Table of Contents

Earth Observation Express

• Other Editions

1. Improving Our Understanding Of The Water Cycle With the SMOS Earth Observation Satellite

Despite the water cycle being one of the most important processes operating on our planet - sustaining life and controlling our weather and climate - this fundamental system is still relatively poorly understood. In partnership with other Canadian departments and agencies, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Governmental Related Initiatives Program (GRIP) supports the research, development, demonstration and implementation of effective and efficient uses and applications of Earth Observation O in multiple domains, including water. Multiple soil moisture and ocean salinity products will be developed by the Government of Canada, via GRIP, with EO information from SMOS. To view SMOS soil moisture and ocean salinity EO animations and products, please visit www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/programs/grip/archive_091130.asp or contact guy.aube@asc-csa.gc.ca, paul.briand@asc-csa.gc.ca, heather.mcnairn@agr.gc.ca, stephane.belair@ec.gc.ca, jim.gower@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

2. Canadian Arctic: RADARSAT-2 Glacier Monitoring in Support of Climate Change Impact Assessment and Water Resources Management

Ice caps and glaciers occupy ~150,000 km2 of the Canadian Arctic Islands which, collectively represents the largest area of land ice outside of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Knowledge of the recent changes and future behaviour of the Canadian Arctic Islands glacier and ice response to climate change is of great interest for the Government of Canada (i.e. sea level rise, impact on marine ecosystems, effects on the surface energy balance in the polar regions, etc.). Earth Observation (EO), and in particular synthetic aperture radar (SAR), has played a significant role in understanding glacier movement and trends as an input to mass balance modelling. With the new features and capabilities that exist on RADARSAT-2 EO satellite, there is potential to enhance existing, and develop new innovative glacier movement and facies classification products. Through the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Earth Observation Applications Development Program (EOADP), the Canadian company C-CORE, in cooperation with the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, is developing new products using RADARSAT-2 to monitor glacier and ice sheet movement and facies change in the Canadian Arctic. The objective of the project, titled "RADARSAT-2 Glacier Monitoring in Support of Climate Change Impact Assessment and Water Resources Management", is to investigate and develop glacier mapping products of velocity and facies over the high Arctic ice caps using RADARSAT-2 InSAR information. These activities will complement work by the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing and Geological Survey of Canada within their State and Evolution of Canada's Glaciers (SECG) program. For more information, please visit:
www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/programs/eoadp/archive_091113.asp.

3. Canadian Cryosphere: Cryosat-2 Earth Observation Applications

The question of whether global climate change is causing the polar ice caps to shrink is one of the most hotly debated environmental issues we currently face. By monitoring precise changes in the thickness of the polar ice sheets and floating sea ice from space, CryoSat-2 aims to answer this question. Ice caps and glaciers occupy 150,000 km2 of the Canadian Arctic Islands which, collectively, represents the largest area of land ice outside of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Another 50,000 km2 covers Canada's western and Northern Cordillera. These land ice masses contribute significantly to sea level change and river flow. The thickness and extent of marine icefields (sea ice) is also a critical aspect of Arctic marine ecosystem functioning, the global climate system, marine navigation and related sovereignty and environmental protection issues. Through the Canadian Space Agency Government Related Initiative Program (GRIP), Natural Resource Canada is developing a better capacity to study cryosphere fluctuations and their impacts in Nordic Canada using the future CryoSat-2 altimeter SIRAL. The new project, titled "Canadian Cryosphere Cryosat Applications", will contribute to policy development, technical demands, strategic demonstration and operationalization of Cryosat-2 in the context of Canada's Frontier Surveillance Strategy. For more information about this GRIP project, please contact guy.aube@asc-csa.gc.ca, mike.demuth@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca or david.burgess@nrcan-rncan.gc. For more information on Cryosat-2, please visit: www.esa.int/esaEO/SEM03Q2D62G_index_0.html. For more information on Canada's land ice surveillance strategy, please visit: http://pathways.geosemantica.net/WSHome.aspx.

4. Workshop on Earth Surface-Atmosphere Interactions and Processes in Climate and Air Quality

Canada has a long and proud history of research excellence and scientific success. To succeed in an increasingly competitive global arena, Canadians must be at the leading edge of important developments that generate health, environmental, societal, and economic benefits. Now that we have built a strong research foundation, we must strive for excellence in Canadian science and technology. To that effect, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) held, from December 1 to 3 2009, a workshop on "Earth Surface-Atmosphere Interactions and Processes in Climate and Air Quality" in St-Hubert, Quebec, Canada. The workshop had several objectives: provide updates on CSA programs and activities of relevance to Earth system science; develop collaborative research activities involving the use of space-based Earth Observations, between the Canadian atmospheric science community and other sectors of the Canadian Earth system science community; and focus on the six recent mission concept studies that address Atmospheric Processes of Climate and its Changes (APOCC) and planning of mission development activities. For more information, please visit
www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/events/2009/atmospheric_science.asp.

5. Cultivating our future: RADARSAT-2 provides key information to monitor the effects and opportunities of climate change

Agriculture forms the basis of our way of life and our economy. Climate change is forcing Canadians to find new solutions in order to maintain our world leadership role in agriculture while ensuring food security. Data from the RADARSAT-2 satellite will enable Agriculture Canada to develop techniques and tools to better monitor and understand the effects of climate change on certain environmental parameters related to crop health: soil moisture, erosion, extreme temperatures, snow cover, etc. Seven projects are being developed by Agriculture Canada under the Canadian Space Agency's Government Related Initiatives Program (GRIP). For further information, please contact guyaube@asc-csa.gc.ca or ian.jarvis@agr.gc.ca.

6. Canadian Arctic: 10th Anniversary of the Creation of Nunavut

In 1999, Canada's third territory was officially added to the map of Canada, and in the brief decade since its formation, Nunavut has advanced politically, economically and socially - beginning to fulfill the promise of the landmark land claims agreement that led to its creation. This July 31st 2009 Envisat-MERIS image over the Nunavut territory in the Canadian Arctic captures the contrast of the icy shallower waters of Foxe Basin (top centre) with the warmer deeper waters of Foxe Channel (bottom): www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/programs/grip/archive_090831.asp. Through the Canadian Space Agency Government Related Initiatives Program (GRIP), Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Parks Canada and other organizations are using the MERIS data to develop land and ocean products related to Arctic, including Nunavut.

7. Contributing To Global Security: Uruguay Gets Help From Canadian Earth Observation Technologies During Floods

Canada's direct diplomatic relations with Uruguay were established in January of 1953 when Canada first opened an embassy in Montevideo. Our Government believes that Canada's aspirations for a better and more secure world must be matched by vigorous and concrete actions on the world stage. On November 26 2009, more than 4000 people were evacuated from their homes in northern and central Uruguay due to major rainstorms and floods. The two Canadian RADARSAT Earth Observation satellites are key resources in a variety of disaster management scenarios. The ability to deliver data to regional authorities is essential for relief operations to map and monitor damage and for assessing the impact. RADARSAT-1 and RADARSAT-2 imagery were submitted to regional Uruguay organizations to better manage the event and develop flood products.

8. Reducing Loss of Life and Property From Natural Disasters: Lao PDR Benefits From Canadian Earth Observation Information During Widespread Flooding

Diplomatic relations with the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) were established in 1954 when Canada sent a resident delegation to Vientiane as a member of the International Commission for Supervision and Control designed to oversee the 1954 Geneva Agreement that formalized Lao independence from France. On September 29 2009, tropical Storm Ketsana hit Southern Laos causing widespread flooding. Many areas are still inaccessible and over 20 people died during the storm. Canadian Earth Observation (EO) satellites, such as RADARSAT-1 and RADARSAT-2, are key resources in all phases of the disaster management cycle (i.e. mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery). RADARSAT-1 and RADARSAT-2 archive imagery have been delivered to regional emergency authorities to better manage the flood in Lao PDR.

9. World-class Research Excellence Is Canada's Standard: 31^st Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing

Canada has a long and proud history of research excellence and scientific success. Talented, skilled, creative people are the most critical element of a successful national economy over the long term. Science and technology comes into almost every aspect of our lives, helping us to solve problems and create opportunities. Scientific discoveries and new technologies provide solutions to many of the issues most important to Canadians, giving us the knowledge and the means to preserve the quality of our environment, protect endangered species, improve our health, enhance public safety and security, and manage our natural and energy resources. The 31^st Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing will be held in Regina, Saskatchewan, from June 1-5, 2010. This event - titled "The Prairie Summit" is being held concurrently with the annual meetings of the Canadian Cartographic Association, the Canadian Geomorphology Research Group and the Canadian Association of Geographers. Special thematic sessions dedicated to all aspects of Earth Observation science and applications will be held. The event will provide the opportunity for unique synergies between universities, government and industry scientists and managers. The deadline for submitting abstracts is March 1, 2010. For more information, please visit http://prairiesummit.uregina.ca or contact joe.piwowar@uregina.ca.

