GeoGlows

This Initiative consolidates the positive elements of the water activities in the first phase of GEO and ensures that strong coordination and commitment is in place for links between data, information, knowledge, and applications and policy. There are many contributions being made to these goals by various GEO Member countries but these contributions are unlikely to be included in planning or in synthesis or to be linked with policy at the global scale unless they are part of a larger framework for coordinating water within and beyond GEO. Thus, when mature, GEOGLOWS could provide a coordination framework for all water initiatives under the GEO programme.

This Initiative is intended to facilitate the use of Earth observation assets to contribute to mitigating water shortages, excesses and degraded quality arising from population growth, climate change and industrial development. The Initiative is relevant to GEO Strategic Objectives and follows the model of GEO projects. It will achieve its objectives by facilitating collaborations, enabling projects, and encouraging conversations that will strengthen these programmes, increasing awareness of related activities, and promoting the leverage of existing or planned activities.

The Initiative will develop knowledge based on an analysis of Essential Water Variables (EWVs) and use the knowledge to inform applications related to minimizing Basin and Regional Risk, policies related to enhancing global water sustainability and capacity building through regional programs and alliances such as AmeriGEOSS. To achieve this objective it strives to enhance observational programs, innovate on ways to make more effective use of data, adhere to GEO principles of good data management, and implement the policy of free and open data exchange.

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