GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO

Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC
(2010 Update)
The internationally-designated data centres and archives that have been identified in the terrestrial
domain are shown in Table 14. For the in situ observing networks, adequate sustained funding of the
centres and their operation is required. Major components of the terrestrial domain observing systems
are satellite remote sensing and the production of integrated analysis products. The space agencies
and associated research organizations producing the analyses also provide the data management
and archiving function. TOPC will need to monitor the data management and archive performance of
this informal network to ensure that data and products are available and follow the GCMPs.
Table 14. International Data Centres and Archives – Terrestrial Domain 99
Network
or System
International Data Centres
and Archives
Global Terrestrial Network – Rivers GRDC WMO CHy
Prospective Global Terrestrial
Network – Lakes (in planning)
Snow Cover (WWW/GOS surface
synoptic network)
Global Terrestrial Network for
Glaciers;
National Glacier Monitoring
Networks
Global Terrestrial Network for
Permafrost;
National Permafrost Monitoring
Networks
Global Land Cover Network
HYDROLARE 100
NSIDC, NCDC
World Glacier Monitoring Service
(WGMS);
National and other archives
NSIDC;
National archives
FAO;
Global Land Cover Facility
Coordinating Body
WMO CHy, WMO CCl
WMO CBS, GTN-H
ICSU (FAGS), IUGG (IACS),
UNEP, UNESCO, WMO
International
Association
GOFC-GOLD,
FAO, UNEP
Fire Disturbance GFMC, FIRMS UNEP, FAO
Forest Resource Assessment Forest Resource Information System FAO
FLUXNET
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in
collaboration with national and other
archives
Permafrost
FLUXNET Steering Group 101
In addition to the data centres associated with each ECV, it would be beneficial to have a central
clearing house identifying holders of all the variables. This would facilitate access to multiple
variables. GTOS has made considerable progress in the development of the Terrestrial Ecosystem
Monitoring System (TEMS), a web portal for metadata on terrestrial in situ measurement sites,
including biogeophysical variables addressed by each site. These are important to assess regional
and global change. This portal could be utilised as the central clearing house for in situ observations
of terrestrial ECVs. TEMS has been developed in collaboration with the Global Observing Systems
Information Centre (GOSIC), which by itself provides access to data and metadata from GCOS and
GTOS networks and systems.
Action T40 [IP-04 T36]
Action: Revision of TEMS with improved focus on the monitoring of terrestrial ECVs.
Who: Parties’ national services and research programmes contributing to TEMS, in cooperation
with GTOS, GOSIC, and the Global Change Master Directory (GCMD), and in consultation with
the GCOS Secretariat.
Time-Frame: By 2012.
Performance Indicator: Improvement of site coverage measuring terrestrial ECVs.
Annual Cost Implications: 1-10M US$ (Mainly by Annex-I Parties).
99 Covers mostly ground-based networks, as the datasets from satellite instruments are normally managed by the responsible
space agencies.
100 Only recently established and not yet fully functional.
101 Stronger institutional linkage of this coordination body is required.
130