Polar Space Task Group Polar Space Task Group An Overview Mr. XXXXX (Agency) on behalf of Polar Space Task Group Date

Polar Space Task Group Introduction International Polar Year - Space Task Group (IPY-STG) is a coordination success story Built a working interface between polar and cryospheric scientific community of practice and Space Agencies Enabled IPY coordination amongst Space Agencies Allowed to fulfil IPY goals – and also key Recommendations captured by former IGOS Partners Cryosphere Theme Cryospheric science cuts across ocean, land, atmosphere physical domains, and oceanographic, terrestrial, glaciological and science disciplines High-latitude polar, and 3 rd pole cryospheric science is reliant upon on satellite remote sensing Desires coordinated use of R&D and operational satellite assets – via a coordinating body. 2

Polar Space Task Group Mandate The Polar Space Task Group (PSTG) has been established under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Executive Council Panel of Experts on Polar Observations Research and Services (EC-PORS). The group’s mandate is to provide coordination across space Agencies to facilitate acquisition and distribution of fundamental satellite datasets, and to contribute to or support development of specific derived products in support of cryospheric scientific research and applications 3

Polar Space Task Group Why IPY Space Task Group? The IPY provided an international framework for understanding polar processes and high-latitude climate Spaceborne technology offered unique capabilities for obtaining essential data for predictive models During the recent IPY era, spaceborne instrumentation represented a technological leap beyond the capabilities of the previous IPYs ( , ) Required coordination in order to optimize space agency contributions - to achieve IPY science objectives 4 Credit: Rignot, E. and J. Mouginot (2012) Combined result using RADARSAT-1, ALOS PALSAR, and Envisat ASAR InSAR data – and funded by NASA

Polar Space Task Group Role of IPY - Space Task Group Established under mandate of WMO/ICSU Joint Committee for the International Polar Year (IPY) - …to coordinate agency planning, processing and archiving of IPY Earth observation legacy data sets Satisfy science requirements in a fashion that distributes the acquisition and processing loads across agencies Identify a limited number of the most important scientific objectives achievable within the IPY time period and STG framework Invited participation from National and International Agencies: ASI, CSA, CMA, CNES, DLR, ESA, EUMETSAT, INPE, JAXA, NASA, NOAA, ROSHYDROMET, USGS, WMO, WCRP-CliC. 5

Polar Space Task Group FY-3C FY-3B Cryosphere Satellite Missions Planned/Pending approvalIn OrbitApproved RADARSAT-Constellation SAR/COSMO-SKYMED X-band TerraSAR/Tandem-X X-band ICESAT GMES S-3A, B RADARSAT-2 C-bandRADARSAT-1 C-band ICESAT-2 CryoSat-2 SAR/RISAT C-band IPY Ku-Scat & MSMR/OCEANSAT-2 HY-3 WSAR Seawinds/QuikSCAT Ku-band GMES S-1A, B GRACE MODIS & AMSR-E/EOS-Aqua SMOS WindSat AMSR-2/GCOM-W1 OLS & SSMI/DMSP— AVHRR & AMSU/NOAA GOCE HY-1B COCTS/HY-1A MODI & MERSI/FY-3A VIRR/FY-1D JPSS 1 VIIRS/NPP Courtesy: M. Drinkwater Arctica-M 1 & 2 HEO missions PCW 1 & 2 MetOp -2, -3 Solid Colour = R & D mission; Hatched = operational mission GRACE-C LEO missions PALSAR/ALOS L-band ASCAT & AVHRR/MetOp -1 ALOS-2 Landsat DCM SPOT-4/5 & Landsat Aster/MODIS/EOS-Terra RA2 & ASAR/Envisat C-bandRA, SAR & Wind Scat/ERS-2 HY-2B HY-2A There is no one Polar Virtual Constellation

Polar Space Task Group IPY-STG Accomplishments Multi-agency coordination for a pole to coast and coast to coast InSAR acquisition campaign CSA/DLR/ESA/JAXA InSAR acquisitions over Greenland with NASA commitment to process and distribute velocity products CSA/MDA Radarsat-2 mapping of Antarctica and multi-polarization map production USGS Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica (LIMA) ESA Envisat ASAR mapping of Antarctica margins and coastal ice DLR TerraSAR-X repeat mapping of fast glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica ESA, DLR and ASI captured the break-up of the Wilkins Ice Shelf in great detail, spatially and temporally. ASI COSMO-SkyMed velocity mapping of the Perito Moreno glaciers Expanded JAXA ALOS coverage in the Arctic NRC Canada MODIS circumpolar mosaic of the Arctic Extension of CNES SPIRIT project to make more stereo image data available and to produce more DEMS over ice sheet margins, ice caps and glaciers Sept and 2008 ENVISAT ASAR (c) ESA Antarctic velocity map: ALOS PALSAR, Envisat ASAR and RADARSAT-1/-2 SPIRIT Spot-5 DEM of Hofsjökull, Iceland 7

