About the Global Observing Systems Information Center

Introduction

The Global Observing Systems Information Center (GOSIC) is hosted at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), located in Asheville, NC, and provides an information center that facilitates the search of and access to data, data products, metadata and information for the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) and their partner programs such as the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) and the regional observing systems such as the GOOS Regional Alliances.

The distributed nature of this vast system of global and regional data and information systems is best served by such a single entry point for users:the GOSIC Portal (http://gosic.org). The goal of the GOSIC Portal is to provide easy access to the data and information without users having to find it for themselves by navigating the several hundred complex and vastly different web sites of the myriad of organizations in the Global Observing Systems. Also the GOSIC Portal explains the data systems and provides integrating overviews of the programs and on-line access to their data, information and services. The GOSIC Portal does not hold data. It maintains information about the datasets and products and points to the centers holding them. The GOSIC does not create or modify the presentations. If the centers identify the source of the data and information, the acknowledgement will appear in the GOSIC Portal.

Structure of the Global Observing Systems

The Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS) is under construction and will proactively link together existing and planned observing systems around the world and support the development of new systems where gaps currently exist. The WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) is a concept for a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable system of observing systems.  WIGOS is based on all WMO Programmes’ observational requirements. The Global Observing System (GOS) is a coordinated system of methods and facilities for making meteorological and other environmental observations on a global scale in support of all WMO Programmes. The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) focuses on satellite and in situ observations for climate in the atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial domain. The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is a global system for observations, modeling and analysis of marine and ocean variables to support operational ocean services worldwide. The Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) is a programme for observations, modelling, and analysis of terrestrial ecosystems to support sustainable development. The Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) programme of WMO is a partnership involving 80 countries, which provides reliable scientific data and information on the chemical composition of the atmosphere, its natural and anthropogenic change, and helps to improve the understanding of inGRAteractions between the atmosphere, the oceans and the biosphere. The GOSIC provides access to information and spaced-based and in-situ data for the GCOS, GOOS, GTOS and their partner programs, such as the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) and regional observing systems, such as the GOOS Regional Alliances (GRA).

GCOS GOOS GTOS structure

(graphic produced by WMO/GCOS)

In general the GOSIC Portal:

  • Provides for searches for data and information across all participating data centers
  • Returns results regardless of the data format, or where the data are located
  • Provides results back in a standard easy-to-read, easy-to-understand format
  • Allows users to determine the type and quality of the data through documentation provided by the participating data centers
  • Allows users to obtain datasets
  • Provides unique data access tools
  • Provides flexibility to search by observing system, program, variable, theme, topic, key word, metadata and more

Some of the features of the GOSIC Portal are:

GCMD LogoCooperation between the GOSIC and NASA's Global Change Master Directory:

The GOSIC and the NASA Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) cooperate to provide users with Global Observing Systems metadata. More at: http://gosic.org/search_GCMD.asp

The GOSIC and The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)

GEOSSIn 2008, the GOSIC became a registered component of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) and functions as a community portal for the global observing systems community. GEOSS is dedicated to building an integrated, comprehensive and sustained "system of systems" from the many thousands of individual Earth observation technologies around the globe. The U.S. is a founding member of the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO), which is developing GEOSS.  More 

The GOSIC Support of other Programs:

Support of the World Data Center for Meteorology at Asheville (WDCA) by the GOSIC:

The GOSIC staff manages the World Data Center for Meteorology in Asheville, NC web site.

Support of the US GCOS web site by the GOSIC:

The GOSIC staff manages US GCOS web page.

Oversight of the GOSIC

Guidance and evaluation of the GOSIC are provided by the Science Steering Committees of the three observing systems. The GOSIC reports at Science Steering Committee meetings and receives directions for further development.

Hosting of the GOSIC

The GOSIC is supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), and the U.S. GCOS Program on behalf of the global observing community.

Articles:

INFORMATION

REVIEWS

OUTREACH
Management of the GOSIC 1st GOSIC Review Report GCOS Brochure, Poster and more
Terms of Reference 2nd GOSIC Review Report GOOS Outreach
History of the GOSIC    
Tour of the GOSIC    
GOSIC Documents    
What's New on the GOSIC Portal