Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)

Michael Tanner GEO SecretariatGeneva, Switzerland

© GEO Secretariat

U.S. Department of State, Washington DCJuly 31, 2003

Group on Earth ObservationsIntergovernmental Organization with 81 Members and

56 Participating Organizations

Environment and Climate Change

To respond to the growing demand for Earth observation data, we will accelerate efforts within the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), which builds on the work of UN specialized agencies and programs, in priority areas, inter alia, climate change and water resources management, by strengthening observation, prediction and data sharing. We also support capacity building for developing countries in earth observations and promote interoperability and linkage with other partners.

RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Natural disasters

To address the increased threats of natural disasters and extreme weather phenomena caused by climate change, such as increased flooding, storm surges, droughts and forest fires, we will act to improve risk preparedness, prevention, monitoring and response times, particularly in developing countries, by:

a) defining common guidelines for disaster prevention and management to be used in developing national plans, in collaboration with the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), building on the Hyogo Framework for Action and on national experiences, as well as improving management of risks, awareness raising and training of the population and civil protection real-time response, such as logistical support for emergency situations;

b) supporting the ongoing work on the development of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

© GEO Secretariat slide 5

• Represents the consolidation of a global scientific and political consensus at the Ministerial level

• The prediction and assessment of the state of the Earth requires continuous and coordinated collection, processing, modeling, and dissemination of data about the Earth system at all scales.

•Develop the use of Earth observations by a broad range of users – From both developed and developing countries and – Ranging from decision- and policy-makers to scientists, industry,

international governmental, and non-governmental organizations.

GEOSS Imperative

… to answer Society’s need for informed decision making

Coordinate and Sustain Observation Systems

Provide Easier & More Open Data Access

Foster Use through Science, Applications and Capacity Building

GEOSSGlobal Earth Observation System of

Systems…

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GEOSSGlobal Earth Observation System of Systems

Distributed system of systems• Improve coordination of strategies and

observation systems• Link all platforms: in-situ, aircraft,

satellite, and buoy networks, etc.• Facilitate exchange of data and

information • Identify gaps in our global capacity• Improve decision-makers’ abilities to

address pressing policy issues • Enable solutions for Societal Benefit

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A Global, Coordinated, Comprehensive and Sustained System of Observing Systems

GEOSS

GEO-VI PlenaryWashington, DC

• Climate recognized as cross-cutting across all SBA

• Framework basis for GEO Climate SBA – Climate Services / WCRP / GCOS / GFCS / IFSOO /

SCOPE-CM

• Research and Services essential role in GEOSS• National Projects and Activities key

contributions to GEOSS– GEWEX, CLIVAR, CLiC, SPARC and the Earth System Science

Partnership (ESSP) 9

Climate SBA• Enhance collaboration between observation, research and user

communities • Support the development of observational capabilities for Essential

Climate Variables • Identify climate products and information required for societal

applications – Develop and implement approaches responding to these requirements

• Facilitate access to climate data and models– Particularly for developing countries

• Facilitate exchange of data and information across Societal Benefit Areas

• Combine climate data with socio-economic information to better anticipate manifestations of climate change in areas such as Disasters, Health, Water, Ecosystems and Agriculture

• Develop a long-term strategy to improve observation capability, data assimilation and modelling

• Advance the monitoring and predictability of climate on seasonal, interannual and decadal time scales 10

Climate Community Contributions

• Understanding Earth System phenomena – e.g. Organized tropical convection, Sea-level rise

• Connecting disciplines and addressing crosscutting issues – e.g. WCRP "Global Environmental Change and Human Health

initiative"

• Developing Earth System modeling – From a seamless approach and data assimilation schemes – Integrating both space and in-situ data

• Fostering the development of user-driven socio-economic applications and related forecasting systems

• Enhancing capacity for using data & products • Producing and disseminating information relevant to

decision makers 11

© GEO Secretariat

• Shared data, metadata & products at Minimum Time Delay and Minimum Cost

• Free of Charge, or cost of reproduction, encouraged for Research & Education

GEOSS Data Sharing Principles

• Full and open exchange of data, metadata, and products shared within GEOSS

− Recognizing Relevant International Instruments and National Policies

Data Sharing Implementation Guidelines

• Promote implementation of GEOSS Data Sharing Principles through the

full and open exchange of data.

• Encourage GEOSS users to reuse and re-disseminate shared data.

• Ensure consistency with other national laws and policies and international agreements.

• Implement pricing policies consistent with GEOSS Data Sharing Principles.

• Reduce time delays for making data available through GEOSS.

• Promote research and education uses of GEOSS data.

• Develop metrics and indicators for GEOSS data sharing

activities.

• Develop effective coordination and outreach

mechanisms for implementing the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles.

GEO – IPCC Workshop• Explore how the GEOSS can improve the delivery of multi-disciplinary

data and data products to the climate impacts, adaptation and vulnerability research community– How GEOSS can support the IPCC assessments

• Organized by GEO, IPCC, GCOS and WCRP• Advisory group

– Vicente Barros, IPCC WG II Co-Chair– Chris Field, IPCC WG II Co-Chair– Gino Casassa, Centro de Estudios Cientificos, Chile– Howard Diamond, US National Climatic Data Center and US GCOS program

manager– Kathy Hibbard UCAR, USA– José A. Marengo, Centro de Previsao de Tempo e Estudios Climàticos, Brazil– Joy Pereira, Southeast Asia Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Malaysia– Steven W. Running, University of Montana, USA– Mark Stafford Smith, CSIRO, Australia– Kevin Trenberth, UCAR, USA– Scarla Weeks, Global Change Institute, Australia 14

© GEO Secretariat

Next Steps

- Ensure Access for All

- Make Basic Data Sets Available

- Develop End-to-End Services

- Coordinate Observing Systems

Summary

• GEO Ministerial in Beijing, China will showcase Climate community

• Engagement and Cooperation with the Global Climate Community is FUNDAMENTAL to the success of GEOSS– As a global environmental information system for society

• Goal of GEOSS is to provide better information for decision making – Achieve Societal and Economic Benefits

– Global coordinated network

– Sustained and Comprehensive

– Earth Observation System of Systems

• Scientific Engagement is CRITICAL to the success of GEOSS• Cross-cutting Approach

– Involving many Communities with International Dimension

• Maintain Global Mobilization and Interest 16

Thank you!

Thank you!

Michael D. TannerSenior Program Officer

GEO Secretariat

7bis, avenue de la PaixCasale postale 2300

Ch-1211 Geneva 2, Suisse

phone: +41 22 730 8324e-mail: mtanner@geosec.org

www.earthobservations.org

GEOSS Climate SBA

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A Global, Coordinated, Comprehensive and Sustained System of Observing Systems

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Societal Benefit Areas• Disasters: Reducing loss of life and property from natural and human-induced disasters

• Health: Understanding environmental factors affecting human health and well-being

• Energy: Improving management of energy resources

• Climate: Understanding, assessing, predicting, mitigating, and adapting to climate variability and change

• Water: Improving water resource management through better understanding of the water cycle

• Weather: Improving weather information, forecasting and warning

• Ecosystems: Improving the management and protection of terrestrial, coastal and marine resources

• Agriculture: Supporting sustainable agriculture and combating desertification

• Biodiversity: Understanding, monitoring and conserving biodiversity

GEOSS Climate SBAUnderstanding, assessing, predicting, mitigating,

and adapting to climate variability and change

• The climate has impacts in each of the other eight societal benefit areas.

• Coping with climate change and variability demands good scientific understanding based on sufficient and reliable observations.

• GEOSS outcomes will enhance the capacity to model, mitigate, and adapt to climate change and variability.

• Better understanding of the climate and its impacts on the Earth system, including its human and economic aspects, will contribute to improved climate prediction and facilitate sustainable development while avoiding dangerous perturbations to the climate system. (GEOSS 10-Year Implementation Plan)

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Vision

• Link together the world’s diverse Climate information– Observing systems– Data processing centres– Models– Dissemination systems – Decision support capabilities

• Support integrated data sets and user information services

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2010-2011 Work Plan• Work Plan approved at GEO-VI

• Build the Climate arm of GEOSS – Through Climate Tasks– Each with leads and contributors

• GEOSS Climate tasks:– Sustained Reprocessing and Reanalysis Efforts – Key Climate Data from Satellite Systems– Key Terrestrial Observations for Climate – GEOSS IPY Contribution – Global Ocean Observation System – Seamless Weather and Climate Prediction System

GEOSS Climate Tasks

• A Climate Record for Assessing Variability and Change– Sustained Reprocessing and Reanalysis of Climate Data– Extending the Record of Climate Variability at Global Scale– Key Climate Data from Satellite Systems

• Environmental Information for Decision-making, Risk Management and Adaptation

– Towards Enhanced Climate, Weather, Water and Environmental Prediction– Climate Information for Decision-making, Risk Management and Adaptation

• Global Carbon Observation and Analysis System– Integrated Global Carbon Observation – Forest Carbon Tracking– Global Monitoring of Greenhouse Gases from Space

• Sustained Observing Systems– Global Terrestrial Observations for Climate– Legacy of the International Polar Year – Global Ocean Observation System– Global Observing System (GOS)

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GEO Climate Tasks• Sustained Reprocessing and Reanalysis Efforts

– Ensure the development of international mechanisms to coordinate and maintain sustained climate data reprocessing and reanalysis efforts.

– Lead: GCOS, WCRP, CEOS– Contributor: Argentina, Australia, China, ECMWF, EEA, Finland, Germany,

Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, USA• Key Climate Data from Satellite Systems

– Establish actions securing the provision of key data for climate studies and forecasting from satellite systems.

– Lead: CEOS, GCOS, USA, WMO – Contributor: Cyprus, France, Germany, GSDI, Italy, Japan, Netherlands,

Norway, Portugal, Russia, Thailand, Tunisia• Key Terrestrial Observations for Climate

– Develop intergovernmental mechanisms for coordinating terrestrial observations needed for climate studies and forecasting. Develop a framework for the preparation of guidance materials, standards, and reporting guidelines for terrestrial observing systems for climate and associated data, metadata, and products to expand the comprehensiveness of current networks and facilitate exchange of data.

– Lead: GTOS – Contributor: Australia, CEOS, Cyprus, ECMWF, EUMETNET, FAO, GCOS,

Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Spain, Thailand, USA

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GEO Climate Tasks• GEOSS IPY Contribution

– Coordinate with the International Polar Year (IPY) to enhance the utilization of Earth observations in all appropriate realms

– Lead: WCRP, Portugal – Contributor: Argentina, Australia, Canada, CEOS, France, GCOS, Germany,

GTOS, IAG, IGOS-P, IOC, Italy, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain, USA, WCRP, WMO

• Global Ocean Observation System – Enhance and improve coordination of coastal and marine climate

observations in support of a global ocean observation system. – Lead: GOOS, POGO– Contributor: Argentina, CEOS, France, GCOS, Germany, GOOS, Greece,

GTOS, IAG, IGOS-P, IOC, Italy, Japan, Norway, POGO, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, USA, WMO

• Seamless Weather and Climate Prediction System – Support the development of a THORPEX/WCRP initiative on "International

Weather, Climate and Earth-system Science", to better address uncertainties associated with climate variability and change, and related societal impacts.

– Lead: WMO, WCRP– Contributor: China, Thailand

Benefits• Strong Climate arm is fundamental to a successful

GEOSS

• Essential to and supports all SBAs– Vast range of user communities

• Support adaptation and mitigation under UNFCCC

• Support to IPCC assessments

• Climate information as a global public good – Data Sharing Principles with open access

• Support science and research community

– Including modellers