2017 ceos plenary minutes v1.0 finalceos.org/document_management/meetings/plenary/31/final... ·...

2017CEOSPlenary 19-20October2017 RapidCity,SouthDakota,USA

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MINUTESOFTHE2017CEOSPLENARY19-20October2017

RapidCity,SouthDakota,USA

ExecutiveSummary

1. ReviewedthevariousCEOSclimateactivities,includingtheSpaceAgencyResponsetotheGCOSIP,CEOSStatementtoSBSTA47,COP-23CEOS/CGMSPresence,andtheEssentialClimateVariables(ECVs)Inventory(Inventory2.0hasbeenpublishedandgapanalysesareongoing).

2. AssessedprogressofCEOScarbonefforts,includingtheAC-VCGreenhouseGasConstellationpaperandCEOSinputtothe2019IPCCGuidelinesforNationalGreenhouseGasInventoriesandNIESGuidebook.

3. CEOSundertooktotryandidentifynewCo-LeadsfortheSDCGforGFOIandpotentialcontributionstoSDCGsecretariatfundingorin-kindsupport.

4. Confirmedthe2018CEOSChair’splantolaythefoundationforaninternationalCO2andGHGmonitoringsystem:facilitatethecompletionandfollow-onactivitiesoftheAC-VCwhitepaperondefininganoptimumconstellationforCO2andGHGmonitoring;placethespacesegmentinthebroadercontextofafullysustainedsystemforCO2monitoring;advancetherelationshipwithCGMSforanoperationallyimplementedandsustainedobservationcapability.

5. CEOS’strategicpartnerships,includingwithUNagencies,andinternationalfinancinginstitutionssuchasthedevelopmentbanks;andtheeffectivefunctioningofGEO,andCEOSwithinit,arehighpriorities.TheproposedCEOSStatementonEOandODAwasendorsed,andESAwillleadconclusionoftheODAcommunicationsdocumentreflectingcommentsandinputsfromCEOSAgencies.

6. CEOSwillproceedwitha“WaterfromSpace”observationsstrategyworkshopinQ22018.Theproposedworkshopaimstoclarifyandprogressspaceagencycoordination.

7. The2018continuationoftheFDA-AHTwillcontinuetocenteraroundfivethemes:CEOSAnalysisReadyData(ARD);InteroperableFreeandOpenTools;Data,Processing,andArchitectureInterfaceStandards;AnalyticalProcessingCapabilities;andUserMetrics.

8. CEOSPlenaryrenewed,foranotheryear,themandateoftheSDG-AHT.ItisanticipatedthatapermanentCEOSWorkingGroupontheSDGswillbeproposedfordecisionatthe2018CEOSPlenary.

9. TherisktothecurrentandcontinuedPMWconstellationforSSTwasnotedagain(needforaredundantcapabilityofPMWat7GHz).ACEOSWorkPlantaskwillbeestablishedtotracktheissue.

10. CEOSPlenaryconfirmedthefollowingappointments:WGClimateVice-Chair:JohnDwyer(USGS);WGISSVice-Chair:RobWoodcock(CSIRO);WGDisastersVice-Chair:DavidGreen(NASA);WGCapDVice-Chair:NancySearby(NASA);CEOSLeadforGFOI:OsamuOchiai(JAXA);SDCGCo-Chair:TBA(UKSA).

11. CEOSPlenaryrenewedforanotheryearthemandatesofthefollowingad-hocteams:SpaceDataCoordinationGroup(SDCG)forGFOI;Ad-hocWGonGEOGLAM;Ad-hocTeamontheSustainableDevelopmentGoals;Ad-hocTeamonFutureDataAccessandAnalysisArchitectures.

12. NOAAassumedtheroleofSITChair.CEOSPlenaryendorsedCSIRO-GAasSITVice-Chair(2018-2019)andsubsequentlySITChair(2020-2021).

13. StevenHosford(ESA/CNES)waswelcomedasCEOSExecutiveOfficer(CEO)forthenexttwoyears.

14. TheEuropeanCommissionassumedtheroleofCEOSChairfor2018.CEOSPlenaryconfirmedVASTasCEOSChairfor2019andISROasCEOSChairfor2020.


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ThursdayOctober19th

Session1:CoreBusinessSteveAllender,theMayorofRapidCity,welcomedCEOSdelegatestothePlenaryandtoRapidCity.

CEOSChairIntroduction

FrankKelly(USGS,CEOSChair)welcomedeveryonetothePlenaryandtoRapidCityandinitiatedatourdetable.

Frankreviewedtheagendaandsummarisedtheobjectivesofthe31stCEOSPlenary:

− toreviewthevariousCEOSclimateactivitiesandprovidedirectionandendorsementwhererequired;

− toassessprogressof,andprovidedirectionon,CEOScarbonefforts;

− toreviewprogressof,andprovidedirectionon,theCEOSthematicacquisitionstrategies;

− toestablishbroaderunderstandingofthevariousactivitiesrelatedtowaterobservations,andachieveclarityontheprioritiesandwayforwardforCEOSinrelationtoGEOGLOWS,COVERAGE,AquaWatch,andGEOBluePlanet;

− toreviewstatusofandwayforwardonCEOSFutureDataArchitectures(FDA)activities;

− toevaluateandprovidedirectionfortheCEOSVirtualConstellationsandWorkingGroupsandtheiractivities;

− to review progress of, and provide guidance on, CEOS efforts related to the United Nations SustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs);

− todiscussthetopicofacoordinatedCEOSstrategyforengagementwithInternationalFinancialInstitutions(IFIs)andtopotentiallyendorsetheproposedone-pagestatementonEOandOverseasDevelopmentAid(ODA),andconfirmthefurtheractionsneededonthestatement.

30thCEOSPlenaryActionsStatus

JonathonRoss(GA,CEO)reviewedthestatusoftheactionsfromthe2016CEOSPlenary.Jonathonsuggestedthataction30-2becloseduntiltherelevantdocumentisprovidedtoCEOSbyGEOGLAM.Actions30-10,30-11,and30-12willbeaddressedduringthePlenary.Allotheractionshavebeencompleted.

JonathoninvitedEUMETSATtorespondtoaction30-11.PaulCounet(EUMETSAT)notedthatCGMShadagreedtofoster the coordinateddevelopmentofnovel products andapplicationsof thenewgenerationof geostationaryimagers,initiallyfortheareasoffire,aerosolsandflood-mapping.AcorrespondingactivityhasbeenincludedintheCGMSrollingWorkPlan.AlexHeld(CSIRO)notedthatCSIROisstillengagedwithJAXAontheNon-MeteorologicalApplications activity andboth agencies still hope to progress this including in cooperationwithNOAA SIT Chairactivities.

Actions30-2,30-10,and30-11wereformallyclosed.

CEOS3-YearWorkPlanAnnualReviewandUpdateSchedule&CEOSWorkPlanActionStatusOverview

JonathonRoss(GA,CEO)reviewedthepurposeandfunctionsoftheCEOS3-YearWorkPlan.JonathonnotedthatamajorityofWorkPlanactivitieshaveadurationofoneyear.Hesuggestedthatcontributorskeepinmindthatthisisa3-YearWorkPlan,andthistimeframeshouldbereflectedintaskduedates.JonathonpresentedasummaryofthestatusofWorkPlantasks,notinginparticular:

− thereare87objectives/deliverablesintheCEOS2017-2019WorkPlan;

− theWorkPlanhasincreasinglybeenattheheartofCEOSPlenarydiscussions;

− 19actionshavebeencompleted,49areon-track,14areclassifiedas ‘materialdelay’,and5havenotbeenstarted;


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− updatestoWorkingGrouptermsofreference(actionORG-07,openedin2014)willnowneedtobeafocusforthenextCEO.

Jonathonnotedthatwhilethissummarywasbasedonhisknowledgeandanalysisofthestatusofactions,itbroadlyreflectsthecurrentsituation.

JonathonrecalledtheprocessforupdatingtheCEOSWorkPlan.Headdedthattheceos-deliverables.orgwebsiteshouldalsobeupdatedregularly.TheCEOTeamisavailabletouploadupdatesonbehalfofCEOSentities.

FrankKelly(USGS,CEOSChair)thankedeveryonefortheireffortsontheWorkPlantasks,andencouragedeveryonetokeepupthegoodwork.

Session2:ClimateWGClimate

PascalLecomte(ESA,WGClimateChair)andJörgSchulz(EUMETSAT,WGClimateVice-Chair)reportedasfollows:

SpaceAgencyResponsetotheGCOSIP

− theResponsewassentonOctober16thtoUNFCCCsecretariat,GCOS,CEOSandCGMSsecretariats;

− WGClimatewarmlythanksthewritingteamandagenciesthatcontributedtoitscontentanddevelopment;

− atechnicalsupplementwillbeproducedbySpring2018toincludedetailedresponses;

CEOSStatementtoSBSTA47

− ThedocumenthasbeensubmittedtoUNFCCCSECafterCEOSreview;

COP-23CEOS/CGMSPresence

− aGEOsideeventhasbeenproposed(seeGEOpresentation);

− twosideeventshavebeenproposedbyGCOSandWMO(havebeenmergedintooneevent);

− aninformalstrategymeetingbetweentheSBSTAChairandtheEarthobservationcommunityisorganisedonFriday10thNovember;GCOS,ESA,EC,EUMETSAThavebeeninvited;

− WGClimateplanstopresent theSpaceAgencyResponsetotheGCOS IP in thecontextofoneof thesesideeventsincoordinationwithGCOS;

EssentialClimateVariables(ECVs)Inventory

− theECVInventory2.0hasbeenpublished;

− itfullydescribescurrentandplannedimplementationarrangements(ECV-by-ECV)withintheArchitecture;

− therearenowmorethan4timesmoredatarecordsintheECVinventory(913versus~210)comparedtothefirstversionin2015;

− thecontentisfullyverifiedforthefirsttime;

− thegapanalysiscapabilityhasbeendemonstrated;allECVProductswithoutcorrespondingCDRshavebeenidentified, and complianceofCDRs toGCOS requirementshasbeenanalyzed, and the capability toanalyzemissingmissionsestablished(ECVI/MIM/OSCARharmonisationison-going);

− a gap analysis on a limited number of ECV products includingmission availability and suitability (with theselectionoftheseECVproductsbasedontherelevanceofthevariabletocurrentdiscussionsand/orknownissueswithpastandfuturemissionsremainstobedone(tobecompletedbySIT-33inApril2018);

− JörggratefullyacknowledgedthefinancialsupportoftheEuropeanCommissionfortheInventorydevelopment;

− lessonslearnedfromthesecondECVInventorycycleinclude:ECFundingoftheinventoryactivitiesmadeabigdifference; engagement with agency focal points and data set experts was key; the verification process is


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absolutelycriticaltoensurethattheinventoryisareliablesourceofinformation;commitmentlevelforfuturecomponentsoftheinventoryneedstobereconsidered;globaldatarecorddevelopmentismoredynamicthanfirstthought–suggestincremental(annual)updates;

WGClimateVice-ChairNomination

− JohnDwyer(USGS)hasbeenproposedfollowingtherequiredprocedure.

MarkDowell(COM)supportedJohnDwyer’snominationasVice-Chair,notingJohn’sexceptionalcontributiontotheWorkingGroupovertheyears.CEOSPlenarywelcomedandendorsedthenomination.JörgSchulzthankedPascalonbehalfofCEOSandWGClimateforhisdedicatedleadershipandcommitmenttotheWGClimateoverthelastfewyears.

MikeFreilich (NASA) stated thatNASA fullyendorses theStatement toSBSTA47,notinghowever that the finalsubmissionwasslightlydifferenttothetextthatwaspreviouslyendorsed.Hecautionedthatcareshouldbetakeninthefuturetoavoidupdatingtext,eveninaminorway,onceendorsed.

SteveVolz(NOAA)askedthattheECVgapanalysisbeframedintermsofmissingmeasurementsandnotnecessarilymissingmissions. IvanPetiteville (ESA,SITChairTeam)askedhowthegapanalysestobeundertakenhavebeenselected.Jörgnotedthatselectionsareinfluencedbybothidentifiedneeds(e.g.,theSSTPMWissuenotedbySST-VC,Salinity,keycomponentsofthecarboncycle,landbiomass).Theenergycycleandwatercyclecouldbefociinthefuture.

JosefAschbacher(ESA)thankedWGClimatefortheirexcellentworkandhighlightedtheeffectivepartnershipwithCGMS.

AlainRatier(EUMETSAT)askedaboutthereferenceto‘lowuseofFCDRs’.Jörgnotedthataround60%ofsurveyrespondentsdidnotanswerthequestionrelatedtoFCDRuse.JörgsuspectsthisisduetothelargeamountofeffortandexpertiserequiredtoworkfromtheFCDRs.MikeFreilich(NASA)notedthatsomeFCDRsareextremelywelldocumentedandweshouldhighlighttheseasexamplesforotherstofollow.

Mark Dowell (COM) hoped that the ECV Inventorywill be used far beyond the CEOS community as a valuableresource.

GlobalClimateObservingSystem(GCOS)

CarolinRichter(GCOS)presentedsomebackgroundontheworkofGCOS(notinginparticulartheGCOScontributiontothe2015ParisAgreement)andnotedthe2016updateoftheGCOSImplementationPlan(IP).ThenewIPhasfiveelements: Adaptation & Mitigation; Water, Energy and Carbon cycles; Additional Essential Climate Variables;Emphasisonmorehelp fornetworks indeveloping countries; andClimate Indicators.Closing theglobal climatecyclesisthetarget/priorityforthisnewIPandtheadditionalECVs.In2017,CEOS-CGMSWGClimatepreparedtheSpaceAgencyResponsetotheGCOSIP.

JosefAschbacher(ESA)askedifthereisaconsolidatedstatementofcontributionsfromspaceagenciestoeachoftheParisAgreementArticles.StephenBriggs(ESA)supportedtheidea,andsuggestedthatWGClimateprepareasummaryandstatementalongtheselines.

