Introduction to IGWCO COP and theGEOSS Water Strategy

Rick Lawford
Asia Africa Water Cycle Symposium
Tokyo, Japan
November 24, 2013

In 2014, IGWCO will place more emphasis on user engagement

The Water
TargetBy 2015, produce comprehensive setsof data, information products and services
to support decision-making for efficientmanagement of the world's water
resources, based on coordinated,sustained observations of the water cycleon multiple scales.

Tasks

By 2015, produce comprehensive sets of data and information products to support
decision-making for efficient management of the world's water resources, based on
coordinated, sustained observations of the water cycle on multiple scales.

C5 Information System
Development and Capacity
Building

C2 Information Systems
for Hydro-meteorological
Extremes

C1
Integrated Water-cycle
Products and Services

C4
Global Water Quality
Products and Services

C3
Information Servicefor Cold Regions

Data requirements depend on water data use

103 km3yr-1(courtesy of Massimo Menenti)
As an element of the natural system

As a contribution to economic productivity

In-situ
DataSatellite Data
ProductDevelopment

DataAssimilationand models

Information
Systems

Enhancing capacity
in developing
countries

Users: Deriving
Benefits from
improved products

In-situSpace
Services
Satellite Data
Data
Agencies
Coordination
ProductMechanism
Development(IGWCO COP)
Academics
Data
Research
Assimilation
andDevelopment
and models

Expand the IGWCO COP
coordination activities andthe scope of GEO Water .
We need to develop partners
and coordination nodes in theuser community

Information
Systems

Enhancing capacity
in developing
countries

Users: Deriving
Benefits from
improved productsPriorities for GEO in the Post-2015 era
1: Address urgent global
challenges

2. Support for Sustainable
Development
Rio+20" Outcome Document recognized a specificrole to be played by GEOSS in sustainable
development

3. Build on Accomplishments of GEO

Purpose of the Report
Purpose of the GEOSS Water Strategy Report• To update and synthesize the available information
about the status of water observations andinformation systems since the IGWCO report of 2004.
• To describe a strategy for water cycle observations
and information that will enable the short- term GEO
objectives and the long-term community goals to beachieved.
• To provide CEOS, GEO, WMO and other agencies withguidance about strategies for water cycle
observations, information systems, interoperability,capacity building, etc.
• To propose major initiatives that will advance thisoverall concept.

Opportunity Areas for Water
1. Addressing water security and sustainable development
2. Addressing the Water-Energy-Food nexus issues.
3. Supporting the climate change adaptation agenda.
4. Warning systems for hydrometeorological hazards.
5. Enhancing human and environmental resilience
6. Improving the welfare of the poor in developing countries
through more effective water management.

Example of monitoring that identified the implications ofcertain WEF policies

Table of Contents

Contents of the GEOSS Water Strategy Report
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Introduction
Background
User Needs for Water Data and User Engagement
Overview of observational systems
Existing and Planned Observational Systems for Priority Water Cycle Variables
Existing and Planned Observational Systems for Priority Water
Quality Variables
7. Quality, Management, and Integration of Water Cycle Data:
8. Water Cycle Integration
9. Capacity Building and Regional Perspectives of water cycle
information applications
10. Linkages
11. Institutional and Funding Issues
12. Towards an Implementation PlanIntegration (from Paul Houser)
Today:

Tomorrow:

Large space-based Observatories

Integrated environmental information system
Smart Sensor Web2
CAdaptive
SWARM ManagerRM
ResourceSingle sensor retrievals
Spatial/temporal inconsistency
Parameter-driven requirements

Is this the time to advocate and plan a
Water Cycle Constellation?

• Coordination for distributed monitoring, processing, anddecision making• Easy deployment of technology and scalability• Multiple sensor retrievals• Spatial/temporal consistency• Integrated cross-sensor calibration• System-driven requirements• Reconfigurable ground and space information systems

The GEOSS Water Strategy will focus its capacity building efforts inthree main areas but add others as interest increases.

noTechanr
tylog

croar
sfegioss rens

The GEOSS Water Strategy will increase synergistic projects and sharingof expertise, data and information systems across these regions.