ESA-JAXA Pre-Launch EarthCARE
Science and Validation Workshop
13 – 17 November 2023 | ESA-ESRIN, Frascati (Rome), Italy

Introduction to EarthCARE DISC
Timon Hummel, Vasileios Tzallas,
Björn Frommknecht et. al
ESA ESRIN

Introduction
Sensor Performance, Products and Algorithms (SPPA)
activities at ESRIN
The overall functions of the Sensor Performance, Products and Algorithms (SPPA)
section is to assure that the users are provided with best possible productquality, in line with the MRD

During the exploitation phase of a mission, SPPA is therefore responsible for:• Processor (algorithms) maintenance and evolution• On- and Off-line performance assessment and on-demand QC• System calibration and Product validation• Assuring the end-to-end sensor dataset performance by:✓ Generation of ICTs (instrument control tables)✓ Harmonizing and establishing standardized Cal/Val procedures✓ Supporting data consolidation and reprocessing activities (datacuration)✓ Organizing workshops and meetings

EarthCARE
Data Innovation and Science Cluster (DISC)ESA-JAXA Pre-Launch EarthCARE Science and Validation Workshop | 13 – 17 November 2023 | ESA-ESRIN, Frascati (Rome), Italy

EarthCARE DISCCore Objective➢ Assure that the users are provided with the best possible product quality, in line with the mission
requirements.
EarthCARE Data Innovation and Science Cluster (DISC)• DISC: User data quality concept tailored to characteristics of Earth Explorer.
➢ Heritage and lessons-learnt from previous DISCs: Swarm, Aeolus➢ But.. Far EarthCARE more complex: # instruments, # processors, # products …
• Single cluster for product, sensor and processor expert groups, picking up from the development
during Phase C/D/E1 for :• L2, L1, Auxiliary- and Calibration processor development• Potential to include product assimilation in (NWP/atmospheric) models, Cal/Val coordination,
Fiducial Reference Measurement (FRM) and outreach related activities.
• DISC is the central element in product evolution cycle, - combines ground processor evolution withsensor performance monitoring, internal Cal/Val and synthesis from external validation teams (VT),community outreach and interaction, necessary tools.
ESA-JAXA Pre-Launch EarthCARE Science and Validation Workshop | 13 – 17 November 2023 | ESA-ESRIN, Frascati (Rome), Italy

EarthCARE Phase E2EarthCARE DISCESA-JAXA Pre-Launch EarthCARE Science and Validation Workshop | 13 – 17 November 2023 | ESA-ESRIN, Frascati (Rome), Italy

DISC – Tentative Overview- Quality working groupsupport- User community outreach& user support- Performance monitoring
website, user support,forums, Cal/Val workshops- L1B, L2A, L2B, Calibration
Processor, E2S, X-MET& X-JSG Processor- Processor Validation, Acceptanceand Delivery to PDGS

Coordination
andProject ManagementTools- Sandbox L2 Processor testbed
for full processing chain- SPPA tools/portal (data quality
dashboard etc.)- Data-visualisation, -analysis
and -monitoring tools- Data processing tools

Assimilation- NWP monitoring ofEarthCARE products- Interaction with processor
developers for corrective actions- EarthCARE productdata assimilation andimpact assessment

ESA-JAXA Pre-Launch EarthCARE Science and Validation Workshop | 13 – 17 November 2023 | ESA-ESRIN, Frascati (Rome), Italy- Operation of the ICMF
- Maintenance and Evolutionof ICMF processors- Offline & interactive analysis
of cal. processor output- Determination and Provisionof ICMF Config Parameters

Cal/Val- Cal/Val coordination- Calibration StrategyRefinement- Cal/Val data synthesis- Product validation- Calibration processing(complement to ICMF)- Cal/Val user support

DISC – Tentative Overview- Quality working groupsupport- User community outreach& user support- Performance monitoring
website, user support,forums, Cal/Val workshops- L1B, L2A, L2B, Calibration
Processor, E2S, X-MET& X-JSG Processor- Processor Validation, Acceptanceand Delivery to PDGS

- Operation of the ICMF
- Maintenance and Evolutionof ICMF processors- Offline & interactive analysis
of cal. processor output- Determination and Provisionof ICMF Config Parameters

Not in the DISC scope:• L0 processors
Coordination• Operations and maintentance related to CPR L1• Execution of airborneandvalidation campaigns
Management
Projectand independent
Cal/Valactivities
Cal/Val•Ops.
of
X-METand
X-JSG
Tools
- Cal/Val coordination
testbed- Sandbox L2 Processor- Calibration Strategy• Ops. and maintenance of instruments andfor full processing chain
Refinement
satellite
quality platform- SPPA tools/portal (data- Cal/Val data synthesis
dashboard etc.)- Data-visualisation, -analysis
and -monitoring tools- Data processing tools

Assimilation- NWP monitoring ofEarthCARE products- Interaction with processor
developers for corrective actions- EarthCARE productdata assimilation andimpact assessment

ESA-JAXA Pre-Launch EarthCARE Science and Validation Workshop | 13 – 17 November 2023 | ESA-ESRIN, Frascati (Rome), Italy- Product validation- Calibration processing(complement to ICMF)- Cal/Val user support

Processor Evolution Cycle
EarthCARE
Validation Teams(& DISC)
PDGS
Integration of newprocessors,
QWG

Reference & Independent
Measurements (e.g. co-locatedground-based,
model-based,airborne, FRM)

Decision on major
Executionof
algorithm updates andreprocessing
reprocessing
campaigns
campaigns,

New product release

DISC
Cal/Val data synthesis,
Performance Monitoring
Routine QC andNWP monitoring

Mission Manager- Data Quality Manager- PDGS Manager- Mission Science- Mission Planning & Op.

DISC

DISC
Algorithm/Processor
update andverification/validation

Typical Cycle Processor Evolution

QWG

Quality
Working
Decision on majoralgorithmGroup
updates andreprocessing
campaigns

Discussion on majoralgorithm updates andreprocessing
campaigns

EarthCARE productvalidation
Associatedrecommendations toQWG foralgorithm updates• Monitoring, verification and QC activities
within the DISC.
• External inputs contribute to DISC data
quality work.
• Product improvements are driven by theintegration of external and internal feedbackin the cycle.
• EarthCARE QWG recommendation on majoralgorithm updates and reprocessing
campaigns.
• New processor integration into PDGS.

ESA-JAXA Pre-Launch EarthCARE Science and Validation Workshop | 13 – 17 November 2023 | ESA-ESRIN, Frascati (Rome), Italy

Mission Timeline
Phase E1
IOCV Activities

Phase E2
Design Life-time30 months

6 months

DISC Exploitation Phase

Launch

L+1m
DISC
kick-off

L+3m
DISC
Ramp-up

L+6mIOCR• At In-orbit Commissioning Review (IOCR),
Mission responsibility transfered fromESTEC to ESRIN• DISC fully responsible for:▪ Processor maintenance & evolution▪ Operation of ICMF
▪ Quality Control of products▪ In-flight characterization and calibration ofESA instruments

ESA-JAXA Pre-Launch EarthCARE Science and Validation Workshop | 13 – 17 November 2023 | ESA-ESRIN, Frascati (Rome), Italy

Summary & Outlook
Summary• EarthCARE DISC groups in a single cluster product, sensor and processor experts.
• DISC is the central element in product evolution cycle, - combines ground processor evolution withsensor performance monitoring, internal Cal/Val and synthesis from external Validation Teams,
community outreach and interaction, necessary tools.

Outlook••••

ESA procurement in preparation
Invitation to Tender issue planned for January 2024
Kick-Off shortly after launch with a ramp-up phase during commissioning
Full set of activities to start at In-orbit Commissioning Review (IOCR)ESA-JAXA Pre-Launch EarthCARE Science and Validation Workshop | 13 – 17 November 2023 | ESA-ESRIN, Frascati (Rome), Italy