CEOP Newsletter No.2

Report on European CEOP Reference Sites
Hans-Jörg Isemer, International BALTEX Secretariat head; GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht, Germany
90
80
70

Precipitation
Cabauw
793 mm/y

15
10

60

5

50
40
20
10
0

Lindenberg
8.6 ºC
Cabauw
9.8 ºCThe CEOP Preliminary Data Period

2002
1 JulyHartmut Grassl *, Chairman of the CEOP Scientific Steering Committee

Sodankylä
500 mm/y

Sodankylä
1.0 ºC-15-20

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

Month

Month

The long-term climate
Sodankylä

Lindenberg

Locations of the three CEOP reference sites

The CEOP Buildup phase

2003

2004

30 September
1 October

The First CEOP Annual Cycle Period

30 September
1 October

The Second CEOP Annual Cycle Period

31 December

Newsletter Editorial Board: Robert SCHIFFER, Carlos R. MECHOSO, Paul D. TRY
Contact Address of International Coordination Body:
Sam BENEDICT (International Coordinator)
742 “H” Avenue
Coronado, CA, 92118, USA
Phone: +1-619-437-7904
Fax: +1-619-437-6814
E-mail: seb@www.wmo.ch

Only the continuous global observation of the three-dimensional structure of the atmosphere, oceans, biosphere, cryosphere and lithosphere
will lead to validated global numericalmodels of the Earth system. Thesemodels will enable the extraction of
the predictable portion of natural variability or change, which can be used
for different forecasting purposes and to support decision making
for intelligent Earth system management. While we have learned
from past satellite observations of the Earth, we still lack an adequate operational global observing system for the ocean interior,
the biosphere, the cryosphere and the lithosphere.
The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) is now in agood position to help with the design of such an observing system for climate parameters and validated coupled climate models(encompassing atmosphere, ocean and land surface, including
vegetation). Initiated by scientists within the Continental Scale
Experiments (CSEs) of the Global Energy and Water Cycle
Experiment (GEWEX), and also endorsed by the Climate Variability
and Predictability (CLIVAR) study, the Coordinated Enhanced
Observing Period (CEOP) is working to establish a prototype ofthe future observing system for the atmosphere and the entire
surface (ocean, vegetation and ice), which will incorporate:

30 September
1 October2-10

Schedule of CEOP
2001

July 2002
An Element of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP),
initiated by the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX)CEOP – Global Monitoring for Improved Prediction

0-5

Lindenberg
565 mm/y30

Air temperature (2m)

20

[ºC]

Three CEOP reference sites are located in Europe. Their contribution to CEOP is coordinated through the Baltic Sea Experiment(BALTEX). All three sites are operated by national weather services
and share several common characteristics which are important for
an ambitious initiative such as CEOP. At present, the BALTEX reference sites for CEOP include: 1) the Sodankylä Observatory in
Finland, operated by the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), 2)
the Meteorological Observatory Lindenberg in Germany, operated
by the German Weather Service (DWD), and 3) the experimental
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Measurement Site at Cabauw in
Cabauw
The Netherlands, operated by the Royal Netherlands
Meteorological Institute (KNMI). The responsible local CEOP
site managers are Bengt Tammelin (FMI), Frank Beyrich(DWD), and Fred Bosveld (KNMI). Common features of thesesites include their long tradition in performing and contributing
to international experiments and monitoring activities providing
for outstanding experience in various modern tropospheric andsoil measurement techniques, data quality measures and storage. All sites will deliver high-resolution radiosonde, mast, various modern ground based remote sensing, complete surface radiation and turbulent flux, standard surface meteorology, and soil
data, thus meeting requirements for a CEOP 1-D site. The threesites are located at the northern and southern edges of the Baltic
Sea catchment encompassing different climate regimes in Europe(see map and climate diagrams). Most recently, negotiations havebeen initiated for a 4th CEOP reference site in Europe. The new
candidate is Norunda in Sweden (located at 60.1N / 17.5E) providing data from the central Baltic Sea catchment representative forboreal forest conditions.

[mm/month]

6

Dawen YANG (Secretary General), Akiko GODA, Katsunori TAMAGAWA
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Tokyo
7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Phone: +81-3-5841-6132
Fax: +81-3-5841-6130
E-mail: ceop@monsoon.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Supported by: National Space Development Agency of JAPAN (NASDA); Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST)•Active and passive microwave sensors on several satellites forobserving radiation matter interactions from the top of the atmosphere through the clouds to the surface.

upper ocean temperature/salinity and other related phenomenathat occur at timescales from weeks up to interannual.
Because of the telecommunication links between the ocean,
atmosphere and land that are being shown to exist on very rapid
temporal scales and over vast distances across the globe, thecoordinated global observation scheme under implementation in
CEOP is perhaps the only means by which such prediction studies can be undertaken.
CEOP will endeavour to provide the distinct pilot data sets necessary for this challenge during its observational phase that extends
up to December 2004. The work will be carried out as an element of WCRP initiated by GEWEX and accepted as a part of theIntegrated Global Observing Strategy Partners (IGOS-P)
Integrated Global Water Cycle Observations (IGWCO) theme, inwhich, among others, space agencies belonging to theCommittee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) are participants.
* The author was the Director of WCRP from 1994 to 1999 and is
now at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg,
Germany.
Calendar of CEOP Meetings :• GEWEX Hydrometeorology Panel (GHP) MEETING #8:
CEOP Session
New York: 12-13 September 2002.
http://www.usask.ca/geography/MAGS/GHP/ghp8/ceop_
agenda.html• CEOP Implementation Planning / Review Meeting
Berlin, Germany: 2-4 April 2003.

•Reference sites for high quality in-situ measurements and surface-based remote sensing to obtain globally validated satellitebased time series of physical, chemical and biological parameters.

Contents:

CEOP data sets should provide the basis for testing of global andregional coupled models in unique ways that may improve theirability to predict “signals” within the climate system such as
those associated with ENSO, soil mositure, sea ice, extratropical• Contribution of JMA to CEOP •••••••4• Special Report
CEOP Satellite Data Integration •••••••5• Report on European CEOP Reference Sites /Schedule of CEOP •••••••6• CEOP – Global Monitoring for Improved Prediction •••••••1• Summary of Kick-off Meeting •••••••2• CEOP Working Group Report •••••••3,4
Data Management
Water and Energy Simulation and Prediction
Monsoon System Studies

2

CEOP Newsletter No.2

CEOP Newsletter No.2

Summary of Kick-off Meeting

CEOP Working Group Report

Data Management

Sam Benedict, CEOP International Coordinator
Professor T. Koike, the Lead Scientist for CEOP, welcomed over
40 International participants to the first formal CEOP implementation planning meeting, which took place from 6 to 8 March 2002,
at the Earth Observation Research Center (EORC) of the National
Space Development Agency (NASDA), in Tokyo, Japan. It was reaffirmed at the meeting that CEOP, now in a buildup phase following
an initial enhanced observing period (EOP-1) from July throughSeptember, 2001, will have two enhanced observing periods from
October, 2002 to December, 2004.
The CEOP Science Steering Committee (SSC), chaired by Dr H.
Grassl, addressed a number of important issues. These included
finalizing the CEOP Data Policy statement; setting minimum standards for temporal sampling of CEOP Reference Site parameters(hourly); and setting a goal, of the end of 2002, for delivery of a
CEOP seasonal data product (EOP-1).
Characteristics of the CEOP reference sites, presented at themeeting, have been placed in the CEOP Reference Site Table at:
http://www.joss.ucar.edu/ghp/ceopdm/rsite.html. In response to
the main action item established at the meeting for the CEOP DataManagement Working Group (DMWG), the Co-Chairs of theWorking Group, Drs Wiliams and Isemer, have established a File
Transfer Protocol (FTP) for delivery of data from the CEOP
Reference Sites to the CEOP Central Archive in the USA. The data
are currently being delivered for EOP-1.
A main scientific goal of CEOP that would document the seasonal march of the monsoon systems, assess the monsoon systems driving mechanisms, and investigate the possible physicalconnections between such systems, was endorsed. The result of
discussions included the initial definition of a CEOP Inter-monsoon
Model Validation Project (CIMVP). Drs Lau and Yasunari, as CoChairs of the CEOP Monsoon Systems Working Group are organizing a CIMVP planning meeting this year and a CIMVP Workshop,
possibly jointly with CLIVAR and GEWEX, in 2003.
The aim of CEOP to apply enhanced observations to better document and simulate water and energy fluxes and reservoirs overland on diurnal to annual temporal scales and to better predictthese on temporal scales up to seasonal for water resource applications, was accepted. Drs Roads and Marengo as Co-Chairs of
the CEOP Water and Energy Simulation and Prediction (WESP)
Working Group have produced an action plan for this CEOP science
initiative that also deals with CEOP Model products including Model
Output Location Time Series (MOLTS).
Interaction with a 500 tera-byte data archival system at the
University of Tokyo (UT) for use in CEOP satellite data integration
work, was demonstrated. This NASDA/UT capability will produce
and archive satellite data products for CEOP reference sites, in

Steve Williams, UCAR/Joint Office for Science Support(JOSS)
Hans-Jörg Isemer, GKSS Research Center Geesthacht, Germany

phases. Data received from NASDA and the UT for all of the CEOP
Reference Sites will be delivered during phase one. NASDA reported that a proposal has been submitted for a CEOP Test Facility to
be developed to assist with the derivation of CEOP special products
from each satellite sensor. This proposal, which now includes aSatellite Data Integration Center in Japan and possibly another in
the USA, was accepted for further implementation with the supportof the Working Group on Information Systems and Services(WGISS) and the Integrated Global Observing Strategy Partners(IGOS-P).
Presentations were made that related to Land Data Assimilation
System (LDAS) projects developing at both continental and global(GLDAS) scales. CEOP expects these projects to lead to moreaccurate reanalysis and forecast simulations by models. Drs
Houser and Bosilovich are integrating this work with CEOP Satellite
Data Integration and WESP activities.
Relevant links include; the CEOP Internet site:
http://monsoon.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ceop/; the meeting presentations
site: http://monsoon.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ceop/meeting/kickoff/presentation/index.htm; and The CEOP Implementation Plan site:
http://www.gewex.com/ceop/ceop_ip.pdf.

