ABOUT – CGMS – Website https://cgms-info.org The Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:12:05 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 https://cgms-info.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cgms-logo-2.png ABOUT – CGMS – Website https://cgms-info.org 32 32 International Earth Surface Working Group https://cgms-info.org/about-cgms/international-earth-surface-working-group/ Mon, 25 Mar 2024 15:16:25 +0000 https://cgms-info.org/?page_id=5937

International Earth Surface Working Group: IESWG

The International Earth Surface Working Group (IESWG) was established in 2006 and became a formal working group of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) in 2023. The IESWG advances the use of Earth Observations (EO) to improve modeled land-atmosphere interactions with a particular focus on improving numerical weather prediction, real time monitoring, and reanalysis applications. Accurate observation and simulation of the land-atmosphere fluxes of energy and water is difficult due to the heterogeneity of the land surface and technology limitations on remotely sensing the sub-surface. The IESWG provides a unique opportunity for the community to gather and collaborate on addressing issues specific to simulating the land-atmosphere interface.

As a group, the IESWG seeks to facilitate and guide continuity of important measurements, identify significant gaps in and risks to the observational record, and promote communication across agencies around data assimilation, modeling, and observations relevant to the land surface.  The observational focus includes surface temperature, albedo, soil moisture, snow water equivalent, water-body extent, and vegetation characteristics. 

For our terms of reference see here.

]]> CGMS 50 years – 1972-2022 – Messages by heads of agencies https://cgms-info.org/cgms-50-years-1972-2022/ Mon, 02 May 2022 14:49:36 +0000 https://cgms-info.org/?page_id=5070

CGMS 50 years – Q&A with CGMS heads of agencies

On the occasion of the CGMS 50th anniversary, we took the opportunity to ask the heads of the CGMS members the following questions:

  • What should the priorities for CGMS be in the next 10 years?
  • How has the CGMS cooperation benefitted your agency to date?
  • What are the main challenges serving your own user community and in what way can CGMS support this?

 

You can find their answers below.

Playlist

8 Videos
]]> About CGMS https://cgms-info.org/about-cgms/ Wed, 06 Oct 2021 08:26:30 +0000 https://cgms21.bitworks.net/?page_id=672

The Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) is the group that globally coordinates meteorological satellite systems. This includes protection of in orbit assets, contingency planning, improvement of quality of data, support to users, facilitation of shared data access and development of the use of satellite products in key application areas.  

The coordination is pursued from an end-to-end perspective, through development of multi-lateral coordination and cooperation across all meteorological satellite operators in close coordination with the user community such as WMO, IOC-UNESCO, and other user entities). 

Key Areas

Governance

Members & Observers

Organisation

Initiatives

History, achievements

.

Satellites & Data Access

]]> Governance https://cgms-info.org/about-cgms/governance/ Mon, 26 Nov 2018 23:00:00 +0000 https://cgms21.bitworks.net/index.php/4-year-rolling-priority-plan-hlpp/

Charter

The objectives of CGMS are formalised within its Charter:

  • CGMS provides a forum for the exchange of technical information on geostationary and polar-orbiting meteorological satellite systems and research & development missions, such as reporting on current meteorological satellite status and future plans, telecommunications matters, operations, intercalibration of sensors, processing algorithms, products and their validation, data transmission formats and future data transmission standards.
  • CGMS harmonises meteorological satellite mission parameters (such as orbits, sensors, data formats and downlink frequencies) to the greatest extent possible.
  • CGMS encourages complementarity, compatibility and possible mutual back-up in the event of system failure through cooperative mission planning, compatible meteorological data products and services and the coordination of space and data-related activities, thus complementing the work of other international satellite coordinating mechanisms.
 

Click here for the complete CGMS charter. 

 

5-year rolling priority plan (HLPP)

The main goals of the coordination activities of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites – CGMS – are to support operational weather monitoring and forecasting as well as climate monitoring, in response to requirements formulated by WMO, its programmes and other programmes jointly supported by WMO and other international agencies.

It is the policy of CGMS to coordinate satellite systems of its members in an end-to-end perspective, including protection of in-orbit assets and support to users – e.g. through appropriate training – as required to facilitate and develop shared access to and use of satellite data and products in various applications. This policy is reflected in the structure of the High-Level Priority Plan (HLPP), covering:

  1. Operational continuity and contingency planning
  2. Coordination of satellite systems and operations
  3. Coordination of data access and end user support
  4. Enhancement of the quality of satellite-derived data and products
  5. Monitoring of climate including greenhouse gases
  6. Space weather monitoring
  7. Outreach and training activities

The HLPP is a rolling 5-year plan and is seen as part of a longer term perspective, in particular as regards the new challenges raised by climate change and operational greenhouse gas monitoring.

The plan is reviewed on an annual basis, considering in particular new requirements and perspectives arising from interactions with the user and scientific communities, the development of applications, e.g. Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), and relevant research activities. The plan will also ensure proper interaction with other space agencies and their relevant constituencies (e.g. CEOS including its working groups and virtual constellations).

Highlight priorities for the period 2019-2023 include:

  • Secure the continuity of the CGMS baseline system, in particular take actions to ensure continuity of passive microwave imager measurements; and long-term continuity of the Early Morning orbit;
  • Advance the response to the WIGOS 2040 vision for space, by the implementation of new capabilities beyond the CGMS baseline;
  • Advancing the architecture for climate monitoring from space through the joint CEOS-CGMS Working Group on Climate (JWGClimate);
  • Contribute to the implementation of a global constellation for monitoring atmospheric CO2 and CH4 concentrations and their natural and anthropogenic fluxes from space to support climate policy;
  • Preparation of users for the next generation of meteorological satellites in GEO and LEO orbits;
  • The implementation of advanced concepts for satellite data dissemination, posing new demands for CGMS global coordination;
  • Protection of frequencies, in particular passive sensing frequencies affected by terrestrial transmissions;
  • Facilitate the transition to new LEO direct broadcast systems (JPSS, FY-3, Meteor-M, Metop-SG);
  • Advance the implementation of the CGMS Agency Best Practices in support to Local and Regional Processing of LEO Direct Broadcast data;
  • Coordinate CGMS activities and align priorities with the space weather user community, in particular the ICAO Space Weather Centres, ISES, WMO IPT-SWeISS and the UNCOPUOS Space Weather Expert Group;
  • Improve the near-real-time access to and global exchange of space weather data from instruments hosted on meteorological satellites;
  • Develop capacity to assess and communicate socio-economic benefits of CGMS satellite missions.
 

Click here for the complete text of the HLPP.

]]> History, achievements https://cgms-info.org/about-cgms/history-and-achievements/ Sun, 10 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://cgms21.bitworks.net/index.php/history-and-achievements/

History

The Coordination Group for Geostationary Satellites came into being on 19 September 1972, when representatives of the European Space Research Organisation (since 1975 called the European Space Agency, ESA), Japan, the United States of America, Observers from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the Joint Planning Staff for the Global Atmosphere Research Programme met in Washington to discuss questions of compatibility among geostationary meteorological satellites. Since then, CGMS has expanded both in terms of its membership, objectives and its name.

Achievements

In accordance with its objectives, CGMS has been able to continuously achieve concrete results. This has enabled a better coordinated and more coherent approach for the operation of meteorological satellites. The achievements result from careful discussions at technical, scientific and executive levels during CGMS meetings coupled with perseverance by the CGMS members. Without being exhaustive, the below list describes some of the major achievements of CGMS:
  • Establishment of a global back-up framework (contingency planning) – the concept of “helping thy neighbour” e.g. manoeuvring an available satellite to a different location to support satellite observations. In the 1980s NOAA’s GOES-4 satellite successfully supported the Meteosat DCS that had run into difficulties. Later in the early 1990s, Meteosat-3 was moved to a position over the Western Atlantic to support NOAA to perform an operational imaging mission vital for hurricane observations. This established partnership continued in 2003 when NOAA supported JMA with GOES-9 to perform operational imaging after retiring GMS-5 and before the availability of MTSAT-1;
  • The close cooperation of CGMS leads to an optimisation and coordinated enhancement of the WMO Global Observing System (GOS). CGMS operators inter alia adopted the WMO vision for the GOS to 2025;
  • Standardisation of data dissemination formats and coordinated planning for the analogue to digital transition;
  • Development of a common standard for the International Data Collection System (IDCS);
  • Development of an integrated strategy for data dissemination and data exchange (GTS, Internet, ADM, GEONETCast…);
  • Coordinated activities toward protection of radio frequencies;
  • Development of a coordinated approach to calibration and intercalibration (Global Space-based Inter-calibration System – GSICS);
  • Promotion and development of a coordinated framework for generating climate data records from space observations (SCOPE-CM);
  • Overarching framework for science development and the improvement and utilisation of satellite products through International Science Working Groups that interact with CGMS (the International TOVS Working Group – ITWG – addressing satellite radiance measurements and retrievals in a broad sense; the International Winds Working Group – IWWG – addressing Atmospheric Motion Vectors (AMVs) and winds from satellites in general; the International Precipitation Working Group – IPWG – and the International Radio-occultation Working Group –IROWG);
  • Promotion of a common approach to archiving of data and products; and
  • Promotion of training and the development of the Virtual Training Laboratory (VLab).

