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2.5 Satellite observations 
Satellite systems have become the major contribution to the global observing system for cli 
mate monitoring because of their global coverage, and uniform observing system for all parts 
of the globe. Long-term continuity of many satellite missions in combination with repro 
cessing of archived satellite data based on careful inter-sensor calibration, taking into ac 
count the GCOS systematic observing requirements for satellite-based products for climate 
(GCOS-107), facilitate the generation of ECV satellite products for climate monitoring pur 
poses. The satellite systems have to be completed by in-situ measurements for calibration 
purposes and for the provision of ECVs which cannot be provided in sufficient quality from 
space data. 
Like the other European meteorological services, DWD also coordinates its satellite matters 
via EUMETSAT, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. 
Therefore, all statements related to plans to ensure availability of past and future data and 
metadata records of satellite measurements for the atmospheric ECVs and associated global 
products contained in Table 2 are related to EUMETSAT. Some indications are directly intro 
duced in Table 2 below. For more details it is recommended to visit the EUMETSAT home 
page 7 or the information provided by EUMETSAT via CEOS. DWD as a major Member State 
is strongly involved in the planning and decision processes of EUMETSAT. This concerns 
the current satellite systems of EUMETSAT, the planning of future programmes such as Me- 
teosat Third Generation (MTG), Post-EPS and Jason-Follow-on as well as archiving aspects. 
The current satellite systems of EUMETSAT cover the period up to 2015 till 2020 and the 
future EUMETSAT satellite systems will cover the period roughly from about 2015 till 2030 
and beyond. 
The GCOS climate monitoring requirements for satellite based products (GCOS-107) are 
taken into account when the future satellite systems of EUMETSAT are planned. According 
to Article 2 of its convention one of the objectives of EUMETSAT is to contribute to the op 
erational monitoring of the climate system and the detection of global climatic changes. In 
fulfilling its objectives EUMETSAT has also to take into account, as far as possible, the rec 
ommendations of WMO, which are corresponding to GCOS requirements. Of particular im 
portance for fulfilling GCOS requirements by means of space-based observations are two 
WMO initiatives: GSICS (the Global Space-based Inter-calibration System) and SCOPE-CM 
(Sustained Coordinated Processing of Satellite Data for Climate Monitoring [SCOPE-CM, 
formerly named R/SSC-CM]). Detailed information on both initiatives are available via the 
WMO Internet pages * 6 7 . As host of the SAF on Climate Monitoring (CM-SAF), DWD contrib 
utes directly to SCOPE-CM. 
It should be noted that EUMETSAT has a decentralised network of Satellite Application Facil 
ities (SAFs) for the generation of products from EUMETSAT satellite data. Of special rele 
vance to GCOS is the Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM-SAF) which is 
hosted by DWD. Detailed information on the CM-SAF can be retrieved from the Internet 7 . 
7 http://www.eumetsat.int 
6 http://www.wmo.int 
7 http://www.cmsaf.eu