eGY Description

based on eGY presentations and

discussions at Paris & Boulder

23 July & 3 September 2004

by

Daniel.baker@lasp.colorado.edu

charles.barton@anu.edu.au

IGY+50Moving forward from the International Geophysical Year ….

… to the electronic Geophysical Year

International Geophysical Year 1957 - 1958

– allowed scientists to participate in global observations of geophysical phenomena using common instruments and data processing

– gathered data on geophysical phenomena from around the world

– established the World Data Centre system

To get scientific data from various, mostly distributed sources, a scientist may have to

5. … finally, do some science

4. process data using mostly proprietary codes, run models…

3. ingest retrieved data into a local database…

2. get data via snail-mail, air-mail, e-mail, Web…

1. search through data centers, various institutions, observatories, contact colleagues…

Drivers

Earth System science

Higher resolution – space and time

Rapid response

Data assimilation into models

Interoperability

Data rescue

Embrace and extend IGY principles

Free, universal, open access to data

Timely and convenient access

International cooperation and sharing

Global scope

Exploit e-Science opportunities

Capacity building, especially in developing countries

IGY + 50 years New Perspectives for the Next Millennium

eGY complements initiatives that mark the 50-year anniversary of IGY

IYPE International Year of Planet Earth

IPY International Polar Year

IHY International Heliophysical Year

CAWSES Climate and Weather of the Sun-Earth System

an initiative of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics

led by the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy

marks the 50-Year anniversary of the International Geophysical Year 1957-1958

eGY

eGY ParticipantsICSU Thomas Rosswall

IUGG EC (Assocs) Task ForceIAGA/IUGG Task Force, IGY+50 Cmte

IAGA Charles BartonPAA Data & Inf R Miller, Carthage SmithWDC Panel Ferris WebsterCODATA Kathleen Cass FAGS Phil Wilkinson

SCOSTEP Joe Allen, M CandidiSCAR (IPY) Maurizio Candidi, A Rodger AOGS Yohsuke KamideSEG Brian Spies, VP

IGBP Will Steffen, ED IPY Alan RodgerIHY Barbara ThompsonCAWSES S Basu, Joe Allen, Y

Kamide

USNC-IUGG AAS Austr Academy Sci

LASP Dan BakerNASA Barbara Thompson

NESDISNOAA/NGDCSECNCARSWRI

Workshop Questions

1. What value will eGY add? (deliverables, benefits)

2. Who will benefit? (organisations, programs, disciplines, individuals, DCs …)

3. How will eGY accomplish this? (operational model, governance, finance)

4. What ownership? (partners, sponsors/host for secretariat, champions)

5. What action items?

6. When? (specify a timetable for action)

Added value

Through liaison with other bodies/initiatives:

– Inform:§ Website (www.egy.org)§ Newsletters§ Meetings: specialist, national, general assemblies Educate

and build capacity in developing countries

– Stimulate and promote eGY-related projects (not funded by eGY) Educate and build capacity in developing countries

– Common approach to data donor agencies– Common approach to standards

Vision

Geoscience in this century is given a forward impetus as IGY 50 did years ago.

Objective

by helping to satisfy modern requirements for– ready access to comprehensive data– universal (equal) access by everyone– interoperability– multidisciplinary, multi-institutional, (Earth) systems science – ability to manage large data sets– access to high resolution data in both space and time– access in real-time or near real-time to data and applications– data suitable for assimilation into models– web services

Promote the sharing of geoscientific data and information universally to facilitate (inter-disciplinary) science

Roles

Facilitate, inform, stimulate, encourage, and promote the following.

– Modern data access and services (e-Science)

– Establishment of virtual observatories throughout the geosciences– Cooperation among bodies/initiatives to reduce duplication and

spread standards– Data discovery (location) - who holds, what, where, how? Develop

metadata– Data release (secure access permission; active rather than passive

release)– Data preservation (make old data accessible; preserve existing

data)– Capacity building (empowerment, outreach, education)– Advancement of science in developing countries

ThemesData access

Ready and open electronic access to data e-Science, Web Services, VIRTUAL OBSERVATORIES

Data discovery (location)Who holds what data, where, and in what form?Metadata

Permission and release Lift access restrictions

Active rather than passive release of data

Data preservation Digitize analog data; reformat old digital data

International framework and standards for storage and maintenance

Capacity building and outreach Boost the scope and output of scientific endeavoursRaise awareness among scientists, decision-makers and the publicBetter opportunities for growth of science in countries in need.