CGMS 50 YEARS - 1972-2022

CGMS turns 50 years in 2022. It started with geostationary meteorological satellites, gradually expanding to include polar and highly elliptic orbit observations for weather, oceans and climate. CGMS aims to provide an end-to-end system – from providers to the global users community.
*** CGMS 50 YEARS - 1972-2022 ***
CGMS turns 50 years in 2022. It started with geostationary meteorological satellites, gradually expanding to include polar and highly elliptic orbit observations for weather, oceans and climate. CGMS aims to provide an end-to-end system – from providers to the global users community.
Messages by heads of agencies
The story about CGMS
CGMS 50th anniversary greetings
Special event recording
From setback to support network

As experts come together in Geneva, Switzerland, to celebrate 50 years of CGMS, Mr. Mikael Rattenborg, EUMETSAT’s former Director of Operations, reflects on some of the most striking stories from across the groups history.

Eye of the Tiger

As the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) turns 50, Dr WANG Jingsong, Director-General of the China Meteorological Administration’s National Satellite Meteorological Centre reflects on the collaborative decision to place the Fengyun-3E polar orbiting satellite in an early morning orbit.

]]> Objectives https://cgms-info.org/about-cgms/objectives/ Sun, 10 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://cgms21.bitworks.net/index.php/objectives/ Objectives

The main goals of the coordination activities of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites are to support operational weather monitoring and forecasting as well as climate monitoring, in response to requirements formulated by WMO, its programmes and other programmes jointly supported by WMO and other international agencies.

It is the policy of CGMS to coordinate satellite systems of its members in an end-to-end perspective, including protection of in-orbit assets and support to users – e.g. through appropriate training – as required to facilitate and develop shared access to and use of satellite data and products in various applications. This policy is reflected in the structure of the so called High Level Priority Plan (HLPP) initially endorsed by CGMS-40 plenary session in 2012, covering: Coordination of observing systems and protection of assets:

  1. Coordination of observing systems and protection of assets
  2. Data dissemination, direct read out services and contribution to the WIS product development
  3. Enhance the quality of satellite-derived data and products
  4. Outreach and training activities
  5. Cross-cutting issues and new challenges

Charter

The objectives of CGMS are formalised within its Charter:

  • CGMS provides a forum for the exchange of technical information on geostationary and polar-orbiting meteorological satellite systems and research & development missions, such as reporting on current meteorological satellite status and future plans, telecommunications matters, operations, intercalibration of sensors, processing algorithms, products and their validation, data transmission formats and future data transmission standards.
  • CGMS harmonises meteorological satellite mission parameters (such as orbits, sensors, data formats and downlink frequencies) to the greatest extent possible.
  • CGMS encourages complementarity, compatibility and possible mutual back-up in the event of system failure through cooperative mission planning, compatible meteorological data products and services and the coordination of space and data-related activities, thus complementing the work of other international satellite coordinating mechanisms.

Click here for the complete CGMS charter.

]]> Space weather coordination group https://cgms-info.org/about-cgms/space-weather-coordination-group/ Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://cgms21.bitworks.net/index.php/space-weather-coordination-group/

Space Weather Coordination Group (SWCG)

The CGMS Space Weather Coordination Group (SWCG) was established by the 46th CGMS plenary on 8 June 2018, building upon the work performed by the former Space Weather Task Team, created in 2015 during CGMS-43.

SWCG Co-chairs: Tsutomu Nagatsuma (NICT) and James Spann (NOAA)

SWCG Rapporteur: Andrew Monham (EUMETSAT)

 

 

Task group structure

 

Scope

The SWCG supports the continuity and integration of space-based observing capabilities for operational space weather products and services throughout CGMS and the user community and the CGMS satellite operators with regard to space weather phenomena.

 

Objectives 

The SWCG has the following objectives:

  1. Coordinate space weather activities within and across CGMS working groups including space weather data, ensuring space weather operational measurements are incorporated into the CGMS baseline, relevant frequencies, anomaly resolution, products, knowledge, policy, etc.;
  2. Address space weather topics relevant to CGMS that are not currently within the purview of other CGMS WGs;
  3. Facilitate dialogue between CGMS members and space weather communities;
  4. Identify which space weather organisations/forums the SWCG should interact with both as an active participant and/or engaging them within CGMS activities;
  5. Identify needs and requirements from space weather communities that should be managed and coordinated by CGMS or its members;
  6. Follow current and future international and domestic space weather policies which may have an effect on CGMS or its members; and
  7. Review the CGMS high level priorities related to space weather.
 

