Petition: Continuity of satellite ocean observations

Source: http://ioc-unesco.org/satellite-continuity
 

http://ioc-unesco.org/satellite-continuity

Text of petition

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A serious threat is affecting the continuity of ocean observation in the coming decade, at a time when marine activities are developing and climate change is accelerating, with such impacts as sea level rise, ice melting in polar regions, enhanced tropical hurricanes and increased coastal pollution. Ocean observation from space has now proved a very powerful means to detect and monitor climate change, to support marine safety and maritime activities, to monitor fisheries and fish stocks, to forecast coastal hazards and extreme events and help prevent major impacts, and in broad terms, to contribute to protecting lives and property at sea and in the densely-populated coastal regions of the world.

Based on the success of integrated ocean observation systems, which combine satellite data, sub-surface ocean measurements and numerical models, a number of operational services are now mature and ready to develop, provided that data continuity is guaranteed. This has been the rationale for the European programme Kopernikus (formerly known as GMES), highlighted in a recent European Forum in Lille, France, on 15-16 September, 2008. However it appears that two major elements of the European contribution to the necessary space-based observing system are in jeopardy.

Decisions (or non-decisions) are just about to be taken in Europe which may severely impact ocean observation capabilities in the next decades. As you may be aware, there will be a European Ministerial Council of the European Space Agency (ESA) on 25-26 November, 2008, in The Hague, where decisions regarding the second segment of the GMES Space Component programme (mainly based on the development of a series of satellite missions called "Sentinels") will be adopted. Lack of funding and European national interests could lead to dropping the second flight model of the ocean satellite (Sentinel 3-B). Nearly simultaneously a Jason-3 programme proposal – currently under consideration within Eumetsat with partners – is at risk of being rejected, as the European funding scheme has not yet been agreed on. Additionally the US part of Jason-3 is not yet firm either, and hesitations in Europe are threatening the decision process on the other side of the Atlantic, where Earth observation programmes have been severely cut in the past few years.

In both Sentinel and Jason cases, a senseless decision-making process, only based on geographical return and related industrial schemes instead of a rational analysis of measurement goals, and the overall lack of funding, have significant potential to destroy the continuity of fundamental data records of essential ocean and climate variables.

Jason and Sentinel missions are absolutely critical to the continuing development of societal benefits from ocean information. They provide information essential for matters as diverse as knowing the rate of global sea level rise (and whether it is increasing), to short term forecasts in support of oil rig operational decisions, pollution response, search and rescue from marine accidents, and improving monthly and seasonal weather forecasts. Decision-makers, often pressed by short-term budget concerns, are urged to recognize the long term consequences for their nations if these missions are not continued.

We, the signatories, request that adequate decisions are taken and appropriate funding is made available to guarantee the necessary continuity of ocean observation by satellite, which implies a quick decision for both Sentinel 3-B and Jason-3 at the forthcoming Council meetings. It is important to realise that the cost of these missions is but a small fraction of the savings permitted by the marine services now made possible for the benefit of society but which would collapse immediately, should the data source vanish.

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The petition along with the collected signatures will be forwarded on 1 November 2008 to the governing bodies of ESA, EUMETSAT, the European Commission, NOAA, NASA, CNES and other space agencies.