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Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Surface Network (GSN). Thomas C. Peterson National Climatic Data Center/NESDIS/NOAA Asheville, NC USA October 2004. GCOS was Established in 1992.
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Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Surface Network (GSN) Thomas C. Peterson National Climatic Data Center/NESDIS/NOAA Asheville, NC USA October 2004
GCOS was Established in 1992 • To ensure that the observations and information needed to address climate-related issues are obtained and made available to all potential users. • Co-sponsored by: • The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) • The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO • The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) • The International Council for Science (ICSU).
GCOS and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change • Research and systematic observations (COP-5 in Bonn, 1999): • Parties to Provide Detailed National Reports • GCOS Guidance Adopted • Voluntary for non-Annex 1 Parties (Developing Nations) • WMO GCOS Office to Develop Synthesising Process • Organize Regional GCOS Capacity Building Workshops • This workshop is not a GCOS workshop • Report on Deficiencies in Observing Systems • Facilitate Intergovernmental Coordination
The Climate Change Convention commits parties to: • Develop National Inventories of Emissions • Implement National Programmes to Mitigate Climate Change • Develop and Transfer Technologies for Emission Reduction • Cooperate in Adaptation to Impacts of Climate Change • Promote Research and Systematic Observation • Support International Networks for Research and Data Collection • Strengthen National Observation and Research Capacities, Especially in Developing Countries • Promote Full, Open, and Prompt Exchange of Data From: The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
GCOS Surface Network • Initial station selection was made in 1997
Request went out to countries • Were these the best stations? • Are there better ones you would recommend? • The GSN was formalized • Yet the GSN continues to change, e.g., • Canada adds some high arctic stations • A few stations close • Request went out to send GSN data into the GSN Archive in World Data Center - Asheville
GSN Minimum and Target Requirements • From the Guide to the GCOS Surface and Upper-Air Networks: GSN and GUAN
GSN Target • Time series from the beginning of observations to the present • Of daily maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and precipitation • For ~1,000 well distributed stations around the world • Adequate for global climate change analysis • Regional-scale analyses might require more stations
Archive Continues to Grow • Countries being contacted to remind them of the request • Greg Hammer: Gregory.R.Hammer@noaa.gov • Some resources may be available to help with digitization if needed
In summary: • GCOS Surface Network data are necessary for global climate change analyses • The archive still has large blank areas • We should do what we can to make the data available to the archive center