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Proactive Disclosure

Proactive Disclosure

About the Canadian Group on Earth Observations

The Canadian Group on Earth Observations (CGEO) was established to provide the federal governance framework for the coordination of Canada's Earth observation (EO) initiatives. The high-level objectives of CGEO are to advance coordinated EO in Canada and to coordinate Canada's position and engagement in the international Group on Earth Observations (GEO) initiative.

Canada is an active member of the international GEO, which is a growing consortium of 75 Member countries and 51 Participating Organizations (as of December 2008). In 2005 GEO developed a 10-year Implementation plan to develop a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) with ambitious targets to improve our ability to understand and address global environmental and socio-economic challenges.

The Government of Canada founded the CGEO in September 2005 with a vision of "A healthy, safe and prosperous Canada through comprehensive, sustained and coordinated Earth Observations".

The CGEO member departments subsequently established a small interdepartmental Secretariat to coordinate GEO related initiatives, activities and communications within the federal government and the international GEO process.

Benefits of Improving Earth Observations
The Regional Benefits of Improved Earth Observations
Services to Canadians
Canadian Programs

Benefits of Improving Earth Observations

In the past several years, Canadians have been affected by a number of economically damaging events including the Ice Storm of 1998, forest fires in Western Canada and the loss of electricity in Ontario in the summer of 2003, and the severe winter storms that affected Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in February of 2004. The 1996 Saguenay River flood, the 1997 Red River flood, the 1998 Eastern Canada ice storm and the forest fires in British Columbia in 2003, caused $7.7 billion in damages.

Outside of major disasters there are on-going economic losses due to events such as hail and other severe weather. On average, it is estimated that hailstorms destroy roughly three percent of Canada’s prairie crops annually, causing approximately $100 million in damages.

A recent report shows that disasters worldwide killed 500,000 people and caused $750 billion in damages between 1990 and 1999. (Source: International Strategy on Disaster Reduction report “Living with Risk”)

Hazard events can trigger a cascade of further disasters, such as the disease outbreaks that commonly follow floods or earthquakes. These events are a major cause of loss of life and property, and can affect key natural resources.

By improving our ability to predict, monitor, and respond to natural, human-induced, and compound hazard events, we can reduce the occurrence and severity of disasters. In order to make progress, we will have to rely heavily on the information from well-designed and integrated Earth observations.

Earth observations are the systematic, long-term measurement and analysis of the Earth’s atmosphere, land, oceans and ecosystems. Canadians are increasingly dependent on information derived from Earth observations for weather, agriculture, oceans management, transportation, and many other applications. Strengthening our global earth observation capabilities will generate significant benefits in a number of areas.

The following scenario illustrates how data from Earth observations could be used to prevent the chance of a fire raging out of control.

In late autumn some years from now, enhanced observations of dry fuel load (biomass with low water content) south of Kelowna, British Columbia indicate a high potential for severe fires. Wind observations and weather data indicate that lightning strikes could ignite uncontrollable fires within days. Increased satellite surveillance detects a possible wildfire, which is quickly confirmed by airborne observers. Maps showing areas at risk are generated and local authorities issue specific alerts to the affected population, government officials, and the media. Tactical maps and evacuation routes are generated as response crews deploy and people are removed from immediate danger. Equipment requests and optimal deployment plans are generated, based on specific local weather and smoke prediction models, including the effects of the fire itself. Wind profiles at higher levels and weather at larger scales are factored into predictions of potential for spread and the relative effectiveness of various fire management options.

When the fires are brought under control within two days, the event is reviewed, with all players involved, to improve future preparedness and response for such events. Bringing the fires under control in a few days would be a tremendous success compared to the disastrous fires that occurred in the region in August and September of 2003. Those fires cost over $600 million to fight and caused millions of dollars in property damage and economic losses.

Better and more coordinated Earth observations, coupled with improved analysis of the derived data, have the potential to yield similar socio-economic benefits in many specific areas, such as:

Reducing loss of life and property from natural and human-induced disasters through a better ability to predict, prepare for and adapt to the effects of high impact weather, climate change, landslides, earthquakes and tsunamis. This will generate significant savings in terms of loss of life and disaster relief;
Understanding environmental factors affecting human health and well being through a better understanding of the spread of vector-borne disease and better management of our health infrastructure;
Improving the management of energy resources though better predictions of consumption patterns, and an improved understanding of the potential effects of climate change on hydroelectric power generation, conservation and renewable strategies;
Understanding, assessing, predicting, and mitigating climate change and variability. Improved data will help scientists better predict the impacts of climate change, wind patterns, precipitation, the type and frequency of severe weather events, sea levels, droughts and air quality, and help us find ways to better adapt to these changes.
Improving water resource management through better management of quality and quantity, including flood and drought prediction, and overall improvements in our understanding of the water cycle;
Improving weather information through a better ability to predict, prepare for and adapt to the effects of high impact weather, climate change, landslides, earthquakes and tsunamis.
Improving the management and protection of ecosystems through a better understanding of the impacts of climate change and pollution;
Supporting sustainable agriculture and combating desertification through improved crop production and security of food supplies, better pest control, reduced or more accurate spraying of pesticides; and
Understanding, monitoring, and conserving biodiversity more effectively through better data that will enable us to protect our fragile ecosystems and species.

Canada has a unique opportunity to help shape the future of Earth observations, for our country and for the rest of the world. By working with our international partners, we can expand our knowledge and develop a better understanding of the Earth and how it is changing.

By strengthening our Earth observation networks, Canada and the world will benefit from a safer environment, better health, and a stronger economy.

The Regional Benefits of Improved Earth Observations

Strengthening our ability to observe the Earth will generate benefits for every region of Canada. For instance, a strengthened Earth observation network would benefit fisheries management on both coasts, as well as inland fisheries, while the benefits to cities and agriculture would occur in all regions.

While many Earth observation applications will benefit all Canadians, some will provide benefits in specific regions. The examples listed below provide an overview of some of the benefits.

Maritime Provinces

The Maritime Provinces have experienced several costly and tragic extreme weather events in the last several years. Heavy precipitation and high winds are among the most damaging severe weather events. In 2003, Hurricane Juan caused over $100M of damages. Better forecasts of these events would give Canadians more time to prepare for them, and reduce their destructive impact.

Improved forecasts of high-impact marine weather (storms, freezing spray and fog) would enable fishers, workers on offshore oil platforms, and recreational boaters to avoid exposure to life-threatening events.

There are nearly 6,000 search and rescue missions each year in coastal areas. The time required to reach the target is a critical factor in the success of these missions. With better information on winds and surface currents, it is estimated that search and rescue effectiveness would be increased by 1%, enabling search and rescue teams to save an additional six lives annually.

Improved ocean information would result in better fisheries management. This would in turn reduce the number of days at sea for a given quota, or allow fishers to increase their catch for a given number of days.

Central Canada

Like the Maritimes, central Canada has recently been the victim of severe weather. The 1996 Saguenay River flood caused $1.7 billion in damages in Quebec. Damages from the 1998 Eastern Canada ice storm totaled $5.4 billion in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick.

Though improved weather information and forecasts would not stop these events from occurring, more advanced weather and water prediction capabilities could help prevent a substantial portion of damages. In the case of the Saguenay flood and the resulting mudslides that killed 10 people and forced the evacuations of 12,000 homes, if reliable forecasts of the potential for heavy rains had been issued five days in advance and appropriate response measures put in place, a large part of the flood damage could have been averted.

Urban environments must deal with many unique health issues such as dense populations potentially impacted by disasters (natural and industrial), water use and pollution. Improved observations would help determine the impacts on health before these issues reach crisis proportions. Better Earth observations will allow planners to understand the impacts of urbanization and various development strategies on their immediate living environment.

The Prairies

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, Canadian governments now spend an average of $500 million per year to repair damage caused by extreme weather, a large proportion of which is caused by floods and droughts. The cost of the 1997 Red River valley flood was $817 million.

Reducing the potential future impact of flooding requires, among others, information on precipitation, runoff, water storage in snowpack, and other controls on the water cycle. Improved Earth observations would provide additional information to planners in all of these areas.

