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CEOS and IGOS - The Way Forward

The 10th CEOS Plenary devoted a significant amount of time to discussion of an integrated global observing strategy (IGOS) and how CEOS might contribute to the development of the space component of such a strategy.

The starting points for the discussion were the outcome of the Seattle Ad Hoc CEOS meeting on the Space Component of an integrated global observing strategy (IGOS) [reported in the last CEOS Newsletter] and a meeting held in Geneva in September 1996 on In Situ Observations for the Global Observing Systems. The CEOS Plenary endorsed the recommendations from the Seattle meeting and took note of the relevant draft recommendations from the Geneva meeting. There was consensus that continued attention should be given within CEOS, and through interaction with other involved and important international organizations, to continue work toward achieving such a strategy. The recommendation from Seattle to establish a study team was addressed through the creation of an IGOS Strategic Implementation Team(SIT). Plenary participants agreed that CEOS can make the most effective contribution to the IGOS in the areas of the space component and the surface-based observations necessary for calibration and validation. The purpose of CEOS activities in this regard is to develop a space component of the IGOS that satisfies user requirements. The SIT will report to the 1997 Plenary with a review of its progress and recommendations as appropriate.
In support of IGOS development, and other CEOS interests, the Plenary also accepted a recommendation to establish an Analysis Group to evaluate the extent to which existing and planned systems of CEOS agencies meet the defined user requirements, both of CEOS affiliate organizations and other national and regional user groups.
CEOS agencies felt it is important to proceed quickly in these activities to demonstrate early the ability to identify and resolve deficiencies, so that areas needing political and funding support can be identified and addressed. Although activities will focus on long-term plans, it was thought important to consider aspects of existing programs and missions that could be identified to realize early progress toward the IGOS.
The Strategic Implementation Team will address implementation of the space component of the IGOS by developing an overall vision for the IGOS space component and a methodology for resolving deficiencies in observations and products. The team is open to participation of all Members, Observers, and Affiliates, but should include senior agency representatives with knowledge of national and agency plans and policies, and authority to commit to changes in major programs that may be necessary to realize the IGOS. The team will prepare recommendations to the Plenary as to how changes could be implemented to realize the IGOS. The team will rely, in part, on the output of the Analysis Group. Dr. Embleton, of CSIRO, agreed to serve as chair of the Strategic Implementation Team.
The Plenary accepted NASA/NOAA's offer to host the first meeting of the Strategic Implementation Team in the area of Long Beach, California, USA on 6-7 February 1997. The Team will develop a broad strategy for the stepwise implementation of the IGOS Space Component. In doing this, the Team will need address the relationship between research and operational data, as well as the space/surfacebased linkages. The strategy for the space component obviously has to be consistent with, and interconnected to, the strategy for the non-space component. This will also require interaction with appropriate groups beyond CEOS.
At the first SIT meeting, Team of Reference will be adopted, which should encourage substantive discussion on key issues to guide IGOS strategic planning. Implementation strategies must be relevant to national and international research/operational/applications programs and reflect agency priorities. The first meeting will review and move forward in discussion of
• a vision for IGOS
• definition and responsibilities of the space component of an IGOS
• addressing the interface between strategy definition for the space component and the in situ component with appropriate mechanisms for seamless integration
• dialogue with the Analysis Group
• an initial implementation strategy
• involving the space component
• for IGOS overall(Members, Observers and Affiliates)
• consideration of the CEOS SIT initiative and its impact on other national and international co-ordinating bodies
• a work program(prototypes) in consultation with the Analysis Group
Agreement in CEOS to establish the Strategic Implementation Team is an important recognition by all the world's Earth observation space agencies and affiliated international organizations of the importance of more intensive planning and more effective international coordination. This work can enhance the benefits of space-based Earth observation by helping to ensure that critical global measurements are obtained and sustained to support a wide variety of operational and research users.

The CEOS Planning and Analysis Task Force Completes Its Work. CEOS concluded the work of the Task Force on Planning and Analysis, chaired by Bizzarro Bizzarri. This Task Force defined and completed implementation of a database version of the CEOS "dossier" with detailed specifications of satellite and instrument specifications and performance, with a companion and compatible database of requirements from the CEOS Affiliate organizations, along with tools for analyzing the extent to which space agency programs address user requirements. The final details of the database implementation should be resolved by early 1997. At the CEOS Plenary meeting, Dr. Bizzarri, of EUMETSAT and the Task Force Chair, provided some examples of the user requirements and capabilities contained in the CEOS

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