GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO

Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC
(2010 Update)
Action O36 [IP-04 O37]
Action: Support data rescue projects.
Who: Parties’ national services with coordination by IODE through its GODAR project.
Time-Frame: Continuing.
Performance Indicator: Datasets in archive.
Annual Cost Implications: 1-10M US$ (30% in non-Annex-I Parties).
The IODE and JCOMM should support projects that enhance the flow, quality control and overall
management of ocean data in real time and, specifically the Global Temperature-Salinity Profile
Program (GTSPP) and GOSUD.
See Action O22.
The IODE and JCOMM, in collaboration with specific national groups, should develop enhanced and
more cost-effective telecommunication capabilities including, as feasible, two-way communications for
dynamic control of instruments.
Action O37 [IP-04 O38]
Action: Develop enhanced and more cost-effective telecommunication capabilities, including
two-way communications for dynamic control of systems, instruments and sensors.
Who: Parties, coordinated through JCOMM.
Time-Frame: Continuing.
Performance Indicator: Capacity to communicate data from ocean instrumentation to ocean
data centres.
Annual Cost Implications: 1-10M US$ (50% in non-Annex-I Parties).
5.4. Oceanic Domain – Integrated Global Analysis Products
The purpose of the observing system described is to provide the information necessary to meet the
needs of the UNFCCC. A fundamental set of products have been identified and developed by
research and operation communities to meet these requirements. In addition, high-value products
and services to stakeholders, decision-makers, and policymakers are emerging from an ongoing
dialogue with the science community. This exchange will provide the guidance for the further
development of the system.
Ocean data analyses are important for supporting the testing of climate change models and
evaluation of the ocean state/structure of predictions of future changes of the climate system. The
comprehensive global networks, together with baseline and reference networks described previously,
can provide the needed information, with particular emphasis on three-dimensional analyses,
climatologies and time series.
Ocean analysis, reanalysis and ocean data assimilation and forecasting systems are underway or
planned in several nations, but it is important to enhance, sustain and coordinate the suite of such
activities needed to meet the specific needs of the UNFCCC. Several groups are testing the capacity
of ocean data assimilation systems to contribute to climate assessment, climate forecasting and
climate analysis. There are two types of global reanalysis efforts: 1) high-resolution, but focused on
the most recent satellite altimeter period; and 2) lower-resolution, mostly covering the atmospheric
reanalysis period. A number of existing ocean assimilation/state estimation efforts participate in
GODAE, a pilot project to demonstrate the impact and feasibility of operational oceanography and
prediction, with several partners having specific interests in climate. Other research and pilot projects
are also underway. Such efforts are essential to developing on-going systems capable of making
products that address the needs of the UNFCCC.
Several specific Actions are proposed to ensure continuous integrated ocean analysis products to
address climate user requirements including those of the UNFCCC:
OOPC, JCOMM, and IODE, in close collaboration with CLIVAR and WOAP/other research activities,
should develop plans for the construction of climate-quality historical datasets for the oceanic ECVs,
including estimates of variance and covariance statistics.
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