World Meteorological Organization

Under the direction of the Chair of the Standing committee on Earth Observing Systems and Monitoring Networks (SC-ON) of the Commission for Observation, Infrastructure and Information Systems (INFCOM), and with the assistance of the WMO Space Programme Division (SP/D), the Expert Team on Space Systems and Utilization (ET-SSU) shall undertake tasks and provide advice on and support for the implementation of the space-based component of the WMO Integrated Global Observing Systems (WIGOS) in line with the Vision for WIGOS, in particular:
1. Report to SC-ON on issues noted and progress of activities undertaken;
2. Provide advice on availability and potential applications of present and prospective space systems, their data and products with a view to increased utilization by WMO Members;
3. Contribute to the development and review of WMO guidance and regulatory material on all aspects related to the space-based component of WIGOS;
4. Assist in addressing the needs of WMO Members for access to and utilization of satellite data and products in cooperation with the WMO Regional Coordination Groups on Satellite Data Requirements;
5. Assist in addressing the needs of WMO Members for capacity-building related activities associated with education and training in cooperation with Regional Associations and the Virtual Laboratory Management Group for Education and Training in Satellite Meteorology (VLab) towards full utilization of satellite data from operational and R&D satellites;
6. Coordinate with other relevant WMO bodies with a view to making recommendations and receiving inputs on matters related to satellite data management, such as access to, processing, dissemination, and archiving of space systems data and products;
7. Cooperate with the Expert Team on Radio Frequency Coordination (ET-RFC) and other relevant international initiatives with respect to the use of electromagnetic spectrum frequency allocations and need for protection of the frequency bands used by satellite remote sensing systems;
8. Cooperate with the Global Space-based Inter-Calibration System (GSICS) and other relevant international initiatives on issues related to calibration of satellite instruments and validation of satellite data and products;
9. Support WMO coordination with international and national space agencies and initiatives for space-based observations, in particular the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) and the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS).