WDC-RSAT receives the status of an official WMO world data center
Formal Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the WMO and the DLR in Geneva
During a ceremony on July 22, 2009 at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva a „Memorandum of Understanding“ (MoU) was signed designating the World Data Center for Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere (WDC-RSAT) operated by the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) as an official World Data Center of the WMO. The document was signed by the CEO of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Prof. Wörner, the Secretary General of WMO, Dr. Jarraud, and the Director of the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD), Prof. Dech. Also present was the President of the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), Mr. Kusch, in his capacity as the Permanent Representative to WMO for Germany .
Within the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Program the WMO plans to expand in the future the surface-based data holdings to also include satellite-based data related to the atmosphere. As a new member of the WMO-World Data Center family, the WDC-RSAT will act as a „one-stop shop“, providing access to space-based observations on the chemical composition of the atmosphere focusing initially on a limited number of parameters, especially ozone and aerosols. This is achieved either by providing access to data stored at the WDC-RSAT or by acting as a portal with links to relevant other satellite data providers.
Since 2003 the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) is operating the WDC-RSAT under the non-governmental auspices of the International Council of Science (ICSU). The new mandate from WMO is an additional responsibility for WDC-RSAT. Following the recommendations of the Committee of Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) WDC-RSAT is currently establishing in cooperation with NASA a portal for satellite-based atmospheric composition data (ACC) which ultimately will be integrated in the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).
WDC-RSAT offers scientists and the general public open and simplified access to a continuously growing collection of atmosphere-related satellite-based data sets, data products, and services. Besides data from European missions (e.g. ENVISAT, ERS-2, MetOp, MSG) access is provided through appropriate links to nearly all existing satellite-based information on the global atmosphere. These data holdings are available on-line and range from raw data collected by remote sensors to value-added information products derived from the raw data. The current WDC-RSAT data archives contain data and derived information products on trace gases, aerosols, clouds, solar radiation, and information related to the surface such as vegetation cover and land and sea surface temperatures. Also available are so-called value added products tailored to the needs of the scientific community, agencies, industry and the public sector in general.
An external advisory committee with representatives from ESA, DWD, HGF and DLR has been established in 2006 to guide WDC-RSAT towards achieving its mission objectives and responding to user needs. It is currently being expanded to include representatives from UMETSAT, NASA and WMO.