page 4
CONTENTSREPORT ON THE 11TH CEOS PLENARY
News From the Working Group on Information Systems and Services
CEOS Working Group on Calibration and Validation
IGOS Strategic Implementation Team - Progress Report ---This page
The Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment
The Upper Air Measurements
Long-Term Continuity of Ozone Measurements
Ocean Biology
Global Observation of Forest Cover
Disaster Management Support
The Global Terrestrial Observing System
ISRO takes over CEOS Chair for 1998
IGOS Strategic Implementation Team - Progress Report
Brian J J Embleton Chair, Strategic Implementation TeamAs foreshadowed in CEOS Newsletter number 9, the British National Space Centre hosted the second meeting of the Strategic Implementation Team (SIT) at New College, Oxford, September 29-30, 1997.
- The meeting: reviewed the work of the CEOS Analysis Group (AG);
reviewed the status of, and assessed CEOS agency support for, the six IGOS prototypical projects;
addressed issues common to the projects;
considered an IGOS in the context of international conventions;
discussed the way forward on an IGOS partnership approach with other entities;
discussed CEOS' role in an IGOS.
The meeting proved exceptionally popular and attracted a broader representation, from the CEOS family of agencies, than was originally anticipated within the SIT framework.
CEOS Analysis Group Chair, Yukio Haruyama, NASDA, and Affiliate Focal Point, John Morgan, presented the AG Report which addressed cross-cutting issues such as the CEOS database on mission characteristics, integrated data products and in-situ sources of observations. The AG considered its initial task as having been achieved and recommended its own dissolution, with project-related activities to take place within the framework of the SIT. Plenary subsequently agreed to form a support group based on the SIT Organising Committee but expanded to include nominated scientists, project managers and technical experts.
Discussion of IGOS Projects
A status report and specific recommendations for SIT consideration were presented on each of the six projects. Meeting participants were invited to react with comments, recommendations for direction, and indications of support.
Philippe Courtier, CNES, addressed the status and recommendations of the Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE), a project of the GCOS-GOOS-WCRP Ocean Observations Panel for Climate. GODAE was considered to be an excellent example of potential IGOS integration of satellite and in-situ measurements.
Paul Menzel, NOAA, addressed the Upper Air Measurements for Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) Project, outlining initial findings that provision of satellite sounding and wind data over land could mitigate agairst the impending loss of radiosonde observations that will negatively impact global NWP forecasts. SIT participants noted that this project responded to an identified gap and is consistent with meeting an IGOS objective.
Chris Readings, ESA, noted the importance of cross calibration of space and in-situ data was highlighted in respect of the Long-Term Continuity of Ozone Measurements Project.
Trevor Platt, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, noted that the Ocean Biology Project, which is now being pursued under the auspices of the International Ocean-Colour Coordination Group. The project presents an opportunity to address potential redundancies in the provision of observing systems for ocean colour, consistent with the pursuit of IGOS criteria.
Frank Ahern, CCRS, briefed participants on the Global Observations of Forest Cover Project, defining a suite of potential products that will be needed and identifying data access policies and costs as potential challenges. A number of agencies expressed strong interest in the project and a willingness to provide experts and other in-kind contributions.
Helen Wood, NOAA, outlined the Disaster Management Support Project which was recognised at the outset as different from the other projects in that specific user requirements for satellite data have not yet been developed. Most agencies expressed strong support for developing this area, which they deemed to be of high political and societal significance.
Yukio Haruyama, NASDA, briefly described a proposal from the Japan Meteorological Agency for a new IGOS project in the field of Global Land Surface Hydrology. It was suggested that this project might be considered with-in the context of GEWEX. The Oxford meeting recommended that proposals for new IGOS projects should be considered by CEOS and other partners in a more broadly based, future IGOS framework.
The Year Ahead
The 11th CEOS Plenary determined the SIT program for 1998, which will be guided by newly developed Terms of Reference to:
1. Produce a Strategic Plan for the space component of an IGOS.
2. Develop a set of Guiding Principles for an IGOS.
3. Guide, coordinate, redirect as necessary, and track progress of the IGOS Prototype Projects, and assist with the formulation of agency responses to project recommendations.
4. Plan the participation of CEOS with partner organisations (including IGFA and G3OS) and prepare for the June meeting with the G3OS Sponsors. (see below)
5. Liaise with the CEOS Working Groups to facilitate implementation of WG plans in support of IGOS projects.
6. Report to Plenary 12, Bangalore, India
The next SIT meeting is planned for 25 March 1998 and will be hosted by CNES in Paris. The main business will cover:
a review of progress on the IGOS Strategic Plan;
(to be continued on Page 5)
Next Page
Back to a Newsletters list