WMO Space Programme SP-7 The Space-based Global Observing For more information, please contact: System in 2010 (GOS-2010) World Meteorological Organization 7 bis, avenue de la Paix – P.O. Box 2300 – CH 1211 Geneva 2 – Switzerland www.wmo.int WMO Space Programme Office Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 85 19 – Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 84 74 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.wmo.int/pages/prog/sat/ WMO-TD No. 1513 WMO Space Programme SP-7 The Space-based Global Observing System in 2010 (GOS-2010) WMO/TD-No. 1513 2010 © World Meteorological Organization, 2010 The right of publication in print, electronic and any other form and in any language is reserved by WMO. Short extracts from WMO publications may be reproduced without authorization, provided that the complete source is clearly indicated. Editorial correspondence and requests to publish, reproduce or translate these publication in part or in whole should be addressed to: Chairperson, Publications Board World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 7 bis, avenue de la Paix Tel.: +41 (0)22 730 84 03 P.O. Box No. 2300 Fax: +41 (0)22 730 80 40 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] FOREWORD The launching of the world's first artificial satellite on 4 October 1957 ushered a new era of unprecedented scientific and technological achievements. And it was indeed a fortunate coincidence that the ninth session of the WMO Executive Committee – known today as the WMO Executive Council (EC) – was in progress precisely at this moment, for the EC members were very quick to realize that satellite technology held the promise to expand the volume of meteorological data and to fill the notable gaps where land-based observations were not readily available. At the same time, they further recognized that the use of satellites would one day revolutionize meteorological telecommunications. At its next (tenth) session in 1958 the EC held a general discussion on the new challenges and submitted this key issue to the consideration of the Third World Meteorological Congress, which would meet in 1959. At the request of the Congress, the EC immediately established its Panel of Experts on Artificial Satellites, which included such scientists as Dr H. Wexler (USA) and Academician V.A. Bugaev (USSR), recognized today as the two "fathers" of the concept which in 1963, following a recommendation by the UN General Assembly, would become the WMO World Weather Watch. As we look back over the last half century, there has been an extraordinary boost in the number and diversity of satellites contributing to Earth observations, which today comprise the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS). At first they essentially included only operational satellites in geostationary and low Earth orbits, but over recent years, research and development satellites have been providing increasingly important contributions. This 2010 compilation of the Space-based Global Observing System is the first volume of a five- volume set and the only volume which shall be printed. The remaining 4 volumes are available in electronic form from the WMO web site 1 with hyperlinks to enable navigation across the entire set. The other four volumes comprising the report are as follows: Volume 2. Earth observation satellites and their instruments, Volume 3. Gap analysis in the space-based component of GOS, Volume 4. Estimated performance of products from typical satellite instruments, and Volume 5. Compliance analysis of potential product performances with user requirements. This set therefore updates and significantly enhances the information previously contained in WMO Publication No 411, Information on meteorological and other environmental satellites, the last edition of which appeared in 1994. Of particular note is also the important role that these volumes will play in facilitating future missions to meet meteorological and climate monitoring requirements, in particular for measuring the Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) as identified by the WMO co-sponsored Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), especially in the context of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) which has recently been mandated by the Third World Climate Conference (WCC-3), organized by WMO and its partners (Geneva, 31 August – 4 September 2009). Lastly, I would like to thank all those from the relevant space agencies who contributed to this effort, including the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) and the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS). I particularly wish to thank, on behalf of WMO, Dr Bizzarro Bizzarri, formerly of the Italian Meteorological Service and the Italian Space Agency, for his continued commitment and outstanding efforts in compiling this key material. 1 ftp://ftp.wmo.int/Documents/PublicWeb/sat/DossierGOS/ GOS-2010, January - Introduction THE SPACE-BASED GLOBAL OBSERVING SYSTEM IN 2010 (GOS-2010) INTRODUCTION Summary This document continues the series submitted by WMO at yearly intervals, aiming at reviewing the status of satellite programmes and analysing particular aspects. It is structured as a Dossier comprising an Introduction followed by five Volumes: - Vol. I Satellite programmes description - Vol. II Earth observation satellites and their instruments - Vol. III Gap analysis in the space-based component of GOS - Vol. IV Estimated performance of products from typical satellite instruments - Vol. V Compliance analysis of potential product performances with user requirements The first two volumes (“Programmes” and “Instruments”) collect the information on the status of the space-based Global Observing System (both meteorological and R&D satellites). The third volume analyzes the long-term evolution of the plans to discover possible gaps of service, and indicates needs for continuity or new developments. The last two volumes (“Products” and “Compliance”) estimate the potential performances of future systems and compare them with the user requirements. This Dossier is provided in electronic form with hyperlinks enabling navigation across the five volumes, provided that the volumes are saved in the same folder. Only the present introduction and the first volume are available in printed form. The Dossier is expected to be a useful reference for planning purpose on both the satellite-provision aspect, and the user requirements definition and adjustment. As a rule, it will be updated three times a year, in January, June and October. GOS-2010, January - Introduction Page 2 1. Background This dossier on the space-based component of the GOS, hereafter referred to as the “Dossier”, is an evolution of the document “Status of the Space-based Component of GOS”, that has been regularly presented by WMO to the annual meetings of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS). The first issue was presented at CGMS-32 (Sochi, 17-20 May 2004) as WMO WP-26. It included only meteorological satellites in GEO and LEO, and a short gap analysis limited to the situation in 2004 and two years ahead (2006). The second issue was presented to CGMS-33 (Tokyo, 1-4 November 2005) as WMO WP-23. A number of R&D programmes were then included. The short gap analysis was still limited to meteorological satellites, considering the situation in 2005 and two years ahead (2007). The third issue was presented to CGMS-34 (Shanghai, 2-7 November 2006) as WMO WP-25. The number of R&D programmes was extended. The gap analysis was still limited to meteorological satellites, considering the situation in 2006 and two years ahead (2008). The fourth issue, presented to CGMS-35 (Cocoa Beach, 5-9 November 2007) as WMO WP-05, was entirely focused on gap analysis. Both operational meteorological and R&D programmes were merged. Gap analysis was structured by “missions” and covered from 2007 to 2020. At CGMS-36 (Maspalomas, 3-7 November 2008) the GOS-2008 Dossier was introduced as WMO- WP-16. The information was structured in four volumes. Three of these volumes consisted of updates of previous contents (programmes, instruments and gap analysis) with significant expansion, because additional programmes had been considered, mainly in the R&D category, as well as a number of missions run on a commercial basis. In addition, a fourth volume was introduced estimating the quality of the products that could potentially be retrieved from typical instruments thought to be feasible in the post-2020 timeframe. In the 2009 issue, a fifth Volume was added, on the compliance of prospective product quality with user requirements. Since 2009, three updates of the GOS Dossier are provided, nominally on: • 1st January, to incorporate information from the latest session of CGMS; • 30th June, to take account of possible events in the first half of the year; • 1st October, to be submitted to the next session of CGMS. 2. The document package In its electronic form, the Dossier includes this introduction (file: “Introduction”) followed by five volumes (only Volume I is being issued in printed form): Volume I - Satellite Programmes Description (file: “Programmes”) - It gathers information on satellite programmes from operational and R&D agencies. The number of space agencies and the nature of the programmes considered have been greatly extended in respect of previous issues. Volume II - Earth observation satellites and their instruments (file: “Instruments”) - It gathers instrument descriptive tables for instruments that are currently operating, or close to be operating, or at an advanced stage of their approval process. It has also been greatly extended