GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Satellite Observing Systems and Relevance to GODAE Stan Wilson, NOAA with contributions from Jerome Benveniste, ESA; Hans Bonekamp, EUMETSAT; Craig Donlon, ESA; Mark Drinkwater, ESA; Jean-Louis Fellous, COSPAR; B.S. Gohil, ISRO; Gregg Jacobs, NRL; Pierre-Yves LeTraon, Ifremer; Eric Lindstrom, NASA; Lin Mingsen, SOA; Keizo Nakagawa, JAXA; Francois Parisot, EUMETSAT

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Organization of talk What is the status of satellite systems capable of observing the global oceans? How can we sustain existing capabilities for observing the global oceans? –How do we establish an operational infrastructure for observing a single parameter? –Are there parameters for which we already have a global operational observing capability? –What challenges do we face in our efforts to establish additional operational systems – getting new funding Looking to the future

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France What is the status of satellite systems capable of observing the global oceans? The R&D space agencies have made great progress, and we have come far; looking back over the past decade and into the foreseeable future, we have existing spaceborne capabilities to observe: –Sea surface topography –Surface vector winds –Sea surface temperature – These two will continue – Sea ice cover – more or less on their own –Ocean color – Of less immediate interest here –Gravity – Data now coming GRACE (02) & soon GOCE (09) –Surface salinity – To fly on SMOS (09), Aquarius (10)

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Sea surface topography* Precision altimetry – continuity of climate record – initiated by T/P in 1992; being continued by Jason (2001) & Jason-2 (2008) –Proposed: Jason-3 and Jason-CS Coverage with 2+ complementary altimeters – resolve ocean weather; ERS-1, ERS-2, GFO, and ENVISAT –In development: Cryosat-2 (2009), HY-2A (2010), SARAL (2010), Sentinel-3A (2012) –Proposed: GFO follow-on, HY-2B, Sentinel-3B Coverage with wide-swath – meet both functions –Proposed: SWOT * Including significant wave height

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Surface vector winds Scatterometry, beginning with AMI/ERS-1 in 1991; then ERS-2, NSCAT/ADEOS, and SeaWinds/ADEOS-2; continuing coverage with SeaWinds/QuikSCAT in 1999; initiation of continuing, operational coverage with ASCAT/Metop-A in 2006 –In development: Scat/Oceansat-2 (2009), Scat/HY-2A (2010), ASCAT/Metop-B (2011), Scat/CFOSAT (2012), ASCAT/Metop- C (2015) –Proposed: HY-2B, QuikSCAT follow-on (resolve rain/wind ambiguity)

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Sea surface temperature Continuing coverage with IR systems: both polar – AVHRR, ATSR/ERS-1/-2, AATSR/ENVISAT; and geostationary – GOES- R ABI, MSG, SEVIRI –In development: VIIRS/NPP (2010) & C-1(2013), and SLSTR (Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer) on Sentinel 3A –In development: MTG (2016) –Proposed: SGLI/GCOM-C1, SLSTR/Sentinel-3B Continuing coverage with MR systems, first TMI/TRMM, then AMSR-E/Aqua –In development: AMSR-2/GCOM-W1 (2011), MIS/NPOESS C- 1 (2013) –Proposed: AMSR-2/GCOM-W2

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Sea ice Sea ice cover & drift – MR, scatterometry – continuing coverage with SSMI/S/DMSP, also others noted above –In development: AMSR-2/GCOM-W1 (2011), MIS/NPOESS C- 1 (2013), scatterometers noted above –Proposed: AMSR-2/GCOM-W2, scatterometers noted above

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France How can we sustain these capabilities for observing the global oceans? Extending current observational capabilities will become increasingly dependent on the operational agencies in their efforts to develop a corresponding operational infrastructure – a systematic and sustained capability that builds on the corresponding successes realized by the R&D space agencies

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Establishing an operational infrastructure For a single parameter, demonstrate: 1.Technical feasibility in space 2.Scientific utility 3.Operational utility That an operational agency, given timely access to such observations, is able to utilize them and that they can have a significant impact on meeting its mission needs 4.Success in the budget process That the operational agency, working within its fiscal and political environment, is able to secure the resources required to implement that observing system on a continuing basis, not just a one-shot mission R & D Agency Operational Agency

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Are there parameters for which we already have a global operational observing capability? What can we say has been operationalized? –Sea surface temperature AVHRR on POES and Metop GEO instruments (eg, MSG/SEVIRI) –Surface vector winds ASCAT on Metop

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Are there parameters for which we already have a global operational observing capability? What is in the process of being operationalized? (more ‘general purpose’) –NPOESS series –ESA Sentinel-1 & -3 series –JAXA GCOM-C & -W series –SOA HY-1, -2 & -3 series These observe various combinations of: –Sea surface topography –Surface vector winds –Sea surface temperature –Sea ice –Ocean color

