Download Action n° 24004 - SOLO - Systematic Observations of Land and Ocean

JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE - Work Programme 2012
Action n° 24004 - SOLO - Systematic Observations of Land and Ocean
Institute for environment and sustainability (Ispra)
Thematic Area:
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TA3 Sustainable management of natural resources
Policy Theme: 2 - Solidarity and the responsible management of resources
Agenda No & Title: 2.4 - Climate change
Web site address (URL): http://ies.jrc.ec.europa.eu/the-institute/units/global-environmentmonitoring/action-24004.html
Type:: Action
Action Leader: DOWELL Mark JRC.H.1
External Customer and Stakeholder:
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European Space Agency - Italia
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS)
European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
The Group on Earth Observations
Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS)
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN-FCCC)
World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Customer DGs (inside the European Commission):
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CLIMA - Climate Action
ENTR - Enterprise and Industry
ENV - Environment
RTD - Research and Innovation
Keywords:
Systematic Observations; climate monitoring, space policy; Earth Observation; climate
variability; Essential Climate Variables; quality control and assessment; benchmarking;
biosphere monitoring; trends; indicators, standards.
Rationale:
Societal, economic and strategic imperatives drive the EU’s evolving Space policy. The
EU Space Policy in general and Earth Observation specifically play a prominent role in
the Industrial policy for a Globalisation Era (Europe 2020 Flagship initiative). Europe’s
Earth Observation programme (GMES) is an integral part of this policy framework.
GMES is a partnership between the European Commission and European Space Agency
(ESA). JRC research has led to applications where satellite observations form a key
element of the JRC’s policy support and to closely work with European and international
space agencies, thus helping bind the service and space elements of the GMES
programme.
JRC is in a position to monitor and document users’ requirements associated with EU
policies, draft technical responses that provide for these requirements and determine the
fitness-for-purpose of products/services aimed at them. GMES is the main space
contribution of the Union to tackle climate change and SOLO’s research will focus on
delivering the "climate change" service.
Particular attention will also be paid to the standardisation of Earth Observation products
and services with special reference to climate and climate change. This will involve in
situ measurements, development and benchmarking of new products from satellite and
assuring compliance with international standards of EU products through co-ordinating
mechanism including the Global Climate Observing System and the Committee on Earth
Observation Satellites. SOLO continues to be a scientific reference point in Europe and
internationally for the development of next generation products derived from satellites
and the subsequent standardisation of these products. The Action works with the UK’s
National Physical Laboratory and the USA’s National Institute of Standards and
Technology represent important partnerships in fulfilling these tasks.
SOLO has a longstanding relationship with European (ESA and EUMETSAT) and
international (e.g. NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
United States Geological Survey (USGS)) space agencies on scientific and technical
matters. In particular, with ESA, the JRC acts as the counterpart for the Commission in
discussions on technical issues. This role will grow as Article 189 of the Lisbon Treaty
requires the Commission to reconsider its relationship with ESA. The Action will also
support DG ENTR as it pursues its dialogues with third countries on Civil Space
(especially USA, South Africa, Russia and China).
SOLO is also prominently involved in the development, standardisation and assessment
of remote sensing products at a global level through the Global Climate Observing
System (GCOS) and the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS). SOLO staff
members are represented at the highest level within international organisations, and often
represent the European Commission on technical issues within them.
SOLO maintains a prominent role in the generation of land and ocean biosphere products,
serving climate and other environmental policy areas with a global remit (especially the
Rio Conventions).
SOLO will continue to provide a benchmark for comparison of operational GMES data
streams, including the standardisation of products and services. This will involve in situ
measurements, development and benchmarking of new products from satellite and
assuring compliance with international standards of EU products through co-ordinating
mechanisms including GCOS and CEOS.
Summary of the project:
This Action will address scientific and technical aspects of optical remote sensing of
Earth surface processes in support of space and climate policies through the GMES and
GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems) initiatives. In collaboration with
Space Agencies, the Action will generate land and ocean climate and environmental
products, including their time-dependent changes, in the context of the Global Climate
Observing System (GCOS). Quality, reliability and accuracy of satellite products will be
assessed through modelling, laboratory and in situ benchmarking activities; new
algorithms will be developed to increase their relevance as physical parameters in climate
studies and international networks supported to ensure global acceptability of products.
International Activities
a) European Dimension
• The validation and parameterisation of land and ocean satellite products and algorithms
in these regions (for example, with the Institute of Oceanology Bulgarian Academy of
Science).