 

Coordination between the SWCG and CGMS WGs I-IV

To ensure sufficient space weather engagement with CGMS Working Groups I-IV, the SWCG nominates one person from the SWCG to support each of the CGMS WGs annually during the CGMS annual meeting and at relevant inter-sessional meetings.

CGMS spacecraft anomaly report database

The satellite anomaly database is a compilation of data supplied by CGMS members and cooperating partners, enabling correlation to be performed with space weather events and thereby allowing space weather services to better tailor their forecasts to the needs of satellite operators. You can access the latest version of the database here.

The value of anomaly data sharing and of this specific CGMS-led activity has been recognised by the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs in the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, published in 2021. A matrix is provided here indicating how the space weather coordination group is addressing these guidelines, together with the activities of the WMO Expert Team on Space Weather.

Coordination between the SWCG and international space weather bodies

The SWCG shall represent CGMS though nominating participants as required to attend meetings, workshops and conferences within the field of space weather. This includes in particular events like the European Space Weather Week and the US Space Weather Workshop and with organisations like UN-COPUOS, WMO, ISES, COSPAR, ISWI, ILWS, and IAU.

]]> International Cloud Working Group https://cgms-info.org/about-cgms/international-clouds-working-group/ Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://cgms21.bitworks.net/index.php/international-clouds-working-group/

International Cloud Working Group: ICWG

The International Cloud Working Group (ICWG) was established as a formal Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) working group in 2014. The working group organises biennial workshops (about every 24 months), with its first workshop in 2016. It provides a forum for operational and research users of cloud parameter retrievals that aims to enhance knowledge on quantitative cloud parameter retrievals from state-of-the-art algorithms and identify shortcomings that need focused attention as a community. Continual improvement in the global description of cloud properties optimises these algorithms for near-term (now-casting), short- to medium-term (weather forecasting), and long-term (regional and climatological analyses) applications, as well as for potential improvements in the cloud and convection parameterisations adopted in weather and climate models.

The objectives of the ICWG include:

a) to promote commonality in operational cloud retrieval algorithms;
b) to address research questions identified by space agencies and WMO programs (e.g. GEWEX);
c) to promote assessments of cloud retrievals;
d) to foster adoption of standards, for example validation procedures and data formats;
e) to contribute to the definition of new space borne observation capabilities for cloud retrievals and validation;
f) to support and stimulate training;
g) to enhance the communication in this field and develop international partnerships.

More information on the International Cloud Working Group can be found here.

 

]]> International Precipitation Working Group https://cgms-info.org/about-cgms/international-precipitation-working-group/ Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://cgms21.bitworks.net/index.php/international-precipitation-working-group/ International Precipitation Working Group: IPWG

The International Precipitation Working Group (IPWG) was established as a permanent Working Group of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) on 20-22 June 2001 in Ft. Collins, CO, USA. The IPWG is co-sponsored by CGMS and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and focuses the scientific community on operational and research satellite-based quantitative precipitation measurement issues and challenges. It provides a forum for operational and research users of satellite precipitation measurements to exchange information on methods for measuring precipitation and the impact of space borne precipitation measurements in numerical weather and hydrometeorological prediction and climate studies. The objectives include intercomparison of algorithms, validation of satellite based observations and stimulation of further development and research for enhanced use of satellite-based precipitation estimates.

IPWG Terms of reference.

Further information on IPWG is available here.

]]> International Radio Occultation Working Group https://cgms-info.org/about-cgms/international-radio-occultation-working-group/ Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://cgms21.bitworks.net/index.php/international-radio-occultation-working-group/ International Radio Occultation Working Group: IROWG

The International Radio Occultation Working Group (IROWG) was established as a permanent Working Group of CGMS at the 37th meeting on 26-30 October 2009 (Jeju Island, South Korea). The IROWG is co-sponsored by CGMS and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). IROWG serves as a forum for operational and research users of radio occultation data.

 

The IROWG intends to build upon the expertise of scientists who are currently involved in the use and analysis of radio occultation data. It is established to foster the:

(a) Development of better measurements, and improvement of their utilization;

(b) Improvement of scientific understanding; and

(c) Development of international partnerships.

Terms of Reference

 

Read more about IROWG here.

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