STG 1 Summary First meeting of STG 1

STG 1: Summary • First meeting of STG 1 took place in WMO Headquarters from 17 -19 Jan, 2007 • Participation of the following Space Agencies: – CMA, CNES, CSA, DLR, ESA, Eumetsat, NASA, Roshydromet, • Additional representation from WCRPCli. C, GIIPSY, IPY-Joint Committee

Main Issues • How to satisfy requirements collected from IPY science community • To leave an IPY legacy of bipolar snapshots, based on satellite data, comprising a series of scientific firsts: – For the first time, pole to coast multi-frequency In. SAR measurements of ice-sheet surface velocity – For the first time, repeat fine-resolution SAR mapping of the entire Southern Ocean sea-ice cover for sea ice motion – For the first time, one complete high resolution visible and thermal IR (Vis/IR) snapshot of circumpolar permafrost – For the first time, pan-Arctic high and moderate resolution Vis/IR snapshots of freshwater (lake and river) freeze-up and break-up

Main outcome (1) • Consolidation of requirements captured via Agency AOs, GIIPSY (Polar Snapshot Project), and WCRP-Cli. C and IPY Sub-Committee on Observations • Represented Agencies introduced individual concepts of Portfolios of satellite data for free and easy access to IPY science community • Content of Portfolios will evolve via STG coordination, to best meet IPY science goals

Main Outcome (2) • STG established sub-groups to focus on specific issues such as special tasking of specific missions to ensure high-level science objectives of IPY can be met – SAR – High-res optical (Vis/IR) • STG identified actions of operational satellite operators to optimise routine polar orbiter data acquisitions and GEO product coverage

STG Recommendations for CM-7 endorsement (1) • STG R 3: Recommendation to WMO Space Programme to coordinate ground receiving station activities for polar orbiters, through CGMS, to guarantee full polar coverage, as appropriate, at 1 km res. for AVHRR during IPY • STG R 4: Recommendation to WMO Space Programme to extend polar region coverage of geophysical products to maximum extent possible, generated from geostationary data

STG Recommendations for CM-7 endorsement (2) • STG R 5: Recommendation to WMO Space Programme, GEO, and CEOS to consider possible use of Molniya orbit, to provide pseudo GEO (high resolution spatio-temporal) polar coverage. The STG meeting noted the potential Russian “Arktica” mission concept • STG R 8: Recommendation to WMO-ICSU Joint Committee for IPY to decide how to interact with GEO to develop long-term perspective on implementation of a sustained observing system for the polar regions, as a legacy of IPY