Objectives

The Core Service biogeophysical Parameter (CSP) supplies generic information on bio- and geophysical attributes of land surfaces at regional and global scales, which is an important crosscutting issue of relevance to all Global Observatories (OLF, ONC and OFM) and potentially to Regional Observatories as well. The provided geophysical parameters describe the vegetation activity (LAI, fAPAR, fcover, surface reflectance, burnt areas), the radiative budget at the surface level (downwelling radiation fluxes, surface albedo, land surface temperature), the water cycle (precipitation, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, water bodies).

CSP is the first and unique European project to set up a visible network to serve the future GMES Services in biogeophysical parameters. The added value relative to other operational efforts existing in Europe is the integration of existing activities at European level, oriented towards this new objective.

The goal of CSP is to build a first product catalog during the course of the project, demonstrate pre-operational capabilities, and conceive an operational scenario for the future. The pre-operational work made within CSP will be followed by the onset of appropriate operational services of product distribution following the general evolution of GMES.