GNSS for Global Environmental Earth Observation and GEOSS STARLAB UNOTT GFZ CHALMERS ULEIC MET.NO ALTERRA ©photos: esa Gfg 2 Rob H.G. Jongman Wageningen UR

What is Gfg 2 ? The EU acknowledged the need to better assess the scientific value of GNSS beyond their classical positioning services Gfg 2 - GNSS for Global Environmental Earth Observation (GEEO) and GEOSS Gfg 2 is a three year coordination action funded by the 7th Framework Program of the European Commission under the Environment theme (2010) 7th Framework Program of the European Commission under the Environment theme Mission: to better asses the value of GNSS for Global Environmental Earth Observation (GEEO) and GEOSS

The team UNOTT - GRACE (UK) GNSS Research and Application s Centre of Excellence GFZ (DE) German Researc h Centre for Geoscie nce CHALMERS (SE) Space Geodesy and Geodyna- mics Research Group ULEIC (UK) The GSTEP group MET.NO (NO) Norway Meteorolog ical Institute ALTERRA (NL) Wageningen University and Research Centre STARLAB (ES) Consulting Division – Space Engineering coordinator

Experts Board Carmen Aguilera, European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA) Christopher Buck, European Space Agency (ESA) Jacob Christensen, RUAG Space AB James Garrison, Purdue University USA Manuel Hernandez, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain Norbert Jakowski, German Aerospace Center (DLR) Germany Frank Kelly, King’s College London, UK Paul Poli, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) Chuang Shi, Wuhan University, China

Gfg 2 Goals To consolidate a community of experts interested in the scientific exploitation of GNSS for GEEO and GEOSS To explore novel applications derived from GNSS for GEEO and GEOSS while enhancing research- industry collaboration to implement these applications To identify the research and technological challenges and define the strategic vision, roadmap and policy for GNSS for GEEO and GEOSS available or under development To assess the value of a European GNSS independent constellation (EGNOS- GALILEO) in the support to GEEO and GEOSS To promote the public understanding of GNSS for GEEO and GEOSS research and use within the GEO

Use of GNSS signals Most current applications receive and process GNSS (GPS) signals directly –timing and position GNSS – Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO), based on delays of the signals when traveling through the atmosphere –e.g. temperature, humidity GNSS – Reflectometry (GNSS-R), based on the reflection of the signals from different surfaces –e.g. soil moisture, surface roughness, …

GNSS use in positioning Use in field tools for bird/mammal counting and tracking (GPS) Digital elevation modelling (wetlands) Designing and coordinating European biodiversity field monitoring

GNSS Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO)  measurements of phase path delay  key atmospheric/climate parameters  e.g., refractivity N,  geopotential height Z,  temperature T, humidity q

Receiver Transmitter Radio Signals (  20 cm) Satellites in LEO: eg. GPS/MET, CHAMP, GRACE, MetOp, Oceansat-2 GPS GALILEO adapted from Andrea Steiner, 13 Oct 2011

Ongoing Activities Determining existing and future GNSS-GEEO activities and needs on positioning, for mass-market or scientific work; Explore novel applications of GNSS for GEEO and GEOSS with specific attention to the needs of Earth and Ocean observation systems; Consolidate a GNSS community of experts for GEEO; Organisation of Summer schools, worshops and industry events (TEDx Barcelona 2013); Develop a road map for further R&D.

Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) –What can be measured using GNSS?

Needs inventory by E-track (

Become a Community Member! gfg2Project GNSS for Global Environmental Earth Observation (GEEO) and GEOSS

2013 Events Roadmap second workshop (Leicester, UK), April Second Summer school, Potsdam, July 1-4 TEDx Barcelona, October (exact date to be determined) Those interested in this initiative please contact:

© Gfg2 / February ©photos: esa For further questions: Anna Puig Gfg 2 project coordinator