CEOS-31-01WGClimatetoexploredevelopmentofabrief,consolidatedstatementofspaceagencycontributionsinsupportofeachArticleoftheParisAgreement.

32ndCEOSPlenary


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Session3:CarbonCEOSCarbonStrategyActionStatus

MarkDowell(COM)recalledtheheritageanddriversbehindtheCEOSStrategyforCarbonObservationsfromSpaceReport(endorsedbyCEOSin2014),itsrecommendationsandsubsequentactions,includingtheoutcomesofCOPinParis,andtheCEOSResponsetotheGCOSIP.Herecalledthesubsetofcarbonactionsfromthis2014CEOSCarbonStrategythathavebeentheinitialfocus:

− AC-VC:whitepaperonaGHGconstellation(refertoitem3.2);

− LSI-VC:adoptGEOGLAMrequirementprocess&gapanalysis;

− WGClimate:focusgapanalysisworkoncarbon-specificECVs;

− WGISS:onacarbondataportaltofacilitatethediscoverabilityandaccessibilityofECVproductsandspace-borneCDRsrelevantforthecarbonactions;

− NASA-ESA: cal/val and production of biomass products from CEOSmissions – based on previous bi-lateralNASA/ESAinitiative;

− WGCV: Summarize current list of validated land data products relevant to Carbon Strategy, document avalidationframework,onlineplatformforintercomparisons;

− JAXA:ontheopportunitytoengagewithIPCCTFIguidelineprocess,promotingsatelliteEO(refertoitem3.3).

MarkstressedtheimportanceoftheSatelliteGreenhouseGasreportbeingundertakenbyAC-VCwitha2018CEOSPlenarytarget.HealsonotedthepossiblevalueofacommonrequirementsprocessinthecontextoftheCarbonStrategy.WGClimateisactiveonthedefinitionofcarbon-relatedECVs.WGISSwillbeginfacilitatingdiscoverabilityand accessibility of ECV Products and space-born CDRs relevant for the CEOS Carbon Actions via WGISSInteroperabilitySystems&Standards.

CEOSWGCVLPVhascompletedalistingof11carbon-focusedvariables,totaling138landproductsfrom11CEOSAgencies(https://lpvs.gsfc.nasa.gov/).9oftheseproductcategoriesarelistedasGCOSEssentialClimateVariables(ECVs).2oftheseproductcategoriesare listedasGEOBONEssentialBiodiversityVariables(EBVs).CEOSLPVhasestablished a framework with the aim of independent validation and consistent uncertainty reporting acrossproductsasitsmainoutput.AtWGCV-42,LPVannouncedthelaunchoftheLandProductCharacterizationSystem(LPCS)–designedtofacilitateintercomparisonofhigher-level,satellite-derived,globallandproducts.

TheNASA-GEDIScienceTeamiscompilingaglobaldatasetofcoincidentfieldandairborneLIDAR.Thereferencearchiveincludes~4,000plots(0.0625-0.25ha),and18,500simulatedfootprints(25m)over~100correspondingfieldsites.TheCEOS-LPVBiomassteam(NASA/ESA)willworktodeterminewhichGEDIreferencesitescanfilltheneedsofallmissions(includingdataaccess)(Q22018).

AC-VCGreenhouseGasConstellation

The primary focus of the AC-VC Greenhouse Gas (GHG) effort since the CEOS SIT-32 meeting has been thedevelopmentoftheGHGWhitePaper.Space-basedmeasurementsofCO2andCH4areneededto:

− reduce uncertainty in fossil fuel emission inventories and their time evolution (review origin, content, andlimitations of present GHG inventories; new requirements from the 2015 Paris Agreement (e.g., “globalstocktaking”);summarizechallengesofdiscriminatingandquantifyinganthropogenicemissionsinthecontextofthenaturalcarboncycle);and,

− monitoring and predicting changes in the natural carbon cycle associatedwith climate change and humanactivities.

MostexistingandplannedGHGmissionsaresciencemissions,designedtoidentifyoptimalmethodsformeasuringCO2andCH4,notoperationalmissionsdesignedtodeliverpolicyrelevantGHGproductsfocusedonanthropogenicemissions.GOSATandOCO-2haveprovidedsignificantlessonsforfuturemissions.


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Markpresentedanoverviewofthekeypointsfromchaptersofthedraftwhitepaper,around:integratingnear-termmissions into a Virtual Constellation, candidate GHG constellation architectures and specifications, andmovingforwardfromscientifictooperationalGHGmissions.

Inconclusion,Marknoted:

− datafromafuture,coordinatedGHGconstellationthatcombinesLEO,GEO,andHEOvantagepointscouldmeetthemeasurementaccuracy,precision,resolution,andcoveragerequirements;

− toprovidereliable,verifiableconstraintsonGHGinventoriesaswellastheresponseofthenaturalcarboncycletoclimatechange,advancesareneededin:

− laboratorymeasurementsofgasabsorptioncrosssections;

− pre-launchandon-orbitcalibrationcapabilities;

− GHGretrievalalgorithms;

− fluxinversionalgorithms;

− GHGconcentrationandfluxvalidationtechniques;

− opendatapoliciesthatencouragethecross-calibrationofsensors,thecrossvalidationandfreeexchangeofspace-baseddataproductswillacceleratethedevelopmentofthesecapabilitiesandtheacceptanceoftheirresultsbyscientistsandpolicymakers;

− AC-VCistargetinganend-to-enddraftofthewhitepaperbytheendofcalendaryear2017,andtheduedateforthepublicationisthe2018CEOSSIT-33meeting.

Mauro Facchini (COM) noted that completion of this white paper is one of the priorities for the EuropeanCommission’s2018CEOSChairterm.

AlainRatier(EUMETSAT)notedthatfortheLEOconstellationbothsunlightandcoverageofthelargecontinentsisneeded,andasked:i)howtheconstellationwillreflecttheseneeds/considerations,andii)whethertheprincipalmeasurementswouldbefromactiveorpassivesensors,sincecloudsandnight-timewillpreventmeasurementbypassivesensors.DavidCrisp(NASA,remotely)notedthatwithpolarsatellitesonecannotbe"everywhereallthetime"and that cloudwill obscureobservations.Overlapping coverage isneeded tomitigate cloudeffects.Mostmissionsconsideredinthewhitepaperarepassiveandwillmakemeasurementsonthedaylightsideoftheplanet.Withoutactivesensors,modelswillberelieduponheavilyforareasthatareconsistentlycloudyorfornight-time,andactivesensors,particularlyLidar,arebeingconsideredinthewhitepapertoconstrainthesemodels.

2019IPCCGuidelinesforNationalGreenhouseGasInventories

AkikoSuzuki(JAXA)recalledtheheritageofthisissuearoundtheJapanesegovernment’seffortstoconnectwiththeupdateoftheIPCCguidelinesonNationalGreenhouseGasInventories,includingtoassureproperrepresentationofsatellitecapabilities.NIEShasbeenpreparingadraftmethodologydocumentfortheapplicationofsatellitedataintheirnationallydeterminedcontributionsreporting.

JAXAhasbeenundertakingbroadoutreachforthisinitiative,includingwithspaceagencies,WMOandGEO.TheSITTWsidemeetingdiscussionwasveryhelpfulinprogressingunderstandingoftheschedule:

− thefirstorderdraftwillbereleasedbyendofNovember2017,withexpertreviewofthedraftDecember2017–January2018;

− NIESwillpublishtheGHGGuidebookbyMarch2018andthedraftwillbeopentothepublicinlate2017;CEOSAC-VCtoreviewtheGuidebookinNovember2017.

− CEOSAC-VCGreenhouseGaswhitepapercouldalsobeinputtoIPCCauthors.Thedraftwillbeavailablebyendof2017.

AkikopresentedanewJAXApromotionalvideoonGHGmonitoringfromspaceandtheGOSATseries.

OsamuOchiai(JAXA)presentedthenextstepsandtimelinefortheIPCCGuidelinesrevision:


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MarkDowell(COM)stressedthattheDecembertoJanuaryFirstOrderDraft(FOD)ExpertReviewis,infact,anopenreview,andthisisacriticalwindowforCEOSfeedback.

IvanPetiteville(ESA,SITChairTeam)encouragedCEOStobeproactiveincontactingkeyIPCCpeople.Marknotedthat SimonEggleston (GCOS) is a leadauthor and indirect contactwithCEOS regarding thematter. Ivanaskedwhetherweshouldmakefurtherconnections.StephenWard(CEOSChairTeam)notedthataround12membersofthe GFOI Methods and Guidance Documentation Advisory Group are also contributing to the revision of theguidelines.

JonathonRoss(GA,CEO)askedifwecouldbemorespecificaboutwhatisrequiredofagenciesduringthecriticalDecembertoJanuaryreview.MarkandOsamunotedthattheNIESguidebookshouldbethebasisforfeedback.CommentsduringthereviewwindowshouldbeconsistentwithwhatappearsintheNIESguidebook.

GFOI/SDCGReport

GeneFosnight(USGS,SDCGCo-Chair)notedthat2017wasasignificantmilestoneforCEOSsupporttoGFOIandforoperational forestmonitoringfromspace–withthecoverageprovidedhenceforthforallcountriesthatwishtoreport on forest cover (e.g., for UNFCCC, REDD+, market incentives). SDCG is confident in annual wall-to-wallcoverageforallcountriesthroughnextdecadeandbeyond.PressreleaseshavebeenissuedbyCEOS,GEO,GFOI,ESAandUSGS.ThisisthemajorCEOSWPoutcomeforGFOIin2017.SDCGmustupdateitsown3-yearWorkPlantoreflectthechangesinmotionforPhase2ofGFOI–thiswillbeundertakenin2018.

StephenWard(CEOSAlternateLeadforGFOI)reportedthatPhase2hasastrongcountryemphasis–reflectingthedevelopmentaidfinancenatureoffunding.ESA(R&Dsupport),UKandGermangovernmentshaveallbeeninvitedtoserveontheexpandedLeadsgroupandareallunderstoodtobeaccepting.

Otherchangesinclude:

− Re-establishmentoftheMGDAdvisoryGroup,withAkeRosenqvist(JAXA)theCEOStechnicalrepresentative;theroleanduseofREDDcompasscontinuestogrowrapidly;

− SilvaCarboncontinuingtoimplementafullworkplanuntilSeptember30,2018.AssumptionofsamelevelUSAidfundingfornextFYwithsignificantuncertainty(broadly);

− ESAwillfinancetheGOFC-GOLDofficeincludingGFOIR&DCoordinationforthenext3years(openITTinautumn2017);

TheimplicationsforspacedatainPhase2include:

− emphasisturnstodatauptakeandapplication;pilotactivitiesareongoing–DataCubeforColombiaandnowVietnam;

− SDCGEXECispursuinginclusionofEarlyWarningasaGFOIactivity–asapossiblebasisforthelong-promisedcooperationwithWRI/GlobalForestWatch;


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− allElement-3agenciesactivelycontributingtoR&Dactivities;

− SDCGawaitsfurtherdefinitionofanewDataUserAdvisoryGroupproposedbyLeadstofurthernarrowthegapbetweenEOdatasuppliersandusercountryagencies.

SDCG sees significant opportunities to deepen the benefits that CEOS and agencies get from this thematiccoordinationinitiative.Wearenowcloserthanevertousersandtheirimplementingpartners,includingIFIfunding,withstrongpolicyfoundations(UNFCCC,IPCC,REDD+,SDGmethodologies)andaproductiveprovinggroundforourFDAambitions.

TherearesomesignificantchangesinleadershipandcapacityofSDCGforattentionofPlenaryandPrincipals:

− USGSCo-Chair(GeneFosnight)isretiringandnoprospectofreplacement;

− GFOILeadhasappealedfornewCo-ChairsandUKSAhasvolunteered(nameisTBA);

− CEOSGFOILeadhaschangedfromMasanobuShimadatoOsamuOchiai,withJAXAstillwillingtosupport;

− SDCG SEC funding from theAustralianGovernment has ended; JAXAhas volunteered travel funds to coverexistingSECattendanceatGFOIPlenaryinMarch2018;

− FurtherCo-ChairsandcapacityforSDCGSEC(existingornew)remainswelcomeandneeded.

PertheconclusionsfromtheJointLSI/GFOI/GEOGLAMmeetinginSeptember,SDCGnotestheongoingrequirementforaCEOSgroupdedicatedtotheGFOIinterfacesolongasCEOSisengagedintheflagships(GFOI,GEOGLAM).

StephenthankedGeneFosnightforhissignificantcontributiontoSDCGandGFOI.JosefAschbacher(ESA)addedthankstoGeneforhisservicetoGFOIandexpressedconcernaboutthelackofco-leadsandSECsupportforSDCG.HenotedthatFrank-MartinSeifert(ESA)willbethesoleco-chairoftheSDCGafterPlenary.

KlausSchmidt(DLR)recalledhisproposalduringlastCEOSPlenaryastowhetherSDCGgovernancemightmigrateunderGFOI if no resources are found in CEOS. StephenWardnoted recent efforts around LSI/SDCG/GEOGLAMrationalisation–tobereportedtomorrow.

Senthil Kumar (ISRO) asked about the inclusion of ISROdata sets inGFOI, and the support available to aid thedevelopmentofGFOIgeophysicalproductsfromISROsensorproducts.StephennotedthatSDCGwouldbehappytochatwithISROaboutgettingtheirdatasetsrepresented.

MikeFreilich(NASA)respondedtotheDLRpointandsuggestedthatCEOSagenciesmightbestrespondtoawrittenproposalforPrincipalconsideration.HethensuggestedPlenarytrytoresolvethepressingmattertomoveSDCGforwardover thenextyearat least–with leadershipandastrongsecretariat.He remarked thatCEOSagenciesshouldcollectivelybeabletocomeupwiththerelativelysmallamountofresourcestocontinuefundingtheSDCGsecretariat.

