KECK INSTITUTE FOR SPACE STUDIES

       

Workshop: Developing a Continuity Framework for Satellite Observations of Climate

August 15 - 19, 2022
California Institute of Technology - Pasadena, CA 91125

Map

Workshop Overview:

Space-based observations of Earth have given us a view of the wonder and complexity of the planet. They also provide society with situational awareness of local-to-global environmental conditions and predictive guidance of near-term weather and related quantities (e.g., hydrology, air quality). While these capabilities have become indispensable to safeguarding life and property, as well as for providing guidance for near-term economic and resource management decisions, there are needs and opportunities to greatly expand their utility and impact. These needs result from the growing connectivity and complexities of our food, water, transportation, shipping, energy, communications, and health sectors.

The goal of this study program is to help accelerate discussions and plans for a greater and more impactful U.S. contribution to the global climate observing system.  In this context, “climate” includes observations that support climate science and process understanding, as well as monitoring for environmental situational awareness, climate services, adaptation measures, and mitigation assessments. This includes accounting for the context provided by the international Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) program and the Committee on Earth Observations from Space (CEOS), recent and anticipated developments in technology and access to space, and commercial data providers, and the formulation of concepts for future satellite system architectures to address missing observations in, and continuity of, the global climate observing system.

Workshop #1 Objectives:

For the purposes of this KISS study: “Continuity”, as an abbreviation, involves the technical and programmatic framework associated with developing and operating a set of well-calibrated, complementary satellite observations to support climate science and the associated decision-making related to sustainability and resilience.

The objectives for this first workshop is as follows:

  • Establish consensus around the needs and challenges associated with “Continuity”.
    Including:
    1. Considering the needs for climate science, mitigation, and adaptation, and
    2. Identifying technical, programmatic, and observing architecture design challenges. 
  • Review current and planned Earth observations and the national and international landscapes associated with their continuity and identify gaps in the program of record that represent areas where the U.S. could contribute. 
  • For one or more priority climate area, identify suites of observations and initial architecture designs to address continuity that will be evaluated, critiqued, and iterated offline in the gap weeks before workshop #2. 
  • Develop a consensus on a draft outline for the scope and content of a report from the study.

Monday, August 15, 2022

Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

Time
Event
Speaker
7:45 - 8:30 

Institute opens early for workshop check in, SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION, take your rapid test, affirm you are not symptomatic nor have had contact with anyone who is, pick up badge and welcome packet, find seat in the Think Tank

8:30 - 9:00

Enjoy coffee and breakfast in the Keck Center courtyard

9:00 - 9:30

Workshop Logistics and KISS Welcome

KISS
9:30 - 10:00

Participant Introductions

All
10:00 - 10:30

Study Vision, Goals, and Expectations

Study Team Leads
10:30 - 11:00

Break

11:00 - 11:45

1-1. Establishing the why of continuity - science, climate projections, resilience support

Tapio Schneider

11:45 - 12:30

1-2. Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) Primer - what are they, how are they established and prioritized, where are they documented; additional driving considerations (e.g. WCRP grand challenges)

Wenying Su
12:30 - 2:00 Lunch at the Athenaeum

2:00 - 2:45

1-3. Review of Foundational Information from Mini-Symposia: POR Symposia and Guidance in 2017 DS

Stacey Boland
2:45 - 3:00

Formation of, and guidance to, break out sessions

All
3:00 - 3:45 1-4.A) How to frame the relative priority of new science obs vs continuity of existing obs - both in a fixed and increased budget scenario.

 

1-4.B) Reducing the risk of gaps in ECVs that require continuity and overlap from multiple sensors. How can we learn from the past to develop a long-term strategy 1-4.C) What are the biggest gaps today and in the near-term in satellite continuity today for climate science and resilience? Breakout Group Leads:
1-4.A) Waleed Abdalati
1-4.B) Peter Pilewskie
1-4.C) Graeme Stephens
3:45 - 4:15 Break
4:15 - 4:45 1-4.A) Continued 1-4.B) Continued 1-4.C) Continued Groups continue as above
4:45 - 5:05 1-5. Breakout Group 1-4.A) reports out Group A) lead
5:05 - 5:25 1-6. Breakout Group 1.4.B) reports out Group B) lead
5:25 - 5:45 1-7. Breakout Group 1.4.C) reports out Group C) lead
6:00 Dinner at the Athenaeum

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30

Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME
Check in, affirm you are not symptomatic nor have had contact with anyone who is

8:30 - 9:00 Enjoy coffee and breakfast in the Keck Center courtyard
9:00 - 9:15 Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day KISS and Study Team Leads
9:15 - 10:00 2-1. Defining requirements on sensor and platform/constellation design, characterization and performance needed for their measurements to be useful for climate records and services Chris Ruf
10:00- 10:15 Group Picture All
10:15 - 10:45 Break
10:45 - 11:45 2-2. Review of Foundational Information from Mini-Symposia: NGO Symposia Rashmi Shah
11:45 - 12:30 2-3. Considering the tradespace between continuity using legacy sensors often on large platforms and newer innovative sensors on smaller platforms Nancy Baker
12:30 - 2:00 Lunch at the Athenaeum

2:00 - 3:00 2-4. ESA / Copernicus approach to observation priorization, architecture design and development, technology roadmapping & use of commercial data Jörg Schulz
3:00 - 3:45 2-5. NOAA approach to their satellite constellation architecture design and development, including technology roadmapping & use of commercial data. Michael Bonadonna
3:45 - 4:15 Break
4:15 - 5:30 2-6. Plenary/Summary: US approach for the technical specifications, design, development of a climate observing architecture: technology roadmapping, commercial contributions, etc. Daniel Limonadi
5:30 - 7:30 Poster-ish Session & Dinner
Poster-ish Session - Early career study participants & others willing to share
Dinner - Food truck at the Keck Center

