Global Climate Change Monitoring Ron Birk Director, Mission Integration, Northrop Grumman Member, Alliance for Earth Observations Responding to Emerging Climate Change Policies 2008 AMS Public-Private Partnership Forum Washington, DC April 22, 2008
Objectives and Activities “… to succeed, we need partnerships with industry, academia, and nongovernmental organizations … We look for industry to organize itself … to put forward its ideas, needs, and concerns.” Our Mission is to promote & support the understanding and use of Earth observations - VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. (Ret.) Under Secretary for Oceans & Atmosphere Co-Chair, Group on Earth Observations Alliance Activities: Architecture Workshop Forum on Earth Observations Expertise and Community Resources Expert Meetings Sponsorships The Alliance Works to: Represent a broad & global voice Communicate amongst organizations Partner with Users Educate
Identifying Target Observables Within the overall context of a system of systems framework with observing systems, modeling systems, and decision support systems… Global Change observable categories –Climate – Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) –Weather – Environmental Data Records (EDRs) –Solid Earth and Natural Hazards (SESWG Report)
Decision Support enabled by Earth Observations Decision quality information integrated at regional centers enables adaptation to local conditions Drought for agriculture Precipitation for water availability Wind for energy availability Temperature for public health
26 GCOS Essential Climate Variables 3.1.Atmosphere Surface Wind Speed and Direction Upper-air Temperature Water Vapour Cloud properties Precipitation Earth Radiation Budget Ozone Atmospheric reanalysis (multiple ECVs) Aerosols Carbon Dioxide, Methane and other Greenhouse Gases Upper-air Wind 3.2.Oceans Sea Ice Sea Level Sea Surface Temperature Ocean Colour Sea State Ocean Reanalysis Ocean Salinity 3.3.Terrestrial Lakes Glaciers and Ice Caps, and Ice Sheets Snow Cover Albedo Land Cover fAPAR LAI Biomass Fire Disturbance Soil moisture
Global Essential Climate Variables with Heritage Records (Karl et al., 2007 AMS)
NPOESS NPOESS GPM NPOESS Global Essential Climate Variables through 2050
55 Environmental Data Records (EDRs)
Solid Earth and Natural Hazards
Decadal Survey Recommendations to NASA
- Strategic Centers Regional Support Centers WFOs - Northeast Region Boston Climate Services provided by NOAA NOAA Services Sensors 13 River Forecast Centers 6 Regional Climate Centers 10 National Ops Centers 10 Research and Specialized Support Centers Customers Partners
What can we do for Global Climate Change monitoring? Identify target observables Evaluate capacity of current and planned systems to acquire and deliver target observables Identify gaps in coverage (geographic, spatial, temporal, radiometric) Contribute innovation & technology development to close gaps Advocate for solutions Promote value of EO to society & the economy Work Together with a Global Voice
System of Systems Approach 1.Enterprise Architecture 2.Comprehensive & Interoperable 3.Research and Operations (R&O) 4.Sustained Capabilities 5.Net-Centric Approach 6.Integrated Solutions 7.Delivering Benefits to Society