Aqua SPACECRAFT LAUNCHED
Naoto Matsuura, EORC, NASDA
Earth observing satellite, Aqua, successfully launched on May 4, 2002 at
2:55 a.m. PDT. The primary goal of
Aqua, as the name implies, is to gather
information about water in the Earth's
system. Equipped with six state-of-theart instruments (AIRS, AMSR-E, AMSU,CERES, HSB, MODIS). Aqua will collectdata on global precipitation, evaporation,and the cycling of water. This information
will help scientists all over the world tobetter understand the Earth's water
cycle and determine if the water cycle isaccelerating as a result of climate

Provided by NASA & NASDA

New information concerning the CEOP reference sites continues to be incorporated into the Table of CEOP Site Characteristics
at: http://www.joss.ucar.edu/ghp/ceopdm/rsite.html. In order tostay on schedule with the CEOP Data Management Working
Group Major Activities Plan, priority has been given to the collection and formatting of the data available for the CEOP EOP-1 dataset (1 July through 30 September 2001). To expedite delivery ofthe data from the reference sites to the CEOP Central Archive, a
CEOP EOP-1 File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Procedure has been
implemented. Representatives of the CEOP Reference Sites haveall acknowledged their willingness to ensure the data are submitted according to this protocol, which requires a naming convention for the files, that includes the reference site name, start/stop
dates, and an identifier related to the data type (e.g. soundings,

flux, surface met, tower, soil, etc.). The files identified in thismanner are to be transferred to ftp.joss.ucar.edu using an anonymous login and the site representatives email as a password.
Each regional experiment can then be specifically recognized bytheir sign in, which is formatted as: cd pub/incoming/ceop/cse,
where “cse” is substituted for the respective experiment name(e.g. BALTEX, LBA, MAGS, GAPP, GAME/CAMP, etc.). An e-mailto Dr Steve Williams (sfw@ucar.edu) is required to confirm
whether or not a successful transfer has taken place. It isplanned that all EOP-1 data will be transferred in this manner by
the end of August 2002 and that the data will be sorted andcomposited into a CEOP EOP-1 reference site data set by the endof 2002.

CEOP Working Group Report

Water and Energy Simulation and Prediction
John Roads, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Jose Marengo, INPE/CPTEC
The scientific objective for CEOP WESP is --- To use enhanced
observations to diagnose, simulate and predict water and energy
fluxes and reservoirs over land on diurnal to annual temporalscales as well as apply these predictions for water resource
applications. WESP studies are designed to understand what
components of the global water and energy cycles can be measured, simulated, and predicted at regional and global scales? In
particular: (1) what are the gaps in our measurements? (2) What
are the deficiencies in our models? (3) What is our skill in predicting hydroclimatological water and energy budgets?
Starting from the current GEWEX Hydrology Panel (GHP) efforts
to close simplified vertically integrated water and energy budgets
with observations and analyses, and beginning efforts to simulatethese budgets regionally, CEOP WESP will begin the effort totransfer this knowledge to global scales, include more water andenergy cycle processes, and begin to examine the vertical structure in the atmosphere and land. Specific tasks for the WESP
working group during CEOP include:• Summarizing component and coupled system modelling studies currently underway.
• Articulating scientific issues that need to be addressed in lightof advances in each CSE.

• Defining guidelines for commonality and standards in the background fields and measure of progress.
• Devising the detailed nature of the experimental periods.
Water and Energy Budget Syntheses (WEBS) activities will bereported on at the upcoming 2002 fall GHP meeting, which will
discuss the eventual transition to CEOP. Scientific meetings forthe community are being planned as part of upcoming special
sessions at the 2003 Spring EGS/AGU and 2003 Summer IUGG
meetings. Transferability projects over the Baltic Sea and La
Plata River Basin catchments have begun. Global and regional
land data assimilation projects have also begun. Initial WESP
activities will help to define and analyze in situ reference sitedata, satellite data, model output location time series (MOLTS),
and gridded model output data for the CEOP period. WESP
strongly encourages the international research community to
begin making plans to cooperate on the development and utilization of the planned CEOP data sets.

3

2

CEOP Newsletter No.2

CEOP Newsletter No.2

Summary of Kick-off Meeting

CEOP Working Group Report

Data Management

Sam Benedict, CEOP International Coordinator
Professor T. Koike, the Lead Scientist for CEOP, welcomed over
40 International participants to the first formal CEOP implementation planning meeting, which took place from 6 to 8 March 2002,
at the Earth Observation Research Center (EORC) of the National
Space Development Agency (NASDA), in Tokyo, Japan. It was reaffirmed at the meeting that CEOP, now in a buildup phase following
an initial enhanced observing period (EOP-1) from July throughSeptember, 2001, will have two enhanced observing periods from
October, 2002 to December, 2004.
The CEOP Science Steering Committee (SSC), chaired by Dr H.
Grassl, addressed a number of important issues. These included
finalizing the CEOP Data Policy statement; setting minimum standards for temporal sampling of CEOP Reference Site parameters(hourly); and setting a goal, of the end of 2002, for delivery of a
CEOP seasonal data product (EOP-1).
Characteristics of the CEOP reference sites, presented at themeeting, have been placed in the CEOP Reference Site Table at:
http://www.joss.ucar.edu/ghp/ceopdm/rsite.html. In response to
the main action item established at the meeting for the CEOP DataManagement Working Group (DMWG), the Co-Chairs of theWorking Group, Drs Wiliams and Isemer, have established a File
Transfer Protocol (FTP) for delivery of data from the CEOP
Reference Sites to the CEOP Central Archive in the USA. The data
are currently being delivered for EOP-1.
A main scientific goal of CEOP that would document the seasonal march of the monsoon systems, assess the monsoon systems driving mechanisms, and investigate the possible physicalconnections between such systems, was endorsed. The result of
discussions included the initial definition of a CEOP Inter-monsoon
Model Validation Project (CIMVP). Drs Lau and Yasunari, as CoChairs of the CEOP Monsoon Systems Working Group are organizing a CIMVP planning meeting this year and a CIMVP Workshop,
possibly jointly with CLIVAR and GEWEX, in 2003.
The aim of CEOP to apply enhanced observations to better document and simulate water and energy fluxes and reservoirs overland on diurnal to annual temporal scales and to better predictthese on temporal scales up to seasonal for water resource applications, was accepted. Drs Roads and Marengo as Co-Chairs of
the CEOP Water and Energy Simulation and Prediction (WESP)
Working Group have produced an action plan for this CEOP science
initiative that also deals with CEOP Model products including Model
Output Location Time Series (MOLTS).
Interaction with a 500 tera-byte data archival system at the
University of Tokyo (UT) for use in CEOP satellite data integration
work, was demonstrated. This NASDA/UT capability will produce
and archive satellite data products for CEOP reference sites, in

