Global Climate Change Monitoring Ron Birk Director, Mission Integration, Northrop Grumman Member, Alliance for Earth Observations Responding to Emerging.

Global Climate Change Global Climate Change MonitoringMonitoringGlobal Climate Change Global Climate Change MonitoringMonitoring

Ron Birk Director, Mission Integration, Northrop GrummanMember, Alliance for Earth Observations

Responding to Emerging Climate Change PoliciesResponding to Emerging Climate Change Policies2008 AMS Public-Private Partnership Forum2008 AMS Public-Private Partnership ForumWashington, DCWashington, DCApril 22, 2008April 22, 2008

Objectives and Activities

“… “… to succeed, we need to succeed, we need partnerships with industry, partnerships with industry,

academia, and academia, and nongovernmental organizations nongovernmental organizations

… We look for industry to … We look for industry to organize itself … to put forward organize itself … to put forward

its ideas, needs, and its ideas, needs, and concerns.”concerns.”

Our Mission is to promote & support the understanding and use of Earth observations

- VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. (Ret.) Under Secretary for Oceans &

Atmosphere Co-Chair, Group on Earth Observations

Alliance Activities:

• Architecture Workshop

• Forum on Earth Observations

• Expertise and Community Resources

• Expert Meetings

• Sponsorships

The Alliance Works to:

• Represent a broad & global voice

• Communicate amongst organizations

• Partner with Users

• Educate

Identifying Target Observables

Within the overall context of a system of systems framework with observing systems, modeling systems, and decision support systems…

• Global Change observable categories– Climate – Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)– Weather – Environmental Data Records (EDRs)– Solid Earth and Natural Hazards (SESWG Report)

Decision Support enabled by Earth Observations

Decision quality information integrated at regional centers enables adaptation to local conditions

Drought for agriculture

Precipitation for water availability

Wind for energy availability

Temperature for public health

26 GCOS Essential Climate Variables

3.1. Atmosphere3.1.1. Surface Wind Speed and Direction3.1.2. Upper-air Temperature3.1.3. Water Vapour3.1.4. Cloud properties3.1.5. Precipitation3.1.6. Earth Radiation Budget3.1.7. Ozone3.1.8. Atmospheric reanalysis (multiple ECVs)3.1.9. Aerosols3.1.10. Carbon Dioxide, Methane and other Greenhouse Gases3.1.11. Upper-air Wind

3.2. Oceans3.2.1. Sea Ice3.2.2. Sea Level3.2.3. Sea Surface Temperature3.2.4. Ocean Colour3.2.5. Sea State3.2.6. Ocean Reanalysis3.2.7. Ocean Salinity

3.3. Terrestrial3.3.1. Lakes3.3.2. Glaciers and Ice Caps, and Ice Sheets3.3.3. Snow Cover3.3.4. Albedo3.3.5. Land Cover3.3.6. fAPAR3.3.7. LAI3.3.8. Biomass3.3.9. Fire Disturbance3.3.10. Soil moisture

Global Essential Climate Variables with Heritage Records (Karl et al., 2007 AMS)

Generally considered adequate

for developing CDR's

Usefulness is unknown, application-

dependent, or access-dependent

Generally considered inadequate

for developing CDR's

No viable observations

available

NPOESS

NPOESS

NPOESS

NPOESS

NPOESS

NPOESS GPM

NPOESS

NPOESSNPOESS

NPOESS

NPOESS

NPOESS

NPOESS

Global Essential Climate Variables through 2050

55 Environmental Data Records (EDRs)

Solid Earth and Natural Hazards

Decadal Survey Recommendations to NASA

- Strategic Centers -- Strategic Centers -

- 6 Regional Support Centers -- 6 Regional Support Centers -

- 123 WFOs -- 123 WFOs -

Northeast Region

Boston

Climate Services provided by NOAA

NOAA ServicesNOAA Services

SensorsSensors

13 River Forecast Centers6 Regional Climate Centers

10 National Ops Centers10 Research and Specialized Support CentersCustomersCustomers

•

PartnersPartners

What can we do for Global Climate Change monitoring?

• Identify target observables

• Evaluate capacity of current and planned systems to acquire and deliver target observables

• Identify gaps in coverage (geographic, spatial, temporal, radiometric)

• Contribute innovation & technology development to close gaps

• Advocate for solutions

• Promote value of EO to society & the economy

Work Together with a Global Voice

System of Systems Approach

1. Enterprise Architecture

2. Comprehensive & Interoperable

3. Research and Operations (R&O)

4. Sustained Capabilities

5. Net-Centric Approach

6. Integrated Solutions

7. Delivering Benefits to Society