View source for Global Earth Observation System (GEOS): System Capabilities and the Role for U.S. EPA Recommendations of a Community Panel

{{GEO User Requirement Document
|Title=Global Earth Observation System (GEOS): System Capabilities and the Role for U.S. EPA Recommendations of a Community Panel
|DocURL=http://www.cgrer.uiowa.edu/people/carmichael/GURME/Final_GEOSS_Task_A_Report_31July2004.pdf
|Organization=EPA
|DocType=Report
|Year=2004
|DocRegion=International
|DocumentNumber=18
|SubmittedDate=2009/08/31
|Description=The panel was asked to think about how such observing systems might be directed toward minimizing data gaps across spatial scales, thus helping EPA move toward a more comprehensive observing approach that would not only benefit GEOSS but also EPA’s unique domestic mission, including air quality modeling and forecasting.
|Parameters=surface air-quality observations of the criteria pollutants
ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter3 (PM2.5 and PM10) are an underutilized yet essential resource.

Albedo
• Insolation
• Photosynthetic active radiation (PAR)
• Leaf area index (LAI)
• Biomass heat capacity
• Land/water boundaries
• Vegetative fraction
• Land-use classification

real-time meteorological and air quality measurement capability

* Meteorological data
|SpatialResolution=The size of pollution hot spots and spatial
gradients in urban areas are on the order of 1 km.
}}
EPA can make a vital and lasting contribution to GEOSS through (1) the contribution of
observations from existing and planned platforms; (2) new strategies for observation and fourdimensional
atmospheric-chemical data assimilation; (3) advancing concepts for characterizing
emissions; and (4) improvements in data sharing and management. At the same time, the
GEOSS effort would benefit substantially from a major focus on the emerging fields of numerical
air quality prediction (NAQP) and ecological indicator prediction (EIP). Here we discuss only
NAQP, but EIP is a logical extension that would move beyond a strictly atmospheric focus to an
emphasis on the whole earth system.

Countries
participating in the GEOSS effort should be extensively surveyed to understand how these
forecast systems, along with systems based in the U.S., can contribute and serve as
foundations for further development and deployment of new measurement and improved
forecast-modeling capabilities in GEOSS.

Satellites: 
These in situ data can be combined with satellite data to
yield good-quality 3-D analyses over broad regions and eventually on the global scale. The
combination of satellite and in situ measurements using advanced data assimilation techniques
mimics methodologies that have proven successful for analyzing diverse types of
meteorological data.

Use of current and
future satellite tropospheric trace-gas measurements should therefore be an important
component in developing a national air quality forecasting and assessment capability.

Effective utilization of new and existing satellite data sets for air quality prediction will
also require the development and evaluation of a broad range of global modeling and data
assimilation tools of varying complexity.

we endorse the
specific recommendation of IGACO “to proceed with the immediate implementation of satellites
in support of air quality applications. In particular, priority should be given to a satellite system
that includes geostationary instruments since only these offer the necessary time and spatial
resolution to support air quality forecasting.”

[[Category:CandidateDoc]][[Category:CitedDoc]][[Category:Satellite]]