The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)

The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) was established in 1992 and focuses on satellite and in situ observations for climate in the atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial domain. Ocean Observing Systems for climate are planned jointly with the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). Terrestrial climate observing systems are planned jointly with the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS). The atmospheric elements of GCOS have been planned jointly with the responsible WMO Commissions and are implemented within the program of the World Weather Watch (WWW).

News:

• Latest GCOS Newsletter
• GUAN Stations Upper Air Height Inventory (NCEP) updated for June 2010
• Effective from January 2010, Dr Adrian Simmons from the European Centre for MediumRange Weather Forecast (ECMWF) became the new Chairman of the GCOS Steering Committee. Dr Simmons has been Chairman of the GCOS/WCRP Atmospheric Observations Panel for Climate (AOPC) since 2006, and takes over the Chairmanship of the Steering Committee from Prof. John Zillman, who served as Chairman from 2006 to 2009. (from the GCOS 1/2010 Newsletter)
• JCOMM-III Third Session of the Joint WMO-IOC technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology - November 4-11, 2009, Marrakech, Morocco

Updated July 9, 2010

About the GCOS

• About GCOS/Mission Statement
• Term of Reference (Memorandum of Understanding Between WMO, IOC, UNEP and ICSU)
• Structure/Governance
• GCOS Secretariat staff
• GCOS Steering Committee
• GCOS Scientific Panels (AOPC, OOPC & TOPC)
• WMO/GCOS Home Page
• GEOSS and GCOS
• Space Based Climate Observations for GCOS
• Map Products
• Development of the GCOS Networks
• GCOS Climate Monitoring Principles
• The GCOS Cooperation Mechanism (GCM)
• Information on the Development of the GCOS, GOOS and GTOS programs
• Model for GCOS, GOOS, and GTOS End-to-End Data Management Systems
• Structure of the Global Telecommunication System (GTS)
• Climate Observation Needs
• Climate Monitoring Principles
• Newsletters

Access GCOS Data & Information by

• Essential Climate Variable (ECV)
• GCOS Network
• Regional Observing Systems
• Joint Observing System Programs

Space Based Climate Observations Requirements

The GCOS requirements for space based climate observations are of three types. Those having to do with the ocean surface have been specified by the Ocean Observing Panel for Climate (OOPC), a joint GCOS/GOOS panel. Those that have to do with the earth's surface have been specified by the Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate (TOPC), a joint GCOS/GTOS panel. The requirements described here are related to the atmosphere and soundings of it.

• Satellite Observations for GCOS
• The Space-Based Global Observing System

Search Tools

• GOSIC Search Tools
• GOSIC Data Registry
• GCOS/GTOS Joint Programs Data Access Matrix
• GCOS/GOOS Joint Programs Data Access Matrix
• Essential Climate Variables (ECV) Data Access Matrix
• GCOS Metadata
• GEO Portal (Earth Observation Product & Service Discovery Portal)
• NOAA Climate Portal
• SIREN: Disaster Response Community Portal

Publications

• GCOS Publications
• 2010 Update of the Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC
• Progress Report on the Implementation of the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC 2004-2008
• Practical Help for Compiling CLIMAT Reports (Spanish, French, Russian) (GCOS 127 - WMO/TD No. 1477 - March 2009)
• WMO Publication No.9, Volume A, Observing Stations and WMO Catalogue of Radiosondes
• Systematic Observation Requirements for Satellite-Based Products for Climate (9/06)(GCOS-107)
• Satellite Observation of the Climate System - The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Response to the Implementation Plan (IP) (9/06) CEOS Response to the GCOS Implementation Plan
• Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC (10/04) (GCOS-92)
• Analysis of Data Exchange Problems in Global Atmospheric and Hydrological Networks (2/05) (GCOS-96)
• The Second Report on the Adequacy of the Global Observing Systems for Climate In Support of the UNFCCC (4/03)(GCOS-82)

Contact Information

• WMO/GCOS Secretariat Staff
• WMO/GCOS Mailing Address, E-mail & Phone Numbers
• GOSIC Contact Information