Transcript 2010 Update to the GCOS Implementation Plan

GCOS Report to CM-11
Space-based climate observations
19 May 2011, Geneva, Switzerland
GCOS in support of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
2010 Update to the GCOS Implementation Plan

A decision on systematic climate observations
(Decision 9/CP.15) adopted by the 15th session of
the Conference of the Parties held in Copenhagen in
December 2009, contains provisions to further
enhance climate observations, including through
observations from space, coordinated through the
Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS),
and activities to be undertaken by the Global Climate
Observing System (GCOS) and the Global Terrestrial
Observing System (GTOS).

Submission of the of the updated GCOS
Implementation Plan COP16, Cancun, Dec 2010
GCOS – 2011 Update to the Satellite Supplement

Expert Meeting, January 10–12,
2011, Geneva
Outcome:
- improvements on most of the ECVs
- extra sections, e.g., on GHGs,
precursors,
for example « pressure » emerges
now also as space- based observed
ECV.
Open for public review,
9 May – 1 July 2011 on
http://gcos.wmo.int


Finalising draft, September 2011.
Submission to 35th SBSTA session at
COP17, Durban 2011, as INFORMATION
Document.
Key Recommendations of the 2011 Satellite Supplement:
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1. Ensure attention to the needs identified in this report related to the planning,
initiation and continuity of satellite missions that are needed to provide
satellite climate data records;
2. Ensure a systematic approach in applying, to the greatest extent possible,
the GCOS Climate Monitoring Principles for the generation of satellite climate
data records, recognizing in particular the need for overlaps in missions and
for in situ measurements for calibration and validation purposes;
3. Ensure long-term custody of satellite climate data records and their
associated metadata, and provide open access to these records;
4. Ensure and encourage the generation of, and access to, products based on
the satellite climate data records;
5. Ensure wide and continuing interaction among the international scientific,
operational and end-user communities, to ensure effective feedback
mechanisms and continuing advice on observation and product needs;
6. Sustain active research satellite programmes that address challenging
measurement needs and that allow capabilities to advance and be more cost
effective.
Parties supporting space agencies ensure that the remits of those
agencies enable them to incorporate the needs for systematic
observation of climate as identified in this report (e.g., appropriate
structural arrangements and responsibilities within agencies; planning
for the maintenance of satellite climate data records and product
generation).
 Recommendation I: It is recommended
that space agencies participate at the open
review process and ensure the
implementation of the tasks implied in the
2011 update of supplemental details to the
satellite based component of the 2010
updated GCOS implementation plan.
Enhanced international activities support the Evaluation of
GCOS ECV data sets
Workshop on Continuity and Architecture Requirements for Space based
Climate Monitoring, 13-14 January 2011, WMO, Geneva.
Meeting of the writing team, 3 -4 February 2011, GCOS is invited as a
reviewer, together with WCRP and GEOSS.
GCOS – WCRP Observation and Assimilation Panel (WOAP)
 Workshop, 18 - 20 April 2011, hosted by ESA/ESRIN, Frascati
 Sponsored by WCRP / GCOS / WMO Space Programme

