Future
Challenges
The
current ambitions for greatly enhanced understanding, monitoring,
management and mitigation of key Earth system processes will be
possible only with the measurement capabilities offered by the Earth
observation satellites programmes being planned by the worlds
space agencies. Many of the sophisticated computational models on
which these studies depend will otherwise simply not have sufficient
information to provide the necessary insights. Measurements of in-situ
stations, buoys radiosondes, aircraft and ship based instruments
cannot provide the synoptic global picture required to understand
the Earth system.
The
full significance of the satellite observations being gathered,
and of those planned for the coming years is probably still to be
fully appreciated or exploited. Information on climatic and environmental
trends is increasingly valuable - in line with the expected increase
in the impacts of man-made climate change, accelerated in the 21st
century by population growth and increasing development.
Around
150 Earth observation satellite missions (with over 300 instruments
onboard) are planned for operation over the coming 15 years in response
to the main Earth system challenges defined by the international,
science, policy and operational monitoring communities. These missions
also respond to more immediate needs for information in the social,
economic, and environmental domains, including: meteorological services,
mapping, urban planning, disaster mitigation, agriculture and fisheries
management, resource exploration, pollution monitoring, ship routing
and safety, and others.
Careful
planning and coordination of these programmes is essential if we
are to ensure supply of the information required by current and
future generations. For Earth observation satellite missions funded
by governments, this coordination is already being provided by CEOS
recognised internationally as having this responsibility.
This coordination will eventually span the space segment (satellite
systems), ground segment (reception, processing, and distribution
centres), the associated science, and information service development.
To
achieve this goal, CEOS, with its partners, must respond to a number
of challenges:
Providing
continuity of data:
The
IPCC predicts that, should the current decline in observational
networks continue, we may have less information on the Earth system
in future decades than in the final decades of the 20th century.
Recognising the need for coordination of Earth observation satellite
programmes, CEOS will aim to ensure continuity, consistency, and
inter-comparability of the priority measurements throughout the
coming decades consistent with the requirements of climate
studies for trend monitoring and change detection;
Responding
to broad demand for operational measurements in fields other than
meteorology:
Key
meteorological parameters are provided by satellite and in-situ
systems on an operational basis to the relevant user communities;
forecasts of local precipitation, wind, temperature, and cloudiness
are a feature of daily life. This operational status, whereby information
is provided on a routine and long term basis without interruption,
is now being demanded by a broader range of user groups, including
those involved in ocean monitoring, ozone and UV monitoring, carbon
cycle studies, pollution alerting, and food security, amongst others.
CEOS recognises the need to work with the relevant users
including through participation in the IGOS Partnership - to establish
the requirements, and a strategic planning process for the necessary
satellite missions, in-situ observations, as well as supporting
modelling and information processing efforts.
The
need for strengthened links between satellite and in-situ observation
systems:
Satellite
observations must continue to strengthen links with in-situ observation
systems which provide: measurements unobtainable from space; measurements
complementary to those from space; and validation of satellite measurements.
CEOS proposes to place particular emphasis on this challenge in
the coming years, through its involvement in the IGOS Partnership,
to ensure the planning of the required operational observation systems.
Work is already underway in the domains of ocean monitoring, atmospheric
chemistry, global carbon cycle, global water resources, and coral
reefs within the IGOS Themes. These areas are regarded as particular
priorities.
Strengthening
partnerships between observation planners and international treaties:
As
demonstrated by the possibility of our lucky escape
from stratospheric ozone depletion, international political will
is a prerequisite to any successful solution to global environmental
issues which span political borders. Whilst international co-operation
on environmental issues is still in its infancy, progress on major
issues is being achieved. However, public concern over man-made
climate change will demand further progress during the 21st century
especially on managing fossil fuel emissions and the global
carbon cycle.
Providing
the information required by decision-makers who represent our countries
in the legal and political processes which develop international
policies, and by the agencies which monitor compliance and impact
of these policies, must therefore be a priority for future observation
programmes, including those of CEOS and its Members. CEOS will therefore
seek to strengthen partnerships with the secretariats of international
treaties and conventions relating to Earths environment and
sustainable development including the Conference of the Parties
to the UNFCCC, and the UN Commission for Sustainable Development
(CSD).
CEOS
will also seek to build dialogue with the IPCC, recognised as the
main source of assessment advice to these bodies to ensure
that future satellite missions reflect their priorities for Earth system information.
Simplifying
access and maximising use:
Recognising
the diversity of existing and potential users of Earth observation
satellite data and their various levels of technological development,
CEOS will endeavour to develop simplified means of access and utilisation
for the information contained within the data products from satellites;
this should maximise both the data value across a broad range of
sectors and the cost-benefit of the government investment in the
observation systems.
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