- June 3, 2008
- Posted by: EARSC
- Category: EARSC News
(June 3)But, Earth sustained development is only feasible if a long-term program of Earth observation is undertaken to ensure service continuity. In order to accomplish this the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is leading a worldwide effort to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) over a 10-year period. As a key component for GEOSS, Europe is developing the first operational monitoring systems for environment and security, the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES). These programs aim to coordinate satellite observation and in situ measurement activities, a method already and successfully used for meteorology and oceanography. GEO will focus on nine Societal Benefit Areas aiming to reduce humanity’s vulnerability to disasters and environmental change while enabling countries to better manage their agriculture, energy, water and other natural resources.
CNES, the French space agency, is strongly involved in these efforts either through national missions, often in multilateral cooperation with other space agencies, or through France’s participation in European Space Agency (ESA) Earth Observation Programs. All of these missions contribute either as demonstrators for new concepts or as first elements of operational series’ of satellites. They will provide data in most of the GEOSS Societal Benefit Areas including disaster response (Spot, Pléiades..), climate (Jason, SMOS, Calipso, Parasol, Mega Tropiques ), water (SMOS, Megha Tropiques, Vegetation…), weather (IASI..), and agriculture (Spot, Vegetation, Venµs..). […]
By all these missions, CNES is strongly involved in the GEO Work plan. These projects contribute to international cooperation and coordination in several Social Benefit Areas such as Disasters, Human Health, Climate, Weather, Water Cycle, and Agriculture.
CNES is also active in the international coordination effort by its participation in the CEOS working groups for education, calibration/validation (also through GSICS group led by WMO) and in the CEOS reflections on virtual constellation for land monitoring, precipitation, atmospheric chemistry and altimetry.
Benoit Boissin
Source: earthzine
