Global Climate Observing System GCOS Surface Network GSN

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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

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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).

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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

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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

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GCOS Surface Network

• Initial station selection was made in 1997

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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

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GSN Minimum and Target Requirements

• From the Guide to the GCOS Surface and Upper-Air
  Networks GSN and GUAN

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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

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GSN Stations with Daily Data sent into the GSN
Archive
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Archive Continues to Grow

• Countries being contacted to remind them of the
  request
• Greg Hammer Gregory.R.Hammer_at_noaa.gov
• Some resources may be available to help with
  digitization if needed

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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