New release of the dossier of the space-based component of the Global Observing System

20 January 2012

There is a new release of the regularly updated "Dossier on the space-based GOS". It reviews the status of satellite programmes and analyses a vast range of related aspects.

It is maintained by WMO with input from all contributing space agencies in the framework of CGMS. This work is also coordinated with the European Space Agency's effort to maintain the CEOS Missions, Instruments and Measurements (MIM) Database on behalf of CEOS.

The new and restructured edition contains descriptions of over 440 instruments related to over 300 satellites.

Outcome of the 39th meeting of CGMS

12 October 2011

The 39th session of the Plenary meeting of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites - CGMS - took place in St Petersburg, Russian Federation, on 3-7 October 2011, and was hosted by the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, Roshydromet.

The main outcomes were:

• The agreement by all CGMS agencies on an updated baseline of the space component of the WMO Global Observing System (GOS), reflecting a major step towards the WMO Vision for the Global Observing System in 2025;
• The support to the proposed definition of a space-based architecture for Climate Monitoring to which CGMS Members agreed to identify their potential contributions. (This topic will be addressed at the WMO Special Congress 29-31 October 2012);
• To consider developing standards for direct read-out in X-band for future polar-orbiting satellites; and
• CGMS Members agreed to coordinate their efforts in terms of collision avoidance and future plans for space weather observations.

A further issue discussed was the 40th session of the CGMS Plenary meeting which will be hosted by WMO in Switzerland on 5-9 November 2012. In view of the 40th anniversary of CGMS, it is planned to evaluate its structure and practices to maximise its effectiveness and relations with other coordinating bodies and the global meteorological satellite community. Through a Task Force consisting of CGMS Members, it is planned to propose a revised Agenda which more appropriately corresponds to the issues to be discussed by CGMS and also to prepare topics for discussion during the Plenary session which will encourage the Heads of CGMS Member agencies to attend the CGMS Plenary session.

Finally, CGMS Members provided an update of the status of their current satellite programmes, as well as detailed plans for the future.

Final report:

The CGMS-39 final report including actions and recommendations resulting from the meeting, is available here.