National REMOTE SENSING Validation Workshop Albrecht von Bargen, German Aerospace Center Space Administration, Earth Observation CEOS WGCV Plenary # 44 | EUMETSAT, Darmstadt | August 28 – 31, 2018

Workshop Overall Motivation Remote Sensing from space Validation Infrastructure To contrast the demands and needs of remote sensing from space with the existing German validation infrastructures to derive the Opportunities Needs & Gaps Future perspectives offered by the validation infrastructures

Space Agencies‘ perspective Satellite sensors Increasing number of sensors Long-term continuous & sustainable data products New (operational) objectives (e.g. climate monitoring, etc.) Data products Increasing number of applications and data products Higher demands on data quality (accuracy) Coverage (time and space) Validation Validation and long-term monitoring High demand on data quality

Validation Community perspective Instrumentation Sophisticated instruments measuring a variety of data products Partial long-term operation Partly well characterized Scientific evaluation Process studies to answer scientific questions Long-term monitoring of specific processes or trends Data management Date are partly used only by specific groups Sometimes distribution via (measurement) networks

How to set-up the workshop? Atmosphere Trace gases Clouds Aerosol Temperature Wind ... Land surface Soil Vegetation Surface character Waters Content Surface Solid Earth Magnetic field Gravitation Topography Climate Long-term observations Changes NO! Room 1 Room 2 Room 3 Room 4 Room 5 Synthesis

talks Presentations Validation needs – a space agency‘s view (B. Bojkov, EUMETSAT) Why is validation so difficult? (K. Thome, NASA) The German validation infrastructure – a survey (C. Rolf, FZ Jülich) Introduction of TCCON network and validation activities (J. Notholt, Universität Bremen) Introduction of TERENO network and validation activities (C. Montzka, FZ Jülich) ENVRI Plus activities (A. Petzold, FZ Jülich) Discussions blocks Statements (1 slide) during discussion blocks

Discussion on & along cross-cutting topics Aims & Need for Satellite Validation Benchmark Definition Requirements for satellite and validation measurement mapping Requirements for measurement availability Long-term data records for satellite validation Characterization of measurement sites Validation means: Measurements & Models Methodologies Instrument Characterization Temporal and spatial coverage Cross sensitivity Homogeneity Model Representativeness Fiducial reference measurements Traceability of data products Quality assurance Comparability Fiducial Reference Measurements Uncertainty determination Linking Satellite and measurement communities Need, formation, and benefit of networks for community building Requirements for networks Data accessibility and availability Awareness: Promotion of validation measurements and results M. Bachmann, DLR J. Fischer, FU Berlin A. Petzold, FZ Jülich C. Brockmann (Brockmann)

Discussion on & along cross-cutting topics Aims & Need for Satellite Validation Benchmark Definition Requirements for satellite and validation measurement mapping Requirements for measurement availability Long-term data records for satellite validation Take away message M. Bachmann, DLR Dualism in benchmark definition Instrument provider – verification vs. requirements Scientists – validation of data products Transparency in validation requirements and methods Standardized processes Well-characterized validation sites Sustainability/availability of validation is in many cases difficult to include in science research plans (inclusion in research infrastructures?) M. Bachmann, DLR A. Petzold, FZ Jülich

Discussion on & along cross-cutting topics Characterization of measurement sites Validation means: Measurements & Models Methodologies Instrument Characterization Temporal and spatial coverage Cross sensitivity Homogeneity Model Representativeness Take away message J. Fischer, FU Berlin Improvement needs Coverage and methods Models and literature data Importance of pre-launch characterization data Validation sites locally to be fully characterized Representativeness of models to be further clarified Different methods of validation Provision of matching quantities Models to derive comparable quantities

Discussion on & along cross-cutting topics Fiducial reference measurements Traceability of data products Quality assurance Comparability Fiducial Reference Measurements Uncertainty determination Take away message A. Petzold, FZ Jülich Fiducial Reference Measurements (FRMs) Role in satellite product validation to be clarified Demand on agencies for definition and fund Specific with respect to satellite sensor Science networks available but Standard operational procedures? Quality assurance? Need for further development, improvements, extension Benefit for scientific entities? Clear definition in uncertainty derivation, comparability, and quality assurance needed

Discussion on & along cross-cutting topics Linking Satellite and measurement communities Need, formation, and benefit of networks for community building Requirements for networks Data accessibility and availability Awareness: Promotion of validation measurements and results Take away message Why is network participation beneficial? Different subjects of networks (e.g. Sensor calibration, Algorithm verification, Non-space-based measurements) Different types of networks (e.g. Voluntary cooperation, Research infrastructure (with strong commitments) Network of networks) Strength of validation networks is differing in different communities Some network with mid/long-term commitments (e.g. ACTRIS, ICOS-D) Lack of funding in general Long-term availability of data and continuity of data acquisition not secured C. Brockmann (Brockmann Consult)

Take away messages Transparent communication of validation requirements Validation in Germany based on scientific entities: how to include in research plans? Long-term availability and continuity in data acquisition is not secured Characterization and methods are point of discussion in many details Challenge in SOPs and Quality assurance Discussion on Research Infrastructures Continuous platform in DE to discuss and agree common procedures / processes / standards …..