Global Interagency IPY Polar Snapshot Year

1

Global Inter-agency IPY Polar Snapshot Year
(GIIPSY)

• Co-Chairs
• Mark Drinkwater, ESA/ESTEC
• Ken Jezek, Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State
• Presented by Pablo Clemente-Colón, NIC, at the
• 8th IICWG Meeting, 24 October 2007,Frascati, Italy

2

Global Inter-agency IPY Polar Snapshot Year
(GIIPSY)

• GIIPSY aims to facilitate
• Use of current and soon to be launched earth
  observing satellites to develop broad spectral,
  medium and high resolution snapshots of the polar
  regions.
• Use of the snapshots as gauges for assessing the
  impacts of past and future high latitude
  environmental changes.
• Establishment of technical and programmatic
  infrastructure for sustaining international
  observations beyond IPY.

3
(No Transcript)
4
 
5
Implementing GIIPSY through the IPY SPACE TASK
GROUP (STG)

• STG SUMMARY
• First meeting of STG 1 took place in WMO
  Headquarters from 17-19 Jan, 2007
• Participation of the following Space Agencies
• CMA, CNES, CSA, DLR, ESA, Eumetsat, NASA,
  Roshydromet,
• Additional representation from WCRP-CliC, GIIPSY,
  IPY-Joint Committee

6
Key Outcomes from STG 1

• STG made substantive progress on developing the
  concept of an effective space component of the
  observing system for the polar regions during
  IPY. This would deliver a series of firsts,
  including
• For the first time, pole to coast multi-frequency
  InSAR measurements of ice-sheet surface velocity.
• For the first time, repeat fine-resolution SAR
  mapping of the entire Southern Ocean sea-ice
  cover for sea ice motion.
• For the first time, one complete high resolution
  visible and thermal IR (Vis/IR) snapshot of
  circumpolar permafrost.
• For the first time, pan-Arctic high and moderate
  resolution Vis/IR snapshots of freshwater (lake
  and river) freeze-up and break-up.
• The Space Agencies introduced the concept of IPY
  data portfolios as an organizing principle. Each
  Agency will determine what data will be made
  available to IPY scientists as part of its
  portfolio. The intention is to provide open and
  easy access to these portfolios for scientific
  use. The content of the portfolios will evolve
  through the STG coordination of planning,
  acquisition, downlink and processing during IPY
  and beyond, as a legacy.

7
Key Objectives for STG-2

• In view of the high importance and priority of
  achieving the scientific firsts it is highly
  desirable if interested groups continue to urge
  Space Agencies to do their utmost in developing
  and adopting a coordinated approach for the
  implementation to these activities for the
  remaining period of IPY.
• One of the key issues is how to secure the legacy
  of a long-term observing system. This legacy
  shall include high-level products resulting from
  the science of IPY, e.g. high spatial resolution
  digital terrain maps of the polar regions. One
  approach that may be considered for long term
  security of the IPY legacy is to establish a link
  to GEO.

8
STG Successes

• CSA Arctic Science Archive Processing Project
  (ASAP)
• CSA Modified Antarctic Mapping Mission (MiniMAMM)
• DLR TerraSAR-X Support of IPY
• ESA AO
• ESA Data Portal and Metadata Tagging for IPY
• Dedicated IPY Acquisition Planning

9
ESA ASAR Acquisition Planning
10
ESA Planned ASAR Image ModeSwath 2 HH-pol
October 16
11
CSA Modified Antarctic Mapping Mission (MiniMAMM)
November 2007
12
CSA Arctic Science Archive Processing Project
(ASAP)

• National consultation (Nov-06)
• Three phases under which more than 7 500
  Radarsat-1 archive data will be processed
• Phase 1 (50) Blanket coverage in Fine 1 of the
  Canadian polar region and the Arctic Archipelago
  (2000-2001)
• Phase 2 (25) Seasonal polar snapshots between
  2003 and now
• Phase 3 (25) Processing of images under
  specific areas of interests identified and agreed
  upon as supersites by the research communities
• Web Portal for images and products dissemination

13
CSA ASAP Coverages
14
CSA ASAP CoveragesFrozen Baseline F1
Phase 1 - Baseline Fine Mode. Northern Canadian
complete coverage (3098 scenes)
15
CSA ASAP CoveragesMin and Max Sea Ice Extent
Phase 2 - - Arctic Basin ScanSAR Sea-Ice
Snapshots (364 scenes)
16
CSA ASAP Canadian Supersites
17
CSA ASAP Coverages forCanadian Supersites
Phase 3 - Arctic Super-sites (4038 scenes)
18
Partnerships for IPY Data Access

• CSA/NASA/UAF
• Working together to make RADARSAT-1 data
  available as specific legacy data sets
• The project is well underway
• JAXA/NOAA/NASA/UAF/ESA
• Working with JAXA and the European counterpart to
  AADN to make ALOS data available in the IPY
  context
• The project is defined, but not implemented
• ADN meeting next week

19
IPY RADARSAT-1 Legacy Datasets

• The Goal for the IPY Legacy datasets is to
  present RADARSAT-1 data to a new generation of
  researchers interested in studying Polar regions.