Steve Williams, UCAR/Joint Office for Science Support(JOSS)
Hans-Jörg Isemer, GKSS Research Center Geesthacht, Germany

phases. Data received from NASDA and the UT for all of the CEOP
Reference Sites will be delivered during phase one. NASDA reported that a proposal has been submitted for a CEOP Test Facility to
be developed to assist with the derivation of CEOP special products
from each satellite sensor. This proposal, which now includes aSatellite Data Integration Center in Japan and possibly another in
the USA, was accepted for further implementation with the supportof the Working Group on Information Systems and Services(WGISS) and the Integrated Global Observing Strategy Partners(IGOS-P).
Presentations were made that related to Land Data Assimilation
System (LDAS) projects developing at both continental and global(GLDAS) scales. CEOP expects these projects to lead to moreaccurate reanalysis and forecast simulations by models. Drs
Houser and Bosilovich are integrating this work with CEOP Satellite
Data Integration and WESP activities.
Relevant links include; the CEOP Internet site:
http://monsoon.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ceop/; the meeting presentations
site: http://monsoon.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ceop/meeting/kickoff/presentation/index.htm; and The CEOP Implementation Plan site:
http://www.gewex.com/ceop/ceop_ip.pdf.

Aqua SPACECRAFT LAUNCHED
Naoto Matsuura, EORC, NASDA
Earth observing satellite, Aqua, successfully launched on May 4, 2002 at
2:55 a.m. PDT. The primary goal of
Aqua, as the name implies, is to gather
information about water in the Earth's
system. Equipped with six state-of-theart instruments (AIRS, AMSR-E, AMSU,CERES, HSB, MODIS). Aqua will collectdata on global precipitation, evaporation,and the cycling of water. This information
will help scientists all over the world tobetter understand the Earth's water
cycle and determine if the water cycle isaccelerating as a result of climate

Provided by NASA & NASDA

New information concerning the CEOP reference sites continues to be incorporated into the Table of CEOP Site Characteristics
at: http://www.joss.ucar.edu/ghp/ceopdm/rsite.html. In order tostay on schedule with the CEOP Data Management Working
Group Major Activities Plan, priority has been given to the collection and formatting of the data available for the CEOP EOP-1 dataset (1 July through 30 September 2001). To expedite delivery ofthe data from the reference sites to the CEOP Central Archive, a
CEOP EOP-1 File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Procedure has been
implemented. Representatives of the CEOP Reference Sites haveall acknowledged their willingness to ensure the data are submitted according to this protocol, which requires a naming convention for the files, that includes the reference site name, start/stop
dates, and an identifier related to the data type (e.g. soundings,

flux, surface met, tower, soil, etc.). The files identified in thismanner are to be transferred to ftp.joss.ucar.edu using an anonymous login and the site representatives email as a password.
Each regional experiment can then be specifically recognized bytheir sign in, which is formatted as: cd pub/incoming/ceop/cse,
where “cse” is substituted for the respective experiment name(e.g. BALTEX, LBA, MAGS, GAPP, GAME/CAMP, etc.). An e-mailto Dr Steve Williams (sfw@ucar.edu) is required to confirm
whether or not a successful transfer has taken place. It isplanned that all EOP-1 data will be transferred in this manner by
the end of August 2002 and that the data will be sorted andcomposited into a CEOP EOP-1 reference site data set by the endof 2002.

CEOP Working Group Report

Water and Energy Simulation and Prediction
John Roads, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Jose Marengo, INPE/CPTEC
The scientific objective for CEOP WESP is --- To use enhanced
observations to diagnose, simulate and predict water and energy
fluxes and reservoirs over land on diurnal to annual temporalscales as well as apply these predictions for water resource
applications. WESP studies are designed to understand what
components of the global water and energy cycles can be measured, simulated, and predicted at regional and global scales? In
particular: (1) what are the gaps in our measurements? (2) What
are the deficiencies in our models? (3) What is our skill in predicting hydroclimatological water and energy budgets?
Starting from the current GEWEX Hydrology Panel (GHP) efforts
to close simplified vertically integrated water and energy budgets
with observations and analyses, and beginning efforts to simulatethese budgets regionally, CEOP WESP will begin the effort totransfer this knowledge to global scales, include more water andenergy cycle processes, and begin to examine the vertical structure in the atmosphere and land. Specific tasks for the WESP
working group during CEOP include:• Summarizing component and coupled system modelling studies currently underway.
• Articulating scientific issues that need to be addressed in lightof advances in each CSE.

• Defining guidelines for commonality and standards in the background fields and measure of progress.
• Devising the detailed nature of the experimental periods.
Water and Energy Budget Syntheses (WEBS) activities will bereported on at the upcoming 2002 fall GHP meeting, which will
discuss the eventual transition to CEOP. Scientific meetings forthe community are being planned as part of upcoming special
sessions at the 2003 Spring EGS/AGU and 2003 Summer IUGG
meetings. Transferability projects over the Baltic Sea and La
Plata River Basin catchments have begun. Global and regional
land data assimilation projects have also begun. Initial WESP
activities will help to define and analyze in situ reference sitedata, satellite data, model output location time series (MOLTS),
and gridded model output data for the CEOP period. WESP
strongly encourages the international research community to
begin making plans to cooperate on the development and utilization of the planned CEOP data sets.

3

4

CEOP Newsletter No.2

CEOP Newsletter No.2

CEOP Working Group Report

Special Report

Monsoon System Studies

CEOP Satellite Data Integration

Detailed plans are being developed for the accomplishmentof one of the main CEOP aims associated with the documentingof the seasonal march of the monsoon systems, assessing themonsoon systems driving mechanisms, and investigating thepossible physical connections between such systems. The
result is an initial definition of a CEOP Inter-monsoon Model
Validation Project (CIMVP). CIMVP will be an international
research project to assess, validate and improve the capabilities
of climate models in simulating physical processes in monsoon
regions around the world. The objectives are to provide better
understanding of fundamental physical processes underpinningthe diurnal and annual cycles, and intraseasonal oscillations inmonsoon land and adjacent oceanic regions of Asia, Australia,
North America, South America and Africa, and to demonstrate
the synergy and utility of CEOP integrated satellite data, in-situ
observations and assimilated data in providing a pathway for

William Lau, Climate & Radiation Branch, NASA/GSFC
Tetsuzo Yasunari, University of Tsukuba

Toshio Koike, University of Tokyo
Paul Houser and Matthew Rodell, Hydrological Sciences Branch, NASA/GSFC

model physics evaluation and improvement. The aim is to give
CIMVP a unique characteristic by placing its focus on issues
relevant to model physics improvement, via simulations, andcross-validation of model outputs with detailed observations.
The synergistic use of global data, in conjunction with high-resolution space and time observations from field sites is, therefore, critical. For CIMVP, validation data will be derived from
CEOP reference sites, which include GEWEX continental scale
experiments (CSE) and planned CLIVAR field campaign sites.
Numerical experiments will be designed to target the simulationof fundamental physical processes that are likely to uncover
limitations in model physics. A CIMVP planning meeting and abroader Workshop, possibly jointly with CLIVAR and GEWEX, will
be organized in 2002 and 2003, respectively.

Prediction (NCEP). The goal of GLDAS is to produce optimal output
fields of land surface states and fluxes by making use of data fromadvanced observing systems (see GEWEX News May 2002 andhttp://ldas.gsfc.nasa.gov/ for further details). GLDAS uses various newsatellite and ground based observation systems within a land data
assimilation framework to produce optimal output fields of land surface
states and fluxes. GLDAS includes four components implemented globally at 1/4 degree resolution (higher resolutions are planned) in nearreal time: land modeling, land surface observation, land surface data
assimilation and calibration and validation. The core advantage of
GLDAS is its use of satellite-derived observations (including precipitation, solar radiation, snow cover, surface temperature, and soil moisture)
to realistically constrain the system dynamics. This allows it to avoid thebiases that exist in near-surface atmosphere fields produced by atmospheric forecast models, minimize the impact of simplified land parameterizations, and to identify and mitigate errors satellite observations
used in data assimilation procedures (Figure 2 shows the GLDAS system). These value-added GLDAS data will improve land surface, weather, and climate predictions by providing global fields of land surface
energy and moisture stores for initialization. GLDAS is a valuable tool for
CEOP because it assimilates the information from multiple models andobservation platforms to provide the best available assessment of thecurrent state of the land surface. In addition, an interface to access datafrom the near-real time GLDAS operational model runs is provided
through the web site (http://ldas.gsfc.nasa.gov/map/webout.html). A
region can be specified by either manually entering the coordinates inthe text boxes or automatically by creating a rectangle on the map.
Users can subset the data by time period as well as parameter type.
The international GEWEX and CEOP communities have recognized that
GLDAS can be leveraged and further developed to address the needs of
CEOP. The CSDIC at NASA GSFC is working with the CEOP-GLDAS
products in cooperation with NASA Data Assimilation Office (DAO).

Contribution of JMA to CEOP
Nobutaka Mannoji, Japan Meteorological Agency
T213 horizontal resolution and 40 vertical layers, and a three
dimensional variational method is implemented in 2001. JMA is
now preparing to supply as much as possible MOLTS and gridded
data produced by the operational 4DDA system.
JMA and the Central Research Institute of Electric Power
Industry (CRIEPI) started to conduct Re-Analysis project "JRA-25"
in 2001. The re-analysis will be completed in 2005, and thedataset will be open to the research community. The period of
re-analysis is 26 years from 1979 to 2004,
Year 2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
which contains two CEOP annual cycle periCollection of observation, format conversion
Off-line quality checkods (Oct. 2002-Dec.2004). The assimilation
Porting of systemsystem is similar to that of the operational
Develop automatic
4DDA system except for the horizontal resoRefine system
execution system
Model
fixed
lution of the model, which is T106. The
Develop monitoring systemaccuracy of JRA-25 will be estimated byExperiments
Stream 1: 1990-2004
comparing the observed data at the referStream 2: 1979-1991
Final experiment
The CEOP Preliminary Data Period
and evaluationence sites with corresponding data of JRAData distribution and total evaluation
The CEOP Buildup phase
25. Then, the water cycle over 26 years
The First CEOP Annual Cycle Period
would be estimated by using the JRA-25
The Second CEOP Annual Cycle Period
The CEOP Research Phasedata. Details are described at the JRA-25
Year 2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
web page
Schedule of Japanese 25-year Reanalysis Plan
"http://www.jreap.org/indexe.html".