The Canadian Wheat Board estimated that the 2002 drought resulted in production losses for grains and oilseeds of nearly $2.8 billion. Crop insurance payments hit a record level of $803 million in the first nine months of 2002, an increase of more than 300% when compared to the five-year average.

Information produced by the Canadian Drought Watch Program is used to respond to droughts. An improvement in the network of sensors that support Drought Watch and integration of Earth observation information on soil conditions would improve Drought Watch products used by governments, commodity brokers and farm producers.

Western Canada

In 2002, forest harvesting provided approximately 360,000 direct jobs and contributed over 3% of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product. Forest product exports totaled $42 billion in 2002. Commercial forest managers require spatial information for sustainable stewardship of forestland, while also providing the economic benefits of resource extraction.

Information on the current and future combustibility of the forest is a key requirement for fire prevention activities and advance planning for firefighting resource deployment. Key elements for estimating current and future combustibility are observations and forecasts of precipitation, temperature, humidity, and wind speed.

A study in Kamloops, British Columbia, demonstrated that the proper use of road weather information systems (which depend on data derived from Earth observations) could reduce salt usage by 25% and accidents on weather days by 40%. Improving the data, and extending road weather information systems to all of Canada would result in enormous savings.

Northern Canada

Northern Canada, and Arctic environments in general, are the most sensitive areas to global changes in dispersion of toxic chemicals, radioactivity build-up and ozone depletion. A specific issue for Canada is to determine and monitor how these changes will impact the health of northern residents, First Nations and Inuit people.

Earth observations are also critical to the economic development of the North. For instance, the proposed Mackenzie Pipeline will require very detailed mapping of terrain and soil characteristics, to identify landslide-prone areas.

In addition, our climate is changing and is predicted to continue to change in high latitudes at a rate faster than the global mean. Ice coverage and permafrost are evolving rapidly. Observations of these changes are the first step in assessing and predicting their impacts, and subsequently developing successful adaptation strategies. However, many current in situ and remote sensing observation systems are of limited spatial coverage, with large gaps in northern and remote regions. Improvements in our EO Capabilities in Canada’s North are required.

"To respond to the growing demand for Earth observation data, we will accelerate efforts within the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), which builds on the work of UN specialized agencies and programs, in priority areas, inter alia, climate change and water resources management, by strenghtening observation, prediction and data sharing. We also support capacity building for developing countries in earth observations adn promote interoperability and linkage with other partners."

Services to Canadians

Earth Observations are critical to the provision of many services to Canadians by the federal government, as well as other levels of government and private sector. They are also critical to the creation of knowledge by research scientists in government and academia.

Examples include:

Protecting Canadians from hazards (extreme weather, earthquakes, tsunamis, forest fires, harmful substances in air and water)
Managing our natural resources (fisheries, forestry, water, energy, agriculture, minerals)
Supporting our economy (safe and efficient transportation systems, building codes and civil infrastructures, land use planning)
Maintaining Canadian sovereignty and national security (opening safe shipping in the North, water availability conflicts, global seafood collapse)
Improving policy decisions (scenario-based analysis of air quality regulation options, land use planning)
Protecting Canada's interests and compliance with multilateral agreements (Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal Protocol, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change)
Improved health hazard protection from environmental factors (supporting epidemiological studies, better knowledge of vector-borne disease propagation such as West Nile Virus)
Improving the protection of our environment through better knowledge of ecosystems and biodiversity
Understanding the effects of climate change on the livelihood and lifestyles of northern communities

Canadian Programs

The federal government has the primary leadership role for EO in Canada. Federal departments are the largest investors in EO platforms and sensors and are by far the largest EO operational user community. EO investments range from satellite remote sensing systems (RADARSAT) to operational weather monitoring networks and forecasting systems to a country-wide network and hydrological stations – all facets of Canada society are touched by EO.

There are many high priority programs and activities in which federal departments use Earth observations as a key source of data and information. These programs are often conducted in collaboration with other departments, the private sector, provinces, territories, and academia.