• Competitive commitments (e.g. participation in the competitive projects Marine
Environment and Security for the European Area (MERSEA), the European COastal sea
Operational observing and forecasting system (ECOOP) and MyOcean GMES Marine
Core Service Fastrack) for the advancement and dissemination of the JRC satellite
products to the community at large.
b) Outside Europe
• The Action’s involvement in UNFCCC-, GCOS- and CEOS-related working-groups
and committees provide a fundamental means for international recognition and alignment
of European products and research. This also allows us to influence the definition phase
of these programmes thus providing the JRC’s and European Commission’s input to
these activities.
• SOLO’s involvement in GEO/GEOSS tasks provides an effective means by which to
justify the societal benefit of the products and services developed.
• SOLO scientists have a longstanding and well-established network of collaborations
within the international scientific community. This includes membership to the Science
and Executive committees of the International Ocean Colour Coordinating Group
(IOCCG), membership of the Scientific Committee of COSPAR, membership of
international space agency science teams (e.g. Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer
(MISR), Ocean Color Research Team) , and collaborations with scientists in North and
South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.
• SOLO continues to be formally involved with external partner organizations in the
context of several ongoing Collaboration Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding.
These include the Collaboration Agreement with the South African Council for Scientific
and Industrial Research (CSIR) on topics addressing the use of remote sensing in
assessment of ecosystem dynamics over both land and ocean, and the MoU with the US
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on topics relating to
standardization and traceability of radiometric measurements in the marine environments.
In 2012 it is also expected that SOLO will be actively involved in a planned JRC-NOAA
MoU.
Specific Objectives for 2012:
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Objective 1:
Generate and deliver products and services addressing environemnt and
sustainability from Earth Observation in support of policy making and other
applications to specific customers such as the Directorates-General of the
European Commission, as well as international organisations and the broader
scientific community, either directly or through the contribution of other JRC
Actions.
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Deliverable 1.1: 2012-12-31 00:00:00.0. Long-term archive of
satellite-derived products, Essential Climate Variables and
indicators for terrestrial and marine domains, at regional to global
scales. In 2012 an additional reprocessing will be undertaken,
based on new processing software provided by the space agencies.
Additionally dedicated regional datasets for new sensors (MERIS
and MODIS Terra) will be produced. Data will be made available
on Africa for the e-station activity run by MONDE (in
collaboration with the JRC PROCAS, and MONDE Actions)
(Support to GMES Services for Climate and Global Land).
[JRC Scientific Support - Scientific information systems and
databases]
Deliverable 1.2: 2012-12-31 00:00:00.0. Global web information
systems (Earth Land Information System - ELIS, Environmental
Marine Information System - EMIS, African Marine Information
System - AMIS) to facilitate access to remote sensing land and
ocean products at both European and Global scales. In 2012 the
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information systems will be updated to include a 10 year dataset
from the JRC Two-stream Inversion Package (TIP) (in
collaboration with the JRC-PROCAS and MONDE Actions)
[JRC Scientific Support - Scientific information systems and
databases]
Deliverable 1.3: 2012-11-30 00:00:00.0. Two-week ACP training
course (hosted by Mauritius Oceanographic Institute) on Methods
and Applications of Ocean Colour Remote Sensing in African
Coastal and Regional Seas. (In collaboration with the PROCAS
and MONDE Actions). And contribution to IOCCG training
course on Ocean Colour remote sensing.
[JRC Scientific Support - Training]
Objective 2:
Coordinate GMES activities within the JRC, and act as technical interface
with DG ENTR on topics relating to Space Policy. Also represent the European
Commission in initiatives by international organisations (e.g. CEOS, GCOS)
concerned with the systematic observation of the Earth.
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Deliverable 2.1: 2012-10-01 00:00:00.0. Reports/publications
resulting from continued support to DG ENTR on 'Climate and
Space' dossier, including discussion on EU Climate Service
concept paper. (In collaboration with the BIOCLIM Action.
[JRC Scientific Support - Scientific and policy reports]
Deliverable 2.2: 2012-11-15 00:00:00.0. Publications prepared for
CEOS, as technical point of contact for the European Commission
at CEOS Strategic Implementation Team (SIT), CEOS Working
Groups and CEOS Virtual Constellations. Specific responsibilities
include Chair of Working Group on Climate, task leads in CEOS
Working Group on Calibration and Validation (for Land Product
Validation and Infrared Visible Optical Ssensors) and
contributions to the CEOS Virtual Constellations. (Support to
GMES)
[JRC Scientific Support - Scientific and policy reports]
Deliverable 2.3: 2012-12-31 00:00:00.0. Reports and datasets for
European Space Agency. As partner to ESA Climate Change
Initiative Ocean Colour project, for level 3 FAPAR product
generation, the ESA MERIS Quality Working Group and the
Mission Advisory Groups for Sentinel 2 and 3. (Support to
GMES).