10. RADARSAT-1: 14 Years

RADARSAT-1 was launched on November 4 1995 from Vandenberg, California. RADARSAT-1 is a sophisticated Earth Observation (EO) satellite developed by the Government of Canada to monitor environmental changes and the planet's natural resources. RADARSAT "Earth Observations" contribute every day to the health and safety of Canadians, the protection of Canada's natural environment, security and sovereignty of our country, and to Canada's economic prosperity. Reliable and sustained EO information are fundamental to hazard warning, weather prediction, the understanding of climate cycles, health protection, optimizing agricultural and forestry practices, resource assessments, infrastructure planning, and environmental protection. For more information, please visit: www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/radarsat1/default.asp.

11. Climate Change Impacts In Greenland Seen With Canadian Earth Observation Technologies

The highly indented and ruggedly mountainous coast of eastern Greenland is one of the most isolated habitations in the world. Scientists from NASA and the University of Kansas measured glacier velocities using ERS-1 and ERS-2 data collected in winter 1996, Canada's Radarsat-1's radar interferometry data collected in fall 2000 and spring and summer 2005 and Envisat Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) acquired in summer 2004. They found Greenland's southern glaciers were dumping twice as much ice yearly into the Atlantic as they did in 1996, accounting for nearly 17 percent of the estimated 2.54 millimetre annual rise in global sea levels. To view an ENVISAT - ASAR imagery products of Greenland east coast variations in the surface, please visit: www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMEYWAOE1G_index_1.html. The Canadian Space Agency is a cooperating member of te European Space Agency and contributed to the development of the Envisat Earth observation satellite.

12. Canada at the United Nations: 47th session of the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

The CSA will be leading the Canadian delegation at the 47th session of the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee (STSC) of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), to be held in Vienna from 8 to 19 February 2010. For more information on past sessions, please visit: www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/Reports/gadocs/coprepidx.html Delegations are invited to provide national reports and make statements related to international cooperation, and the following themes: search and rescue, earth observation, space debris, disaster management, global navigation satellite, use nuclear power sources in space, near-Earth objects, space weather, long-term sustainability of space activities. Any relevant information that could assist in the preparation of Canadian statements and reports could be sent to anne-marielan.phan@asc-csa.gc.ca.

13. Earth Observation Data Policy: ESA Member States Approve Full And Open Sentinel Data Policy Principles

The European Space Agency (ESA) is developing five new Earth Observation (EO) missions called Sentinels specifically for the operational needs of the joint European Commission-ESA Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme. ESA Member States have recently approved the new principles for the Sentinel Data Policy, which establishes full and open access to data acquired by the upcoming Sentinel satellite missions. The new data policy ensures free-of-charge access to all Sentinel data as well as the products generated via the Internet to anyone interested in using them. The policy continues the international trend for full and open access to EO data, in line with the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) data sharing principles.mainly for GMES data use but also for scientific and commercial use. For more information, please visit: www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMXK570A2G_index_0.html.

14. Government of Canada Response To The Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans: Nunavut Marine Fisheries

In accordance with its Northern Strategy, the Government of Canada agrees with the premise of the Senate SCOFO Report regarding the importance of social and economic development in the North, and the demonstration of Canada's sovereignty and jurisdiction. The Government recognizes the importance of supporting and promoting economic growth in the North and of facilitating sustainable economic and social development that benefits northern inhabitants, particularly indigenous peoples. Environment Canada (EC) has been assigned lead responsibility for monitoring and coordination of research activities in the James Bay/Hudson Bay region in the context of cumulative effects. EC is currently undertaking a review of existing scientific data, scientific information, and traditional knowledge with an aim to assessing the needs for implementing a new stand-alone research and monitoring program. If it is determined that such a program is required EC will also be responsible for determining the nature and scope of the required monitoring and research, and associate costs. DFO will assist by providing available scientific data and information related to the aquatic ecosystem of James Bay/Hudson Bay. To view the ice conditions in Northern Hudson Bay in November 2009 from RADARSAT-2, please visit:
http://ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca/content_contenu/images/Nov08_2009_RSAT2_N_HBay.jpg. To learn more about the SCOFO Report, please visit:
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/reports-rapports/200911b-eng.htm.

15. EO-Express Archives

EO-Express archives are now accessible via our new web site:
www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/newsletters/eo_express/editions.asp.

16. EO-Express Statistics

Since 2006, the EO-Express newsletter informed and raised the awareness of managers, scientists and students regarding Canadian activities in the field of Earth observation from space. The newsletter has now 2320 subscribers (609 organizations). An increase of 543 subscribers (37 organizations) since January 2009. The year 2009 marked the biggest increase in membership since 2006.

17. Season's Greetings

The EO Express team wishes you happy holidays and a successful 2010. We hope that you have enjoyed the CSA EO news and events reported in EO-Express in 2009. Your feedback and contributions to eo-express@asc-csa.gc.ca help us keep the EO community better informed.