1. OPENING OF THE SESSION

1.1. Opening

The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)/Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)/Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) Joint Data and Information Management Panel (JDIMP)^[1] held its third session 15-18 July 1997 in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting was hosted by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the Science and Technology Agency (STA), and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). The meeting was chaired by Mr T. Karl, who as Chairman-elect, was intending to assume the chairmanship during this session. He expressed the regrets of the Chairman of the panel, Mr G. Withee, who was unable to attend this session as a result of his new assignment. In his correspondence, Mr Withee expressed his continuing support for the work of the panel, and wished the meeting every success.

1.2. Welcome and Conduct of the Meeting

The Chairman welcomed the participants (Annex I), and invited representatives of the sponsoring organizations to make opening remarks. Mr K. Nagasaka welcomed the participants on behalf of JMA. He observed that Japan has hosted several meetings on behalf of GCOS, and has been actively supporting the development of the G3OS (i.e., GCOS, GOOS, and GTOS) through participation in their planning and implementation activities. He noted in particular that the host organizations and the Japanese global change community recognize that global change is one of the most crucial issues for this and coming centuries and pointed out the importance of the G3OS in addressing this issue. In citing the need for cost-effective procedures to manage the extensive information required for global observation, he encouraged the panel to establish effective procedures to collect, access, and distribute data and information to the scientific community and to the governmental agencies involved with global issues.

Mr E. Muto of STA welcomed the participants to Japan. He expressed a similar sentiment as the representative of JMA when he noted the importance of global observations of the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface and complimented the G3OS in initiating important activities to provide appropriate information to the user communities. He cited the importance of interdisciplinary work, and noted the value of exchanging opinions on various data systems, programmes, and organizations. Mr Muto expressed his dismay at the loss of the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS-I). He told the attendees that investigations into the cause were underway, and he affirmed that the agency would do all in its power to ensure such an event does not recur.

Mr Y. Haruyama, member of the GCOS Joint Scientific and Technical Committee (JSTC) and representative of NASDA added his welcome to the participants. He informed the panel that he would provide a comprehensive discussion of the recent problems encountered with the ADEOS mission later in the agenda (see 3.5). Participants expressed their disappointment with the loss of ADEOS, but complimented the Space Agency of Japan for the vast amount of information that was provided to the scientific community during the mission. The participants expressed their confidence in and support for future ADEOS missions.

The Chairman thanked the welcoming speakers for their gracious remarks and for their generous support of the meeting. He added his wish to that of earlier speakers for a productive meeting, and invited the participants to introduce themselves.

1.3. Approval of the Agenda

The agenda was slightly modified and adopted (Annex 2).

1.4. Terms of Reference and Scope of JDIMP

The Chairman briefly noted that since its last session, the panel has acquired the sponsorship of the GOOS and the GTOS. Consequently, its terms of reference are in need of review and possible modification. He proposed that the panel consider developing specific proposals to modify them at an appropriate place in the agenda. In a similar fashion, he noted that the scope of the panel was also an important subject for consideration. The Chairman suggested that the prior work and output of the panel since it was established on behalf of GCOS would provide a context in which the participants could review the future scope of work. He suggested these two issues be revisited after the series of updates and reports were provided.