Leveraging Commercial & Non-Profit Satellite Capabilities, Plans, and Opportunities, for Earth System Observation Continuity

Abstract:

This virtual mini-symposium will consist of a short introduction, three invited presentations, and will close with an extended moderated discussion, as follows:

1. Introduction and approach (Daniel Limonadi, Duane Waliser, Betsy Weatherhead)
2. The historical evolution, current landscape, and future plans of Earth Observations by NGOs (Pat Patterson, Asal Naseri)
3. Strengths and challenges of NGO data relative to continuity of climate variable observations: (Betsy Weatherhead, Jeff Privette)
4. Climate monitoring and research topics that might be addressable with NGO data sets (Jeff Privette, Chris Ruf, Betsy Weatherhead)
5. Moderated discussion focused on how civil space agencies could/should respond to and take advantage of NGO capabilities (Rashmi Shah, Daniel Limonadi)

We use the term Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to cover both commercial and non-profit entities.

This mini-symposium serves to provide valuable background material for the upcoming KISS Study on “Developing a Continuity Framework for Satellite Observations of Climate” https://kiss.caltech.edu/workshops/ClimateFramework/ClimateFramework.html.  The overall 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. 

This event leverages and contributes to the JPL CCS series of mini-symposia focused on “The Essential Role of Long-term Satellite Records for Climate Science and Monitoring.”  The objectives of this series are:

1. to raise the visibility of the remarkable role and importance of the long-term satellite climate records currently in existence;
2. to highlight critical accomplishments in selected areas; and
3. to review challenges in sustaining a climate monitoring system.

This event is being co-sponsored by the JPL Center for Climate Sciences (CCS) and the Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS).

Speakers:

Daniel Limonadi

Jet Propulsion Laboratory