Radiocommunications are an integral part of information and communication technology and they are playing a significant role in the following aspects of the ICT used in combating the negative effects of climate change:

• climate change monitoring;

• actions against global warming;

• mitigating the local effects of climate change.

The following is a report on the Radiocommunication Sector main activities relevant to reducing the effects of climate change with aim to be used for informing the general public on these activities.

1.         Radio Technologies and Radiocommunication Systems Used in Monitoring Climate Change

1.1.      Radio Technologies Used in Monitoring Climate Change – Technical Background

Radio based applications and radio systems are currently playing a very significant role in monitoring of climate change. They provide the backbone of the Global Observing System (GOS) created by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). GOS, as shown in Figure 1, is comprised of observation stations located on land, at sea, on aircraft, and on meteorological satellites[1]. GOS is a composite system of complex methods, techniques and facilities for measuring meteorological and environmental parameters. It provides observations of the atmosphere and earth surface (including ocean surface) from all parts of the globe and from outer space. GOS mainly relays on remote sensing equipment placed on satellites, aircrafts, radiosondes, as well as meteorological radars on the Earth and at sea. The system ensures that critical information is available to every country to generate weather analyses, forecasts and warnings on a day-to-day basis. A subset of data gathered by GOS is also used in the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). GCOS addresses the total climate system including physical, chemical and biological properties, and atmospheric, oceanic, hydrologic, cryospheric and terrestrial processes.

Figure 1: WMO Global Observing System
Source: WMO and ITU-R Handbook “Use of Radio Spectrum for Meteorology”
Note: NMS = National Meteorological Service

An important aspect and additional complexity of the use of radio-based technologies for climate control and weather forecasting is the fact that there is no free choice of frequency bands used for environmental measurements; the choice of the frequency band is dictated by the physical phenomena to be observed. As shown in Figure 2 it is not possible to use frequency bands from 75 to 100 GHz for measuring the oxygen level in atmosphere.

Figure 2: Atmospheric opacity in the frequency range 1-275 GHz

Within the framework of the climate and weather monitoring systems, radiocommunication systems and radio applications are employed for:

• observations of the atmosphere and the Earth surface from all parts of the globe and from outer space, mainly using remote active[2] and passive[3] sensors;

• delivery of measurement results to international and national monitoring centres;

• the real-time exchange of meteorological observational data, processed products, and related information between national meteorological and hydrological services[4];

• warning the general public of dangerous events (flooding, hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, thunderstorms, the effluent from volcanoes, forest fires, and other natural and man-made disasters)^2;

• damage assessment and planning and monitoring of disaster relief operations (see also section 3).

Meteorological aids, meteorological-satellite and Earth exploration-satellite radiocommunication services play a major role in climate change monitoring and weather forecasting. It is essential that these services have sufficient spectrum and the frequencies allocated to these services remain free of interference (see also Box 1).

1.2       Radiocommunication Sector and Climate Change Monitoring

In this respect the Radiocommunication Sector carries out the following main activities:

• The World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs) analyze proposals relevant to the further development and operation of meteorological and Earth observation systems and allocate the necessary spectrum for different applications insuring  adequate protection of these systems from harmful interference (see Box 2). WRCs also modify the ITU Radio Regulations;

• The Radiocommunication Assembly (RA) approved Resolutions which instruct the Radiocommunication Study Groups (SG) to carry out studies and develop relevant ITU-R publications (Recommendations[5], Reports, Handbooks) that facilitate the development and operation of the relevant services and systems (see Box 3).

•       ITU-R Study Groups analyze study results and proposals submitted by ITU Member States, Radiocommunication Sector members, including the World Meteorological Organization, international and national agencies and organizations, involved in climate control, so as to adopt and approve relevant ITU-R publications (see Box 4). The results of studies corresponding to WRC Agenda items are reported to WRCs for consideration. In accordance with WRC-07 decisions, the main areas for studies to be reported to WRC-11 are the following:
   

• use of optical links for remote sensing;

• development of systems for lightning detection;

• use of high-frequency oceanographic radars for measurement of coastal sea surface conditions (these radars are used for oceanographic, climatological, meteorological and disaster response operations);

• further development of the meteorological-satellite systems operating near 8 GHz;

• use of radiocommunications for Earth observation.

•       The Radiocommunication Sector experts and BR staff participate in international symposia, seminars, workshops and other events on climate change (e.g. in December 2007 BR specialists participated in the workshop on the Role of Remote Sensing in Disaster Management organized during the Global Forum on Effective Use of Telecommunications / ICT for Disaster Management: Saving Lives). Close collaboration has been established with WMO (especially with the WMO Steering Group on Radio Frequency Coordination (SG-RFC)), the Space Frequency Coordination Group[6] (SFCG), as well as with other international and national agencies and organizations.

2.         Radiocommunication Systems and Concerted Action against Global Warming

2.1.      Radio and Global Warming

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations" which result in the greenhouse effect. Hundreds of millions of different radiocommunication devices utilized around the World consume significant amounts of electricity that contribute to the production of the greenhouse gases. Reduction of power consumption of radio equipment is one of the main tasks of the Radiocommunication Sector.

2.2       Radiocommunication Sector Concerted Action against Global Warming
 

a)   Introduction of new radio technologies such as digital modulation for broadcasting, ultra-wideband (UWB) technology employing extremely low power, smart antennas, etc. is also relevant to energy saving (see Box 6). All the ITU-R Study Groups are concentrating their studies not only on increasing service quality and the efficient use of the radio spectrum, but also on energy saving and reduction of power consumption.
 

b)   In terms of technologies for reducing carbon emission, the use of radiocommunications might be considered as replacing virtually the need for a physical journey. The work of ITU-R Study Groups 4, 5 and 6[7], on multimedia, is of particular importance, notably in terms of standards for remote wireless collaboration, such as the BO, M, S Series of ITU-R Recommendations on audiovisual and multimedia systems, including video-conferencing, which provides a means for people to collaborate at a distance without needing to travel.

c)   The Radiocommunication Sector has been working on the spectrum requirements of intelligent transport systems (ITS) since the early-1980s. ITS can assist in reducing carbon emissions through more efficient traffic management, reduction of congestion, etc. ITU-R Study Group 5 “Terrestrial services” (SG 8 before 2008) produced Volume 4: Intelligent Transport Systems, of the ITU-R Handbook on Land Mobile (including wireless) in the Land Mobile Series.

d)   ITU-R promotes electronic publications (the use of a paperless approach) for submission and publication of characteristics of frequency assignments as well as at different events (World and Regional Radiocommunication Conferences, Radiocommunication Assemblies, seminars, workshops, Study Group meetings, etc.) organized by the Radiocommunication Sector[8].

3.         Radiocommunications in Mitigating the Local Effects of Climate Change

3.1.      Technical background

The impact of climate change and associated disasters may dramatically increase in the future especially for some specific areas of the World, such as low-lying coastal areas due to the rise in sea levels. The radiocommunication services are already capable to monitor and detect many negative effects caused by climate change including any change of the sea level. For example the satellite remote sensing systems are permanently measuring the ocean level and provide information concerning any change with precision up to 2 cm. (see Figure 3). One of the governing factors, which influences climate change and violent storms and hurricanes is increasing ocean surface temperature. The global control of the ocean temperature is being carried out by remote sensors from satellites (see Figure 3). Modern tools measure the sea surface temperature with an accuracy of up to 0.2° C. These data are used for weather forecast and prediction of natural disasters.

Figure 3: Mediterranean sea surface temperature map from Envisat’s Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR) instrument
Source: European Space Agency (http://www.esa.int/)

Disaster mitigation activities actually eliminate or reduce the probability of disaster occurrence, or reduce the effects of unavoidable disasters. Mitigation of negative effect of climate change and the associated natural disasters consists of several phases such as:

•       preparedness for possible climate change and associated natural disasters;

•       prediction of climate change and prediction of disasters initiated by climate change. The role, which radiocommunication systems play for climate monitoring is described in section 1. An example of a tsunami prediction system, which uses acoustic and satellite links, is shown in Figure 4;

•       detection of natural disasters and early warning;

•       disaster relief.

Figure 4: Deep-ocean assessment and report of tsunami (DART) system
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – NOAA (http://www.noaa.gov)

Radiocommunication services play a very important role at all these phases. They are especially vital in disaster relief operations because, in many cases, when disaster strikes the “wired” telecommunication infrastructure is significantly or completely destroyed and only radiocommunication services can be employed for disaster relief operation (especially radio amateurs and satellite systems).

At different phases of a disaster the radiocommunication systems are involved in the following activities:

•       prediction, detection and tracking of different disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, typhoons, forest fires, oil leaks, etc. using systems of the science services (meteorological services and Earth exploration-satellite service);

•       providing early warning information, disseminating alert messages and advice to large sections of the public (through systems of almost all the radiocommunication services[9]);

•       assessment of damage and providing information for planning relief activities (science services);

•       coordination of relief activities by disseminating information from relief planning teams to the concerned populations (mobile services (land, satellite, maritime, etc.), fixed-satellite and broadcasting-satellite services).

3.2       Radiocommunication Sector activities in Mitigating the Local Effects of Climate Change

The main activities of the Radiocommunication Sector in mitigation of negative effects of climate change and the associated disasters are the following:

•       WRCs allocate the necessary spectrum, paying special emphasis to the services involved in mitigating the local effects of climate change and the associated natural disasters. Conferences also consider regulatory provisions, which should facilitate the use of spectrum and cross-border circulation of equipment intended for use in emergency and disaster relief situations (see Box 7 and Figure 5);

•       Radiocommunication Assemblies request the ITU-R to study aspects of radiocommunications relevant to disaster mitigation and relief operations. RA-07 approved Resolutions ITU-R 53 and 55 that identifies areas that ITU-R Study Groups could address in their studies/activities and develop guidelines related to the management of radiocommunication systems in disaster prediction, detection, mitigation and relief. This is to be done collaboratively within and outside ITU to avoid duplication.

•       All ITU-R Study Groups develop and regularly update ITU-R Recommendations, Reports, Handbooks providing the technical basis for development and use of a majority of radiocommunication services (amateur, broadcasting, satellite-broadcasting, Earth exploration-satellite, meteorological and meteorological-satellite, fixed and fixed-satellite, mobile and mobile-satellite, radiodetermination services, etc.) for early warning of the public of impending disasters, for planning and relief operations, and in emergency situations (see Box 8).

•       Much of the work undertaken within the ITU-R Study Group 5 “Terrestrial services” (former SG 8) has been in support of Radio Regulatory texts and procedures addressing distress and safety communications and many relevant provisions, derived from this work, now exist in Articles of the RR.

 
Figure 5: Example of satellite radiotelephony used in case of a natural disaster
Photo credits: INMARSAT

The Radiocommunication Sector cooperates with other ITU Sectors and contributes to ITU activities related to the use of ICT in combating the negative effects of climate change. For additional information please see: ITU News magazine (January-February 2008) - ICT and climate change: The challenges, solutions, and the role of ITU.