Space-based Global Observing System

The Space-Based Global Observing System

The space-based sub-system of the WMO GOS includes three components:

• Operational geostationary (Geo) satellites
• Operational Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites
• Environmental Research and Development (R&D) satellites

The WMO Space Programme supports global planning and technical coordination of the space-based sub-system of the Global Observing System (GOS), in cooperation with the Coordination Group of Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) and the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) with the aim to ensure that the satellite programmes of each individual satellite agency participating in the GOS contribute to a globally optimized and robust observation system. Click here for Global Planning.

Different levels of information are available on the space-based GOS:

• The WMO-CGMS web pages provide a brief summary on the current and planned Geo, LEO and R&D missions. These pages are maintained by WMO and frequently updated.
• The Dossier on the space-based GOS contains comprehensive reference information on satellite missions, instruments characteristics, gap analysis and product performances. It is available for download, and updated three times a year.
  
• The Earth Observation Handbook produced by ESA for CEOS is convenient for on line consultation. This information is updated by ESA once a year.
  
• Technical characteristics of a selection of 100 instruments can be consulted in the Instruments Characteristics pages below.
  
  
  

Related subjects

• Satellite calibration and inter-calibration (GSICS)
• The Global Observing System (GOS)
• WMO Integrated Global Observing Systems (WIGOS)
• Observational requirements
• Frequency coordination matters

The space-based subsystem of the Global Observing System

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