The Chairman, Mr John Morgan, opened the second session of the Global Observing Systems Space Panel (GOSSP) on Wednesday, October 16, 1996 at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), Switzerland. On behalf of the Joint Planning Office (JPO) for the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), serving as local host, he welcomed all participants and invited them to introduce themselves (see Annex I). The Chairman briefly reviewed the agenda (see Annex II) which was accepted by the participants.
The Chairman started his introduction with an acknowledgement of the work of the former chairmen, Dr Ryder and Prof. Harries. He noted that considerable time had elapsed since the first meeting, and the primary intention of this meeting was to re-establish panel activities. In the interim since the first meeting, the Joint Scientific and Technical Committee (JSTC) of GCOS invited the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) to become co-sponsors of the panel. At the Joint Scientific and Technical Committee for the GOOS, J-GOOS-III, joint sponsorship was agreed. [The Steering Committee (SC) of GTOS, agreed at its first meeting.] He stressed that one objective of the meeting would be to find a mechanism to integrate the requirements of the three global observing systems in an appropriate manner.
The Chairman invited the Director of the JPO, Dr Spence, to contribute to the opening remarks by outlining the relations between GCOS and the other two observing systems. Dr Spence gave an overview of the status and activities of the steering committees of each programme and highlighted links among them. He also provided an update of GCOS. In addition to this panel, there are other joint panels including the GCOS/GTOS Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate (TOPC), the GCOS/GOOS/WCRP Ocean Observation Panel for Climate (OOPC), and the G3OS[2] Joint Data and Information Management Panel (JDIMP). Both GOOS and GTOS are establishing other specific panels which may provide input to the GOSSP. For example, a Coastal Zone Panel may be a future joint activity of GOOS and GTOS. Dr Spence pointed out that objectives of GOOS and GTOS other than climate will be part of the remit of the GOSSP, and will be incorporated into future versions of the Space Plan. Focus will principally be on those observational requirements which will require the long-term continuation of space observations. Links to external organisations such as the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) will continue to be an important activity for the GOSSP.
Dr Spence read a message from the JSTC Chairman, Prof. Townshend, who was unable to attend. In his message, the JSTC Chairman stressed the importance of the panel's role in translating the multiple needs of the global observing systems into space requirements. He noted that the recommendations of the panel should be firmly embedded in the recommendations of the subsidiary panels such as the OOPC and the TOPC as well as others in place, or to be established by the steering committees of the global observing systems. He encouraged the panel to continue its close collaboration with the CEOS. In particular, he urged closer links with the CEOS Calibration/Validation Working Group (WGCV). A proposal from the “In situ Observations for the Global Observing Systems” meeting in Geneva encouraged the global observing systems to take a more strategic oversight for calibration/validation. In this context, Prof. Townshend hoped the space panel would therefore:
take on the role of coordination on behalf of the global observing systems
identify a small number of high priority calibration/validation activities for the WGCV to consider at their next meeting
identify people to attend and communicate these priorities to the WGCV meeting, and report the results back to the global observing systems.
Finally, Prof. Townshend urged the panel to be careful not to apply any methodology which simply emphasises only deficiencies. The panel must also identify those current assets which are crucial to meeting the observing systems' needs. The panel should stress in a positive manner how improvements can ADD to our capabilities and enhance our understanding and ultimately benefit the various governments that participate in space programmes.
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[2] At the first meeting of the
Sponsor Groups for the Global Observing Systems, it was agreed to refer to them
collectively as G3OS. |