Polar Space Task Group Re-established Polar Space Task Group (PSTG) PSTG established in 2011 under auspices of WMO Exec Council Panel of Experts on Polar Observations, Research and Services (EC-PORS) PSTG comprises members nominated by Heads of Space Agencies, upon invitation by WMO Secretary General; Objective is to contribute to, or provide support to, development of specific derived products required for cryospheric scientific research and applications; Actively seek realisation of benefits from the growing constellation of polar orbiting satellites, by mobilising the unique and complementary capabilities of each of the respective participating Agencies, in response to the Polar science priorities Secretariat provided by WMO 8

Polar Space Task Group PSTG Potential Areas of Strategic Focus 9 Recovery Glacier – TerraSAR-X Sea and glacial ice mass variability and contribution to sea level and ocean dynamics Glacial ice mass balance contribution to sea level Polar atmospheric, ocean, cryosphere and terrestrial products to facilitate improved weather, climate and environmental observation, monitoring and prediction Freshwater budget closure at high latitudes (snow and permafrost impact on polar hydrological cycle) Circumpolar changes in permafrost and terrestrial biosphere (consequences for Carbon and hydrological cycles) Physical and biological forcing of atmospheric chemistry in polar atmosphere Identifying new opportunities for integrated applications in response to emerging socio-economic issues of polar regions

Polar Space Task Group WCP… WWW Polar Space Task Group (PSTG) relationships PSTG WMO EC-PORS - Global Cryosphere Watch - Global Integrated Polar Prediction System SAT CEOS WGClimate CGMS Requirements Sources IGOS Cryosphere Theme GCOS WCRP (CliC, Sparc, CLIVAR) IASC (iAOOS, SAON) SCAR GODAE Global Cryosphere Watch Reporting Space Agencies ASI, DLR, CNES, CMA, CSA, EUMETSAT, ESA, INPE, JAXA, NASA, NOAA, PLANETA, USGS, etc. GEO v1 – 23 Jan 2013 CM – High Level Policy on Sat Matters Secretariat 10

Polar Space Task Group Current Nominated PSTG Members Members of PSTG ASIBattazza, CNESHosford, CSA/CEOSCrevier, CMAPeng, DLRGottwald, DLRFloricioiu, ESA/EC-PORSDrinkwater, Mark EUMETSATHolmlund, INPEBuss de Souza, JAXAShimada, NASADobson, NOAA/EC-PORSKey, Jeff – NOAAClemente-Colon, PLANETAAsmus, USGSMullins, 11

Polar Space Task Group Collaborative Approach for the PSTG Review and understand cryosphere and polar scientific requirements; Establish a balanced implementation strategy covering atmosphere, ocean and terrestrial domains; Develop a set of key strategic goals and translate them into observational requirements; Commitment to support data acquisition, and support for product development and establishment of relevant accompanying scientific studies, as appropriate for the Agency; Identify gaps in the existing observation capabilities and formulate recommendations for future satellite missions Direct Broadcast (Readout) MODIS and AVHRR Winds 12

Polar Space Task Group Future Steps CEOS SIT: Establish communication link to CEOS and via WG Climate for reporting purposes Collect state of art and cryospheric science requirements and priorities via Workshops and interactions with representatives of Cryospheric science community Establish WGs (as required) for coordinating data acquisition activities – SAR Coordination WG established Establish Strategic Implementation Plan Implement through annual meetings and alignment of commitments taken through respective Agency programmes Periodic reporting to CEOS, CGMS, EC- PORS, CM 13

Polar Space Task Group SAR Coordination WG Established to provide coordination across space agencies with SAR missions, to facilitate acquisition and distribution of fundamental SAR satellite datasets, and to contribute to or support development of specific derived products in support of cryospheric scientific research and applications. The membership of the SAR Coordination Working Group will be as inclusive as possible and will include: –All SAR Operating Agencies (thematic experts and mission managers); –Other agencies - to ensure availability of complementary datasets, necessary ground segment and contribution of thematic experts; –Members of the science community or scientific team leaders responsible for a specific thematic requirement and who want to ensure that their collective needs are addressed; –Members of the “commercial arm” of SAR missions – under invitation by their public counter-part.

Polar Space Task Group Summary The multi-agency Polar Space Task Group is established on the foundation laid by the IPY Space Task Group In absence of any other similar coordinating body - PSTG has been re- established to continue to organise and coordinate future earth observing campaigns in support of Polar and Cryospheric science PSTG provides an essential link between the Polar Science communities and space agencies for articulating coherent, space-based data requirements in support of the operational implementation Facilitates more efficient use of space infrastructure in polar regions 15 RADARSAT 2 Multi-pol color composite of Antarctic outlet glaciers at C-Band - HH, HV, HH-HV RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © MacDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES LTD. (2008)”