Attractions of eGY• Timely – Virtual Observatory software is becoming available; e-Science

initiatives are spreading

• Interdisciplinary - data sharing and data accessibility are common issues in all areas of the geosciences

• Affordable – technology development is funded elsewhere

• Cost effective – more/better science for money

• Inclusive – opportunities for developed and developing countries

• Capacity Building – informs, stimulates, enables, connects people

• Appealing to young scientists - fast, convenient, comprehensive data access

• Complements I*Y initiatives - IPY, IYPE, IHY, and CAWSES

• Outreach capability - informs decision makers and public (promotes environmental literacy)

Operational models for eGY

Model 1. Independent (needs substantial funding)

Model 2. Common theme

Model 3. Hosted by parent(s)

Common Theme Model

Initiative A B C D E

Function

1 X X X X

2 X X X

3 X X X XData &

InformationX X X X X

5 X X X X

6 X X X X

Structure

Executive Small group of key persons who are the architects of business

International Coordination Office Secretariat to conduct eGY business

Scientific Advisory Committee Policy, planning, opportunity identification, scientific links(representatives from key participants, e.g., WDCs)

Thematic Working Groups

VOs, data discovery, release, preservation, standards, DCs

National & Regional Committees/OfficesTo liaise, stimulate, and interact with national/regional initiatives

Activities

• Organise meetings, workshops, and symposia

• Develop the website: www.egy.org• Produce an electronic newsletter• Marketing: presentations, articles, postage

stamps• Outreach: education• Capacity building in developing countries

Next steps for eGY

• Move from concept development to planning to implementationMove from concept development to planning to implementation

• Presentations, marketing, website, newsletterPresentations, marketing, website, newsletter

• Get financeGet finance

• Set up Secretariat, Steering Committee, N&R contacts/bodiesSet up Secretariat, Steering Committee, N&R contacts/bodies

• Expand partnershipsExpand partnerships

• Work with the World Data CentresWork with the World Data Centres

• Establish program relationships: IPY, IYPE, IHY, ILWS, CAWSESEstablish program relationships: IPY, IYPE, IHY, ILWS, CAWSES

• Get endorsements: ICSU, UNESCO?Get endorsements: ICSU, UNESCO?

• Establish thematic WGs

Next steps for USA

• Lead an environmental observing systems planning committee with NESDIS, NOAA, NASA, NSF, NRC, etc. participation

• Develop the US Program Plan for the electronic Geophysical Year, eGY

• Obtain interagency approval for the Program Plan

• Incorporate the Program Plan with budget in the report to Congress as required by the IGY-2 resolution( by August 18th?!).

• ? Should the NAS present the program to Congress

Timeline2003

July IUGG Gen. Assy, Sapporo; eGY endorsedDec eGY planning discussion at AGU

2004March Paper describing eGY in EOSMarch ICSU grant application (not funded)July Planning workshop, ParisSept IUGG Executive meetingSept Planning workshop, BoulderNov/Dec Presentation and Planning workshop, GSFC

Set up Steering Committee2005

…. Set up Secretariat…. IUGG Association meetings - presentations,

planningJuly IAGA Assembly; eGY symposium

Main Apollo - Earth from Moon

eGY

Virtual Observatories• Access through a

browser or an Application Programming Interface (API)

• “Small box” uses registry of XML data service schema to construct appropriate queries for each relevant data service

• API or browser can refine queries

• Final data transfer is direct to requestor (no middleman)

Virtual ObservatoriesThe best way to describe a virtual observatory is to give an example.• The Virtual Radiation Belt Observatory

– Assemble data from all available sources• Data from NOAA satellites, POES, GOES and NPOESS• Data from EUMETSAT satellites, MetOp• Data from NASA satellites, SAMPEX• Data from DoD satellites,

– Data Management System• Local data servers provide data to global data servers which provide data in a

standard data model to the applications software, the data assimilation model and to the physical models in response to requests

• This approach takes advantage of the SPIDR, ESG and CDAWeb systems operating at NASA, AFCCC and NGDC

– Merge with data assimilation models and physical models• Center for Integrated Space weather Models (CISM), funded by NSF

• Existing virtual observatory systems include the Virtual Solar Observatory, the Virtual Ocean Observatory (?), etc.

Carbon Cycle Virtual Observatory concept

Dust from MODIS Fires and smoke plumes

Distributed fossil fuel aerosols from nighttime lights

Authoritative descriptions of radiative forcing by aerosols for climate studies requires disparate data sets to drive numerical models.