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A technical report on detailed assessments of existing datasets for key
ECVs relative to the GCOS Guideline
A framework for an inventory of all ECV datasets that includes indices
of the maturity and uncertainties of each product
The identification of best practices in evaluating and inter-comparing
global climate datasets, especially where there are more than one
dataset for a given parameter
Involvement of the international space community in GCOS
ESA Climate Change Initiative (CCI) – Tender Evaluation Board (April 2010)
ESA Symposium, July 2010, Bergen, Norway
Colocation Meeting, September 2010, ESRIN, Frascati
Response by ESA to GCOS, Results of the CCI, Requiremet analyses (13th May
2011)
EUMETSAT – SCOPE-CM Sustained Coordinated Processing of Environmental
Satellite Data for Climate Monitoring; GCOS is providing oversight and support
through the Executive Panel.
EUMETSAT is also contributing to the GCOS Trust Fund.
CGMS - Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS), no direct
attendance, but GCOS is participating at WMO internal prep meetings.
Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS):
 GCOS is invited to report to the Strategic Implementation team (SIT)
 CEOS Working Group on Climate :
GCOS is invited as observer, first Meeting 26-27 May 2011
 CEOS Plenary, 08-09 November 2011, GCOS is an Associate.
GCOS/GOOS/WCRP Ocean Observations Panel for Climate - OOPC
led by IOC–UNESCO (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Paris)
Chaiman: Eric Lindstrom, NASA, USA
 Recommendation II: It is recommended
that space agencies support any follow-up
on initiatives with regard to the evaluation of
GCOS ECV data sets. The support of this
assessment process is considered as a
contribution to the «GCOS Improvement
and Assessment Cycle”.
Report on Progress and Assessment of Adequacy
Progress Report 2004-2008
Progress Report 2009-2013 (?)
Report on the Adequacy of the GCOS, 1998
Second Report on the Adequacy of the GCOS, 2003
Third Report on the Adequacy, (?) 2013-2015
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), COP16, Cancún, Mexico
The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA)
invited the GCOS secretariat
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to report on progress made in the implementation of the 2010
updated GCOS implementation plan on a regular basis, at subsequent
sessions of the SBSTA, as appropriate.
to review the adequacy of observing systems for climate, such as by
updating the Second Report on the Adequacy of the Global Observing
Systems for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC.
 The SBSTA agreed to consider, at its 35th session at COP17, Durban
2011, issues related to the timing of GCOS contributions to the SBSTA.
 Recommendation III: It is recommended
that space agencies continue to closely
cooperate with GCOS on future progress
reports with regard to the actions of the
Implementation Plan and on reviewing the
adequacy of observing systems for climate.
Planning the next improvements to the system
Satellite Supplement
up-date in January 2011
Climate Monitoring
Principles
Guidelines for Datasets
and Products
 In-situ data supplement to the Implementation Plan
 The GCOS Steering Committee at its eighteenth
session in September 2010 discussed a
supplement to the 2010 updated GCOS
implementation plan for in-situ based products for
climate, needed for validation and ground truth for
space based observations.
 The GCOS SC requested that the idea should be
developed of either an in situ supplement
document or, alternatively, a report which is
focusing on observational needs on data
requirement for adaption, to be published in 2012.
 Recommendation IV: It is recommended that
space agencies support the improvement of in
situ networks through all domains (atmosphere,
ocean and land), needed for validation and
ground truth for space based observations,
supporting also the concept of reference and
super site networks discussed in the 2010
updated GCOS implementation plan. Space
agencies should feed back their requirements for
ground-truth observations to the GCOS expert
panels.
 Currently, the GCOS Secretariat is working
on revising the activities for the regional
implementation of the global observing
system for climate, focussing on SouthAmerica and Africa as the scope for
improvement is particular large for those
regions.
GCOS Implementation – Regional
 Recommendation V: It is recommended
that space agencies take part in future
regional work shops and that they assist in
encouraging regional cooperation at those
meetings. Space agencies should support
actions proposed in the updated GCOS
regional action plans, specifically with
regard to space based climate observations
on a regional scale.
Thank you for listening!
 Background
2010 Update to the GCOS Implementation Plan
 Basis:
 2004 GCOS IP (GCOS-92); 2006 Satellite Supplement (GCOS-107)
 Update, not rewrite
 Recognizing changes since 2004 in:
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Science
Measurement Technology
Needs
International coordination
(e.g., GEO/GEOSS, UN “Delivering as One”, Space agency response
to climate)
 Responding to Plan in 2010-2015 would contribute to:
 Global observations addressing Essential Climate Variables
 Associated analysis, research, infrastructure and capacity building
GCOS in support of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Milestones
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
COP16, Cancún, Mexico
On Space-based Observations:
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The SBSTA welcomed the coordinated response by the CEOS to the
relevant needs of the GCOS implementation plan and those of the
Convention, and the progress and commitment by space agencies
involved in climate observations to address the space-based
component of the GCOS and improve climate monitoring capabilities
from space on a sustained basis.

The SBSTA encouraged Parties that support space agencies involved in
global observations to continue, through CEOS, cooperation with and
support to the GCOS and to respond to the relevant needs identified in
the 2010 updated GCOS implementation plan. It invited the CEOS to
provide, by SBSTA 37, COP18, 2012, an updated report on progress
made on major achievements in relevant areas.
GCOS – 2011 Update to the Satellite Supplement
Update to the 2006 Satellite
Supplement to the GCOS IP (GCOS107)
 Update detailed GCOS requirements
for FCDRs and ECV products in
terms of
 accuracy,
 stability,
 temporal/spatial resolution,
 calibration and validation needs
and opportunities,
 relevant international working
groups.
for Atmosphere, Ocean, Land and
Cross-Cutting actions.
Evaluation of GCOS ECV data sets
GCOS – WCRP Observation and Assimilation Panel (WOAP)


Workshop, 18 - 20 April 2011, hosted by ESA/ESRIN, Frascati
Sponsored by WCRP / GCOS / WMO Space Programme
ECVs to be considered:
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Atmospheric domain: Cloud properties, Surface radiation budget
Ocean domain:
Sea ice, Sea-surface temperature, Surface wind
Terrestrial domain: Snow cover, Soil moisture,
Fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR)
Expected Products and Outcomes of the WOAP Workshop

A technical report on detailed assessments of existing datasets for key
ECVs relative to the GCOS Guideline

A framework for an inventory of all ECV datasets that includes indices
of the maturity and uncertainties of each product

The identification of best practices in evaluating and inter-comparing
global climate datasets, especially where there are more than one
dataset for a given parameter
Continuous Improvement and Assessment Cycle
GCOS – an all domain system
Space based ECVs
 Requirements for products - Atmosphere
 Requirements for products - Ocean
 Requirements for products - Land
Recommendations
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





1. Ensure attention to the needs identified in this report related to the planning,
initiation and continuity of satellite missions that are needed to provide
satellite climate data records;
2. Ensure a systematic approach in applying, to the greatest extent possible,
the GCOS Climate Monitoring Principles for the generation of satellite climate
data records, recognizing in particular the need for overlaps in missions and
for in situ measurements for calibration and validation purposes;
3. Ensure long-term custody of satellite climate data records and their
associated metadata, and provide open access to these records;
4. Ensure and encourage the generation of, and access to, products based on
the satellite climate data records;
5. Ensure wide and continuing interaction among the international scientific,
operational and end-user communities, to ensure effective feedback
mechanisms and continuing advice on observation and product needs;
6. Sustain active research satellite programmes that address challenging
measurement needs and that allow capabilities to advance and be more cost
effective.
Parties supporting space agencies ensure that the remits of those agencies
enable them to incorporate the needs for systematic observation of climate as
identified in this report (e.g., appropriate structural arrangements and
responsibilities within agencies; planning for the maintenance of satellite
climate data records and product generation).