Coordinating earth observations from space: Toward a global earth observing system

Abstract

The paper develops the rationale for coordination of Earth observation missions among national and regional agencies to overcome resource limitations, avoid duplication of effort, and make a significant contribution to global change monitoring and assessment. A global Earth observing system must involve all agencies with programmatic and funding responsibility and must be responsive both to scientific inputs and user needs. The paper briefly examines the objectives, current activities, and the linkages among existing Earth observation coordination groups. It advocates the need for a more effective forum for developing consensus across the whole spectrum of Earth and environmental observations satellite missions and proposes the strengthening of the Committee on Earth Observations Satellites (CEOS), a coordination group created as a result of the Group of Seven Economic Summit's Panel of Experts on Remote Sensing from Space. CEOS should be restructured to include representation of international scientific and intergovernmental user organizations and should develop formal linkages to other existing satellite coordination groups. A revitalized CEOS should focus on collaboration in the development and operation of research and operational missions, the sharing of data to assist in global change decision-making, and the construction of international data networks to facilitate global change data management. ★★★