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30

Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME
Take your rapid test if you did not take it in your hotel or at home, check in, affirm you are not symptomatic nor have had contact with anyone who is

8:30 - 9:00

Enjoy coffee and breakfast in the Keck Center courtyard

9:00 - 9:15

Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day

KISS and Study Team Leads
9:15 - 9:30

Formation of, and guidance to, break out sessions

All
9:30 - 10:15

3-1.A) The challenge of stitching different observations together to establish a long-term climate record, and the resultant impact on trends

3-1.B) The organizational and infrastructure elements required for development and stewardship of climate continuity/PoR products 3-1.C) The scope of parameters for a US approach (policies, stds, roles, steering group) to satellite climate data record development, production, archive, and access Breakout Group Leads:
3-1.A) Betsy Weatherhead
3-1.B) Steven Platnick
3-1.C) Tim Stryker
10:15 - 10:45

Break

10:45 - 11:30

3-1.A) Continued

3-1.B) Continued 3-1.C) Continued Groups continue as above
11:30 - 11:50

3-2. Breakout Group 3.1.A) reports out

Group A) lead
11:50 - 12:10

3-3. Breakout Group 3.1.B) reports out

Group B) lead
12:10 - 12:30

3-4. Breakout Group 3.1.C) reports out

Group C) lead
12:30 - 2:00 Lunch at the Athenaeum
2:00 - 2:45 3-5. How can international coordination mechanism be better used to avoid gaps in the provision of long-term consistent data sets and realise new operational missions? Jeff Privette
2:45 - 3:15 3-6. Sustaining the conversation and affording a coherent and focused US approach Duane Waliser
3:15 - 3:45 Break
3:45 - 4:15 3-7. Recent and upcoming national/agency programmatic events to be mindful of regarding continuity Charlie Powell
4:15 - 5:30 3-8. Plenary/Summary: The implementation and operational elements of continuity TBD
6:00 Dinner on your own

Thursday, August 18, 2022

Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30

Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME
Take your rapid test if you did not take it in your hotel or at home, check in, affirm you are not symptomatic nor have had contact with anyone who is

8:30 - 9:00

Enjoy coffee and breakfast in the Keck Center courtyard

9:00 - 9:15

Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day

KISS and Study Team Leads
9:15 - 9:30

Formation of, and guidance to, break out sessions

All
9:30 - 10:15 4-1.A) ECV gaps and priorities for Science and Decision-Support 4-1.B) Architecture design & development, technology & new space, and commercial data 4-1.C) Implementation and operational considerations, including programmatic landscape Groups; co-chairs to be volunteered
10:15 - 10:45

Break

10:45 - 12:30 4-1.A) Continued 4-1.B) Continued 4-1.C) Continued Groups
12:30 - 2:00 Lunch on your own
2:00 - 2:30 4-2. Breakout Group A) reports out Group A) co-chairs
2:30 - 3:00 4-3. Breakout Group B) reports out Group B) co-chairs
3:00 - 3:30 4-4. Breakout Group C) reports out Group C) co-chairs
3:30 - 4:00 Break
4:00 - 4:30 Review and discuss KISS Study report/paper outline  Study Team Leads
4:30 - 5:30 4-5. Plenary: Discuss how to optimize Friday meeting/discussion time to revisit important/unfinished items, address topics yet to be discussed, and develop plans/actions for Study week #2 and intervening period. KISS and Study Team Leads
6:00 Dinner at Celestino's (in the back at the Atrium Patio)

Friday, August 19, 2022

Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30 Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME
Check in, affirm you are not symptomatic nor have had contact with anyone who is
8:30 - 9:00 Enjoy coffee and breakfast in the Keck Center courtyard
9:00 - 9:15 Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day KISS and
Team Leads
9:15 - 12:45 5-1. TBD - determined from Thursday's 4:30-5:30 Session All
12:45 - 1:00 Workshop closeout KISS
1:00 Formal Workshop Concludes with informal box lunch at the Institute
1:00 - 5:00  INFORMAL WORKSHOP SMALL GROUP COLLABORATION TIME or WRITING SESSIONS
5:00 Institute Closes

Workshop Participants:

  • Waleed Abdalati - University of Colorado Boulder
  • Nancy Baker - Naval Research Laboratory
  • Michael Bonadonna - National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • Carol Anne Clayson - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
  • Kelsey Foster – Stanford University
  • Christian Frankenberg - Caltech
  • Maria Hakuba – Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech/NASA
  • Ryan Kramer - University of Maryland, Baltimore County/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Therese Jorgensen - NASA Ames Research Center
  • Daniel Limonadi - Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech/NASA
  • Anna Michalak - Carnegie Institution for Science
  • Peter Pilewskie - University of Colorado Boulder
  • Steven Platnick - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Charlie Powell – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) / University of Michigan
  • Jeff Privette - NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Chris Ruf - University of Michigan
  • Tapio Schneider - Caltech
  • Jörg Schulz - European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)
  • Paul Selmants - U.S. Geological Survey
  • Rashmi Shah - Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech/NASA
  • Qianqian Song - University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  • Graeme Stephens - Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech/NASA
  • Timothy Stryker - USGS National Land Imaging Program
  • Wenying Su - NASA Langley Research Center
  • Mathew Van Den Heever – University of Colorado
  • Anna Veldman - UCLA
  • Duane Waliser - Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech/NASA
  • Elizabeth Weatherhead - Jupiter Intelligence and University of Colorado Boulder