Geo-Cradle

Finished ProjectsGeo-Cradle

Overview

The GEO-CRADLE project is concerned with coordinating and integrating state-of-the-art Earth observation activities in the regions of North Africa, Middle East, and Balkans and developing links with GEO related initiatives towards GEOSS.

Überblick

Das GEO-CRADLE-Projekt befasst sich mit der Koordinierung und Integration modernster Erdbeobachtungsaktivitäten in den Regionen Nordafrika, Naher Osten und Balkan sowie der Entwicklung von Links zu GEO-bezogenen Initiativen gegenüber GEOSS.

Introduction

GEO-CRADLE brings together key players representing the Balkans, N. Africa and M. East regions and the complete Earth-Observing (EO) value chain with the overarching objective of establishing a multi-regional coordination network that will:

  • Support the effective integration of existing EO capacities (space/air-borne/in-situ monitoring networks, modelling and data exploitation skills, and past project experience)
  • Provide the interface for the engagement of the complete ecosystem of EO stakeholders (scientists, service/data providers, end-users, governmental orgs, and decision makers)
  • Promote the concrete uptake of EO services and data in response to regional needs, relevant to the thematic priorities of the Call (adaptation to climate change, improved food security, access to raw materials and energy), and
  • Contribute to the improved implementation of and participation in GEO, GEOSS, and Copernicus in the region.

PMOD/WRC leads the T 4.4 Work package: Access to Energy (SENSE)

Objectives of the pilot SENSE

GEO-CRADLE will lead a coordinated effort to support and improve the regional EO infrastructures through the Solar Energy Nowcasting SystEm (SENSE) pilot. The main objective is to coordinate the regional EO capacities and research activities, including those of Copernicus Space and Service Segment initiatives, for the provision of an operational, satellite-driven, real time system for solar energy now-cast. The SENSE pilot will draw conclusions on the feasibility of efficiently and sustainably operating relevant EO activities, in terms of existing skills and observational infrastructures, and will provide quantitative and qualitative assessments on the required level of coordination and future investment to be carried out towards the implementation of GEO, GEOSS, and Copernicus Energy activities and services for the benefit of the relevant market and decision makers in the RoI. To achieve this, the following objectives are outlined:

  • Document and report on the needs to be addressed by such a system in the extended area including capabilities for retrieving real-time satellite data, transforming initial parameters into model inputs and calculating the solar energy received at the surface in real time.
  • Archive a full year of solar energy calculations having high spatial (0.05° × 0.05°) and temporal (15 minutes) resolution for use in forecast models and seasonal and monthly climatologies.
  • Perform a feasibility study of how to integrate such a now-casting system into a larger GEOSS driven system for regional and global scale, in benefit of the energy and research sectors of the participating partners.

Summary of SENSE

SENSE will assimilate cloud, aerosol and solar radiation data for the provision of real-time surface solar irradiance spectral outputs through a synergy of radiative transfer simulations and neural network models. Existing catalogues of data related to solar energy applications will be collected by the partners of the GEO-CRADLE consortium who maintain long-standing archives and surface based stations, satellite acquisition, as well as computing facilities for atmospheric/ solar radiation model runs.

For further information please contact: Dr. Stelios Kazadzis