StephenBriggs (ESA)suggestedthatshiftingspacedatacoordinationefforts forGFOI intotheGFOIOfficewasalogicalmistake.GFOIrepresentstheusers,withtheofficebasedatFAO,andcouldnotsensiblyaddressbothdatasupplieranddatauseraspects.Thiswouldfallalwaystotheprovideragencies,asbestcoordinatedbyCEOS.ItwasagreedtodeferfurtherdiscussiononthatpointuntilthenextdayandtodefineactionsontheissueofleadershipandSECcapacity.ActionCEOS-31-02belowreflectsthediscussioninSession12.

CEOS-31-02CEOSChairandSITChairtosendawrittenappealtoCEOSprincipalsforCo-LeadsfortheSDCGforGFOIandforpotentialcontributionstoSDCGsecretariatfundingorin-kindsupport.

October2017

SynthesisofCarbonObservationsDiscussionsinCGMS

JörgSchulz(EUMETSAT)reviewedtheprocessthroughwhichCGMSPlenaryagreedtocontributetotheCEOSAC-VCGreenhouseGasWhitePaperandagreeduponthespecificcontributionsCGMScanprovidetoafuturecarbonmonitoringsystem.CGMShaverecommendedhavingareferencetothetargetarchitectureforGHGandcarbonmonitoringfromspaceintheWMOWIGOSVision2040.CGMShavesuggestedthatamechanismtoensurethat


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coordinationisstrengthenedbetweenCGMSandCEOSonthismatter,andthisshouldbediscussed.OneideathathasbeenfloatedisajointCEOS-CGMSWorkingGrouponCarbon,andithasbeensuggestedthatthisbediscussedaspartoftheEuropeanCommission’sCEOSChairterm.

KerrySawyer(NOAA,SITVice-ChairTeam)askedwhetheranewjointWGonCarbonisbeingproposed,orwhetherthiscouldbeundertakenbytheexistingjointCEOS-CGMSWGClimate.Jörgreportedthatthecourseofactionhasnotbeenprescribed.

BroaderCoordinationofCarbonObservations

MarkDowell(EC)providedabroadperspectiveontheCEOSCarbonactionsandtheirpolicycontextanddrivers:

MarkpostulatedthefollowingconceptualframeworkwithCEOSwithinthespacedatasegmentandGEOwithinthein-situdatacoordination.


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TheGEOCarbonandGHGinitiativewasacceptedasaGEOInitiativeatthe3rdGEOProgrammeBoardin2016;itprovidescrossintegrationandcoordinationoftheinterfaces(between:atmosphere,oceanandterrestrialdomains;space-based,air-borneandin-situmonitoringsystems)andbuildsonexistingstrategies,initiatives,networksandinfrastructures,andintegratesthemwiththemissingpiecestoobtainacomprehensivegloballycoordinatedGHGobservationandanalysissystem.Keyelementsare:

− Task1:Userneedsandpolicyinterface(policyandsciencerequirements);

− Task2:Dataaccessandavailability(CEOS);

− Task3:Optimizationofobservationalnetworks(CEOS);

− Task4:Budgetcalculationconsistency(global,regional,sub-regional,national,local)(CEOSCarbonStrategy).

TheCEOSPOCandmemberoftheExecutiveCommitteeisStephenPlummerofESA.

AsCEOSChair for 2018,COMwill prioritize laying the foundation for an international CO2 andGHGmonitoringsystem,progressedthroughthreeinitiatives:

1. Facilitate the completion and follow-on activities of the AC-VC white paper on defining an optimumconstellation forCO2andGHGmonitoring, including the joint competencesofCEOSandCGMS,and in thegeneralframeworkofthecontinuedimplementationoftheCEOSCarbonStrategy.

2. PlacethespacesegmentinthebroadercontextofafullysustainedsystemforCO2monitoring.IndividualCEOSAgencieshavecounterpartsintheirindividualcountries/regionswhohaveresponsibilityforInventories,therequiredmodelling,in-situinfrastructureandthegroundsegmentelements.

3. AdvancetherelationshipwithCGMSforanoperationallyimplementedandsustainedobservationcapability.ConsiderestablishingaformalworkingrelationshipbetweenCEOSandCGMSaswiththesuccessfulongoingrelationshiponSystematicObservationsofECVsinsupportofUNFCCC.

AworkshopisplannedforJune2018inItaly.

MarksuggestedthatCEOSreviewthemodusoperandi forcooperationwithCGMSasapriority inthisarea,andprovidedsomepossiblepaths:

− continuead-hoccollaborationinthecontextoftheCEOSCarbonStrategyActions,e.g.,asinjointeffortsontheAC-VCwhitepaper;

− establishasub-group(withdedicatedresources)inanexistingstandingWG,i.e.,JointWGonClimate;

− establishadedicatedjointWGspecificallyonCarbon/GHGobservations.

FurtherdiscussionisneededwithinCEOSandwithCGMS.Spaceagencycoordinationisprobablyafirstpriorityforactionbythe2018CEOSChair,supplementedbycontinueddialoguewithCEOSAssociatemembers(GCOS,GEO,WMO).Thebroadercoordinationframeworkisstillin“definition”andthenext12-24monthswillbecritical.

JosefAschbacher(ESA)suggestedweclarifythescopeandterminologyaswegoforward(GHGvsCarbonvsclimate).MarknotedthattheCEOSCarbonStrategyisbroad,howeverthefocushereisatmosphericGHG.Markagreedontheneedtobeclearandspecific.Inresponsetoaquestion,MarkconfirmedthathehopestocontinueinhisrolecoordinatingtheCarbonactivitiesforCEOS.

PascalLecomte(ESA,WGClimateChair)reiteratedthatWGClimateisnotinapositiontotakeonthesespecifictasksonGHGandcarbon.PascalisoftheopinionthatajointWGoncarbonandGHGisneeded.

StephenBriggs(ESA,SITChair)notedthemagnitudeoftheissuesinfrontofCEOSandtheneedtoestablishaclearunderstandingofthebroadcontextforcarbonobservationsandmodellingacrossmanycommunities.ButCEOScanandshouldonly focusonthespacedataaspectsandperhapsfocus firstonourrelationshipwithCGMSforthatpurpose.

AlainRatier(EUMETSAT)agreedwithStephen’sstatement,notingthattheproblemisverycomplexandnotsimpletoaddress.WhatevermechanismisestablisheditneedstohavealinktoWGClimateasitsworkwillberelatedto


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ECVs.AlainsupportedtheestablishmentofanewWGonCarbon,provideditissufficientlylinkedwithWGClimateanditsECVwork.

Session4:AgencyandPartnerUpdatesGEOUpdate

StephenBriggs(ESA,SITChair)reportedonbehalfofBarbaraRyan(GEOSecretariatDirector):

− GEOhasrealigneditsworkprogrammetofocusonafewprioritytopics;

− thefirstoftheseisthe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopmentandtheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(theSDGs);

− GEOhasbeenactiveinthedevelopmentofmethodologiesfortheSDGs(e.g.,15.3.1:Proportionofdegradedlandovertotallandarea);GEOrepresentativeshavebeenextensivelyinvolvedwithUNCCDandFAOintheireffortstodevelopmethodologiesformonitoringdegradedlandthroughuseofEOtechniques;

− the2015ParisAgreementonClimateisafurtherpriorityforGEO.StephenreviewedtheArticlesoftheParisAgreementthatwillbenefitfromtheincreasedavailabilityofgeospatialdata.GEOwillhaveastrongpresenceattheupcomingCOP-23,andiscollaboratingoneventswithGCOSandCEOS;

− GEOhasbeenconsideringhowbesttodirectitsCarbonandGHGInitiativeandthisremainsunderdiscussion;

− GEO also prioritizes disaster resilience, including The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, andassessinghowgeospatialagenciescanrespondtotheneedsidentifiedtherein;GEOhasbeenmakingprogressonitsengagementwithotherstakeholders,inparticulartheUN,aroundtheuseofgeospatialdataforDRR.

GEOProgrammeBoard(PB)Report

JonathonRoss(GA,CEO)reviewedtheGEOPBreport.ReadersaredirectedtothefullreportontheCEOSwebsite.Jonathonreportedthat:

− theBoardismaintaininggoodmomentum;

− developingcountryrepresentationcouldbeimproved;

− theCEOSrepresentativeonthePBandobservertoExComwillremainfortwomoreyears;

− oneofthetasksforthePBin2017wasmanagingincrementalchangestothethree-yearGEOWorkProgramme,whichisalivingdocument.

− moretargetedsymposiahavebeensuggestedasawaytoincreaseparticipation,withgapsexistingintheareasofclimateandtransport.However,theconveningpowerofpastsymposiahavebeenakeybenefit,bringingtogetherawidegroupofparticipants;

− there is also now recognitionwithin the PB that its ‘startup phase’ is over. The PB needs to nowbemoreproactiveatstewardingtheWorkProgramme;

− CEOSPBrepresentativeshavemadethepointthatsomeofthe'global'initiativesthatarebubblingupmaylackthecomprehensiveengagementfromkeyglobalactorsthattheyrequiretobesuccessful,evenifthetechnicalcontentmaybegood;

− the recognized focus of the PB hasmostly been the SDGs, and it was agreed by the Board that the ParisAgreementandSendaiFrameworkfocusshouldnowbeincreased,withSDGeffortsupandrunning;

− efforts to restructure the Work Programme document itself have delivered significant improvements toreadability;

− overall, the sense of the 2017 CEOS representatives to the PB is that the PB itself, and the CEOSengagement in it, are going well and we are confident that the transition to the next set of CEOSrepresentativeswillbesmooth;


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− KerrySawyer(NOAA)willrepresentCEOSontheGEOPBgoingforward,asamemberofthenextSITChairTeam.

MarkDowell(COM)askedhowtheGEOPBlinksitsprioritiestoongoingcommunityactivities.StephenBriggs(ESA,SITChair)notedthattheroleofthePBwastotaketop-downprioritiesandlinkthemtobottom-upactivitiesalreadyunderway.CarolinRichter(GCOS)hopedthatCEOS,asaPBmember,mightaidinconnectingGCOSbacktotheGEOsystem.

GEO-XIVPlenaryPreparationsandInputs

JonathonRoss(GA,CEO)reviewedCEOSrepresentationatGEO-XIVPlenary,including:thedelegation(ledbyMauroFacchini(COM));CEOSinputonthepanelsessions;theCEOSStatementtoGEO-XIV(forendorsement);theCEOSexhibitionbooth;andparticipationinthefourDataCubeworkshops.AlexHeld(CSIRO)willrepresentCEOSatthe41stand42ndExCommeetings–asSITVice-Chairatthetime(pendingendorsement).

Anumberofpanelthemesareforeseen.Thepanelonpublicsectordecision-makerswillcover:agriculture,forests,fisheries; landandwater;nationalstatisticaloffices; localenvironmental initiatives.Thecommercialsectorpanelwillspansoftware,reinsurance,andfarming.Theinternationaldevelopmentpanelwillcoverdevelopmentbanksandnationaldevelopmentagencies.ThefourthpanelisonnationalEarthobservations.

BrianKillough(NASA,SEO)thankedUSGSfortheircontributiontotheboothcosts.AlexHeld(CSIRO)reportedthatCEOSwillalsobeparticipatinginapanelorganizedbytheEO4SDGgroup.

JonathondisplayedthedraftCEOSStatementtoGEO-XIVandnotedthat ithasbeenavailableforsometimeforcomments.TheStatementwasendorsedbyCEOSPlenary.

Decision01 TheCEOSStatementtoGEO-XIVwasendorsed.

GEOExecutiveCommitteeReport

StephenBriggs(ESA,SITChair)reportedthefollowingontheGEOExecutiveCommittee(ExCom):

− R-JSmitstookontheroleofCo-ChairinJune2016;June-September2016sawimportantchangestoExCom’srole,behavior,andachievements;

− ExComismuchmorefocusedonoutcomes;lessonprocess;

− creationoftheProgrammeBoardin2016,anditsrenewalin2017,withattendanceofCo-ChairsatExComandwiththreeobserversfromamongthePBParticipatingOrganizations(includingCEOS)improvedmanyaspectsofGEOoperations;SteveVolz(NOAA)willtakeoverasLeadChairofGEOinfall2017;

− thereisimproveddelineationoftherolesofExCom/PB/Secretariat;

− theGEOEngagementStrategyandthesubsequentImplementationPlanareimportantdocumentsdevelopedin2016/17;

− GEOengagementwithfinancialinstitutionsandthecommercialsectorisapriorityapprovedbyExCom;

− theExComselectedanewGEOSecretariatDirectorinSeptember2017–tobeannounced/confirmedatGEOPlenary;

− CEOSfutureattendanceatExComisproposedtobeledbytheCEOSSITVice-Chair(CSIRO)(duetotheconflictofrolesofSteveVolz)–supportedbytheCEOandSITChairstaff;

− overall,therehasbeenavastimprovementinGEOoperationsresultingfromtheExCom’sdirection;CEOShasbeenseminallyinvolved;

− thereareexcellentreportsofmeetings(summariesanddetaileddiscussions)tobefoundontheGEOwebsite.

SteveVolz(NOAA)stressedthatCEOShashelpedGEOSECrecognizethattheydonotneedtechnicalexpertsineverySBA.


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InternationalFinancialInstitutions(IFIs)

StephenBriggs(ESA,SITChair)recalledtheSITChairTeam’sthemeonmaintainingandimprovingtheeffectivenessof CEOS’ strategic partnerships, includingwithUN agencies, and international financing institutions such as thedevelopmentbanks;theeffectivefunctioningofGEO,andCEOSwithinit,isahighpriority.

Stephen noted that GEO has recognized IFIs as a critical partner, evidenced by a special panel session at theupcomingGEOPlenary.CEOSandGEOneedcoherentandconsistentapproachestoengagingwithIFIs.The2017SITTechnicalWorkshopresultedinactionstoprepareacompellingsetofmaterialstopromotethevalueofEOforODA:

− aonepagestatementoftheCEOScommitmenttosupporttheexpandeduseofEOinDevelopment,highlightingtheroleandbenefitsthatEOcandeliver;and,

− asupportingdocument(10-12pages)consistingofkeysummaryinformation(basedonthewhitepaper,3-4pages)tosubstantiatetheStatement,followedbyexamples(8-10pages)thatillustratethebenefitsanduseofEOdrawnfromacrosstheCEOSagencies.

CEOSPlenarywasaskedto:

− considerendorsementoftheStatementonEOandODA;and,

− discussandagreetheCEOSapproachtoIFIs.

Thewrittenmaterialswillbeused(byCEOS,GEO,individualagencies)toengageIFIsatthehighestlevels.Thetargetforcompletionofthesupportingdocumentistheendof2017.

JoostCarpay(NSO)askedhowCEOSwillavoidthisappearingasatechnologypush.Stephenacknowledgedthisrisk,andnotedthatthisiswhywewillnotbeemployingastrategyofapproaching/pushingtheStatement,butratherusingtheStatementatkeyfora(wheretheIFIsarealsopresent).CSIRO,NASA,SANSA,andJAXAallvolunteeredtoassistwiththesupportingdocument.

Decision02 TheproposedCEOSStatementonEOandODAwasendorsed.

CEOS-31-03ESAtoleadconclusionoftheODAcommunicationsdocumentreflectingcommentsandinputsfromCEOSAgencies.

End2017

AgencyUpdates

AnumberofCEOSagenciesprovidedprogrammaticupdates,includingthefollowinghighlights:

− Roscosmos:significantincreasesinEOdataplannedintheRussianspaceplan;22satellitesareontheplanningslate;

− NOAA:GOES-Risalmostfullyoperational;GOES-SwilllaunchinMarch;JPSS-1willlaunchonNovember10;

− NASA:NASAleadsorco-leads47ofthe87CEOSobjectives/deliverables;recentlaunchesincludeSAGE-III,andICECube;TSIS-1willlaunchinthenext2-4months;GRACE-FOinMarch2018;andICESat-2inSeptember2018;EO-1&GRACEhavebothended;fundingforfivemissions(ofapproximately20NASAEarthresearchmissionsindevelopmentforlaunchbefore2023)isinquestionpendingfinalbudgetdecisionsbytheCongress;

− EUMETSAT:preparingforMetop-Claunch,3-satelliteMetopconstellationexpectedfrom2019-2022;EPS-SGprogressingtowardlaunch;EUMETCastandbigdatapathfinderprojectsunderway;contributionstoCopernicusprogressingasplanned;preparingforSentinel-7GHG/CarbonmissionwithESAandCOM.

− UKSA: theUK isdevelopinganewcivil spaceplan,withEOprominent; seeking to continuecooperationonCopernicuspost-Brexit;ODAisimportanttoUKGovernmentandUKSAiscloselyinvolved;NovaSARwilllaunchinthenextfewmonths;


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− Australia:CSIRO isestablishingacentralcoordinationbody forall itsspaceactivities,whichwill includeEO;joinedNovaSARprogrammewithUKSA,CSIROhassecured10%taskingrights;DigitalEarthAustraliaDataCubeprogrammesupportedbyAustralianGovernmentfor3years;theDataCubetechnology isnowopensourceunder the Open Data Cube banner (opendatacube.org); Australian Government has announced theestablishmentofanAustralianspaceagency;

− COM:Sentinel-5Pjustlaunched,Sentinel-3Bnext;establishingtheDataInformationandAccessServices(DIAS)platform,whichwillprovideaccesstoallCopernicusdataandbigdataanalyticscapabilities.

− ESA:27satellitesunderdevelopment,12inoperation(acrossscience,Copernicus,andmeteorology);35.61PBofdatadownloadedfromtheOpenAccessDataHub;EarthExplorer9isincompetitionnow;

− USGS:Landsat7EOLexpectedaroundJuly2021,overlappingwithLandsat9(launchend2020);LandsatCONUSARD available to the public in early November, global data with Collection 2 release; Landsat-Sentinel-2interoperabilityisapriority;

− NSMC-CMA:FY-4AisthefirstnextgenerationgeostationarysatelliteofChina,launchedin2016,similarsensortoGOES-16andHimawari-8;TanSatcarbonmonitoringsatellitealsolaunched;GF-450mgeostationarysatellitealsonowactive;

− ASI: 10 years of COSMO-SkyMed, second generation under development; China Seismo-ElectromagneticSatellite (CSES) in development by ASI and CNSA to study correlation between seismic events andelectromagneticpropertiesoftheEarth;

− JAXA:GCOM-C and SLATSmissions highlighted; Japanhas a newEOdata distributionplan,with significantchangestodatapolicytowardmorefree-and-opendistribution;

− ISRO:Manysatellites,inbothLEOandGEO,areinoperationforresourcemanagement,weathermonitoring,and climate and ocean studies. Various satellites, such as Cartosat-3, HRSAT-1, Oceansat-3/3A, RISAT-1A,Resourcesat-3/3A,GISAT-1,andNISARareunderdevelopment.AlsohighlightedtheavailabilityofoperationalproductsandapplicationsofScatsat-1andINSAT-3DR;

− CNES:VenuslaunchedAugust1,2017;MicrocarbphaseC/Ddecision,targetlaunchend-2020;CFOSATlaunchexpectedsummer2018;significantinvolvementinclimateactivitiessinceCOP-21;

− CSA:ÉricLalibertéreportedthatanextensiontotheSCISAT-Imissionhasbeenapproved.ÉricthankedESAandNASAfortheirsupport.

Session5:AgricultureGEOGLAM

BradleyDoorn(NASA,Co-LeadoftheCEOSad-hocWorkingGrouponGEOGLAMpresentedanupdateonGEOGLAMandCEOSsupporttotheinitiative.GEOGLAMwasrecentlyre-endorsedbytheG20,signalingevergreatersupportandastrengthenedpoliticalmandate,whichistimelygivenGEOGLAM’spotentialcontributionstonumerousUNSDGs.GEOGLAMhasselectedanewProgrammeDirector:IanJarvis,AgricultureandAgri-FoodCanada.IanreplacesMichelDeshayes(MinAgFrance),whoservedasCoordinatorfrom2013-2017(retiredSeptember2017).

BradpresentedsomeselectexamplesofCEOSAgencysupporttoGEOGLAM:


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In2011,atGEOGLAM’sinception,acquisitionofdataatappropriateresolutionswastheconstraint–now,in2017,weareina“bigdata”world,constrainedbyaccessanduse(computationalenvironments).Intheshort-term,thepriority is to make the most of all of the data available, namely through dense optical and SAR time seriesexploitation.Analysis-ready timeseries (cloud&cloudshadowscreening,highco-registrationaccuracybetweensensors, harmonized surface reflectance) at moderate (10-100m) resolution are central to this objective, andavailabilityinnear-real-timeoncloudcomputinginfrastructuresiskey.SpecificallyforSAR,havinginterferometriccoherence at daily-weekly intervals and a Digital Terrain Model (potentially TerraSAR-X) available on cloudcomputinginfrastructureisdesirable.

Given the evolution of science and operationalmonitoring systems, GEOGLAM is currently undertaking an ‘EORequirements Refresh’. The requirements scope will be increased to 13 variables, and the observation typesconsideredwillbeincreasedtoincludebothinsituandagrometeorology.Theobjectivesoftherefreshareto:

1. UpdatebasedonR&Dresults,consideringsatelliteandinsitudataneeds;

2. SupportGEOGLAM’sCompendiumofBestPractices;

3. Provideinsightinfuturemissionplanningandcurrentacquisitionplanning;

4. Betterunderstand“proximaluser”dataneeds(ARD,FDA);and,

5. AchieveconsistencywithJECAM’s“MinimumDatasets”principle.


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Asia-RiCE

BradpresentedthefollowingupdateonAsia-RiCE:

GEOGLAMRangelandsAndPastureProductivity(RAPP)

GEOGLAM RAPP brings together space agencies, existing associated institutional frameworks, in-situ networks,rangelandecologists,andthepastureproductivitymodellingcommunity,toestablishadedicatedglobalsystemforobservingtheconditionofpasturesandrangelandstatus,andultimatelytoalsoestimatebiomassdynamicsandproductivity.

GEOGLAMRAPPrecentlywelcomedanewco-lead,ClementAdjorlolo (SANSA),andheldaRAPPworkshop (>30participants)atESAESRIN.ThecurrentprioritiesforGEOGLAMRAPPare:

− ContinueddevelopmentoftheRAPPMap(http://map.geo-rapp.org);

− Moderateresolution(L8,S2)coverageoverRAPPpilotsites(interestinimplementingthisdataviaDataCube);

− Developmentofanearlywarningsystemforrangelands;and,

− Supporting/engagingintheUNSDGprocess.

CEOSPlenarywasaskedtoconsidertheCEOSAd-hocWorkingGrouponGEOGLAMScopeofWorkDocument,andtodecidewhethertorenew,foranotheryear,themandateoftheCEOSAd-hocWorkingGrouponGEOGLAM.

Session6:DisastersWGDisasters

StephaneChalifoux(CSA,WGDisasters)presentedanupdateontheWG’sactivityareas:GEOGeohazardSupersitesandNationalLaboratories(GSNL,DIS-10);RecoveryObservatory(DIS-12);Floods,SeismicHazards,VolcanoesPilotsandLandslidePilot(DIS-13).

GEOGeohazardSupersitesandNationalLaboratories

EstablishedSupersitesundergoperiodicCEOS review.Thebiennial reports for theNewZealandandEcuadorianVolcanoesSupersiteswereprovidedaheadofthePlenary,andareavailableonthemeetingwebsite.

StephanealsopresentedtwonewSupersiteproposals:

﹣ SouthernAndes:Theregionofinterestextendsover220kmalonganarcinaswathof50kminwidthinChileandArgentina.


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﹣ Virunga Volcanoes: Fifteen years after the Nyiragongo 2002 destructive eruption, the Goma VolcanoObservatory remains under-equipped andwith few qualified scientists. All studieswhichwill contribute toimprovedassessmentandtheunderstandingofgeohazardsintheVirungaandLakeKivubasinarecriticalforDisasterRiskReductioninthishighlypopulatedregionofveryvulnerablepopulation.

RecoveryObservatory(RO)

The RO aims to offer free-and-open access to data and information useful in planning andmonitoring disasterrecovery,butalsotoserveasaforumofexchangeandcollaborationonrecoveryrelatedissuestofosterresilienceatthecommunitylevel.AnumberofCEOSAgencieshavecommittedresourcestotheRO.

CEOSPlenarywasaskedtoapprovetheRecoveryObservatoryOperationalPlan.

Floods,SeismicHazards,VolcanoesPilots

Threethematicpilots(Floods,SeismicHazardsandVolcanoes)haveallconcludedsuccessfully.Theobjectivesweremetinalmostallcases.FortheFloodPilot,thefeasibilityoftheglobalflooddashboardwasdemonstrated,butnopermanenthomewasidentifiedduetoalackoffunding.FortheVolcanoPilot,ObjectiveC(intensivemonitoringofasinglemajorevent)wasnotimplementedasnoappropriateeventoccurredduringthepilotperiod.

SustainabilitystrategiescoveringimplementationbeyondCEOShavebeenidentifiedforeachpilot,aspilotsmovetobecomeDemonstrators.EachDemonstratorproposedispreparinganImplementationPlanforreviewbySIT-33.Whereverpossible,DemonstratorsarelinkingtoexistingactivitiessuchasGEO-DARMA.

CEOSPlenarywasaskedtoapprovethefinalreportsoftheFloods,SeismicHazards,andVolcanoesPilots.

LandslidePilot

GeohazardsLabImplementationPlan

Stephane introduced theGeohazards Lab–aplatformwith federated resources toaccess,process, andpublishsatelliteEOdataandderivedproducts;providingdataaccessandaprocessingande-collaborationenvironmentfortheexploitationofEOdataforassessinggeohazardsandtheirimpact.TheLabaimstoaddresstheprioritiesoftheSendaiFrameworkforDisasterRiskReduction2015-2030usingsatelliteEOandsupportsandcomplementsotherCEOSWGDisastersactivities.

CEOSPlenarywasaskedtoapprovetheGeohazardsLabImplementationPlan.

Closing

Stephane noted the CEOS Disasters Brochure, which was presented at the Disaster Risk Reduction Across theAmericasSummitandwillalsobeavailableattheGEO-XIVPlenaryCEOSexhibitionbooth.


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Stephane’stermasWGDisastersChaircomestoanendatCEOSPlenary2017.HethankedCSAandCEOSfortheopportunity,aswellasthemembersofWGDisastersfortheirsupport.SimonaZoffoli(ASI)willnowtakeontheroleofWGDisastersChair.

CEOSPlenarywasaskedtoendorseanewVice-Chair:DavidGreen(NASA).

Decision03

CEOSPlenaryendorsedanumberofWGDisastersdocuments:EcuadorandNewZealandSupersitesBiennialReports;theSouthernAndesandVirungaVolcanoesSupersitesproposals;theRecoveryObservatoryOperationalPlan;thefinalreportsoftheFloods,SeismicHazards,andVolcanoesPilots;theGeohazardsLabImplementationPlan.

LauraCandela(ASI)onbehalfofRobertoBattiston(ASI)thankedStephaneforhiseffortsasWGDisastersChairandconfirmedsupportfortheWGDisastersendorsementsandfutureactivities.

JonathonRoss(GA,CEO)suggestedthatDIS-13bisverymuchalignedwithFDA,andthelessonslearnedshouldfeedintotheworkoftheFDA-AHTgoingforward.

MarkDowell(COM)confirmedthattheEuropeanCommissionwillhostthenextWGDisastersmeetinginBrussels.

RajKumar(ISRO)confirmedthatISROiswillingtosupporttheROwithdatafromitsmissions,whereavailable.

