Transitioning Medspiration to become an element of MCS

1. Medspiration - Globcolour User Meeting Transitioning Medspiration to become an element of MCS National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

2. Highlights from users • The widespread use of Medspiration data accessed through the GDAC reported by Ed Armstrong of JPL • The use of Medspiration data in research by the US MISST project • Several international applications of Medspiration data reported by Craig Donlon • John Stark reported that Medspiration is indispensable for the OSTIA L4 analysis • NASA now use OSTIA data as a resource in their SPORT web site. • The UK Met Office based last year’s winter long term forecast on Atlantic upper ocean temperatures and SST expressed in OSTIA • Jacob Høyer reported that DMI rely on Medspiration L2P input for • Daily Baltic & North Sea SST analysis product, which is used to set up the operational high resolution NWP system • specialist L4 analysis product for ocean regions following the progress of a high profile round-the-world Danish educational expedition Medspiration - Globcolour User Meeting

3. More highlights • Pierre Le Borgne reported the use of Medspiration L2P products the following new L4 analysis products developed within the Mersea project • Mediterranean 1/18º • met no. high latitude 0.02º • M-F / CMS Atlantic 0.05º • Ifremer Global 0.1º • AATSR L2P data used routinely to provide bias correction for all other SST data sources • CNR (Lia Santoleri) producing daily 4 km resolution L4 products for the Mediterranean., and this will become operational within MOON. • Rosa Barciella reported on assimilation of Medspiration L2P in FOAM • reduces RMS by 0.1K, not only at the surface but down to 600 m depth. • Will go operational in 2007 • Ken Casey , NOAA… Medspiration - Globcolour User Meeting

4. The present situation A developing capability based on the international collaboration through GHRSST. Promoted by ESA through support for the GHRSST International Office. Implemented in Europe by ESA through its DUE Project “Medspiration”. Medspiration - Globcolour User Meeting

5. Complementary types of SST mission The global observing system requires all 4 types to be present. Medspiration - Globcolour User Meeting

6. The GMES Marine Core Service MCS • What is the GMES MCS ? • A service to provide accurate estimates of the current ocean state using satellite and in situ data integrated with operational ocean models • A fast-track service for early implementation, to serve the needs of EU and national policy, management and monitoring requirements • The proposed Generic Mersea approach • MERSEA - FP6 project tasked to design and develop the elements of the MCS • The MCS Implementation Panel is drawing strongly on the framework proposed by MERSEA, but expects a wider range of players to deliver the service • A generic view of how satellite data will be fed into the European operational MCS system:- Medspiration - Globcolour User Meeting

7. Generic tasks for the Thematic Assembly Centres (TACs) • Real-time additional processing of European level 2 data products • generate a common data format and product standard, facilitating an interoperable, harmonised data distribution system within the MCS. • Near-real-time level 3/4 processing activities, generating analysis products • best estimate of an ocean property, blending data from various sources. • Providing access to all data products • using real-time high volume data flow to the operational users, • web access for general public users. • Delayed mode level 3/4 processing activities, e.g reanalyses for climate. • Quality control, validation and error characterization, • Applied to products and forecasts produced within the TAC. • Interfacing with international activities for the same type of data, and with TACs for other data types including in situ data for validation. • Providing effective feedback on data products between users and the observing system Medspiration - Globcolour User Meeting

8. Proposed evolution of Medspiration to EU-GDAC Note how the Archiving and Quality Assurance Functions for SST are distinct from the producers and (MCS internal) users Coloured boxes are essential elements of the MCS. Yellow boxes are TAC functions Medspiration - Globcolour User Meeting

9. SST Products envisaged in EU-GDAC These are European data sources to be overseen by the EU-GDAC acting as EU-RDAC Medspiration - Globcolour User Meeting

10. Some issues to note • Primary validation the responsibility of the Space Agencies • Requires in situ observations throughout the mission lifetime • For Sentinel 3 validation must be fully budgeted in the mission • The EU-GDAC will archive all GHRSST SST products • EU-GDAC = European Global Data Archive Centre • The primary channel for European L2P and L4 products • A mirror of the US-GDAC at JPL providing a portal for all SST data • The long term stewardship and reanalysis facility (LTSRF) is provided by NOAA and does not need duplicating in Europe • The EU-GDAC to monitor quality of all SST data • Uses the Match-up database (MDB) and Diagnostic data set (DDS) to validate the error estimates and quality flags of L2P data products • MCS should provide this function for the world, since it is currently lacking • Reanalysis for climate records of SST – a task for MCS • Should include reprocessing of level 2 datasets by the Space Agencies • Needs to be co-ordinated with the international effort through the LTSRF Medspiration - Globcolour User Meeting

11. Is it achievable ? • Most elements of proposed system are already developed • The GHRSST-PP concept has been proved • The basic data systems are in place • But present ESA support is for prototype development only • Some key operational users already in place • A producer – user feedback is already developed • A smooth transition to an operational system is possible • Needs a secure funding line for operational stability • Limited extra investment needed for secure 24/7 operation • Limited further development effort required to operationalise the quality feedback loop • The foundation is laid for an effective climate data system • Can be based on the operational NRT processing system • But needs a commitment to regular reprocessing and reanalysis Medspiration - Globcolour User Meeting

12. What should we do now? • Ensure operational continuity is not broken • Request ESA maintains Medspiration until MCS is in place • Unless GMES Office is willing to fund extension of Medspiration • Request ESA maintain the GHRSST-IPO • Maintain consensus in SST producer – user community • Present a common view to the EU • Obtain confirmation of user requirements for the Medspiration Service to continue • Communicate to MCS-IG a generic outline of EU-GDAC • Ensure L2P is implemented by the L2 SST producing agency • Ensure that a full validation programme is in place for each European SST sensor as part of its mission ground segment • Explain how the EU GDAC plus the linked L2P & L4 production fulfils the role of a TAC Medspiration - Globcolour User Meeting

13. Next steps • Identify elements of the EU-GDAC requiring preparation • Establish automated processes for the SSES verification loop to be applied to all SST sensors as a GDAC function • Define the concept of delayed mode L2P products • Produced within a few days when all ancillary data are available • Define the concept of the ”super-collated” L3(?) merged product • Seek approval for DM-L2P and L3 collated at next GHRSST-ST • Prepare proposals for funding • Scope out the actors and costs for operating EU-GDAC • Co-ordinate & harmonise the diverse L4 product players for a common proposal • Strengthen the operational user involvement in management Medspiration - Globcolour User Meeting