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CONTENTSCEOS Holds Meeting on Integrated Global Observing Strategy---This page
Report from the Second CEOS WGISS Meeting
WIGSS Subgroups Meet in Japan
News of The Working Group on Calibration and Validation
10th CEOS Plenary Advisory Note 1, April 1996
CEOS EO mission/instruments capabilities and user requirements: the database goes on-line
Windows-based Metadata Generator for CEOS IDN now available - DIFENT
Launch of ADEOS/H-II Launch Vehicle Flight No.4/News Highlight/Meeting Calendar
CEOS Holds Meeting on Integrated Global Observing Strategy
Lisa R.Shaffer
Mission to Planet Division, Office of External Relations, NASA HQ
- On March 27-29, 1996, CEOS Members, Affiliates, and Observers met in
Seattle, Washington, hosted by NOAA and NASA, to discuss the desirability,
feasibility, and potential role for CEOS in an integrated global observing
strategy(IGOS). This meeting fulfilled CEOS Plenary action item 9-19 from
the Montreal plenary in 1995. An organizing committee, comprising NOAA,
NASA, STA, NASDA, ESA, EUMETSAT, GCOS, and CSIRO, planned the meeting,
which was chaired by CEOS Chair Dr.Brian Embleton of CSIRO. All CEOS participating
agencies were invited to attend to provide input to the discussion. Papers
were circulated in advance to all CEOS participating agencies to solicit
their input regardless of their actual attendance in Seattle.
The meeting focused on the space component of a possible IGOS, while noting that a fully integrated strategy would necessarily include provisions for incorporating observations made by non-space-based instrumentation, and would involve organizations beyond the scope of CEOS. The interest in exploring the elements of a long-term, integrated strategy was sparked by the general realization that many research and operational endeavors can make effective use of Earth observations from space and non-space sources, but there exists no strategic framework within which observational requirements can be presented and addressed.
The consideration of an IGOS addresses the need for much closer coordination and integration of the observing and analysis programs in place and planned for the next decade. Better coordination is required within the space-based and non-space-based components, as well as between space-based and non-space -based components. The term "strategy" implies that CEOS and other organizations could make more effective use of existing and future instrumentation by developing and evolving an international strategy to avoid unnecessary redundancies, fill data gaps, and integrate research results. In also implies the integrated use of both operational and research systems for studying the Earth and managing its resources, while responding to progress in science and in observations.
The meeting considered several major topics pertaining to a viable integrated global observing strategy, including:
---the need for an IGOS;
---defining characteristics of an IGOS
---implementation mechanisms and the role of CEOS
---next steps
Many social, economic, and environmental issues, such as sustainable development and environmental security could benefit from development of an IGOS. Participants agreed that the existing and planned space-based systems could fulfill user needs more effectively if agencies achieved better coordination and cooperation. It is for these purposes that participants generally supported the concept of an IGOS. The strategy should integrate planning among agencies leading to cost-effective space-based systems, inter-calibration, compatibility of data delivery systems, and better links between and among users and providers. participants noted that the report of the CEOS Task Force on Planning and Analysis will be instrumental in assessing how well existing and planned systems meet user requirements.
The group agreed on several recommendations. In preparation for the November 1996 CEOS Plenary in Canberra, Australia, the group recommended:
1.The outcomes of the Seattle Ad Hoc CEOS Meeting of an Integrated Global Observing Strategy should be fully discussed at the 1996 CEOS Plenary in Canberra.
2.The CEOS Chairman and Secretariat undertake a review of the CEOS Terms Reference with regard to : (1) the status of Affiliates within CEOS; and (2) any changes necessary to accommodate on IGOS, and report as appropriate at the Plenary.
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