GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO

Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC
(2010 Update)
Action C15 [IP-04 C15]
Action: Undertake research initiatives to acquire high-resolution proxy climate data by extending
spatial coverage into new regions, extending temporal coverage back in time and exploiting new
sources.
Who: Parties’ national research programmes in cooperation with WCRP and IGBP.
Time-Frame: Continuing.
Performance Indicator: Reports in scientific literature.
Annual Cost Implications: 10-30M US$ (60% in non-Annex-I Parties).
Action C16 [IP-04 C16]
Action: Improve synthesis of proxy climate and proxy environmental data on multi-decadal to
millennial time scales, including better chronologies for existing records, particularly from the
Tropics, Asia, the Southern Hemisphere and the Southern Ocean.
Who: Parties’ national research programmes in cooperation with WCRP and IGBP.
Time-Frame: Continuing.
Performance Indicator: Reports in scientific literature.
Annual Cost Implications: 10-30M US$ (80% in non-Annex-I Parties).
Action C17 [IP-04 C17]
Action: Preserve proxy climate and proxy environmental data (both the original measurements
as well as the final reconstructions) in archival databases.
Who: World Data Centre for Paleoclimatology in cooperation with national research
programmes.
Time-Frame: Continuing.
Performance Indicator: Completeness of archival databases and availability of data to the
research community through International Data Centres.
Annual Cost Implications: 1-10M US$ (30% in non-Annex-I Parties).
3.7. Data Management and Stewardship
Data management and stewardship are some of the most important activities to be undertaken in
order to ensure that fundamental climate data records and records of derived data products are
collected, retained and made accessible for analysis and application by current and future
generations of users. It is noteworthy that data management has for some time been a principal
element in some programmes, such as the WMO WWW and CCl, but this activity needs to be
extended throughout the full spectrum of systems contributing to the global climate observing system,
and existing efforts need to be strengthened to meet climate requirements. This essential but often
overlooked activity is highlighted as a priority in this Plan.
Firstly, prompt and regular flow of data to the user community and to the International Data Centres 58
for the ECVs (or groups of ECVs) must be ensured. This is currently inadequate for a number of
variables and networks, especially in the terrestrial domain. Lack of engagement, data policies,
prevalence of short-term research funding or overall lack of resources, and inadequately integrated
data system infrastructures are the primary causes. A common and related concern is inadequate
support to the national data centres given their key role in assembling records and undertaking quality
control. The latter are especially problematic in developing countries and countries with economies in
transition.
Secondly, access to very large datasets is a continuing concern. Some satellite datasets and model
simulations are becoming so large that it is difficult for many users to acquire them despite advances
in technology. This is especially true in developing countries with inadequate information technology
infrastructure or technical skills in using complex data. Access to these data must be made more
effective through the development of derived products or product subsets and appropriate access
mechanisms.
Thirdly, the preservation of the data for future use requires facilities and infrastructure to ensure the
long-term storage of the data. The rapidly-increasing volume of raw observations that must be saved
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Table 10, Tables 11, 12 and Table 14 list international data centres for the atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial domains.
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