CLIMATE MONITORING FROM SPACE -- challenges, actions & perspectives

Yang JunChina Meteorological Administration

WMO Cg-XVI Side EventAn architecture for climate monitoring from space

Geneva, May 18, 2011

Impacts of Space-based Measurements

Direct broadcast allows products to be used worldwide

Satellite data has been greatly improving global weather forecast, short-term climate analysis and diagnosis

Quick, reliable space-based observations play key roles in natural disasters monitoring, ecosystem and environment monitoring

Aviation safety, air quality monitoring, renewable energy , are becoming new thrust for satellite data

And today, Observations from space support And today, Observations from space support better understanding, predictions, mitigation and better understanding, predictions, mitigation and adaptation of climate changeadaptation of climate change

STRONG REQUIREMENTS: for climate monitoring from space

GCOS requirementsGFCS requirements Response to climate changeOperational monitoring of weather / climate

extreme eventsPublic awareness

CHALLENGE: Scientific issues -- Satellite-based climate products development

Climate signal from satellite observations – accuracy, consistency, representativeness, comprehensiveness,

Calibration - the foundation for high quality climate products

Data analysis & reanalysis- satellite observation, with other advanced data to generate the climate dataset for Global Climate Model

Advanced inverse methodologies

CHALLENGE ： Technical issues -- data use and application

Data fusion for multiple sensors, multiple platforms

Long term historic data re-processing

Access to large amount of data and products

Application outreach and user training

CHALLENGE: International Coordination

Observation plan coordination

R&D to operational satellites transition and contingency

Data and products standardization, algorithm and experience sharing.

Data policy and data sharing

ACTIONS: We need develop an architecture for monitoring climate from space

To collect and define requirements To develop space infrastructures and enhance

climate observing capabilities To promote open, easy and fast ways for

climate dataset access To focus on scientific and technical problems we

have to confront with, and lead to final solutions To conduct international cooperation

PERSPECTIVES: Benefits we expect from the development

of the architecture

• Understand requirements from different aspects based on RRR• Receive guidance to space missions in both orbits and instruments• Share algorithms and experiences for the development of ECVs• Share data and products• Build an end to end climate monitoring system at national level

FY-2D86.5

FY-2E105

FY-2C123.5

FY-1D

FY-3B

FY-3A

CMA’s Contributions to Climate Monitoring from SpaceCMA’s Contributions to Climate Monitoring from SpaceCurrent Satellites In-orbit

10

Climate Instruments onboard FY-3A/B

TOU/SBUS: Global Ozone Monitoring

ERB/SIM: Earth radiation budget

More Emphasis on Climate Monitoring Capabilities in Future Polar-orbiting Satellites

• Hyper-spectral sounding；• Atmosphere Chemistry Atmosphere Chemistry

soundingsounding （（ CO2CO2 ，， CHCH44））

• GPS radio occultation；• Sea surface wind

microwave scatterometer.

No. Launch Orbit Status

FY-3C 2012 (plan) AM Op.

FY-3D 2014(plan) PM Op.

FY-3E 2016(plan) AM Op.

FY-3F 2018(plan) PM Op.

Launch plan of FY-3 follow-ons

GeoSat: Considering applications in both weather and climate Long term plan has been made for steady transition from FY-2 to FY-4

Working Time (4 years)

Working Time (4 years)

Working Time (5 years)

Working Time (7 years)

FY-2F

FY-2G

FY-2H

FY-4A (Experimental)

FY-4B (Operational)

Working Time (4 years)

…

CMA’s Contributions

More than 20 year’s satellite dataset for Climate use

WMO’s Regional Training Centres, Centres of Excellence(CoEs)

Involvements in international cooperation– CM

– CGMS

– GSICS

– New membership of CEOS since 2010

CMA’s experiences over past 40 years

• Long term satellite plan at national level is crucial to keep no-gap operation and continuous observations

• High priorities have been put on integrated climate observing system including space-based & in-situ observations.

• Open data policy and effective data management has greatly promoted data application.

• Early user involvement is necessary for successful data use.

• Broad national and international cooperation helps to exchange data and expertise, and to foster the S&T progresses.

Summary

• Due to strong requirements for monitoring climate from space, it is necessary for WMO members to consider developing an architecture to meet these requirements.

• CMA strongly supports the concept of the space-based architecture for monitoring climate, and is willing to make further contributions for its implementation.

• It is suggested that WMO space programme further coordinate with other technical commissions, organizations and space agencies to work out detailed technical descriptions for the architecture based upon current concept documents.