The Contribution of GGOS to GEOSS: the view from GEO
Jose Achache(1) and Giovanni Rum(1)
(1) GEO, 7bis Avenue de la Paix, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Abstract
The Global Geodetic Observing System is considered to be a major
component in the GEOSS architecture, by providing the metrological
basis (Geodetic reference frames, Earth's gravity field and Earth's
rotational motion) for all Earth Observations, by providing the
necessary geo-referencing for the generation of basic geographical
datasets for use by all GEO Societal Benefit Areas - SBA's
In addition GGOS has a particular relevance for specific SBA's,
such as:
- Disasters, it allows, through measurement of high-resolution surface
motion, the monitoring of volcanoes, earthquakes, tectonically active
regions and landslide-prone areas;
- Water, it allows direct monitoring of sea level, ice sheets, water
storage on land and, through measurement of variations in the Earth'
gravity field, it provides valuable information on the regional and
global mass transport in the hydrological cycle that, to a large
extent, is causing such variations.
The active participation of the Global Geodetic Observing
System to GEO would strongly support GEOSS implementation and will also
contribute to solve key issues associated to the completion of GGOS
development and its sustained operations. Participation should cover:
Scientific/Technical
- Coordination of Users requirements across all SBA's as the
input for the definition of GGOS basic products and associated core
infrastructure,
- Participation to the Architecture and Data tasks to ensure proper integration of
GGOS into GEOSS
- Direct participation to tasks relevant to Specific SBA's,
mainly Disasters
Political/programmatic
- Definition of the framework to ensure, within GEOSS, operational
continuity and sustainability to the core GGOS infrastructure.