Overview
The TOSCA solid Earth, ocean, land surfaces and atmosphere science committee assists the Head of CNES’s Earth Research and Observation programme in shaping space science strategy and application priorities for space-based Earth-observation research.
TOSCA represents the French Earth and environmental sciences community and is tasked with making recommendations to CNES’s Earth sciences team on:
- space programme science priorities and directions
- funding priorities for space research proposals
- and, where necessary, any matters concerning space programmes and projects in its science fields
TOSCA works on science foresight and is consulted by CNES’s Head of Earth Sciences in the event of programmatic changes and on any proposed decision concerning space programmes and projects related to this field.
TOSCA’s subject matter groups assess needs expressed by Earth and environmental science disciplines. In particular, these groups look at programmes and experiments designed to pave the way for development of space instruments, notably from instrument flight models on aircraft or balloons, and, beyond actual space technology aspects, at the resources required to process and manage satellite data and to acquire measurements for calibration/validation of such data and derived products.
TOSCA reviews and synthesizes all proposals, recommendations and priorities from each subject matter group.
In particular, it proposes mission studies (Phase 0) it deems necessary as part of CNES’s annual selection process and provides its assessment of the directions of the agency’s Research and Technology plan.
- Selma Cherchali, CNES - Head of Earth Observation programme
- Cyril Crevoisier, LMD dynamic meteorology research laboratory - Chair
- Hervé Jeanjean, CNES - Copernicus programme manager
- Sophie Le Gac, CNES - TOSCA Secretary
- Aurélien Sacotte, CNES - Risks and Health subject matter expert
- Rodolphe Cattin, Géosciences Montpellier - Chair
- Félix Perosanz, CNES - Solid Earth subject matter expert
- Plus 10 other members from French research laboratories
- Aurélien Carbonniere, CNES - Coasts, littoral & marine cryosphere subject matter expert
- Yannice Faugère, CNES - Ocean subject matter expert
- Pierre-Yves Le Traon, Mercator Océan - Group chair
- Annick Sylvestre-Baron, CNES - Ocean subject matter expert
- Plus 10 other members from French research laboratories
- Agnès Bégué, TETIS, CIRAD - Group chair
- Delphine Leroux, Hydrology, land cryosphere and water cycle subject matter expert
- Philippe Maisongrande, CNES - Land surfaces and continental biosphere subject matter expert
- Plus 10 other members from French research laboratories
- Alain Dabas, Météo-France - Group chair
- Carole Deniel, CNES - Atmospheric composition and carbon cycle subject matter expert
- Adrien Deschamps, CNES - Atmosphere & meteorology subject matter expert
- Plus 10 other members from French research laboratories
Reports (in French)
The TOSCA committee also helps to draft several reports related to CNES’s Earth-observation programme.
- CNES Science Survey Seminars
- Call for scientific research proposals (APR) reports
- TOSCA committee meeting minutes (restricted)
Group reports (2019-2023)
TOSCA diary
Committee and review sessions:
- 14 November 2024: autumn session
- November 2024: TOSCA APR review days
Calls for proposals:
