Global Inter-agency IPY Polar Snapshot Year

(GIIPSY)

Co-Chairs

• Mark Drinkwater, ESA/ESTEC

• Ken Jezek, Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State

Presented by Pablo Clemente-Colón, NIC, at the8th IICWG Meeting, 24 October 2007,Frascati, Italy

Global Inter-agency IPY Polar Snapshot Year

(GIIPSY) GIIPSY aims to facilitate:

• Use of current and soon to be launched earth observing satellites to develop broad spectral, medium and high resolution snapshots of the polar regions.

• Use of the snapshots as gauges for assessing the impacts

of past and future high latitude environmental changes.

• Establishment of technical and programmatic infrastructure for sustaining international observations beyond IPY.

 

Implementing GIIPSY through the IPY SPACE TASK GROUP (STG)

• STG SUMMARY:– First meeting of STG 1 took place in WMO

Headquarters from 17-19 Jan, 2007– Participation of the following Space Agencies:

• CMA, CNES, CSA, DLR, ESA, Eumetsat, NASA, Roshydromet,

– Additional representation from WCRP-CliC, GIIPSY, IPY-Joint Committee

Key Outcomes from STG 1

• STG made substantive progress on developing the concept of an effective space component of the observing system for the polar regions during IPY. This would deliver a series of “firsts”, including:– For the first time, pole to coast multi-frequency InSAR measurements of

ice-sheet surface velocity.– For the first time, repeat fine-resolution SAR mapping of the entire

Southern Ocean sea-ice cover for sea ice motion.– For the first time, one complete high resolution visible and thermal IR

(Vis/IR) snapshot of circumpolar permafrost.– For the first time, pan-Arctic high and moderate resolution Vis/IR

snapshots of freshwater (lake and river) freeze-up and break-up.• The Space Agencies introduced the concept of IPY data portfolios

as an organizing principle. Each Agency will determine what data will be made available to IPY scientists as part of its portfolio. The intention is to provide open and easy access to these portfolios for scientific use. The content of the portfolios will evolve through the STG coordination of planning, acquisition, downlink and processing during IPY and beyond, as a legacy.

Key Objectives for STG-2

• In view of the high importance and priority of achieving the scientific “firsts” it is highly desirable if interested groups continue to urge Space Agencies to do their utmost in developing and adopting a coordinated approach for the implementation to these activities for the remaining period of IPY.

• One of the key issues is how to secure the legacy of a long-term observing system. This legacy shall include high-level products resulting from the science of IPY, e.g. high spatial resolution digital terrain maps of the polar regions. One approach that may be considered for long term security of the IPY legacy is to establish a link to GEO.

STG Successes

• CSA Arctic Science Archive Processing Project (ASAP)

• CSA Modified Antarctic Mapping Mission (MiniMAMM)

• DLR TerraSAR-X Support of IPY• ESA AO• ESA Data Portal and Metadata Tagging for

IPY• Dedicated IPY Acquisition Planning

ESA ASAR Acquisition Planning

ESA Planned ASAR Image ModeSwath 2 HH-pol

October 16

CSA Modified Antarctic Mapping Mission (MiniMAMM)

November 2007

CSA Arctic Science Archive Processing Project (ASAP)

• National consultation (Nov-06)

• Three phases under which more than 7 500 Radarsat-1 archive data will be processed:

Phase 1 (50%): Blanket coverage in Fine 1 of the Canadian polar region and the Arctic Archipelago (2000-2001)

Phase 2 (25%): Seasonal polar snapshots between 2003 and now

Phase 3 (25%): Processing of images under specific areas of interests identified and agreed upon as supersites by the research communities

• Web Portal for images and products dissemination

CSA ASAP CoveragesName Image

Type Geographical

coverage Mission Start

date End date

Product Number of

scenes

Extension Map

Frozen Baseline

Fine Descending orbits only

North of 60 + coastal regions of Hudson and James Bay and Arctic Archipelago

Canadian Interferometric mission

Sept 2000

Feb 2001

Individual mage product Include only data received as real-time or playback data in Gatineau or Prince Albert.

3106 Processing of multiple passes over site-specific areas RSAT 1 and 2 new acquisitions

1

Sea Ice Min and Max Snapshots

ScanSAR Wide A&B

Circum-Polar Basin

Extended Background Mission

Sept 2003 2004 2005 2006

March 2003 2004 2005 2006

Individual image products only over Canadian waters Mosaics of annual min and max ice extent

358 Continued the snapshots in time with RSAT 1 and 2 Processing of circum-polar data sets – require the archive content of ASF and Tromso

