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GEOSS on-line

Scroll below for a sampling of GEOSS information resources; more sites can be found here.

	Haiti Supersite highlights critical earthquake information Initiated by the geohazard scientific community as a contribution to GEO, the Supersites provide easy access to Earth science data and information on natural hazards in geologically active regions. In light of the recent tragedy in Haiti, the Haiti Supersite has been updated with seismic maps, damage maps, topography data, visible and infrared images, interferograms, and useful links. See http://supersites.unavco.org/haiti.php.
	GEO Forest Carbon Tracking portal now live The portal for the GEO Forest Carbon Tracking (FCT) Task was launched at the GEO-VI Plenary meeting in Washington DC and can now be viewed on-line at www.geo-fct.org. The portal allows users to visualize the FCT National Demonstrators, the relevant Validation Sites and the inventory of the coordinated acquisitions of satellite and in-situ data; maps and information resulting from the processing of the data will also be posted here when available. A three-minute video describing the portal is also available.
	INPE reaches mark of 1 million images distributed free A pioneer in the distribution of cost-free satellite images, Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) announced that it has distributed one million images, more than 70% of which come from the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS) program. For more details see the news clipping here.
	Announcing release of Global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released the ASTER GDEM on 29 June. By providing a well validated, high-resolution global topography framework, the GDEM is major step forward for both research and operations that depend on Earth observations. For more information, see press releases here, here and here.
	UN unveils new Global Risk Data Platform The United Nations and its partners are presenting an innovative new portal for disaster risk-management data on 19 June. The launch will take place at the Second Session of the Global Platform on Disaster Reduction, which is being held in Geneva from 16 to 19 June. For direct access: http://preview.grid.unep.ch/index3.php?preview=map
	Earth System Atlas promotes access to research data The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) has long recognized the challenge of sustaining, and ensuring continued access to, the numerous data bases being generated by researchers. One of the most active spin-offs from the IGBP’s early efforts in this field is the Earth System Atlas. Read more here.
	Comprehensive Land Surface Imagery now available via GEOSS In an exciting advance for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), ten leading space-related agencies collaborating through the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), its Land Surface Imaging Constellation Study Team, and its Working Group on Information System and Services (WGISS) have developed a portal that collects and distributes satellite imagery of the Earth’s land surface. Users can now access images from all ten partners via a single web portal. This new portal is a gateway to the world’s largest collection of Land Surface Imagery and data (LSI) taken from space. Read more here.
	Accessing the Landsat archive The Landsat Earth observing satellites have assembled an essential record of moderate-resolution data sets of the planet’s surface features that can now be downloaded via the internet. The nearly four decades of data provide a valuable resource for scientists and decision makers concerned with changes to the land surface, as do the daily, current observations. Read more here.
	The UNEP Global Environment Outlook Data Portal The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Global Environment Outlook Data Portal is the authoritative source for the data sets used by UNEP and its partners for the widely respected Global Environment Outlook report and other integrated and thematic environment assessments. Read more about this Data Portal here

Enter GEOSS

To learn more about GEOSS, visit the three GEO Portals: The ESRI GEO Portal, The ESA/FAO GEO Portal and the The Compusult GEO Portal

	Evaluating the GEO Portal prototypes Components registration Standards registration The assessment phase for the GEO Portals runs until May 2009. The Portals are updated regularly so please make repeat visits and provide your feedback. The GEO community is invited to register its data bases, catalogues, services and tools in the GEOSS Components and Services Registry The GEO community is encouraged to register standards, protocols and other specifications for ensuring an interoperable “system of systems” in the GEOSS Registry As of 2 February 2010 Approved components registered Approved services registered   "Approved Components" and "Approved Services" are those ones whose contents have been manually checked by CSR Record Review Working Group and meet their quality assurance criteria.

What are GEO and GEOSS?

The Group on Earth Observations (or GEO) is coordinating international efforts to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). This emerging public infrastructure is interconnecting a diverse and growing array of instruments and systems for monitoring and forecasting changes in the global environment. This “system of systems” supports policymakers, resource managers, science researchers and many other experts and decision-makers.

To learn more about GEO and GEOSS, please see the GEO brochure and information sheets. You can find further details about how GEO functions on the "About GEO pages".

What's new?

News

GEO boosts access to data for Haiti earthquake

Time reports that GEO members are providing data making it possible to assess the geological forces that caused last month's devastating earthquake and to evaluate options for post-disaster reconstruction. "GEO is working to break through the bureaucratic logjams in which such data often become mired." Read more here.