20
2007 Arctic Sea Ice Extent Record
Minimum Captured by CSA RADARSAT-1
The Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF) downlinks and
mosaics Canadian Space Agency (CSA) RADARSAT-1
images of the western Arctic Ocean every three
days. These synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images
are acquired both day and night regardless of
weather conditions. The data are used for
research and operational monitoring of changes in
sea ice cover. The animation to the right shows
changing sea ice conditions from mid-July to
mid-September and documents the evolution of a
record minimum extent in 2007. The transparent
blue mask indicates the sea ice edge as
determined by analysts at the National Ice Center
(NIC).
21
2007 Arctic Sea Ice Extent Record
Minimum Captured by NIC Charts
The National Ice Center produces weekly and
bi-weekly Arctic charts that also captured the
evolution of the 2007 sea ice extent record
minimum.. The animation of bi-weekly NIC charts
to the right shows changing sea ice conditions
from March 12 to September 24 2007.
22
(No Transcript)
23
Old CSA ASAP Phase 2?
Circumpolar ScanSAR Seasonal Coverage
Spring 2004
March 2007
September 2007
Winter 2004
24
How do you get these data?

• End User License Agreement (EULA)
• user must agree to terms and conditions.
• Registration required
• data will be password protected. Once users
  complete the EULA and registration, access to IPY
  data will be granted by USO.
• users will log in through the URSA home page to
  get to the IPY data.

25
How do you get these data?
26
Coverage areas

• Greenland Sept. 2000 Jan. 2001
• Antarctica Sept. Oct. 1997
• Kamchatka Dec. 1999 Jan. 2000
• Sea Ice Sept. Mar. 2003 - 2006
• Toolik Station - Oct. 2004 Dec. 2006
• Other suggested sites?

27
GIIPSY Continuing Challenges

• Increasing the number of Space Agencies
  participating in the STG we encourage global
  involvement (Italy, India, others?)
• Securing commitments of key data sets such as
  L-band SAR and high resolution optical repeat
  observations of the arctic ice pack.

28
IPY STG Schedule
29
GIIPSY Information

• Information on GIIPSY is available at
• http//bprc.osu.edu/rsl/GIIPSY/
• The site includes minutes of the STG meeting and
  the two STG teleconferences.

30
BACK-UP Vu-Graphs
31
GIIPSY Legacy Objectives

• A. Sea level rise, and hemispheric climate
  (Glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets) 1)  For the
  first time, one summer, one winter SAR snapshot
  of the polar ice sheets,  glaciers and ice caps.
  Near simultaneous imagery at L, C, and X band,
  polarimetric quad pole for documenting ice
  surface physical parameters. 2)  For the first
  time, pole-to-coast multi-frequency InSAR
  measurements of ice surface velocity.3)  For the
  first time, repeated X-band InSAR topography for
  detecting local changes in ice sheet elevation
  associated with motion of subglacial water. 4) 
  For the first time, one summer, one winter, high
  resolution visible/near IR/ TIR snapshot of the
  entirety of the polar ice sheets, glaciers and
  small ice caps followed with bimonthly coverage
  of select glaciers for snow-zone mapping 5) 
  Continued measurements of ice surface elevation
  from radar and laser altimeters (spaceborne and
  airborne) for volume change 6)  Continued, daily
  visible and infrared medium-resolution imaging of
  the entirety of the polar ice sheets, glaciers
  and ice caps and to be compiled into monthly
  maps. 7)  Continued, daily medium-to-coarse
  resolution active and passive microwave images of
  the polar ice sheets, ice fields and ice caps for
  melt extent 8)  Continued measurements of the
  gravity field for mass balance.

32
IPY Legacy Objectives

• B. Ocean circulation and polar air-sea
  interactions (Sea ice) 1)  For the first time,
  L-band SAR mapping of the Arctic ocean and
  marginal seas sea ice cover for leads and ridges.
  2)  For the first time, repeat fine resolution
  SAR mapping of the entire Southern ocean sea ice
  cover for ice motion 3)  For the first time, SAR
  and optical fine resolution mappings of the
  entire Arctic ocean 4)  Continued 3-day medium
  resolution SAR mapping of sea ice covered waters
  for motion, and melt pond coverage 5)  Continued
  passive microwave observations of sea ice
  concentration and extent 6)  Continued laser and
  radar altimeter measurements of ice thickness and
  sea surface topography
• 7) Measurements of IPY Polar Geoid
• C. Regional climate, precipitation and hydrology
  (Terrestrial snow cover) 1)  Daily medium
  resolution visible/near IR/TIR observations of
  all snow covered terrain 2)  Daily passive
  microwave observations of snow covered terrain
  for determination of snow water equivalent

33
IPY Legacy Objectives
D. Changing permafrost and Arctic climate
(Permafrost) 1)  For the first time, one
complete high resolution snapshot of all polar
permafrost terrain at L, C and X band. 2)  For
the first time, one complete, high resolution
visible and thermal IR snapshot of all polar
permafrost terrain 3)  Continued medium and
coarse active and passive microwave observations
of all polar permafrost

• E. Aquatic ecosystems, transportation and
  hazards (Lake and river ice) 1)  For the first
  time, pan-arctic high and medium resolution
  microwave snapshots of fresh water-
  break/freeze-up 2)  For the first time,
  pan-arctic high and medium resolution visible,
  near IR and TIR snapshots of fresh water-
  break/freeze-up
• 3) Seasonal, low-frequency (6-10 GHz)
  passive microwave observations of lake ice
  thickness

34
(No Transcript)