Atmospheric composition surface observations Atmospheric composition variables (aerosol variables, greenhouse gases, ozone, precipitation chemistry variables, reactive gases) Meteorology/climate measurements will be collocated with air quality measurements. There will be expansion of global and regional measurements, including through GAW. An atmospheric composition baseline reference network will be developed. Application specific observations (road weather, airport/heliport weather stations, agromet stations, meteorology, etc.) Application specific variables and phenomena Urban reference networks will be established to provide observations important for urban meteorology/climatology. Road weather networks will transmit in near-real time, with data collected and archived at national archive centres. Soil moisture/temperature measurements, from near-surface to 100cm, will be maintained and expanded at agricultural meteorological stations. Observations of the biosphere Vegetation, carbon (above ground and soil) INPUT NEEDED Near-surface observations over rivers and lakes Hydrological observing stations Precipitation, snow depth, snow water content, lake and river ice thickness/date of freezing and break-up, water level, water flow, water quality, soil moisture, soil temperature, sediment loads, river discharge Automated measurement of snowfall/snow-depth will further augment manual measurements. Existing snow monitoring sites will be maintained, with data exchanged internationally. will be expansion of automated soil moisture/temperature measurements by installing sensors at existing sites. Volunteer observations of lake/river ice freeze/thaw dates will be disseminated internationally and archived. Reference observing stations will be established and maintained. Concurrent measurement of water quality data (temperature, sediment load, algae, etc.) and river discharge gauging stations will be installed Crowd sourcing of information on flooding and river drying via the development of public observing networks and social media (including impact reporting) Ground water borehole observations Ground water level Ground water monitoring networks will be established at national level, and the data will be exchanged internationally Crowd sourcing of information on water levels in wells and wells drying will be acquired and incorporated by water management agencies Near-surface observations over Ground-based observing stations at sea (ocean, island, Surface pressure, temperature, humidity, wind, visibility, cloud Higher data rate and cheaper satellite data telecommunication will be established for remote automated stations.
Improved real-time data retrieval Cosmic ray observations Radiation measurements Neutron and muon monitors New SW services will be improved real-time data quality R&D and Operational pathfinders – examples Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Wind, temperature, humidity, atmospheric composition Larger platforms needed Lower atmosphere Valuable in impassable Aircraft based observations Thunderstorms, total water content, radiation in different spectral ranges and directions, dust/sand particles Lightning detection (EM & RF). Avoidance of fuselage/engine damage, similar to volcanic ash detection. Extension WVM system, severe weather forecasting (rainfall). Ionised radiation at aircraft latitudes for space weather services. Observations from gondolas Wind, temperature, humidity Constant pressure balloons will operate in the lower stratosphere. Chemistry, aerosol, wind (lidar), clouds (rain, Doppler radar) Hydrology – observation requirements (from Christel Prudhomme, head of the European Flood Awareness System, EFAS) – gravimetric measurements – ground water on continental scales Flood extent, Lake extent, wetlands – (radar?) height as a proxy for discharge (altimeter) Lake height (altimeter) Soil-moisture (L-band) Snow extent, snow water equivalent (if possible). Detection of irrigated Water content in vegetation. Phenology Lightening detection (and flash count) as a proxy for flash flood risk Mud slides (from change detection in altimeters and High-definition river networks, static, and with seasonal updates. Glacier extent. Albedo of snow and glaciers (for snow modelling of freezing and melting)