About the GCOS ECV Data Access Matrix

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. Additional variables required for research purposes are not included in this table. It is emphasized that the ordering within the table is simply for convenience and is not an indicator of relative priority. Currently, there are 44 ECVs plus soil moisture recognized as an emerging ECV.

The ECV observations should adhere to the GCOS Climate Monitoring Principles (GCMPs) listed in the 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)

Additional ECV were added and some existing ones modified. New list is ECVs is available page 19 of the Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC' August 2010, GCOS-138 (GTOS-184, GTOS-76, WMO-TD/No. 1523). The ECV Matrix has been updated with the new ECVs.

The ECV data sets in the ECV Matrix are divided in two categories:

• Non-Satellite or in-situ
• Satellite(Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) largely dependent upon satellite observations: (Guideline for the Generation of Satellite-based Datasets and Products meeting GCOS Requirements - ANNEX I - GCOS-128 (WMO/TD No. 1488) - March 2009)

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

Key reference documents:

• 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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