Program
AGENDA FOR PARALLEL SESSIONS
The Declaration adopted by the G8 leaders at last July's Hokkaido Toyako Summit stated: "To respond to the growing demand for Earth observation data, we will accelerate efforts within the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), which builds on the work of UN specialized agencies and programs, in priority areas, inter alia, climate change and water resources management, by strengthening observation, prediction and data sharing".
The 2007 Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirmed that the budget of anthropogenic CO2 can now be calculated with improved accuracy since the IPCC’s previous assessment report was published in 2001. There are two top-down approaches to quantifying global CO2 fluxes using estimates of regional carbon sources and sinks: 1) the inverse techniques used to infer the magnitude and location of major fluxes in the global carbon cycle have continued to mature, reflecting both the refinement of techniques and the availability of new observations; and 2) mass balance computations using atmospheric CO2 data, with terrestrial and marine processes distinguished using observations, can be used for calculating global CO2 fluxes.
Increasingly reliable regional climate change projections are now available for many regions of the world thanks to advances in modeling and better understanding the physical processes of the climate system, as detailed by the IPCC. However, in some regions there have been only a very limited number of studies on key aspects of regional climate change, particularly with regard to extreme events. We need to investigate how to improve earth system models for making better impact assessments on regional scales.
The objectives of this parallel session are:
・To discuss issues in CO2 and other GHGs observations in the response to the needs of earth system modeling for the Asia-Pacific region; and
・To clarify the future outlook for improving climate change projections using earth system models.
Day2 : February 05 (Thu) February 2009
Co-Chair: Dr.Yukihiro Nojiri and Dr.Nobuko Saigusa
(National Institute for Environmental Studies)
09:30-9:40 Opening Climate Change Session (GEO Secretariat and Co-Chair)
9:40-10:05
Yasunori Tohjima（National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan）“Terrestrial and oceanic CO2 budget from atmospheric O2/N2 ratio measurement”
10:05-10:30
“Top-down estimation of CO2 fluxes: lesson learnt and challenges ahead”
10:30-10:55
Yan Xiaoyuan (Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China): 25min.
“Trace gas emissions from croplands in Monsoon Asia”
10:55-11:20
Akio Kitoh (Meteorological Research Institute, Japan Meteorological Agency, Japan)
“Climate modeling for adaptation to climate change in Asia”
Michael Tanner (Senior Program Officer GEO Secretariat Geneva, Switzerland)
11:20-12:00
WG2 : WATER CYCLE IN THE ASIA-OCEANIC REGION
Floods are a serious and common problem in the Asia-Oceanic region. More than 80 percent of the world-wide loss of human lives due to flood occurs in this region. The expansion of urbanization is exacerbating economic damages resulting from floods considerably. Since many countries in the Asia-Oceanic region are located in tectonic zones, land slides and mud flows are also common natural disasters. The Asian summer monsoon usually provides an abundant source of water for the environment. At the same time, large seasonal and inter-annual variations in the monsoon sometimes leads to severe drought in water-consuming societies. In addition, global warming is changing the water cycle, with heavier rainfall events and larger inter-annual variations predicted for the future. Global warming is expected to exert a considerable impact on this vulnerable region, where the rate of completion of river-management projects is still critically low compared to the high potential of water-related hazards.
The objective of this breakout session is to summarize water-related disasters in the Asia-Oceanic region and to identify the expected impacts of climate change on the vulnerable water environment.
Day2 : February 05 (Thu) February 2009
Chair: Prof. Toshio Koike(Tokyo University)
09:00-09:20 Opening Water Cycle Breakout Session
09:00-09:10 Opening Remarks GEO Secretariat
09:10-09:40 Outlook of the Water Cycle in the Asia-Oceanic region
09:20-09:50 Water-related Disasters in the Asia-Oceanic Region K. Takara
09:40-12:00 Short country reports on “Recent Signs of Water-related Disasters”
GEOSS/AWCI participating countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam (7min. each)
WG3 : MONITORING CHANGES IN ECOSYSTEMS, BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
GEOSS is to be used both to monitor the changes in ecosystems, biodiversity and the ecosystem services they provide and to support efforts to adapt to global change such as changes in climate and land use. There are several initiatives to promote such monitoring in Asia-Pacific region, although the observation system is still weak in large areas of Asia. Establishing stronger networks and building capacity is still urgent need for these areas.
As for biodiversity, the GEO Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) has published its concept paper, and some new efforts to establish an international inventory network will soon be initiated by the Government of Japan. Other ongoing advances include improvements in ecosystem mapping due to new technologies and the development by International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) of a program to evaluate ecosystem services.
In this session, we will review the progress being made by GEOSS in ecosystems and biodiversity and discuss how we can promote activities for improving networks and sharing data.
Day2 : February 05 (Thu) February 2009
Chair: Prof. Tetsukazu Yahara (Kyushu University)
09:00-9:10 Opening
9:10-10:20 Ecosystem and ecosystem services
Model project on data management of ecosystems (H. Kunii, Shimane University, JaLTER)
ECOSMAG: An Integrative Research on Ecosystem Services Management in Asia
(Dr Suneetha Subramanian, LAND Office, UNUU)
Vegetation monitoring using satellites (R. Suzuki, JAMSTEC)
10:20-11:30 Progress of biodiversity monitoring
Progress in the formation of GEO BON
The role for GBIF in biodiversity monitoring (Dr. Matsuura, GBIF )
East and Southeast Asia Biodiversity Inventory Initiative
(Mr. Sakaguchi, Biodiversity Center of Japan )
WG4 : EARTH OBSERVATION AND DATA SHARING FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Focusing on the importance of data sharing, this session will explore new technologies and initiatives in disaster management from various fields, such as remote sensing, geo-hazards, hydro-meteorological disasters, and forest fires.
ALOS (Advanced Land Observing Satellite), is one of the assets utilized for disaster mitigation by a Japanese initiative. The optical and radar sensors carried on ALOS successfully detect natural hazards and disasters from a higher altitude and make an important contribution to disaster management. Other sensors and satellites also have the potential ability to contribute to disaster management by detecting signs of disaster, providing key parameters for early warning, prediction and mapping disaster hot spots. ALOS provides disaster monitoring information to Asia through the Sentinel Asia Project. Other activities relating to disaster issues will also be introduced in this session.
The objectives of this session are:
* To share information on activities being implemented in the field of disaster management;
* To explore new technologies and ideas using earth observation systems; and
* To seek possible methods of integrating various kinds of data relating to natural hazards and disasters such as landslides, earthquakes, typhoons (or cyclones), floods, and forest fires.
Day2 : Thursday, 05 February 2009
Co-Chairs: Prof.H. Sawada (Univ. of Tokyo), Dr.M. Shimada (JAXA)
and Dr.K. Takara (Kyoto Univ.)
9:00-9:30 Introduction of recent international activities
IFNet-GFAS: Tomonobu Sugiura and Kazuhiko Fukami (ICHARM, PWRI)
JAXA's contribution to world disasters through international cooperation: Matsubara (JAXA)9:30-10:10 Applications of EO data to disaster risk reduction
Application in Nepal: Mandira Shrestha (ICIMOD)
Others
(10-min Break)
10:20-11:20 Interferometric analysis of geohazards with synthetic aperture radar
Earthquake: Shimada (JAXA), Hashimoto (DPRI-KU)
Landslides: Casagli (Florence, Italy; ICL), Fukuoka (DPRI-KU)
11:20-11:40 Data Sharing for Disaster Management
Concept of Sentinel Asia and its latest activities: Kaku (JAXA)
Applications to early warning systems:
11:40-12:00 Discussion Summary
all
AGENDA FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY SESSIONS
WG5. TOWARD COLLABORATION AMONG CLIMATE, WATER AND DISASTER SOCIETAL BENEFIT AREAS (SBAs)
Climate observation and prediction systems provide data and information that is broadly useful to understanding the Water cycle. When Water data is combined with outputs from Climate systems, the resulting integrated data sets and other derived products can in turn be used for Disasters and other SBAs. In this way, a comprehensive understanding of issues in the Disasters area can be gained through interoperable use of data and information from the other areas. As the managers of Climate systems react to this broader market for their outputs, they become more attuned to making products that are responsive to these broader user requirements.
GEOSS will provide opportunities for making such interconnections between the various SBAs. To accelerate the sharing of experiences, improve awareness of data and product availability and of the systems that contribute to GEOSS, we will discuss how to cooperate and coordinate among the different SBAs, including Climate, Water and Disasters, and make plans for carrying these ideas into action.
February 05 (Thu) February 2009-Day2
Co-Chair: Prof.Toshio Koike (Tokyo University) , Prof.Eiichi Nakakita (Kyoto University)
13:00-13:10 Opening “Climate-Water Cycle-Disasters” Joint Session
13:00-13:10 Breakout Session Design E. Nakakita
13:10-14:50 Short reports on “What is on-going and/or planned?”
