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Information on the Development of the GCOS, GOOS and GTOS Programs
The Global Observing Systems is composed of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), and the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) each of which is being developed by steering committees and panels. Development of these programs is being coordinated through regular liaison meetings between the three observing systems and also the World Weather Watch, through the use of joint scientific panels, and through attendance of representatives as observers at meetings of interest.
The following links lead to detailed information on the development of the elements of the observing systems, including such items as rationales, sampling strategies, the status of implementation, etc.
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Steering Committees and Panels
The observing programs of the Global Observing Systems (GCOS, GOOS and GTOS) are developed, implemented, and managed by steering committees and supporting scientific panels. Each system also has an international program office. Some of the scientific panels are joint with one of the other observing systems in areas of common interest such as ocean climate and terrestrial climate.
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GCOS Subsidiary Bodies
Development of the GCOS program is guided by the GCOS Steering Committee.
The requirements of the GCOS for climate observations are specified by the following scientific panels.
Surface, upper air, and atmospheric chemistry observations - Atmospheric Observations Panel for Climate (AOPC)
Ocean climate observations - Ocean Observing Panel for Climate (OOPC) which is joint with GCOS
Terrestrial climate observations - Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate (TOPC) which is joint with GTOS
GCOS Secretariat (Dr. David Goodrich, Director) |
GOOS Subsidiary Bodies
Development of the GOOS program is guided by the GOOS Steering Committee.
The observing requirements for GOOS are specified by scientific panels for oceans climate and for the coastal zone. Requirements of the Climate Module were initially specified by the Ocean Observing System Development Panel (OOSDP) in 1995. The Ocean Observing Panel for Climate (OOPC) now specifies the ocean climate requirements for GOOS and GCOS.
The Coastal Oceans Observing Panel (COOP) specifies the requirements for observing systems in the coastal oceans, including physical variables, health of the ocean indicators, and matters relating to living marine resources. This panel has some common interests with GTOS in the coastal zone.
GOOS Secretariat (Dr Keith Alverson, Director)
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GTOS Subsidiary Bodies
Development of the GTOS program is guided by the GTOS Steering Committee.
GTOS focuses on five issues or themes of global concern: changes in land quality, freshwater resources availability, pollution and toxicity, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. GCOS and GTOS established the joint Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate (TOPC) to define the requirements for terrestrial data for climate purposes. TOPC has also made a beginning at defining the requirements for non-climate terrestrial data.
GTOS Secretariat (Dr. John Latham, Program Director) |
Additional Information
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