The Importance of GMES

1
The Importance of GMES GEOSSIntegrating Our
Earth Observation Systems

• VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN
  (Ret.)Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
  Atmosphere
• NOAA Administrator
• Marine Environment and Security for the European
  Area (MERSEA) Annual Meeting
• March 6, 2006

2
Menu Items

• Who cares about Earth Observation Data?
• Integrating GMES and Other Observation Systems
• Status
• Execution

Tsunami Travel Times, December 26,
2004, Sumatra, Indonesia
3
Who cares about Earth Observation Data?

• We Must Promote Societal Benefits of Integrated
  Observations

North Sea Barriers
WaterLand Neeltje Jans Museum
Forest FireCentral Portugal
UK Flooding
courtesy Environmental Agency
courtesy Reuters
4
GMES Potential for Earth Observations

• Importance of GMESprovides European expertise
• Advancing GEO goals
• Improved coordination of strategies systems for
  observations
• Effective utilization of observations, data
  products
• Full open data exchange access
• GMES can be important contribution
• Priorities
• Management organizational principles
• User connection
• Research to operations
• Data management access

Envisat image of a phytoplankton bloom in the
Baltic Sea
courtesy ESA
5
Many Systems Contributing to GEOSS

• Monitoring for scientific, economic, societal
  benefits
• Focus on policy needs
• Society needs information servicesbeyond data
• GEO is logical outlet
• Countries
• Institutions
• Draw from previous work
• IGOS, CEOS, WMO, G3OS

U.S. IEOS
GEOSS
GMES
6
The Global Earth Observation System of
SystemsStatus Update

• Adopted formal GEO organization and 10-year
  implementation plan
• Held GEO I in May 2005, and GEO II in December
  2005
• G-8 Affirmation of Commitment
• Selected new GEO Secretariat Director, Jose
  Achache
• Accepted 2006 Work Plan, adopted a budget and
  formally created GEO Committees
• Architecture and Data Capacity Building Science
  and Technology User Interface and Working Group
  on Tsunami Activities

7
Top Ten Challenges

• 10) Alphabet Soup
• 9) Stove Pipes
• 8) Integration
• 7) Architecture
• 6) Data Management
• 5) Data Sharing
• 4) User Needs
• 3) Maximizing Benefits
• 2) Communication

1) Execution
8
Ocean Observations
Physical Oceanographic Real Time System
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
ARGO Float
Electronic Navigation Charts
LiDAR Image of Moss Landing Harbor Channel
9
The Vision Must Be Followed By The Venture.

• GEOSS will provide scientific basis for sound
  policy decisions in every sector of our society
• Increase our capability to address natural
  disasters
• Coordination presents challenges but is necessary
  for our efforts to be effective
• We are moving forward
• Moving GOES Satellite
• GEO NetCast