Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Steve Colwell British Antarctic Survey
Goal and Structure of GCOS The Goal of GCOS is to provide continuous, reliable, comprehensive data and information on the state of the global climate system GCOS consists of the climate relevant components of existing atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial observing systems and their enhancement to meet the needs for climate observations GCOS is sponsored by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the International Council for Science (ICSU). National support is providedby GCOS National Coordinators and National support is provided by GCOS National Coordinators and Focal Points
Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) Domain Atmospheric (over land, sea and ice) Oceanic Terrestrial Essential Climate Variables Surface: Air temperature, Precipitation, Air pressure, Surface radiation budget, Wind speed and direction, Water vapour. Upper-air: Earth radiation budget (including solar irradiance), Upperair temperature, Wind speed and direction, Water vapour, Cloud properties. Composition: Carbon dioxide, Methane, Ozone, Other long-lived greenhouse gases, Aerosol properties. Surface: Sea-surface temperature, Sea-surface salinity, Sea level, Sea state, Sea Ice, Current, Ocean colour (for biological activity), Carbon dioxide partial pressure. Sub-surface: Temperature, Salinity, Current, Nutrients, Carbon, Ocean tracers, Phytoplankton. River discharge, Water use, Ground water, Lake levels, Snow cover, Glaciers and ice caps, Permafrost and seasonally-frozen ground, Albedo, Land cover (including vegetation type), Fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (FAPAR), Leaf area index (LAI), Biomass, Fire disturbance, Soil moisture.
Examples of GCOS Observing Networks Atmosphere GCOS Upper Air Network (GUAN) (~ 160 stations) GCOS Surface Network (GSN) (~ 1000 stations) Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) (30 global and 300 regional stations) Ocean Voluntary Observing Ships (~ 7000 ships, 52 countries) Global lsea Level Observing System (~300 global l sea level l stations) Argo ( ~ 3000 profiling floats, 14 countries)
Examples of GCOS Observing Networks Terrestrial Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers (GTN G) (~750 glaciers) Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN P) (300 boreholes) Global Terrestrial Network for Hydrology (GTN H) Space based Observations Crucial for observation of 26 essential climate variables such as atmospheric temperature, precipitation, sea level, sea ice, etc. Verification from surface measurements.
GCOS Ocean Network Argo Network
GCOS Ocean Networks Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS)
Sea level rise Thermal expansion of the ocean causes sea level rise Melting of the Greenland ice sheet would contribute about 7m to global sea levels. Melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet would contribute 4.5m to global sea levels. Melting of the much larger East Antarctic ice sheet would contribute about 50m to global sea levels.
GCOS Terrestrial Networks Global Terrestrial Network for River (GTN-R)
GCOS Atmosphere network Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN)
GCOS Atmosphere Networks Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW)
GCOS Atmosphere Networks Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) stations Essential Characteristics of a GAW Regional or Contributing Station The station location is chosen such that, for the variables measured, it is regionally representative and is normally free of the influence of significant local pollution sources. There are adequate power, air conditioning, communication and building facilities to sustain long term observations with greater than 90% data capture. The technical support provided is trained in the operation of the equipment. There is a commitment by the responsible agency to long term observations. The data and associated metadata are submitted to one of the GAW World Data Centres no later than one year after the observation is made. Changes of metadata including instrumentation, traceability, observation procedures, are reported to the responsible WDC in a timely manner. Standard meteorological in situ observations, necessary for the accurate determination and interpretation of the GAW variables, are made with known accuracy and precision. The station characteristics and observational programme are updated in the GAW Station Information System (GAWSIS) on a regular basis. A station logbook (i.e. record of observations made and activities that may affect observations) is maintained and is used in the data validation process.
GCOS Atmosphere Networks Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) stations Additional Essential Characteristics of a GAW Global Station. Measure variables in at least three of the six GAW focal areas. Aerosols, Greenhouse Gases Reactive Gases Ozone UV Radiation Precipitation Chemistry Have a strong scientific supporting programme with appropriate data analysis and interpretation within the country and, if possible, the support of more than one agency. Make measurements of other atmospheric variables important to weather and climate including upper air radio sondes at the site or in the region. Provide a facility at which intensive campaign research can augment the long term routine GAW observations and where testing and development of new GAW methods can be undertaken.
GCOS Atmosphere Networks Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) global stations
Clean air laboratory Halley Antarctica
Global Cryospher Watch (GCW)
Global Cryospher Watch (GCW) GCW This is more of a data portal than a network. Allows users to find out where to go to for cryospheric data. Cryospheric data are collected in over 100 countries. In the UK seasonal snow cover is very important to understand. Understanding about glaciers in the Himalayas. Understanding about permafrost on the Tibetan plateau.
Railway on permafrost in Tibet
Railway on permafrost in Tibet
GCOS Atmosphere Networks GCOS Upper Air Network (GUAN)
GCOS Atmosphere Networks GCOS Reference Upper Air Network (GRUAN) GCOS Implementation Plan (Action Item A16) Parties need to establish a high-quality reference network of about 30 precision radiosonde stations and other collocated observations The three main objectives of the GRUAN are: To provide long-term high quality climate records of vertical profiles of selected Essential Climate Variables (ECVs). To constrain and calibrate data from more spatially comprehensive global networks. To provide measurements for process studies that permit an in-depth understanding of the properties of the atmospheric column.
GCOS Atmosphere Networks GCOS Reference Upper Air Network (GRUAN)
GCOS Atmosphere Networks GCOS Surface Network (GSN)
GCOS Atmosphere Networks GCOS Surface Network (GSN) The WMO is collecting additional metadata about the surface stations. Pictures taken in four or more different directions out from the site. Metadata about instruments used and their calibration history. The WMO has setup a site categorisation Sites are classed between 1 and 5 with 1 being the best, the category is selected based on instrument exposure and how representative the site is of the larger area around. Only sites in category 1, 2 or 3 can be part of the GSN network.
Antarctic GCOS surface network monitoring BAS gets a data feed of meteorological observations from Antarctica from the UK Met Office. The data are automatically decoded and loaded into databases. Scripts are run to check if there has been any data dropouts, if any are noticed then the relevant tantarctic ti operator is notified to see if the issue can be resolved. Plots of the data are produced and posed on the BAS website so that the national operators can check the quantity and quality of the data themselves.
Antarctic GCOS surface network monitoring
Antarctic GCOS surface network monitoring
Antarctic GCOS surface network monitoring
Antarctic GCOS upper air network monitoring
Antarctic ship monitoring
Antarctic ship monitoring
Antarctic GCOS surface network monitoring
Antarctic GCOS surface network monitoring
Antarctic GCOS surface network monitoring Data plot from Concordia station
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