© GEO Secretariat The GEO contribution to the International Polar Year Legacy through its 2006 and Work Plan Michael Rast & Eduard Sarukhanian, International Polar Year, Space Task Group WMO, Geneva, January, 2007

© GEO Secretariat Satellite Observation Systems

© GEO Secretariat Evolution of annual-mean ECMWF forecast skill SH scores now reach NH scores Northern hemisphere Southern hemisphere Year

© GEO Secretariat ENVISAT RA-2 observing the Gulf Stream current velocity Satellite Observation Systems

© GEO Secretariat Sea level observations (3 mm/an) Thermal Expansion (below 1.5 mm/an) (below 1.5 mm/an)

© GEO Secretariat Seismic Networks Argo Float Array Global In-situ Networks

© GEO Secretariat Local and Regional In-situ Networks and Systems Air pollution measurement station Emden, Germany Venice, Italy Indonesia EXAMPLE: Air Pollution Observation

© GEO Secretariat

Some IPY project proposals related to Global Observing System Global Inter-agency IPY Polar Snapshot Year (GIIPSY, ID 91) International Arctic System for Observing of the Atmosphere (IASOA, ID 196) Polar Weather Forecasting (THORPEX-IPY, ID 121) COmprehensive Meteorological dataset of active IPY Antarctic measurement PhAse for Scientific and applied Studies (COMPASS, ID 267)

© GEO Secretariat Первый этап восстановления сети -станции, подлежащие восстановлению -станции, подлежащие модернизации

© GEO Secretariat Some IPY project proposals related to Global Atmosphere Watch Polar Study using aircraft, remote sensing, surface measurements and modeling of climate, chemistry, aerosols and transport (POLARCAT, ID 32) Ozone layer and UV radiation in changing climate evaluated during IPY (ORACLE-O3, ID 99) Ocean-Atmosphere-Sea Ice-Snowpack Interactions (OASIS, ID 38) Atmospheric Monitoring Network for Anthropogenic Pollution in Polar Regions (ATMOPOL, ID 76)

© GEO Secretariat OASIS Implementation

© GEO Secretariat

Schematic of the vertical stack of observations from satellites to seabed that would be necessary to inform an iAOOS study focused on the present state and future fate of the Arctic perennial sea-ice (by R.Dixson).

© GEO Secretariat Some IPY project proposals related to Global Ocean Observing System Integrated Arctic Ocean Observing System (iAOOS, ID 14) Climate of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean (CASO, ID 132) Synoptic Antarctic Shelf-Slope Interaction Study (SASSI, ID 8) Sea level and Tidal Science in Polar Oceans (ID 13)

© GEO Secretariat Climate and Cryosphere Project (WCRP/CliC) and GTN- Permafrost and GTN-Glaciers during IPY (main tasks) Intensify the studies addressing the role of cryospheric processes and feedbacks through which the cryosphere interacts with other components of the climate system Assess the impacts of past and future climatic variability and change on components of the cryosphere and their consequences Enhance the observation and monitoring of the cryosphere in support of process studies, model evaluation, and change detection

© GEO Secretariat GTOS/GCOS GTN-P Monitoring Deficiency (2.5 0 Grid)

© GEO Secretariat Some IPY projects related to CliC, GTN-P and GTN-G State and Fate of Cryosphere (CRYOS, ID 105) Antarctic Surface Accumulation and Ice Discharge (ASAID) The Greenland Ice Sheet: Stability, History and Evolution Permafrost Observatory Project: a contribution to the thermal state of permafrost (TSP, ID 50)

© GEO Secretariat 14 nations: 12 EoIs Antarctic Surface Accumulation and Ice Discharge (ASAID)

© GEO Secretariat There is a Need for a System which Provides Access to all Earth Observation Data in Standard Interoperable Formats The Tower of Babel Problem! For Access to all Earth Observation Data Based on Existing Portals, Systems and Networks Designed to Increase Quality and Accessibility of Information Providing Tools

© GEO Secretariat - Society needs informed decision-making - Earth is a complex System of Systems GEO will help to: - Improve and Coordinate Observation Systems - Encourage Easier & More Open Data Access - Foster Use of Earth observations (data & products) Why GEOSS? GEO is GLOBAL - (Rotating) Members of the GEO Executive Committee: –China, Japan, Thailand –European Commission, Germany, Italy –South Africa, Morocco –Russia –USA, Brazil, Honduras

© GEO Secretariat GEOSS A Global, Coordinated, Comprehensive and Sustained System of Earth Observing Systems

