Earth Observation from Space -Advancing Earth System Science

Earth observations from space (EOS), taken by advanced instruments on current and planned satellite missions will increasingly provide large volumes of data related to Earth System State. We describe some key benefits from these Earth observations. Many of the benefits described are in the atmospheric, oceanographic or climate areas and have been derived through activities such as those undertaken at the JCSDA. Instruments providing these benefits include the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder, those carried by the COSMIC Constellation and the GOES and MTSAT imager. Examples of the beneficial impact of these data are provided. Many examples are Observing System Experiments, based on the application of these data to the operational forecast systems at NCEP and at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. It is found in an era where populations are increasing in areas subjected to severe weather and while extreme weather events remain a considerable problem, that EOS significantly extend the life of a high quality numerical forecast, for example by a factor of four over the southern hemisphere. The examples shown in this study underline the quintessential importance and great benefit of EOS for those in both the northern and the southern hemisphere. They also underline the importance of organisations such as the JCSDA, that allow assembly of the resources necessary to effectively exploit these Earth observations from space.