World Meteorological OrganizationWorking together in weather, climate and water

WMO OMM

WMO www.wmo.int/sat

A Call for an Architecture for Space-based Observation of Climate

Barbara J. RyanDirectorWMO Space Programme

WMO OMMOverview

• A Look Back

• Motivation

• Building Blocks

• Coordination

WMO OMMFive Years Ago . . .

. . . both satellite and in situ data are required to better monitor, characterize, and predict changes in the Earth system. While in situ measurements will remain essential and largely measure what cannot be measured from satellites, Earth-observation satellites are the only realistic means to obtain the necessary global coverage, and with well-calibrated measurements will become the single most important contribution to global observations for climate.

www.ceos.org

WMO OMMTen Years Ago . . .

“The Council recognized that there was an increasing convergence between research and operational requirements for the space-based component of the Global Observing System . . . “

and

“Commitments to address those requirements would allow an evolution of the space-based component of the GOS that would help characterize the total Earth and climate system on a variety of time and space scales. . . “

From WMO Executive Council LIII, June 2001, Final Report

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From Bates (NOAA) and Schulz (EUMETSAT)

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Motivation

• Policy framework in place (UNFCCC, IPCC) and expectations are high• Emerging national and international efforts for climate services will bring

additional demands• Space-agency investments have been considerable, and need to be

leveraged• There are still observational gaps and risks of gaps• Greater coordination is needed in a resource-constrained environment• While contingency measures exist for weather observations, they are

still relatively lacking for climate observations• Long-term and sustained provision of observations will require

additional resources and messages need to be clearer

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From GCOS IP-10

Funding Estimates

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Modified from GEO Secretariat

Space-based Global Observing System Schematic

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Space-based Global Observing System Schematic

Modified from GEO Secretariat

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GCOSrequirements

Otherrequirements(e.g. GFCS)

Requirements and gap analysis

ECV related climate

products and climate

analysis

Climate data and products

management and access

User uptake

and feedback

Transition planning

Research/Demo missions

planning & implementation

Inst

rum

ents

Sat

ellit

es

Cal

ibra

tion

FC

DR

Orb

its

Operational missions planning

and implementation

Inst

rum

ents

Sat

ellit

es

Cal

ibra

tion

FC

DR

Orb

its

Climate System

Monitoring

Climate prediction

and services

UNFCCC and

IPCC reports

Building Blocks or Starting with the End in Mind

RequirementsObservational CapabilitiesProduct GenerationActivities

User Interfaces Drivers

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Coordination

• More coordination is needed for each functional component

• There is no shortage of coordination mechanisms

• Need to leverage existing coordination mechanisms rather than create new mechanisms

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Summary

• Both R&D and operational entities are needed for climate monitoring – many policy makers don’t know there’s a difference

• Key elements or building blocks are in place for improved sustainability and delivery of climate observations and products – must leverage existing efforts

• More coordination and cooperation is needed – recognizing different, but complementary roles and responsibilities