CEOS Ocean Variable Enabling Research & Applications for GEO (COVERAGE): Implementation of a Prototype Big Data Platform Providing Enhanced Access to Inter-agency Satellite Data Products in Support of MBON

Vardis M Tsontos, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, United States, Eric J Lindstrom, NASA Headquarters, Washington D.C., United States, Jorge Vazquez, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, United States, Thomas Huang, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States and Mike Chin, JPL, Pasadena, United States
Abstract:
The CEOS Ocean Variables Enabling Research and Applications for GEO (COVERAGE) initiative seeks to provide improved access to multi-agency ocean remote sensing that are better integrated with in-situ and biological observations in support of oceanographic and decision support applications for societal benefit. COVERAGE is an international initiative and 3 year pilot project within the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) involving inter-agency participation. It aligns with programmatic objectives of CEOS and the missions of GEO-MBON (Marine Biodiversity Observation Network) and GEO-Blue Planet, which are to advance and exploit synergies among marine observational programs. It focuses on implementing technologies, including cloud-based solutions, to provide a data rich, web-based platform for integrated ocean data delivery and access: multi-parameter observations, easily discoverable and usable, organized thematically, available in near real-time, collocated to a common grid and including climatologies. These will be complemented by a set of value-added data services available via the COVERAGE portal including an advanced Web-based visualization interface, subsetting/extraction and other relevant on demand processing capabilities. COVERAGE development is organized around priority use cases and applications identified by GEO and agency partners. The initial phase has focused on system architecture aspects and developing inventory of global 25km, inter-agency products from the four Ocean Virtual Constellations (VCs) that would serve as a baseline dataset for COVERAGE. Here we provide an overview of the initiative and the status of the technical implementation work that is now under-way. Emphasis is also placed on describing the thematic demonstration application of relevance to MBON that the COVERAGE prototype will be supporting on the dynamics of high seas tuna fisheries in relation to the environment. Stakeholder involvement and International collaborative aspects of the project are also discussed with the intent of soliciting community feedback.
Back to: Using Satellite Remote Sensing and in Situ Data to Evaluate Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystems II