guy séguin canadian space agency

25th CEOS Plenary | Lucca, Italy| 8-9 November 2011

Consideration of CEOS Response to the Arctic Ecosystems Initiative

Agenda Item 14

Guy SéguinCanadian Space Agency


Issues and Motivation• Why the Arctic

• Area of the world with the highest impact of climate change • Growing pressure on ecosystems• Lack of knowledge (measurements, monitoring, prediction, etc.)

• Needs for a better ecosystem monitoring approach• Current traditional monitoring approaches can’t meet the challenges

inherent to the time and geographical scale required to assess the integrity of ecosystems in the Arctic

• Variables are not measured in situ in sufficient density to be useful to support the decision making process

• Why EO• In situ monitoring is essential, but too expensive to meet all the needs,

obligations and requirements• Provides robust, repeatable, and reliable observations over long time-

scales and large spatial-scales • Provide an alternative for the monitoring in harsh, inhospitable and

difficult to access environment. • Arctic vs Polar

• Different political and human environment


• For key ecosystems initiate and develop an operational monitoring program to assess changes in ecosystem extent, condition, structure, function, and composition.

• Make relevant synergies with monitoring activities for marine and coastal ecosystems (see SB-01) and GEO BON activities (e.g. on freshwater ecosystems; see BI-01)

• Implement a high-elevation climate and environment monitoring network, starting with the existing SHARE network (Stations at High Altitude for Research on the Environment). Build upon the European project ACQWA (Assessing Climatic change and impacts on the Quantity and quality of Water) to analyze the future of water resources in vulnerable mountain regions

• Coordinate international efforts to collect and develop phenology observations (in-situ and spacebased) and modeling products (see also HE-01)

• Develop a conceptual framework program for using Earth observations to monitor the production and delivery of ecosystem goods and services, from ecosystems to consumers as a potential model for global implementation.

GEO Workplan 2012-2015

C2 Operational Monitoring of Key Ecosystems and Related Services


Key Linkages (Stakeholders and Partners)

• Arctic Cooperation and policy framework (circum-Arctic, regional, and national)• Arctic Council programs such as the Arctic Monitoring and

Assessment Program (AMAP ), the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), and the Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON)

• WMO Polar Activities• International Arctic Science Ctee of ICSU• Expert Panel on Polar Observations, Research and Services (EC-

PORS), • Polar Space Task Group (CSA, ESA, CNES, ASI, CMA, DLR,

Eumetsat, INPE, JAXA, NASA, NOAA, USGS)

• Other GEO SBAs and activities• Other key ecosystem activities, GEOBON Biodiversity, Climate,

Water, etc.

• Canadian activities • Canada's Northern Strategy• ArcticNet


Sub-Task Definition, Goal, and Objectives

• The new Arctic Ecosystem Monitoring initiative will:• be a coordination-focus initiative • focus on the improvement of the effective use of satellite-

based Earth Observation (satellite) information and tools for land and marine ecosystem monitoring (i.e. habitat, permafrost, coastal environment, marine food web, etc.)

• Strive to increase the capacity of land and resource management systems to mobilize and apply the best available information and knowledge.

• focus on engaging a diverse set of stakeholders to better utilize satellite-based Earth Observation information and application knowledge to support operational needs

• strive to align user requirements, improve data use efficiencies, increase capacity, ensure interoperability, expand human capital, and guide proof of concept of multiple applications.


Implementation Strategy and Timeline

• Development of a Arctic Ecosystem Monitoring Charter building on the existing GEO Principles that will address the development of the project coordination framework and provide a high level implementation plan with expected results, outcomes and schedule – T0 + 6 months

• Development of a sub-task Issues Document and associated Science Plan – end of first year

• Identification of current and potential implementation projects, programs, platform and vehicles in support of the task - build on existing regional nodes objectives, activities, and resources for coherent reporting – T0 + 18 months to end of sub-task.

• A series of workshops and meetings focused on enhanced coordination and meeting outreach objectives to local communities – during 2nd and 3rd year

• A final Symposium to assemble progress and provide way forward – end of year 3


Desired Level of CEOS Support

• Seek for involvement of CEOS agencies with interests in Arctic Ecosystems for the following tasks:• Implement a user needs assessment and iterative

consultation process with key Arctic ecosystem stakeholders

• Develop a foreground observation strategy for Arctic ecosystems (modulated against agency and mission capabilities) in line with the overarching science requirements – to be developed and implemented under the framework of PSTG

• Develop a cooperative contribution framework in support of the development of space-based information products

guy séguin canadian space agency

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