GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO

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Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC (2010 Update) • Routine availability of integrated global climate-quality products from international data and product centres and enhanced reanalysis activities; • Management Actions – changes or incremental enhancements to what Parties or international and intergovernmental organizations are currently doing, e.g., enhanced monitoring of data availability based on existing data systems; and • Continued generation of new capabilities through research, technical development, and pilotproject demonstrations. For the most part, the observations considered in this Plan are made within the context of global observing networks consisting of stations and systems that have been designated by countries for international data exchange as part of formally established international global observing systems. 37 These include, for example, the Regional Basic Climatological Networks (RBCN) and Regional Basic Synoptic Networks (RBSN) which are part of the Global Observing System (GOS) of the WMO World Weather Watch (WWW) Programme. These various networks serve many applications, of which climate is but one. For simplicity, this Plan recognises four categories of networks that provide observations specifically for climate purposes. These are: • Global Reference observing networks, which provide highly-detailed and accurate observations at a few locations for the production of stable long time series and for satellite calibration/validation purposes. These consist of formally identified GCOS Reference Networks such as the GCOS Reference Upper Air Network (GRUAN), and the GCOS terrestrial reference network as proposed in this Plan (see Action T3); • Global Baseline observing networks, which involve a limited number of selected locations that are globally distributed and provide long-term high-quality data records of key global climate variables and enable calibration for the comprehensive and designated networks. These are networks that have been formally identified as baseline climate networks by the GCOS Steering Committee and include, for example, the GCOS Surface Network (GSN), the GCOS Upper Air Network (GUAN), the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) GCOS Global Baseline Total Ozone and Profile Ozone Networks, and the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN); • Comprehensive observing networks which include regional and national networks and, where appropriate/possible, satellite data. The comprehensive networks provide observations at the detailed space and time scales required to fully describe the nature, variability and change of a specific climate variable and include, for example, the GCOS-affiliated WMO GAW Global Atmospheric CO 2 and CH 4 Monitoring Networks. Comprehensive networks comprise national climate reference networks, comprehensive national climate networks and national and regional networks that are operated primarily for non-climate reasons but which also provide important observations for climate purposes; and • Ecosystem monitoring sites, where long-term observations of ecosystem properties, including biodiversity and habitat properties, are made in order to study climate impacts. To identify climate impacts, these measurements need to be made together with observations of the local physical climate and changes in the surrounding environment, such as related to land and water use. Although it is ultimately desirable to establish and operate networks of all categories for all climate variables, this goal is presently unrealistic. Consistent with the most pressing needs for adaptation, i.e., in the case of ECVs that have high direct climate impact (such as rainfall) the Plan gives attention to all relevant networks, including comprehensive networks. For other observations, critical mainly to science and understanding, the Plan generally focuses on ensuring the implementation of baseline and reference networks, supplemented where possible by detailed global coverage from satellites. Linkage between designated global networks and the abovementioned four network categories is noted in the Plan. The GCMPs and other related guidance material 38 provide basic principles for the planning, operation, and management of observing networks and systems, including satellites, to ensure the generation of high-quality climate data that contributes to effective climate information. The GCMPs address issues such as the effective incorporation of new systems and networks; the importance of 37 The importance of observations based on national programmes and studies to support the objectives of this Plan is nevertheless recognised. 38 Such as the WMO Manual on the Global Observing System (WMO-No. 544), the WMO Guide to the Global Observing System (WMO-No. 488), the WMO Guide to Meteorological Instruments and Methods of Observation (WMO-No. 8), and the WMO Guide to Climatological Practices (WMO-No. 100). 22
Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC (2010 Update) calibration, validation and data homogeneity; the uninterrupted operation of individual stations and systems; the importance of additional observations in data-poor regions and regions sensitive to change; and the crucial importance of data management systems that facilitate access, use and interpretation of the data. These principles have been formally adopted or agreed by the UNFCCC, WMO, the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) and other bodies (see Appendix 4). 2.2. Agents for Implementation The GCOS is a composite of contributing observing systems from a broad range of planned and existing programmes, often with observing mandates different from the requirements for climate. The coordination and guidance provided to these systems by this Plan is designed to optimize the contribution of each one to the climate-observing mission. Understanding climate requires observations in the atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial domains and at their interfaces. It also requires truly interdisciplinary analysis involving meteorologists, hydrologists, oceanographers, biologists, geologists, geophysicists, glaciologists, physicists, chemists, and others to mutually and collaboratively address various issues and problems. It also requires a degree of observation collocation among domains and open access to observations and products. The observing systems contributing climate observations to the GCOS include the established, largely domain-based global observing systems operated through the GCOS sponsoring organizations and others, including the IOC-led Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)-led Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS), the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) (which encompasses the WMO GOS, the GAW, and various WMO-sponsored hydrological networks), and the full suite of operational and experimental Earth observing satellite systems, most of which are part of the WMO GOS. Appendix 5 lists the main components and contributing systems, together with the associated international and intergovernmental organizations that currently set the standards and the technical regulations, under which they operate. Appendix 5 also includes the various inter-relationships and coordination mechanisms of these organizations, which are collectively identified as the “Agents for Implementation” of the GCOS. The international research community contributes largely through the WCRP, the IGBP, and DIVERSITAS, which, together with the IPCC, have established the scientific basis for observing system requirements. By virtue of their use of the observations, these entities are also uniquely placed to offer evaluations of the quality and coverage provided by the datasets – and to provide continuing guidance on the planning and implementation of the GCOS. Although the international programmes provide a visible face for most global observing systems and networks, virtually all climate-related observations are actually taken and contributed by national agencies and/or institutions. 39 Thus, it is the Parties themselves, through the various national agencies of member countries of the GCOS sponsors that bear the primary responsibility for implementing and operating observing activities for climate, for coordinating their activities through international programmes, and for providing support for research and technology development programmes. The functions of international data archiving and the provision of integrated global climate analyses and products are undertaken by national and multinational institutions on behalf of the global community. These institutions should endeavour to provide the data and products openly and without restriction to all other nations as part of their commitment. Implementation depends upon close cooperation between many different organizations and agencies with complementary responsibilities. With the principal objective to enhance international coordination of Earth observation and to emphasize the importance of Earth observation for decision-making, the 1 st Earth Observation Summit in 2003 established the GEO, with the aim to implement the GEOSS within ten years. The GEOSS 10-Year Implementation Plan, adopted by GEO members in February 2005 and organized along nine “Societal Benefit Areas” (SBAs), describes a strategy for coordinated, comprehensive, and sustained observations of the Earth system in order to improve monitoring of the changing state of the planet, increase understanding of complex Earth processes, and enhance the prediction of the impacts of environmental change, including climate change. Implementation of 39 In some cases, nations form a multi-national agency or entity to undertake a particular activity (e.g., the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)). 23
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GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO

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