted to SBSTA 27, Bali, Indonesia. – Terrestrial ECV report produced and on line: www.fao.org/gtos/doc/pub52.pdf

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GEOSS International Polar Year (IPY) Contribution

• Coordinate with the International Polar Year (IPY) to enhance the utilization of Earth observations in all appropriate realms, including, but not limited to, sea and land ice, permafrost, coastal erosion, physical and chemical polar ocean changes, marine and terrestrial ecosystem change, biodiversity monitoring and impacts of increased resource exploitation and marine transport

• Lead: WCRP, Portugal • Contributor: Argentina, Australia, Canada, CEOS, France, GCOS,

Germany, GTOS, IAG, IGOS-P, IOC, Italy, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain, USA, WCRP, WMO

• WMO/GEO/WCRP IPY Legacy Workshop on Sustaining Projects’ Contributions to WMO Global Cryosphere Watch and GEOSS

– WMO Headquarters, Geneva, 3-5 December 2008

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Global Ocean Observation System • Enhance and improve coordination of coastal and marine climate observations in

support of a global ocean observation system.

• Lead: GOOS, POGO• Contributor: Argentina, CEOS, France, GCOS, Germany, GOOS, Greece,

GTOS, IAG, IGOS-P, IOC, Italy, Japan, Norway, POGO, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, USA, WMO

• Improve the global coverage and data accuracy of the climate monitoring system and coastal observing systems,

– Management and archival of the resulting data

• Contribute to the implementation of a global coastal network using the mechanism of GOOS Regional Alliances

• Establish an ARGO Program Office – Ensure the ongoing implementation of this global array of profiling floats in the ocean.

– Establish a global observation program support center servicing in situ ocean observing systems in order to ensure their sustainability.

• Coastal climate observations activities should build on the existing joint work of GOOS and GTOS

– Setting up of a joint Panel of Integrated Coastal Observations.

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Seamless Weather and Climate Prediction System • Support the development of a THORPEX/WCRP initiative on "International Weather, Climate

and Earth-system Science", to better address uncertainties associated with climate variability and change, and related societal impacts.

• Lead: WMO, WCRP• Contributor: China, Thailand

• Publication in BAMS of the GEO Plenary IV paper “The Socio-economic Benefits of a Revolution in Weather, Climate and Earth System Prediction”. Review of companion paper “Towards a seamless process for the prediction of Weather and Climate” to be finalised and reviewed.

• The Year of Tropical Convection (YOTC) : Implementation of the YOTC project has commenced.

– Relevant NWP fields are being archived– Support is being sought a comprehensive satellite data base for the project.

• A World Modelling Summit for Climate Prediction : This was held as planned at the ECMWF from the 6-9th May.

– Declaration notes the need for improved prediction of regional climate especially of extreme events/ high impact weather in order to develop adaptation strategies to ameliorate effects on food security, water resources, the environment etc.,

– Summit proposes a major new Climate Prediction Project implemented by collaboration between WCRP, WWRP and IGBP and involving the national weather and climate prediction communities.

– To enhance overall capability it also suggests the formation of a World Climate Research Facility.

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Next Steps

• Efficiently and Effectively integrate the GEOSS Climate Component– Requires that tasks be well coordinated

• Organize a GEOSS workshop in first quarter 2009– In coordination with WMO / GCOS / WCRP– For all GEO climate task teams

• Workshop will discuss and coordinate the efforts of the task teams – Discuss gaps, synergies and linkages– Agree to a coordination and information-sharing process

through 2011

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GEOSS Future Directions• Develop GEO Data Policy Principles

• Begin Global Earth Observing Systems Inventory

• Assess global observation gaps

• Implement operational tools, e.g., GEOPORTAL, GEONETCAST

• Demonstrate national, regional, global Earth observation programs in support of health, agriculture, water, capacity building

• Promote use of Earth observations in modeling & data assimilation efforts

• Explore ways to sustain successful R & D observations

• Engage academic and industrial partners

• GEOSS is a global coordinated network of sustained, comprehensive, earth observation system of systems

• Goal of GEOSS to provide better information for decision making to achieve societal and economic benefits

• Strong Climate component is fundamental to a successful GEOSS

• Scientific engagement is critical to the success of GEOSS

• Cross-cutting approach, involving many communities, with International Dimension

• Tremendous Global mobilization and Interest in GEO from all Disciplines and Communities

• Process is always open to New Participants

• Develop new mechanisms for funding and implementation

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Summary

Thank you!

Thank you!

Michael D. TannerSenior Program OfficerGEO Secretariat

7bis, avenue de la PaixCasale postale 2300Ch-1211 Geneva 2, Suisse

phone: +41 22 730 8324e-mail: mtanner@geosec.org

www.earthobservations.org