GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO

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Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC (2010 Update) • The Radarsat Geophysical Processor System at the Alaska SAR facility can provide some quantitative ice-thickness information at the thin end of the distribution, but precision is low. Highresolution radar images are costly and the data access is not assured. • Better seasonal and regional analyses of snow depth and density for climate are needed for icethickness retrieval from altimetry. Issues impacting the observation of sea-ice drift include: • Arctic Ocean ice buoys are located/deployed primarily on perennial ice so the seasonal ice pack is poorly sampled. • The Antarctic buoy programme array is small with little engagement of operational agencies. The large seasonal variability of Antarctic sea ice is a strong limitation to lifetime on the ice. • The use of the passive microwave record for deducing ice motion in both hemispheres, starting in the 1970’s, is under active development. However, it will be necessary to identify and correct the source of occasional significant disparity of ice speeds measured by buoys and computed satellite imagery. • Availability of a large number of SAR images, in particular from the large-swath satellite. To address the issues raised above, it is proposed that space agencies, through CGMS and CEOS, and working with GCOS and the WMO Space Programme, continue the sustained satellite (microwave, SAR, visible and IR) operations addressing sea ice. The JCOMM will work with the OOPC and CliC to improve the in situ observations from sea-ice buoys, visual surveys, and ULS. Action O18 [IP-04 O22] Action: Plan, establish and sustain systematic in situ observations from sea-ice buoys, visual surveys (SOOP and Aircraft), and ULS in the Arctic and Antarctic. Who: Arctic Party research agencies, supported by the Arctic Council; Party research agencies, supported by CLIVAR Southern Ocean Panel; JCOMM, working with CliC and OOPC. Time-Frame: Internationally-agreed plans published by end 2010, implementation build-up through 2014. Performance Indicators: Publication of internationally-agreed plans, establishment of agreements/frameworks for coordination of sustained Arctic and Southern ocean observations, implementation according to plan. Annual Cost Implications: Plan and agreement of frameworks:
Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC (2010 Update) ECV – Phytoplankton Climate variability significantly impacts, and will continue to impact, plankton in the ocean, both the microflora (e.g., phytoplankton) and the microfauna (e.g., zooplankton), over both short (seasonal to interannual) and long-term (decadal) time scales. Changes in temperature, salinity, freshwater discharge and loadings of sediments and nutrients, acidification, light, wind forcing, and currents impact the abundance, distribution, phenology, diversity, and productivity of these organisms. They are at the basis of the marine food web and not fished by humans, therefore the impact of climate on plankton are significant and will have impacts on the rest of the marine ecosystem including on living marine resources used by humans. This has both ecological as well as socio-economic implications. Sustained, coordinated efforts are necessary to assess and monitor these changes over time. Contributing networks and satellite observations include continuous Plankton Recorder Tows, Ocean Colour Radiances observed by satellites, and OceanSITES reference moorings. Issues to address relative to assessing and monitoring plankton include the development of standards for species specification and optical characteristics. To address this, the following Actions are proposed: Action O21 Action: Establish plan for, and implement, global Continuous Plankton Recorder surveys. Who: Parties’ national research agencies, working with SCOR and GOOS/OOPC. Time-Frame: Internationally-agreed plans published by end 2010; implementation build-up through 2014. Performance Indicators: Publication of internationally-agreed plans; establishment of agreements/frameworks for coordination of sustained global Continuous Plankton Recorder surveys; implementation according to plan. Annual Cost Implications: 10-30M US$ (Mainly by Annex-I Parties). Action O22 Action: Develop technology for underway plankton survey capabilities. Who: Parties’ national research agencies, working with SCOR and GOOS/OOPC. Time-Frame: Continuous. Performance Indicators: Successful pilot deployment of new technologies. Annual Cost Implications: 1-10M US$ (Mainly by Annex-I Parties). Monitoring of Marine Biodiversity and Habitat Properties Marine habitats (e.g., coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, intertidal zones, kelp forests, sea ice) are extremely sensitive to the impacts of climate variability and change. In particular, climate-related changes in sea level, temperature, salinity, precipitation, freshwater inputs, light, ocean acidification, wind forcing, currents, and waves can all lead to significant habitat alterations and loss of biodiversity, with a related loss in ecosystem services, especially in combination with local anthropogenic disturbances and forcing (e.g., changes in land cover and land use, eutrophication, pollution). Coral reefs especially are at significant risk, facing more frequent and severe bleaching events and disease outbreaks associated with warmer oceans, as well as rising ocean acidification, sea level, and severe storm impacts. Contributing networks and satellite observations include: • The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN). • The sea grass net global coastal monitoring network. • High spatial resolution optical satellite sensors (Landsat etc.) and • Low-resolution environmental satellite monitoring (SST etc.) Issues and needs relative to observation of coral reef and other marine habitats include: • In situ networks do not provide adequate coverage or sampling relative to the required space and time scales. 91
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FOREWORD This 2010 Update of the Im
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GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO

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