Space Sensors for Climate Monitoring

The IAF Subcommittee on the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) organised a all-day workshop entitled SPACE SENSORS FOR CLIMATE MONITORING on 23 March 2010 at UNESCO, Paris.

Workshop objectives

Aware of the increasing interest around the globe in the capacity for space-based measurements of key environmental parameters, now and well into the future, the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) held a workshop – gathering representatives from the science, engineering, geo-information, decision support, and policy-making communities – to exchange information on the use of space systems to monitor essential Earth observations for weather, climate, and hazards over a range of atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial variables.

The workshop provided an opportunity to discuss projects underway on activities to inventory current and future space-based sensors to measure essential climate variables, verify and validate sensor data products, as well as efforts to identify gaps in current and prospective sensor capabilities.

Outcome

The space-based sensor inventory workshop has been organised to increase awareness and visibility of the activities under way and planned in this important area.

The output of the workshop is a summary report ready for distribution to inform beneficiaries, in the science, engineering, geo-information, decision making communities, of the state of the art. The report will be prepared by members of the IAF GEOSS Subcommittee in close collaboration with the participating organisations and distributed to participants and to interested IAF member agencies, companies, and user organisations.

The workshop report will also be made available here in due course in an effort to increase public awareness of the space-based sensor contributions to GEOSS and as contribution to the assessment of needs, plans, and gaps.

Workshop Organiser

The workshop was organised by the International Astronautical Federation’s Subcommittee on the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). This Subcommittee was established to facilitate information exchanges at the global level among space agencies, companies, user and research organizations interested in the use of space systems to understand climate, weather, and natural hazard phenomena.

In June 2007, the Subcommittee organised a seminar on "The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) and Global Change” at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France to highlight current and planned activities in this arena.

Participants

This event featured participation from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Group on Earth Observations(GEO), the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites, the United Nations Framework Commission on Climate Change (UNFCCC), theWorld Climate Research Programme (WCRP), the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), the Intergovernmental Ocean Commission(IOC), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UNESCO.

Presentations

Workshop Agenda
Workshop Report

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Workshop Overview and Objectives IAF GEOSS Subcommittee Ron Birk

Requirements for Space-based Measurements For Fifth Assessment Report on Climate Change Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Michael Schlesinger

“Importance of Earth Observations for Climate Change” United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Rocio Lichte

Coordination to Assure Global Capacity Group on Earth Observations Mike Tanner

Panel 1: Inventories of Space Sensors and Measurements

Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Caroline Richter

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Barbara Ryan

Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Brian Killough

Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Pascal Lecomte

Panel 2: Demand for Observations/Information

World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Ghassem Asrar

Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Jean Louis Fellous

Intergovernmental Ocean Commission (IOC) Albert Fischer

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Peter Holmgren

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) M. Hernandez