GEO-VI Draft Report available

The GEO-VI Plenary, held in Washington DC in November 2009, assessed progress on building GEOSS and developed plans and strategies for guiding the GEO process up through the November 2010 Ministerial Summit and beyond. The draft report of the Plenary, which will be approved at GEO-VII, has been posted here. A presentation on GEOSS highlights is posted here.

GEO in Copenhagen

GEO was present at the December climate change talks in Copenhagen via a series of side events and presentations. The European Commission organized a side event on "Earth observation in support of climate change monitoring" (see also leaflet). A CEOS side event discussed "Satellite Observations Contributing to Global Earth System Monitoring". ESA focused on the "Global Monitoring of Essential Climate Variables (ECV)". The GEO Secretariat made a presentation at the Climate Change Kiosk. For more information, see the UNFCCC web site.

Visit GEO on Facebook

GEO has launched a Facebook page where the GEO community can share information and ideas. To become a "fan", please visit the on-line GEO Facebook page here.

Space agencies, Google seek ways to save forests

Space agencies and Google Inc are helping an international project to monitor forests by satellite to fight global warming, the head of an international earth observation group said on Tuesday. Read full article

Comprehensive new global monitoring system to track deforestation and forest carbon

Governments, space agencies and organizations team up through GEO to integrate data and methodologies. Read full press release here.

Cash prizes for the 2009 Earthzine Student Essay Contest

Earthzine, the on-line journal on Earth observations and related issues, is inviting undergraduate and graduate students from around the world to submit an essay for the 2009 Student Essay Competition:

"Sustainability through Earth Observation and Engineering".

See the press release for more details.

Can GEO contribute to global digital soil map?

A recent article in Science proposes a series of steps for developing a user - oriented, high - resolution digital soil map and cites the potential of GEO to help make this happen. Read the article here.

Nature urges GEO role in carbon monitoring

In a recent editorial, the leading science journal Nature called on the Group on Earth Observations to work towards producing globally harmonized data sets on carbon at the global, national and local scales. Read the editorial here.

G8 reiterates its support for GEOSS

Meeting in L'Aquila, Italy, the G8 has, for the fourth time, highlighted its commitment to GEOSS in its annual declaration. See paragraph 77 of the L'Aquila declaration

Survey to assess SAR & agricultural monitoring

Canadian GEO invites the GEO community to participate in a "Survey on SAR to Support Agricultural Monitoring". The Survey aims to capture user views on the use of SAR for agricultural applications. The results will contribute to a better understanding of user requirements and help to inform international providers of SAR data about the requirements for agricultural monitoring. All persons involved in agricultural monitoring -- whether in research, science, operations, or decision making, and with or without experience in or detailed knowledge of SAR -- are encouraged to participate. The findings from the survey will be presented at the International GEO Workshop on SAR to Support Agricultural Monitoring, to be held in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, from 2-4 November 2009. The survey findings and report will also be made available on the Canadian GEO website at www.cgeo.gc.ca.

IUGG announces 2011 General Assembly

The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) will hold its next General Assembly from 27 June - 8 July 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. The conference will address major scientific issues of global and regional significance and concern, including recent natural disasters and extreme weather events. For more information, visit the IUGG web site.

CODATA newsletter examines GEOSS

CODATA interviews GEO Secretariat Director José Achache about data sharing and other GEO priorities in a special issue of its newsletter.

SERVIR speeds response to Honduran earthquake

Following the 28 May, 7.3-magnitude earthquake in Honduras (which also damaged neighbouring Belize), the SERVIR monitoring and visualization portal gave decision makers and emergency responders the rapid access they needed to high-resolution satellite imagery of the affected areas. Drawing on recent advances in impact analysis and user training, SERVIR demonstrated the value of GEOSS and the international collaboration, data sharing and capacity building that it promotes. For more information, visit the SERVIR web site.

UNEP and partners to contribute Black Sea data to GEOSS

The UN Environment Programme, the University of Geneva, and 26 other partners, with funding from the European Commission, are adding an important system to GEOSS by deploying the latest observation and assessment technologies to monitor environmental trends in the Black Sea. See the UNEP press release here.

White Paper on the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles

The GEOSS 10-Year Implementation Plan explicitly acknowledges the importance of data sharing in achieving the GEOSS vision and anticipated societal benefits.

This White Paper reviews the background issues for implementing the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles and recommends Implementation Guidelines to ensure the strongest possible framework for data sharing, consistent with both the spirit and the “letter” of the Principles.

Read White Paper