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GMES and The Kyoto Protocol
15 October 2010 (fictitious example): in anticipation of the discussions on the provisions of
the Kyoto II Protocol, the European GMES land cover and vegetation
monitoring service has published estimates of the continental carbon flux
to support European positions in the forthcoming negotiations.
31 October 2010 (fictitious example): During the Kyoto II negotiations the Europeans have
obtained the signature of all countries for a new series of measures to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, largely based on their demonstration of the
loss of efficiency of biospheric carbon sinks.
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GMES and floods
14 October 2009 (fictitious example): the pouring rain wich fell during the past ten
days in the Rhine basin makes civil defence authorities to fear floods
in the Netherlands in the five coming days. Rescue teams are already
deployed in areas forecast as critical by the GMES Rhine Basin Service.
21 October 2009 (fictitious example): the first report on damage assessment of
floods in Netherland shows that the public warning system and the
pre deployment of rescue teams played a major role in avoiding loss of
human life and in limiting destructions. The accurate flood prediction
and crisis management system combining geographical, weather,
ground and space observations data has demonstrated its efficiency.
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GMES and forest fires
5 August 2011 (fictitious example): while drought and violent winds rage in the Mediterranean region,
a criminal act is thought to be behind the major forest fire in the Massif des Maures.
Thanks to precise localisation of the fire front using infrared aerial facilities, optimum
positioning by satellite of fire fighting teams and the use of specific communications
means, the civil defence authorities were able to rapidly contain the outbreak, while at
the same time assuring maximum safety for its teams.
15 September 2011 (fictitious example): in a report on the forest fires that have affected Italy,
France, Greece, Spain and Portugal during the summer, the European Civil
Security Council highlights the impact on safety conditions of new generic
means developed at a European level within the scope of GMES.
These means are now part of the operational systems of the civil defence services.
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GMES and earthquake
13 January 2013 (fictitious example): the GMES geophysical warning system is activated by the detection of a major earthquake,
measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, at the interface of the Caribbean and Atlantic plates, affecting the entire island
arc of the Lesser Antilles.
15 January 2013 (fictitious example): The earthquakes caused minor material damage in Martinique and Guadeloupe,
and fortunately the number of victims was limited.
The educational programmes regarding tsunami warning measures played an essential role in reducing human loss of life.
Despite the short time period between the earthquake and the arrival of destructive waves on the coast,
the on the spot provisions, including sea floor observatories,
enabled sirens to be set off and warnings to be put out by radio and by SMS,
enjoining the population to move away from the sea shore immediately.
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GMES and Risk Management
Alarm of September 8, 2009 (fictitious example): the European GMES water resources monitoring
service issues a warning on the hydrographic network in the Tigris and
Euphrates basin; the very low water levels in the region generate fears
of a shortage of drinking water, and local unrest.
Intervention of December 21, 2009 (fictitious example): the United Nations,
supported by the DG ECHO of the European Commission, several
European Civil Defence Organisations and NGOs, have intervened on
the spot, providing humanitarian aid, and maintaining peace, guided
by the GMES crisis management mapping service.The displaced
populations have been able to return, under satisfactory conditions,
to their places of origin.
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GMES and oil pollution
November 2012 (fictitious example): the accurate forecast of the drift of the oil
slicks resulting from the wreckage of the oil tanker Kalinia,
established by the European GMES ocean monitoring service,
has helped pollution combat teams position floating barrages in the
Gulf of Biscaynes.
January 2013 (fictitious example): the damage caused by the Kalinia is less than
half that attributed to the wreckage of the Prestige that occurred
in November 2002 in the same region. Today satellites can track and
monitor oil slicks despite extreme weather conditions providing
public authorities timely information allowing more efficient
intervention and prevention.
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Kopernikus, originally known as GMES,
represents a concerted effort to bring data and information providers together
with users, so they can better understand each other and make environmental
and security-related information available to the people
who need it through enhanced or new services.
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