Terrestrial Essential Climate Variables from satellite

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Terrestrial Essential Climate Variables from
satellite (the GCOS process) Alan
Belward European Commission Joint Research
Centre 21020 Ispra (VA) Italy
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GCOS in the UNFCCC Context
considers what can be done to reduce global
warming and how to cope with whatever temperature
increases are inevitable
IPCC assessments help condition UNFCCC reporting
Climate Change is one of the nine
societal-benefits addressed by the GEOSS 10
year implementation plan
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Interaction with Multilateral Environmental
Agreements

• As signatories to the UNFCCC the Parties are
  making clear commitments to improved global
  environmental governance
• This commitment is accompanied by
  responsibilities and obligations, which involve
  actions by the Parties both individually and
  collectively

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e.g., the GCOS Implementation Plan

• Endorsement of the Implementation Plan for the
  Global Climate Observing System helps the Parties
  meet their responsibilities under Articles 4 and
  5 of the UNFCCC
• yet this endorsement also brings new
  responsibilities i.e. actually implementing the
  plan

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Terrestial ECVs
Source IPCC TAR, 2001
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http//www.wmo.ch/web/gcos.
The 2AR reports on status of and weaknesses in
the global networks measuring essential climate
variables
Endorsed by COP9 And by 2003 WMO Congress
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Mission Continuity

• Sensor evolution (backward compatible)
• Unbroken record
• Overlapping record

(Source MODIS 2005 NASA)
(Source Argon 1963 USGS)
(Source UNEP )
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Satellite sensor calibration
Source Carmona Moreno et al. 2005 GCB, 11, 1537 -
1555

• Pre launch calibration to traceable standard
• Post launch vicarious calibration campaigns to
  maintain in flight calibration

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In situ instrument calibration

• In situ instrument calibration to the same
  traceable standard as used for pre launch
  satellite sensor calibration
• Cross instrument calibration

(Source G. Zibordi, JRC)
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Definition of variables

• Complete product description needed for users
• Formal International intercomparison using
  internationally agreed protocols and benchmarks

(Source N. Gobron, JRC)
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Product Validation

• Sampling and scale issues to be resolved
• In situ measurement schemes
• High Resolution systematic, random, stratified,
  aligned

Source Widlowski et al. (2005), JGR, submitted
Source Achard et al. (2002), Science 297, 9
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Liability and accountability

• Internationally accepted institutional framework
• Internationally agreed processes
• Global Climate Observing System/ Global
  Terrestrial Observing System
• CEOS Cal/Val Working Group WGISS

(Source B. Pinty, JRC)
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Fitness for purpose
(Source Bartholome and Belward, 2005, IJRS 26,
1959 - 1977)

• Accepted accuracy levels
• By both end-users and producers
• Product provenance and ownership
• Defined responsibilities
• validation, revision and maintenance, archive and
  distribution

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http//www.wmo.ch/web/gcos
Endorsed by COP10 And progress welcomed at COP11
The GIP proposes remedial action to address the
shortcomings identified in the 2AR
Addresses the climate-change societal benefits
for the GEOSS ten year IP
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GIP actions

• highlight what needs to be done to ensure
  current, historic and future records
• identify where the responsibilities for
  measurement, processing and maintenance
  (archival, standards, benchmarking) lie
• identify suitable institutional structures
• identify measurable factors to judge progress
  over the 5 10 year period
• timeframe and costs

http//www.geo.unizh.ch/wgms/index.html
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Satellite needs for climate

• The space agencies, through CEOS, now have to
  report to COP 12, stating how they plan to
  respond to the GIP
• GCOS (with WCRP) is drafting a Supplement to the
  GIP
• Systematic Observation Requirements for
  Satellite-based Products for Climate

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International Agents for Implementation

• Relevant international and intergovernmental
  organizations will
• undertake coordination and planning for
  systematic climate observations where this is not
  currently being undertaken
• produce plans for their contributions to the
  global observing system for climate.
• The Parties must ensure that their requirements
  for climate observations are communicated to
  these international and intergovernmental
  organizations.
• The international entities then need to report
  back to the Partiesthrough the COP/MOP.

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Progress will need more co-ordination

• Networks of laboratories address research issues
  (usually)
• Agencies and inter agency organisations ensure
  continuity and quality of observations
  (sometimes)
• Intergovernmental processes prepare and issue
  regulatory and guidance material for making
  observations (occasionally)

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Institutional roles in QA for Climate

• Who sets the standards?
• For cal / val, for geospatial data, for
  reporting?
• Who applies them?
• Data providers, service providers, end users?
• Who monitors their application?
• The intergovernmental technical commission for
  terrestrial observation, measurement and
  reporting standards?