Sustainability Discussion Part I Committee on Earth Observation Satellites Sustainability Discussion Part I Steve Volz, CEOS SIT Chair National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) CEOS SIT-34 Session 2, Agenda Item 2.4 Miami, FL, USA 3 – 4 April 2019

Address 32-12 first, then 32-11 and 32-13. Actions Address 32-12 first, then 32-11 and 32-13.

Virtual Constellations A Little History and Current Situation VCs were created to address gaps in missions and inform agencies on how to plan for future missions, maintain continuity of measurements and climate records, and avoid duplication and overlap in EO missions. Four Prototype VCs created at SIT-19 (Sep 2006) to “give balance across different domains and geographies with an eye on leverage of international linkages to support continuity of funding for missions at the time which were under some threat” Ocean Surface Topography (NOAA and EUMETSAT) Atmospheric Composition (NASA) Land Surface Imaging (USGS) Precipitation (JAXA and NASA) VCs circa 2019 “The interim goal of a Constellation is to demonstrate the value of a collaborative partnership in addressing a key observational gap; the end goal is to sustain the routine collection of critical observations. Implementation of Constellation activities is ultimately dependent on the coordination of formal agreements among participating agencies.” - Virtual Constellations Process Paper 2013

Virtual Constellations A Little History and Current Situation Focused on specific observing targets or themes (ocean vector winds, precipitation, sea surface temperature, etc.), tied to a small set of technologies or singular measurement technology Identified potential gaps in critical measurements and missions that existed around disciplines of land imaging, precipitation, altimetry, and atmospheric chemistry Timeline: 2006-2007 Four prototypes OST-VC: NOAA & EUMETSAT AC-VC: NASA LSI-VC: USGS P-VC: JAXA & NASA 2008 VC Process Paper formalized and two additional VCs OSVW-VC: NOAA, EUMETSAT & ISRO OCR-VC: EC, NASA, ESA, ISRO 2011 CEOS Self Study SST-VC: ESA, NOAA 2013 VC Process Paper updated LSI-VC reorganization SIT Chair (NASA) works with VCs to compile Statement of Deliverables in Support of 2015 GEOSS by CEOS 2015 GEOSS’ first decade comes to an end

VC Leadership 2006-2012 VC Timeline 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 SIT Chair Agency ESA NOAA JAXA NASA AC-VC NASA, ESA ESA, NASA LSI-VC USGS USGS, ISRO USGS, ISRO, INPE (All new co leads) USGS, ISRO, INPE INPE, USGS INPE, USGS, ISRO OCR-VC EC-JRC, NASA and JAXA EC, NASA, JAXA ESA, ISRO, NASA OST-VC NOAA, EUMETSAT EUMETSAT, NASA OSVW-VC EUMETSAT, NOAA, ISRO EUMETSAT, NOAA P-VC JAXA, NASA SST-VC ESA, NOAA

VC Leadership 2013-2019 VC Timeline 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 SIT Chair Agency NASA CNES ESA NOAA AC-VC NASA, ESA NASA +? Richard Eckman stepped down as ACC-VC co-chair after 6 years. New co-chair is Jay Al-Saadi (NASA) LSI-VC INPE, USGS, ISRO ? Co-Chairs John Faudeen (USGS) and Julio Dalge (INPE) quit in 2013 and there were no replacements USGS... (No ISRO/INPE) USGS, GA, ESA OCR-VC NASA, NOAA, ESA NASA, NOAA, ESA, (+ ISRO?) NOAA, ESA, EUMETSAT OST-VC EUMETSAT, NASA CNES, EUMETSAT CNES, OSVW-VC EUMETSAT, NOAA, ISRO EUMETSAT, NOAA NOAA, ISRO, EUMETSAT P-VC JAXA, NASA SST-VC ESA, NOAA

2018 VC Questionnaire and SIT-33 Goals Try and assemble a common information set to take stock of the current status of each VC Assess what observation objectives are being considered Gather views on the suitability of the current VC reporting and feedback structure within CEOS Determine how to best communicate the significant contributions of the VCs to the CEOS community Identify shortcomings, and share best practices and successes Selected of Key Statements in Response Resources, best efforts are a challenge Visibility VCs bring is important Perceived difficulty in scaling to support broader themes Rigorous gap analysis does influence agency planning Strong engagement from thematic community required Raison d’etre of CEOS, i.e. sustainment and enhancement of satellite EO, should remain paramount

Virtual Constellations Current Leadership Success in defining and championing satellite constellations and ensuring observation continuity Requested each VC to provide processes for leadership transition and refreshment

CEOS-32-12 VC Leadership Rotation Proposals from the VCs

Virtual Constellations: A Proposal for Consideration Propose for discussion and consideration a restructure of the CEOS Virtual Constellations: Merge the four current ocean-related VCs into a single Ocean VC focused on creating an integrated and coordinated multi-variable picture of oceans. Merge AC-VC and P-VC into an Atmosphere VC. LSI-VC already follows this model, looking at a “family” of variables for integrated picture of the land, and is popised to become the Land VC. Context: This approach could better enable CEOS to support the community and user needs that draw on products and information from across different existing VCs. The global satellite observing system has expanded significantly over the past 10+ years, and the selection of satellites has been informed in part by CEOS VC reports and assessments. Proliferation of satellite systems have significantly lowered the risk of gaps in major satellite measurements, and increases the resiliency of the integrated global observing system to address measurement continuity risks. VCs will continue to coordinate closely with thematic international science teams. Demands by users for ready-to-use information drawing on multiple measurements and observations continues to increase.

Possible Merged Structure for CEOS VCs Current Measurement VCs Observing System VCs WGISS WGCalVal

Issues and Opportunities New construct will encourage satellite data coordination at the observing system level, done by satellite agencies and across agencies before developing tailored system information deliveries for individual user groups, making the integrated observations more user ready. Cross VC consistency and interoperability of datasets brings the concept of CARD4L in0tegration to oceans data sets. Reduces the number of stand-alone CEOS structures, allowing Agencies to focus resources and personnel to higher value CEOS working organizations, relieving some administrative burdens. Allows Constellation focus on data and information continuity across different platforms and different measurement technologies Issues: Need to ensure smaller subset of three VCs do not lose sight of a primary driver of the VCs – focused attention on continuity of critical satellite measurements through generations of satellites. Need to continue to assess potential gaps and address several different measurement technologies and orbits that may not exist today.

Ad Hoc Teams Current Situation CEOS Terms of Reference and Governance and Processes state that if permanent mechanisms are judged to be insufficient for CEOS to undertake a particular activity, CEOS may establish, as mutually agreed and on an ad hoc basis, temporary mechanisms (known as Ad Hoc Teams) to investigate specific areas of interest, cooperation and coordination and to report at subsequent Plenary meetings. The Plenary assigns short-term objectives to each Ad Hoc Team and defines the team lifetime when the team is created. The primary reporting path for an Ad Hoc Team is either to the CEOS Chair or to the SIT Chair, as designated by the Plenary according to the purpose and function of the Ad Hoc Team. Annually, the Plenary reviews all Ad Hoc Teams for continuation, termination, or transition to a permanent mechanism. Conclusions resulting from CEOS Plenary sessions or the findings and recommendations of Ad Hoc Teams will be acted upon at the discretion of each CEOS Member.

CEOS-32-11 and 32-13 Ad Hoc Teams At this SIT we will identify progress existing Ad Hoc Teams are making to define end-state: SDG AHT SDCG for GFOI GEOGLAM AHWG We will hear from the teams on their progress and prospectus

Ad Hoc Teams A Proposal Propose a two-year initiation cycle for standing up new AHTs. The two-year initial cycle will allow for defining the objective, evaluating the merit and value of the objectives, and determining the appropriate path forward for continued support within CEOS. All other aspects of the AHT reporting process will remain, including annual reporting at Plenary. History and Context: The CEOS Ad Hoc Team process has been successful and productive. CEOS has used the AHT process, or variations of it, to consider how best to support emerging needs and apply new capabilities where a permanent CEOS mechanism does not exist. To date, CEOS has initiated as many as nine activities since 2008 to consider emerging needs. Of these, at least four have been dispositioned, three into existing CEOS Working Groups, and twice with the creation of new groups, WGClimate (2010) and WGDisasters (2013).

Working Groups Current Situation No Proposed changes for Existing WGs 2-year leadership rotation detailed in the CEOS Working Group Process Paper Agencies commit to leadership role (actually 4-year commitment with Vice Chair, followed by Chair) WG leadership does require a sustained commitment from CEOS members, but we have been able to fill the seats. No Proposed changes for Existing WGs

New Working Group A Proposal Establish a new Working Group focused on Information Provision, to coordinate all activities related to user outreach and applications (e.g., forests, agriculture, freshwater, land degradation, urban, biodiversity, and more in the future). Context: All three existing AHTs focus on external user information and service delivery, in a class with the existing Working Groups on Disasters and Climate. Expansion of such focused groups reflects the growing demand by the global community for specific, refined information products from CEOS and CEOS Agencies for operational decision-making. The SDCG for GFOI and GEOGLAM activities are mature, externally focused activities relying on sustained delivery of CEOS data and information to meet user needs.

