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Space Based Climate Observations for GCOS
Initial requirements for satellite observations for the Global Observing Systems (GTOS, GCOS and GOOS) were developed jointly by the AOPC, OOPC and TOPC with assistance from the Global Observing System Space Panel (GOSSP). GOSSP has since completed it's work and been disbanded. The detailed requirements of the three systems are maintained in a database operated by the WMO as a joint project with the Committee for Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS). The AOPC has specified the requirements for GCOS for the WMO/CEOS affiliates database.
The information contained in the table below is early version and should only be viewed as guidance at this point. The table also does not contain all the fields available in the CEOS database tables. It is presented here to provide a general view of the types of satellite observations required by the three observing systems.
Publications:
- Second Meeting: Geneva, Switzerland, October 16-18, 1996:
- Third Meeting: Geneva, Switzerland, October 16-18, 1996:
- Fourth Meeting: Geneva, Switzerland, October 16-18, 1996:
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Requirements for Satellite Observations for GCOS
The table below contains specifications developed by the AOPC for satellite observations in the atmosphere to meet GCOS needs. There are two sets of resolutions specified. The two resolutions and the column headings are explained in the second table below.
|
| Parameter |
Hor Res |
UHor Res |
HR Min |
UHor Res |
Vert Res |
UVer Res |
VR Min |
UVer Res |
Observing Cycle |
UObs Cy |
Accuracy |
UAcc |
| Cloud cover |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
3 |
h |
10 |
% |
| Cloud ice total column |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
3 |
h |
|
g/m2 |
| Cloud top height |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
3 |
h |
0.5 |
km |
| Cloud water total column (<100 µm) |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
3 |
h |
|
g/m2 |
| Cloud water total column (>100 µm) |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
3 |
h |
|
g/m2 |
| Land surface temperature |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
3 |
h |
1 |
K |
| Long-wave outgoing radiation at TOA |
200 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
3 |
h |
5 |
W/m2 - sd |
| Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
168 |
d |
10 |
% |
| Precipitation rate at the ground (liquid) |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
3 |
h |
0.6 |
mm/h |
| Precipitation rate at the ground (solid) |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
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|
|
3 |
h |
0.6 |
mm/h |
| Sea surface temperature |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
24 |
h |
0.3 |
K - sd |
| Sea-ice cover |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
1 |
d |
10 |
% |
| Short-wave outgoing radiation at TOA |
200 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
3 |
h |
5 |
W/m2 - sd |
| Significant wave height |
100 |
km |
250 |
km |
|
|
|
|
3 |
h |
0.5 |
m |
| Snow cover |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
1 |
d |
10 |
% |
| Snow water equivalent |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
1 |
d |
5 |
mm |
| Solar irradiance at TOA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.125 |
d |
5 |
W/m2 - sd |
| Specific humidity profile Higher troposphere |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
0.5 |
km |
1 |
km |
3 |
h |
0.025 |
g/kg |
| Specific humidity profile Lower stratosphere |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
0.5 |
km |
1 |
km |
3 |
h |
0.025 |
g/kg |
| Specific humidity profile Lower troposphere |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
0.1 |
km |
2 |
km |
3 |
h |
0.25 |
g/kg |
| Specific humidity total column |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
|
|
|
|
3 |
h |
1000 |
g/m2 |
| Temperature profile Higher stratosphere/mesosphere |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
2 |
km |
3 |
km |
3 |
h |
1 |
K |
| Temperature profile Higher troposphere |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
0.5 |
km |
1 |
km |
3 |
h |
0.5 |
K |
| Temperature profile Lower stratosphere |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
0.5 |
km |
1 |
km |
3 |
h |
0.5 |
K |
| Temperature profile Lower troposphere |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
0.1 |
km |
2 |
km |
3 |
h |
0.5 |
K |
| Wind profile (horizontal component) Higher stratosphere/mesosphere |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
2 |
km |
3 |
km |
3 |
h |
3 |
m/s |
| Wind profile (horizontal component) Higher troposphere |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
0.5 |
km |
1 |
km |
3 |
h |
2 |
m/s |
| Wind profile (horizontal component) Lower stratosphere |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
0.5 |
km |
1 |
km |
3 |
h |
2 |
m/s |
| Wind profile (horizontal component) Lower troposphere |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
0.1 |
km |
2 |
km |
3 |
h |
2 |
m/s |
| Wind vector over sea surface (horizontal) |
100 |
km |
500 |
km |
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|
|
|
3 |
h |
2 |
m/s |
Explanation of the Columns in the Requirements Table
|
| Parameter |
The variable that is being measured. It may be a profile or an integrated variable. |
| Hor Res |
The optimum horizontal resolution for observing the variable. |
| UHor Res |
The units of the horizontal resolution. |
| HR Min |
The minimum horizontal resolution for the observations to be useful for GCOS. |
| UHor Res |
The units of the horizontal resolution. |
| Vert Res |
The optimum vertical resolution for observing the variable. |
| UVer Res |
The units of the vertical resolution. |
| VR Min |
The minimum vertical resolution for the observations to be useful for GCOS. |
| UVer Res |
The units of the vertical resolution. |
| Observing Cycle |
The time interval between observations of the variable at the same point. |
| UObs Cy |
The units of the observing cycle. |
| Accuracy |
The accuracy required of the measurement of the variable. |
| UAcc |
The units of the accuracy. |
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