GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO
GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO
GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO
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<strong>Implementation</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC<br />
(2010 Update)<br />
requirements 67 and devising a five-year implementation strategy. 68 DWD (Germany) with its<br />
Meteorological Observatory Lindenberg – Richard-Aßmann-Observatory was selected from among<br />
four volunteering organisations to be the Lead Centre for the GRUAN. An initial set of 14 candidate<br />
GRUAN sites has been selected and plans for implementation continue under the auspices of AOPC,<br />
its WG ARO and the GRUAN Lead Centre.<br />
Action A16<br />
Action: Continue implementation of the GRUAN of high-quality radiosondes and other supporting<br />
observations, including operational requirements and data management, archiving and analysis.<br />
Who: National Meteorological Services and research agencies, in cooperation with AOPC, <strong>WMO</strong><br />
CBS, and the Lead Centre for GRUAN.<br />
Time-Frame: <strong>Implementation</strong> largely complete by 2013.<br />
Performance Indicator: Number of sites contributing reference-quality data for archive and analysis.<br />
Annual Cost Implications: 30-100M US$ (20% in non-Annex-I Parties).<br />
The full implementation and operation of the WWW/GOS radiosonde network in compliance with the<br />
GCMPs is a desired long-term goal for both weather forecasting and climate monitoring. The value of<br />
the observations for both weather and climate purposes would be enhanced by transition from the<br />
current (TEMP) coding standard to the more comprehensive (BUFR) standard which enables<br />
reporting of actual position and time of each measurement made during an ascent. Progress on this<br />
has been slow. Additional data sources, such as vertically pointing radar systems (wind profilers) and<br />
data from aircraft (both at flight level and on ascent and descent), have become more important for<br />
weather analysis and forecasting and will contribute to climate applications, particularly as they<br />
pertain to atmospheric reanalysis. The AOPC will work with the <strong>WMO</strong> CBS and the RAs to ensure full<br />
implementation of the WWW/GOS radiosonde network in compliance with GCMPs, together with<br />
improved reporting. Lidar measurements of wind profile from space could form another important<br />
long-term data source; the ADM/Aeolus global vertical wind profiling satellite mission should<br />
demonstrate the feasibility and usefulness of this type of measurement.<br />
Action A17 [IP-04 A17]<br />
Action: Improve implementation of the WWW/GOS radiosonde network compatible with the<br />
GCMPs and provide data in full compliance with the BUFR coding convention.<br />
Who: National Meteorological Services, in cooperation with <strong>WMO</strong> CBS and <strong>WMO</strong> RAs.<br />
Time-Frame: Continuing.<br />
Performance Indicator: Percentage of real-time upper-air data received in BUFR code with no<br />
quality problems.<br />
Annual Cost Implications: 10-30M US$ (60% in non-Annex-I Parties).<br />
The provision of metadata concerning instrumentation and data reduction and processing procedures<br />
is crucial to utilizing radiosonde data in climate applications. The historical record of radiosonde<br />
observations has innumerable problems relating to lack of inter-comparison information between<br />
types of sondes and sensor and exposure differences. Methods have been developed to enable<br />
radiosonde metadata to be combined with proxy metadata derived from comparison with reanalyses.<br />
The metadata may then be applied to homogenise radiosonde records for use in trend estimation and<br />
future reanalyses. Special efforts are required to obtain radiosonde metadata records and to include<br />
them as important elements in the future observing strategy.<br />
Action A18 [IP-04 A18]<br />
Action: Submit metadata records and inter-comparisons for radiosonde observations to<br />
International Data Centres.<br />
Who: National Meteorological Services, in cooperation with <strong>WMO</strong> CBS, <strong>WMO</strong> CIMO, and AOPC.<br />
Time-Frame: Ongoing.<br />
Performance Indicator: Percentage of sites giving metadata to WDC Asheville.<br />
Annual Cost Implications: