GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO

Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC
(2010 Update)
The OOPC will work through JCOMM and its panels to realize global coverage of the composite in
situ programme. This includes: maintenance of the surface drifter component to sustain coverage in
each 5x5 degree region outside the near-equatorial band (achieved with approximately 1250 drifters if
optimally deployed); enhancement of the tropical moored buoy programme in the Indian and Atlantic
Oceans (about 120 moorings in all, see Action O27); and the sparse global reference time series
network (referred to in Action O5 above).
Action O8 79 [IP-04 O10]
Action: Sustain global coverage of the drifting buoy array (total array of 1250 drifting buoys
equipped with ocean temperature sensors), obtain global coverage of atmospheric pressure
sensors on the drifting buoys, and obtain improved ocean temperature from an enhanced VOS
effort.
Who: Parties’ national services and research programmes through JCOMM, Data Buoy
Cooperation Panel (DBCP), and the Ship Observations Team (SOT).
Time-Frame: Continuing (sustain drifting buoy array and enhance VOS by 2014).
Performance Indicator: Data submitted to analysis centres and archives.
Annual Cost Implications: 1-10M US$ (10% in non-Annex-I Parties).
The GHRSST, regional scientific groups such as the European Research Network for Estimation from
Space of Surface Temperature (ERNESST) and the SST Science Team in the US, and the SST
climate community in general will lead continued research into integrated, climate-quality products
that overcome deficiencies in current products that are based on subsets of the available data. They
will also improve communication with those communities providing cloud and aerosol estimates and
passive microwave coverage in order to improve the quality of satellite IR SST retrievals.
ECV – Sea Level
Tide gauge sea-level data constitute one of the few long historical ocean climate time series, but in
general, sampling and global coverage of sea-level change by the tide gauge network is inadequate.
To monitor global sea-level change and to put regionally observed changes into the global context,
satellite ocean surface topography altimetry is essential. Knowledge of global sea-level variability
increased substantially in 1993 when the TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeters commenced operation.
Monitoring of global sea level is technically feasible using complementary in situ networks and
satellite measurements.
Networks and systems contributing to the observation and global analysis of sea level include:
• Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS) Core Network plus additional regional and national
networks and specific enhancements for detecting trends and calibrating satellites.
• Satellite high-precision altimetry.
• Low-precision high-resolution altimeters.
• Sub-surface temperature and salinity network.
• Satellite high-precision measurements of the time-mean and time-varying geoid.
The GLOSS Core Network of about 300 gauges has been recommended as the desired in situ
measurement network. Unfortunately, data are not available to the global community from a number
of these gauges. Ideally, all gauges in this network should become geocentrically-located, and
nations should exchange data effectively and timely. Figure 10 shows the present tide gauge system,
including information about which records are longer than 40 years, and which gauges are
geocentrically-located at this time. Although some enhancements are in place, more regional and
national enhancements of the Core Network will be needed to address regional and local impacts of
sea level, including extreme events. These enhancements should ensure that high-frequency sealevel
observations be taken and exchanged and that historical data from tide gauges be recovered as
appropriate and provided to the International Data Centres. They should also include capacitybuilding
efforts in developing countries for undertaking local sea-level change measurements which
can benefit the global system, foster needed regional enhancement and will foster the improvement of
global and regional tide models.
79 See also Action A6.
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