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has contributed to
GEWEX Asian Monsoon Experiment (GAME). One of the activities
is to perform and provide GAME Reanalysis data. JMA will contribute CEOP by providing re-analysis data for 26 years including
CEOP primary period as well as possibly part of Model Output
Location Time Series (MOLTS) and gridded data.
The operational global four dimensional data assimilation(4DDA) system of JMA uses a Global Spectral Model (GSM) with

Figure 1. 500Tera-byte data archive system at the Institute Industrial Sciences,
University of Tokyo

To provide satellite data integration products including 4DDA “valueadded” Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) datasets, ofwater cycle variables, two CEOP Satellite Data Integration Centers(CSDICs) are to be established, one at the University of Tokyo (UT) in
cooperation with NASDA and the other at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight
Center (GSFC).
The CSDIC at UT will receive CEOP customized levels 1b and 2 andstandard level 3 earth observation satellite data from space agencies
and archive them by using a 500 tera-byte data archival system at theInstitute of Industrial Sciences of UT as shown in Figure 1. The
Committee on Earth Observation Satellite (CEOS) Working Group on
Information Systems and Services (WGISS) Test Facility for CEOP
(CEOP-WTF) advanced by NASDA and NASA will be developed for providing catalogue interoperability with CEOS agencies’ systems by using
CEOS’ protocols and exchanging data and information with CEOS agencies and affiliates as well as users through automated links. Integrated
CEOP satellite products overlaid with in-situ data and model output will
be delivered to users by Web Mapping Technology and other visualtechnologies through networks. UT and NASDA propose a three phased
approach for production and archiving of satellite data products; PhaseI, for all reference sites, started in June, 2002, Phase II, for the monsoonal regions, begin in June, 2003, and Phase III, fully operational,
beginning in September, 2005. To support phenomena detection,knowledge discovery and coincident search capabilities across a hugeamount of very heterogeneous datasets, “Visual Data Mining” combinedwith the artificial intelligence approach in the computer sciences is now
being developed as an important function of the CSDIC at UT.
Scientists at GSFC have developed a high-resolution GLDAS in cooperation with researchers at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental

Data
Insertion of Data
into the Model

Model Integration

Observations

4DDA

Model

Figure 2. Concept of the Land Data Assimilation System

Improved
Products,
predictions,
understanding

5

4

CEOP Newsletter No.2

CEOP Newsletter No.2

CEOP Working Group Report

Special Report

Monsoon System Studies

CEOP Satellite Data Integration

Detailed plans are being developed for the accomplishmentof one of the main CEOP aims associated with the documentingof the seasonal march of the monsoon systems, assessing themonsoon systems driving mechanisms, and investigating thepossible physical connections between such systems. The
result is an initial definition of a CEOP Inter-monsoon Model
Validation Project (CIMVP). CIMVP will be an international
research project to assess, validate and improve the capabilities
of climate models in simulating physical processes in monsoon
regions around the world. The objectives are to provide better
understanding of fundamental physical processes underpinningthe diurnal and annual cycles, and intraseasonal oscillations inmonsoon land and adjacent oceanic regions of Asia, Australia,
North America, South America and Africa, and to demonstrate
the synergy and utility of CEOP integrated satellite data, in-situ
observations and assimilated data in providing a pathway for

William Lau, Climate & Radiation Branch, NASA/GSFC
Tetsuzo Yasunari, University of Tsukuba

Toshio Koike, University of Tokyo
Paul Houser and Matthew Rodell, Hydrological Sciences Branch, NASA/GSFC

model physics evaluation and improvement. The aim is to give
CIMVP a unique characteristic by placing its focus on issues
relevant to model physics improvement, via simulations, andcross-validation of model outputs with detailed observations.
The synergistic use of global data, in conjunction with high-resolution space and time observations from field sites is, therefore, critical. For CIMVP, validation data will be derived from
CEOP reference sites, which include GEWEX continental scale
experiments (CSE) and planned CLIVAR field campaign sites.
Numerical experiments will be designed to target the simulationof fundamental physical processes that are likely to uncover
limitations in model physics. A CIMVP planning meeting and abroader Workshop, possibly jointly with CLIVAR and GEWEX, will
be organized in 2002 and 2003, respectively.

Prediction (NCEP). The goal of GLDAS is to produce optimal output
fields of land surface states and fluxes by making use of data fromadvanced observing systems (see GEWEX News May 2002 andhttp://ldas.gsfc.nasa.gov/ for further details). GLDAS uses various newsatellite and ground based observation systems within a land data
assimilation framework to produce optimal output fields of land surface
states and fluxes. GLDAS includes four components implemented globally at 1/4 degree resolution (higher resolutions are planned) in nearreal time: land modeling, land surface observation, land surface data
assimilation and calibration and validation. The core advantage of
GLDAS is its use of satellite-derived observations (including precipitation, solar radiation, snow cover, surface temperature, and soil moisture)
to realistically constrain the system dynamics. This allows it to avoid thebiases that exist in near-surface atmosphere fields produced by atmospheric forecast models, minimize the impact of simplified land parameterizations, and to identify and mitigate errors satellite observations
used in data assimilation procedures (Figure 2 shows the GLDAS system). These value-added GLDAS data will improve land surface, weather, and climate predictions by providing global fields of land surface
energy and moisture stores for initialization. GLDAS is a valuable tool for
CEOP because it assimilates the information from multiple models andobservation platforms to provide the best available assessment of thecurrent state of the land surface. In addition, an interface to access datafrom the near-real time GLDAS operational model runs is provided
through the web site (http://ldas.gsfc.nasa.gov/map/webout.html). A
region can be specified by either manually entering the coordinates inthe text boxes or automatically by creating a rectangle on the map.
Users can subset the data by time period as well as parameter type.
The international GEWEX and CEOP communities have recognized that
GLDAS can be leveraged and further developed to address the needs of
CEOP. The CSDIC at NASA GSFC is working with the CEOP-GLDAS
products in cooperation with NASA Data Assimilation Office (DAO).

