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

2. 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

3. 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 GEO Work Program

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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)

8. 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)

9. 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