1. Climate Projection Dr. A. Kitoh (MRI)
2. Applications of Climate Models to Water-related Disaster
Prof. E. Nakakita (KU/DPRI)
3. GEOSS-WCRP collaboration in MAHASRI and HARIMAU
Prof. M. Yamanaka and Prof. J. Matsumoto (JAMSTEC)
4. Recent change in global sea surface layer salinity detected by Argo float array
- Footprint of enhanced hydrological cycle Dr. S. Hosoda (JAMSTEC)
5. Abnormal hydrological condition and disaster due to Arctic
Dr. T. Ohata (JAMSTEC)
6-1. Water Productivity Mapping using Remote Sensing to solve Global Food Crisis Dr. P. Thenkabail (USGS)
6-2. Global Mapping Project (ISCGM)
7. Sentinel Asia and SAFE Dr. T. Moriyama (JAXA)
8. Regional Coordination Mr. K. Fukami (ICHARM)
9. Water for the world Dr. T. Wiener (IEEE)
10. WCRP/GEWEX/CEOP Dr. S. Williams (NCAR/EOL)14:50-15:10 Break
15:10-17:30 Direction of Alliance’s Efforts
16:00-16:30 Data and Information Sharing Approach R. Shibasaki
16:30-17:30 Discussion for Implementation All
*Target Topics and Fields:
Typhoon and Cyclone/Urban Flood/Drought/Cold Surge/ GLOF
*Regional Coordination Framework
*Linkage to Global Coordination Framework
*Building capacity
*Planning Strategy
17:30-18:00 Closing “Climate-Water Cycle-Disaster” Joint Session
17:30-17:50 Session Summary T. Koike
17:50-18:00 Concluding Remarks GEO Secretariat
WG6.NECESSITY AND POSSIBILITY OF OBSERVATION, FORECASTING, AND DATA SHARING THROUGH THE INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION OF “ECOSYSTEM CLIMATE CHANGE DISASTER”
We will explore ways to strengthen collaborative efforts in observation, prediction and data sharing between the fields of climate change, ecosystem management, and disaster prevention under the theme of “Cross-cutting data sharing in the Asia-Pacific Region”.
In order to reduce uncertainties in estimates of the terrestrial carbon balance and to improve predictions of climate change impacts on ecosystems, immediate action is required to further integrate climate modeling, remote sensing and ecological modeling approaches, and to standardize in-situ and remote measurement methods.. Satellite and airborne observation data acquired through such integrated terrestrial ecosystem monitoring systems will greatly contribute to improving the projection of climate change impacts using models that incorporate long-term ecosystem responses and feedbacks under global warming. It will also enable us to establish methodologies for evaluating the vulnerability of ecosystem services to global climatic change.
In particular, the new GEO Task “Forest carbon mapping and tracking” has the potential to provide essential information for international policy makers who must decide upon appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures for climate change. The mapping of annual forest cover change can be achieved by making use of satellite information, including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and multi-spectral optical and Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR). Estimates of carbon emissions from deforestation, degradation and other land-cover changes can be derived by integrating such remote-sensing measurements with selected in-situ observations and carbon models.
In this session, we will also discuss ways to promote the development of multi-purpose databases to provide the coordinated and timely observation data required for operational use in the Asia-Pacific region. Building upon existing and planned GEO efforts in establishing efficient delivery systems for ecosystems, climate change and disaster information, we aim to design a development plan for integrating these tools.
The objectives of this parallel session are:
*To seek further collaboration between ecosystem researchers and forest carbon observation specialists for reducing the uncertainties in estimates of the terrestrial carbon balance;
*To discuss the coordination of satellite observations, including securing their continuity; and
*To discuss development and validation of robust tools and methodologies for their operational use in the periodic evaluation of carbon storage in forests.
Day2 : February 05 (Thu) February 2009
Co-Chair: Dr. Yoshiki Yamagata (NIES), Dr. Alex Held (CSIRO)
13:30-13:40 Opening of the Session (GEO Secretariat)
13:40-14:00 Needs for interdisciplinary linkages and the new GEOSS Task (Co-Chair)
1. Collaboration with ecosystem research and forest carbon observation
14:00-14:40
1.1 Linkage with JaLTER and Monitoring 1000 (H. Shibata, Hokkaido U.)
1.2 Linkage with AsiaFlux (N. Saigusa, NIES)
2. Collaboration with remote sensing technologies
14:40-15:40
2.1 Forest remote sensing with ALOS (M. Shimada, JAXA)
2.2 Forest Remote Sensing in Thailand (Dr.Chaowalit Silapathong, GISTDA)
2.3 Linkages to the regional Sentinel-Asia Initiative (Alex Held, CSIRO)
15:40-16:00 Break
3. Integration with forest carbon modeling
16:00-17:20
3.1 Ecosystem modeling for global forest carbon monitoring (Akihiko Ito, NIES)
3.2 Forest carbon monitoring studies in SE Asia (Denis Dye, USGS)
3.4 Application to ecosystem vulnerability assessment (Daniel Murdyaso, CIFOR)
4. General discussion and session summary
17:20-17:50