GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO

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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 74
Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC (2010 Update) ocean initial conditions for decadal forecasts and emphasis is now on improving the systems and moving them forward into coupled assimilation efforts. Sustaining ocean reanalysis/assimilation needs to be a priority of the GCOS IP to make maximum use of the ocean data. Key needs in this area are noted below in section 5.4. Agents for Implementation There are many different ways of developing capacity and functionality for the oceanic climate observing system. Unlike the atmospheric domain, there is not, at present, a system of national ocean centres or services dedicated to the implementation and maintenance of the observing system. Implementation ultimately falls to multiple agencies within nations, and these activities can be subject to formal, informal or minimal international coordination. Bodies such as the WMO/IOC JCOMM and the IOC Intergovernmental Committee for the Global Ocean Observing System (I-GOOS) have a broad remit but they do not yet cover all aspects relevant to the UNFCCC. In some cases, it is reasonable and appropriate to seek actions through such high-level bodies; in others, often involving research or pilot projects, it is more appropriate to activate regional and/or problem-specific pilot projects to undertake actions. In all cases where a body or group are named in Actions, it is understood that such groups mostly provide coordination and that the ultimate responsibility lies with nations and their agencies. Most in situ observing activities in the oceans continue to be carried out under research agency support and on research programme time limits. A particular concern is the fragility of the financial arrangements that support most of the present effort; there has been very limited progress in the establishment of national ocean or climate institutions tasked with sustaining a climate-quality ocean observing system. Thus, the primary Agents for Implementation for ocean observations and analyses remain the national and regional research organizations, with their project-time-scale focus and emphasis on principal investigator-driven activities. Implementation of the observing system depends on national actions by research and operational agents for implementation. The regular reporting by Parties on systematic observation to the UNFCCC, which includes national institutional arrangements and ocean observation activities, should be encouraged (see Action C4) and utilised to assess progress in national action. The multi-purpose nature of the global ocean observing systems means that there is an ongoing need to ensure balance and relevance. The GOOS/GCOS/WCRP Ocean Observation Panel for Climate (OOPC) and other relevant bodies of the IOC and JCOMM will provide oversight, and in collaboration with research programmes, provide monitoring and assessment of the evolving system and its products. The system must be responsive to the needs of the UNFCCC but at the same time exploit synergy and efficiencies with other users of the observing system. Action O1 [IP-04 O1] 76 Action: Analyse the ocean section of national reports on systematic observation for climate to the UNFCCC, and encourage non-Annex-I Parties to contribute reports. Who: IOC and I-GOOS JCOMM, in consultation with GOOS. Time-Frame: Conforming to UNFCCC guidelines. Performance Indicators: Number of Parties providing reports on their ocean observing activities. Annual Cost Implications: 77
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WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION I
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FOREWORD This 2010 Update of the Im
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6. TERRESTRIAL CLIMATE OBSERVING SY
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GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO

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