Transcript Slide 1

Satellite Observing Systems
and Relevance to GODAE
Stan Wilson, NOAA with contributions from
Jerome Benveniste, ESA; Hans Bonekamp, EUMETSAT;
Craig Donlon, ESA; Mark Drinkwater, ESA;
Jean-Louis Fellous, COSPAR; B.S. Gohil, ISRO;
Gregg Jacobs, NRL; Pierre-Yves LeTraon, Ifremer;
Eric Lindstrom, NASA; Lin Mingsen, SOA;
Keizo Nakagawa, JAXA; Francois Parisot, EUMETSAT
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Organization of talk
• What is the status of satellite systems
capable of observing the global oceans?
• How can we sustain existing capabilities for
observing the global oceans?
– How do we establish an operational infrastructure for
observing a single parameter?
– Are there parameters for which we already have a global
operational observing capability?
– What challenges do we face in our efforts to establish
additional operational systems – getting new funding
• Looking to the future
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
What is the status of satellite systems
capable of observing the global oceans?
The R&D space agencies have made great
progress, and we have come far; looking back
over the past decade and into the foreseeable
future, we have existing spaceborne
capabilities to observe:
– Sea surface topography
– Surface vector winds
– Sea surface temperature – These two will continue
– Sea ice cover –
more or less on their own
– Ocean color – Of less immediate interest here
– Gravity – Data now coming GRACE (02) & soon GOCE (09)
– Surface salinity – To fly on SMOS (09), Aquarius (10)
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Sea surface topography*
• Precision altimetry – continuity of climate
record – initiated by T/P in 1992; being
continued by Jason (2001) & Jason-2 (2008)
– Proposed: Jason-3 and Jason-CS
• Coverage with 2+ complementary altimeters
– resolve ocean weather; ERS-1, ERS-2, GFO,
and ENVISAT
– In development: Cryosat-2 (2009), HY-2A (2010), SARAL
(2010), Sentinel-3A (2012)
– Proposed: GFO follow-on, HY-2B, Sentinel-3B
• Coverage with wide-swath – meet both
functions
– Proposed: SWOT
* Including significant wave height
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Surface vector winds
• Scatterometry, beginning with AMI/ERS-1 in
1991; then ERS-2, NSCAT/ADEOS, and
SeaWinds/ADEOS-2; continuing coverage
with SeaWinds/QuikSCAT in 1999; initiation
of continuing, operational coverage with
ASCAT/Metop-A in 2006
– In development: Scat/Oceansat-2 (2009), Scat/HY-2A (2010),
ASCAT/Metop-B (2011), Scat/CFOSAT (2012), ASCAT/MetopC (2015)
– Proposed: HY-2B, QuikSCAT follow-on (resolve rain/wind
ambiguity)
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Sea surface temperature
• Continuing coverage with IR systems: both
polar – AVHRR, ATSR/ERS-1/-2,
AATSR/ENVISAT; and geostationary – GOESR ABI, MSG, SEVIRI
– In development: VIIRS/NPP (2010) & C-1(2013), and SLSTR
(Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer) on
Sentinel 3A
– In development: MTG (2016)
– Proposed: SGLI/GCOM-C1, SLSTR/Sentinel-3B
• Continuing coverage with MR systems, first
TMI/TRMM, then AMSR-E/Aqua
– In development: AMSR-2/GCOM-W1 (2011), MIS/NPOESS C-1
(2013)
– Proposed: AMSR-2/GCOM-W2
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Sea ice
• Sea ice cover & drift – MR, scatterometry –
continuing coverage with SSMI/S/DMSP, also
others noted above
– In development: AMSR-2/GCOM-W1 (2011), MIS/NPOESS C-1
(2013), scatterometers noted above
– Proposed: AMSR-2/GCOM-W2, scatterometers noted above
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
How can we sustain these capabilities for
observing the global oceans?
Extending current observational capabilities
will become increasingly dependent on the
operational agencies in their efforts to
develop a corresponding operational
infrastructure – a systematic and sustained
capability that builds on the corresponding
successes realized by the R&D space
agencies
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
R & D Agency
Establishing an operational infrastructure
Operational Agency
For a single parameter, demonstrate:
1. Technical feasibility in space
2. Scientific utility
3. Operational utility
•
That an operational agency, given timely access to
such observations, is able to utilize them and that they
can have a significant impact on meeting its mission
needs
4. Success in the budget process
•
That the operational agency, working within its fiscal
and political environment, is able to secure the
resources required to implement that observing system
on a continuing basis, not just a one-shot mission
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Are there parameters for which we already have
a global operational observing capability?
• What can we say has been operationalized?
– Sea surface temperature
• AVHRR on POES and Metop
• GEO instruments (eg, MSG/SEVIRI)
– Surface vector winds
• ASCAT on Metop
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Are there parameters for which we already have
a global operational observing capability?
• What is in the process of being
operationalized? (more ‘general purpose’)
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NPOESS series
ESA Sentinel-1 & -3 series
JAXA GCOM-C & -W series
SOA HY-1, -2 & -3 series
• These observe various combinations of:
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Sea surface topography
Surface vector winds
Sea surface temperature
Sea ice
Ocean color
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Are there parameters for which we already have
a global operational observing capability?
