Integrated Observations Interagency Working Group

The Integrated Observations Interagency Working Group (ObsIWG) facilitates the exchange and coordination of observations capabilities and observation technique-related research relevant to climate and global change within USGCRP’s member agencies. The ObsIWG provides a forum for discussion, coordination, and implementation of integrated observational and monitoring capabilities for climate and related global change. ObsIWG serves as a resource on observational activities and progress for USGCRP and member agency activities and coordinates with other relevant interagency organizations related to observations and data.

The scope of the ObsIWG includes the comprehensive observational system needed to meet climate science research and monitoring requirements, and includes satellite-based observations and in situ observations (airborne, ground-based, and ocean-based, and including systematic human observations) in the terrestrial, oceanic, and atmospheric domains.

Coordination strategies developed are relative to the comprehensive climate observational system, not only to those portions covered by the USGCRP budget, and reflect external coordination with international organizations and partners.

Activities

Developing an annual compendium of federal Earth observation activities
Initiated the monthly Earth Observations in a Changing Climate Seminar Series, which highlights many of today’s pressing environmental questions and issues that can only be addressed using high-quality Earth observations, with emphasis on collaboration across federal agencies. See Resources below for seminar materials.

USGCRP ObsIWG Seminar Series

Becoming a Climate Ready Nation: A Focus on Greenhouse Gases

January - November 2024

Description:

The Becoming a Climate Ready Nation: A Focus on Greenhouse Gases seminar series, sponsored by the USGCRP Integrated Observations Interagency Working Group (ObsIWG) and co-hosted by the Carbon Cycle Interagency Working Group (CCIWG), highlighted many of today’s pressing climate topics related to greenhouse gases that can only be addressed using high-quality earth observations and focusing on partnerships. This series was intended to highlight observations of greenhouse gases and their influence on everything from the atmosphere, ocean, and land to the cryosphere and human health, all within the context of an integrated system with a goal to complete a Global Stocktake every five years.

The culminating event of the seminar series will be a 2024 AGU Town Hall where the outcomes and highlights of the series will be discussed and speakers will describe the push towards becoming a climate ready nation through GHG awareness, collaborations, and actions. The ObsIWG and CCIWG intend to write a white paper on the primary themes and outcomes of the series.

With the need to become a Climate Ready Nation, the ObsIWG felt compelled to foster a better understanding of the relevance of GHG observations through this year-long seminar series. The intended audience included all interested federal and non-federal staff. The seminar series emphasized collaboration between representative ObsIWG and CCIWG agencies. When and where possible, a panel of co-presenters from multiple agencies served as speakers on the selected topic.

USGCRP Integrated OBSERVATIONS INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP SEMINAR SERIES BECOMING A CLIMATE READY NATION: A FOCUS ON GREENHOUSE GASES
Date	Topic	IWGs	Speaker(s)	Seminar Lead(s)
January 16	The U.S. GHG Center View Slides	ObsIWG	Argyro Kavvada (NASA)	Barry Lefer (NASA)
April 16	National GHG Inventories in the Context of the Global Stocktake	ObsIWG, CCIWG	Farhan Aktar (State) and Kenna Rewcastle (EPA)	Kenna Rewcastle (EPA)
May 15	Atmospheric GHGs View Slides	ObsIWG, CCIWG	Charles Miller (JPL) and Arlyn Andrews (NOAA)	Barry Lefer (NASA), Colm Sweeney (NOAA)
August 21	GHGs and the Ocean View Slides	ObsIWG, CCIWG	Rik Wanninkhof (NOAA), Kelsey Bisson (NASA), and Michelle Johnston (NOAA)	Samantha Wills (NOAA) and Abhishek Chatterjee (NASA)
September 26	Private / Commercial GHG Measurement Activities View Slides	ObsIWG, CCIWG	Riley Duren (CarbonMapper) and Steven Wofsy (MethaneSAT)	Barry Lefer,
November 7	Terrestrial + Wetland GHGs View Slides	ObsIWG, CCIWG	Kevin Kroeger and Sheel Bansal (USGS)	Diane Stanitski,
AGU Town Hall	Becoming a Climate-Ready Nation: Interagency Collaboration to Advance Greenhouse Gas Observations, Understanding, and Applications	ObsIWG, CCIWG	Colm Sweeney (NOAA), Rik Wanninkhof (NOAA), Kenna Rewcastle (EPA), and Argyro Kavvada (NASA)	Diane Stanitski (NOAA), Barry Lefer (NASA), Yishen Li (USGCRP), and Anna Connor (USGCRP)

Resources

Annual Compendium of Federal Earth Observation Activities
Earth Observations in a Changing Climate Seminar Series
- August 2021: Hurricane Observations to Inform Decision-Making on the Ground
  - National Hurricane Program - Christina Finch (FEMA) | View slides
  - National Hurricane Center’s Use of Aircraft Data in Hurricane Analysis - Michael J. Brennan (NOAA) | View slides
  - Tropical Cyclone Observations from NOAA’s Hurricane Field Program - Shirley Murillo (NOAA) |View slides
- October 2021: Marine Heat Waves
  - Observing and Interpreting Marine Heat Waves - Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer (NASA) | View slides
  - Understanding modulation of marine heat waves by winds in eastern boundary upwelling systems - Melanie Fewings (Oregon State University) | View slides
  - Using Marine Heat Wave Products for Management - Andrew W. Leising (NOAA) | View slides
- November 2021: The Impact of Wildfire on the Environment | Watch presentation
  - Advances in understanding wildfire initial emissions, smoke aging, and air quality impacts - Robert Yokelson (University of Montana)
  - Advances in predicting and observing the wildfire environment - Craig Clements (San José State University)
  - Climate warming, increasing wildfire, and the carbon balance of boreal forests - Michelle Mack (Northern Arizona University)
- January 2022: Observations to Support the Global Average Surface Temperature Analysis
  - NOAAGlobalTemp: A Global Reconstruction of Surface Temperature for 1880-Present - Russell S. Vose (NOAA) | View slides
  - GISTEMP Analysis of Global Surface Temperatures - Gavin Schmidt (NASA) | View slides
- June 2022: Earth Observation Needs for Land Use and Land Cover, Forests, and Agriculture | Watch presentation
  - A presentation in support of the interagency panel “Observing Gaps and Needs” in the context of the upcoming 5th National Climate Assessment (NCA5) | View slides
  - Utilization of Earth observation imagery within the National Agricultural Statistics Service | View slides
  - Land-change monitoring to support NCA | View slides
  - Monitoring national land cover and land use change due to natural and anthropogenic disturbances | View slides
- September 2022: The Human Dimension: Combining Observations and Social Science Methods for Robust Research | Watch presentation
  - A National Index of Floodplain Development to Guide Climate-Smart Growth and Land Use Management | View slides
  - Personal Heat Exposure | View slides
- October 2022: Coastal and Ocean Observation Gaps Identified through the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) | Watch presentation