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Are there parameters for which we already have a global operational observing capability? What is in the process of being operationalized? (more ‘focused’) –Sea surface topography Jason-3/Jason-CS Sentinel-3B GFO follow-on

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France What challenges do we face in our efforts to establish additional operational systems? Thoughts on getting new funding… Societal relevance Fiscal Climate change Organizational focus Integrating in situ and satellite observing systems Basis for prioritization Clear, concise and consistent message

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Societal relevance The operational agencies have to be able to make the case that what we are proposing to implement on a continuing basis is worth a corresponding continuing investment of tax dollars This is different than making the case in an R&D agency

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Fiscal Many countries have, and will continue to have, a tight budget environment In NOAA, we are attempting to establish an operational ocean capability in a level-funding environment on top of a growing and well-entrenched operational weather forecasting program In Europe, the route from research to operational funding is unclear

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Climate change ‘Weather’ versus ‘climate’ impacts While the leadership of some countries have recognized and appreciate climate change as an important issue to be addressed, others haven’t In the U.S. we have faced an Administration with little appreciation of climate change; with the transition to a new Administration, this should change for the better Even so, the role of the oceans in climate needs to be recognized as a priority issue in an overall climate program

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Organizational focus Some countries have an organizational focus for the implementation of operational oceanography such as Marine Core Services in Europe, MERCATOR in France, NCOF in the UK and BlueLink in Australia NOAA is a good example for a number of countries where participating elements in such an infrastructure are distributed and lack an effective focus

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Obama Space Policy The Obama Administration will: –Reestablish the National Aeronautics and Space Council reporting to the President…to oversee…all aspects of the government’s space- related programs –Strengthen baseline climate observations…to ensure that there are long-term and accurate climate records –Expand…American collaboration with international partners on climate research…to increase understanding of climate challenges…

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Integrating in-situ and satellite observing systems –We need both types of systems – these two communities need to be helping each other, not competing –Ocean models can play an important role here, integrating observations from both systems –No one working on either system should be unaware of the importance of the other

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Basis for prioritization Up to now, operational agencies have a shopping list of in-situ and satellite observing systems Those agencies typically have little budgetary flexibility, therefore need a basis for prioritization when attempting the implementation of operational infrastructure They need to concentrate on priority parameters for which there are mature technologies and significant demonstrations of operational utility

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Clear, concise and consistent message We need a clear, concise and consistent message that reflects a basis for prioritization We all need to be broadcasting that same message That message needs to be easily understood by politicians and the public

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France What should we do now? For those capabilities proposed to become operational, focus on those satellite systems that: –Are mature –Collect observations from top priority systems –Need our support – Why invest time & energy supporting systems that will be implemented anyway? Those capabilities needing immediate support include: –Jason-3/Jason-CS –Complementary altimeter(s) (Sentinel-3B, GFO follow-on) –Complementary scatterometer(s) to ASCAT (QuikSCAT follow-on)

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Take advantage of current activities Global Earth Observing System (GEOS) –International political visibility Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS) Constellations –A number of series of satellites are to be forthcoming (Sentinel, GCOM, HY) –Promote timely data access, harmonization of products & sharing of experience WMO-IOC Joint Commission on Oceanography and Marine Meteorology –Integration with in-situ observing systems

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Concluding thought While seeing how far we still have to go may be overwhelming, looking back shows the impressive progress made in a relatively small number of years In many respects, much more has been achieved than was expected or even dreamt of

Ocean Surface Topography Constellation Roadmap Jason-1 Fr./USA ENVISAT ESA Reference Mission, SSH from low inclination orbit, CRYOSAT-2 ESA SSH from high-inclination sun-synchronous orbit Jason-2 Europe/USA Jason-3 Europe/USA Jason-CS TBD Swath altimetry from high-inclination orbit (several orbit options) SWOT/WaTER-HM USA/Europe Saral/AltiKa India/France Jason-CS successor TBD In orbitApprovedPlanned/Pending approval Needed Orbit to be assessed Sentinel-3B, -3C, -3D Sentinel-3A Europe HY-2B, -2C, -2D HY-2A China GFO follow-on

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France One approach to prioritization One approach development of consensus priorities for operational physical observing systems for the basin-scale – What is the: –State of the oceans? –Mass balance (global sea level rise)? –Momentum balance? –Heat balance? To such a physical framework, add: –Nested coastal and hurricane models –Chemistry for global carbon balance –Biogeochemistry for ecosystems

GODAE Final Symposium, 12 – 15 November 2008, Nice, France Ocean color Continuity of climate record from SeaWiFS in 1997 and continuing with MERIS/ENVISAT, MODIS/Aqua, COCTS/HY-1A, B and others –In development: OCM-2/Oceansat-2 (2009), VIIRS/NPP (2010), SLSTR/Sentinel-3A (2012) –Proposed: SGLI/GCOM-C1, SLSTR/Sentinel-3B, COCTS/HY-1C