• What is in the process of being
operationalized? (more ‘focused’)
– Sea surface topography
• Jason-3/Jason-CS
• Sentinel-3B
• GFO follow-on
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
What challenges do we face in our efforts to
establish additional operational systems?
Thoughts on getting new funding…
• Societal relevance
• Fiscal
• Climate change
• Organizational focus
• Integrating in situ and satellite observing
systems
• Basis for prioritization
• Clear, concise and consistent message
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Societal relevance
• The operational agencies have to be able to
make the case that what we are proposing to
implement on a continuing basis is worth a
corresponding continuing investment of tax
dollars
• This is different than making the case in an
R&D agency
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Fiscal
• Many countries have, and will continue
to have, a tight budget environment
• In NOAA, we are attempting to
establish an operational ocean
capability in a level-funding
environment on top of a growing and
well-entrenched operational weather
forecasting program
• In Europe, the route from research to
operational funding is unclear
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Climate change
• ‘Weather’ versus ‘climate’ impacts
• While the leadership of some countries have
recognized and appreciate climate change as
an important issue to be addressed, others
haven’t
• In the U.S. we have faced an Administration
with little appreciation of climate change;
with the transition to a new Administration,
this should change for the better
• Even so, the role of the oceans in climate
needs to be recognized as a priority issue in
an overall climate program
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Organizational focus
• Some countries have an organizational focus
for the implementation of operational
oceanography such as Marine Core Services
in Europe, MERCATOR in France, NCOF in
the UK and BlueLink in Australia
• NOAA is a good example for a number of
countries where participating elements in
such an infrastructure are distributed and
lack an effective focus
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Obama Space Policy
• The Obama Administration will:
– Reestablish the National Aeronautics and Space
Council reporting to the President…to
oversee…all aspects of the government’s spacerelated programs
– Strengthen baseline climate observations…to
ensure that there are long-term and accurate
climate records
– Expand…American collaboration with
international partners on climate research…to
increase understanding of climate challenges…
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Integrating in-situ and satellite
observing systems
– We need both types of systems – these
two communities need to be helping each
other, not competing
– Ocean models can play an important role
here, integrating observations from both
systems
– No one working on either system should
be unaware of the importance of the other
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Basis for prioritization
• Up to now, operational agencies have a
shopping list of in-situ and satellite
observing systems
• Those agencies typically have little
budgetary flexibility, therefore need a basis
for prioritization when attempting the
implementation of operational infrastructure
• They need to concentrate on priority
parameters for which there are mature
technologies and significant demonstrations
of operational utility
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Clear, concise and consistent message
• We need a clear, concise and consistent
message that reflects a basis for
prioritization
• We all need to be broadcasting that same
message
• That message needs to be easily understood
by politicians and the public
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
What should we do now?
• For those capabilities proposed to become
operational, focus on those satellite systems that:
– Are mature
– Collect observations from top priority systems
– Need our support – Why invest time & energy supporting
systems that will be implemented anyway?
• Those capabilities needing immediate support
include:
– Jason-3/Jason-CS
– Complementary altimeter(s) (Sentinel-3B, GFO follow-on)
– Complementary scatterometer(s) to ASCAT (QuikSCAT
follow-on)
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Take advantage of current activities
• Global Earth Observing System (GEOS)
– International political visibility
• Committee on Earth Observing Satellites
(CEOS) Constellations
– A number of series of satellites are to be
forthcoming (Sentinel, GCOM, HY)
– Promote timely data access, harmonization of
products & sharing of experience
• WMO-IOC Joint Commission on
Oceanography and Marine Meteorology
– Integration with in-situ observing systems
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Concluding thought
• While seeing how far we still have to go
may be overwhelming, looking back
shows the impressive progress made
in a relatively small number of years
• In many respects, much more has been
achieved than was expected or even
dreamt of
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Ocean Surface Topography Constellation Roadmap
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SSH from high-inclination sun-synchronous orbit
HY-2A China
HY-2B, -2C, -2D
Saral/AltiKa India/France
GFO follow-on
ENVISAT ESA
Sentinel-3B, -3C, -3D
Sentinel-3A Europe
CRYOSAT-2 ESA
Swath altimetry from high-inclination orbit (several orbit options)
SWOT/WaTER-HM USA/Europe
Orbit to be assessed Jason-CS successor TBD
Reference Mission, SSH from low inclination orbit,
Jason-3 Europe/USA
Jason-1 Fr./USA
Jason-CS
Jason-2 Europe/USA
In orbit
Approved
Planned/Pending approval
TBD
Needed
One approach to prioritization
• One approach development of consensus
priorities for operational physical observing
systems for the basin-scale – What is the:
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State of the oceans?
Mass balance (global sea level rise)?
Momentum balance?
Heat balance?
• To such a physical framework, add:
– Nested coastal and hurricane models
– Chemistry for global carbon balance
– Biogeochemistry for ecosystems
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France
Ocean color
• Continuity of climate record from SeaWiFS in
1997 and continuing with MERIS/ENVISAT,
MODIS/Aqua, COCTS/HY-1A, B and others
– In development: OCM-2/Oceansat-2 (2009),
VIIRS/NPP (2010), SLSTR/Sentinel-3A (2012)
– Proposed: SGLI/GCOM-C1, SLSTR/Sentinel-3B,
COCTS/HY-1C
GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France