a. Sponsors group
The SC was informed that the Co-sponsors of GCOS, GOOS and GTOS have formed a Sponsors Group for the Global Observing Systems to ensure collaboration and information exchange among the GxOS's. They would develop a common strategy for programme implementation. GTOS is invited to have a representative present at those meetings. The first meeting of the Sponsors Group will be held in Geneva 13 to 14 January. It was suggested that the Chairman of the SC, or his designated representative, could represent GTOS.
· Follow-up action:
Chairman to nominate a person to attend the sponsors group on his behalf when needed.
b. The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)
A short report was given on the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) which was established in 1988. There are two guiding bodies for GOOS, the International Committee for GOOS (I-GOOS) which is an intergovernmental committee - designed to be sure national interests are represented - and the Joint Scientific and Steering Committee (J-GOOS). I-GOOS has established a strategy sub-committee to develop a strategy to deal with countries. J-GOOS has identified 5 panels to plan and implement the scientific aspects of the programme: Ocean observations panel for climate (OOPC) (shared with GCOS), Health of the oceans (HOTO), Living marine resources, Marine services, and Coastal zones. Of these only the OOPC and HOTO have been active. The coastal zone panel will meet for the first time in February in Miami. J-GOOS has recommended that GTOS actively participate in this panel. A related, but separate request from Michael Bewers for GTOS to participate in a meeting in February 1997 to define the land-sea interface for GxOS planning purposes was received by the secretariat and needs a response.
The SC agreed it was important to participate in the coastal zone panel of GOOS, but that a working group should be established to define GTOS specific interests. Therefore, the SC suggested that GTOS does not participate in the upcoming GOOS coastal module meeting in February, in Miami. Regarding the land-sea interface meeting, the SC recognized the need to define boundaries between the coastal zone and the land surface, but felt that more important was the immediate need to develop a GTOS position. The SC suggested to postpone the meeting, if possible.
· Follow-up actions:
Chairman to send a letter to the Chair of J-GOOS (Dr. Brown) saying that GTOS is looking forward to work with GOOS but explaining that it will not be able to attend the coastal zone panel meeting in Miami and that a Working Group will identify GTOS coastal zone issues and inform GOOS on its findings;
Chairman to send a letter to the Vice-chair of J-GOOS (J. M. Bewers) saying that GTOS is interested in the definition of land-sea interface but is not yet ready to participate and therefore suggests to postpone the meeting later in 1997.
c. The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
A report was given on the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). GCOS was established in 1992 and is guided by a Joint Scientific and Technical Committee (JSTC). GCOS has five panels and a working group that have been guiding the planning of GCOS: the Atmospheric observation panel (AOP), the Ocean observations panel for climate (OOPC) (shared with GOOS), the Terrestrial Observation Panel on Climate (TOPC) (shared with GTOS), the Data and information management panel (DIMP), the Space-based observation panel (SOP), and a Socio-economic benefits working group. Based on recommendations from the GxOS Sponsors group - as well as the JSTC, J-GOOS and the panels themselves - the Data and information management panel and the Space-based observation panel now serve as joint panels for all three observing systems. The SOP will therefore become the Global observing system space panel (GOSSP).
The SC was invited to: nominate members to represent GTOS at TOPC, DIMP and GOSSP; review the TOPC' Terms of Reference, the actions items for 1997, the Global Hierarchical Observational Strategy for Terrestrial Systems (GHOST), and the version 2.0 of the Plan for Terrestrial Climate-related Observations; and review the draft plan for Space-based observations. The SC proposed some changes in the Terms of Reference of the TOPC and agreed to send their comments on the other documents after the meeting.
· Follow-up actions:
Chairman to send a letter to the Chair of GOSSP (Dr. Morgan) nominating Antony Janetos and André Bassolé as members of the Panel;
Chairman to send a letter to the Chair of DIMP (Dr. Whithee) nominating Gwynneth Martin and Peter Jones as members of the Panel;
Chairman to send a letter to the Chair of TOPC (Josef Cihlar) nominating David Norse and an agricultural economist as members of the Panel, and suggesting changes to the TOPC Terms of Reference as agreed by the Steering Committee;
Steering Committee to send comments to GCOS Joint Planning Office (Hal Kibby) by 6 January 1997 on GHOST, on Version 2.0 of the TOPC Plan, on TOPC Actions Items for 1997 and on the draft plan for Space-based Observations.
The Secretariat noted that nominating 2 persons to each meeting would considerably reduced the resources available to carry out other activities. The Chairman agreed to consider this matter when making decisions on representation at meetings.