GEO-DARMA

IvanPetiteville(ESA,LeadCoordinatorforGEO-DARMA)presentedthelateststatusofGEO-DARMA,whichaimstoaddressprioritiesof theSendaiFramework forDisasterRiskReduction2015-2030usingEO.GEO-DARMAbringstogethernumerouspartners,groupedonaregionalbasis.Foreachregion,thetypesofhazards,DRRissuestobesolved,initialcountries,andprototypeprojectsareidentified.

Anumberofmeetingshavebeenheld throughout2017, including the1st SteeringCommittee (SC)meetingandConceptWorkshop(atthe2017UNGlobalPlatformforDRR,Cancun,25May2017),which:introducedSCmemberstotheGEO-DARMAconceptandforgedacollectiveapproachonthewayforward;reviewedtheroleandschedulefortheSC;reviewedthehigh-levelGEO-DARMAapproachandrefinedthescheduleandtimelineasfunctionsoftheobjectives;discussedSendaiFrameworkprioritiesandtheSDGs;andinitiateddiscussionsonregionalpriorities.IvanhighlightedthatthemembershipoftheSCiscomposedprimarilyofhigh-levelrepresentativesofUNagencies,banks,andnationaldisasterandresourcesagenciesplayingakeyroleindisasterriskreduction;theSCincludesonlyonememberfromtheEOspacecommunity(ESA).

ThecurrentstatusandnextstepsarereflectedintheCEOSWorkPlan(DIS-15):

− regionalAssessmentTemplateagreedbytheSCanddistributedtoregionalorganizations.


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− regionalorganizationstodevelopshortreportsontheirvisionforregionalpriorities(ongoing).

− reviewofregionalassessmentsbySC(Q12018).

− conclusionoftheconceptphaseandinitiationoffirstprojectsfortheprototypingphase(Q22018).

FridayOctober20th

Session7:WaterOverviewofOngoingEffortsintheWater/OceanSpace

KerrySawyer(NOAA,SITVice-ChairTeam)gaveashortreviewofthedifferentwater-relatedinstitutionsandactivitiesofinteresttoCEOS,including:

− thehistoryoftheIGOSThemeReports;

− theGEOWaterStrategyandtheCEOSresponse;

− BluePlanet,AquaWatch,andGEOGLOWS;

− therelevanceofGEOGLOWStotheCEOSWorkPlanwasshown:

− AquaWatch(www.geoaquawatch.org)focusesoncoastalandinlandwaterandwaspreviouslytheGEOWater

QualityCoP;

− BluePlanet’sfocusisonoceansandcoastalwaters;

− waterqualityisarecurringtheme;

− CEOSendorsedtheCOVERAGEinitiativeatSIT-32(April2017,Paris)asa3-yearpilotproject;

− COVERAGEisacollaborativeeffortwithinCEOSwiththe4OceanVirtualConstellations(SST,OST,OCR,OSVW)andGEOprojects (MBON,BluePlanet) toenablemorewidespreaduseofoceansatellitedata insupportofapplications;

− COVERAGE phasing includes: A. Scoping (6mo). B. Prototype Development/Evaluation (1yr). C: Full systemdevelopment(1yr).D:Testing/Evaluation&transitiontooperations(6mo);thisisreflectedinCOVERAGEinputstotheCEOS2017-2019WorkPlan;

− themain challenge is to findbetter coordinationamong thesewater-relatedactivities; theirproliferation isconfusingtoexternalpartners.


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FeasibilityStudyonSatelliteMissions/InstrumentsFocusedonWaterQualityMeasurements

TomCecere(USGS)presentedonbehalfofthewritingteam.TheStudyhasbeenpreparedinresponsetoactionC.10oftheCEOSWaterStrategy,andisexpectedtobereleasedforCEOSreviewbeforetheendofthemonth.

Threeactivitiesweredefinedinthefeasibilitystudy:

1. Anassessmentofthebenefitsandtechnologicaldifficultiesofdesigningaglobalsatellitemissionfocusedoninland,estuarine,deltaicandnearcoastalwaters;

2. Toexaminethresholdandbaselineobservationrequirementsforsensorssuitableforaquaticecosystems;

3. That theGEOWater community define inland and near-coastalwater quality and benthic habitat essentialvariables.

JennLacey(USGS)confirmedthatLSI-VCwillplantoundertakeareviewoftheStudy,andshesuggestedthatTomjoinanupcomingLSI-VCteleconferencetobrieftheteam.

AlexHeld(CSIRO)notedthesignificanceoftheStudy.Alexsuggestedthereviewtimelinebecondensed,suchthataprintedreportmightbeproducedbeforeSIT-33.

JoostCarpay(NSO)wouldliketoseesomefeedbackfromthepotentialusercommunity.JonathonRoss(GA,CEO)suggestedanactionforVCstoreportout(atSIT-33)onhowtheywilltakethereportintoaccountintheirworkgoingforward.

CEOS-31-04

SITChairtocoordinatefeedbackfromtheVirtualConstellationsonhowtheywilltaketheFeasibilityStudyonSatelliteMissions/InstrumentsFocusedonWaterQualityMeasurementsintoaccountintheirworkgoingforward.

SIT-33

WayForward

StephenBriggs(ESA,SITChair)presentedaproposedwayforwardforthe‘WaterfromSpace’Workshop.Henotedthatthescopeisonfreshwaterobservations.StephenrecalledtheJAXA-ledWaterConstellationFeasibilityStudyfrom2016.Theproposedworkshopaimstoclarifyandprogressspaceagencycoordination.ThesuggestedtargetdateisQ2of2018.Weshouldseekausercommunityco-Chairaspartofasmallplanningcommittee.

Giventhattheproposed“WaterfromSpace”workshopappearedtofocusonlyonfreshwatertotheexclusionoftheoceans,MikeFreilich(NASA)questionedwhetherCEOSwishestocontinuewiththeCOVERAGEinitiative.RajKumar (ISRO) also asked for clarification on the scope of the proposedworkshop andmade the comment thatinclusionofoceansintheworkshopmaynotdilutethescope.AlexHeld(CSIRO)acknowledgedtheneedtobetterdefinethescope,andindicatedthatheishappytosupporttheformulationoftheproposedworkshop.JoostCarpay


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(NSO) supported theproposedworkshop,andsuggested that theworkshop includesubstantialusercommunityparticipation.SteveVolz (NOAA)suggestedthat the focusbereconciliationandcoordinationofactivities, ratherthanatechnicalworkshop.JosefAschbacher(ESA)alsosupportedtheworkshopproposal,notingtherelevanceofinlandwatertomanyotherSBAs.

Stephen Briggs (ESA, SIT Chair) noted that this proposal does not detract from importance of non-freshwaterinitiatives(suchasCOVERAGE),butintendedtoaddressamanageablescope.MikeFreilich(NASA)acknowledgedthisandexpressedsupportfortheproposedworkshop.AlainRatier(EUMETSAT)alsonotedtheambiguityinthescopeoftheworkshopandstressedthatthismustbeclearlydefinedsoasnottoappeartodowngradeCEOSinterestinoceanobservations.

CEOS-31-05

SITVice-Chairtocoordinateestablishmentofasteeringcommitteetodeterminethefocus,scope,andarrangementsofaCEOS“WaterfromSpace”observationsstrategyworkshopinQ22018.Thematterofinclusionoftheoceancomponentneedstobeanswered,withconsiderationbeinggiventorenamingtheworkshopifitwillbeexcludedentirely,orifonlycoastalwaterwillbeincluded.

Q22018

Decision04 CEOSwillproceedwiththefreshwatercoordinationworkshopinthefirsthalfof2018.

Session8:EarthObservation(EO)DataAccess,Delivery,andInteroperabilityFutureDataArchitectures(FDA)Strategy

SteveLabahn(USGS,FDA-AHTCo-Chair)reportedontheyear’seffort:

− hethankedAlexHeld(CSIRO)andNickHanowski(ESA)forservingasCo-Chairsandtothewholeteamfortheircontributions;

− StevenotedtheinterconnectionsbetweenCARD4L,MRI,andFDA;

− the work is driven by: the rapid increase in the volume, velocity and variety of data; the changing usercommunity;andtheirexpectationsfordatatobeeasytoaccessanduse;

− theFDA strategicdiscussionpaper covers five key themesandoutcomes:CEOSAnalysisReadyData (ARD);Interoperable Free and Open Tools; Data, Processing, and Architecture Interface Standards; AnalyticalProcessingCapabilities;andUserMetrics;

AshortFDAstrategyvideowasshowntothemeetingtosummarisethesefivethemesandtheirintentions.NickHanowski (ESA) thanked the other co-Leads and the FDA-AHTmembers for their work over the past year. HeemphasizedthatARD,DataCube,opensourcetools,standardizationofinterfaces,andtheinclusionofimproveddataareallanexpressionofasingleambition:toopenupnewusercommunities.Itisimportantthattheimpactsareassessedandunderstood.

CEOSDataCube(CDC)+FDAPilotOutcomes

BrianKillough(NASA,SEO)reviewedtheconceptoftheDataCube(atime-seriesmulti-dimensional(space,time,datatype)stackofspatiallyalignedpixelsreadyforanalysis)andclarifiedthedifferencebetweentheOpenDataCubeandCEOSDataCube:

Open Data Cube (ODC): An open-source technology established by GA and CSIRO (previously the AustralianGeoscience Data Cube), and currently overseen by the ODC Partners Forum (GA, CSIRO, SEO, AMA, USGS, UKCatapult)andtechnicalSteeringCouncil(GA,CSIRO,AMA,USGS).https://opendatacube.org


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CEOSDataCube(CDC):AspecificimplementationoftheODCtechnology,runbytheSEO,withafocusonbuildingglobalcapacitytoutilizesatellitedataandcontributetoglobalinitiatives(e.g.,SDGs,GFOI,GEOGLAM)throughtheuseofDataCubes.Amazon(AWS)DemoPortal:http://tinyurl.com/datacubeui

DigitalEarthAustralia(DEA)andtheUSGSLandChangeMonitoring,Assessment,andProjection(LCMAP)areotherODCimplementations.

TheCEOSDataCubeaddressesseveralCEOSWorkPlanFDAactions.BrianreportedthatFDA-03(CEOSDataCubeGovernance),FDA-04(CEOSDataCubePilots),andFDA-05(PromoteAwarenessoftheCEOSDataCube)haveallbeencompleted;FDA-02(CollaborativeDevelopmentofCEOSDataCube)isongoing.TheCEOSDataCubeisalsocentral to CEOSWP actions AGRI-08 (Vietnam Data Services Prototype), AGRI-09 (RAPP Data Cube Demo andApplicationTesting),andCARB-18(ColombiaDataCubePrototype)–allareongoing.

SenthilKumar(ISRO)suggestedconnectingtoNGOsanduniversities.Briannotedpriorworkwithuniversities,andthepotentialof‘DataCubeonDemand’foruniversitystudentuse.

PhamAnhTuan(VAST)notedVietnam’sDataCube,whichwasestablishedwithsupportfromCSIROandtheSEO.

IvanPetiteville(ESA)askedhowtheSEOdealswithdatasetsthatarenotARD(e.g.,Sentinel-1SLC).Healsoaskedhowotheragenciescanbestcontribute.BriannotedthattheSEOiscomingupwiththeirownS1ARDcandidateforland on a trial basis and will evolve the standards as feedback dictates. In terms of what other agencies cancontribute,theSEOwouldwelcomeaDataCubeonDemandsolutionplacedatagencydatahubs.Itwouldalsobevaluabletohavesupportinapplicationalgorithms–convertingexistingtoolsforPython/DataCubecompatibility.AdamLewis(GA)addedthattheDataCubeworkishelpingtodiscovertherequiredformforCEOSARD.

AlexHeld(CSIRO)stressedtheneedtomakesurethatFDAnetworksareinteroperable.Also,accesstodatamustbemaintainedanddatasupplyforFDAscouldbeimproved.


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JonathonRoss(GA,CEO)notedtheneedtogivecountrieschoiceregardingplatformandhostinglocation–themoreflexibility,thebetter.

CEOSAnalysisReadyDataforLand(CARD4L)Status

AdamLewis(GA,LSI-VCCo-Chair)reported:

− BiancaHoersch(ESA)hassteppeddownasaCo-ChairoftheLSI-VCfollowingachangeinroleatESA,andhasbeenreplacedbySusanneMecklenburg(ESA,Sentinel-3MissionManager);

− oneof themain priorities of LSI-VChas been the concept of CEOSAnalysis-ReadyData for Land (CARD4L),includingitsdefinitionandProductFamilySpecifications(PFS);

− attentionnowturnstotheCARD4LAssessmentFramework–theprocessbywhichdataproviderscanassesstheirproductsasCARD4L;

− Product Family Specifications (PFS) have been developed for: surface reflectance; radar backscatter; landsurfacetemperature;anddetailedinputtothedraftswasreceivedfrommultiplesources;moreinputisneededwithafurtherroundoftechnicalteleconferencestobeconvenedbyGeoscienceAustralia(AndreiaSiqueira);OtherPFSwillprobablyemerge,e.g.,radarphasedata,waterleavingradiance;

− very strong support forCARD4L is indicatedbya rangeofexperiencesandactivities (UK,ESA,USGS,NASA,Canada,GA,CNES,MRI,FDA,etc.);

− theJournalofRemoteSensinghasrecentlyannouncedaspecialissue,anticipatedformid-2018,onanalysis-readyLandsatdata;

− theFDA-AHT is recommendingthatLSI-VCpromotethebenefitsofCARD4LtoprovidersandthatabroaderstrategyforCEOSARDbeexplored(discussedatSITTW);

− theCARD4LactivityinLSI-VCnowmovesintoan‘implementationphase’,comprising:‘road-testing’thePFS,developing the process for datasets to be assessed as CARD4L (Assessment Framework), identifying dataproducts that are on-track to become CARD4L, and monitoring and communicating progress of individualproductstowardCARD4L;

− the Product Family Specifications will continue to evolve as the LSI-VC gathers feedback in the alignmentassessments;

− LSI-VCplanstoengagewithusercommunities(e.g.,throughGFOIandGEOGLAM)tocaptureandcommunicateuserexperiencesofARD/MRIandpromotetheCARD4LFrameworktodataproviders;

− discussionatSITTechnicalWorkshopnotedthatoceanographicandatmosphericapproachesthatprovidegridsofvariablessuchasseasurfacetemperature(whichinturnenableproductssuchastheNOAACoralReefWatchAlert System)areexemplars andhaveprovidedguidance forCARD4L;nonetheless, theCARD4LFrameworkoffersageneralformalizationthatmightbeofvaluetootherVCcommunities;

− LSI-VCplans toprovideCEOSVCswithapackageofCARD4Lmaterials for themtoprovide feedbackon theFrameworkandtoconsidertheapplicabilitytooceansandatmosphere;

JosefAschbacher(ESA)notedthatESAexpertshavebeensolicitedonthePFS,andESAishappytocontributeandtoprovideleadershiponradar-relatedPFS.

CEOS-31-06

LSI-VCtoprovideCEOSVCswithaCARD4LpackagetostimulatetheirfeedbackontheFrameworkandtoallowtheVCstoassesstheapplicabilitytotheirwork.LSI-VCwillutilizefeedbacktoinformtheirrecommendationsforabroaderARDstrategy.

End2017


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FDAWayForwardintheCEOSStructure/WorkPlan

SteveLabahn(USGS,FDA-AHTCo-Chair)startedthediscussiononthewayforward:

− StevenotedareaswhereCEOSagenciescancontributetotheFDAfivethemes;

− WGISSwillneedadditionalresourcesinsomeareastocontributeeffectively,inparticularon:data,processing,andarchitectureinterfacestandards;andanalyticalprocessingcapabilities;

− provideagencycomputingresourcesforprototypetestingofapplicationalgorithmstotakeadvantageoflocallystoreddataortoutilizeweb-basedprotocols(e.g.,WCS,APIs)fordatainteraction;

− theproposed2018continuationoftheFDA-AHTwillcontinuetocenteraroundthefivethemes;

JosefAschbacher(ESA)expressedhissupportforthecontinuationoftheFDA-AHT,andofferedthecontinuedco-leadershipofNickHanowski(ESA).

IvanPetiteville(ESA)askedwhetherWGISShasthecorrectexpertisetoundertaketheassessmentofuseruptakeand use of ARD. AndyMitchell (NASA,WGISS Chair) acknowledged the need for assistancewith some aspects.JonathonRoss(GA,CEO)stressedtheimportanceofcapturingusermetrics–asacommunicationtoolandforthejustificationofagencyresources.

AlexHeld (CSIRO) noted the strong demand fromusers for radar ARD.Mauro Facchini (COM) noted increasingdemandfromtheagriculturalcommunityforbothopticalandradarARD.

FrankKelly(USGS,CEOSChair)notedthePlenarysupportforthefiveFDAthemesgoingforward.

ModerateResolutionSensorInteroperability(MRI)Initiative

GeneFosnight(USGS)introducedtheModerateResolutionSensorInteroperability(MRI)Initiative,whichhehasledthroughout2017.HenotedthatthisinitiativeaddressestheCEOSstrategicobjectivetoencouragecomplementarityandcomparabilityamongtheincreasingnumberofEarthobservingsystemsinthemoderateresolutionclassforbothopticalandSARsensorsandthedatareceivedfromthem.Theinitiativehadthefollowingobjectivesin2017:

− A frameworkpaper formoderate (10-100m) resolution interoperability to facilitate the creationanduseofmulti-sensordatastreams.Theframeworkdrawsupon:

− The Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) case study, which identifies and summarizes lessons learnedthroughtheproductionoftheHLSdataproduct;

− ThevegetationdynamicsmonitoringusecasestudywithHLSdata,whichexplorestherelationshipbetweenspatialresolution,temporalresolutionandvegetationtype;

− TheMRISurvey,whichsoughttoidentifyotherexamplesofmulti-sensoranalysisintheusercommunity.

TheMRI Framework outlines current good practices (thresholds) and proposed next steps (targets) for generalmetadata, per-pixel metadata, measurements and corrections applied using metadata and data models, andgeolocationandcorrectionsforimagetoimageregistration.

GeneoutlinedwhereMRIfitsintheCARD4LandFDAlandscape,andpresentedthewayforwardfortheinitiative:


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JennLacey(USGS)reportedthatSteveLabahn(USGS)willtakeovertheleadershipoftheMRIinitiativewithinLSI-VC.JennalsonotedthatJeffMasek(NASA)willcontinuehisinvolvement.JosefAschbacher(ESA)offeredthesupportofFerranGascon(ESA)tothecontinuedMRIinitiative.Astrid-ChristinaKoch(COM)congratulatedtheMRIteamandofferedthecontinuedsupportofAmandaRegan(COM).MauroFacchini(COM)askedwhetherthereareanyfutureplansforoperationalcoordinationofthesatellitesunderconsideration–inadditiontodataproductinteroperability.JennnotedthatthisisoneoftheoriginalprioritiesoftherenewedLSI-VC,howeverduetocompetingpriorities,thishasn’t been followed up. Stephen Ward (CEOS Chair Team) noted that this is being done in a thematic way,highlightingtheworkoftheSDCGforGFOI.

Session9:UNSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)SDG-AHT

Alex Held (CSIRO, SDG-AHT Co-Lead) provided an update on the activities of the team, which was establishedfollowingthe2016CEOSPlenaryto(incoordinationwithGEOandotherstakeholders):

− takestockoftheUNprocessesinplaceforSDGimplementationandoftheexistingSDGstakeholders;and,

− focus CEOS activities around the unique role that CEOS should play, as a coordination body of the spacecommunity,tosupporttheintegrationofsatelliteEOinsupporttothefullrealizationoftheSDGs.

TheSDG-AHThasnowprepareditsImplementationPlan,withthefollowingkeyelements:

1. CompileandmaintainacompendiumofCEOSAgencies’engagementonSDGs(allAgenciesarestillinvitedtoinputonthecirculatedsurvey);

2. Defineacoherent,flexible,andadaptiveCEOSengagementplanonSDGs;

3. CoordinateCEOSsupporttoGEO-ledSDGactivities;

4. ReviewandassessthecontributionofEOtotheSDGTargetsandIndicators;

5. Demonstrate,showcase,andfostertheadded-valueofEOintheSDGmonitoringandreportingprocess;

6. FacilitateuptakeofEObySDGstakeholders(e.g.,fornationalstatistics);and,

7. DevelopimpactfulcommunicationandoutreachmaterialsonEOforSDGs.

Alex reviewedeachof these components indetail, summarising theobjectives,work todate, andplans for thefuture.Pleaseseethepresentationslidesfordetails.


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CEOSPlenarywasaskedtoconsiderrenewing,foranotheryear,themandateoftheSDG-AHT.Itisanticipatedthata permanent CEOSWorkingGroup on the SDGswill be proposed for decision at the 2018 CEOS Plenary. CEOSAgenciesareencouragedtoprovideteamrepresentativesifnotalreadyrepresented.

MauroFacchini(COM)queriedwhethernationalagenciesmayberesistanttotheintroductionofnewtechnologysuchasspacedata.Alexconfirmedthisisthecaseinanumberofcountries.HenotedthatCSIROhasbeenworkingwiththeUNtodevelopaguidancemanualforsuchcountries.

Session10:WorkingGroupsandVirtualConstellationsWGISS

AndyMitchell(NASA,WGISSChair)presentedupdatesontheWGISSactionsfromtheCEOSWorkPlan,brokendownby subgroup/topic: Interoperability Interest Group, Technology Exploration Interest Group, Data StewardshipInterestGroup,andGEOInteractions.

InteroperabilityInterestGroup

DATA-8 (ImproveWGISS Interoperability StandardsArchitecture) is anongoing task forWGISS.TheWGISSwebpagehasacurrentlistofthedatacollectionsaccessiblefromIDN,FedEO,andCWIC.ClientsaccessingdataviaWGISSConnectedDataAssetsinclude:GEOSSEvolve–DataAccessBroker(DAB),GEOPortal,AMERIGEOSSDataandServicesPortal,ESAFedEOPortal,andCOVE.

DATA-9 (ECVs/CDRs Discovery and Access throughWGISS Systems) is being addressedusingtheresultsoftheWGClimateECVInventoryquestionnairetoidentifyrelevantdatarecords already discoverable/accessible throughWGISS systems.WGISS isworking thisactionwithsupportfromWGClimate.

CARB-15 (CarbonDataPortal):WGISS isworkingwithMarkDowell (CEOSCarbonLead)andStephenPlummer(WGClimate)todefineapreliminarysetofrequirementsforafutureCarbonPortal.TheCEOSCarbonPortalcurrentlyallowscollectionandgranulesearches(using keywords with auto-completion with IDN science keywords), region of interest


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searches,andsearchesbyspecialtopicsorinterestarea(usingpredefined,topic-filteredinputs)andreturnsrecordsfrombothCWICandFedEO.

TechnologyExplorationInterestGroup

TheTechnologyExplorationInterestGroupisadvancingDATA-11(TechnologyExplorationWebinars andWorkshops) andFDA-6 (Technical Best PracticesRelating to FutureDataArchitecturesOpportunities).

WGISS will contribute to the following FDA themes (FDA-6): Data, Processing, andArchitectureInterfaceStandards;AnalyticalProcessingCapabilities;andUserMetrics.

DataStewardshipInterestGroup

TheDataStewardshipInterestGrouphasthreefocusareas:

− DataPurgeAlertProcedure&WhitePaper(Complete/Operational)

− DATA-10:ReferenceModelforDataStewardship(Complete)

− WGISSEODataStewardshipMaturityMatrix(inreview,beingsubmittedtoGEOSSEvolveDataManagementPrincipleGroup)

GEOInteractions In the 2017-2019 GEO Work Programme, the GEO Foundational Task GD-07 hastransitionedtoaGEOInitiativetitled ‘GEOSSEVOLVE’.WGISShasrepresentation inthefollowing GEOSS EVOLVE Work Packages: Evolving GEOSS Architecture, FunctionalityTesting,DataManagementPrinciples,DemonstrationProjects,andCommunityPortals.

DATA-12 (CEOSDataHoldingsReportedinGEO)isanongoingtask.WGISScontinuestoprovide support for the incremental harvesting of CEOS metadata from the IDN, inresponsetotherequestsoftheGEODABteam.

WGISS is also represented on the NextGEOSS Advisory Board and is working withNextGEOSSonfederatedauthenticationtechnologysolutions.

AndyannouncedDr.RobertWoodcockofCSIROasthecandidatefortheincomingWGISSVice-Chairposition.Andy’stermasWGISSChaircomestoanendasofthe31stCEOSPlenary,andMirkoAlbani(ESA)willassumetheroleofWGISSChairforthecomingtwoyears,havingservedasVice-Chairin2016and2017.

Alex Held (CSIRO) confirmed CSIRO’s support for Rob Woodcock to take on the Vice-Chair role – an officialnomination letterwill be sent. Itwas noted that itwouldbe the responsibility of CSIRO toorganise secretariatsupportfortheagency’stermasWGISSChair.PascalLecomte(ESA)recalledthatthenominationlettershouldbewrittenintermsoftheagency’snomination,ratherthanasapersonalnomination.

WGCV

KurtThome(NASA,WGCVChair)reportedthatallofWGCV’sCARBactionshaveapathtowardcompletionwithspecificactionsbeingaddressedinpreparationforWGCV-43.HenotedCARB-19inparticular,whichcallsonWGCVto summarise the current listof validated landdataproducts relevant to theCEOSCarbonStrategy.CARB-19 isundertakenbytheWGCVLPVsubgroup,whichhasestablishedaframeworkwiththeaimoffacilitatingindependentvalidationandconsistentuncertaintyreportingacrossproducts,aswellasanonlineplatformforintercomparisonofterrestrialcarbonproducts(OnLineValidationExercise,OLIVE).TheresultsoftheLPVsubgroup’sworkwillbeformalizedtoallowtheclosureofCARB-19.

WGCVisakeypartnerintheAtmosphericCorrectionIntercomparisoneXercise(ACIX),whichaddressesCEOSWPactionCV-13(Intercomparisonofatmosphericcorrectionmodels).ACIXisprovidingabetterunderstandingofthedifferentuncertainty contributors inACprocessors.An inter-comparisonprotocolwas initiatedat the firstACIXworkshop. Once the protocol was in place, participants applied their AC schemes to test sites while keeping


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processingparametersconstant.ACIXcoordinatorsprocessedtheresultssubmittedbyallparticipantsinearly2017,andtheresultswerepresentedduringthe2ndACIXworkshopinApril2017.Lessonswerelearnedaroundhowtoimproveatmosphericcorrectionschemes,andtheresultspointedtotheimportanceofper-pixelqualityflagsforensuringaccurateatmosphericcorrection.

WorkonRadCalNet–anetworkofinstrumentedsitesdedicatedtotheradiometriccalibrationofEOopticalsensors–continuesintheIVOSsubgroup.RadCalNetisinbetatestingandisscheduledtoopenitswebsitetothepublicinearly2018.WGCVisintheprocessofdevelopingaprocedurefortheacceptanceofnewtestsitesintoRadCalNet.

KurtalsoreviewedongoingWGCVactivitiesaroundtheGSICS/WGCVIVOSsolarirradiancespectrum(CV-16),fiducialreferencemeasurements,andSI-traceabilityandgoodpractices–whichdirectlyrelatetoCEOSWPactionCV-15(definingLevel1top-of-atmosphereinteroperability).WGCValsocontinuestomoveforwardonaDEMTaskGroup.

AlexHeld(CSIRO)confirmedCSIRO’scontinuedsupport forWGCV, includingCindyOng’s (CSIRO)termasWGCVVice-Chair(andsubsequentWGCVChairterm).AdamLewis(GA)thankedWGCVfortheirsupporttotheworkoftheLSI-VC,andtheirparticipationinLSI-VCmeetingsandteleconferences.


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WGCapD

PhilaSibandze(SANSA,WGCapDChair)reviewedtheactivitiesandachievementsoftheWorkingGroupin2016and2017:

Philanotedthateffortisbeingmadetorecordandarchiveallteachingmaterialsgenerated.ADigitalKnowledgeRepository(free-and-open,CreativeCommonslicensed)hasbeenestablishedat:http://learningcenter.obt.inpe.br/LessonsLearnedreportsfromWGCapDcapacitybuildinginitiativesarealsoavailableontheCEOSwebsite,andadocumentontrainingmethodsandbestpracticesisbeingcompiled.

From the 31st CEOS Plenary, Senthil Kumar (ISRO)will become theWGCapDChair. Phila represented SANSA asWGCapDChairfollowingthedepartureofJaneOlwoch.CEOSPlenarythankedPhilafortakingontherole.

SenthilKumar(ISRO,WGCapDVice-Chair)announcedthatNASAhavenominatedNancySearbyasthenextWGCapDVice-Chair(andsubsequentChair).

VirtualConstellationIssues,Discussions,Decisions

Jean-Louis Fellous (SIT Chair Team)presented anoverviewof theCEOSVirtual Constellations (VCs), noting thatoveralltheVCsareingoodshape,andfulfillthepurposeforwhichtheyhavebeenestablished:tohelpimproveinternationalcoordinationandmeasurementcoverage,anticipateandremedypotentialgaps,reduceredundancy,favorintercomparison,etc.

CEOSWorkPlanVCActionStatus

Jean-LouispresentedanoverviewofthestatusofCEOSWorkPlanVC-relatedactions(availableinthepresentationslides).Overall,theactionsareon-track.Inthefollowingslides,hehighlightedthefewidentifiedissues.

OSVW-VC–BuildingaStrongCaseforOperationContinuity(VC-14)

Jean-LouispresentedthecurrentstatusoftheOSVW-VC:


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The2015IOVWSTmeetingrecommendedthefollowingastheoptimum(minimum)OSVW-VC:

− Atleast3scatterometersinorbitsdesignedtoroughlymeetWMOrequirements(observationsevery6hours);

− Oneinstrumentinanon-sun-synchronousorbitforsamplingofthediurnalcycle,bettermid-latitudesampling,andtoprovidedataforinter-calibration.

Jean-Louispresentedthefollowingquestionsfromthe2017OSVW-VCmeeting:

− Isthe“business”caseforsatelliteOSVWstrongenough?

− SatelliteSSH,SST(IR),rain/TPW,visible/IR imagery,andmicrowavesoundingsappeartobeconsideredcoremeasurementcapabilities,butisthisalsothecaseforsatelliteOSVW?

− What needs to be done to improve the chances of realizing the optimum (minimum) satellite OSVWconstellation?

SST-VC–PassiveMicrowaveRadiometerContinuity

Jean-LouisonceagainhighlightedtherisktothecurrentandcontinuedPMWconstellationforSST,andflaggedtheneedforaredundantcapabilityofPMWat7GHz.Hepresentedsomeslidesdemonstratingtheimportanceofthesemeasurementsforhigh-latitudeareas,high-aerosolregions,andpersistentlycloudylocations.Jean-Louispresentedpromisingmissionupdates from JAXA andCMA,which are summarisedbelowalongwith the overall PMWSSTsituation:

AC-VCIssues–DataAccess,UnmetMeasurementGoals,JointAQ/GHGConstellation

Jean-Louispresentedonerequest,andtworecommendationsonbehalfoftheAC-VC:

− AC-VCrequeststhatCEOSactivelyengage(orcontinue)conversationswithappropriateagenciesinRepublicofKoreaandChinatofacilitateopensharingofsatellitedatabetweenallpartnerspaceagencies.EnablingtheAirQuality (AQ) constellationobjectives for opendata exchange (refer to theCEOS-endorsedAQConstellationPosition Paper, 2011) now relies on data access policies for the Asianmissions to be established by theirorganizations.


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Jean-LouisthankedCEOSandhismanycolleaguesfortheirfriendshipandcollaborationoverthemanyyearspriortothis,hislastCEOSPlenary.FrankKelly(USGS,CEOSChair)thankedJean-LouisonbehalfofCEOSandallitsAgenciesforhismanyyearsandincarnationsofsupporttoCEOS.

JonathonRoss(GA,CEO)askedhowCEOSshouldgoabouttrackingtheSSTPMWcontinuityissuegoingforward.Jean-LouissuggestedthataCEOSWorkPlantaskbeestablished.CEOSPlenaryaction30-12canbeclosed.Jean-LouisencouragedallagenciestosupporttheforthcomingworkshopsonthismatterinNorthAmericaandEurope.

CEOS-31-07

CEOtoestablishaCEOSWorkPlantasktotracktheseasurfacetemperaturepassivemicrowaveradiometercontinuityissue,andencourageallagenciestosupporttheforthcomingworkshopsonthismatterinNorthAmericaandEurope.

End2017

AlexHeld(CSIRO)highlightedthepotentialofnewgenerationgeostationarysatellitesfortheissueshighlightedbytheVCs.

RajKumar (ISRO) informed that ISROhaveupcomingmissions related toSSTandOSVW.MauroFacchini (COM)notedthatSSTPMWsareontheradarfortheplanningoffutureCopernicusmissions.

LSI-VC/SDCG/GEOGLAMCoordinationRecommendations

StephenWard(SITChairTeam)reportedtheoutcomesfromthetrialjointmeetingoftheLSI-VC,SDCG-GFOI,andtheGEOGLAMad-hocWorkingGroup–whichwasfirstproposedatthe2016CEOSPlenaryasawaytoimproverepresentation/travel efficiency and coordination among related groups. The trial meeting consisted of bothindividualandjointsessions.Stephensummarisedtheoutcomesandlessonslearned:

− themeetingswereextremelyproductive;

− ARD,MRI,FDADataCubepilots,userrequirements,andmissionupdatesallpresentsignificantoverlapandinterestacrossgroups;

− agreedtohavethematiccommunitiesformallyengagedintheCARD4LProductFamilySpecificationsandtheirreview;

− withbenefitscomessomecompromise,howeverthisismanageable(e.g.,morepeopleandmoreroomsreducesthenumberofpotentialhosts);

− itwasagreedtohavefewerparallelsessionsnexttime.

Stephenpresentedsomenotesanddiscussionpointsregardingthewayforward:


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AdamLewis(GA,LSI-VCCo-Chair)agreedthatthejointmeetingwasveryproductiveandwillbethestartofaprocessthatwillhelpevolve the requirements forARDandothers. Itwasagreed thata joint LSI/SDCG-GFOI/GEOGLAMmeetingshouldproceedin2018asproposed.

Decision05PlenaryendorsedthatLSI-VC,SDCGforGFOI,andtheGEOGLAMad-hocWorkingGroupproceedwitha2ndjointmeetingin2018.

Session11:OtherCEOSBusinessMissions,Instruments,andMeasurements(MIM)DatabaseReport

IvanPetiteville(ESA)reportedonthethreemainactivitiesundertakenbytheCEOSMIMDatabase andEarthObservationHandbook team in the last year: the annualupdateoftheMIMDatabase,maintenanceandenhancementstotheMIMDBanditsonlineportal,andtheEOHandbookbeingpreparedforUNISPACE+50(focusedontheSDGs).

TheEOHandbookforUNISPACE+50onsatelliteEOsupportoftheSDGsiscurrentlybeingdraftedandisdrawinguponinputsfromacrossCEOSandnon-CEOSagencies.TheforewordwillbesuppliedbytheChairoftheUNStatisticalCommission(UNSC)and a co-Chair of UN-GGIM. The CEOS message will be co-signed by ESA (JosefAschbacher)andthe2018CEOSChair(PhilippeBrunet).Printingwillbecompletedbyearly2018forthe49thsessionoftheUnitedNationsStatisticalCommission(March2018)andforUNISPACE+50inJune.Callsfordistributionlistinputsandagencymailingcontactsshouldbeexpectedinthenearfuture.

The annual update of the CEOS MIM DB has now been completed, and the changes are reflected online at:database.eohandbook.com.Responseswerereceivedfrom28CEOSagencies.14newmissionrecordswereadded,while226existingrecordswereupdated.Thesurveyalsoresultedin19newinstrumentrecordsbeingadded,with132 existing records updated. The MIM DB currently features 322 Earth observing satellite missions and 913instrumentsthatareoperatingorplannedforlaunchinthenext15years.


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JonathonRoss(GA,CEO)askedaboutthestrategiesbeingemployedtomakekeyPOCsawareoftheEOHandbook,andtoencouragethemtoreadit.IvannotedtheworkbeingdonetoidentifykeyPOCsaheadoftimeanddirectlymailingthemacopyofthereport.Theteamhasalsoworkedtoincludearticlesbydiversecommunities,aimingtostimulate interestfromfurtheragencies inthesecommunities. Jonathonsuggestedthatthe letterssenttoPOCsalongwiththedirectlymailedHandbookcouldhighlightarticlesofinterest.

SystemsEngineeringOffice(SEO)Report

BrianKillough(NASA,SEO)providedanoverviewofthe2017achievementsoftheSEO.Onthetechnicalside,theCEOSDataCubehasbeenthetoppriority.TheSEOisamemberoftheOpenDataCube(ODC)PartnersForumandtheSEO’stechnicalcontractorAnalyticalMechanicalAssociates(AMA)participatesintheODCSteeringCouncil.TheSEOhasmadeanumberofsignificantcodecontributions(e.g.,userinterface,applications,dataingestion)totheODCandledmanyofthecountrypilotprojects.

TheSEOtechnicalteamhasalsocontributedtotheLSI-VC(CARD4Ldefinition,gapanalysisprocess),SDCGforGFOIandGEOGLAM(dataacquisitionplanning),themaintenanceofexistingCEOStools(COVE:www.ceos-cove.org,DataPolicyPortal),andtheCEOSwebsite.

KimHolloway(NASA,SEO)hasprovidedcommunicationssupporttotheSDG-AHTandWGCapD,managedCEOSwebandsocialmediacontent,continuedproducingthe“FacesofCEOS”videoseries,providedmeetinglogisticssupportacrossmanyCEOSentities,developednewoutreachmaterials,andmaintainedthemailinglists.

BrianreviewedtheSEO’splansfor2018:


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TheCEOSwebsiteandsocialmediaaccountsarekeyoutreachtools. Inthe lastyear,theCEOSwebsitereceived47,000visits.CEOSleadership,WG,andVCLeadswereaskedtoreviewrelevantwebpagesandsendupdates;andeveryonewasaskedtosendshortsummariesofnewsworthyCEOSactivities/accomplishments(toKimHolloway)andtoremembertheavailabilityofmeetingregistrationcapabilitiesandtheDocumentManagementSystem.

Brianestimatedthataround8000USDplus3people’stimeareneededperconferencethatCEOSisrepresentedat(IGARSS,GEOPlenary).MarkDowell(COM)askedwhetherCEOShasbeenpresentatIACinthepast;Brianconfirmedno,butitissomethingthatcouldbeconsideredinthefuture.JonathonRoss(GA,CEO)suggestedthatCEOSmaterialscouldbeintegratedintocountry/agencyexhibitionsatconferencessuchasIAC.

FrankKelly(USGS,CEOSChair)stressedhowtheSEO’sexistencehasrevolutionizedtheabilityofCEOStoaddressdifferentwork,includingimplementationandCEOSpromotion.ThePlenarywarmlycongratulatedtheSEOontheir10-yearanniversary.

Session12:ClosingBusinessWGLeadershipSuccessionandRecapofDecisionsonOne-YearExtensionsoftheCEOSAd-HocTeams

SteveLabahn(USGS,CEOSChairTeam)recappedtheappointmentsraisedinthecourseofPlenaryandthesewererecordedasconfirmedbyPlenary.

Decision06

CEOSPlenaryconfirmedthefollowingappointments:

WGClimateVice-Chair:JohnDwyer(USGS)WGISSVice-Chair:RobWoodcock(CSIRO)WGDisastersVice-Chair:DavidGreen(NASA)WGCapDVice-Chair:NancySearby(NASA)CEOSLeadforGFOI:OsamuOchiai(JAXA)SDCGCo-Chair:TBA(UKSA)

ItwasnotedthatanagencyletterisdueonthenominationforWGISSViceChair.AlexHeldofCSIROconfirmedthataletterwillbeprovided.

StevehandedovertotheAd-hocTeamstopresentthecaseforrenewaloftheirmandatesforanotheryear:


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MikeFreilich(NASA)stronglyurgedCEOSPrincipalstoeachconsiderpledgingasmallamountoffundingfortheSDCGSecretariat–withthetotalestimatedcostat~$US70,000peryear.JAXAhasalreadyconfirmed$US10,000insupport.ChrisMcQuire(UKSA)hopedthatUKSAcouldmakeamodestcontributionfinancially,andalsonotedtheintentiontoprovideanewSDCGCo-Chair.AlexHeld(CSIRO)supportedthecontinuationoftheSDCGforGFOIforanotheryear.Noonewasopposed.MikesuggestedthenewCEOSChairandSITChairtosendawrittenappealtoprincipalsforSDCGresources.RecallCEOS-31-02:

CEOS-31-02CEOSChairandSITChairtosendanappealtoCEOSagenciesforCo-LeadsfortheSDCGforGFOIandforpotentialcontributionstoSDCGSECfundingorpersonnelcapacity.

