The CEOS disaster management support group

Weather satellites have long been used to support forecasting of intensive weather hazards such as tropical cyclones, severe storms and flash flooding. Although there have been numerous research and operational demonstrations that illustrate the potential usefulness of Earth observation (EO) satellite data for a broader range of hazards, the operational application of these data to other hazards is rare. Recognizing the benefits that could be gained from better application of EO satellite data to natural and technological hazards, the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) initiated a project on disaster management support. CEOS was formed in 1984, in response to recommendations from the Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations Working Group on Growth, Technology, and Employment's Panel of Experts on Satellite Remote Sensing. This group recognized the multidisciplinary nature of satellite-based EO and the value of coordination across all proposed missions. In CEOS, providers and users of EO satellite data work together to promote the effective use of data from such satellites.