Remedy 1: Operationalise processing and delivery for non-satellite reference measurements and satellite CDR Interim L2 products.

Primary gap remedy type: 
Technical
Secondary gap remedy type: 
Governance
Proposed remedy description: 

A first step would be to assess the current procedures for quality control and delivery mechanism for non-satellite reference measurements, and to work out a proposal to further automate them. Depending on the needs, specific projects could be established to operationalise the processes and associated software. The dissemination of such data could be included into operational dissemination mechanisms used for operational data provisions such as over the WMO Information System.

In addition, entities producing GCOS ECV climate data records from satellite measurements should be encouraged to develop a mechanism that continues the data processing by keeping high consistency with the produced CDR. This involves automated inter-satellite calibration for input data to retrieval schemes and a strongly automated quality control, using non-satellite reference measurements that produces statistics in particular related to the temporal consistency with the long term CDR, e.g., stability and trend estimates with uncertainty. Such data shall be disseminated with high timeliness (~2-3 days delay). 

Relevance: 

The remedy has the potential to significantly increase the use of non-satellite fiducial reference data in Copernicus Services. The operational character of quality control and delivery mechanism for such data and their subsequent operational use would potentially lead to a funding of measurement systems from operational sources that would sustain the measurement systems and associated data services rather long-term. This could be realised in conjunction with the already emerging generation of CDR Interim L2 products that need reliable reference measurements for their validation, which may increase the chance for funding. 

Measurable outcome of success: 

Close to real-time availability of non-satellite reference measurements and their use in the continuation of GCOS ECV climate data records with high timeliness to Copernicus Services. 

Expected viability for the outcome of success: 
  • Medium
  • High
Scale of work: 
  • Programmatic multi-year, multi-institution activity
Time bound to remedy: 
  • Less than 10 years
Indicative cost estimate (investment): 
  • Very high cost (> 10 million)
Indicative cost estimate (exploitation): 
  • Yes
Potential actors: 
  • Copernicus funding
  • National funding agencies
  • National Meteorological Services
  • ESA, EUMETSAT or other space agency
  • SMEs/industry