GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO

Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC
(2010 Update)
in place for climate will also support global weather prediction, global and coastal ocean prediction,
and marine environmental monitoring, and thus merits sustained funding from a range of sources.
At the same time, despite this useful recent progress, ocean observing networks, their associated
infrastructure and analysis systems are not adequate to meet the specific needs of the UNFCCC for
most climate variables and in most regions of the planet, and particularly the Southern Hemisphere.
There is a pressing need to obtain global coverage using proven observing technologies, to establish
telecommunications and data management infrastructure, and to enhance ocean analysis and
reanalysis capacity. There is a further need to work with relevant bodies to try to combat the
intentional and unintentional damage (fishing activities, vandalism, piracy) that observation networks
are subject to, especially in the tropical basins.
This updated Plan, as did IP-04, endorses the approach of the ocean community in adopting a
composite and integrated system for observing the essential climate variables required by the
UNFCCC. This composite global ocean observing system makes best use of a mix of proven remote
and in situ technologies and optimizes the contributions from existing observing assets and
deployment opportunities for both global surface and sub-surface variables. It also builds on the
mechanisms established to foster more effective international collaboration, and the demonstration of
capabilities to generate oceanic climate products as well as the development of new technologies.
Not all of the oceanic ECVs can yet be cost-effectively observed globally on the desired space and
time scales with existing technology. For this reason, ocean reference network activities are important
for the collection of data on these ECVs and a wider range of variables and also for the most accurate
estimation and validation of trends for climate change attribution.
The sampling strategy of the initial ocean observing system for climate will evolve as more is learned
about the scales that need to be resolved, as technology is improved and as experience is gained
from users working with ocean climate products. Ocean analysis and reanalysis activities, which may
involve conventional analyses of integrated datasets (satellite and in situ) as well as ocean data
assimilation techniques are critical to realize the value of these composite networks, and address the
objectives of the global observing system for climate and the UNFCCC.
The global ocean provides an important context for the interpretation and prediction of regional and
coastal ocean variability. There are particular challenges both in terms of monitoring and forecasting
and in terms of testing and improving regional climate projections. Variability in the global ocean
affects coastal regions in many different ways; without knowledge of the global ocean it can be
impossible to interpret regional information properly or to select appropriate national responses. The
fact that coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to changes in sea level and/or changes in wave
climates also influences the Actions called for here. The emergence of the GOOS Coastal Ocean
Observing System programme provides a systematic pathway for both consideration of climate
requirements and implementation in coastal waters. In addition to observing the physical ocean
variables, it is critical at selected sites to have observations of marine biodiversity and habitat
properties as these are important to both support the sustainable use of ocean resources and
monitoring the impacts that climate change and other environmental changes may produce. The
coastal and global ocean observing systems must develop together for each to deliver value most
effectively to the Parties.
Attaining and sustaining global coverage is the most significant challenge for the oceanic climate
observing system. This challenge will only be met through national commitments to the global
implementation and maintenance effort and with international coordination provided by JCOMM and
other relevant bodies.
Ocean Data Analysis
Ocean reanalyses of the time-varying ocean circulation are necessary to provide dynamicallyconstrained
syntheses of ocean temperature, salinity, currents and sea level observations and to
explore the relationship between the physical ocean state with ecosystems and biochemical variability
and change. Ocean analysis, reanalysis/state estimation and ocean data assimilation and forecasting
systems are underway in a number of nations. Enhancement and coordination of the suite of these
efforts, needed to meet the specific needs of the UNFCCC, started under the WCRP Climate
Variability and Predictability Project (CLIVAR)/GODAE umbrella. Some of the efforts began to provide
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