Sustained, Coordinated Processing of Environmental Satellite Data for Climate Monitoring (SCOPE-CM)

The aim of the Sustained, Co-Ordinated Processing of Environmental Satellite Data for Climate Monitoring (SCOPE-CM) is to establish a network of facilities ensuring continuous and sustained provision of high-quality satellite products related to the Essential Climate Variables (ECV), on a global scale, responding to the requirements of the Global Climate Observing system (GCOS).

GCOS requirements for satellite-based products are specified in the GCOS Implementation Plan [GCOS-92, WMO-TD N° 1219] and its Satellite Supplement [GCOS-107, WMO-TD N° 1338].

The activity plan and organizational structure of SCOPE-CM are described in the SCOPE-CM Implementation Plan adopted (in its first version) on 9 November 2007 at the second potential participants meeting, and updated thereafter.

The participating organizations in the SCOPE-CM initiative are initially:

CMA,EUMETSAT (serving as Secretariat), JMA, NOAA, and USGS as technical agencies
CGMS, CEOS, GCOS, GSICS and WMO providing oversight and support through the Executive Panel.

SCOPE-CM Status (March 2009)

(Note: SCOPE-CM was initially named "R/SSC-CM" for "Regional/Specialized Satellite Centres for Climate Monitoring")

At the first R/SSC-CM Planning meeting held in Darmstadt in April 2008, five topics were identified for initial activities:

AVHRR based data set of cloud and aerosol properties
SSM/I: total column water vapour, precipitation, liquid water path
Surface albedo, clouds and aerosols from geostationary satellites
Atmospheric Motion Vectors (AMV) and clear sky radiance
Upper tropospheric humidity

Proposals have been prepared for the generation of these products.

The Executive Panel had a first teleconference in January 2009 to review the Implementation Plan and Terms of Reference.

The Executive Panel held its first meeting on 25-26 February in Geneva, where it adopted the new name "SCOPE-CM" . The five proposals were presented and were endorsed as pilot projects.