WGCV Chair’s Report K. Thome NASA WGCV Plenary # 44 EUMETSAT, Darmstadt, Germany August 28-31, 2018

Timeline from WGCV-43 Other activities April 2018 WGCV plenary #43 in Sao Paolo April 2018 SIT-33 Boulder, Colorado USA May 2018 WGCV telecon July/August 2018 WGCV action item telecons Other activities Inputs to monthly CEOS SEC meeting / telecon August telecon with CEOS SIT Joint WGISS/WGCV telecons LSI-VC telecons

Primary agenda topics included SIT-33 23-25 April 2018 Boulder, Colorado, USA Decision 1 SIT endorsed the initiation of the CEOS Volcano Demonstrator. Decision 2 SIT endorsed the initiation of the CEOS Seismic Hazard Demonstrator. Decision 3 SIT endorsed the initiation of the first GEO-DARMA pilot (SERVIR Mekong) focused on developing a collaborative tool for flood monitoring in Myanmar. Decision 4 Pascal Lecomte (ESA) identified as the new CEOS representative to the GEO Carbon Steering Committee. Decision 5 Updated WGCapD Terms of Reference were endorsed in a Plenary Session Decision 6 The Joint CEOS-CGMS WGClimate Terms of Reference were endorsed in a Plenary Session Primary agenda topics included Working Group (WG) and Virtual Constellation (VC) continuity, sustainability and outputs Results of VC and WG Questionnaires Synergies and cooperation areas between VCs and WGs CEOS relationships with CGMS, GEO, and WMO Map of CEOS priorities with the 2017-2019 GEO Work Program

SIT Technical Workshop: 12-14 September, Darmstadt, Germany and VC/WG day on 11 September VC/WG day will discuss and identify areas of existing and potential collaboration along with three parallel sessions on Data, Climate, and Oceans and Water Cycle Technical Workshop will focus on preparations for CEOS Plenary, as well as ensuring follow-up and continuity of issues raised at SIT-33 in Boulder Optimizing resources while producing tangible results Review progress of the ad hoc Teams (AHTs) CEO coordination of climate observations including greenhouse gasses Data-related activities including the evolution of FDA, Open Data Cubes, and LSI-VC’s work on CARD4L CEOS approach to key partnerships, including CGMS, WMO, and GEO Leadership continuity, CEOS Chair transition, and improvements to the annual CEOS Work Plan update process WGCV presentation in session related to FDA

WGCV: Working Group on Calibration and Validation WGCV Presentation to SIT-33 Committee on Earth Observation Satellites WGCV: Working Group on Calibration and Validation Kurt Thome, NASA, WGCV Chair Cindy Ong, CSIRO, WGCV Vice Chair CEOS SIT-33 Session 4: Working Groups Agenda Item #4.3 Boulder, CO, USA 24 – 25 April 2018

CEOS Work Plan and Actions Efforts related with FDA and CEOS Analysis Ready Data through FDA-7: Product Specifications in accordance with the CARD4L Framework FDA-12: Inventory of space data product formats used by CEOS agencies VC-30: Interoperability case study for Landsat and Sentinel-2 Calibration/Characterization of satellite-based EO sensors CV-17: Continental scale surface reflectance validation CV-18: Greenhouse gas reference standards for interoperability CV-19: Biomass validation protocols

WGCV Achievements and Planned Outcomes Recent major achievements RadCalNet (CV-9) ACIX (CV-13) Solar Irradiance Model (CV-16) LPV SuperSites (CV-12, CARB-19) Improved reporting of achievements to ensure their utility to CEOS agencies CEOS website Other outreach methods Near-term planned activities CARD4L assessment (CV-17) Joint WGISS activities GSICS Level 1 interoperability (CV-15) Carbon actions including GHGs (CV-18) and biomass (CV-19)

Synergies amongst teams Relying on CEOS Work Plan actions to encourage WGCV members to go to VCs and other WGs CV-14: Report on application of approaches for cloud masking will involve understanding impacts on CARD4L (LSI-VC) CV-17: Surface reflectance validation also will prompt interactions on CARD4L CV-18: Greenhouse gas reference standards for interoperability will lead to work with AC-VC CV-19: Biomass validation protocols will involve WGClimate Formalize those interactions already occurring at the subgroup levels Fiducial reference measurements (FRMs) for validation of surface temperature is a collaboration between WGCV IVOS/LPV and SST-VC Ocean Colour FRM comparisons for OCR-VC and IOCCG WGCV has always had a close collaboration with GSICS continuing with L1 top-of-atmosphere interoperability (CV-15) and pre-launch workshop (CV-03)

Sustainable commitment WGCV meets three times per two year term of each WGCV Chair Last two meetings held in May 2017 at Sioux Falls, South Dakota USA and April 2018 in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil Total of 38 people from 21 institutions, and 16 countries represented Active sub-groups and task groups with broad community support Most active groups over the past three years have been BELSPO, CNES, CSIRO, DLR, ESA, GA, ISRO, JAXA, NASA, NSSC, UKSA, USGS Indicate agencies with subgroup chairs and vice chairs Members are key people within their agencies calibration and validation efforts Opportunity for dedicated efforts on CEOS activities is always a challenge (as is the case for all WGs) Struggled locating a Vice Chair candidate for 2016 CEOS Plenary but already have a commitment for vice chair candidate in place for 2018 CEOS Plenary