e GY Description based on eGY presentations and discussions at Paris & Boulder

1. eGY Description based on eGY presentations and discussions at Paris & Boulder 23 July & 3 September 2004 by Daniel.baker@lasp.colorado.edu charles.barton@anu.edu.au

2. IGY+50 Moving forward from the International Geophysical Year …. … to the electronic Geophysical Year

3. International Geophysical Year 1957 - 1958 • allowed scientists to participate in global observations of geophysical phenomena using common instruments and data processing • gathered data on geophysical phenomena from around the world • established the World Data Centre system

4. To get scientific data from various, mostly distributed sources, a scientist may have to • search through data centers, various institutions, observatories, contact colleagues… • process data using mostly proprietary codes, run models… • get data via snail-mail, air-mail, e-mail, Web… • … finally, do some science • ingest retrieved data into a local database…

5. Drivers Earth System science Higher resolution – space and time Rapid response Data assimilation into models Interoperability Data rescue

6. Embrace and extend IGY principles Free, universal, open access to data Timely and convenient access International cooperation and sharing Global scope Exploit e-Science opportunities Capacity building, especially in developing countries

7. IGY + 50 yearsNew Perspectives for the Next Millennium eGY complements initiatives that mark the 50-year anniversary of IGY IYPE International Year of Planet Earth IPY International Polar Year IHY International Heliophysical Year CAWSES Climate and Weather of the Sun-Earth System

8. eGY an initiative of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysicsled by the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomymarks the 50-Year anniversary of the International Geophysical Year 1957-1958

9. eGY Participants USNC-IUGG AAS Austr Academy Sci LASP Dan Baker NASA Barbara Thompson NESDIS NOAA/NGDC SEC NCAR SWRI ICSU Thomas Rosswall IUGG EC (Assocs) Task Force IAGA/IUGG Task Force, IGY+50 Cmte IAGA Charles Barton PAA Data & Inf R Miller, Carthage Smith WDC Panel Ferris Webster CODATA Kathleen Cass FAGS Phil Wilkinson SCOSTEP Joe Allen, M Candidi SCAR (IPY) Maurizio Candidi, A Rodger AOGS Yohsuke Kamide SEG Brian Spies, VP IGBP Will Steffen, ED IPY Alan Rodger IHY Barbara Thompson CAWSES S Basu, Joe Allen, Y Kamide

10. Workshop Questions • What value will eGY add? (deliverables, benefits) • Who will benefit? (organisations, programs, disciplines, individuals, DCs …) • How will eGY accomplish this? (operational model, governance, finance) • What ownership? (partners, sponsors/host for secretariat, champions) • What action items? • When? (specify a timetable for action)

11. Added value Through liaison with other bodies/initiatives: • Inform: • Website (www.egy.org) • Newsletters • Meetings: specialist, national, general assemblies Educate and build capacity in developing countries • Stimulate and promote eGY-related projects (not funded by eGY) Educate and build capacity in developing countries • Common approach to data donor agencies • Common approach to standards

12. Vision Geoscience in this century is given a forward impetus as IGY 50 did years ago.

13. Objective Promote the sharing of geoscientific data and information universally to facilitate (inter-disciplinary) science by helping to satisfy modern requirements for • ready access to comprehensive data • universal (equal) access by everyone • interoperability • multidisciplinary, multi-institutional, (Earth) systems science • ability to manage large data sets • access to high resolution data in both space and time • access in real-time or near real-time to data and applications • data suitable for assimilation into models • web services

14. Roles Facilitate, inform, stimulate, encourage, and promote the following. • Modern data access and services (e-Science) • Establishment of virtual observatories throughout the geosciences • Cooperation among bodies/initiatives to reduce duplication and spread standards • Data discovery (location) - who holds, what, where, how? Develop metadata • Data release (secure access permission; active rather than passive release) • Data preservation (make old data accessible; preserve existing data) • Capacity building (empowerment, outreach, education) • Advancement of science in developing countries

15. Themes Data access Ready and open electronic access to data e-Science, Web Services, VIRTUAL OBSERVATORIES Data discovery (location) Who holds what data, where, and in what form? Metadata Permission and release Lift access restrictions Active rather than passive release of data Data preservation Digitize analog data; reformat old digital data International framework and standards for storage and maintenance Capacity building and outreach Boost the scope and output of scientific endeavours Raise awareness among scientists, decision-makers and the public Better opportunities for growth of science in countries in need.

16. Attractions of eGY • Timely – Virtual Observatory software is becoming available; e-Science initiatives are spreading • Interdisciplinary - data sharing and data accessibility are common issues in all areas of the geosciences • Affordable – technology development is funded elsewhere • Cost effective – more/better science for money • Inclusive – opportunities for developed and developing countries • Capacity Building – informs, stimulates, enables, connects people • Appealing to young scientists - fast, convenient, comprehensive data access • Complements I*Y initiatives - IPY, IYPE, IHY, and CAWSES • Outreach capability - informs decision makers and public (promotes environmental literacy)

17. Operational models for eGY Model 1. Independent (needs substantial funding) Model 2. Common theme Model 3. Hosted by parent(s)

18. Common Theme Model

19. Structure Executive Small group of key persons who are the architects of business International Coordination Office Secretariat to conduct eGY business Scientific Advisory Committee Policy, planning, opportunity identification, scientific links (representatives from key participants, e.g., WDCs) Thematic Working Groups VOs, data discovery, release, preservation, standards, DCs National & Regional Committees/Offices To liaise, stimulate, and interact with national/regional initiatives

20. Activities • Organise meetings, workshops, and symposia • Develop the website: www.egy.org • Produce an electronic newsletter • Marketing: presentations, articles, postage stamps • Outreach: education • Capacity building in developing countries

21. Next steps for eGY • Move from concept development to planning to implementation • Presentations, marketing, website, newsletter • Get finance • Set up Secretariat, Steering Committee, N&R contacts/bodies • Expand partnerships • Work with the World Data Centres • Establish program relationships: IPY, IYPE, IHY, ILWS, CAWSES • Get endorsements: ICSU, UNESCO? • Establish thematic WGs

22. Next steps for USA • Lead an environmental observing systems planning committee with NESDIS, NOAA, NASA, NSF, NRC, etc. participation • Develop the US Program Plan for the electronic Geophysical Year, eGY • Obtain interagency approval for the Program Plan • Incorporate the Program Plan with budget in the report to Congress as required by the IGY-2 resolution( by August 18th?!). • ? Should the NAS present the program to Congress

23. Timeline 2003 July IUGG Gen. Assy, Sapporo; eGY endorsed Dec eGY planning discussion at AGU 2004 March Paper describing eGY in EOS March ICSU grant application (not funded) July Planning workshop, Paris Sept IUGG Executive meeting Sept Planning workshop, Boulder Nov/Dec Presentation and Planning workshop, GSFC Set up Steering Committee 2005 …. Set up Secretariat …. IUGG Association meetings - presentations, planning July IAGA Assembly; eGY symposium

24. Main Apollo - Earth from Moon eGY

25. Virtual Observatories • Access through a browser or an Application Programming Interface (API) • “Small box” uses registry of XML data service schema to construct appropriate queries for each relevant data service • API or browser can refine queries • Final data transfer is direct to requestor (no middleman)

26. Virtual Observatories The best way to describe a virtual observatory is to give an example. • The Virtual Radiation Belt Observatory • Assemble data from all available sources • Data from NOAA satellites, POES, GOES and NPOESS • Data from EUMETSAT satellites, MetOp • Data from NASA satellites, SAMPEX • Data from DoD satellites, • Data Management System • Local data servers provide data to global data servers which provide data in a standard data model to the applications software, the data assimilation model and to the physical models in response to requests • This approach takes advantage of the SPIDR, ESG and CDAWeb systems operating at NASA, AFCCC and NGDC • Merge with data assimilation models and physical models • Center for Integrated Space weather Models (CISM), funded by NSF • Existing virtual observatory systems include the Virtual Solar Observatory, the Virtual Ocean Observatory (?), etc.

27. Carbon Cycle Virtual Observatory concept Distributed fossil fuel aerosols from nighttime lights Dust from MODIS Fires and smoke plumes Authoritative descriptions of radiative forcing by aerosols for climate studies requires disparate data sets to drive numerical models.