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Facilitating Access to Global Observing Systems Data and Information

Terms of Reference for the GOSIC

The following terms of reference for the Global Observing Systems Information Center (GOSIC) are based on those proposed by the GCOS Data and Information Management Panel (DIMP) in 1996 and revised by the Global Observing Systems Joint Data and Information Management Panel in 1997.

To provide a central point of information and assistance for the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) and partner programs distributed data and information system the GOSIC shall have the following terms of reference:

  • Focus on information systems;
  • Provide access to a distributed directory of climate data and information, including links to the datasets;
  • Point to other centers and information systems of the major climate, ocean, and terrestrial research and operational observing programs;
  • Provide information on the GCOS, GOOS, GTOS, and partner programs and plans including an inventory of data centers, sources, and experts;
  • Prepare documentation on the GCOS, GOOS and GTOS component programs and systems;
  • Disseminate information about standards and procedures;
  • Provide access, without holding datasets;
  • Present information as held in the centers, without either creating or modifying the presentation.

The GOSIC began in 1997 at the University of Delaware as a pilot activity to develop an effective source of information for data and information collected by the three observing systems: the GCOS, the GOOS and the GTOS. The development phase ended in September 2006 with the transfer of the GOSIC to an operational agency: NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, NC. The GOSIC became operational at NCDC in January of 2007. The GOSIC is supported and hosted by NOAA's NCDC, and the U.S. GCOS Program on behalf of the global observing community.

A standing review team appointed by the steering committees of the GCOS, GOOS and GTOS provided guidance and advice on the development of the GOSIC program. See the reports of the first and second reviews.