2

Arctic Supersites Site 1-7

ScanSAR Wide A&B

ArcticNet research sites

Shoulder seasons to capture freeze and thaw cycles

1996 … Individual image products

2878 RSAT 1 and 2 new acquisitions 3

Great Slave Site 8

ScanSAR Wide A&B

Great Slave Lake Shoulder seasons to capture freeze and thaw cycles

1996 … Individual image products

237 RSAT 1 and 2 new acquisitions 3

Great Bear Site 9

ScanSAR Wide A&B

Great Bear Lake Shoulder seasons to capture freeze and thaw cycles

1996 … Individual image products

221 RSAT 1 and 2 new acquisitions 3

NWT Site 10

Standard Radargrammetry mission – S2, S7

1996 … Individual image products

117 RSAT 1 and 2 new acquisitions 3

Mackenzie Delta Site 11

Fine, Wide and Scansar

Mackenzie Delta 1996 … 203 RSAT 1 and 2 new acquisitions 3

Axel Heidberg Site 12

Fine 1 Descending

Axel Heidberg Island

Canadian Interferometric Mission

Sept 2000

Feb 2001

Individual image products Single-look complex

389 RSAT 1 and 2 new acquisitions 3

CIS Image Archive

Scansar Wide

Canadian waters Normal operations

March 1997

… Block-averaged images (2x2) and full res. Images

35000 + RSAT 1 and 2 new acquisitions 4

Canadian Arctic Land masses mosaics

Scansar Narrow

Canadian Arctic CSA background Winter 1998,99

Single images and mosaics at 250, 500 and 1000m pixel size.

600

No plans 5

CSA ASAP CoveragesFrozen Baseline – F1

Phase 1 - Baseline Fine Mode. Northern Canadian complete coverage (3098 scenes)

CSA ASAP CoveragesMin and Max Sea Ice Extent

Phase 2 - - Arctic Basin ScanSAR Sea-Ice Snapshots (364 scenes)

CSA ASAP Canadian Supersites

1. Coastal Beaufort, Mackenzie Delta 2. Churchill, Hudson Bay west3. Ellesmere, Kane Basin4. Devon, Ellesmere south5. Nouveau Quebec, Hudson Bay east6. Baffin south7. Torngats, Labrador coastal north8. Great Slave9. Great Bear10. NWT11. Mackenzie Delta fine12. Axel Heidberg

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

12

11

CSA ASAP Coverages forCanadian Supersites

Phase 3 - Arctic Super-sites (4038 scenes)

Partnerships for IPY Data Access

• CSA/NASA/UAF–Working together to make RADARSAT-1 data

available as specific legacy data sets–The project is well underway

• JAXA/NOAA/NASA/UAF/ESA–Working with JAXA and the European

counterpart to AADN to make ALOS data available in the IPY context

–The project is defined, but not implemented–ADN meeting next week

IPY RADARSAT-1 Legacy Datasets

“The Goal for the IPY Legacy datasets is to present RADARSAT-1 data to a new generation of researchers interested in studying Polar regions.”

2007 Arctic Sea Ice Extent Record MinimumCaptured by CSA RADARSAT-1

The Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF) downlinks and mosaics Canadian Space Agency (CSA) RADARSAT-1 images of the western Arctic Ocean every three days. These synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images are acquired both day and night regardless of weather conditions. The data are used for research and operational monitoring of changes in sea ice cover. The animation to the right shows changing sea ice conditions from mid-July to mid-September and documents the evolution of a record minimum extent in 2007. The transparent blue mask indicates the sea ice edge as determined by analysts at the National Ice Center (NIC).

2007 Arctic Sea Ice Extent Record MinimumCaptured by NIC Charts

The National Ice Center produces weekly and bi-weekly Arctic charts that also captured the evolution of the 2007 sea ice extent record minimum.. The animation of bi-weekly NIC charts to the right shows changing sea ice conditions from March 12 to September 24 2007.

Old CSA ASAP Phase 2?Circumpolar ScanSAR Seasonal Coverage

Winter 2004 Spring 2004March 2007 September 2007

How do you get these data?

• End User License Agreement (EULA)– user must agree to terms and conditions.

• Registration required– data will be password protected. Once users complete

the EULA and registration, access to IPY data will be granted by USO.

– users will log in through the URSA home page to get

to the IPY data.

How do you get these data?

Coverage areas

• Greenland – Sept. 2000 – Jan. 2001

• Antarctica – Sept. – Oct. 1997

• Kamchatka – Dec. 1999 – Jan. 2000

• Sea Ice – Sept. – Mar. 2003 - 2006

• Toolik Station - Oct. 2004 – Dec. 2006

• Other suggested sites?

GIIPSY Continuing Challenges

• Increasing the number of Space Agencies participating in the STG – we encourage global involvement (Italy, India, others?)

• Securing commitments of key data sets such as L-band SAR and high resolution optical repeat observations of the arctic ice pack.

IPY STG Schedule

GIIPSY Information

• Information on GIIPSY is available at:

http://bprc.osu.edu/rsl/GIIPSY/

• The site includes minutes of the STG meeting and the two STG teleconferences.

