The Full Picture

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More ‘eyes in the skies’ provide a full picture:

a report from the Committee on

Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS)

Barbara J. Ryan, US Geological Survey (2007 CEOS Chair)

Timothy S. Stryker, US Geological Survey

Rebecca L. Johnson, Science Applications International Corporation, contractor to the US Geological Survey

ince the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change entered into force in 1994, government recognition

and public awareness of global change have increased substan-

tially. And change is occurring rapidly – in the atmosphere, oceans,

and across countless landscapes. Worldwide, climate patterns and

other natural cycles and systems are being affected in complex and

unprecedented ways. As societies grow and expand their already

sizable imprint on the Earth, even greater changes lie ahead.

Understanding and addressing climate change requires a global view of

Earth’s natural systems. While ground-, sea- and aerial-based measure-

ments and networks provide much essential climate information, only

satellites making regular, long-term observations of the planet can give

a complete, global perspective on the Earth system. Indeed, a detailed,

global climate record that lends a view both to the past and the future

is not possible without a major, sustained satellite compo-

nent, one characterized by continuity of observations over

time.

Government decision makers need the most complete

picture possible of global climate change in order to assess

its impacts and implications for their societies. Sound,

scientifically based information ultimately enables the best

decision making. Capturing a complete climate picture,

however, is beyond the capability of any single country or

handful of countries, no matter how technologically

advanced. This task requires large-scale, broadly based

international cooperation.

The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites

(CEOS) endeavours to coordinate satellite missions

worldwide and maximize the use of satellite data to

provide a detailed and accurate view of the Earth system.

Established in 1984, CEOS provides a broad framework

for international coordination of space-related Earth-

observation missions through cooperation of its member

agencies. CEOS membership comprises all of the world’s

major civil space agencies, as well as various user orga-

nizations and stakeholders. By working together, CEOS

members advance the coordination of current Earth-

observing systems and the development of future systems

that will not only fill observational gaps, but will possess

new capabilities designed to answer fundamental ques-

tions about the Earth system.

In recent years, CEOS has refined its focus to directly

implement the work and goals of the Group on Earth

Observations (GEO). In 2005, the CEOS membership

decided to realign its strategies and plans to deliver the

space-based component of the Global Earth Observation

System of Systems (GEOSS).

As one of the original contributing organizations of

GEO, CEOS fostered space agencies’ participation in the

initial GEO 2006 work plan and contributed to tasks that

directly addressed or cut across all of the nine GEOSS soci-

etal benefit areas (SBAs) relating to agriculture,

biodiversity, climate, disasters, ecosystems, energy, health,

water and weather. CEOS’ involvement continues at a

similar level for the current GEO work plan.

Human societies have an impact on the Earth

GEOSS C

OMPONENTS

– O

BSERVING

YSTEMS