About the GCOS ECV Data Access Matrix

The ECV Data Access Matrix provides easy access to data download, metadata and information for each of the ECVs. Data access has been devided into 2 categories: 1) In-situ and Non-Satellite and 2) Satellite. The selection of the data sets are based on information from Scientific Steering committees and scientific expert advisory groups and the supporting documentation they provide and publish such as the recent WMO/IOC release: 'Implementation Plan for the Global Observing Systems for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC (August Update) (GCOS-138/GOOS-184/GTOS-76)'. The content of the matrix is presently being updated with information from this publication. Look for daily updates. Please provide questions, comments, input to gosic@noaa.gov. This is a team effort! Your help is appreciated.

The Essential Climate Variables (ECV) are required to support the work of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). All ECV are technically and economically feasible for systematic observation. It is these variables for which international exchange is required for both current and historical observations. It is emphasized that the ordering within the table is simply for convenience and is not an indicator of relative priority. Currently, there are 50 ECVs

List of ECVs (new and modifications to the EVC per Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC' August 2010, GCOS-138/GOOS-184/GTOS-76/WMO-TD/No. 1523)) (2010 changes to the ECV list below are indicated in red)

• Atmospheric (over Land/Sea/Ice):  

• Surface: Air Pressure, Air Temperature, Precipitation, Surface Radiation Budget (including Solar Radiation), Water Vapor, Wind Speed and Direction.
• Upper-Air: Cloud properties, Earth Radiation Budget (including solar irridiance), Temperature, Water Vapor, Wind Speed and Direction.
• Composition: Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Other Long-Lived Green House Gases (Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6), and Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)), Ozone and Aerosol, supported by their precursors (NO₂, SO₂, HCHO, CO)
• Oceanic:
• Surface: Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressure, Current, Ocean Color (for Biological Activity), Sea Ice, Sea Level, Sea State, Sea Surface Salinity (SSS), Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Ocean Acidity, Phytoplankton.
• Sub-surface: Temperature, Salinity, Current, Nutrients, Carbon, Ocean Tracers, Phytoplankton, Ocean Acidity, Oxygen.
• Terrestrial: River Discharge (EVC T1), Water Use (EVC T2), Ground Water (EVC T3), Lakes Levels (EVC T4), Snow Cover (EVC T5), Glaciers and Ice Caps (EVC T6), Permafrost and Seasonally-Frozen Ground (ECV T7), Albedo (EVC T8), Land Cover (including Vegetation Type) (EVC T9), Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR) (EVC T10), Leaf Area Index (LAI) (EVC T11), Above Ground Biomass (EVC T12), Fire disturbance (EVC T13), Soil moisture (recognized as an emerging ECV (not part of the 44), Ice Sheets, Soil Carbon.

Key reference documents:

• Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC' - August 2010 GCOS-138/GOOS-184/GTOS-76/WMO-TD/No. 1523)
• List of ECVs: (ANNEX I of the Guideline for the Generation of Satellite-based Datasets and Products meeting GCOS Requirements - GCOS-128 (WMO/TD No. 1488) - March 2009)
• GCOS Climate Monitoring Principles (GCMPs) (ANNEX II of the Guideline for the Generation of Satellite-based Datasets and Products meeting GCOS Requirements - GCOS-128 (WMO/TD No. 1488) - March 2009)
• Guideline for the Generation of Satellite-based Datasets and Products meeting GCOS Requirements - GCOS-128 (WMO/TD No. 1488) - March 2009
• CEOS EO Handbook - The Important Role of Earth Obervations: The Essential Climate Variables
• Terrestrial Essential Climate Variables for Climate Change Assessment, Mitigation and Adaptation - GTOS-52 - January 2008 (pdf)
• Report of the Conference of the Parties on its thirteenth session, held in Bali from 3 to 5 December 2007, Addendum, Decision 11/CP.13, (Reporting on GCOS, Revised UNFCCC Reporting Guidelines on GCOS), FCCC/CP/2007/6/Add.2, 14 March 2008
• Assessing the Status of the Development of Standards for the Essential Climate Variables in the Terrestial Domain -- Progress Report to the 26th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) (GTOS-49) - March 2007 (pdf)
• Systematic Observation Requirements for Satellite-Based Products for Climate - Supplemental Details to the Satellite-Based Component of the "Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC" - September 2006 - GCOS-107 (WMO/TD N0. 1338)
• Implementation Plan for the Global Observing Systems for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC - GCOS-92, WMO/TD No. 1219 - October 2004 (pdf)

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