BACK-UP Vu-Graphs

GIIPSY Legacy Objectives• A. Sea level rise, and hemispheric climate (Glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets):

1)  For the first time, one summer, one winter SAR snapshot of the polar ice sheets,  glaciers and ice caps. Near simultaneous imagery at L, C, and X band, polarimetric quad pole for documenting ice surface physical parameters. 2)  For the first time, pole-to-coast multi-frequency InSAR measurements of ice surface velocity.3)  For the first time, repeated X-band InSAR topography for detecting local changes in ice sheet elevation associated with motion of subglacial water. 4)  For the first time, one summer, one winter, high resolution visible/near IR/ TIR snapshot of the entirety of the polar ice sheets, glaciers and small ice caps followed with bimonthly coverage of select glaciers for snow-zone mapping 5)  Continued measurements of ice surface elevation from radar and laser altimeters (spaceborne and airborne) for volume change 6)  Continued, daily visible and infrared medium-resolution imaging of the entirety of the polar ice sheets, glaciers and ice caps and to be compiled into monthly maps. 7)  Continued, daily medium-to-coarse resolution active and passive microwave images of the polar ice sheets, ice fields and ice caps for melt extent 8)  Continued measurements of the gravity field for mass balance.

IPY Legacy Objectives

• B. Ocean circulation and polar air-sea interactions (Sea ice): 1)  For the first time, L-band SAR mapping of the Arctic ocean and marginal seas sea ice cover for leads and ridges. 2)  For the first time, repeat fine resolution SAR mapping of the entire Southern ocean sea ice cover for ice motion 3)  For the first time, SAR and optical fine resolution mappings of the entire Arctic ocean 4)  Continued 3-day medium resolution SAR mapping of sea ice covered waters for motion, and melt pond coverage 5)  Continued passive microwave observations of sea ice concentration and extent 6)  Continued laser and radar altimeter measurements of ice thickness and sea surface topography

7) Measurements of IPY Polar Geoid

• C. Regional climate, precipitation and hydrology (Terrestrial snow cover): 1)  Daily medium resolution visible/near IR/TIR observations of all snow covered terrain 2)  Daily passive microwave observations of snow covered terrain for determination of snow water equivalent

IPY Legacy Objectives

E. Aquatic ecosystems, transportation and hazards (Lake and river ice) 1)  For the first time, pan-arctic high and medium resolution microwave snapshots of fresh water- break/freeze-up 2)  For the first time, pan-arctic high and medium resolution visible, near IR and TIR snapshots of fresh water- break/freeze-up

3) Seasonal, low-frequency (6-10 GHz) passive microwave observations of lake ice thickness

D. Changing permafrost and Arctic climate (Permafrost) 1)  For the first time, one complete high resolution snapshot of all polar permafrost terrain at L, C and X band. 2)  For the first time, one complete, high resolution visible and thermal IR snapshot of all polar permafrost terrain 3)  Continued medium and coarse active and passive microwave observations of all polar permafrost

GIIPSY Legacy ObjectivesTasking Requirements

Objective Temporal Spatial Map Reference Comments Date AccomplishedTerrestrial IceA1 September Antarctic Continent LXC SAR Mosaics

January Antarctic Continent LXC SAR MosaicsJanuary Greenland LXC SAR MosaicsJuly Greenland LCX SAR MosaicsJanuary Canadian Ice Caps/Iceland/Svalbard LCX SAR MosaicsJuly Canadian Ice Caps/Iceland/Svalbard LCX SAR Mosaics

A2 July-October Antarctic Continent LXC InSARDecember-February Greenland LXC InSARDecember - February Canadian Ice Caps/Iceland/Svalbard LCX InSAR

A3 July-October West Antarctic Ice Streams X InSARJuly-October Coates Land Ice Streams X InSAR

A4 September Antarctic Continent Hi-Res Optical/IR/THIRJanuary Antarctic Continent Hi-Res Optical/IR/THIRJanuary Greenland Hi-Res Optical/IR/THIRJuly Greenland Hi-Res Optical/IR/THIRJanuary Canadian Ice Caps/Iceland/Svalbard Hi-Res Optical/IR/THIRJune Canadian Ice Caps/Iceland/Svalbard Hi-Res Optical/IR/THIR

A5 Routine operation Terrestrial ice cover Aqua/Terra/NOAA/Eumetat/FY1-1D/DMSPA6 Routine operation Terrestrial ice cover Aqua/Terra/NOAA/Eumetat/FY1-1D/DMSPA7 Routine operation Terrestrial ice cover Aqua/Terra/NOAA/Eumetat/FY1-1D/DMSPA8 Routine operation Terrestrial ice cover GRACESea IceB1 Winter, summer Sea ice covered waters L-bandB2 Winter, summer Sea ice covered waters LCXB3 Winter, summer Sea ice covered waters Hi-Res Optical/IR/THIRB4 Routine operation Sea ice covered waters C-bandB5 Routine operation Sea ice covered waters Aqua/Terra/NOAA/Eumetat/FY1-1D/DMSPB6 Routine operation Sea ice covered waters ICESat/EnvisatB7 Routine operation Sea ice covered waters GRACESnow C1 Routine operation Polar Land and Sea ice Snow Cover Aqua/Terra/NOAA/Eumetat/FY1-1D/DMSPC2 Routine operation Polar Land and Sea ice Snow Cover Aqua/Terra/NOAA/Eumetat/FY1-1D/DMSPPermafrostD1D2D3 Routine Operation Arctic Permafrost Aqua/Terra/NOAA/Eumetat/FY1-

1D/DMSP/EnvisatLake and River IceE1E2E3 Routine operation Arctic Lakes and Rivers Terra/Aqua