WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
PANEL OF EXPERTS ON POLAR AND HIGH-MOUNTAIN
OBSERVATIONS, RESEARCH AND SERVICES
Sixth session
Reykjavik, Iceland, 8-11 September 2015
EC-PHORS-6/Doc.3.1.4
Submitted by: Mark Drinkwater
Date: 17.8.2015
AGENDA ITEM: 3.1
POLAR SPACE INITIATIVES
ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED:
1. Activities of the WMO Polar Space Task Group (PSTG)
2. Draft PSTG Strategic Plan 2015-2018
DECISIONS/ACTIONS REQUIRED:
1. Provide comments on PSTG activities and plans
2. Comment on the draft PSTG Strategic Plan, as per request of 17th World Meteorological
Congress
3. Formally extend mandate of PSTG, under new EC-PHORS Terms of Reference, until
2018
REFERENCES:
1. PSTG: http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/sat/pstg_en.php
2. Cg-17/Doc. 4.2.6(1) WMO Polar and High Mountain Activities
3. Polar Space Task Group Strategic Plan 2015-2018 (Draft version 1.3)
http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/sat/documents/SAT-GEN_PSTG-StratPlan2015-2018.pdf
4. Pope et al. (2015) Community Review of Southern Ocean Satellite Data Needs, Draft
available for comment here; http://soos.aq/science/satellite-data
EC-PHORS-6/Doc.3.1.4, p. 2
PSTG UPDATE AND STRATEGY 2015-2018
PSTG Activity Update
1.
The WMO Polar Space Task Group (PSTG) represents the coordination group
among space agencies in support of Polar and High Mountain activities of WMO, and the GCW
[1, 2]. Satellites have a unique capability to observe the otherwise data-sparse Polar and High
Mountain Regions, and contribute to development of integrated applications and services using
remotely-sensed and in-situ observations.
2.
Under the auspices of PSTG, following a detailed 2013-2016 acquisition plan,
coordinated interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery using multiple agency
sensors covering Antarctica and Arctic areas is being recorded. The goal is to achieve full
coverage of most of these areas for at least three consecutive years. Data acquisition currently
involves the space agencies of Canada (CSA), Italy (ASI), and Germany (DLR), supported by
the USA (NASA), Norway (NSC) and ESA and with the perspective to also include new
European (EC/ESA) and Japanese (JAXA) satellites. The data will be openly available and are
expected to provide a significant improvement in monitoring and understanding ice sheet
dynamics and mass balance, particularly in the critical regions of Greenland and the Western
Antarctic Ice Sheet. These data, coupled with existing ongoing altimetry and gravimetry mission
data contribute to further understanding ice sheet mass variability and its impact on sea level.
3.
Since 2013, in addition to coordinated monitoring of the ice sheets, PSTG engages
with the international scientific community in four other strategic areas of interest: permafrost,
snow, floating ice, and polar prediction (through the WWRP Polar Prediction Project and the
Year of Polar Prediction), with a view to coordinate a response by space agencies to
consolidated, scientifically-endorsed satellite data requirements [3].
4.
In response to an EC-PORS-5 Action, an initiative was taken to solicit and collect
user feedback and consolidated requirements for EO data in the Southern Ocean in response to
the IICWG and SOOS/SCAR/CliC scientific priorities and user needs. Operational sea ice needs
have been partly addressed by the existing floating ice user requirements document, whilst the
remaining needs are presently being consolidated in a Report in circulation for public review
prior to publication [4].
5.
At the fourth meeting of PSTG in 2014, internationally-coordinated community white
papers with user requirements in the four thematic areas were presented and a discussion
initiated; PSTG members have started considering these requirements and, in consultation and
iteration with users, started to identify priorities. The fifth PSTG session (5-7 October 2015,
hosted by DLR, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany) will further agree on strategic goals based on
these needs [3], with the objective to agree on coordinated agency actions.
6.
PSTG and GCW Steering Group dialogue has led to Agency support for the
SnowWatch initiative and the GCW portal information on new polar products. In response to
recommendations at the first GCW Snow Watch workshop, PSTG is supporting the snow
product intercomparison study SnowPEX with the goal to assess the quality of current satellitebased snow extent and snow water equivalent products. This initiative provides a framework for
intercomparison between in-situ reference site data and satellite-derived products. Meanwhile,
PSTG has expressed feedback to GCW about CryoNet sites suitable both for Calibration and
Validation (Cal/Val), or on key sites which are most suitable and already equipped to make
EC-PHORS-6/Doc.3.1.4, p. 3
reference measurements. A 2nd International Satellite Snow Products Intercomparison
Workshop is planned on 14-16th September 2015 in Boulder Colorado, USA (see:
http://calvalportal.ceos.org/projects/snowpex/isspi-2nd-workshop).
7.
A joint ESA/NASA/DLR WindVal airborne campaign out of Keflavik, Iceland, was
completed in June 2015, to prepare for the ADM-Aeolus Doppler Wind Lidar wind profiling
mission. The sub-orbital mission used NASA DC-8 and DLR Falcon aircraft with multiple lidars
to gather wind profile data around Greenland and Antarctica in preparation for the launch.
Acquisitions over the Greenland Summit station were coordinated with in-situ teams, with the
support of NSF. Local meteorological support was provided by Icelandic Met Office.
PSTG SAR Coordination Working Group Activity Update
8.
In relation to the PSTG Ice Sheet strategic goals: acquisitions of RADARSAT-2 data
were planned and secured over Antarctica ensuring complete Antarctic coverage between
January and May 2015. Acquisitions of Sentinel-1A data were coordinated over Greenland and
parts of Antarctica. Scientific results from RADARSAT-2, Sentinel-1A and COSMO-SkyMed
were presented at the FRINGE 2015 Workshop, from 23-25 March 2015 in Rome, Italy
9.
In relation to the PSTG Permafrost strategic goals: the User Requirements
documents were tabled and clarified by the scientists at the SAR CWG-3 meeting in 2014. In
2015 Sentinel-1A has covered all permafrost areas worldwide.
10.
In relation to the PSTG Wet Snow strategic goals: the Snow User Requirements
documents were tabled and clarified by the scientists at the SAR CWG-3 meeting in 2014.
Routine observations of wet snow are of particular priority during the spring and summer melt
season in alpine regions, due to the broad interest in piloting SAR satellite-based snow melt
services. Progress reports are awaited at the forthcoming PSTG-5 and SAR CWG-4 meetings.
11.
In relation to addressing the PSTG Floating Ice strategic goals: a request was
submitted to the International Ice Chart Working Group to make operational SAR ice data
available to scientists. Meanwhile the operational ramp-up in Sentinel-1A acquisitions results in
routine, contiguous 3D coverage over the European and Eastern Arctic in support of the
Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (MyOcean: http://marine.copernicus.eu/)
and operational ice service users.
12.
A Three year Implementation Plan and Communications Plan is currently being
drafted, for presentation at the SAR CWG-4 meeting on 8-9 October 2015.
13.
A SAR Data compendium being drafted for presentation at the SAR CWG-4 meeting
in October.
14.
A Brochure is being drafted to capture key progress and achievements, and will be
completed for the SAR CWG-4 meeting in October.
PSTG Strategic Plan 2015-2018
15.
To better frame and communicate its activities in the next four years, PSTG has
developed a draft 2015-2018 Strategic Plan [3]. The plan explains the key coordination function
of the Group in the coming years, for example in supporting the Global Cryosphere Watch, and
the Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP) 2017-2018. The plan also describes functional and
EC-PHORS-6/Doc.3.1.4, p. 4
scientific achievements, mechanisms to achieve its goals, measures of success, and future
priority areas. PSTG intends to finalize the plan at its fifth session in October 2015.
16.
17th World Meteorological Congress requested EC, through its EC-PHORS, to
reflect on how to align PSTG strategies with GCW and the Global Integrated Polar Prediction
System (GIPPS) [3].
17.
In this regard, EC-PHORS is invited to comment on the draft PSTG Strategic Plan
2015-2018.
Other liaison with User Communities
18.
In 2014-15, PSTG representatives liaised with the scientific and operational user
communities at the following venues:
-
4th Karles International Conference, 13-14 November 2014 at US Naval Research
Laboratory.
-
Earth Observation (EO) and Arctic Science Priorities, hosted by WCRP-CliC on 20
January 2015 at the Fram Centre in Tromsø, Norway, alongside the 2015 Arctic
Frontiers Conference.
-
YOPP Summit, Geneva, Switzerland, July 2015.
-
GCW Steering Group meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark, January 2015.