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How the UNFCCC can benefit from space
European Space Agency
As a global issue, climate change must be addressed with global models
depending on global data. Earth Observation has unique capacity to provide data
continuously and consistently not only on this level, but also on the national
and local levels. This can help in the implementation of the Convention and
Protocol, and support the Parties in their reporting duties. ESA has initiated ways
to demonstrate how satellite data can support the objectives of the UNFCCC (for
example a better use of renewable energy).
Satellite Observations
The importance of systematic global observation for understanding climate
change has long been recognised by the UNFCCC. Some of the variables
essential for understanding and monitoring the climate system can be efficiently
observed from space since this enables their systematic, global and homogeneous
measurement (cf. the Global Climate
Observing System (GCOS) implementation
plan in support of the UNFCCC). Several ESA
global-scale projects transform satellite data
into meaningful parameters that provide
insight into climate change issues.
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FIG 1 Sea surface temperature trend over last two decades: S.P. Lawrence, D.T. Llewellyn-Jones and
S.J. Smith, 2004. The measurement of climate change using data from the Along-track Scanning and
Advanced Very-High Resolution Radiometers, Journal of Geophysical Research |
Over Land
The most relevant variables that can
be measured over land are daily global
albedo (the fraction of sunlight reflected
back from the Earth), vegetation indices,
fires and burnt areas, snow cover of both
hemispheres, digital elevation maps of
the ice sheet surfaces, glaciers evolution
and land cover. Some of these variables
are required as inputs to models designed
to better understand the carbon cycle,
while other models give an immediate
view of climate change impact. Within the
GlobCarbon project vegetation indices, fire
location, timing and area affected, as well
as additional information on the vegetation
growth cycle (timing, duration, spatial and
temporal variability) are being estimated
globally. They are used as input for the
Carbon Assimilation Models. Fire location has been globally analysed for more
than a decade and is accessible at http://dup.esrin.esa.it/ionia/wfa/. This Along
Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR) World Fire Atlas atlas has been used by more
than 700 scientific teams, most of them working in atmospheric modelling. A
global land cover map at 300 metre resolution is being developed within the
GlobCover project using Envisat Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer
(MERIS) data from 2005.
Over Sea
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FIG 2 Cirrus coverage vs. air-traffic density for the whole region of investigation 80° W - 50° E, 20° N - 75° N
for the time period of 11 months (Feb. 2004 - Dec. 2004). Courtesy, DLR |
The large volume of data acquired from 20 years of satellite observations of
sea surface temperature has given scientists a uniquely detailed view of the
changing physical characteristics of ocean surfaces, sampled at a rate impossible
to achieve with only ship-based observations. The Medspiration project combines
data measured independently by several different satellite systems into a set of
data products that represent the best measure of sea surface temperature, in a
form that can be assimilated into ocean forecasting models. Trends in sea surface
temperature are a definitive sign of global warming and long-term series of
satellite measurement are required to address this.
Ocean algae absorb thousands of tonnes of carbon, forming one of its most
important and long-lasting removal routes. Scientists can estimate the
concentrations of phytoplankton by measuring ocean colour. Combining ocean
colour measurements with atmospheric aerosol and trace gas measurements will
also yield new insights into the chemical links between ocean and atmosphere, providing measurements of ozone and greenhouse gases including CO2 (currently
a research field) and CH4 exploiting satellite data. Derivation of a daily global
aerosol product over land and water from several satellites is the objective of
GlobAerosol project.
Also the influence of air traffic on cirrus formation requires a global analysis that
only Earth Observation can provide, a demonstration of this has been performed
during the Contrails project.
Land Use and Forestry
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FIG 3 The forest map of French Guyana illustrates two issues that ESA is addressing with satellite images:
National reporting on activities related to land use and forestry for Annex 1 countries (i.e. France) and
avoidance of tropical deforestation. Areas deforested between 1993 and 2003 are shown in red and have been
detected using images from ESA’s radar satellites.
(Courtesy GAF) |
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Human activities related to land use and forestry have a significant impact upon
net emissions of carbon. The measurement of these is a main function of the
Kyoto Protocol, which obliges the Annex 1 countries to report on these activities
during the first commitment period and establish a baseline for 1990. ESA started working with the UNFCCC secretariat in
2001 to support the Parties to the Protocol in
producing the needed maps and statistics based
on satellite images in combination with ground
measurements and other data.
More than a hundred million hectares have
been mapped, and another hundred million
will be mapped by the Kyoto Inventory and
Forest Monitoring projects by 2008. All of
Switzerland and Netherlands were mapped
for three different years, in addition to large
parts of Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Greece,
Denmark and Poland. The changes in land use
and forestry during the periods between these
years were also mapped. Standards and best
working practices have been established, and all
maps were verified using aerial photos, forest
inventory data and other field measurements,
and their utility assessed by the representatives
in charge of the Protocol reporting for each
country. These ministries and agencies have also
been actively involved in specifying the map
characteristics and providing needed data.
ESA is also working with non-Annex 1 countries
to support their communications. Capacity
building can be a strong component, depending
on each country’s resources. The issue of
avoidance of tropical deforestation is critical
to reducing net emissions of carbon and will be a post-Kyoto Protocol reporting
matter that ESA will address through the Forest Monitoring project. Satellite
images can be used both to establish a historical deforestation baseline and to
monitor continuous deforestation and forest degradation. Pilot cases to assist in
policy formulation for this are being developed.
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FIG 4 Mapping solar resources from space. Meteosat Second Generation delivers maps of meteorological parameters (e.g. irradiance, clouds) every 15 minutes
at a 1km resolution. This synoptic information is used to estimate the potential solar energy yield at various sites, and thereby assist the optimal sitting and
design of photovoltaic plants as well as the monitoring of their performances and automatic detection of possible faults (by comparing the monthly average of
the real energy production with the expected energy yield calculated from satellite maps). Courtesy University of Oldenburg |
Forestry projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) can also be
supported by satellite images in order to identify optimal sites, establish baseline
scenarios, monitor leakage effects and verify the plantation’s evolution. ESA is
working in Uganda and Paraguay to demonstrate how this can be best used.
Renewable energy
Renewable energy has limitless resources, but harnessing its full potential requires
careful management of the fluctuations in the energy source. Earth Observation
from space can assist with timely information on available resources such as metocean
conditions, solar radiation, snow water content as well as environmental
factors affecting the yield such as weather conditions, orography, land cover,
surface roughness. The ability of satellites to deliver synoptic information
(providing spatial variability) and long-term time series from the archive
(providing temporal variability) make them particularly useful to optimise energy
production and complement traditional in-situ measurements, which are costly
and only provide local information.
Earth Observation shows significant potential to support rapid and global
mapping of energy resources - such as wind, tides, solar radiation - for optimal
sitting, design and monitoring of power plants. Wide-area monitoring also leads
to improved forecasting of energy load and demand, and thereby to better
grid management. ESA is supporting several projects on solar energy, wind and
hydropower in partnership with leading industry players (Edisun Power, S.A.G.
Solarstrom AG, Enel, Statkraft, Hydro Québec, Vestas, Airtricity, Elsam Engineering,
3E, Tractebel, Sway and Weom), to demonstrate these benefits which cover the
whole energy lifecycle, from initial feasibility studies to electricity trading.
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