GEO UIC Committee: - Group on Earth Observations

projects demonstrate how Earth observations can be applied in a variety of ways to improve
public health. She encouraged participants to visit the showcase. Gary Foley noted that <strong>GEO</strong>
will be adding Tasks concerning water and heath in the next version of its Work Plan.
Carbon CoP—Takashi Moriyama, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Takashi Moriyama provided an overview of the work of the Carbon CoP (see slides for details).
Launched in September 2009, the Carbon CoP is conducting <strong>GEO</strong> Task CL-09-03 (Global
Carbon Observation and Analysis System), which includes three integrated subtasks: (a)
Integrated Global Carbon Observation (IGCO); (b) Forest Carbon Tracking; and (c) Global
Monitoring of Greenhouse Gases from Space (CEOS Carbon Task Force).
In June 2010, as part of subtask (a), the Carbon CoP published the “<strong>GEO</strong> Carbon Strategy,”
which describes key strategic actions needed to expand current carbon cycle observations into
a fully Integrated Global Carbon Observing (IGCO) System measuring the essential parameters
and variables. The strategy has the potential to contribute to the next scientific assessment of
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It is available at:
(http://www.earthobservations.org/documents/sbas/cl/201006_geo_carbon_strategy_report.pdf).
Under subtask (c), the Carbon CoP has a strong relationship with the CEOS Carbon Task
Force, which provides an important connection to the space community, and additional support
for <strong>GEO</strong> Task CL-09-03.
Harnessing Space for Societal Benefits: Indian Experience—Jai Singh Parihar,
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Jai Parihar presented an overview of how India has been using satellite observations for
societal benefit (see slides for details). India’s space program has a large constellation of
satellites producing data that can be applied to all <strong>GEO</strong> SBAs. Successful application of these
observations has been enhanced by a well-developed space and ground infrastructure;
development of applications in partnership with users, researchers, and academia; and
development of an institutional framework to reach out to users. Benefits are being realized in
many areas, including food and water security; management and protection of terrestrial,
coastal, and marine resources; understanding, monitoring, and conserving biodiversity;
improving weather information, forecasting, and warning; understanding, assessing, predicting,
mitigating, and adapting to climate variability and change; reducing loss of life and property from
natural and human-induced disasters; forecasting health hazards; and improving management
of energy resources. Data are being made available to the global community by a variety of
channels.
Coastal Zone CoP (CZCP)—Hans-Peter Plag, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
Hans-Peter Plag presented a brief update of the work of the Coastal Zone CoP (see slides for
details). Up to now, the CZCP has focused on organizing regional workshops with the goal of
engaging end users. The first workshop (held in Greece in 2008) involved far more scientists
than end users. The key “take-home” message was that providers of Earth observations and
services need to understand how and why decisions are being made in order to support them.
The second workshop (held in Benin in 2010) brought scientists together with government
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