1. CEOS Response to the GEOSS Water Strategy Report Nobuyoshi Fujimoto, Chu Ishida, Kerry Sawyer and Richard Lawford JAXA and CEOS SIT Workshop Agenda Item #11 Organization: JAXA CEOS SIT Technical Workshop CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014

2. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 Background: The Integrated Global Water Cycle Observations report was published by IGOS-P in 2004. Shortly thereafter the activities of the Water Cycle theme were imported into the GEO Implementation Plan and managed through the Water Task which has the following target: In 2012 the IGWCO Community of Practice with the support of GEO and CEOS, began the preparation of an updated report. The progress on the recommendations in the earlier report were reviewed, the program descriptions were updated and many new perspectives from GEO priorities were added to the basic information in the old IGOS-P report. The report was announced at the GEO Summit in January 2014 and distributed in February 2014. By 2015, produce comprehensive sets of data and information products to support decision-making for efficient management of the world's water resources, based on coordinated, sustained observations of the water cycle on multiple scales. GEOSS Water Strategy Report - from observations to decision 2

3. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 Since the proposal to develop the report was adopted by the IGWCO COP in 2012 and supported by CEOS and GEO, the water community spent more than 18 months completing the report. The GEOSS Water Strategy updates the status of water observational capabilities and information systems, and provides guidance for the development of observational water programs for the period 2015-2025. In addition, the report identifies a number of recommendations for action by GEO Members and Participating Organizations. Many of these recommendations deal with satellites and fall within the CEOS area of responsibility. Short Summary of the Report 3

4. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 A.Enhancing User Engagement (8) B. Expanding data acquisition strategies (3) C. Advancing satellite data acquisition (10) D. Strengthening in-situ data acquisition (10) E. Encouraging and conducting research and product development (16) F. Facilitating data sharing and common standards (7) G. Expanding capacity development (4) Recommendations for the Priority Areas of the Report 4

5. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 December 2013: Executive Summary of the report published by JAXA and distributed. January 17, 2014: The GEOSS Water Strategy was announced in a special side event at the GEO Summit in Geneva and copies of the Executive Summary were distributed. February 2014: The final version of the GEOSS Water Strategy was printed and distributed. February 27, 2014: The Director of the GEO Secretariat invited CEOS and other GEO Members and POs to identify recommendations of the report that CEOS would be willing to address. April 8, 2014: CEOS CEO asked CEOS Members to provide responses for recommendations of the report by Mid-May May 21, 2014: JAXA responded to the GEO request May 22, 2014: NASA responded to the GEO request June 25, 2014: NOAA responded to the GEO request Progress to Date for Developing the Implementation Plan (1/2) 5

6. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 May 2014: IGWCO CoP members made commitments to address some recommendations. May to present: Informal discussions held with country and program representatives to encourage commitments (AfriGEOSS, Germany, etc.) June 2014: AGU session proposal on GEOSS Water Strategy approved. July 2014: Presentation made by R. Lawford at GSFC/NASA to explore possible commitments. July to September 2014: Consultations with NASA on a possible global water security initiative for US GEO Progress to Date for Developing the Implementation Plan (2/2) 6

7. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 7 Responses from CEOS to Date 1.NASA’s responses on 21 May Regarding water-train satellite constellation, a study should be undertaken to assess the value of coordinated measures to articulate what would bring the most understanding assessment of the global water cycle. SMAP, leveraging off of SMOS, has some strides in setting down what could be a baseline for a global-scale soil moisture project. 2. JAXA’s responses on 24 May Regarding water-train satellite constellation, CEOS should discuss whether it will be the best way to address user needs, or other ways will be the best. JAXA is currently operating GCOM-W, and will operate EarthCARE/CPR and GCOM-C in 2015 and 2016 respectively. In addition, the CEOS Precipitation Constellation that JAXA supports as a co-lead is discussing a follow-on mission of the GPM. These missions will contribute to some of the recommendations. 3. NOAA’s responses on 25 June NOAA is ready to leverage current and future activities (e.g., GOES, POES/JPSS, GOES-R and JPSS) to address some of the recommendations.

8. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 Main 2014 achievements/outcomes: New initiatives have been launched which deal with two of the six theme areas. 1.Addressing water security and sustainable development (GEO is collaborating in the design of a monitoring system for indicators for the proposed Water Sustainable Development Goal [SDG]) 2. Supporting the climate change adaptation agenda. 3. Warning systems for hydrometeorological hazards. 4. Enhancing human and environmental resilience. 5. Addressing the Water-Energy-Food nexus issues. (GEO Water is collaborating in a new Future Earth Water-Energy-Food initiative) 6. Improving the welfare of the poor in developing countries through more effective water management. Responses from GEO to Date 8

9. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 A.2. GTN-H which has agreed to initiate a user engagement activity that will seek feedback on existing and prototype products and engage users in the co-design of new products. A6. Several IGWCO COP members are beginning to review the needs of water resource managers for information related to extreme values. A.7. Through the University of Tokyo, Japan is developing a water cycle solutions integration System which will translate water cycle observations into actionable products. D.5. The GEWEX Project Office is developing a document that will provide the rationale for requesting larger financial commitments by GEO members to continuous operation and expansion of soil moisture networks. Responses from Non-CEOS organizations to Date (1/2) 9

10. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 E.9 The EC Earth2observe has initiated a project to assess the feasibility of combining in-situ measurements and GRACE satellite data to produce an integrated groundwater product. G.2. The GEO Secretariat will develop a web-based clearinghouse for water cycle training materials and webinars. G.4 Given the importance of water use in monitoring for SDGs, IGWCO COP plans to undertake a feasibility study to determine how Earth observations can provide data on water use. Additional: US GEO has started to develop an initiative related to global water security. Responses from Non-CEOS organizations to Date (2/2) 10

11. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 11 Proposed Schedule 2014: 15 October: CEOS CEO will submit CEOS inputs to the GEO IGWCO COP Chairman (Richard Lawford) 31 December: GEO IGWCO Chairman will complete the draft GEOSS Water Implementation Plan (WIP) including actions, deliverables, and milestones, along with a proposed tracking system for measuring progress. 2015: 31 January: The Implementation plan will be finalized and submitted to GEO and to CEOS.

12. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 Recommendations that need Responses from CEOS 12

13. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 A.3. A global-scale coordinated initiative should be developed and implemented to advance the future use of satellite remote sensing for water quality applications (a similar need is identified in C.10 “A feasibility assessment should be undertaken to determine the benefits and technological difficulties of designing a hyperspectral satellite mission focused on water quality measurements.” (DLR has informally expressed an interest in working in this area) C.8. A mission optimized to measure cold season processes and variables from space is needed. Also attention should be given to the further development of multichannel satellite sensors that will be able to provide freeze/thaw patterns under different vegetation conditions (C9) (JAXA will contribute to these recommendations using GCOM-W and GPM/DPR.) New Missions that should be considered by CEOS 13

14. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 C.7. GEO and CEOS should facilitate the planned NASA/German Aerospace Centre (DLR) joint GRACE II mission that will follow the current GRACE Twin (expected launch date of August 2017). GRACE follow-on missions with lower-orbit, drag-free satellites with laser interferometry that can yield higher spatial resolution data are also a priority. The planned SWOT mission is viewed broadly as a major advance because of the promise it holds for expanded monitoring of surface water (water levels, discharge). Efforts should be made to advance this technology as quickly as possibly. (CNES is working with NASA in addressing this opportunity) New and Follow-on Missions that are Recommended in the Report 14

15. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 C.1. The feasibility and benefits of developing a Water (W)-Train satellite (a series of satellites modelled after the A-train) constellation should be assessed. The observational system should capture all fluxes and stores of the water cycle using a diverse suite of platforms and instruments. (NASA appears to supports the need for a study of the W-train concept) C.2. Satellite missions such as those in the A-Train and the planned EarthCare and GCOM-W2 missions and field experiments should be closely coordinated to measure cloud properties, with the goal of providing data for research and for transitioned into operations. the study of precipitation processes and energy budgets. (EarthCARE will contribute to this recommendation.) C.4. The coverage and quality of satellite observations should be improved to a constellation providing three-hourly (or more frequent) revisit times over the entire globe by a combination of GMI/AMSR2-class multi-channel conically scanning microwave imagers and ATMS-class multi-channel cross-track microwave sounders (CEOS Precipitation Constellation is discussing a follow-on mission of the GPM.) Platform Recommendations for Consideration by CEOS 15

16. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 C.3. Advanced satellite technologies, such as hyperspectral infrared and millimetre/sub-millimetre and microwave radiometres, should be promoted to observe clouds, water vapour, and aerosols. Multi-frequency radars should be sustained and Doppler capabilities should be introduced to observe the cloud precipitation particle continuum and vertical velocities. (EarthCARE will contribute to this recommendation.) C.5. Space-borne precipitation radar should be made operational and next- generation precipitation radar with advanced technology should be developed. (CEOS Precipitation Constellation is discussing a follow-on mission of the GPM.) C.6. A commitment by CEOS, GEO, and their members should provide requisite thermal band imaging sensors on satellites. Responsible agencies need to process and make available LST datasets from GEO satellites so that these products can be used to map ET in near-real time. (JAXA’s GCOM-C will contribute to this recommendation.) Sensor Recommendations for CEOS 16

17. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 Decisions Desired by GEO IGWCO COP Chair 17 CEOS expresses interest in the findings of the GEOSS Water Strategy Report and is ready to consider it as one of its primary guidance documents for its future water activities. CEOS will consider the recommendations related to the key satellite issues defined in this briefing (plus the other small recommendations) and will assess options and develop plans for addressing them as appropriate. It will report back to the chair of the IGWCO COP by October 15, 2014 on the appropriate recommendations in the GEOSS Water Strategy Report.

18. SIT Tech. Workshop 2014 CNES, Montpellier, France 17 th -18 th September 2014 18 B.3. The Global Climate Observing System’s participants should be invited to undertake a joint study with GEO to assess the current prioritization of observational and modelling efforts for water cycle variables as part of its support to the UNFCCC (This could be tied to ECVs through the listing of EWVs in the Water Strategy Report). Opportunities for greater CEOS involvement in planning GEO Water activities: Recommendations that could be tied to CEOS activities: 1) GEO Water invites CEOS representation/participation in discussions related to the SDG indicators (Theme 1) and the WEF Nexus (Theme 5) (2 names please). 2) CEOS is invited to participate in IGWCO COP activities related to user engagement (name please) Other Recommendation and Invitations