Contribution of JMA to CEOP
Nobutaka Mannoji, Japan Meteorological Agency
T213 horizontal resolution and 40 vertical layers, and a three
dimensional variational method is implemented in 2001. JMA is
now preparing to supply as much as possible MOLTS and gridded
data produced by the operational 4DDA system.
JMA and the Central Research Institute of Electric Power
Industry (CRIEPI) started to conduct Re-Analysis project "JRA-25"
in 2001. The re-analysis will be completed in 2005, and thedataset will be open to the research community. The period of
re-analysis is 26 years from 1979 to 2004,
Year 2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
which contains two CEOP annual cycle periCollection of observation, format conversion
Off-line quality checkods (Oct. 2002-Dec.2004). The assimilation
Porting of systemsystem is similar to that of the operational
Develop automatic
4DDA system except for the horizontal resoRefine system
execution system
Model
fixed
lution of the model, which is T106. The
Develop monitoring systemaccuracy of JRA-25 will be estimated byExperiments
Stream 1: 1990-2004
comparing the observed data at the referStream 2: 1979-1991
Final experiment
The CEOP Preliminary Data Period
and evaluationence sites with corresponding data of JRAData distribution and total evaluation
The CEOP Buildup phase
25. Then, the water cycle over 26 years
The First CEOP Annual Cycle Period
would be estimated by using the JRA-25
The Second CEOP Annual Cycle Period
The CEOP Research Phasedata. Details are described at the JRA-25
Year 2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
web page
Schedule of Japanese 25-year Reanalysis Plan
"http://www.jreap.org/indexe.html".

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has contributed to
GEWEX Asian Monsoon Experiment (GAME). One of the activities
is to perform and provide GAME Reanalysis data. JMA will contribute CEOP by providing re-analysis data for 26 years including
CEOP primary period as well as possibly part of Model Output
Location Time Series (MOLTS) and gridded data.
The operational global four dimensional data assimilation(4DDA) system of JMA uses a Global Spectral Model (GSM) with

Figure 1. 500Tera-byte data archive system at the Institute Industrial Sciences,
University of Tokyo

To provide satellite data integration products including 4DDA “valueadded” Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) datasets, ofwater cycle variables, two CEOP Satellite Data Integration Centers(CSDICs) are to be established, one at the University of Tokyo (UT) in
cooperation with NASDA and the other at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight
Center (GSFC).
The CSDIC at UT will receive CEOP customized levels 1b and 2 andstandard level 3 earth observation satellite data from space agencies
and archive them by using a 500 tera-byte data archival system at theInstitute of Industrial Sciences of UT as shown in Figure 1. The
Committee on Earth Observation Satellite (CEOS) Working Group on
Information Systems and Services (WGISS) Test Facility for CEOP
(CEOP-WTF) advanced by NASDA and NASA will be developed for providing catalogue interoperability with CEOS agencies’ systems by using
CEOS’ protocols and exchanging data and information with CEOS agencies and affiliates as well as users through automated links. Integrated
CEOP satellite products overlaid with in-situ data and model output will
be delivered to users by Web Mapping Technology and other visualtechnologies through networks. UT and NASDA propose a three phased
approach for production and archiving of satellite data products; PhaseI, for all reference sites, started in June, 2002, Phase II, for the monsoonal regions, begin in June, 2003, and Phase III, fully operational,
beginning in September, 2005. To support phenomena detection,knowledge discovery and coincident search capabilities across a hugeamount of very heterogeneous datasets, “Visual Data Mining” combinedwith the artificial intelligence approach in the computer sciences is now
being developed as an important function of the CSDIC at UT.
Scientists at GSFC have developed a high-resolution GLDAS in cooperation with researchers at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental

Data
Insertion of Data
into the Model

Model Integration

Observations

4DDA

Model

Figure 2. Concept of the Land Data Assimilation System

Improved
Products,
predictions,
understanding

5

CEOP Newsletter No.2

Report on European CEOP Reference Sites
Hans-Jörg Isemer, International BALTEX Secretariat head; GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht, Germany
90
80
70

Precipitation
Cabauw
793 mm/y

15
10

60

5

50
40
20
10
0

Lindenberg
8.6 ºC
Cabauw
9.8 ºCThe CEOP Preliminary Data Period

2002
1 JulyHartmut Grassl *, Chairman of the CEOP Scientific Steering Committee

Sodankylä
500 mm/y

Sodankylä
1.0 ºC-15-20

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

Month

Month

The long-term climate
Sodankylä

Lindenberg

Locations of the three CEOP reference sites

The CEOP Buildup phase

2003

2004

30 September
1 October

The First CEOP Annual Cycle Period

30 September
1 October

The Second CEOP Annual Cycle Period

31 December

Newsletter Editorial Board: Robert SCHIFFER, Carlos R. MECHOSO, Paul D. TRY
Contact Address of International Coordination Body:
Sam BENEDICT (International Coordinator)
742 “H” Avenue
Coronado, CA, 92118, USA
Phone: +1-619-437-7904
Fax: +1-619-437-6814
E-mail: seb@www.wmo.ch

