CEOS StrategyCEOS Strategyfor Space-Based Climate Observationsfor Space-Based Climate Observations

Seminar on the Global Earth Observation System of Seminar on the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) and Global ChangeSystems (GEOSS) and Global Change

Barbara J. RyanBarbara J. RyanChair, Committee on Earth Chair, Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) 2007Observation Satellites (CEOS) 2007

International Astronautical FederationParis, France17 June 2007

CEOS BackgroundCEOS Background

Established in 1984 from the Economic Summit of Industrialized Established in 1984 from the Economic Summit of Industrialized NationsNations– Recognized value of cross-disciplinary effortsRecognized value of cross-disciplinary efforts– Need to coordinate satellite missions Need to coordinate satellite missions

Outgrowth of two satellite coordinating groups:Outgrowth of two satellite coordinating groups:– Coordination on Land Observation SatellitesCoordination on Land Observation Satellites– Coordination on Ocean Remote Sensing SatellitesCoordination on Ocean Remote Sensing Satellites

Operates through best efforts of Members and Associates via Operates through best efforts of Members and Associates via voluntary contributionsvoluntary contributions

Space segment provider to GEOSpace segment provider to GEO

UN Framework Convention UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Actions from COP - 10, 11, and 12Actions from COP - 10, 11, and 12

““Satellite Observation of the Climate System: The CEOS Satellite Observation of the Climate System: The CEOS Response to the GCOS Implementation Plan”Response to the GCOS Implementation Plan”

Response covers atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial Response covers atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial domains, as well as cross-cutting issuesdomains, as well as cross-cutting issues

59 actions identify where additional resources are needed to fill 59 actions identify where additional resources are needed to fill gapsgaps

Calls for a major, sustained satellite componentCalls for a major, sustained satellite component

GCOS 26 Essential Climate GCOS 26 Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)Variables (ECVs)

A.A. AtmosphereAtmosphereA.1A.1 Surface Wind Speed and DirectionSurface Wind Speed and Direction

A.2A.2 Upper-air TemperatureUpper-air TemperatureA.3A.3 Water Water AA Vapour VapourA.4A.4 Cloud propertiesCloud propertiesA.5A.5 PrecipitationPrecipitationA.6A.6 Earth Radiation BudgetEarth Radiation BudgetA.7A.7 OzoneOzoneA.8A.8 Atmospheric reanalysis (multiple Atmospheric reanalysis (multiple

ECVs)ECVs)A.9A.9 AerosolsAerosolsA.10A.10 Carbon Dioxide, Methane and other Carbon Dioxide, Methane and other

Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse GasesA.11A.11 Upper-air WindUpper-air Wind

O. OceansO.1 Sea IceO.2 Sea LevelO.3 Sea Surface TemperatureO.4 Ocean ColourO.5 Sea StateO.6 Ocean ReanalysisO.7 Ocean Salinity

T. TerrestrialT.1 LakesT.2 Glaciers and Ice Caps, and Ice SheetsT.3 Snow CoverT.4 AlbedoT.5 Land CoverT.6 fAPART.7 LAIT.8 BiomassT.9 Fire DisturbanceT.10 Soil moisture

CEOS Constellations ConceptCEOS Constellations Concept

Contribution to GEO observational requirementsContribution to GEO observational requirements

Synergies among national and regional satellite programsSynergies among national and regional satellite programs– Land surface imagingLand surface imaging– Ocean surface topographyOcean surface topography– Atmospheric compositionAtmospheric composition– Global precipitationGlobal precipitation

Common guidelinesCommon guidelines

Optimal end-to-end capabilitiesOptimal end-to-end capabilities

Coordinated user requirements for future systemsCoordinated user requirements for future systems

Landsat 7 ArchiveLandsat 7 Archive

A Changing World is Revealed by Land ChangeA Changing World is Revealed by Land Change

Urban Growth

90 mm of subsidence in Tucson, Arizona

November 1992 to January 1997

InSAR data from Envisat

Ground-Water Withdrawals

The Way ForwardThe Way Forward

““CEOS recognizes that both satellite and CEOS recognizes that both satellite and in in situsitu data are required to better monitor, data are required to better monitor, characterize, and predict changes in the characterize, and predict changes in the Earth system. While Earth system. While in situin situ measurements measurements will remain essential and largely measure will remain essential and largely measure what cannot be measured from satellites, what cannot be measured from satellites, Earth-observation satellites are the only Earth-observation satellites are the only realistic means to obtain the necessary realistic means to obtain the necessary global coverage, and with well-calibrated global coverage, and with well-calibrated measurements will become the single most measurements will become the single most important contribution to global important contribution to global observations for climate.”observations for climate.”

www.ceos.org