Download GCOS - WMO

Global Climate Observing
System
Briefing to ICG-WIGOS
Carolin Richter, D/GCOS
25 January 2016
download from gcos.wmo.int
WMO Congress
Commitment to Resolution 39 (Cg-17) Global Climate
Observing System and to Resolution 15 (Cg-17) World Climate
Programme (GCOS is component of the WCP)
ABRIDGED FINAL REPORT OF THE SEVENTEENTH WORLD
METEOROLOGICAL CONGRESS (para 4.2.5.8):
Congress recommended that the Status Report and
Implementation Plan should be
submitted for review to relevant WMO Technical Commissions
and the appropriate Expert Teams,
before formal submission to the UNFCCC.
Result of the GCOS Status Report with regard to WIGOS:
Assessment of Action C1 from the IP-10: WIGOS EGOS Plan
draws heavily on GCOS IP-10 and includes actions to
emphasize and propagate rqmts identified by GCOS
T1 and C18: application on overall standards for terrestrial
observations
O32, O33: Develop and implement comprehensive ocean
data management (JCOMM, CBS)
A16, A18: meta data records and radio sonde intrecomparisons data to centres
COP21 / SBSTA43, Paris, December 2015
•encouraged GCOS to consider the outcomes of COP21 when
preparing the new GCOS Implementation Plan.
•invited GCOS to collaborate with relevant partners to continue
enhancing access to, and understanding and interpretation of, data
products and information to support decision-making on adaptation
and mitigation at national, regional and global scales.
•urged Parties to work towards addressing the priorities and gaps
identified in the GCOS 2015 Status Report.
•invited Parties and relevant organizations to provide inputs to, and
contribute to the review of, the new GCOS implementation plan.
•GCOS will submit the new implementation plan to COP22
What came out of COP21 and the Paris Agreement:
Adaptation (Article 7(c)): Strengthening scientific knowledge on climate,
including research, systematic observation of the climate system and
early warning systems, in a manner that informs climate services and
supports decision-making
Items for GCOS to consider
 Observational requirements to monitor emissions and emission
reductions (Global Stocktaking, Transparency)
 Observational needs for loss and damage, adaptation etc.
 Data needs of Public awareness (Indicators etc.)
 Capacity Development (GCOS Cooperation Mechanism)
Timeline for the GCOS Implementation Plan
Preparatory work in 2013 – 2015 (GCOS panel meetings and three workshops
with GFCS/UNFCCC/IPCC; Publication of Status Report)
15 November 2015
2-4 February 2016
2-4 March 2016
April 2016
24-26 May 2016
July 2016
September 2016
September 2016
October 2016
Draft Table of Contents submitted to COP21
First Writing Team meeting, JRC, Italy
Open GCOS Conference
Bring work in progress to GCOS panel meetings
Second Writing Team meeting, JRC, Italy
Public review (6 weeks)
Final version prepared in light of comments on
the draft
Final Version submitted to GCOS SC-24
Final plan submitted to COP22
NEW GCOS Implementation Plan (2016)
The new implementation plan is envisaging broadening its scope to
global Earth`s environmental cycles, i.e., energy, carbon and water,
and inter alia taking into account Sustainable Development Goals,
climate services, climate indicators and relevant outcomes of
discussions during COP21. It will advise on new requirements for
measures needed for adaptation to a changing climate, and measures
to mitigate climate changes.
The new plan will lay out a new strategic approach to further
implement the Global Climate Observing System and will introduce a
section on cross-cutting disciplines and on scientific and technological
challenges.
What do we need to consider in the next plan?
• Are the current definition of ECVs suitable?
• Are the current observations sufficient to assess the contribution of
the hydrological, energy or carbon cycles to the changing climate?
• Are additional ECV needed for mitigation or vulnerability, impacts
and adaption studies and planning?
• Are the monitoring networks sufficient and delivering data as
needed?
• Could storage of, and access to, data be improved?
• What are appropriate indicators for
• Communicating ongoing and historic climate change?
• Guidance of actions to adapt to and manage consequences o f
climate change?
• What is role of GCOS in these?
• What additional observations are needed post-COP21?
(Observational requirements to monitor emissions and emission
reductions (Global Stocktaking, Transparency), Technology transfer
and Capacity Development (GCOS Cooperation Mechanism),
Sponsors and Partners
GCOS assesses progress and requirements, advises on implementation, and
reports to UNFCCC on the status of observing systems for climate.
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
Excerpt of the Draft GCOS MoU (Oct 2015), cleared by WMO
Annex A: […]
GCOS is the single point for coordination, working through bodies such as the WMO Integrated Global Observing
System (WIGOS), GOOS, the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) and the Coordination Group for
Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) for implementation; and plays a significant role for the broader observation
requirements of the GFCS.
GCOS will ensure data needs are met, as far as possible, by existing operational and scientific observing, data
management and information distribution systems, and through further enhancements of these systems, as well as
through encouraging new systems to be established. GCOS will be implemented through, inter alia:
(a) WIGOS;
(b) Related atmospheric constituent observing systems managed by the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW);
(c) Related physical, chemical and biological ocean observations managed by GOOS and its related Framework for
Ocean Observing (FOO);
(d) Related land surface ecosystem, hydrosphere, and cryosphere measurements managed by GTOS and related
frameworks;
(e) The maintenance and enhancement of programmes monitoring other key components of the climate system;
(f)Programmes to monitor the key physical, chemical and biological aspects of the impacts of climate change, including
the World Climate Services Programme (WCSP), and the human dimensions of climate change;
(g)Data communication and other infrastructures necessary to support operational climate forecasting of the WCP, the
WMO Information System (WIS) and the Climate Services Information System (CSIS) of the GFCS.
GCOS Working Mechanism linking with WIGOS:
GCOS/WCRP Atmospheric Observation Panel for Climate
- GRUAN – GCOS Reference Upper-Air Network
- Design and discussion of GSN and GUAN,( … RBON)
- Quality Monitoring
( EUMETNET @ DWD monitors GSN and GUAN,
CBS Lead Centres for GCOS & WIGOS Centres)
GCOS/GOOS/WCRP Ocean Observations Panel for Climate
- Marine meteorological data and rqmts, observations of cryosphere
GCOS/WCRP Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate
- Hydrological data, observations of cryosphere
Capacity Building: GCOS Cooperation Mechanism and a dedicated GCOS Network
Manager
GFCS: GCOS leads the Chapter on the Observation and Monitoring Pillar in the
GFCS Implementation Plan