Only the continuous global observation of the three-dimensional structure of the atmosphere, oceans, biosphere, cryosphere and lithosphere
will lead to validated global numericalmodels of the Earth system. Thesemodels will enable the extraction of
the predictable portion of natural variability or change, which can be used
for different forecasting purposes and to support decision making
for intelligent Earth system management. While we have learned
from past satellite observations of the Earth, we still lack an adequate operational global observing system for the ocean interior,
the biosphere, the cryosphere and the lithosphere.
The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) is now in agood position to help with the design of such an observing system for climate parameters and validated coupled climate models(encompassing atmosphere, ocean and land surface, including
vegetation). Initiated by scientists within the Continental Scale
Experiments (CSEs) of the Global Energy and Water Cycle
Experiment (GEWEX), and also endorsed by the Climate Variability
and Predictability (CLIVAR) study, the Coordinated Enhanced
Observing Period (CEOP) is working to establish a prototype ofthe future observing system for the atmosphere and the entire
surface (ocean, vegetation and ice), which will incorporate:

30 September
1 October2-10

Schedule of CEOP
2001

July 2002
An Element of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP),
initiated by the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX)CEOP – Global Monitoring for Improved Prediction

0-5

Lindenberg
565 mm/y30

Air temperature (2m)

20

[ºC]

Three CEOP reference sites are located in Europe. Their contribution to CEOP is coordinated through the Baltic Sea Experiment(BALTEX). All three sites are operated by national weather services
and share several common characteristics which are important for
an ambitious initiative such as CEOP. At present, the BALTEX reference sites for CEOP include: 1) the Sodankylä Observatory in
Finland, operated by the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), 2)
the Meteorological Observatory Lindenberg in Germany, operated
by the German Weather Service (DWD), and 3) the experimental
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Measurement Site at Cabauw in
Cabauw
The Netherlands, operated by the Royal Netherlands
Meteorological Institute (KNMI). The responsible local CEOP
site managers are Bengt Tammelin (FMI), Frank Beyrich(DWD), and Fred Bosveld (KNMI). Common features of thesesites include their long tradition in performing and contributing
to international experiments and monitoring activities providing
for outstanding experience in various modern tropospheric andsoil measurement techniques, data quality measures and storage. All sites will deliver high-resolution radiosonde, mast, various modern ground based remote sensing, complete surface radiation and turbulent flux, standard surface meteorology, and soil
data, thus meeting requirements for a CEOP 1-D site. The threesites are located at the northern and southern edges of the Baltic
Sea catchment encompassing different climate regimes in Europe(see map and climate diagrams). Most recently, negotiations havebeen initiated for a 4th CEOP reference site in Europe. The new
candidate is Norunda in Sweden (located at 60.1N / 17.5E) providing data from the central Baltic Sea catchment representative forboreal forest conditions.

[mm/month]

6

Dawen YANG (Secretary General), Akiko GODA, Katsunori TAMAGAWA
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Tokyo
7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Phone: +81-3-5841-6132
Fax: +81-3-5841-6130
E-mail: ceop@monsoon.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Supported by: National Space Development Agency of JAPAN (NASDA); Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST)•Active and passive microwave sensors on several satellites forobserving radiation matter interactions from the top of the atmosphere through the clouds to the surface.

upper ocean temperature/salinity and other related phenomenathat occur at timescales from weeks up to interannual.
Because of the telecommunication links between the ocean,
atmosphere and land that are being shown to exist on very rapid
temporal scales and over vast distances across the globe, thecoordinated global observation scheme under implementation in
CEOP is perhaps the only means by which such prediction studies can be undertaken.
CEOP will endeavour to provide the distinct pilot data sets necessary for this challenge during its observational phase that extends
up to December 2004. The work will be carried out as an element of WCRP initiated by GEWEX and accepted as a part of theIntegrated Global Observing Strategy Partners (IGOS-P)
Integrated Global Water Cycle Observations (IGWCO) theme, inwhich, among others, space agencies belonging to theCommittee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) are participants.
* The author was the Director of WCRP from 1994 to 1999 and is
now at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg,
Germany.
Calendar of CEOP Meetings :• GEWEX Hydrometeorology Panel (GHP) MEETING #8:
CEOP Session
New York: 12-13 September 2002.
http://www.usask.ca/geography/MAGS/GHP/ghp8/ceop_
agenda.html• CEOP Implementation Planning / Review Meeting
Berlin, Germany: 2-4 April 2003.

•Reference sites for high quality in-situ measurements and surface-based remote sensing to obtain globally validated satellitebased time series of physical, chemical and biological parameters.

Contents:

CEOP data sets should provide the basis for testing of global andregional coupled models in unique ways that may improve theirability to predict “signals” within the climate system such as
those associated with ENSO, soil mositure, sea ice, extratropical• Contribution of JMA to CEOP •••••••4• Special Report
CEOP Satellite Data Integration •••••••5• Report on European CEOP Reference Sites /Schedule of CEOP •••••••6• CEOP – Global Monitoring for Improved Prediction •••••••1• Summary of Kick-off Meeting •••••••2• CEOP Working Group Report •••••••3,4
Data Management
Water and Energy Simulation and Prediction
Monsoon System Studies