© GEO Secretariat GEO and GEOSS A Cross-cutting Approach Nine Societal Benefit Areas 1. Disasters – Reducing loss of life and property from natural and human-induced disasters 2. Health – Understanding environmental factors affecting human health and well being 3. Energy – Improving management of energy resources 4. Climate – Understanding, predicting, mitigating and adapting to climate variability and change 5. Water – Improving water resource management through better understanding of the water cycle 6. Weather – Improving weather information, forecasting and warning 7. Ecosystems – Improving the management and protection of terrestrial, coastal & marine resources 8. Agriculture – Supporting sustainable agriculture and combating desertification 9. Biodiversity – Understanding, monitoring, and conserving biodiversity

© GEO Secretariat The GEO IPY Task Task Climate : Coordinate with the International Polar Year (IPY) to enhance the utilization of Earth observations in all appropriate realms (including, but not limited to, sea and land ice, permafrost, coastal erosion, marine and terrestrial ecosystem change, biodiversity monitoring and impacts of increased resource exploitation and marine transport).

© GEO Secretariat Elements of the Task Identify IPY activities and projects most relevant to GEOSS implementation and to which GEO can significantly add value and promote the development of these activities and projects. Consider projects in line with 2006 GEO Work Plan and that are promoting: data interoperability; open and timely data access; recovery of relevant historical data; improved exploitation of available polar observing systems, logistical assets and infrastructure; development of new technological and logistical capabilities.

© GEO Secretariat Elements of the Task ctd. Contribute to the development and implementation of the IPY Data Management strategy by supporting the Data Policy and Management subcommittee and the Data and Information Service to ensure that all data collected as part of the IPY are stored in a user-friendly format and will be accessible via the web in the future and that IPY leaves in place a system of data and information management that makes it easy for the polar research community to continue to store, find and distribute scientific data collected in the polar regions

© GEO Secretariat Elements of the Task ctd. Identify and initiate further actions to make IPY project-outcomes durable (e.g. new observing sites & facilities to support polar research and monitoring). Create a plan to facilitate the transition of relevant observation system component (e.g. forecasting systems) from research to operational status.

© GEO Secretariat Proposed activity for 2007 Focus on the legacy of IPY to: Make the IPY project outcome durable Ensure sustained flow of data from projects that need continuity to complete or further substantiate findings Safeguard continued availability of data and results to the community Support observing sites & facilities established through or within the IPY to continue polar monitoring and research continue, activities, where necessary to facilitate the transition of relevant observation system component from research to operational status

© GEO Secretariat It is proposed to hold a Workshop addressing the “Legacy of IPY” Organisation: GEO, WMO, ICSU/SCAR, IOC, WCRP/CLIC, – to be extended Date and Venue: Spring, 2008 at WMO, Geneva (following a planning meeting in late 2007) Organising Committee: Members of IPY Joint Committee, the IGOS Cryo-Team, IPY Data-, Observations- and Space Group, GEO, SCAR – to be extended Prime Objective: Review and prioritise Projects selected through IPY that are “vital” to be continued and identify potential sponsors per priority activity

© GEO Secretariat Hydrological Applications and Run – Off Network initial phase: upgrade and sustained maintenance of major global run-off stations monitoring continental freshwater fluxes into the world’s oceans 2 nd Phase: Combining hydro-meteorological and related in-situ components with satellite observations 3 rd Phase: Produce an implementation plan for a broad global water cycle data integration system that combines in-situ, satellite data and model outputs A project is proposed aiming to restore an existing Hydrological stations network The main purpose of the initiative is to improve and support the closure of the global water budget in line with objectives of WMO, IGWCO, GCOS and GEWEX and to support water resources management also in the context of food security A related example: HARON

© GEO Secretariat Proposed river discharge baseline network (GTN-R; 380 stations) HARON – Phase 1

© GEO Secretariat Conclusions GEO is more than only an opportunity to coordinate consolidate and extend observations in the Cryosphere and its related areas. GEO is the appropriate forum to seek advocacy and support for sustaining existing activities and initiating new ones More specifically: – Data Policy – GEO data management Tasks – Data acquisition – GIIPSY – New products – CLiC, IGOS Cryo etc – Observational Requirement – IGOS Cryo and GCOS – In-situ observations – WCRP, SCAR, and… – Archives - GEOSS Process is Always Open to New Participants –GEO IPY Task – Observational Point OF Contact, Co-Leads and Contributors Requirement The GEO task on IPY is an important tool to use for pursuing continuity of sustained observation and analysis of the Cryosphere and related Themes/areas alongside the requirements formulated by the IGOS Cryo Theme and GCOS. For more information: