Systematic Observation Requirements for
Space-based Products for Climate
Supplemental details to the satellite-based component of
the “Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System
for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC”
Stephan Bojinski, GCOS Secretariat
WOAP-II, JRC Ispra, Italy
Outline
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Road towards “Systematic Observation Requirements
for Satellite-based Products for Climate”
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Requirements: Examples
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Outlook / Conclusion
GCOS Implementation Plan
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Requirements in the ‘Second Adequacy Report’;
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Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
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Integrated global analysis products
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Existing global, regional and national plans;
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Indicators for measuring its implementation;
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Implementation priorities, agents and resource
requirements;
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131 Actions; estimated USD 631M additional annually
recurring cost;
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Major satellite component.
Variables Largely Dependent Upon Satellites (2AR)
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Atmospheric
• Surface – Precipitation, Surface Wind speed and direction over
oceans,
• Upper Air – Earth radiation budget (including solar irradiance),
Upper-air temperature (inc. MSU radiances), Water vapour, Cloud
properties
• Composition – Carbon dioxide, Methane, Ozone, Other long-lived
greenhouse gases, Aerosol properties.
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Oceanic
• Surface – Sea-surface temperature, (Sea-surface salinity), Sea
level, Sea state, Sea ice, Ocean colour
• Sub Surface – Altimetry for analysis/reanalysis
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Terrestrial
• (Ground water), (Lake levels), Snow cover, Glaciers and ice caps,
Albedo, Land cover, Fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active
radiation (FAPAR), Leaf area index , (Biomass), Fire disturbance,
(soil moisture)
Road towards the ‘Satellite Supplement’
to the GCOS IP
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Space agencies were requested by UNFCCC to respond
to requirements in the GCOS IP by November 2006
Space agencies asked GCOS, through CEOS, to provide
more details for these requirements
January 2006 workshop with 25 participants, using
 Requirements in Ohring et al. (2005)
 Requirements in WMO/CEOS database
Hand-over of version 1.0 to CEOS (3 March)
2 months open review on the web
Continuing interaction with CEOS
Publication mid-September
Requirements in the
‘Satellite supplement’
to the GCOS IP (near-final v2.0)
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9 Cross-cutting needs (related to, e.g., GCOS climate
monitoring principles, inter-calibration, unique datasets,
independent scientific groups, data access)
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35 ECV-based “Products”, based on “Fundamental Climate
Data Records - FCDRs”
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Needs for reanalysis (e.g., atmosphere-ocean coupling)
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Detailed specifications, often in conjunction with in-situ data
for cal/val
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Recommended immediate actions and opportunities
Nomenclature
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•
Fundamental Climate Data Record (FCDR)
”a long-term data record, involving a series of
instruments, with potentially changing measurement
approaches, but with overlaps and calibrations sufficient
to allow the generation of homogeneous products
providing a measure of the intended variable that is
accurate and stable enough for climate monitoring.
FCDRs include the ancillary data used to calibrate
them.”
Products (aka TCDRs)
”denotes geophysical variables derived from
FCDRs, often generated by blending satellite
observations and in-situ data, and using physical model
frameworks.”
Remarks on FCDRs and Products
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FCDR specifications kept generic (e.g., “appropriate
radiances in VIS/NIR”) based on current expertise
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Clear links to GCOS IP
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Accuracy – stability – resolution requirements given as
indicators; sampling issues not addressed
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Continuing involvement of expert groups required to
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Improve methodology for product generation and analysis
Update of specifications/requirements
Obtain reliable estimates of climate variability and trends:
Independent scientific groups, independent FCDRs
Where do priority needs stop?
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Some in the science community have ambitions that “all” research
missions and/or datasets thereof be sustained (“operational”)
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GCOS focus is on a priority sustained component that deals with
practical monitoring on a global scale, and that should be feasible
within a decade.
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This Satellite Report recognises, but does not detail, research needs
and supplemental datasets and products that aid interpretation/
validation
Key recommdation 6 in the Executive Summary reads:
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“Sustain active research satellite programmes that address
challenging measurement needs and that allow capabilities to
advance and be more cost effective.”
Example 1
Aerosol Product:
Aerosol optical depth, and other aerosol properties
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Benefits: Reduce uncertainty in climate forcing
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Spatial and temporal resolution (total column AOD):
1 km horizontal, 1-day cycle, RMS accuracy 0.01, decadal stability
0.005
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Appropriate FCDR at selected VIS/NIR/SWIR wavelengths, through:
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Optimal configuration of LEO/GEO satellites
Continuity by AVHRR-3, VIIRS, MTG
Reprocessing of AVHRR since 1981; of full GOES dataset
Supplemented by:
 Research with active instruments
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Cal/val needs: NDACC, WMO GAW, NASA AERONET
Immediate actions: Reprocessing of historical datasets
Other applications of product: Air quality, NWP, cloud chemistry
Example 2
Land Cover Change Product:
High-resolution maps of land cover type, for the detection of land
cover change
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Benefits: Quantify areal changes land cover; provide link between
global land cover maps and in-situ observations; support to national
GHG inventory reporting to the UNFCCC
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Spatial and temporal resolution:
10-30m horizontal, 5-year cycle, 20% maximum error of omission
and commission (accuracy and stability)
Appropriate FCDR of high-resolution, multispectral VIS/NIR
imagery, e.g., Landsat ETM type
Adequacy: scattered regional 30-m resolution maps exist, but no
institution provides global maps on a regular basis
Immediate actions: Reprocessing of historical datasets; build on
existing rudimentary institutional arrangements; research to develop
feasible operational solutions
Other applications of product: Support change detection /
sustainable development in e.g., agriculture, forestry
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Outlook / Conclusions
GCOS Satellite Supplement Report used in:
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Updated UNFCCC Guidelines on Systematic
Observation (to be adopted in November 2006)
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Space Agencies’ (CEOS) Response to the GCOS IP;
long-term planning / “Constellation” concept?
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Evolution of the WMO Global Observing System and the
WMO Space Programme Meeting 4-8 September
(ET-SAT/SUP joint session)
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US National Research Council Decadal Survey Report
“Earth Science and Applications from Space”
(communication with Rick Anthes)
Thank you for your attention.
GCOS Mission
To ensure that the data required to meet the needs of users
for climate information are obtained and made available for:
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Climate system monitoring, climate change detection and
attribution;
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Research, modelling and prediction of the climate system;
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Assessing impacts, vulnerability & adaptation;
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Application to sustainable economic development.
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Global, long-term, high-quality, sustainable, reliable
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3 science panels (Atmosphere, Oceans, Terrestrial),
Steering Committee, Secretariat
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Sponsored by WMO, UNEP, UNESCO, ICSU
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National GCOS coordinators and focal points, National
support
GCOS Observational Strategy
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Achieving an optimal balance of satellite and in-situ data
 Ensuring data are stable enough to allow reliable detection
of climate change –
 20 GCOS climate monitoring principles (10 basic + 10
especially for space-based observations)
 Making full use of all available data to achieve a costeffective global observing system for climate
 Network concept:
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Comprehensive networks of all relevant observations
Global Baseline networks
Reference networks
Research networks
Selected GCOS activities in the past
3 years
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GCOS Adequacy Report (2003): identified gaps and
deficiencies
GCOS Implementation Plan (2004): the roadmap for the
global climate observing system in the next 5-10 years
Both reports developed in response to and endorsed by
the UNFCCC
Broad participation and ownership by the climate
community, including WCRP, WCP
GCOS seen as the climate component of the GEOSS
Regional workshops
Regional implementation (e.g.,G8 follow-up, in conjunction
with donors and development agencies in Africa)
Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
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Atmospheric (16)
• Surface – Air temperature, Precipitation, Air pressure, Surface radiation
•
•
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budget, Wind speed and direction, Water vapour
Upper Air – Earth radiation budget (including solar irradiance), Upper-air
temperature (including MSU radiances), Wind speed and direction, Water
vapour, Cloud properties
Composition – Carbon dioxide, Methane, Ozone, Other long-lived
greenhouse gases, Aerosol properties.
Oceanic (15)
• Surface – Sea-surface temperature, Sea-surface salinity, Sea level, Sea
•
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state, Sea ice, Current, Ocean colour (for biological activity), Carbon
dioxide partial pressure
Sub-surface:Temperature, Salinity, Current, Nutrients, Carbon, Ocean
tracers, Phytoplankton
Terrestrial (13)
• River discharge, Water use, Ground water, Lake levels, Snow cover,
Glaciers and ice caps, Permafrost and seasonally-frozen ground, Albedo,
Land cover (including vegetation type), Fraction of absorbed
photosynthetically active radiation (FAPAR), Leaf area index (LAI),
[Biomass], Fire disturbance, [soil moisture]