1. SPARC data requirements – where to next? Greg Bodeker Bodeker Scientific Presented at the SPARC Scientific Steering Group meeting Granada, 15 January 2015

2. Developments to date SPARC SSG meeting in Zürich in February 2012 – first floated the idea of formalizing measurement requirements of SPARC activities.SPARC SSG meeting in Zürich in February 2012 – first floated the idea of formalizing measurement requirements of SPARC activities. Frascati Meeting - combined SPARC Data Requirements/ SPIN Mid-Term Review Workshop. Goal was a clear statement on SPARC measurement needs. Focus on ozone, water vapour, aerosols, temperature and other trace gases.Frascati Meeting - combined SPARC Data Requirements/ SPIN Mid-Term Review Workshop. Goal was a clear statement on SPARC measurement needs. Focus on ozone, water vapour, aerosols, temperature and other trace gases. SPARC SSG meeting in Buenos Aires in November 2012 – outcomes of meeting in Frascati.SPARC SSG meeting in Buenos Aires in November 2012 – outcomes of meeting in Frascati. SPARC SSG meeting in Queenstown in January 2014 – reconfirmed the plan and asked activity leaders to write up something in their measurement requirements. We talked about defining consequences.SPARC SSG meeting in Queenstown in January 2014 – reconfirmed the plan and asked activity leaders to write up something in their measurement requirements. We talked about defining consequences.

3. Questions and the way forward Context remains unclear because the intended audience is amorphous.Context remains unclear because the intended audience is amorphous. What should we do with the four reports that have been developed?What should we do with the four reports that have been developed? Is there sufficient energy/interest amongst the activities and the SSG to push this forward or should we let it die in the corner?Is there sufficient energy/interest amongst the activities and the SSG to push this forward or should we let it die in the corner? Is there a renewed need for this to be resolved given the newly proposed SPARC theme of Long-term records for Climate?Is there a renewed need for this to be resolved given the newly proposed SPARC theme of Long-term records for Climate? Are there better ways to articulate SPARC’s measurement requirements e.g. do this as and when needed (e.g. at the time of the next decadal survey)?Are there better ways to articulate SPARC’s measurement requirements e.g. do this as and when needed (e.g. at the time of the next decadal survey)? Some food for thought from WMO (thanks to Geir) and NDACC (thanks to Martine).Some food for thought from WMO (thanks to Geir) and NDACC (thanks to Martine).

4. SPARC SSG, Granada 13-16 January 2015 GAW – What’s Next?  Continue to improve observational systems and data processing in order to:  Allow near real-time provision of GAW data,  Support integration of surface, vertical profile and column datasets from different platforms to provide a unified understanding of aerosol and gas distributions,  Minimize gaps in the measurement networks in data-poor regions,  Support the service needs of megacities and large urban complexes, and  Track trends and support conventions and assessments. 4

5. SPARC SSG, Granada 13-16 January 2015 WMO, WIGOS, RRR and OSCAR  The WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) provides a new framework for WMO observing systems and the contributions of WMO to co-sponsored observing systems. It is important to recognize that WIGOS is not replacing the existing observing systems, but is rather an over-arching framework for the evolution of these systems which will continue to be owned and operated by a diverse array of organizations and programmes.  The Rolling Review of Requirements is the process used by WMO to collect, vet and record user requirements for all WMO application areas and match them against observational capabilities.  Gap analysis results in Statement of Guidance, one per application area, that provides a narrative of how well a given application area is supported by WIGOS.  The RRR is supported by three key databases of OSCAR, the Observation Systems Capabilities and Review tool:  OSCAR/Requirements, in which “technology free” requirements are provided for each application area, expressed in units of geophysical variables, not measurands  OSCAR/Space, listing the capabilities of all satellite sensors (whether historical, operational or planned)  OSCAR/Surface, list surface-based capabilities (still in development) 5