[JRC Scientific Support - Scientific and policy reports]
Deliverable 2.4: 2012-11-30 00:00:00.0. Reports resulting from
the continued support to the GCOS Secretariat, including
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membership to GCOS steering committee and GCOS panels for
Land and Atmosphere.
[JRC Scientific Support - Scientific and policy reports]
Deliverable 2.5: 2012-11-15 00:00:00.0. Written contributions to
reports for GEO, Global Earth Observation System of Systems
(GEOSS) activities including the development of new Tasks
defined in the 2012-2015 GEO Workplan, with specific focus on
the Climate, Ecosystems and Water SBAs (Support to GMES
[JRC Scientific Support - Scientific and policy reports]
Objective 3:
Undertake standardisation activities in support of Earth observation in
general and GMES products and Services specifically. Including modelling,
laboratory, field and research activities required to guarantee the quality,
reliability and accuracy of products and services and thereby contribute to the
reduction in uncertainties in Essential Climate Variables (ECV). This also
includes contributions to the implementation of the new QA4EO (Quality
Analysis for Earth Observation) framework proposed by CEOS and GEO.
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Deliverable 3.1: 2012-11-30 00:00:00.0. Peer-reviewed
publication defining the rationale, benefits and prerequisites of a
traceable model-based quality assurance framework suitable for
the evaluation of in situ and satellite-based retrieval algorithms in
the context of quantitative ECV estimations.
[Scientific Publications]
Deliverable 3.2: 2012-06-29 00:00:00.0. Scientific paper
presenting an overview of the analysis of RAdiation transfer
Model Inter-comparison (RAMI)-IV simulations pertaining to
space -borne and in situ observations in the visible and nearinfrared spectral domain of geometrically abstracted vegetation
canopies as well as architecturally realistic 3-D plant environments
(Support to GMES)
[Scientific Publications]
Deliverable 3.3: 2012-12-31 00:00:00.0. Peer-reviewed
publication resulting from the analysis and application of
radiometric measurements from different reference regions to
better characterise the uncertainty of ocean colour measurements
from multiple space-based sensors. Additionally, in 2012 SOLO
will maintain the sites and data analysis for the JRC-hosted stations
of the Ocean Colour component of the Aerosol Robotic Network,
AERONET-OC (http://aeronet.gsfc.nasa.gov/), as well as
promoting and facilitating future additions to the network itself.
(Support to GMES).
[Scientific Publications]
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Objective 4:
Conduct the scientific R&D necessary to formulate new or improved valueadded optical remote sensing products and services to address existing and
emerging needs. This will include temporal and spatial analyses of the core
Essential Climate Variables to fill gaps in the state-of-the-art knowledge of
biogeochemical processes and climate variability.
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Deliverable 4.1: 2012-09-30 00:00:00.0. Scientific paper
documenting the validation of JRC-TIP (Two-stream Inversion
Package) products for sites of the global FLUXNET network .
[Scientific Publications]
Deliverable 4.2: 2012-09-30 00:00:00.0. Scientific paper
describing the 'methodology and application of rectified channels
over bare soil using SeaWiFS and MERIS'. Scientific report on
potential algorithms for processing the historical data sets, ie
AVHRR, to assess (long time series of) land ECVs and their
accuracies.
[Scientific Publications]
Deliverable 4.3: 2011-11-30 00:00:00.0. Updated JRC BiOMaP
dataset .to include optical properties from new field campaigns in
regions of climate and political relevance; (e.g. the Black Sea
within the framework of ESA and NATO activities, Caspian Sea
and Western Mediterranean Sea). Additionally in 2012 simulated
datasets will be generated using radiative transfer codes to
investigate extreme optical water types and bi-directional effects
will also be produced. (Support to GMES).
[JRC Scientific Support - Scientific information systems and
databases]
Deliverable 4.4: 2012-11-30 00:00:00.0. Scientific report
documenting validation exercise of prototype time-series of JRC
Photosynthetically Available Radiation (PAR) product.
[JRC Scientific Support - Scientific and policy reports]
Deliverable 4.5: 2012-09-30 00:00:00.0. Scientific papers
published in the Bulletin American Meteorological Society, State
of Climate annual report documenting ten-year anomalies in
FAPAR at a global scale.
[Scientific Publications]
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Objective 5:
Exploratory Research: Optical Remote Sensing of the Extreme in European
& African Seas
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Deliverable 5.1: 2012-12-31 00:00:00.0. Review existing cloudmasking schemes and appropriate developments in optically
extreme regions, and subsequent generate prototype dataset of
satellite imagery for selected regions.
[JRC Scientific Support - Scientific information systems and
databases]
Last Updated 21/12/2012 14:24:06