GEOEssential–mainstreaming workflows from data sources to environment policy indicators with essential variables

When defining indicators on the environment,the use of existing initiatives should be a priority rather than redefining indicators each time.From an Information,Communication and Technology perspective,data interoperability and standardization are critical to improve data access and exchange as promoted by the Group on Earth Observations.GEOEssential is following an end-user driven approach by defining Essential Variables(EVs),as an intermediate value between environmental policy indicators and their appropriate data sources.From international to local scales,environmental policies and indicators are increasingly percolating down from the global to the local agendas.The scientific business processes for the generation of EVs and related indicators can be formalized in workflows specifying the necessary logical steps.To this aim,GEOEssential is developing a Virtual Laboratory the main objective of which is to instantiate conceptual workflows,which are stored in a dedicated knowledge base,generating executable workflows.To interpret and present the relevant outputs/results carried out by the different thematic workflows considered in GEOEssential(i.e.biodiversity,ecosystems,extractives,night light,and food-water-energy nexus),a Dashboard is built as a visual front-end.This is a valuable instrument to track progresses towards environmental policies.

Reviewing the discoverability and accessibility to data and information products linked to Essential Climate Variables

Essential Climate Variables(ECVs)are geophysical records generated from systematic Earth Observations associated with climate variations,changes,and impacts.ECVs products support the data and information needs of international frameworks and policies such as the work of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC)and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC).We map the main networks and initiatives publishing ECVs,by presenting an overview of existing satellite-based ECVs,their general data creation characteristics,discoverability and accessibility methods from an end-user perspective.We investigate key initiatives providing or coordinating access to ECV data records,such as the Global Climate Observing System(GCOS),the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites(CEOS),the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites(CGMS),Joint Working Group on Climate(WGClimate),the Remote Sensing Systems(REMSS),and the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative(ESA CCI).We find that ECV data discovery and access is difficult and time consuming due to the lack of common data and metadata catalogues.In addition,the selection of fit-for-purpose data records by end-users requires the implementation of interoperable standards and scalable data infrastructures to allow the generation of tailored applications and datadriven information products in support of decision-making processes.