October2017

Decision07

CEOSPlenaryrenewedforanotheryearthemandatesofthefollowingad-hocteams:SpaceDataCoordinationGroup(SDCG)forGFOI;Ad-hocWGonGEOGLAM;Ad-hocTeamontheSustainableDevelopmentGoals;Ad-hocTeamonFutureDataAccessandAnalysisArchitectures

SITChairHandover

OutgoingSITChair’sPresentation

StephenBriggs(ESA,SITChair)reviewedthelandscapeatthetimewhenESAtookontheSITChairrole,notinginparticularchangesrelatedtodataavailabilityandtechnology.HerecalledtheESASITChairprioritiesfor2016-2017:

1. EnsuresuccessfuladvancementofongoingCEOScommitmentsanddeliverables;

2. Ensurefullaccessto,andexploitationof,CopernicusSentineldata;

3. Furtherdeveloptherelationshipswith IPCCandUNFCCCtosupportobservationofclimate indicators in thepost-COP-21context;

4. Maintain and improve our strategic partnerships (e.g., UN agencies, Development Banks, internationalprogrammesandagencies);

5. EnsureeffectivefunctioningofGEO,andCEOSwithinGEO,withitsnewstrategicgoalsandanewgovernancemodelforthecomingdecade;

6. SupportinitiativesproposedandadvancedbytheCEOSChairsin2016(CSIRO)and2017(USGS).

StephenreviewedCEOSsupporttoGEOovertheperiod2016-2017,intheareasofclimate(TheParisAgreement);disasters (The Sendai Framework); and the SustainableDevelopmentGoals. In addition to the support of these


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themes,CEOShasalsocontributedgreatlytoGEOitself,inparticularthroughparticipationintheGEOProgrammeBoardandasanobservertotheGEOExecutiveCommittee.

IncomingSITChair’sPresentation

SteveVolz(NOAA,SITVice-Chair)reviewedNOAA’sprioritiesasSITChairfor2018-2019:

1. Ensure the efficient execution of existing SIT responsibilities as described in the SIT Terms of Reference,includingaddressingWorkingGroupandVirtualConstellationcontinuity,sustainability,andoutputs;

2. EnhancetheutilityofobservationsfromnewgenerationgeostationarysatellitesandexploringdevelopmentofGEO-LEOcombinationproductsanddataprocessingcapabilities;

3. Improve and clarify CEOS relationships with CGMS, GEO, and to a lesser degree WMO, by identifyingcoordinated activities and, where appropriate, holistic interaction among CEOS, CGMS, GEO, and WMO,emphasizingtheuniquevaluesofeach.

4. SupportinitiativesundertakenbyCEOSChairsin2018and2019.

NOAAwillbeginbyreachingouttotheVCsandWGstogetasenseofcurrentstatusandneedsviaaquestionnaire.Bi-annualWG/VCtag-upteleconferenceswillbemaintained.TheCEOSWorkPlanwillbeakeyfocusforNOAA,anditwillbeupdatedbasedontheresultsofthequestionnaire.

Stevereviewedthemeetingplansfor2018/2019:

− SIT-33:April23-26,2018;Boulder,Colorado,USA;

− 2018SITTechnicalWorkshop:September10-14,2018;Darmstadt,Germany;

− SIT-34:March/April2019,NationalWaterCenter,Tuscaloosa,Alabama(TBC);

− 2019SITTechnicalWorkshop:September2019,LocationTBD;

SITVice-ChairNomination

AlexHeld(CSIRO)confirmedthenominationofCSIRO-GAasSITVice-Chair.TheremaybesomeinfluenceofthenewAustralianspaceagencyontherepresentation.AdamLewis(GA)notedthatGAwillsupportCSIROinthis.

Decision08 CEOSPlenaryendorsedCSIRO-GAasSITVice-Chair(2018-2019)andsubsequentlySITChair(2020-2021).

CEOHandover

JonathonRoss (GA,CEO) thankedCEOS for theopportunity to serveasCEO.Healsoexpressedhis gratitude topreviousCEOSChairs,SITChairs,CEOs,andGeoscienceAustraliafortheirsupport.


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StevenHosford(ESA/CNES)thankedCEOSfortheopportunity;heislookingforwardtothenexttwoyearsasCEO.

FutureCEOSChairs

FrankKelly(USGS,CEOSChair)summarizedthepositionwithrespecttooffersforfutureCEOSChairmanship.

RajKumar (ISRO)confirmedthat ISRO is ready toserveasCEOSChair for2020.PhamAnhTuan (VAST-VNSC) islookingforwardtoservingas2019CEOSChairaftertheEuropeanCommission.

Decision09 CEOSPlenaryconfirmedVASTasCEOSChairfor2019andISROasCEOSChairfor2020.

CEOSChairHandover

FrankKelly(USGS,2017CEOSChair)andMauroFacchini (COM,2018CEOSChairRepresentative)exchangedtheCEOS flagandgavel, signifying the transferof theCEOSChairposition fromUSGS to theEuropeanCommission.MaurothankedCEOS,onbehalfoftheEuropeanCommissionandPhilippeBrunet(COM,2018CEOSChair),fortheopportunitytoserveasCEOSChairin2018.

2018CEOSChairPresentation

MauroFacchini(COM)presentedtheEuropeanCommission’sCEOSChairprioritiesfor2018:

− toensurecontinuityandcoherenceofCEOSactivities,theEuropeanCommissionwillfirstaimtoensurethatthe priorities and themes identified by the 2017 Chair, USGS, are supported and further developed. TheEuropeanCommissionwillworkwithUSGS,ESA,NOAA,andrelevantstakeholderstoensuresubstantiveandtimelycontinuityof:

− thestudyoffuturedataaccessandanalysisarchitectures;

− theModerateResolutionSensorInteroperabilityinitiative;

− considerationoffuturepartnershipsandprioritiesforCEOS,notablywithGEO,theUNSystem,developmentbanks,and"bigdata"companies;and,

− expeditingexistingCEOSthematicacquisitionstrategies–inrelationtoforests,agriculture,disasters,climate,carbon,andwater;

− continued support of the SDG-AHT’s activities,which include increased engagementwith national statisticsagenciesandanalyzingthemainstreamingofeffortsintopolicies;

− rationalizationofthemanyongoingCEOSactivitiesintheareaoflandsurfaceimaginganditsapplications;

− continuethepracticeofperiodicallyexaminingexistingCEOSgroups,includingsomethatcould,potentiallybeintegratedintoexistingCEOSentities,suchastheWorkingGroupsandVirtualConstellations.

AlloftheseprioritiesbuilduponCEOScollectiveeffortsoveranumberofyearsandattempttoevidencethespecificaddedvaluetheEuropeanCommissioncanbringinitsyearasCEOSChair.

In consideration of these past efforts, and without prejudging the outcome of these processes, the EuropeanCommissionproposestopursuetwoadditionalpriorityinitiativesduringitschairmanship:

1. LaythefoundationforaninternationalGHGmonitoringsystem;and,

2. BringthebenefitsofFutureDataArchitecturestothepresentandidentifynewtargets.

MarkDowell(COM)referredparticipantstothepaperonthePlenarywebsiteforfulldetailsoftheseinitiatives.

MaurooutlinedtheEuropeanCommission’sCEOSChairteamfor2018,andshowedashortvideoonthe2018CEOSPlenary(16-18October2018;PalaisdesCongrés,Brussels,Belgium).


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2017CEOSPlenaryDecisionsandActionsRecap

StephenWard(2017CEOSChairTeam)reviewedthedecisionsandactions.Nointerventionsweremade.Stephenaskedforanyedits/feedbacktobeemailedand/orinputduringthereviewcycleoftheminutes.

ClosingRemarks

MauroFacchini(COM,2018CEOSChairRepresentative)thankedUSGSandFrankfortheexceptionalyearofchairingandforawonderful31stCEOSPlenary.Frankthankedtheteamwhoworkedhardforthewholeyear–withtheresultsclearintheproductiveplenary.


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APPENDIXA

Attendees

Organization Name Organization NameASI LauraGiuliaMariaCandela NASA ChristineBognarASI SimonaZoffoli NASA DavidJarrettCNES JulietteLambin NASA KurtThomeCOM Astrid-ChristinaKoch NASA MatthewKoeppeCOM MarkDowell NASA MichaelFreilichCOM MauroFacchini NASA NancySearbyCOM MichaelBerger NASA RichardEckmanCONAE LauraFrulla NASA WenyingSuCSA EricLaliberte NOAA CharlesWooldridgeCSA Marie-JoséeBourassa NOAA KerrySawyerCSA StephaneChalifoux NOAA StephenVolzCSIRO AlexHeld NSMC/CMA JinlongFanCSIRO CindyOng NSMC/CMA JunYangCSIRO FloraKerblat NSMC/CMA ShihaoTangDLR KlausSchmidt NSMC/CMA XiangFangESA IvanPetiteville NSMC/CMA XiuqingHuESA Jean-LouisFellous NSO JoostCarpayESA JosefAschbacher Roscosmos TamaraGaninaESA MichaelRast SANSA PaidaMangaraESA MirkoAlbani SANSA PhilaSibandzeESA NickHanowski U.S.StateDepartment FernandoEchavarriaESA PascalLecomte UKSA CatherineMealing-JonesESA SimonettaCheli UKSA ChristopherMcQuireESA StephenBriggs USGS BrendaJones

ESA/CNES StevenHosford USGS EricWoodEUMETSAT AlainRatier USGS EugeneFosnightEUMETSAT JörgSchulz USGS FrankKellyEUMETSAT PaulCounet USGS JennLaceyEUMETSAT RemkoScharroo USGS KarenReiser

GA AdamLewis USGS MatthewSteventonGA JonathonRoss USGS PeteDoucette

GCOS CarolinRichter USGS StephenWardGEOSEC BarbaraRyan USGS SteveLabahnISRO HarikrishnanGopalakrishnannair USGS ThomasCecereISRO RajKumar USGS TimStrykerISRO SenthilKumarArumugam USGS/SGT HowardHedgerJAXA AkikoSuzuki USGS/SGT JeradShawJAXA OsamuOchiai USGS/SGT LauraNemec

JAXA/RESTEC KojiAkiyama USGS/SGT ToddTaylorKMA Jae-DongJang VAST VietTienDangKMA Ki-HongPark VAST/VNSC AnhTuanPhamNASA AndrewMitchell VAST/VNSC HuongHanhVuNASA BradleyDoorn VAST/VNSC NgocPhuongLinhPhanNASA BrianKillough


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APPENDIXB

ActionsandDecisionsRecord

No. Action DueDate

CEOS-31-01WGClimatetoexploredevelopmentofabrief,consolidatedstatementofspaceagencycontributionsinsupportofeachArticleoftheParisAgreement.

32ndCEOSPlenary

CEOS-31-02

CEOSChairandSITChairtosendawrittenappealtoCEOSprincipalsforCo-LeadsfortheSDCGforGFOIandforpotentialcontributionstoSDCGsecretariatfundingorin-kindsupport.

October2017

CEOS-31-03ESAtoleadconclusionoftheODAcommunicationsdocumentreflectingcommentsandinputsfromCEOSAgencies.

End2017

CEOS-31-04

SITChairtocoordinatefeedbackfromtheVirtualConstellationsonhowtheywilltaketheFeasibilityStudyonSatelliteMissions/InstrumentsFocusedonWaterQualityMeasurementsintoaccountintheirworkgoingforward.

SIT-33

CEOS-31-05

SITVice-Chairtocoordinateestablishmentofasteeringcommitteetodeterminethefocus,scope,andarrangementsofaCEOS“WaterfromSpace”observationsstrategyworkshopinQ22018.Thematterofinclusionoftheoceancomponentneedstobeanswered,withconsiderationbeinggiventorenamingtheworkshopifitwillbeexcludedentirely,orifonlycoastalwaterwillbeincluded.

Q22018

CEOS-31-06

LSI-VCtoprovideCEOSVCswithaCARD4LpackagetostimulatetheirfeedbackontheFrameworkandtoallowtheVCstoassesstheapplicabilitytotheirwork.LSI-VCwillutilizefeedbacktoinformtheirrecommendationsforabroaderARDstrategy.

End2017

CEOS-31-07

CEOtoestablishaCEOSWorkPlantasktotracktheseasurfacetemperaturepassivemicrowaveradiometercontinuityissue,andencourageallagenciestosupporttheforthcomingworkshopsonthismatterinNorthAmericaandEurope.

End2017


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Decision01 TheCEOSStatementtoGEO-XIVwasendorsed.

Decision02 TheproposedCEOSStatementonEOandODAwasendorsed.

Decision03

CEOSPlenaryendorsedanumberofWGDisastersdocuments:EcuadorandNewZealandSupersitesBiennialReports;theSouthernAndesandVirungaVolcanoesSupersitesproposals;theRecoveryObservatoryOperationalPlan;thefinalreportsoftheFloods,SeismicHazards,andVolcanoesPilots;theGeohazardsLabImplementationPlan.

Decision04 CEOSwillproceedwiththefreshwatercoordinationworkshopinthefirsthalfof2018.

Decision05PlenaryendorsedthatLSI-VC,SDCGforGFOI,andtheGEOGLAMad-hocWorkingGroupproceedwitha2ndjointmeetingin2018.

Decision06

CEOSPlenaryconfirmedthefollowingappointments:

WGClimateVice-Chair:JohnDwyer(USGS)WGISSVice-Chair:RobWoodcock(CSIRO)WGDisastersVice-Chair:DavidGreen(NASA)WGCapDVice-Chair:NancySearby(NASA)CEOSLeadforGFOI:OsamuOchiai(JAXA)SDCGCo-Chair:TBA(UKSA)

Decision07

CEOSPlenaryrenewedforanotheryearthemandatesofthefollowingad-hocteams:SpaceDataCoordinationGroup(SDCG)forGFOI;Ad-hocWGonGEOGLAM;Ad-hocTeamontheSustainableDevelopmentGoals;Ad-hocTeamonFutureDataAccessandAnalysisArchitectures

Decision08 CEOSPlenaryendorsedCSIRO-GAasSITVice-Chair(2018-2019)andsubsequentlySITChair(2020-2021).

Decision09 CEOSPlenaryconfirmedVASTasCEOSChairfor2019andISROasCEOSChairfor2020.

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