GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO

Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC
(2010 Update)
Within the framework of the WIS, WMO is working towards the adoption of metadata standards and
the extension of the current GTS by introducing new internet-based technology. Any actions taken for
ocean data management will inevitably be linked to, or included within, these activities of WMO.
Three data management functions within the oceanic domain are particularly important: Firstly, the
ability to efficiently and effectively communicate data (and metadata) from platforms that are often
remotely located and/or autonomous. While most products required by GCOS do not demand realtime
acquisition, experience has shown that a policy of immediate acquisition is the most effective for
assuring that data are available, exchanged and submitted in at least preliminary form to International
Data Centres.
Telecommunication from platforms such as moorings, drifters and floats is limited, and in some cases
this means measurements are lost. Various groups currently do provide data telecommunication
services to the ocean community (e.g., Argos), and these services will continue to be a critical
contribution. However, to implement the networks and systems being proposed, the community
requires at least an order of magnitude increase in telecommunications capacity and, for some
systems, an increase of 100 times is necessary.
Secondly, there is the function of data transport between the various components of the networks.
The ocean community has, to date, made extensive use of the WMO WIS for exchange of data in real
time and near-real time. Other datasets, particularly from hydrographic cruises, are exchanged via
other means. Wherever practical, ocean data should be exchanged freely in real time. This policy has
been followed with Argo and, increasingly, in other endeavours contributing to the oceanic climate
observing system. The definitions adopted by OOPC and JCOMM for “operational” status in effect
demand such arrangements. Recently, increasing use has been made of internet systems to
exchange data and, in particular, using the Open Source Data Access Protocol (OPeNDAP) protocol.
Yet other systems are being considered by WMO within the WIS.
Thirdly, the function of data assembly and quality control are critical for ensuring that the global ocean
data meet the climate-quality standards and are accessible to users. The Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean
Array (TAO) and initiatives such as those of the Global Temperature-Salinity Profile Project have
ushered in an era of greatly improved access to data, greater reliability of delivery and access and
improved quality, and have facilitated and made more efficient data assembly procedures. In concert
with the Data Assembly Centre activities of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (in part continued
through IODE and CLIVAR), the community is now better able to produce high-quality datasets, in
time-frames that are necessary for some climate issues. Through JCOMM and IODE, these initiatives
continue to provide significant benefit to the ocean community. Other initiatives such as the World
Ocean Database of the US National Oceanographic Data Center, the International Comprehensive
Ocean-Atmosphere Dataset Project, and the Global Oceanographic Data Archaeology and Rescue
(GODAR) project also provide significant capability for developing oceanic climate datasets and
analyses. The World Data Centre for Glaciology and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC),
among others, provide similar functionality for certain sea-ice data.
The following Actions will be undertaken to develop and implement the data management component
of the oceanic domain of GCOS:
The IOC should monitor the implementation of the IOC Data Policy.
Action O31 [IP-04 O32]
Action: Monitoring the implementation of the IOC Data Policy.
Who: JCOMM.
Time-Frame: Continuous.
Performance Indicator: Reports by JCOMM and IODE to the IOC.
Annual Cost Implications: 1-10M US$ (10% in non-Annex-I Parties).
The IODE and JCOMM are cooperating on the integration of ocean data management through
harmonization and promulgation of standards, interoperability between the various ocean data
systems to increase accessibility (including the IODE Ocean Data Portal and the WIS), the collection
of appropriate metadata and setting guidelines for capacity-building and training. This cooperation is
being conducted as a pilot project of the WMO WIGOS and includes ocean data assembly, quality
and orderly archiving of ocean datasets and products.
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