6. SPARC SSG, Granada 13-16 January 2015 WMO/GAW Task Team for Obs. Requirements  WMO/GAW Task Team on Observational Requirements and Satellite Measurements as regards Atmospheric Composition and Related Physical Parameters.  The Task Team consists of experts representing various agencies (such as NASA, ESA, Eumetsat, ECMWF), WMO Expert Teams and independent experts.  First meeting took place in November 2014  The first and most basic task was to define Application Areas.  Three application areas were defined:  Forecasting Atmospheric Composition  Monitoring Atmospheric Composition  Providing Atmospheric Composition information to support services in urban and populated areas 6

7. SPARC SSG, Granada 13-16 January 2015 Links SPARC/GAW: What can GAW do for SPARC?  Are there obvious gaps in the network?  Are data readily accessible?  Are the data homogeneous across the network?  Are the data homogenous in time (gaps, steps, change in instruments, change in procedures)?  There is limited visibility of GAW and NDACC data in SPARC. Is there anything we can do to make these data sets more attractive?  Ozonesonde data are now in the process of being re-processed across the network. This will hopefully make such data more interesting to use.  Ozone in the UTLS is an important GHG and influenced both from tropospheric ozone (photochemical origin) or stratospheric origin from higher altitudes. There are still important and relevant questions open in general but certainly concerning the future fate of ozone in the UTLS-region and its impact on climate.  GAW O 3 -SAG members strongly support the idea that GAW/ IGACO-Ozone/UV (together with NDACC & SHADOZ) joins SPARC in a joint initiative to assess the fate (future changes) of ozone. This assessment should be a joint activity with modelling and the relevant scientific questions involved. 7

8. Future evolution of NDACC to better serve SPARC and other users (1/4) 8  More rapid data availability for whole network.  Transition towards a fully homogeneous and traceable database (data versioning), in GEOMS HDF format –In  good shape: FTIR, microwave, UV/VIS (MAX)DOAS, LIDAR –In progress: conversion to GEOMS HDF of NDACC Ozone sondes, Dobson, Brewer  Interactive visualisation of the data series on the NDACC Web pages (under development);  Additional stations in ‘critical’ areas of the world  strategy to be developed. Currently this is left to the ambition of station owners, data providers. There is no dedicated funding of the network as a whole. M. De Maziere – SPARC SSG, Granada, 13-16 January 2015

9. Future evolution of NDACC to better serve SPARC and other users (2/4) 9  Additional, new data products, e.g., MAXDOAS aerosol extinction profiles  Development of quality-controlled merged data products e.g., O 3 profiles from surface to mesosphere merging sondes, LIDAR, microwave data  Better harmonized data products;  Improved homogeneity across the network  Development of more cost-efficient instrumentation e.g., PANDORA system  Development of more automatic data acquisition and data analysis and submission procedures M. De Maziere – SPARC SSG, Granada, 13-16 January 2015

10. Future evolution of NDACC to better serve SPARC and other users (3/4) 10  Particular idea: centralised data processing for specific ‘operational’ purposes next to research-oriented data processing ?  Ongoing efforts in Europe to get more sustainable funding (EU Research Infrastructure ACTRIS, via CAMS, continue support from ESA, …) M. De Maziere – SPARC SSG, Granada, 13-16 January 2015

11. Future evolution of NDACC to better serve SPARC and other users (4/4) 11 Interaction with SPARC  Getting model and satellite ‘station overpass’ data easily available in the NDACC database or elsewhere ? First attempt is ongoing. Contact person is B-M. Sinnhuber (KIT)  Invitation to SPARC modellers to join NDACC ‘Theory & Analysis’ WG and/or ‘Measurement strategies and emphases’ WG, to get suggestions from modellers as to NDACC future developments.  If there is interest: –Making available python routines for cross comparisons between data from different sources that were developed in the EU FP7 project NORS: nors.aeronomie.be. –Adding (interactive) satellite colocation routines