New WG Proposal: Issues and Opportunities Different activities share a common expectation for CEOS to help them find and apply the right satellite observations datasets to address their operational needs. WG can perform this filtering, definition, and data product subsetting by working with the user communities to understand the needs and by pulling appropriate data from any or all of the VCs. Allows secretariat functions of the WG to consolidate across several similar service provision activities within a single WG, saving resources and the development of common practices executed across the activities. Provides a path for more tasks as subgroups to existing permanent mechanism. Issues: We do not want to create another management layer on existing functioning activities (SDCG for GFOI, GEOGLAM) A multi-activity working group will require Member resources and support

Proposal from SIT Chair Concept Paper Working Group on Information Provision (TBC) Chair and Vice Chair – 2 yrs Secretariat Forests (GFOI) Lead(s) – no term GEOS4M GEO Wetlands Biomass Agriculture (GEOGLAM) Biodiversity Water SDG … Connections to : WGISS – Interoperability WGCV – Validated data WGCapD – User Capacity Ocean, Atmosphere, Land VCs Issues raised with these examples

(Slightly) Revised Concept Working Group on Information Provision (TBC) Chair and Vice Chair – 2 yrs Secretariat GEOS4M Lead(s) – no term GEO Wetlands Biodiversity SDG Indicator 1 SDG Indicator 3 SDG Indicator 2 … Original presentation Forests (GFOI) Lead(s) – no term Agriculture (GEOGLAM) Lead(s) – no term “Mature Activities,” enjoying continuing support from CEOS through established data partnerships

A New Concept for VCs and WGs Working Group on Information Provision to cover these and future efforts WGISS WGCalVal WGCapD

Further discussion in Session 7

Backup slides

CEOS-32-12 Virtual Constellation Leadership Rotation Proposals from the VCs SST-VC P-VC AC-VC LSI-VC

(copied from SST-VC Presentation) The SST-VC Terms of Reference indicate: The Co-Chairs shall be responsible for the overall management of the CEOS SST-VC, supported by the Secretary and SST-VC members. Co-chairs and Secretary shall be elected by the SST-VC members on a 3 year renewable term following candidate proposal by a CEOS Agency Member. Election shall be by majority vote. In order to maintain continuity, only one co-chair shall be replaced on a single occasion with at least 1 year between successive replacements where feasible. As a principle, Co-Chairs shall rotate throughout CEOS Agencies with SST capability. SST-VC members shall be proposed by CEOS principals. The current membership list is identified and updated annually in the separate SST-VC Implementation Plan document

(copied from P-VC Presentation) Co-Leads Steve Neeck/NASA and Riko Oki/JAXA were the original co- leads from 2007. Gail Skofronick-Jackson/NASA replaced Steve Neeck in 2019. Discussions are underway to include a third co-lead from EUMETSAT Our leads had a brief discussion on leadership rotation, thoughts include: Co-leads from precipitation satellite agencies Extended terms (in line with satellite mission lifetimes) Documented approach to be determined

(copied from AC-VC Presentation) All space agencies currently engaged in AC-VC focus topics are active, participating in the annual AC-VC meeting and during other meetings of opportunity (e.g., AGU/EGU, mission team meetings) AC-VC#14 included over 20 agencies and multiple universities Korea’s NIER is a notable new partner – joined CEOS 2018 China participation is becoming more regular and we continue to encourage broader participation Commitments of participating agencies appear viable at this time AC-VC Proposal for leadership cycle No set term limits, but include a dedicated discussion of leadership rotation during annual AC-VC meeting Allows flexibility to adapt to new focus activities being undertaken Encourage a vice-chair period (6-12 months) to aid succession Consider expanding to 3 co-chairs, given geostationary perspective Nominally Europe, USA, and East Asia but extensible in future

LSI-VC (copied from LSI-VC Presentation) LSI-VC revised Terms of Reference includes a Leadership Rotation Cycle. The leadership of the LSI-VC: Will continue to consist of co-chairs endorsed by their agencies Will nominally rotate, through an annual call for expressions of interest in joining the Chair team. However it will not be a strict requirement that the Chair rotate. In the event of a lack of nominations, for example. These proposals build on past success to: Provide broad representation in the leadership Ensure sustainability of group, with co-chairs able to jointly provide the level of effort needed to continue the functions of the LSI-VC Increase procedural clarity and transparency and around leadership appointments Participation from a wide range of CEOS agencies, including the opportunity to provide leadership, is essential to the work of LSI-VC in all areas – CARD4L, requirements, gaps, observational coordination. To date, focussing on analysis ready data, representation has been achieved with diverse agencies participating in disussions / negotiations of the CARD4L framework. This will need to be continued, including the opportunity for agencies that are prepared to materially support the leadership to step up to those roles. The ability of the three co-chairs to provide resources in a form that suits them, and at times that suit them, has been a crucial advantage of the tri-chair arrangement. For example ESA fund the secretariat; GA fund A. Siqueira to coordinate CARD4L; and co-chairs changes of duties have been smoothed over, allowing continuity of effort.

OCR-VC (copied from OCR-VC Presentation) All IOCCG/OCR-VC agencies are actively engaged, including NOAA, CSA, JAXA, KIOST, SIO, ESA, NASA, EC CMEMS, EUMETSAT etc. Agencies/members meet 2-3 times per year, including at the annual IOCCG meetings and 1-2 Executive Committee meetings (in conjunction with other meetings IOCS, Ocean Sciences, Ocean Optics, and through telecons) Strong synergies with WGCV, WGClimate, COVERAGE initiative, and other aquatic VCs VC-09 deliverable realized in modular and coordinated manner across the OCR-VC agencies No obstacles to the future viability –activities supported under IOCCG