Canadian Space Agency IPY Planning

1. Canadian Space Agency IPY Planning Jean-Marc Chouinard Canadian Space Agency Space Task Group – IPY Sub-Committee on Observations WMO – 17 – 19 January, 2007

2. Canadian Space Agency Assets • RADARSAT 1 • In operation since 1996 – confirmed continued operations until Sept 2008 • Demonstrated potential for routine polar observation (world-wide ice services, Arctic and Antarctic missions) • Archive collected over both polar regions (>250,000 images over the Arctic)

3. Canadian Space Agency Assets RADARSAT 2 • Ensured data continuation + enhanced modes until 2012 • Canadian government data allocation available forInternational Science Projects

4. Canadian Space Agency Assets • 3 satellites – C-Band, dual-pol operations, quad-pol exp.,multiple swaths and resolution available • Increased imaging frequency for polar regions – up to 4 time/day • RADARSAT C (constellation) • Increasing operational use • Improving system reliability

5. Canadian Space Agency Assets • SCISAT focuses its attention in the stratosphere, where the ozone layer is located. • The orbit tuned to maximize the capture of scientific data over the polar regions. • Data will help to better understand ozone layer • SCISAT

6. CSA IPY Activities • Arctic Science Archive Processing project – ASAP • RADARSAT Polar Science Gateway • Coordination through STG

7. 1. ASAP • Objectives: • Initiate the processing of RSAT 1 archive collected over the Arctic. • Ensure accessibility for scientific activities • Direct contribution to IPY national and International science programs • 10 years of relevant datasets based on operational and background missions activities

8. RADARSAT 1 Background Missions

10. ASAP Legacy • Blanket coverage in Fine 1 of the Canadian polar region and the Arctic Archipelago (collected during the CIM, 2000-2001) • Max and Min ice extent Arctic snapshots from 2003 to … • Thematically relevant dataset acquired over specific areas of interest (supersites) identified by the research communities • Canadian Ice Service dataset acquired since 1996 • Canadian Arctic land mass mosaics – summer and winter 1998-99

11. Blanket coverage in Fine 1

12. 2003 Arctic Basin Coverage Summer Fall Arctic Basin area = 10ºC July Isotherm Coverage completion: ~85.3% Start date: October 3, 2003 End date: October 31, 2003 Arctic Basin area = 10ºC July Isotherm Coverage completion: ~90.8% Start date: July 30, 2003 End date: August 6, 2003

13. 2004 Arctic Basin Coverage Winter Spring Arctic Basin area = 10ºC July Isotherm Coverage completion: ~90.6% Start date: January 9, 2004 End date: February 6, 2004 Arctic Basin area = 10ºC July Isotherm Coverage completion: ~77.8% Start date: April 19, 2004 End date: April 25, 2004

14. 2004 Arctic Basin Coverage Summer Fall Arctic Basin area = 10ºC July Isotherm Coverage completion: ~98.9% Start date: July 23, 2004 End date: August 6, 2004 Arctic Basin area = 10ºC July Isotherm Coverage completion: ~85.0% Start date: October 4, 2004 End date: October 11, 2004

15. 2005 Arctic Basin Coverage Winter Spring Arctic Basin area = 10ºC July Isotherm Coverage completion: ~81.4% Start date: January 8, 2005 End date: February 15, 2005 Arctic Basin area = 10ºC July Isotherm Coverage completion: ~76.5% Start date: April 14, 2005 End date: May 3, 2005

17. Supersites

18. 2. RADARSAT Polar Science Gateway • Objectives • to create and disseminate a circumpolar Arctic data treasury of satellite-based radar data and derived information products in support of science for climate change research and local needs of northern peoples and communities. • Highlights • Making use of Radarsat archives and missions – RSAT-1,-2,-C • Anik F2 potential for telecommunications bandwidth • Serve urgent Canadian & international goals • In support of science and northern communities • With partners and levered resources • A lasting legacy Implementation depending on support from Canadian IPY Federal Program

19. 3. Coordination Through STG • Support the objective of STG • Ensured CSA collaboration for: • Acquisition and planning coordination • Data management (archiving, standard, inter-operability, etc.) • Open data policy for science activities

20. Data Policy Challenges in Canada • Distribution framework for Radarsat-1: Commercial • Radarsat-2 owned and operated by MDA – use of Canadian Government Data Allocation • Restricted to science use – NO operations supported

21. Way Forward • Consultation to guide strategic development of RSAT Polar Science Gateway and optimal use of its resources • Consultation with end-users for a data plan • Coordination among the space agencies within the STG framework • Coordination with other Information Network managers and linkages • Seek additional partners (via IPY & other) • Liaison with Canada IPY (steering committees, possible further proposals) • Coordination & agreement